Diabetic cystopathy (DCP) is a prevalent urinary complication in diabetes. Late-stage DCP can cause chronic urinary retention, significantly impacting the patient’s quality of life and even posing a risk to their lives. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the pathogenesis and pathological characteristics of DCP. This study aims to utilize proteomics-related methods to uncover the pathogenesis of DCP by analyzing the differential protein expression profiles in the bladder tissue of diabetic rats and normal rats. Morphological analysis revealed notable changes in the bladder tissue of diabetic rats, including significant inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition. Immunohistological examination demonstrated increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation in the bladder tissue of diabetic rats. Quantitative proteomic analysis identified a total of 280 differentially expressed proteins between the two groups, with 193 proteins being down-regulated and 87 proteins being up-regulated. Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways indicated significant changes in protein expression profiles and signaling pathways in the bladder of diabetic rats. Additionally, transcription factor analysis revealed that the insulin-like growth factor-related protein family was the most affected. This study provides valuable evidence for identifying potential genes for the treatment of diabetic bladder.

Objective: Thyroid Autoantibodies (TgAbs) are associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders and are also used in thyroid cancer follow-up to monitor for recurrence of disease. This study aimed to explore the potential utility of TgAbs as a surrogated tumor marker and examine the relationship between fluctuations in TgAbs levels and disease recurrence in patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC). Method: This cohort study was conducted on a sample of 97 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) between the years 2017 and 2021. Following surgery (with or without lymph node dissection), levothyroxine therapy and 131 iodine were prescribed (as necessary). Regular laboratory evaluations were conducted, which involved measuring Tg and TgAb at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Patients were classified based on recurrence rate and different levels of TgAb and ROC analysis was applied. All data were analyzed with SPSS24, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: For low-risk patients, TgAb trends over time showed an increase at 6 months, while for high-risk patients, TgAb levels continuously rose starting from 3 months. Although TgAb levels above the functional sensitivity threshold did not predict recurrence overall, changes in TgAb levels at 6 months compared to 3 months after surgery were indicative of recurrence. Conclusion: In the entire population, having TgAb levels higher than the functional sensitivity threshold had not risk of various relapses. However, changes in TgAb serum levels at 6 months after surgery, compared to 3 months after surgery, can serve as an indication of tumor recurrence.

Malignant arrhythmia and cardiac arrest following intentional Yew tree leaf ingestion salvaged by VA-ECMO

Keratoconus and other corneal ectatic disorders involve the degradation of collagen fibers, which compromises the corneal biomechanical properties. UVA crosslinking has emerged as the primary treatment to slow down collagen degradation. This treatment is limited in both penetration depth and spatial precision, potentially leading to unwanted side effects. This work compares the changes in stiffness of corneas crosslinked with UVA irradiation and a near infrared femtosecond laser, using Brillouin microscopy. The stiffness of the crosslinked regions was mapped in terms of Brillouin frequency shift in three dimensions. UVA crosslinking showed an average increase in Brillouin shift of ~ 100 MHz. We demonstrate targeted spatial and axial corneal femtosecond crosslinking, with similar Brillouin shift values to UVA in crosslinked regions.

