Search Results (466)

Thrombophilic conditions, conditions where blood has a tendency to form thrombi due to abnormal coagulatory processes, can affect the trajectory of diseases such as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection, better known as Long COVID (LC), by worsening symptoms and complicating outlooks. As a comorbidity in pro-coagulatory diseases such as COVID-19 and LC, patients with thrombophilic conditions may experience worse symptoms than their peers, due to this elevated level of hypercoagulation. A 15-week literature review through the public PubMed database was conducted to investigate the severity, mechanisms, and symptom profiles of thrombophilic patients with LC. Papers were only included if samples included participants with pre-existing tendencies for hypercoagulable states, and confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection via a Polymerase Chain Reaction test. Each paper included in this review was analyzed by topic and assessed for eligibility against the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Critical Appraisal tool. Each paper was also assessed for biases. Results from the 6 papers included in this review showed that LC could be predicted following COVID-19 illness by a hypercoagulable blood profile, indicating that LC may be linked to chronic hypercoagulation and inflammation post-infection. Additionally, symptoms linked to microthrombi formation, such as hair loss, arrhythmia, and dizziness, were exhibited more frequently in patients with thrombophilia and/or thrombophilic conditions, indicating that those with thrombophilic conditions may exhibit unique LC symptom profiles compared to healthy controls. This paper’s research is preliminary and thus is limited in the strength of its findings; However, further research into LC and its interactions with co-morbidities like thrombophilic conditions would aid in the development of better treatment plans for patients, such as the usage of anticoagulants or screening for hypercoagulable blood profiles post-COVID-19 to assess patient risk. Full article

Many forms of damage to cochlear sensory cells involve reactive oxygen species (ROS). We previously screened 81 antioxidants in vitro for the ability to reduce cochlear hair cell (HC) damage by the ototoxic aminoglycoside gentamicin. Only 13 antioxidants produced significant reduction in HC loss, with the quinone antioxidants seratrodast and idebenone being most protective. Why so few antioxidants were protective is unclear, but most antioxidants have other properties that could enhance or detract from protection. In particular, seratrodast is a potent thromboxane A₂ (TXA2) antagonist, while idebenone also strongly supports cell metabolism by enhancing mitochondrial function. We therefore asked whether a different TXA2 inhibitor (SQ-29548) or mitochondrial function enhancer (mitochonic acid) exhibited any HC protective ability in the same assay. In both cases, no significant protection from gentamicin was observed, indicating that the ROS scavenging activity of seratrodast and idebenone accounted for HC protection. Additionally, to assess the generality of HC protection by the two antioxidants, we assessed their potential for protection against cisplatin, an ototoxic anti-cancer drug that produces HC damage through a different mechanism than aminoglycosides, but which also involves ROS. High-dose seratrodast tested protected HCs from cisplatin damage, but not to the extent observed for gentamicin. High-dose idebenone was also protective, but even less than for seratrodast. Neither mitochonic acid nor SQ-29548 was protective against cisplatin. The results indicate that seratrodast and idebenone provide HC protection from gentamicin and cisplatin due to their free radical scavenging properties, but protection from cisplatin was less effective, presumably due to its different mechanism of ototoxicity. Full article

This study aimed to generate information for parentage testing in horse breeds using microsatellites (STRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genotype data were obtained from 189 horse hair root samples, including 38 Thoroughbreds (TBs), 17 Jeju horses (JHs), 20 Quarter horses (QHs), 21 American Miniatures (AMs), and 93 Mongolian horses (MHs), using 15 STR markers and 71 SNP markers. Comparative analysis revealed that the mean expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.468 (AM) to 0.491 (JH) for SNPs and from 0.695 (TB) to 0.791 (MH) for STRs. The mean observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.415 (AM) to 0.487 (MH) for SNPs and from 0.706 (JH) to 0.776 (MH) for STRs. The mean polymorphic information content ranged from 0.349 (AM) to 0.364 (MH) for SNPs and from 0.635 (TB) to 0.761 (MH) for STRs. The inbreeding coefficient ranged from −0.009 (MH) to 0.113 (AM) for SNPs and from −0.058 (TB) to 0.043 (AM) for STRs. The cumulative exclusion probability (PE) for the 71-SNP panel exceeded 0.9999, indicating that SNP markers may be sufficient for parentage testing. In comparison, the STR markers yielded a combined PE of 0.9988 when one parent was known and 0.9999 when both parents were known. These findings highlight the potential of SNPs as alternatives to STRs for routine paternity verification in horses. Full article

