Case Report: Human Recombinant Growth Hormone Therapy in a DSH Cat Presented With Dwarfism.

A 6-month-old kitten, male, domestic shorthair cat was presented with dwarfism, ocular and nasal discharge, and Ascaris infestation. Congenital hyposomatotropism was diagnosed on the basis of serum level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I). The cat was treated with human recombinant growth hormone for 9 weeks. After that, his liver enzymes became elevated, and the therapy was discontinued. His IGF-I levels were normal at the end of the therapy. Normal IGF-I was present 3 months after discontinuation of therapy with human recombinant growth hormone and even half a year after the discontinuation. All other comorbidities were addressed with the therapy. The cat is now the size of normal cats, living with the first author.

Novel approach of dermatophytosis eradication in shelters: effect of Pythium oligandrum on Microsporum canis in FIV or FeLV positive cats.

BACKGROUND: Shelters and similar facilities with a high concentration and fluctuation of animals often have problems with various infections, which are usually difficult to solve in such environments and are very expensive to treat. This study investigated the eradication of Microsporum canis, the widespread cause of zoonotic dermatophytosis in shelters, even in immunosuppressed feline leukaemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus positive cats. RESULTS: Our study showed the increased effectiveness of an alternative topical therapy for affected animals using the mycoparasitic fungus Pythium oligandrum, which is gentler and cheaper than the standard systemic treatment with itraconazole, and which can also be easily used as a preventative treatment. A decrease in the number of M. canis colonies was observed in cats treated with a preparation containing P. oligandrum 2 weeks after the start of therapy (2 cats with P-1 score, 2 cats with P-2 score, 5 cats with P-3 score) compared with the beginning of the study (9 cats with P-3 score = massive infection). The alternative topical therapy with a preparation containing P. oligandrum was significantly more effective compared with the commonly used systemic treatment using itraconazole 5 mg/kg in a 6-week pulse. After 16 weeks of application of the alternative topical therapy, the clinical signs of dermatophytosis were eliminated throughout the whole shelter. CONCLUSION: The complete elimination of the clinical signs of dermatophytosis in all cats indicates that this therapy will be useful for the management and prevention of zoonotic dermatophytosis in animal shelters.

Inorganic Salts of N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)-Novel Family with Promising Representatives for Nonlinear Optics.

Seven inorganic salts containing N-phenylbiguanide as a prospective organic molecular carrier of nonlinear optical properties were prepared and studied within our research of novel hydrogen-bonded materials for nonlinear optics (NLO). All seven salts, namely N-phenylbiguanidium(1+) nitrate (C2/c), N-phenylbiguanidium(1+) perchlorate (P-1), N-phenylbiguanidium(1+) hydrogen carbonate (P21/c), bis(N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)) sulfate (C2), bis(N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)) hydrogen phosphate sesquihydrate (P-1), bis(N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)) phosphite (P21), and bis(N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)) phosphite dihydrate (P21/n), were characterised by X-ray diffraction (powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction) and by vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman). Two salts with non-centrosymmetric crystal structures-bis(N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)) sulfate and bis(N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)) phosphite-were further studied to examine their linear and nonlinear optical properties using experimental and computational methods. As a highly SHG-efficient and phase-matchable material transparent down to 320 nm and thermally stable to 483 K, bis(N-phenylbiguanidium(1+)) sulfate is a promising novel candidate for NLO.

Thermoreversible magnetic nanochains.

The reversible organization of nanomagnets into highly anisotropic assemblies is of considerable interest for many applications, including theragnostic strategies in vivo. The current preparation strategies lead to structures that are not stable without the permanent presence of an applied magnetic field (MF); otherwise, irreversible assemblies are produced with moderate shape anisotropy at nanoscales. Here, we present a new approach based on the thermoreversible Diels-Alder reaction in the presence of an external MF that enables the assembly of single-domain nanomagnets into narrow chains with lengths of several micrometers. The MF-assisted click chemistry approach included (i) the synthesis of nanoparticles through a modified hydrothermal method, (ii) their functionalization via ligand exchange, (iii) the MF-assisted formation of chains, and (iv) the linkage of the nanomagnets in the presence of the magnetic field. Moreover, the chains can be again disassembled at elevated temperatures through a retro-Diels-Alder reaction. We thus demonstrated for the first time that MF-assisted click chemistry is a convenient method for large-scale preparation of highly anisotropic assemblies of nanosized magnets that can be reversibly decomposed by thermal treatment.