Objective: Female urethral stricture (FUS) is an underreported relatively rare condition, often resulting from a variety of causes. They can result from any process that causes injury to urethral epithelium which can then lead to scarring during the healing process of the injury and subsequent formation of a stricture. We report our experience with urethroplasty in women with urethral stricture with dorsal onlay BMG Urethroplasty which is considered a promising technique in view of anatomical and functional advantages. Design: Retrospective study Setting: Single-centre study conducted at Kanti Devi Medical College and Research Centre, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India. Population or Sample: 30 female patients diagnosed with urethral stricture who underwent dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty between February 2017 and February 2024. Methods: The study involved 30 female patients diagnosed with urethral stricture. Diagnostic methods included patient symptoms, post-void residual urine measurements, uroflowmetry, MCUG, and cystoscopy. The surgical techniques was dorsal onlay BMG Urethroplasty. The indication was those female patients with urethral stricture having failed urethral dilatation more than once. The patients were followed postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months and annually for up to five years. Key outcomes were improvement in LUTS, Qmax, post-void residual (PVR) urine, and stricture recurrence. Main Outcome Measures: Improvement in Qmax, PVR urine volume, and stricture recurrence rate. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.77 ± 6.14 years. Preoperative uroflowmetry showed a mean Qmax of 7.05 ± 1.81 mL/s, which improved significantly to 19.5 ± 2.83 mL/s postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Mean preoperative PVR was 116.07 ± 21.99 mL, which decreased to 29.13 ± 13.09 mL postoperatively (p < 0.0001). The success rate of the procedure was 90%, with a recurrence rate of 10%, managed with self-urethral dilation. No patient developed de novo urinary incontinence. Conclusions: Dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty is a safe, effective, and technically feasible treatment for FUSD, demonstrating a high success rate and minimal risk of complications.

Objectives: To assess fetal circulating free fetal haemoglobin (fHbF) levels and heme defences, correlated to fetal circulatory biometry and fetal sex in severe early-onset fetal growth restriction. Design, Setting & Population: A prospective study severe early-onset fetal growth restriction pregnancies with close clinical management (EFW<3 rd centile and <600g at 20-26+6 weeks; N=20). Method & Main Outcome Measures: Temporal fetal vascular obstetric biometry was recorded. Cord blood fHbF and key heme-scavenger defences were measured and compared with normal term births (N=26) and births with late-onset FGR (N=12). Results: fHbF was elevated in early-onset FGR compared with normal pregnancy: 0.437(0.337/0.753) mg/mL; P<0.0001; 0.098(0.045/0.264) mg/mL; P<0.0001), respectively; whilst hemopexin was downregulated in early- and late-onset FGR compared to normal pregnancy: 36(14/81) μg/mL, P<0.001; 25(19/40) μg/mL, P<0.0001; 155(132/219) μg/mL, respectively; median(interquartile ranges). Early-onset FGR male fetuses had higher fetal haemoglobin compared with the normal males: 0.710(0.433/0.857) mg/mL; P<0.001; 0.099(0.043/0.246) mg/mL, respectively; median(interquartile ranges). In early-onset FGR, ratios of mid-cerebral artery and umbilical artery pulsatility indices correlated positively with heme-scavenger levels (hemopexin and a heme-handling composite measure: P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively), indicating lower levels are associated with cerebral vascular redistribution. These heme handling measures also positively correlated with gestational age at delivery (P<0.01, both) and birthweight (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Free fetal haemoglobin overproduction may be one route to placental vascular compromise in early-onset FGR, implicated in reduced placental and fetal blood flow.

The Lithium-PEG method to transform yeast cells is a common experiment used by most yeast laboratories. After several optimizations, this method can yield up to 10 6 transformants / µg of plasmid. Some experiments such as library screening or complex transformation require to maximize transformation yield. Here we show that the addition of a 2M sorbitol solution acts as an osmo-protectant during and after heat shock and increases ten-fold the transformation rate. This optimization requires only one additional pipetting step compared to the initial protocol, and is therefore practical for a daily use.

