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Think you don't have enough room to green up your act? My Tiny Garden Farm is bursting with innovative ideas and savvy solutions to help you transform any small space into a slice of the good life. With forest plots, urban orchards and amazing allotments, we've unearthed over 25 exciting spaces. Meet the Kent College showing local schools how to deal with ducks, the Brooklyn inner city community gardeners who are growing nuts, and Devonshire couple who have filled their front yard with edible flowers. You'll pick up all the best tips and tricks as each gardener shares their small-scale expertise, from super seed swaps to mastering seasonal gluts. Plus, practical projects including building a plant ladder, constructing a hedge fence and improving your chicken coop will help you make the most of every inch. Whether you're looking to grow backgarden veg in a bucket, build a bee nest, or go the whole hog with your plot, get inspired, let your imagination grow and enjoy your tiny garden farm. Word count: 25,000.

Background Despite aggressive treatment regimens comprising surgery and radiochemotherapy, glioblastoma (GBM) remains a cancer entity with very poor prognosis. The development of novel, combined modality approaches necessitates adequate preclinical model systems and therapy regimens that closely reflect the clinical situation. So far, image-guided, fractionated radiotherapy of orthotopic GBM models represents a major limitation in this regard. Methods GL261 mouse GBM cells were inoculated into the right hemispheres of C57BL/6 mice. Tumor growth was monitored by contrast-enhanced conebeam CT (CBCT) scans. When reaching an average volume of approximately 7 mm 3 , GBM tumors were irradiated with daily fractions of 2 Gy up to a cumulative dose of 20 Gy in different beam collimation settings. For treatment planning and tumor volume follow-up, contrast-enhanced CBCT scans were performed twice per week. Daily repositioning of animals was achieved by alignment of bony structures in native CBCT scans. When showing neurological symptoms, mice were sacrificed by cardiac perfusion. Brains, livers, and kidneys were processed into histologic sections. Potential toxic effects of contrast agent administration were assessed by measurement of liver enzyme and creatinine serum levels and by histologic examination. Results Tumors were successfully visualized by contrast-enhanced CBCT scans with a detection limit of approximately 2 mm 3 , and treatment planning could be performed. For daily repositioning of the animals, alignment of bony structures in native CT scans was well feasible. Fractionated irradiation caused a significant delay in tumor growth translating into significantly prolonged survival in clear dependence of the beam collimation setting and margin size. Brain sections revealed tumors of similar appearance and volume on the day of euthanasia. Importantly, the repeated contrast agent injections were well tolerated, as liver enzyme and creatinine serum levels were only subclinically elevated, and liver and kidney sections displayed normal histomorphology. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced, CT-based, fractionated radiation of orthotopic mouse GBM represents a versatile preclinical technique for the development and evaluation of multimodal radiotherapeutic approaches in combination with novel therapeutic agents in order to accelerate translation into clinical testing.

Although cell culture systems for hepatitis E virus (HEV) have been established by using cell lines such as PLC/PRF/5 and A549, small-animal models for this virus are limited. Since Mongolia gerbils are susceptible to genotype 1, 3 and 4 HEV (HEV-1, HEV-3 and HEV4), we intraperitoneally inoculated Mongolia gerbils with HEV-5, HEV-7, HEV-8, rabbit HEV or rat HEV in addition to the above three genotypes to investigate the infectivity and to assess whether Mongolia gerbil is an appropriate animal model for HEV infection. The results indicated that (i) HEV-5 and rat HEV were effectively replicated in the Mongolia gerbils in the same manner as HEV-4: large amounts of the viral RNA were detected in the feces and livers, and high titers of the serum anti-HEV IgG antibodies were induced in all animals. The feces were shown to contain HEV that is infectious to naïve gerbils. Furthermore, HEV-4, HEV-5 and rat HEV were successfully transmitted to the gerbils by oral inoculation. (ii) Although the viral RNA and serum anti-HEV IgG antibodies were detected in all animals inoculated with HEV-1 and HEV-8, both titers were low. The viral RNA was detected in the feces collected from two of three HEV-3-inoculated, and one of three HEV-7-inoculated gerbils, but the titers were low. The serum antibody titers were also low. The viruses excreted into the feces of HEV-1-, HEV-3-, HEV-7- and HEV-8-inoculated gerbils failed to infect naïve Mongolia gerbils. (iii) No infection sign was observed in the rabbit HEV-inoculated gerbils. These results demonstrated that Mongolia gerbils are broadly susceptible to HEV, and their degree of sensitivity was dependent on the genotype. Mongolia gerbils were observed to be susceptible to not only HEVs belonging to HEV-A but also to rat HEV belonging to HEV-C1, and thus Mongolia gerbil could be useful as a small-animal model for cross-protection experiments between HEV-A and HEV-C1. Mongolia gerbils may also be useful for the evaluation of the efficacy of vaccines against HEV.