Proton-Gradient-Driven Oriented Motion of Nanodiamonds Grafted to Graphene by Dynamic Covalent Bonds.

Manipulating nanoscopic objects by external stimuli is the cornerstone of nanoscience. Here, we report the implementation of dynamic covalent chemistry in the reversible binding and directional motion of fluorescent nanodiamond particles at a functionalized graphene surface via imine linkages. The dynamic connections allow for controlling the formation and rupture of these linkages by external stimuli. By introduction of pH gradients, the nanoparticles are driven to move along the gradient due to the different rates of the imine condensation and hydrolysis in the two environments. The multivalent nature of the particle-to-surface connection ensures that particles remain attached to the surface, whereas its dynamic character allows for exchange reaction, thus leading to displacement yet bound behavior in two-dimensional space. These results open a pathway for thermodynamically controlled manipulation of objects on the nanoscale.

Mammalian enamel maturation: Crystallographic changes prior to tooth eruption.

Using the distal molar of a minipig as a model, we studied changes in the microstructural characteristics of apatite crystallites during enamel maturation (16-23 months of postnatal age), and their effects upon the mechanical properties of the enamel coat. The slow rate of tooth development in a pig model enabled us to reveal essential heterochronies in particular components of the maturation process. The maturation changes began along the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) of the trigonid, spreading subsequently to the outer layers of the enamel coat to appear at the surface zone with a 2-month delay. Correspondingly, at the distal part of the tooth the timing of maturation processes is delayed by 3-5 month compared to the mesial part of the tooth. The early stage of enamel maturation (16-20 months), when the enamel coat is composed almost exclusively of radial prismatic enamel, is characterized by a gradual increase in crystallite thickness (by a mean monthly increment of 3.8 nm); and an increase in the prism width and thickness of crystals composed of elementary crystallites. The late stage of maturation (the last two months prior to tooth eruption), marked with the rapid appearance of the interprismatic matrix (IPM) during which the crystals densely infill spaces between prisms, is characterized by an abrupt decrease in microstrain and abrupt changes in the micromechanical properties of the enamel: a rapid increase in its ability to resist long-term load and its considerable hardening. The results suggest that in terms of crystallization dynamics the processes characterizing the early and late stage of mammalian enamel maturation represent distinct entities. In regards to common features with enamel formation in the tribosphenic molar we argue that the separation of these processes could be a common apomorphy of mammalian amelogenetic dynamics in general.

Antifungal effects of the biological agent Pythium oligandrum observed in vitro.

Objectives Dermatophytosis, commonly known as ringworm, is a superficial fungal skin disease and zoonosis. Pythium oligandrum is a micromycete with mycoparasitic properties that is used in agriculture to control fungal infections on plants. Formulations containing P oligandrum were also developed for the treatment of dermatophytoses, but only a small number of case studies have been published. In order to document the process in simplified conditions in vitro, we investigated the effectiveness of P oligandrum against three pathogenic dermatophytes common in domestic animals. Methods Cultures of the pathogens grown on nutrient media and experimentally infected cat hair were treated with P oligandrum preparations in therapeutic concentration and the changes were documented by microscopic videos and scanning electron microscopy. Results There was strong mycoparasitic activity of P oligandrum against Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Conclusions and relevance P oligandrum was demonstrated to be effective against three common causes of dermatophytosis in vitro.

Mobility and attenuation of arsenic in sulfide-rich mining wastes from the Czech Republic.