Background and Purpose: Vitiligo, a common depigmenting skin disorder, is characterised by the selective loss of melanocytes, which leads to distinctive non-scaly, chalky-white macules. Galangin (GA), a flavonoid found in galangal and propolis, our previous study highlighted the therapeutic potential of GA. However, the contributions of GA to restoring skin pigmentation and maintaining immune homeostasis, as well as its detailed molecular roles in vitiligo management, have not been fully elucidated. Experimental Approach: We used H2O2-induced vitiligo mice and imiquimod-induced erythema mice to test the anti-vitiligo effects and anti-inflammatory effects of GA. We also revealed the potential mechanism by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, pull-down assays, Autodock and surface plasmon resonance analysis in cells. Key Results: We found that GA exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through a dual mechanism: it promotes melanocyte proliferation while inhibiting macrophage proliferation. Using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, pull-down assays, Autodock and surface plasmon resonance analyses, we revealed that GA binds to Annexin A2 (ANXA2) and promotes its degradation in macrophages. This interaction led to the inhibition of macrophage proliferation and activation. In vivo, GA administration significantly improved skin conditions in H2O2-induced vitiligo mice and imiquimod-induced erythema mice. Furthermore, ANXA2 knockout abolished the protective effects of GA in these models. Conclusion and Implications: Our findings provide novel evidence of GA’s dual mechanism in vitiligo treatment, which involves selective binding and degradation of ANXA2 in macrophages. These results support the potential clinical application of GA for vitiligo therapy.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PC), which is a disease driven by the activity of the androgen receptor (AR), is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and despite advances in diagnostic and treatment strategies, PC is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in men [(Bray et al., 2018)](#ref-0012). Taxane-based chemotherapy is the only chemotherapy that prolongs survival in metastatic PC patients [(Petrylak et al., 2004; Tannock et al., 2004)](#ref-0097). At the cellular level, taxanes bind to and stabilize microtubules (MTs) inhibiting all MT-dependent intracellular pathways. MTs are highly dynamic polymers that stochastically switch between phases of growth, shrinkage, and pause [(Jordan and Wilson, 2004)](#ref-0058). Altered MT dynamics endow cancer cells with both survival and migratory advantages [(Mitchison, 2012)](#ref-0090). Taxanes inhibit MT dynamics and alter the spatial organization of the MT network, thereby inhibiting intracellular trafficking of molecular cargo critical for tumor survival. In PC specifically, taxanes inhibit transcriptional activity downstream of MT stabilization [(Thadani-Mulero et al., 2012)](#ref-0112) and AR nuclear accumulation [(Darshan et al., 2011; Zhu et al., 2010)](#ref-0021). Methods: Different tubulin inhibitors, even from within the same structural class as the taxanes, affect distinct parameters of MT dynamics [(Jordan and Wilson, 2004)](#ref-0058), yet the selection of taxane for chemotherapy is not based on the particular patterns of dynamic behavior of the MT cytoskeleton in individual patients. We envisage that systematic characterization using quantitative analysis of MT dynamics in PC patient cells expressing clinically relevant protein isoforms [(Matov et al., 2024; Thoma et al., 2010)](#ref-0082), before and after treatment with each of the taxanes, will allow us to identify criteria for the selection of the most suitable drug combination at the onset of treatment. Results: We link MT dynamics in the presence of AR variants and sensitivity/resistance to taxanes and connect fundamental research with clinically relevant concepts to elucidate cellular mechanisms of clinical response to taxanes and, thus, advance the customization of therapy. Our computational live-cell analysis addresses questions in the context of the inherent differences in MT homeostasis as a function of AR content in PC cells, the specific parameters of MT dynamics each of the taxanes affects, and how can this information be used to match endogenous patterns of MT dynamics with drug-modulated MT behavior. Conclusion: We investigate whether the sensitivity to taxanes, evaluated by computational analysis of MTs, can be linked to gene expression correlated with AR and its variants, and whether the resistance to taxanes can be linked to the presence of a specific AR splice variant, and can we identify which of the taxanes will be most effective based on the endogenous patterns of MT dynamics.

Background: The present study aimed to determine whether the use of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) during neonatal endotracheal intubation increases the rate of successful intubation without physiological instability during all intubation attempts. Material and Methods: The present study was designed as a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled study conducted with neonates undergoing endotracheal intubation. The infants were assigned randomly to either the NIPPV group or the standard care group. The primary outcome was successful intubation without physiological instability (defined as ≥20% decline in the peripheral oxygen saturation [SpO 2] from pre-intubation value or bradycardia with a heart rate of <100 beats per minute) during all intubation attempts. Results: A total of 150 infants were enrolled (75 for the NIPPV group and 75 for the standart-care group). The infants had a mean postmenstrual age of 32.5 weeks and a median weight of 1552 g at the time of intubation. The incidence of successful intubation without physiological instability during all intubation attempts was significantly higher in the NIPPV group (64%) compared to the standard-care group (42.7%) (p = 0.009). This difference was particularly significant when inexperienced practitioners were involved. In the NIPPV group, the rate of bradycardia and severe desaturation was significantly lower, while the lowest SpO 2 level and the lowest heart rate level were significanlty higher. Conclusion: NIPPV during endotracheal intubation increases the incidence of successful intubation without physiological instability during all intubation attempts in neonates, while reducing the rate of hypoxia and bradycardia.

