Polyphenol-rich plant products are widely used as feed additives for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this research is to test the hypothesis that feeding grape pomace (GP) to fattening pigs modulates the intestinal immune and antioxidant response, promotes the morphostructure of the small intestine, and improves growth performance. Fifty Piétrain fattening pigs were randomly divided into five groups, each consisting of 10 pigs. The groups were fed a basal diet with no supplementation (control) or a diet supplemented with 1 gGP/kg (E1), 5 gGP/kg (E2), 10 gGP/kg (E3), or 15 gGP/kg (E4). The doses were selected based on preliminary tests. The pigs were slaughtered after 90 days, and their duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and caecum were sampled. We recommend a dose of 10 gGP/kg because it leads to many beneficial effects, including a significantly increased villous height, intestinal crypt depth, and V/C ratio in the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05). It also decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-1β in the ileum and caecum, TNF-α in multiple intestinal segments, and MHC-II in the duodenum, jejunum, and caecum. Additionally, antioxidant activity was promoted through the increased immunohistochemical expression of Nrf2 and reduced NF-kB p65 expression. Growth performance also improved, with significantly higher ADG (p = 0.01) and ADFI values (p < 0.01) than those in the control group. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich grape pomace can be used as a supplement in fattening pig diets to maintain their health and productive performance.

Interspecies variability in diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a critical challenge for translational medicine, as metabolic pathways, pancreatic architecture, and therapeutic responses differ substantially across animal models. This systematic review, conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesized evidence from 86 eligible studies published between 2001 and 2025. Comparative data from rodents, dogs, cats, pigs, non-human primates, and humans were analyzed to identify species-specific patterns in insulin secretion, insulin resistance (IR), β-cell dysfunction, microbiota–metabolism interactions, and susceptibility to diabetic complications. Results indicate that spontaneous diabetes in dogs closely mirrors human type 1 diabetes (T1DM), whereas feline obesity-associated diabetes reflects key features of human type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Rodent models remain essential for mechanistic and genetic studies but show limited chronicity and lower predictive fidelity for long-term outcomes. Non-human primates exhibit the highest physiological similarity to humans, especially regarding β-cell structure and incretin response, supporting their role in advanced translational studies. Major limitations included methodological heterogeneity and inconsistent molecular reporting. Integrating spontaneous models with standardized protocols and multi-omics approaches enhances translational relevance and supports more accurate model selection in diabetes research.

The use of the HOMA (Homeostatic Model Assessment) index in veterinary medicine is emerging as a promising and valuable method for evaluating insulin resistance and beta-cell function in companion animals, particularly in dogs and cats. Originally developed for use in human medicine, HOMA enables a minimally invasive assessment of glucose and insulin homeostasis, offering clinicians a practical tool for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes mellitus in animals. Its application in veterinary practice brings several advantages, including cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and the potential for early detection of metabolic disturbances before clinical symptoms appear. Nonetheless, important limitations persist, such as inter-individual variability, the effects of stress and comorbidities on glucose and insulin values, and the absence of standardized, species-specific reference ranges. These factors highlight the need for methodological refinement and the establishment of validated protocols tailored to the unique physiological characteristics of dogs and cats. Despite these challenges, HOMA represents a promising avenue for advancing the understanding of diabetes pathophysiology in veterinary patients. Future longitudinal studies and controlled trials are essential to confirm its reliability and enhance its clinical relevance. With further development, the HOMA index could become an essential tool in improving diagnostic accuracy and optimizing the management of diabetes in companion animal practice.

Oxidative stress plays a central and increasingly recognized role in the pathophysiology of endocrine disorders in companion animals. This systematic review comparatively evaluated redox imbalance across major endocrine diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, and thyroid dysfunctions in dogs and cats. The analysis revealed a consistent pattern of increased reactive oxygen species and reduced antioxidant defenses, with the most pronounced alterations observed in chronic and poorly controlled conditions. Significant variability emerged in biomarker profiles among disorders, suggesting disease-specific oxidative pathways but a shared tendency toward cumulative cellular damage. Evidence also indicates that oxidative stress contributes to clinical progression and may influence therapeutic response. These findings support the integration of oxidative status assessment into diagnostic and monitoring protocols and highlight the potential value of targeted antioxidant interventions. Further standardized research is needed to refine biomarkers and optimize management strategies tailored to each endocrine pathology.

Information about the paper titled "THE IMPORTANCE OF OBJECTIVE EVALUATIONS IN STIMULATING FAIR COMPETITIVENESS IN HIGHER VETERINARY EDUCATION" at IATED Digital Library

A 3-year-old male scarlet macaw parrot (Ara macao) was presented to the Exotic Animal Clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iași University of Life Sciences (Iași, Romania) for its postmortem examination. According to the owner, the parrot had been raised only in captivity and after 5 days of inappetence, lethargy, and mild respiratory clinical signs, the parrot died. The post mortem examination revealed various-sized granulomas and caseous plaques in the lungs, air sacs, spleen, intestinal serosa, and liver. Microscopically, the granulomas were characterized by a necrotic center and the infiltration of numerous multinucleated giant cells and epithelioid-like cells and by the presence of hyphae typical of Aspergillus spp. Moreover, in the liver tissue, a diffuse inflammation, with numerous fungal hyphae, was noted. The fungal culture and the PCR assay allowed for the isolation and identification of Aspergillus fumigatus from the lung and liver samples. The macroscopical lesions and the histopathological findings, with the fungal isolation and molecular confirmation of Aspergillus fumigatus by nested PCR, provided the basis for the diagnosis of disseminated aspergillosis. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first report of disseminated infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in a scarlet macaw parrot (Ara macao).