Background Lower urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is an important but rarely described disease of cats. Objectives To report the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in a cohort of cats with lower urinary tract TCC and to test identified variables for prognostic relevance. Animals One‐hundred eighteen client‐owned cats with lower urinary tract carcinoma. Methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to obtain information regarding clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes. Recorded variables were analyzed statistically. Results Median age of affected cats was 15 years (range, 5.0‐20.8 years) and median duration of clinical signs was 30 days (range, 0‐730 days). The trigone was the most common tumor location (32/118; 27.1%) as assessed by ultrasound examination, cystoscopy, or both. Treatment was carried out in 73 of 118 (61.9%) cats. Metastatic disease was documented in 25 of 118 (21.2%) cats. Median progression‐free survival and survival time for all cats were 113 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 69‐153) and 155 days (95% CI, 110‐222), respectively. Survival increased significantly (P < .001) when comparing cats across the ordered treatment groups: no treatment, treatment without partial cystectomy, and treatment with partial cystectomy. Partial cystectomy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.31; 95% CI, 0.17‐0.87) and treatment with nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33‐0.93) were significantly associated with longer survival times. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The results support treatment using partial cystectomy and NSAIDs in cats with TCC.

Patch grafting, a novel strategy for transplantation of stem/progenitor organoids into porcine livers, has been found successful also for organoid transplantation into other normal or diseased solid organs in pigs and mice. Each organoid contained ∼100 cells comprised of biliary tree stem cells (BTSCs), co-hepato/pancreatic stem/progenitors, and partnered with early lineage stage mesenchymal cells (ELSMCs), angioblasts and precursors to endothelia and stellate cells. Patch grafting enabled transplantation into livers or pancreases of ≥10^8th (pigs) or ≥10^6th-7th (mice) organoids/patch. Graft conditions fostered expression of multiple matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially secretory isoforms, resulting in transient loss of the organ's matrix-dictated histological features, including organ capsules, and correlated with rapid integration within a week of organoids throughout the organs and without emboli or ectopic cell distribution. Secondarily, within another week, there was clearance of graft biomaterials, followed by muted expression of MMPs, restoration of matrix-dictated histology, and maturation of donor cells to functional adult fates. The ability of patch grafts of organoids to rescue hosts from genetic-based disease states was demonstrated with grafts of BTSC/ELSMC organoids on livers, able to rescue NRG/FAH-KO mice from type I tyrosinemia, a disease caused by absence of fumaryl acetoacetate hydrolase. With the same grafts, if on pancreas, they were able to rescue NRG/Akita mice from type I diabetes, caused by a mutation in the insulin 2 gene. The potential of patch grafting for cell therapies for solid organs now requires translational studies to enable its adaptation and uses for clinical programs.

Background Cribriform lysis has been considered a contraindication for topical treatment of sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) because of concerns about drug extravasation with resultant neurologic signs or death. Objective/Hypothesis To describe dogs with SNA and cribriform plate lysis treated with topical antifungal medications. Our hypothesis was that the conventional dogma that topical therapy should be avoided in these cases is incorrect. Animals Nine client‐owned dogs with SNA and lysis of the cribriform plate, lysis of the floor of a frontal sinus or both detected by computed tomography (CT). Methods A retrospective review of medical records was performed. Dogs that met inclusion criteria (ie, SNA confirmed by at least 1 laboratory test, braincase affected on CT, and topical treatment applied) were included. Size of lesions, ancillary diagnostic test results, topical therapy, and adjuvant PO treatments were recorded. Outcome was determined by phone calls. Results Four dogs were alive at the time of the manuscript submission with follow‐up ranging from 188 to 684 days without neurological signs observed. All dogs were discharged without major complication 1‐7 days postoperatively. One dog that had presented with a history of seizures experienced seizure activity 2 months after treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Topical therapy did not result in complications in these dogs in which lytic regions as large as 16 × 22 mm² were noted. Sinonasal aspergillosis associated lysis of the cribriform plate; lysis of the floor of a frontal sinus or both detected on CT is not necessarily a contraindication to topical therapy.

Two different surgical techniques have been described for performing caudal maxillectomies in dogs including the intraoral (IO) and combined dorsolateral and intraoral (DL-IO) approach. Hemorrhage is the most common intraoperative complication reported during these procedures as maxillary arterial ligation is not performed until after all osteotomies and mobilization of tumor-bearing bone. The objectives of this study were to describe a modified approach for caudal maxillectomy in the dog involving preligation of the maxillary artery, to retrospectively evaluate the ability of this modified approach to limit hemorrhage in a cohort of 22 dogs, and to clarify the vascular anatomy of the maxillary artery and its branches in relation to associated nerves. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for cases that had caudal maxillectomy via a combined approach (with or without preligation of the maxillary artery) from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2019. Twenty-two cases were identified, six without, and 16 with arterial preligation, respectively. Osteotomies were completed with a high-speed handpiece and rotary bur (n = 18), or oscillating bone saw (n = 4). All six (100%) dogs in the traditional DL-IO group developed hypotension under general anesthesia. Four (67%) of these required intraoperative blood transfusions, one of which required an additional postoperative blood transfusion. In contrast, only one of 16 (6%) dogs in the modified DL-IO group required an intraoperative blood transfusion, and only three (19%) developed hypotension. Moreover, a significant association was detected between postoperative PCV and the two different surgical approaches (P = 0.021). These results demonstrate the effectiveness of preligation of the maxillary artery in preventing hemorrhage in caudal maxillectomies in dogs and this represents an improvement in outcome over previously reported studies. Decreased intraoperative hemorrhage may improve surgical exposure and decrease overall patient morbidity.