Short-term clinical and hormonal effects of a deslorelin implant on late-prepubertal bitches – Based on flare-up signs

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists offer an alternative to surgical sterilization in pre-pubertal dogs, preserving ovarian and uterine functions. However, the clinical and hormonal effects of GnRH agonist application during the late-prepubertal stage remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the clinical effect (flare-up) and hormonal changes, specifically serum progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) levels, in bitches treated with 4.7 mg deslorelin acetate (DA) implants (Supre-lorin & REG;, Virbac, F) during the late prepubertal period. Sixteen clinically healthy kangal cross-breed bitches, aged 7-8 months, with a mean body weight of 20.5 & PLUSMN; 0.8 kg, were implanted with DA. Estrus signs were monitored daily, and blood and vaginal cytological samples were collected every other day for four weeks. Cytological changes were analyzed for overall and superficial cell index. Six out of sixteen DA-treated bitches (EST group; n = 6) exhibited clinical proestrus 8.6 & PLUSMN; 0.6 days after implant insertion. The mean serum concentrations of P4 and E2 at the onset of estrus were 1.38 & PLUSMN; 0.32 ng/ml and 37.38 & PLUSMN; 10.07 pg/ml, respectively. Notably, all non-estrus (N-EST group; n = 10) bitches demonstrated an increase in superficial cell index, in addition to expected cytological changes observed in the EST group. On the 18th day post-implantation, the EST group exhibited a significantly higher number of superficial cells compared to the N-EST group (p < 0.001). DA implantation resulted in cytological profile alterations accompanied by a slight increase in estrogen concentrations in all dogs. However, the flare-up response exhibited significant variability, differing from that observed in adult dogs. This study highlights the importance of meticulous timing and breed-specific considerations when utilizing DA for puberty manipulation in late-prepubertal bitches. The observed cytological and hormonal changes in response to DA implants provide valuable insights, but the variability in flare-up responses warrants further investigation. & COPY; 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

N, O-rich graphene oxide based eggshell membrane polymer: Preparation, characterization and its utility as nano sorbent for solid phase extraction of Pb (II) in various water samples

Novel chemical modification of a natural polymer (soluble eggshell membrane protein (SEP)) with one of carbon nanostructures (graphene oxide (GO)) was used to prepare nano adsorption material. The graphene oxide-soluble eggshell membrane protein (GO-SEP) was characterized using FTIR, XRD, TG, DTG, DSC, SEM, STEM and particle size distribution thereafter was used for packing the solid phase extraction column. The SPE using GO-SEP as packing material was developed and enhanced by unique method depends on using dithiocarbamate as a chelating agent for the lead to determine its concentration in four different water samples by inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The prepared chelating agent bis sodium barbituric acid dithiocarbamate (BADTC) was produced by treating barbituric acid with CS2 in the presence NaOH. The factors that influence the preconcentration and determination of lead (pH, sample and eluent flow rates, concentration and type of eluents, a volume of sample, chelating agent concentration and interfering ions) have been examined in detail. Detection limits (LOD) (0.1μg.L-1) and the relative standard deviation (RSD%) were found lower than &lt;0.12% (n=10, c=0.5μg.L-1). This new method has been successfully applied to determine lead in four water samples. © 2019 American Institute of Physics Inc. All Rights Reserved

Patient Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Psoriasis Vulgaris and Factors Believed to Trigger the Disease: a Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study With 1621 Patients

Introduction: Due to the chronic recurrent nature of psoriasis vulgaris (PV) and lack of definitive treatment for the disease, patients often resort to alternative treatments. Physicians seem to have low awareness of this issue. Objectives: To elicit the perceptions of 1,621 PV patients on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and examine factors reported to worsen PV. Methods: The patients sociodemographic characteristics, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), disease duration, and severity were recorded, and the patients CAM use was questioned in detail. The patients were also asked about factors that worsened PV and their experiences with a gluten-free diet. Results: Of the patients, 56.51% had used CAM. The mean age, illness duration, PASI scores and DLQI of those using CAM were significantly higher. CAM use was significantly higher in those with facial, genital involvement, and arthralgia/arthritis. The patients mostly referred to CAM when PV became severe (46.4%). Of the CAM users, 45.52% used herbal topicals. The physicians of 67.03% did not inquire whether they used CAM. Of the participants, 37.73% considered that stress worsened their disease. Gluten-free diet did not affect PV symptoms in 52.22%. Conclusions: Patients CAM use is often overlooked by dermatologists. Our results showed that more than half the patients used CAM and did not share this information with their physicians. Therefore, the awareness of physicians should be increased and patients should be asked about the use of CAM and directed to the appropriate medical treatment options by physicians. © 2022 Aslan Kayıran et al

2020 taxonomic update for phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales

In March 2020, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. At the genus rank, 20 new genera were added, two were deleted, one was moved, and three were renamed. At the species rank, 160 species were added, four were deleted, ten were moved and renamed, and 30 species were renamed. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV