Clinical, surgical, and pathological findings in client-owned rabbits with histologically confirmed appendicitis: 19 cases (2015-2019).

OBJECTIVE: To report clinical, surgical, and pathological findings in client-owned rabbits with histologically confirmed appendicitis. ANIMALS: 19 rabbits. PROCEDURES: Medical records for client-owned rabbits that had a histologic diagnosis of appendicitis were reviewed. RESULTS: Median age of the rabbits at presentation was 24.0 months (range, 4 to 84 months). Seventeen cases occurred during the summer and fall seasons. Decreased appetite (17/19 rabbits), abnormal rectal temperature (hyperthermia, 9/16 rabbits; hypothermia, 4/16 rabbits), hypocalcemia (8/11 rabbits), and hypoglycemia (7/15 rabbits) were common signs. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT findings were suggestive of appendicitis in 6 of 8 rabbits and in 1 of 2 rabbits, respectively. Of the 6 rabbits that received medical treatment, 3 died at 48 hours, 1 died at 24 hours after hospitalization, and 1 died at 10 days after presentation; 1 rabbit was alive at 1,030 days after presentation. Of the 8 rabbits that underwent appendectomy, 3 died before discharge from the hospital and 1 died 113 days after surgery; 4 rabbits were alive at 315, 334, 1,433, and 1,473 days after presentation. The remaining 5 rabbits either died or were euthanized before treatment could be instituted. In each of the 19 rabbits, the appendix had evidence of severe inflammation with mucosal ulceration, heterophilic inflammation, and necrotic debris. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For rabbits with decreased appetite and an apparently painful abdomen, hyperthermia, hypocalcemia, or hypoglycemia, appendicitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Further comparisons of medical and surgical treatments are required to establish treatment recommendations for rabbits with appendicitis.

A paper-based electrochemical sensor for H2O2 detection in aerosol phase: Measure of H2O2 nebulized by a reconverted ultrasonic aroma diffuser as a case of study.

The outbreak of COVID-19 is caused by high contagiousness and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus between people when an infected person is in close contact with another one. In this overall scenario, the disinfection processes have been largely improved. For instance, some countries have approved no-touch technologies by vaporizing disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide, with the overriding goal to boost the safety of the places. In the era of sustainability, we designed an electrochemical paper-based device for the assessment of hydrogen peroxide nebulized by a cost-effective ultrasonic aroma diffuser. The paper-based sensor was fabricated by modifying via drop-casting a filter paper-based screen-printed electrode with a dispersion of carbon black-Prussian Blue nanocomposite, to assess the detection of hydrogen peroxide at -0.05 V vs Ag/AgCl. The use of paper-based modified screen-printed electrode loaded with phosphate buffer allowed for monitoring the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in aerosol, without any additional sampling instrument to capture the nebulized solution of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration up to 7% w/w. Hydrogen peroxide, a reconverted ultrasonic aroma diffuser, and the paper-based electrochemical sensor assisted by smartphone have demonstrated how different low-cost technologies are able to supply an useful and cost-effective solution for disinfection procedures.