The mineralogical composition of mining wastes deposited in countless dumps around the world is the key factor that controls retention and release of pollutants. Here we report a multi-method data set combining mineralogical (X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe and Raman microspectrometry) and geochemical (sequential extraction and pore water analysis) methods to resolve As mobility in two 50-years-old mining waste dumps. Originally, all of the As in the mining wastes selected for the study was present as arsenopyrite and with time it has been replaced by secondary As phases. At Jedová jáma mining area, the most of As precipitated as X-ray amorphous ferric arsenate (HFA). Arsenic is also accumulated in the scorodite and Fe (hydr)oxide (with up to 3.2wt.% As2O5) that is particularly represented by hematite. Mining wastes at Dlouhá Ves contain only trace amount of scorodite. Arsenic is primarily bound to Pb-jarosite and Fe (hydr)oxides (especially goethite) with up to 1.6 and 1.8wt.% As2O5, respectively. The pore water collected after rainfall events indicated high concentrations of As (~4600µg·L(-1)) at Jedová jáma, whereas aqueous As at Dlouhá Ves was negligible (up to 1.5µg·L(-1)). Highly mobile As at Jedová jáma is attributed to the dissolution of HFA and simultaneous precipitation of Fe (hydr)oxides under mildly acidic conditions (pH~4.4); immobile As at Dlouhá Ves is due to the efficient adsorption on the Fe (hydr)oxides and hydroxosulfates under acidic pH of ~2.8. Taken together, As mobility in the ferric arsenates-containing mining wastes may significantly vary. These wastes must be kept under acidic conditions or with high aqueous Fe(III) concentrations to prevent the release of As from incongruent dissolution of ferric arsenates.

N-[Amino(imino)methyl]uronium tetrafluoroborate.

In the title compound, C(2)H(7)N(4)O(+)·BF(4) (-), inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds connect the cations into chains parallel to the c axis, with graph-set motif C(4). These chains are in turn connected into a three-dimensional network by inter-molecular N-H⋯F hydrogen bonds. The B-F distances distances in the anion are not equal.

Two polymorphs of bis(2-carbamoylguanidinium) fluorophosphonate dihydrate.

Two polymorphs of bis(2-carbamoylguanidinium) fluorophosphonate dihydrate, 2C(2)H(7)N(4)O(+)·FO(3)P(2-)·2H(2)O, are presented. Polymorph (I), crystallizing in the space group Pnma, is slightly less densely packed than polymorph (II), which crystallizes in Pbca. In (I), the fluorophosphonate anion is situated on a crystallographic mirror plane and the O atom of the water molecule is disordered over two positions, in contrast with its H atoms. The hydrogen-bond patterns in both polymorphs share similar features. There are O-H···O and N-H···O hydrogen bonds in both structures. The water molecules donate their H atoms to the O atoms of the fluorophosphonates exclusively. The water molecules and the fluorophosphonates participate in the formation of R(4)(4)(10) graph-set motifs. These motifs extend along the a axis in each structure. The water molecules are also acceptors of either one [in (I) and (II)] or two [in (II)] N-H···O hydrogen bonds. The water molecules are significant building elements in the formation of a three-dimensional hydrogen-bond network in both structures. Despite these similarities, there are substantial differences between the hydrogen-bond networks of (I) and (II). The N-H···O and O-H···O hydrogen bonds in (I) are stronger and weaker, respectively, than those in (II). Moreover, in (I), the shortest N-H···O hydrogen bonds are shorter than the shortest O-H···O hydrogen bonds, which is an unusual feature. The properties of the hydrogen-bond network in (II) can be related to an unusually long P-O bond length for an unhydrogenated fluorophosphonate anion that is present in this structure. In both structures, the N-H···F interactions are far weaker than the N-H···O hydrogen bonds. It follows from the structure analysis that (II) seems to be thermodynamically more stable than (I).

Mixed crystals of 2-carbamoylguanidinium with hydrogen fluorophosphonate and hydrogen phosphite in the ratios 1:0, 0.76 (2):0.24 (2) and 0.115 (7):0.885 (7).

