Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs and cats

The treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) possesses numerous difficulties owing to the unclear etiology of the disease. This article overviews the drugs used in the treatment of IBD depending on the intensity of clinical symptoms (Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index and Canine Chronic Enterophaty Clinical Activity Index). Patients demonstrating mild symptoms of the disease are usually placed on an appropriate diet which may be combined with immunomodulative or probiotic treatment. In moderate progression of IBD, 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine or olsalazine) derivatives may be administered. Patients showing severe symptoms of the disease are usually treated with immunosuppressive drugs, antibiotics and elimination diet. Since the immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease, the advancements in biological therapy research will contribute to the progress in the treatment of canine and feline IBD in the coming years

Open cell semi-rigid polyurethane foams synthesized using palm oil-based polyol

Semi-rigid polyurethane foams were successfully prepared by blending up to 70 wt.% of a palm oil-based bio-polyol with a petrochemical polyether polyol. Due to the high viscosity of the bio-polyol derived from palm oil, polyol premixes were heated before mixing with an isocyanate component. Despite this, a slowdown in the foaming and gelling reactions was detected as the content of the palm oil-based bio-polyol in the formulation increased. The thermal conductivity of the modified foams was higher than that of the reference one, even when they exhibited a lower apparent density. In addition, their mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties decreased as the palm oil-based polyol content in the final foams increased. These effects are attributed to the foams’ cellular structure since the closed cell content decreased as the amount of the petrochemical polyol replaced by the bio-polyol increased. However, the water absorption decreased as the bio-polyol concentration in the polyurethane formulation increased and the modified foams exhibited excellent dimensional stability Taking into account potential applications of polyurethane systems, the formulation containing 30 wt.% of the bio-polyol could be used in the preparation of a new generation open cell semi-rigid foams permeable to moisture and with higher content of biomass-derived constituents.Fil: Marcovich, Norma Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Kuranska, M.. Cracow University Of Technology; PoloniaFil: Prociak, A.. Cracow University Of Technology; PoloniaFil: Malewska, E.. Cracow University Of Technology; PoloniaFil: Kulpa, K.. Cracow University Of Technology; Poloni

Vegetable Fillers and Rapeseed Oil-Based Polyol as Natural Raw Materials for the Production of Rigid Polyurethane Foams

The reported study concerns the introduction of renewable raw materials into the formulation of rigid polyurethane foams in the quest for the sustainable development of polymer composites. In this study, rigid polyurethane foam composites were prepared using 75 wt.% of rapeseed oil-based polyol and 15 parts per hundred parts of polyol (php) of natural fillers such as chokeberry pomace, raspberry seeds, as well as hazelnut and walnut shells. The influence of the used raw materials on the foaming process, structure, and properties of foams was investigated using a FOAMAT analyzer and a wide selection of characterization techniques. The introduction of renewable raw materials limited reactivity of the system, which reduced maximum temperature of the foaming process. Moreover, foams prepared using renewable raw materials were characterized by a more regular cell structure, a higher share of closed cells, lower apparent density, lower compressive strength and glass transition temperature, low friability (<2%), low water absorption (<1%), high dimensional stability (<±0.5%) and increased thermal stability. The proper selection and preparation of the renewable raw materials and the rational development of the polyurethane recipe composition allow for the preparation of environmentally-friendly foam products with beneficial application properties considering the demands of the circular economy in the synthesis of rigid foams