To the Editor,Children’s interstitial lung disease (chILD) is an umbrella term that encompasses a heterogeneous group of complex, ultra-rare diffuse lung diseases affecting infants and children with a prevalence of <1 per 100,000 patients.5 There are over 200 disease conditions collectively grouped into chILD. Most conditions involve inflammation and secondary damage to the lungs which impacts gas exchange and may result in failure to thrive and respiratory failure in the most severe cases. The epidemiology of chILD is difficult to define given the low incidence and varying case definitions of disease. Prevalence is estimated to be likely <1 per 100,000 patients as compared to 60-80 per 100,000 in adults.3 Many European academic centers see between one and five new chILD cases each year.4 Diagnosing chILD is multi-faceted and complex not only including clinical assessment of symptoms and imaging, but possible need for lung biopsy and genetic testing. As chILD can result in impaired gas exchange, increased work of breathing, hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia, patients with chILD are at higher risk for sleep disordered breathing (SDB).2 As SDB may increase the risk of complications of chILD such as impaired growth and pulmonary hypertension, both might interplay and exacerbate one another.Prior studies have looked at SDB in chILD diagnoses such as neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI) which is a rare pediatric disorder in which the abnormal growth of neuroendocrine cells in the lung parenchyma leads to hypoxemia and chronic respiratory distress. A study performed at Children’s Hospital Colorado has found a high incidence of sleep related breathing disorders in a NEHI cohort with 57% diagnosed with OSA, 3% with central sleep apnea (CSA), and 71% with nocturnal hypoxemia.1 As the prevalence of SDB was shown to be high in the NEHI cohort from Colorado, the aim of our study was to investigate SDB in a cohort of patients with a diverse spectrum of chILD diagnoses at our center.Methods :We performed a single-center retrospective chart review study approved by the Weill Cornell Medicine Institutional Review Board (IRB Protocol #21-11024168). Institutional IRB approved of waiver of informed consent given retrospective chart review study design. Study was conducted in accordance with Helsinki Declaration. We queried the electronic medical record to identify children age 0-21 years old who have ever received ICD-10 codes for chILD from 2012 to 2022 (Supplemental table 1). We performed a manual retrospective validation protocol to include only the patients who met criteria for chILD syndrome or a specific chILD diagnosis.6 We identified the children who were referred and underwent nocturnal polysomnogram (PSG), and analyzed demographic information, chILD diagnosis, clinical symptoms, reason for referral, and PSG data. Patients underwent standard level I PSG attended and reviewed by a registered polysomnography technologist using Natus system (Natus Medical Incorporation, San Carlos, CA, USA). Studies were interpreted by board-certified sleep physicians with sleep parameters based on American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was defined by the presence of snoring, apnea, increased work of breathing, daytime sleepiness, behavioral problems, or learning problems combined with PSG findings of one or more obstructive apnea, mixed apnea, or hypopnea per hour of sleep (oAHI > 1/hr). Sleep related hypoxemia was defined as Descriptive statistics were used for categorical and continuous variables.Results :14 of the 52 children identified with a diagnosis of chILD had undergone a PSG. Their age ranged from one month to 19 years (median age of eight years). Four had a diagnosis of chILD associated with rheumatologic disease, four with bronchiolitis obliterans, two with ABCA3, one with NEHI, one with pulmonary interstitial glycogenesis and two with chILD of unknown etiology (Figure 1). The reasons for referral were symptoms of snoring (43%), restless sleep (7%), daytime sleepiness (7%) and assessment for nocturnal hypoxemia (71%). The PSG was diagnostic for OSA in 50% of patients with an oAHI range from 1.4 to 11.2 (median oAHI of 3.1) events/hr. Sleep related hypoxemia was diagnosed in in three patients (21%), one of them had OSA as well. No patients had central sleep apnea (Table 1). This led to an overall prevalence of OSA of 13% and a prevalence of SDB (OSA and/or hypoxemia) of 17% in our cohort of patients with chILD.Discussion :This study demonstrates a high prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in a cohort of children with a spectrum of chILD diagnoses. We demonstrated that the prevalence