Background In human medicine, questions regarding heritable disorders are dealt with by clinical geneticists and genetic counselors and both the field, their roles and the tools they use are well-defined. Even though the prevalence of diseases is far higher and scientific literature agrees on expectations towards an increased importance, this does not seem to be the case in veterinary medicine. While we hypothesize that there will be an overlap, some characteristics uniquely linked to veterinary medicine might not be covered. Methods To investigate this in-depth and in an attempt to define the field, we compared the internationally accepted definitions and its subparts on genetic counseling in human medicine with what is found in veterinary literature and what was seen in cats and dogs presented at our dedicated small animals clinical genetics/genetic counseling clinic. The results were used in a stepwise analysis that lead to a set of three potential definitions (i.e. on what genetic counseling is, who provides it and which tools are used) that fullfill four criteria (i.e. definitions have to be clear/self-explanatory, minimally sufficient, complete and valid). Results The short version of the definition of genetic counseling in veterinary medicine is: \"Genetic counseling is the process of helping animal owners and breeders understand – and adapt to – the medical, psychological, familial implications of genetic contributions to disease.” Genetic counseling in small animal practice is currently provided by veterinarians and the tools that are used, can be divided in five categories. The signalment of the patients revealed that both cats (30%) and dogs (70%) and various breeds, the two sexes (37% males, 63% females) and all age categories (puppy/kitten—senior) were represented. Furthermore, 73% of the patients were referred by or needed to be referred to other disciplines. Conclusion These definitions are derived from human and veterinary literature, and an evaluation based on patient data has demonstrated that these definitions meet all the criteria of a correct definition (i.e. clear, minimally sufficient, complete and valid). With these definitions and case descriptions, our aim is to contribute to the formal foundation of genetic counseling in veterinary medicine.

Background Bone foreign bodies are commonly encountered in small animal practice. Esophageal bone foreign bodies (E‐bFBs) warrant removal, whereas gastric bone foreign bodies might not. Objectives Describe management and outcomes for dogs with esophageal or gastric bone foreign bodies. Animals One hundred twenty‐nine dogs with esophageal (n = 45) or gastric (n = 84) bone foreign bodies. Methods Retrospective review of medical records. Results Dogs with E‐bFBs were younger than dogs with gastric bone foreign bodies (median age esophageal, 4 years [IQR 2‐8]; median age gastric, 6 years [IQR 3‐10]; P = .03), and had a higher bone cross‐sectional area relative to body weight (median esophageal, 98.21 mm2/kg [IQR 48.25‐142.6]; median gastric, 28.6 mm2/kg [IQR 17.25‐64.28]; P < .001). Forty‐two of 45 esophageal foreign bodies were resolved non‐surgically and 3 by esophagotomy. Esophageal erosions were more likely with distal entrapment (OR 12.88, [95% CI 31.95‐129.29], P = .01) and longer duration (OR 18.82 [95% CI 2.22‐273.97], P = .01). Sixty‐two of 84 bone gastric foreign bodies were left in situ. Endoscopic removal was successful in 20 of 22 (91%; 95% CI 70‐99) attempts. Conclusions and Clinical Importance While all E‐bFBs were dislodged either by advancement into the stomach, endoscopic removal, or esophagotomy, the majority of gastric bone foreign bodies were left in situ for dissolution, with no reported complications. Gastric advancement of E‐bFBs should be considered when oral removal is not feasible, and dissolution can be considered even with large bones.

