Present and future challenges for wild partridge populations include the resistance against possible disease transmission after restocking with captive-reared individuals, and the need to cope with the stress prompted by new dynamic and challenging scenarios. Selection of individuals with the best immune ability may be a good strategy to improve general immunity, and hence adaptation to stress. In this study, non-infectious challenges with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and sheep red blood cells allowed the classification of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) according to their overall immune responses (IR). Skin from the area of injection of PHA and spleen, both from animals showing extreme high and low IR, were selected to investigate the transcriptional profiles underlying the different ability to cope with pathogens and external aggressions. RNA-seq yielded 97 million raw reads from eight sequencing libraries and approximately 84% of the processed reads were mapped to the reference chicken genome. Differential expression analysis identified 1488 up- and 107 down-regulated loci in individuals with high IR versus low IR. Partridges displaying higher innate IR show an enhanced activation of host defence gene pathways complemented with a tightly controlled desensitization that facilitates the return to cellular homeostasis. These findings indicate that the immune system ability to respond to aggressions (either diseases or stress produced by environmental changes) involves extensive transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations, and expand our understanding on the molecular mechanisms of the avian immune system, opening the possibility of improving disease resistance or robustness using genome assisted selection (GAS) approaches for increased IR in partridges by using genes such as AVN or BF2 as markers. This study provides the first transcriptome sequencing data of the Alectoris genus, a resource for molecular ecology that enables integration of genomic tools in further studies.

Oral bisphosphonates are commonly used to improve bone density in patients who suffer from a variety of pathologies. However, they have also been known to cause bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). The aim of this clinical case presentation is to (1) determine whether the currently recommended length of time that oral bisphosphonates should be discontinued, before performing dental implant surgery, is sufficient to prevent BRONJ and (2) to describe an alternative treatment for BRONJ. A 65-year-old female patient developed BRONJ after receiving mandibular dental implants 5 months after discontinuing alendronic acid (Fosamax). The BRONJ was treated by surgical osteotomy and plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF), and the patient was followed up with biweekly examinations, which included 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwashes and removal of any remaining necrotic bone. The dental implants were loaded 41 weeks after surgery and followed up with periapical radiographs and implant stability quotient measurements at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postloading. Although the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons protocols for suspension of presurgical oral bisphosphonates were followed, this patient still developed BRONJ after implant surgery. While a multitude of treatments have been described in the literature, there is not enough scientific evidence to support any one treatment. Based on this clinical case, it can be concluded that the potential adverse effects of oral bisphosphonates on the jaws could be greater than expected and that treatment with PRGF produces promising results, although more long-term studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

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The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) has a great socio-economic importance as a game species and is reared by millions in farms in several European countries. The ability to respond to a wide spectrum of pathogens and environmental changes is key for farm-reared animals that, as such, face even higher pathogen exposure and specifically for those submitted to restocking programs. In this study, RNA-sequencing and de-novo assembly of genes expressed in different immune tissues were performed. The raw FASTQ files were submitted to the NCBI SRA database with accession number PRJNA289204. A total of 94.2 million reads were obtained and assembled into 51,403 contigs using OASES software. The final annotated partridge immune transcriptome comprises almost 7000 unigenes, available as FASTA in the supplementary material. A total of 12,828 microsatellites and 33,857 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. The candidate gene sequences and the large number of potential genetic markers from the red-legged partridge transcriptome reliably identified through the use for the first time of a high coverage 100-bp paired-end RNA-seq protocol, provide new tools for future studies in this and related species, thus contributing to the ongoing development of genomic resources in avian species. Further investigation into candidate genes and gene-associated markers will help to uncover individual variability in the resistance to infections and other external aggressions in partridges.

(1) Background: Incisional hernia (IH) is one of the most common complications following open abdominal surgery. There is scarce evidence on its real incidence following pancreatic surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and the risk factors associated with IH development in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). (2) Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing PD between 2014 and 2020 at our centre. Data were extracted from a prospectively held database, including perioperative and long-term factors. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis to detect those factors potentially associated with IH development. (3) Results: The incidence of IH was 8.8% (19/213 patients). Median age was 67 (33–85) years. BMI was 24.9 (14–41) and 184 patients (86.4%) underwent PD for malignant disease. Median follow-up was 23 (6–111) months. Median time to IH development was 31 (13–89) months. Six (31.5%) patients required surgical repair. Following univariate and multivariate analysis, preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.24–9.16, p = 0.01) and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.06–8.14, p = 0.049) were the only factors independently associated with the development of IH. (4) Conclusions: The incidence of IH following PD was 8.8% in a tertiary care center. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia and obesity are independently associated with IH occurrence following PD.