Objectives: The aim of the study was to provide a detailed anatomical study of the feline bronchial and vascular structures by using CT angiography (CTA). Methods: Adult cats with no respiratory clinical signs were enrolled in a CTA protocol to provide an anatomical study of the thorax. The dimensions, number of branches and branching pattern (monopodial vs dichotomic) of both bronchial and pulmonary vascular structures were evaluated under positive inspiration apnoea. A linear generalised estimating equations analysis (Spearman’s rho) was used to identify statistical correlation between tracheal diameter, age and body weight of the cats. Results: Fourteen cats met the inclusion criteria. The pulmonary arteries had larger diameters than the pulmonary veins, and the pulmonary veins had larger diameters than the bronchial structures. A higher number of segmental bronchial and pulmonary vascular branches was observed in the left caudal lung lobe than in the other lobes. The monopodial branching pattern of both bronchial and pulmonary vascular structures was predominant in all cats of our study (100%) in cranial, caudal and right middle lung lobes, while a dichotomic branching pattern of the bronchial and pulmonary vascular structures of the accessory lung lobe was seen in 13 cats (93%). Thirteen cats (93%) had three pulmonary vein ostia, and one cat (7%) also presented with an additional left intermediate pulmonary vein ostium. Variation in the number of segmental pulmonary vein branches was noted in the right caudal lung lobe. There was no statistical correlation between tracheal diameter, age and weight. Conclusions and relevance: Architecture of the feline bronchovascularr structures belongs to a mixed type of monopodial and dichotomic branching pattern. In cats, the pulmonary venous drainage system predominately presents three pulmonary vein ostia. Variations in the type of formation and the number of branches of the pulmonary venous drainage system were noted.

Dermisiadou E, et al. J Vet Sci. 2023 Jan;24:e14. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.22158

The aim of this retrospective multicentric case series is to describe the CT findings of ovarian neoplasia in dogs. Twenty dogs with pre‐ and postcontrast CT exams and cytological/histological diagnosis of ovarian neoplasia were included. Five dogs presented with bilateral tumors, for a total of 25 neoplasms: 15 carcinomas (4 bilateral), 4 granulosa cell tumors, 2 poorly differentiated malignant neoplasia (bilateral), 2 luteomas, 1 teratoma, 1 dysgerminoma. In two dogs, the tumor developed from an ovarian remnant. Ovarian tumors showed variable size, lobulated shape, and precontrast heterogenous appearance. Mineral foci and/or fat components were rare, observed in teratoma, granulosa cell tumors (2), and ovarian carcinoma. Tumor type was not found to be associated with any CT features. Larger masses were more likely located in the central abdomen ventral to the ipsilateral kidney, demonstrated signs of tumor rupture, and were associated with abdominal or sternal lymphadenopathy and peritoneal effusion. A tortuous ovarian artery was constantly detectable, associated with an enlarged gonadal vein (12 cases). Related cavitary changes were peritoneal effusion (14 dogs) and sternal lymphadenopathy (7 dogs). Presumed or confirmed metastasis was reported in 9 of 20 cases, with CT evidence of transcoelomic (serosal thickening, peritoneal nodules, omental cake, implant lesions to the liver, spleen, and diaphragm), lymphatic and hematogenous spread (lungs, liver, bone, muscles, and spleen). In conclusion, the present study reports the CT features of different canine ovarian neoplasia. A tortuous ovarian artery may be useful to consistently recognize the ovarian origin of a large abdominal mass.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in adults with a median survival of 15 months. One of the main factors responsible for the poor prognosis of GBM is resistance to treatment with temozolomide (TMZ), which has been attributed—among other factors—to autophagy. Preclinical studies have shown that the combination of disulfiram (DSF) with copper (Cu) possesses anti-GBM activity, through various mechanisms, including re-sensitization to TMZ. Herein, we tested for the first time the effects of DSF and Cu in combination with TMZ on the survival of Fischer rats bearing F98 glioma, a model characterized by inherent resistance to TMZ. Tumor size evaluation by Magnetic Resonance Imaging as well as immunofluorescence analysis of two autophagy markers, namely microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and sequestosome-1 (SQSTM1)/p62 (p62), were also performed. According to our results, TMZ-DSF-Cu significantly increased mean survival and induced both LC3 and p62 autophagy markers. Interestingly, these results could not be achieved in the absence of Cu, neither in the presence of TMZ alone, suggesting the importance of combining DSF with Cu in order to sensitize glioma to TMZ, presumably via implication of autophagy modulation.