The title compounds, 2-carbamoylguanidinium hydrogen fluorophosphonate, C(2)H(7)N(4)O(+)·HFO(3)P(-), (I), 2-carbamoylguanidinium-hydrogen fluorophosphonate-hydrogen phosphite (1/0.76/0.24), C(2)H(7)N(4)O(+)·0.76HFO(3)P(-)·0.24H(2)O(3)P(-), (II), and 2-carbamoylguanidinium-hydrogen fluorophosphonate-hydrogen phosphite (1/0.115/0.885), C(2)H(7)N(4)O(+)·0.115HFO(3)P(-)·0.885H(2)O(3)P(-), (III), are isostructural with guanylurea hydrogen phosphite, C(2)H(7)N(4)O(+)·H(2)O(3)P(-) [Fridrichová, Nemec, Císarová & Nemec (2010). CrystEngComm, 12, 2054-2056]. They constitute structures where the hydrogen phosphite anion has been fully or partially replaced by hydrogen fluorophosphonate. The title structures are the fourth example of isostructural compounds which differ by the presence of hydrogen fluorophosphonate and hydrogen phosphite or fluorophosphonate and phosphite anions. Moreover, the present study reports structures with these mixed anions for the first time. In the reported mixed salts, the P and O atoms of either anion overlap almost exactly, as can be judged by comparison of their equivalent isotropic displacement parameters, while the P-F and P-H directions are almost parallel. There are strong O-H···O hydrogen bonds between the anions, as well as strong N-H···O hydrogen bonds between the 2-carbamoylguanidinium cations in the title structures. Altogether they form a three-dimensional hydrogen-bond pattern. Interestingly, rare N-H···F interactions are also present in the title structures. Another exceptional feature concerns the P-O(H) distances, which are about as long as the P-F distance. The dependence of P-F distances on the longest P-O distances in FO(3)P(2-) or HFO(3)P(-) is presented. The greater content of hydrogen phosphite in the mixed crystals causes a larger deformation of the cations from planarity.

1,1-Dimethyl-biguanidium(2+) dinitrate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(4)H(13)N(5) (2+)·2NO(3) (-), the main inter-molecular inter-actions are the N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the cationic amino groups and the O atoms of the nitrate ions. All amino H atoms and nitrate O atoms are involved in the three-dimensional hydrogen-bond network. There are two graph-set motifs R(2) (2)(8), which include the amino groups connected to the N atoms in the biguanide 3-, 4- and 5-positions, and the O atoms of a nitrate ion. They are extended along the a axis. An O atom of the second nitrate ion is involved in a graph-set motif C(4) that is a part of a helix-like N-H⋯O⋯H-N-H⋯O⋯ chain oriented along the b axis. There are also two weak C-H⋯O inter-actions in the crystal structure.

Tris(2-carbamoylguanidinium) hydrogen fluoro-phospho-nate fluoro-phospho-nate monohydrate.

The title structure, 3C(2)H(7)N(4)O(+)·HFPO(3) (-)·FPO(3) (2-)·H(2)O, contains three independent 2-carbamoylguanidinium cations, one fluoro-phospho-nate, one hydrogen fluoro-phospho-nate and one water mol-ecule. There are three different layers in the structure that are nearly perpendicular to the c axis. Each layer contains a cation and the layers differ by the respective presence of the water mol-ecule, the hydrogen fluoro-phospho-nate and fluoro-phospho-nate anions. N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the guanylurea mol-ecules that inter-connect the mol-ecules within each layer are strong. The layers are inter-connected by strong and weak O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the anions and water mol-ecules, respectively. Inter-estingly, the configuration of the layers is quite similar to that observed in 2-carbamoylguanidinium hydrogen fluoro-phospho-nate [Fábry et al. (2012). Acta Cryst. C68, o76-o83]. There is also present a N-H⋯F hydrogen bond in the structure which occurs quite rarely.