Illumination of biological events with near‐infrared II sub‐channel (NIR‐IIb, 1500–1700 nm) enhances the transparency of biological tissues, which is very attractive for deep imaging. Due to the long‐wavelength, which reduces optical damage, suppresses autofluorescence, and obviates light scattering, NIR‐IIb nanoprobes afford deep tissue penetration with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. Hence, NIR‐IIb imaging facilitates deep learning and decipherment of biological proceedings in living organisms with astounding high clarity. In comparison to its predecessors in the visible‐near‐infrared spectrum, imaging in the NIR‐IIb has shown great potential for tissue imaging and extrapolating imaging applications for clinical studies. However, the use of organic fluorescent nanoprobes (OFNPs) in the NIR‐IIb region is still rare since it is in its early stages. Thus, herein we aim to survey the recent development of different organic fluorescent nanomaterials with NIR‐IIb characteristics, their unique photophysical properties, and their utilization in deep imaging in animal models. Further, practical researches on organic fluorescent nanoprobes with NIR‐IIb emission and their transition to clinical applications are highlighted. This paper reviews the recent progresses of organic fluorescent nanoprobes (OFNPs) with NIR‐IIb emission, focusing on their construction strategies, optical properties, and their applications in deep learning in small animal models such as cerebrovascular imaging, tumor imaging, intestinal imaging, and systemic vascular imaging. In addition, the challenges and potential future research based on NIR‐IIb fluorescent nanoprobes are highlighted.

Many patients treated for head and neck cancers experience salivary gland hypofunction due to radiation damage. Understanding the mechanisms of cellular damage induced by radiation treatment is important in order to design methods of radioprotection. In addition, it is crucial to recognize the indirect effects of irradiation and the systemic responses that may alter saliva secretion. In this study, radiation was delivered to murine submandibular glands (SMGs) bilaterally, using a 137Cs gamma ray irradiator, or unilaterally, using a small-animal radiation research platform (SARRP). Analysis at 3, 24 and 48 h showed dynamic changes in mRNA and protein expression in SMGs irradiated bilaterally. Unilateral irradiation using the SARRP caused similar changes in the irradiated SMGs, as well as significant off-target, bystander effects in the non-irradiated contralateral SMGs.