Few studies have investigated gastrointestinal (GI) and external parasites, as well as environmental fungi, in rabbits using a One Health approach. Between September 2023—May 2024, fecal, hair and skin scraping samples were collected from 72 rabbits that attended clinical consultations and from private owners and breeders in Portugal. Diagnostic techniques included Mini-FLOTAC, direct immunofluorescence antibody, and the analysis of the virulence profile of fur fungi. A total of 58% of the rabbits were positive for GI parasites, namely Eimeria spp. (45%), Cryptosporidium spp. (32%), Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (17%), Passalurus ambiguus (13%), Graphidium strigosum (13%), and Giardia spp. (9%), with only 12% of the infected animals showing clinical signs (diarrhea). In addition, 10% of the animals were positive for Cheyletiella sp. infestations. Environmental fungi of the genera Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Scopulariopsis were isolated from 7% of these animals, with the Scopulariopsis sp. isolate S1 testing positive for proteinase, lecithinase, and gelatinase activities. Frequent sanitization and regular deworming emerged as essential factors to minimize parasitic frequency. This integrated diagnosis procedure proved to be effective in the search for parasitic and fungal agents in rabbit medicine. Further research is needed to improve the knowledge on the transmission and pathogenicity of these agents in rabbits. Full article

Trace minerals (TMs) are pivotal for skin health and haircoat quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of organic TMs, in the form of lysine and glutamic acid-complexed TMs (Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe), on feline hair growth and haircoat characteristics. Cats (mean 8.4 yr) were fed a Control diet (inorganic TM, sulfates) for 15 days before being assigned to treatment diets for 90 days. Treatments were Control (n = 20) or lysine and glutamic acid-complexed TM (Zinpro Corp. Eden Prairie, MN, USA) sources (TMC-LG; n = 20), formulated at iso-levels (100 ppm Zn, 15 ppm Mn, 12 ppm Cu, 80 ppm Fe). At the beginning of the test period (day 0), an area was shaved to evaluate hair growth on days 45 and 90, in addition to haircoat characteristics and hair loss. At day 45 (diet × day, p = 0.02), cats fed TMC-LG tended to have 0.023 g less shed hair compared to Control cats (p = 0.08). Similarly, dander scores differed at day 45 (diet × day, p = 0.02), with TMC-LG (0.66) cats having more favorable scores compared to Control (1.05; p = 0.03). There were no significant differences between treatments at day 90. Cats fed TMC-LG had a transient improvement in hair loss and dander scores at day 45 compared to the Control over the 90-day trial. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of adding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) to adult cat diets on palatability, intestinal health, nutrient digestibility, immune parameters, and the fecal microbiome over 42 days. Sixty-three healthy Domestic Short-hair cats were randomized to three diets: a control diet (CD) without SCFP, or the same diet containing 1.0% or 2.0% SCFP, targeting daily intakes of 150 or 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Body weight and blood parameters remained within reference ranges across all groups. Stool quality was largely not affected, although compared with controls, SCFP-supplemented cats had slightly firmer stools at day 21, and increased fecal pH. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing revealed that microbiome diversity remained steady in SCFP-fed cats, whereas diversity in the control group declined over time. Fecal immunoglobulin A concentrations were lower in cats supplemented with SCFP at 150 mg/kg BW by the end of the study, and positive shifts in the circulatory leukocyte profile were observed at both inclusion levels. Apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility did not differ among groups. Palatability tests showed diets with SCFP were generally preferred, indicating a potential benefit for commercial feline feeds, particularly at the 150 mg/kg BW level, which was preferred over 300 mg/kg BW. Overall, these findings suggest that SCFP can act as a functional ingredient in feline nutrition to maintain microbial diversity and enhance diet acceptance without compromising digestibility. Full article

