The status of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) is decisive in staging, prognosis, and therapeutic approach. Using an ultrasonographic examination algorithm composed of B-mode, Doppler technique, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and elastography, this study aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of the four techniques compared to histopathological examination. 96 SLNs belonging to 71 female dogs with mammary gland carcinomas were examined. After examinations, mastectomy and lymphadenectomy were performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of metastases in 54 SLNs. The elasticity score had the highest accuracy—89.71%, identifying metastases in SLNs with 88.9.9% sensitivity (SE) and 90.5% specificity (SP), ROC analysis providing excellent results. The S/L (short axis/long axis) ratio showed 83.3% SE and 78.6% SP as a predictor of the presence of metastases in SLN having a good accuracy of 81.2%. On Doppler examination, the resistivity index(RI) showed good accuracy of 80% in characterizing lymph nodes with metastases versus unaffected ones; the same results being obtained by CEUS examination. By assigning to each ultrasonographic parameter a score (0 or 1) and summing up the scores of the four techniques, we obtained the best diagnostic performance in identifying lymph node metastases with 92.2% accuracy. In conclusion, the use of the presented algorithm provides the best identification of metastases in SLNs, helping in mammary carcinoma staging and appropriate therapeutic management.

Quantitative and qualitative studies dealing with histomorphometry of the bonetissue play a new role in modern legal medicine/forensic medicine and archaeozoologynowadays. This study deals with the differences found in case of humerusand metapodial bones of recent sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus) and roedeer (Capreolus capreolus) specimens, both from a qualitative point of view, butmainly from a quantitative perspective. A novel perspective given by the fractalanalysis performed on the digital histological images is approached. This studyshows that the qualitative assessment may not be a reliable one due to theclose resemblance of the structures. From the quantitative perspective (severalmeasurements performed on osteonal units and statistical processing of data),some of the elements measured show significant differences among 3 species(the primary osteonal diameter, etc.). The fractal analysis and the lacunarity ofthe images show a great deal of potential, proving that this type of analysis canbe of great help in the separation of the material from this perspective. Quantitative and qualitative studies dealing with histomorphometry of the bonetissue play a new role in modern legal medicine/forensic medicine and archaeozoologynowadays. This study deals with the differences found in case of humerusand metapodial bones of recent sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus) and roedeer (Capreolus capreolus) specimens, both from a qualitative point of view, butmainly from a quantitative perspective. A novel perspective given by the fractalanalysis performed on the digital histological images is approached. This studyshows that the qualitative assessment may not be a reliable one due to theclose resemblance of the structures. From the quantitative perspective (severalmeasurements performed on osteonal units and statistical processing of data),some of the elements measured show significant differences among 3 species(the primary osteonal diameter, etc.). The fractal analysis and the lacunarity ofthe images show a great deal of potential, proving that this type of analysis canbe of great help in the separation of the material from this perspective.

Otological studies rely on a lot of data drawn from animal studies. A lot of pathological or evolutionary questions may find answers in studies on primates, providing insights into the morphological, pathological, and physiological aspects of systematic biological studies. Our study on auditory ossicles moves from a pure morphological (macroscopic and microscopic) investigation of auditory ossicles to the morphometrical evaluation of several individuals as well as to some interpretative data regarding some functional aspects drawn from these investigations. Particularities from this perspective blend with metric data and point toward comparative elements that might also serve as an important reference in further morphologic and comparative studies.

Given the scarce morphological data regarding the middle ear anatomy of this species, the paper attempts to describe the morphological and morphometrical data of the auditory ossicles in the badger. The study was performed using the standard morphological investigations and provides a complete morphological description of the ossicular assembly (malleus, incus and stapes) with some comparative features and attempts to provide a complete set of standardized metrical data for each ossicle. A more-detailed attempt to compare some functional aspects in the light of combined metrical ratios is also implied.