Background Clinical signs of urinary tract disease in dogs often lead to prescription of antibiotics. Appropriate diagnostic work‐up could optimize treatment and reduce the risk of inappropriate use of antibiotics. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe and evaluate the impact of diagnostic work‐up on decision to treat (DTT) and choice of antibiotic treatment (COT) for dogs presenting with clinical signs of urinary tract disease. Animals One hundred and fifty‐one dogs presenting to 52 Danish veterinary practices. Methods Prospective, observational study. Clinical signs, diagnostic work‐up, and prescriptions were recorded. Urine samples were submitted to a reference laboratory for quantitative bacterial culture (QBC) and susceptibility testing. The laboratory results were used as reference for assessing the appropriateness of DTT and COT. Results In the majority of dogs, veterinarians performed dipstick (99%), microscopic examination of urine (80%) and bacterial culture (56%). Fifty‐one percent of dogs had urinary tract infection (UTI) based on reference QBC. Appropriate DTT was made for 62% of the dogs, while 36% were over‐prescribed and 2% under‐prescribed. Inappropriate use of second‐line agents was found in 57% of the UTI cases. Performing microscopy—but not culture—significantly impacted DTT (P = 0.039) while no difference was seen in COT (P = 0.67). The accuracy of in‐house microscopy and culture were 64.5 and 77%, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Over‐prescription of antibiotics was common among dogs with suspected UTI, regardless of the diagnostic work‐up performed. Test inaccuracy under practice conditions and incoherence between diagnostic test results and decision‐making both explained inappropriate and unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Aging has great influence on the clinical treatment effect of cerebrovascular diseases, and evidence suggests that the effect may be associated with age-related brain plasticity. Electroacupuncture is an effective alternative treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the present study, we aimed to explore the effect of aging on the cerebral metabolic mechanism of electroacupuncture to provide new evidence for developing age-specific rehabilitation strategies. Both aged (18 months) and young (8 weeks) rats with TBI were analyzed. Thirty-two aged rats were randomly divided into four groups: aged model, aged electroacupuncture, aged sham electroacupuncture, and aged control group. Similarly, 32 young rats were also divided into four groups: young model, young electroacupuncture, young sham electroacupuncture, and young control group. Electroacupuncture was applied to \"Bai hui\" (GV20) and \"Qu chi\" (LI11) for 8 weeks. CatWalk gait analysis was then performed at 3 days pre- and post-TBI, and at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after intervention to observe motor function recovery. Positron emission computed tomography (PET/CT) was performed at 3 days pre- and post-TBI, and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after intervention to detect cerebral metabolism. Gait analysis showed that electroacupuncture improved the forepaw mean intensity in aged rats after 8 weeks of intervention, but after 4 weeks of intervention in young rats. PET/CT revealed increased metabolism in the left (the injured ipsilateral hemisphere) sensorimotor brain areas of aged rats during the electroacupuncture intervention, and increased metabolism in the right (contralateral to injury hemisphere) sensorimotor brain areas of young rats. This study demonstrated that aged rats required a longer electroacupuncture intervention duration to improve motor function than that of young rats. The influence of aging on the cerebral metabolism of electroacupuncture treatment was mainly focused on a particular hemisphere.

We evaluated the performance characteristics of the eXplore VISTA dual-ring small-animal PET scanner, a stationary, ring-type, depth-of-interaction (DOI) correcting system designed to simultaneously maximize sensitivity, resolution, and resolution uniformity over a field of view sufficient to image rodent-sized animals. We measured the intrinsic spatial resolution response of the VISTA detector modules, spatial and volume resolution throughout a representative portion of the field of view, and imaged several common resolution phantoms to provide a qualitative picture of resolution performance. We obtained an axial sensitivity profile and measured central point source sensitivity, scatter fractions and noise equivalent count (NEC) rates for rat- and mouse-sized objects using different energy windows, and count rate linearity. In addition, we measured the energy and timing resolution of both of the crystal layers (cerium-doped gadolinium orthosilicate and cerium-doped lutetium-yttrium orthosilicate) that give VISTA machines a DOI compensation capability. We examined the effectiveness of this DOI compensation by comparing spatial resolution measurements with and without the DOI correction enabled. Finally, several animal studies were included to illustrate system performance in the field. Spatial and volume resolutions averaged approximately 1.4 mm and 2.9 mm(3), respectively (with 3-dimensional Fourier rebinning and 2-dimensional filtered backprojection image reconstructions and an energy window of 250-700 keV), along the central axis of the scanner, and the spatial resolution was better than 1.7 mm and 2.1 mm at 1 and 2 cm off the central axis, respectively. Central point source sensitivity measured approximately 4% with peak NEC rates of 126.8 kcps at 455 kBq/mL and 77.1 kcps at 141 kBq/mL for mouse- and rat-sized uniform, cylindric phantoms, respectively. The radial spatial resolution at 2.8 cm off axis with DOI compensation was 2.5 mm but degraded (by 56%) to 3.9 mm without DOI compensation (as would be the case with a geometrically identical scanner without DOI correction capability). These results indicate that the VISTA small-animal PET scanner is well suited to imaging rodent-sized animals. The combination of high spatial resolution, resolution uniformity, sensitivity, and count rate performance, made possible in part by the novel use of phoswich detector modules, confers significant technical advantages over machines with similar geometry but without DOI correction capability.