High-resolution 3D pavement images have become a valuable data source for automated surface distress detection and assessment. However, accurately identifying and segmenting cracks from pavement images remains challenging, due to factors such as low contrast and hair-like thinness. This study investigates key factors affecting segmentation performance and proposes a novel deep learning architecture designed to enhance segmentation robustness under these challenging conditions. The proposed model integrates a multi-resolution feature extraction stream with gated attention mechanisms to improve spatial awareness and selectively fuse information across feature levels. Our extensive experiments on a 3D pavement dataset demonstrated that the proposed method outperformed several state-of-the-art architectures, including FCN, U-Net, DeepLab, DeepCrack, and CrackFormer. Compared with U-Net, it improved F1 from 0.733 to 0.780. The gains were most pronounced on thin cracks, with F1 from 0.531 to 0.626. Our paired t-tests across folds showed the method is statistically better than U-Net and DeepCrack on Recall, IoU, Dice, and F1. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the attention-guided, multi-scale feature fusion method for robust crack segmentation using 3D pavement data. Full article

Considering the clinical relevance of commensal yeasts (Malassezia and Candida) and zoophilic dermatophytes (Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes) in dogs and cats, this study determines the prevalence of fungal species involved in ear and superficial skin infections in dogs and cats in Grenada and examines their antifungal susceptibility. The etiological agents were isolated from ear, skin, and hair samples of suspected clinical fungal cases using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SAB). The isolates’ identification comprised morphological, biochemical, and molecular methods encompassing micro-/macroscopy analysis. Biochemically, yeast isolates were identified by the BD Phoenix M50 microbial identification system, and additional validation of all fungal isolates was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the ITS region. Furthermore, the E-Test (Epsilometer Test) was used to determine the susceptibility patterns for four azole drugs: ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, and voriconazole. A total of 405 samples (266 ear, 61 skin, and 78 hair) were collected from 136 dogs and 43 cats. The identified species were Malassezia pachydermatis, Candida tropicalis, and Trichophyton spp. All isolates demonstrated (100%) resistant activity to fluconazole. Importantly, this knowledge will significantly contribute to our understanding of the epidemiology of fungal infections as well as provide guidelines for preventive measures against fungal infections in Grenada. Full article

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a primary lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia characterized by progressive frontotemporal hairline recession, frequently accompanied by eyebrow and body hair loss. Once considered rare, FFA is now recognized as the most common form of scarring alopecia, predominantly affecting postmenopausal women. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, hormonal, genetic, autoimmune, and environmental factors have been implicated. Among environmental contributors, the potential role of cosmeceuticals has received increasing attention, with particular emphasis on sunscreen and facial moisturizers. Patch testing has identified sensitization to allergens frequently found in these products. However, due to numerous limitations in the existing studies, the association between cosmeceuticals and FFA remains controversial. As the prevalence of FFA continues to rise alongside widespread cosmetic product use, understanding their potential role in disease pathogenesis is essential. Current findings highlight the need for further investigation into environmental triggers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Glycogen storage disease type II, also known as Pompe disease (PD), is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder triggered by a deficiency in lysosomal acid α-glucosidase (GAA). Recently, we discovered two deleterious missense variants of the GAA gene, c.1799G>A (p.Arg600His) (a pathogenic mutation) and c.55G>A (p.Val19Met), in a domestic short-haired cat with PD. This study aimed to design genotyping assays for these two variants and ascertain their allele frequencies in Japanese cat populations. Methods: We developed fluorescent probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to genotype the c.1799G>A and c.55G>A variants. A total of 738 cats, comprising 99 purebred cats from 20 breeds and 540 mixed-breed cats, were screened using these assays. Results: Genotyping assays clearly differentiated all known genotypes of the two variants. None of the 738 cats tested carried the c.1799G>A variant. However, we identified cats with c.55G/A and c.55A/A genotypes in the purebred (A allele frequency: 0.081) and mixed-breed cats (0.473). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in the A allele frequency between the two groups. Conclusions: The c.1799G>A mutation appears rare in cat populations, suggesting it may be confined to specific pedigree Japanese mixed-breed cats. The c.55G>A variant was detected in purebred and mixed-breed cats, suggesting that it may not be directly linked to feline PD. However, additional studies are required to elucidate the precise relationship between this variant and cardiac function. Genotyping assays will serve as valuable tools for diagnosing and genotyping feline PD. Full article

