Oral Recombinant Feline Interferon-Omega as an alternative immune modulation therapy in FIV positive cats: Clinical and laboratory evaluation

Recombinant-Feline Interferon-Omega (rFeIFN-ω) is an immune-modulator licensed for use subcutaneously in Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) therapy. Despite oral protocols have been suggested, little is known about such use in FIV-infected cats. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical improvement, laboratory findings, concurrent viral excretion and acute phase proteins (APPs) in naturally FIV-infected cats under oral rFeIFN-ω therapy (0.1 MU/cat rFeIFN-ω PO, SID, 90 days). 11 FIV-positive cats were treated with oral rFeIFN-ω (PO Group). Results were compared to previous data from 7 FIV-positive cats treated with the subcutaneous licensed protocol (SC Group). Initial clinical scores were similar in both groups. Independently of the protocol, rFeIFN-ω induced a significant clinical improvement of treated cats. Concurrent viral excretion and APP’s variation were not significant in the PO Group. Oral rFeIFN-ω can be an effective alternative therapy for FIV-infected cats, being also an option for treatment follow-up in cats submitted to the licensed protocol.     

Long-Term Follow-up of Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis Treated by a Single Intralesional Injection of a ReGeneraTing Agent in 51 Horses

ReGeneraTing Agents (RGTA) are nanopolysaccharides engineered to mimic heparan sulfates and have been shown to stimulate tissue repair and healing (skin, cornea, gingival, and muscle) in several animal models of injury and in human medicine. A preliminary study, monocentric and uncontrolled, was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a dedicated RGTA (named Equitend) in improving the healing quality of the injured tendon after a single and ultrasound-guided intralesional injection. Improvement of ultrasonographic appearance of tendinous or ligamentous lesion was documented at least over 4 months in Equitend-treated horses and was further supported by another study on superficial digital flexor tendonitis, in 51 horses (16 French Standardbred trotters (ST), 13 Thoroughbreds (TB), and 22 eventers). Long-term follow-up of these horses showed high rates of return to racing, with 95% of eventers, 87.5% of French ST, and 77% of TB. The mean duration before the first race or competition was 6.6 and 7.4 months for ST and eventers, respectively. The group of 16 treated ST was then compared with a matched control group, showing that the Equitend-treated group was able to return to a higher level of earning after lesion (74% vs. 15% in the control group). Furthermore, the Equitend-treated group was back in racing 2.4 months earlier than the control group.     

基于园艺疗法的屋顶花园设计

选择搭配具有疗养功效的园艺植物进行屋顶花园设计,能够充分发挥植物的景观效果和功能特性,从而达到家庭保健的功能。综述了园艺疗法的作用原理和优势,详细介绍了针对老年人、康复人群及亚健康人群的屋顶花园设计方法。     

园艺疗法对老年人健康的积极作用

介绍了园艺疗法,分析了老年人的身体和心理特征,阐述了园艺疗法对老年人健康的积极影响,并探讨了园艺疗法的活动内容、实施环境、材料与用具,以及需要注意的问题。     

奶牛子宫内膜炎治疗研究进展

子宫内膜炎是奶牛的常发病,对奶牛养殖业造成的危害巨大.目前,治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎的方法主要有抗生素疗法、中药疗法、中西医结合疗法、微生物疗法、免疫学疗法和激素疗法.主要根据国内最新的研究成果,对奶牛子宫内膜炎的治疗进行综述,并对不同治疗方法的优缺点进行比较,以期为积极探寻该病最为合适的治疗方法提供参考.     

Nanoparticle for siRNA delivery and its pancreatic cancer targeting ability

AIM: To synthesize a safe, efficient and targeted nanoparticulate carrier for siRNA delivery to pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS: Iron oxide nanocrystal with carboxylic acid group-polyethyleneimine (IONP-PEI) was synthesized and investigated as a nonviral carrier of siRNA to the pancreatic cells. The size, surface and charge using zeta potential were characterized. The perfect charge ratio between amino groups of IONP-PEI and phosphate groups of siRNA (N/P) was determined by the transfection efficiency detection, gel retardation assay and MTS assay. An antibody-directed nonviral vector, scFvCD44v6-IONP-PEI nanoparticle attaching to the cancer-associated CD44v6 single-chain variable fragment, was constructed as a cancer-targeting nanocarrier for siRNA delivery. Prussian blue staining and immunofluorescent staining were performed to detect the distribution of scFvCD44v6-IONP-PEI/siRNA complexes in the cells. The transfection efficiency, fluorescence intensity and the expression of KRAS at mRNA and protein levels in the cells transfected by IONP-PEI/siRNA and scFvCD44v6-IONP-PEI/siRNA were detected by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS：The mass ratio of IONP to PEI was 0.75. The suitable ratio of N/P was 20. The averaged size and surface zeta potential of IONP-PEI/siRNA in deionized water were (51.3±2.2)nm (diameter) and (21.73±8.07)mV,respectively. Red fluorescence was seen in both targeting and nontargeting groups, which clearly revealed the intracellular distribution of siRNA and delivery agents. Transfection efficiencies in targeting and nontargeting groups were (89.75±1.81)% and (59.87±4.52)%, respectively. Down-regulation of the KRAS mRNA in Panc-1 cells transfected with siKRAS by scFvCD44v6-IONP-PEI and IONP-PEI was up to (34.02± 6.15)% and (51.09±6.70)%, respectively. The protein level of KRAS was lower in targeting group than that in nontargeting group. CONCLUSION：scFvCD44v6-IONP-PEI is a safe and efficient nanoparticulate carrier for gene delivery. It is more effective to transfer siRNA into the cells and mediate gene silencing effect in vitro than the nontargeting group.     

Advances in Reptile Clinical Therapeutics

The standard of today's reptile practice calls on clinicians to use an ever-increasing array of diagnostic tools to gather information and obtain a definitive diagnosis. Few, if any, pathognomonic signs exist for reptile diseases, and for most clinical syndromes there is a lack of information regarding pathophysiology for one to define standard therapeutic protocols based solely on clinical signs without objective diagnostic information. For example, in the relatively distant past, clinicians treating reptile patients would routinely administer parenteral calcium to green iguanas (Iguana iguana) with the primary presenting clinical sign of muscle tremors. Today, veterinarians who treat reptiles recognize that the risk of soft tissue mineralization and permanent damage to arteries, renal tubules, and other tissues usually outweighs the potential short-term benefit of calcium therapy. Before calcium therapy is initiated, it is best to know the patient's ionized calcium concentration to reduce the risk of potential adverse therapeutic side effects. A problem-oriented diagnostic approach directed toward minimizing risk and maximizing therapeutic benefit is now the standard of reptile practice.