of OSA is higher than that of the general pediatric population (1-4%).6 Sleep related breathing disorders in children with chronic lung disease are not well studied and may go undetected. Possible explanations might be under-recognition of SDB by physicians or parents given the medical complexity of the underlying chILD diagnosis, attributing respiratory symptoms in sleep to the underlying lung disease, and underreporting of sleep symptoms by parents unless specifically asked. In this study, not all patients with chILD systematically underwent PSG. Those that were referred were because they presented with symptoms. This might have led to an under-diagnosis of SDB. In our institution, however all patients with chILD are followed by pulmonologists who screen for sleep related breathing disorders at each visit and have a low threshold for PSG referral. This finding underscores the recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics to screen all pediatric patients for SDB as well as considering referring complex, high risk patients with chronic lung disease for further evaluation by a sleep specialist.There is a paucity of research in the field of pediatric sleep in chILD in comparison to the adult population.1 Previous studies in children found a high prevalence of OSA of 57% in a cohort of NEHI patients, and other studies identified the range to be anywhere from 33% to 61% in chILD.1,2 One study found that only 10% of their chILD population were observed to have mild or moderate OSA, and therefore they concluded that OSA seems uncommon in patients with chILD.2 The strength of our study was that we were able to evaluate the presence of SDB in diverse spectrum of chILD diagnoses which allows for increased recognition of comorbid sleep disorders. A limitation of our study is the small sample size. Considering how rare chILD is, a prospective multi-center study evaluating chILD patients by PSGs is needed to determine the prevalence and potential health outcomes.The impact of SDB on healthcare outcomes in patients with chILD is not well studied. We know that repeated collapse of the airway during sleep, increased respiratory effort, and impaired gas exchange with intermittent and/or sustained hypoxemia with concomitant hypercapnia activates the sympathetic nervous system leading to cardiovascular and endocrine morbidities. Neurobehavioral development has been linked to synaptic remodeling that occurs during sleep, and with the disruption in sleep associated with SDB, deficits in neurocognition have been well recognized.2 We know there is a critical relationship between untreated OSA and development of pulmonary hypertension, of which patients with chILD are already at risk for given their underlying lung disease. To improve outcomes and avoid detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system and child development, it is important to identify and treat comorbid SDB to improve outcomes in chILD.Conclusion/Summary :The aim of our study was to investigate the spectrum of sleep disordered breathing in a cohort of patients with children’s interstitial lung disease at our center. We performed a single-center retrospective chart review using ICD-10 codes for children’s interstitial lung disease from 2012-2022. For those who had a polysomnogram performed, we identified and analyzed demographic information, diagnosis, clinical symptoms, reason for referral, and the polysomnogram data. Of the patients in our cohort who received a sleep study, seven patients met diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnea while 3 patients met criteria for sleep related hypoxemia. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea was 13% in our cohort. The overall prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in our cohort was 17%. This study demonstrates an increased prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in a cohort of children with spectrum of children’s interstitial lung disease diagnoses. We demonstrated that the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea is higher than that of the general pediatric population. Sleep related breathing disorders in children with chronic lung disease are not well studied and may go undetected resulting in increased morbidity. Previous studies have evaluated sleep disordered breathing in specific chILD diagnoses such as neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy, so we aimed to expand to a larger spectrum of chILD diagnoses. This study expands our knowledge base surrounding comorbid sleep conditions in complex, ultra rare lung disease and advocates for early identification of sleep disorders to potentially improve health outcomes in patients with chILD.