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common progressive hair loss disorder driven by elevated dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, leading to follicular miniaturization. This study investigated sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extract (BSE) as a potential oral therapy for AGA. BSE exhibited dose-dependent proliferative and migratory effects on keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and dermal papilla cells, showing greater in vitro activity than sulforaphane (SFN) and minoxidil under the tested conditions, while maintaining low cytotoxicity. In a testosterone-induced AGA mouse model, oral BSE significantly accelerated hair regrowth, with 20 mg/kg achieving 99% recovery by day 15, alongside increased follicle length, density, and hair weight. Mechanistically, BSE upregulated hepatic and dermal DHT-metabolizing enzymes (Akr1c21, Dhrs9) and activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the skin, suggesting dual actions via androgen metabolism modulation and follicular regeneration. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed prolonged SFN plasma exposure following BSE administration, and in silico docking showed strong binding affinities of key BSE constituents to Akr1c2 and β-catenin. No systemic toxicity was observed in liver histology. These findings indicate that BSE may serve as a safe, effective, and multitargeted natural therapy for AGA. Further clinical studies are needed to validate its efficacy in human populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Variations in hair length are observed in many dog breeds, as determined by the canine FGF5 gene. Long-haired Akitas, which are disqualified under breeding standards of Akitas, are sometimes born to short-haired parents and may have been subjected to treatments compromising animal welfare. Here, we aimed to identify an FGF5 variant associated with hair coat variations in Akitas in Japan, and to assess how welfare of this breed can be improved by carefully planned breeding. Methods: DNA samples were obtained from 60 Akitas in 2021 (modern Akitas) and 73 Akitas in the 1970s and the 1980s (classic Akitas). Sanger sequencing was performed on all exons and exon–intron junctions of the FGF5 gene to determine the causative variant of long hair in Akitas. A real-time PCR assay was developed to genotype FGF5:c.578C>T in modern and classic Akitas. Using 54 dogs from modern Akitas, scores (1 to 10) of hair length were compared among the three genotypes (C/C, C/T, and T/T). Results: Sanger sequencing revealed that the canine FGF5:c.578C>T variant was associated with long hair in Akitas in Japan. Genotyping revealed that the frequency of the mutant T allele was 0.350 in modern Akitas, which was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in classic Akitas (0.212). The three genotypes were not in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in modern Akitas but were in HWE in classic Akitas. There were significant differences in hair length scores among the three genotypes (p < 0.001) and between the C/C and C/T genotypes (p < 0.005). There was no significant difference in the scores between male and female dogs. Conclusions: This study revealed that a causative variant that determines the long hair trait of Akitas in Japan was the FGF5:c.578C>T variant, which was inherited in an incompletely dominant manner. Akita dog breeders were more likely to select heterozygous C/T dogs based on the appearance of the hair coat for breeding dogs with an ideal fluffy hair coat. This might result in a high mutant T allele frequency and the production of undesired long-haired Akitas with T/T, which may create welfare problems. Genetic testing for this variant is necessary to improve welfare and conserve the Akita breed. Full article

