Keloids undergo repeated cycles of regression and recurrence; however, vascular dynamics associated with recurrence remain poorly understood. In this prospective time-series study, we investigated microvascular changes in keloids using longitudinal three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging combined with ultrasonography. Adult patients with trunk or extremity keloids receiving intralesional triamcinolone treatment underwent imaging at four time points over a 6-month period. Vascular morphology and oxygenation were evaluated in superficial and subdermal layers using dual-wavelength near-infrared illumination and relative S-factor values referenced to peri-keloid regions. Six keloids in five patients were analyzed. Regressive lesions demonstrated hypoxic superficial microvessels disconnected from hyperoxic subdermal vessels, whereas recurrent lesions showed emergence of hyperoxic superficial microvessels continuous with hyperoxic subdermal venous networks. Persistent subdermal venous hyperoxia was observed irrespective of clinical status. Combined three-dimensional and longitudinal photoacoustic imaging enabled spatiotemporal identification of activity-dependent microvascular alterations associated with keloid recurrence, supporting a potential arteriovenous shunting mechanism.

Pythiosis is a neglected infectious disease caused by the aquatic oomycete Pythium insidiosum and remains underrecognized in cattle, particularly in tropical regions. Here, we report the first molecularly confirmed outbreak of bovine pythiosis in the Amazon biome, affecting more than 400 animals raised under extensive production systems and areas with prolonged exposure to standing water. Clinically affected cattle presented ulcerative and exudative cutaneous lesions, predominantly involving the distal limbs. Given the diagnostic challenges associated with pythiosis, etiological confirmation was achieved through quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of P. insidiosum, providing rapid and specific molecular detection during the outbreak investigation. Therapeutic interventions were implemented as part of routine field management, including intramuscular triamcinolone combined with topical copper sulfate; this regimen was associated with clinical improvement in a substantial proportion of affected animals, though treatment efficacy was not formally evaluated. The outbreak occurred in flood-prone pastures during the rainy season, highlighting the role of aquatic environments in pathogen transmission. These findings expand the current understanding of bovine pythiosis in tropical ecosystems and underscore the importance of molecular diagnostics, outbreak surveillance, and a One Health approach for the identification and management of water-associated pathogens in livestock.

Background/Objectives: Primary acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction (PALDO) is a common cause of epiphora. Although dacryoendoscopic recanalization (DER) is widely performed, its long-term success is limited by restenosis related to fibro-inflammatory processes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel Q-needle for targeted intraductal delivery of antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory agents during DER. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 190 eyes treated with DER, silicone tube intubation (SI), and retrograde intraductal injection via the inferior meatus using a Q-needle. A mixture of dexamethasone (1 mL), 5-fluorouracil (1 mL), and triamcinolone acetonide (1 mL) was administered directly into the obstruction site under endoscopic visualization. Obstruction type was classified intraoperatively as secretory or structural based on dacryoendoscopic findings. Results: The overall surgical success rate was 92.1%, with significantly greater success in secretory-type PALDO compared to the structural type (96.8% vs. 87.4%, p = 0.031). These outcomes contrast with previous reports in which secretory-type PALDO was associated with poorer prognosis after DER. Conclusions: The improved outcomes in the secretory group suggest a potential role of combined antiproliferative and multi-phase anti-inflammatory therapy in effectively addressing the key mechanisms of restenosis. Q-needle-assisted intraductal injection during DER may represent a simple and safe adjunctive approach to improve surgical consistency and long-term patency in patients with PALDO.

Horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) are at an increased risk of laminitis following corticosteroid use. Ertugliflozin reduces hyperinsulinemia in horses with EMS, and therefore may be a management option to reduce the insulin spike seen post corticosteroid use. It was hypothesised that oral ertugliflozin, administered before and after intra-articular (IA) triamcinolone acetonide (TA), will significantly lower the insulin response in comparison to placebo. A randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design was performed on eight adult standardbred geldings with no history of laminitis. Once a day, horses were orally-administered with either 0.05 mg/kg of ertugliflozin or volume-matched placebo for four days before and four days after IA TA (18 mg) was administered into a middle carpal joint. Horses then had a two-week washout period before the same process was repeated with the alternative treatment (ertugliflozin or placebo) and opposite carpal joint injected. During the eight-day treatment periods, blood was collected each day at 8 am and 12 pm for analysis of blood insulin, glucose and triglycerides concentrations. Using Bayesian modelling, the maximum plasma insulin concentration (Cmax) for the post-TA period was 40.2 μIU/mL (95% credible interval: 13.2, 65.7) with placebo and 16.7 μIU/mL (95% CI: 1.76, 40.1) with ertugliflozin. There was a 99.13% probability that the ertugliflozin Cmax was lower than that for placebo. In conclusion, four once-daily doses of oral ertugliflozin (0.05 mg/kg) given prior to and again following IA TA administration, attenuated the rise in plasma insulin concentrations in non-insulin-dysregulated horses.

Prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesion (PA) remains inadequately addressed by current clinical practice due to difficulties in precise regulation of inflammation and elimination of peroxidation products. This study proposed a polydopamine-coated triamcinolone acetonide acetate nanocrystal (TAA@PDA) to prevent peritoneal adhesions via the collective effects of TAA and PDA through multiple mechanisms, including the anti-inflammatory effect, oxidative stress scavenging, certain hemostatic ability and adsorption of pro-inflammatory cytokines by numerous amino/phenolic hydroxyl groups. TAA@PDA particles with a rod-like morphology and an average diameter of approximately 560 nm were successfully prepared via ball milling. TAA@PDA demonstrated excellent physical stability for up to 30 days, ensuring complete drug release within 7 days without sedimentation or aggregation. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative capabilities of TAA@PDA were proven by their strong adsorption onto pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6 and TNF-α), low adsorption capacity of anti-inflammatory IL-10 and ∼80% efficiency in scavenging reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). TAA@PDA's adsorption of type I collagen and a strong tissue adhesion rate demonstrated its retention capacity on the abdominal wall or organ surfaces. At the cellular level, TAA@PDA inhibited the intracellular production of ROS and effectively suppressed the secretion of the inflammatory marker nitric oxide (NO). TAA@PDA exhibited certain hemostatic ability for small wound bleeding in abdominal injury. TAA@PDA significantly inhibited peritoneal adhesion formation in PA model animals with a low incidence of severe adhesion (9.1%) which was only 1/8 that of the commercial anti-PA hyaluronic acid gel and 1/5 that of uncoated TAA NCs, further supported by excellent anti-inflammatory performance and significantly reduced collagen deposition shown by pathological examination. In conclusion, this TAA@PDA might provide an efficient solution to prevent postoperative peritoneal adhesion by precise coordination between inflammatory microenvironment regulation and tissue protection.