A three-year-old Warmblood filly presented with left forelimb lameness of two weeks duration with a discharging sinus over the lateral aspect of the mid-metacarpal region. The filly was diagnosed with a proximal, open, comminuted fracture of metacarpal IV (MCIV). Initial treatment with local debridement and systemic antimicrobial administration was unsuccessful, with the development of osteomyelitis which cultured a methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudointermedius. A subsequent segmental ostectomy was performed resulting in avulsion of proximal MCIV from metacarpal III post-operatively. Reduction and internal fixation of the displaced MCIV with cortical lag screws was performed, with immediate bone failure during recovery from general anaesthesia. The proximal MCIV was then removed under standing sedation and local anaesthesia. Subsequent development of osteoarthritis in the carpometacarpal and middle carpal joints was likely secondary to joint instability, but the horse was sound 12 months post-operatively. Despite the surgical complications in this case being previously described, there are no reports on the removal of metacarpal splint bones in the horse to the author’s knowledge. As the prognosis for this case is considered good for future athletic performance, proximal or complete MCIV resection could be considered as a possible treatment option in select cases.

A process-based understanding of community assembly at multiple scales can allow forecasting of community response to degradation and restoration practices. We draw attention to a distinct metacommunity arrangement characterised by multiple levels of assembly filters, and exemplified by freshwater habitat patches on islands. This type of metacommunity has complex spatial dynamics, and dispersal must occur across multiple intermediate habitat types. An interdisciplinary approach harnessing mathematical models and genetic tools such as eDNA and population genomics will allow us to unravel the fundamental processes acting over a large spatial and temporal scale influenced by the region's geography, historical events and species pool.

In this study, a hydraulic arm was developed for the robotic cotton picker and integrated with the e-vehicle. The hydraulic arm had three degrees of freedom (DOFs), that moved in vertical, rotational, and radial motion. A roller-type end-effector was installed at the front of the arm that came close to the cotton boll and separated it from the plant. A vacuum unit was generating a suction pressure in the hose pipe, allowing it to suck up the picked cotton bolls and transport them into the storage tank. The hydraulic arm with e-vehicle was operated in the field for three different plant-to-plant spacing 250, 350, and 450 mm at suction pressures 25, 50, and 75 mmHg to assess its performance. The maximum picking efficiency and picking capacity were 92.79 %, and 567 bolls picked/h, respectively observed for plant-to-plant spacing of 450 mm at a suction pressure of 75 mmHg. The minimum damage of green bolls and losses of cotton bolls were 126 bolls/ha, and 3.79 %, respectively observed for plant-to-plant spacing 450 mm at a suction pressure of 75 mmHg. The minimum trash content was 20.50 g observed for plant-to-plant spacing 450 mm at a suction pressure of 25 mmHg. The most suitable combination for achieving the acceptable performance of a hydraulic arm integrated with an e-vehicle in a cotton crop was the plant-to-plant spacing of 450 mm and suction pressure of 75 mmHg.

Background: Donkeys in East Africa are recognized as working with poorly designed harnesses and carts. The donkey cart used in regions of Africa, specifically Meru County, Kenya, appears to place the cart’s weight solely on the donkey’s mid-cervical region where the trachea is superficially located. Objectives: To compare the presence and severity of endoscopic abnormalities in the upper airway and trachea of Meru County working cart donkeys compared to pack donkeys. To determine associations between endoscopic and external physical exam findings. Study design: Cross-sectional Methods: At voluntary health clinics, physical examination and endoscopy of the upper airway and trachea were evaluated and recorded at rest on 66 donkeys (38 cart donkeys and 28 pack donkeys). The presence and grade of tracheal collapse, tracheal ring abnormalities, tracheal mucous and pharyngitis were subsequently determined on the endoscopy recordings by blinded evaluators. Mann–Whitney and Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests were used to investigate associations between work type and physical exam and endoscopy findings. Results: Significant associations were identified between work type and tracheal collapse severity, ring abnormalities, pharyngitis, skin lesions, and skin hypertrophy with these findings more common in cart than pack donkeys (all P<0.03). Moderate tracheal collapse (grade 3) was present in 40% (95% CI: 24-57%) of cart and 0% (0-12%) of pack donkeys. Exam findings were significantly and positively associated with endoscopy findings (all P<0.002). Main limitations: Standing endoscopy was performed at rest, not dynamic endoscopy during the pulling of carts. Conclusion: Moderate tracheal collapse was seen in cart donkeys when compared to pack donkeys. Physical exam findings at rest were associated with tracheal collapse and tracheal ring abnormalities. This work may help identify by physical examination donkeys that are at greatest need of improved harnesses.

