63 research outputs found
Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats
Canine atopic dermatitis: detailed guidelines for diagnosis and allergen identification
LeishVet update and recommendations on feline leishmaniosis
Limited data is available on feline leishmaniosis (FeL) caused by Leishmania infantum worldwide. The LeishVet group presents in this report a review of the current knowledge on FeL, the epidemiological role of the cat in L. infantum infection, clinical manifestations, and recommendations on diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, prognosis and prevention of infection, in order to standardize the management of this disease in cats. The consensus of opinions and recommendations was formulated by combining a comprehensive review of evidence-based studies and case reports, clinical experience and critical consensus discussions. While subclinical feline infections are common in areas endemic for canine leishmaniosis, clinical illness due to L. infantum in cats is rare. The prevalence rates of feline infection with L. infantum in serological or molecular-based surveys range from 0 % to more than 60 %. Cats are able to infect sand flies and, therefore, they may act as a secondary reservoir, with dogs being the primary natural reservoir. The most common clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities compatible with FeL include lymph node enlargement and skin lesions such as ulcerative, exfoliative, crusting or nodular dermatitis (mainly on the head or distal limbs), ocular lesions (mainly uveitis), feline chronic gingivostomatitis syndrome, mucocutaneous ulcerative or nodular lesions, hypergammaglobulinaemia and mild normocytic normochromic anaemia. Clinical illness is frequently associated with impaired immunocompetence, as in case of retroviral coinfections or immunosuppressive therapy. Diagnosis is based on serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cytology, histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) or culture. If serological testing is negative or low positive in a cat with clinical signs compatible with FeL, the diagnosis of leishmaniosis should not be excluded and additional diagnostic methods (cytology, histology with IHC, PCR, culture) should be employed. The most common treatment used is allopurinol. Meglumine antimoniate has been administered in very few reported cases. Both drugs are administered alone and most cats recover clinically after therapy. Follow-up of treated cats with routine laboratory tests, serology and PCR is essential for prevention of clinical relapses. Specific preventative measures for this infection in cats are currently not available
Exogenous platelet-activating factor stimulates cell proliferation in mouse pre-implantation embryos prior to the fourth cell cycle and shows isoform-specific stimulatory effects
The significance of platelet-activating factor and fertility in the male primate: a review
Comparison of the Coding Sequence of the Platelet-activating Factor Receptor Gene in Three Species
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Decreased inhibin B responses following recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin administration in normal women and women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
ObjectiveTo determine whether granulosa cells contribute to excess androgen production, by assessing inhibin B (Inh B) responses to hCG in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in normal women.DesignProspective study.SettingAcademic medical center.Patient(s)Twenty women with PCOS and 16 normal women.Intervention(s)Blood samples obtained before and 24 hours after injection of 25 ÎĽg recombinant hCG (r-hCG).Main outcome measure(s)Basal and stimulated Inh B, E2, androstenedione (A), and T responses after r-hCG administration.Result(s)In normal and PCOS women, r-hCG induced a significant reduction of Inh B levels. Lowered Inh B responses were not related to body mass index, PCOS status, or age by multivariate regression. Recombinant hCG significantly increased serum A and E2 in both normal and PCOS women.Conclusion(s)In normal and PCOS women, Inh B production was decreased following r-hCG administration. These findings strongly suggest that in PCOS women androgen excess is not enhanced by LH-stimulated Inh B production.Clinical trial registration numberNCT00747617
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