Background and Aims: The majority of individuals with COVID-19 developed acute symptoms. Post-COVID-19 syndrome refers to the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that persist for more than 12 weeks. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for post-COVID-19 syndrome in the Omani population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted at the University Hospital Center (UHC). All patients diagnosed with COVID-19 (through polymerase chain reaction PCR testing) between March 2020 and March 2022 were included. Eligible participants were interviewed through a phone call, informed about the study procedure, and invited to participate in the study. Results: The study enrolled 265 COVID-19 patients, of whom 156 (59.2%) were females and 204 (77.3%) had been vaccinated. The overall prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome was 48.5%. The most common symptom was fatigue (71, 26.9%), followed by joint pain (44, 16.7%). The other symptoms included loss of taste/smell (34, 12.9%), cough (32, 12.1%), palpitation (25, 9.5%), and hair loss (27, 10.2%). Unvaccinated patients showed a higher incidence of fatigue (p = 0.03) and loss of smell/taste (p = 0.01) on univariate analysis. Females were at high risk for the development of various symptoms, including fatigue, muscular pain, breathing difficulty, cough, chest pain, palpitation, headache, and hair loss. Multivariate analysis showed that female gender is a significant independent predictor (odds ratio: 3.1; p = 0.00) for the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Conclusions: The prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome among the Omani population was high, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to manage long-term symptoms in vulnerable groups. Full article

Biotin (vitamin B7) is a common, naturally occurring water-soluble vitamin. It belongs to the broad group of B vitamins. It is a common ingredient in dietary supplements, cosmetics, medicines, and parapharmaceutical preparations administered orally or applied topically (to the skin, hair, nails). The problem of the relationship between vitamin B supplementation and sensitivity seems to be multi-threaded. There is little literature data that would confirm that oral vitamin B supplementation or local exposure to biotin is a significant sensitizing factor. Moreover, it seems that allergy to vitamin B7 is very rare. It is possible, however, that the relationship between biotin and hypersensitivity is not limited to its direct action, but results from its essential metabolic function. Vitamin B7, as a cofactor of five carboxylases, affects the main pathways of cellular metabolism. Both deficiency and excess of biotin can result in metabolic disorders, which can have a significant impact on the homeostasis of the entire organism, including the efficient functioning of the immune system. Dysregulation of immune systems leads to its dysfunctional functioning, which can also lead to sensitization to various environmental antigens (allergens). Biotin is also used as an element of some methodological models in immunochemical tests (in vitro diagnostics), including methods used to measure the concentration of immunoglobulin E (IgE), both total (tIgE) and allergen-specific (sIgE). For this reason, vitamin B7 supplementation can be a significant interfering factor in some immunochemical tests, which can lead to false laboratory test results, both false positive and false negative, depending on the test format. This situation can have a direct impact on the quality and effectiveness of diagnostics in various clinical situations, including allergy diagnostics. This review focuses on the role of biotin in allergic reactions, both as a causative factor (allergen/hapten), a factor predisposing to the development of sensitization to various allergens, and an interfering factor in immunochemical methods used in laboratory diagnosis of hypersensitivity reactions and how it can be prevented. Full article

Tinea incognito is an incorrectly diagnosed form of fungal infection due to a changed clinical picture as a result of systemic or topical corticosteroids or even local immunomodulators. This type of skin lesion is most often located on the trunk but can affect any part of the body. We present a case report of 76-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus who was admitted to hospital because of extensive, painful, and burning erythematous and papular lesions in an annular pattern, covered with a thick, yellow crust, located on the scalp and neck. The skin lesions were accompanied by extensive hair loss. The patient had previously undergone intensified treatment of the underlying disease due to the exacerbation of skin lesions of a subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus type. A suspicion of tinea incognito was raised, and direct mycological examination and culture confirmed the presence of dermatophytes (Microsporum spp.). Tinea incognito can be difficult to diagnose because the clinical picture is relatively nonspecific and can mimic other dermatoses, such as subacute lupus erythematosus. Therefore, in doubtful cases it is necessary to perform a direct test and culture for fungal infection, especially before initiating treatment with glucocorticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents. Full article