Osteochondrosis (OC) is a frequent manifestation of developmental orthopaedic disease, and its several clinical presentation is kwon as OC dissecans (OCD). OC is defined as a disruption of the endochondral ossification process in the epiphyseal cartilage and this disease has been reported in different mammalian species, including human, dogs, pigs, and horses. OCD is one of the most relevant problems in the equine industry, which has been regarded as an important cause of lameness in sport horses. In fact, OCD is the predominant cause of impaired orthopaedic potential, whose symptoms may be of minimal magnitude or manifest as severe joint effusion or clinically noticeable lameness. The aetiology of OCD is unknown, although it has traditionally been considered a multifactorial pathology. Among the associated factors have been included non-genetic factors as rapid growth, nutrition, trauma and anatomic conformation, and genetic factors. Since the prevalence of the disease varies greatly depending on the horse breed, from 13% in Swedish Warmblood to 53% in Lusitano breed, it seems that genetic factors have a great relevance in the appearance and development of OCD in horses. In fact, many genetic modifications have been related, and the genes involved can be grouped into five clusters, which involves fundamental functions for the correct development and regeneration of cartilage, such as collagen, laminin, cell signalling, matrix turnover and transcription regulation. This review summarizes the main factors associated with OC in horses, with special relevance to genetic factors.

Flower-derived eDNA holds great promise as a rapid and non-invasive tool for monitoring pollinators and their plant-associations. However, pollinators often only briefly interact with a plant and leave little eDNA, making them particularly challenging to detect. In addition, taxonomic biases in eDNA deposition and PCR amplification prevent quantitative analysis of pollinator diversity. These limitations have so far precluded the widespread use of eDNA in pollinator monitoring. Comparing flower-derived eDNA with conventional monitoring in flower strips, we here explore the utility of eDNA to detect community diversity, species abundances and ecological specificity of plant-associated arthropods. We show that read abundances are a bad predictor of true abundances at the community level. Instead, the occupancy of individual species in replicated flower eDNA samples provides reliable quantitative estimates of pollinator biodiversity and detects their ecological specificity very well. Also, we find that pollinator eDNA can be collected non-invasively, by washing off from flowers in the field. Our work highlights eDNA analysis as a powerful tool for the rapid future monitoring of plant-arthropod interactions and plant-pollinator networks.

Ecohydrology engineering provides a valuable framework for addressing emerging environmental challenges by integrating ecological and environmental engineering principles. In this study, we discuss the potential of parsimonious, physically-based ecohydrological models through the lens of three case studies: sustainable irrigation, urban heat island mitigation via green roofs, and mangrove restoration for climate change mitigation. First, we investigate sustainable irrigation strategies, illustrating the trade-offs between water conservation and soil salinization. This highlights the delicate balance required to optimize crop yield while mitigating soil degradation. Second, we explore the role of green roofs in urban heat island mitigation, showing how vegetation and water dynamics on rooftops can enhance latent heat flux, thereby potentially reducing urban temperatures and improving building energy efficiency. Lastly, we assess the climate mitigation potential of mangrove restoration, accounting for the impacts of salinization and sea-level rise. We demonstrate that carbon sequestration in mangrove ecosystems may be strongly limited by productivity reduction due to salinity and reduced area availability under sea-level rise. These examples highlight the value of simple ecohydrological models in providing critical insights into sustainable environmental management. Ecohydrological engineering, therefore, offers promising avenues for developing innovative solutions that leverage the intricate connections between water and biota to address emerging challenges.