Cat owners do not provide more reliable weight estimates for cats compared with veterinary professionals in an emergency setting.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy of weight estimation in cats provided by pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers (interns and residents) and attending clinicians in an emergency room (ER). An additional objective was to determine whether carrying the cat contributed to a more accurate weight estimate. METHODS: A total of 72 cats presented to an ER and were enrolled in the study. Pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers and attending clinicians were asked to record the cats' estimated weights on individual data collection cards. The actual weights of the cats were then obtained and compared with participants' estimations. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between weight estimates provided by pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers and attending clinicians. Similarly, neither the length of experience of the veterinary staff nor carrying the cat had an effect on the provision of a more accurate weight estimate. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Pet owners are no better at weight estimation of cats in the ER setting compared with veterinary professionals. Carrying the cat did not improve the accuracy of weight estimation among veterinary professionals. The mean cat weight of 4.9 kg could be used as an average cat weight in an emergency situation for an adult cat.

Substance P in the medial amygdala regulates aggressive behaviors in male mice.

Behavioral and clinical studies have revealed a critical role of substance P (SP) in aggression; however, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying SP and aggression remain elusive. Here, we show that tachykinin-expressing neurons in the medial amygdala (MeATac1 neurons) are activated during aggressive behaviors in male mice. We identified MeATac1 neurons as a key mediator of aggression and found that MeATac1→ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHvl) projections are critical to the regulation of aggression. Moreover, SP/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) signaling in the VMHvl modulates aggressive behaviors in male mice. SP/NK-1R signaling regulates aggression by influencing glutamate transmission in neurons in the VMHvl. In summary, these findings place SP as a key node in aggression circuits.

Detection of Mycoplasma spp. and feline calicivirus in cats with ocular surface disease.

OBJECTIVE: To survey the prevalence of pathogens in shelter-housed cats with active ocular surface disease (OSD). ANIMALS STUDIED: A total of 255 shelter-housed domestic cats with evidence of active OSD. No normal, unaffected cats were sampled. PROCEDURE(S): OSD scoring was performed on cats with active OSD. Combined oropharyngeal/conjunctival swabs were submitted for rt-PCR/PCR for feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydia spp. (CHL), Bordetella bronchiseptica (BORD), and Mycoplasma spp. (MYC). RESULTS: Pathogens were detected as follows: 76.4% (195/255) MYC, 57.6% (147/255) FHV-1, 42.7% (109/255) FCV, 26.7% (68/255) CHL, and 5.5% (14/255) BORD. Monoinfections affected 21.1% (54/255) animals, with MYC being the most common monoinfection (12.5%, 32/255), followed by FHV-1 (4.7%, 12/255), followed by CHL (2.4%, 6/255), followed by FCV (1.6%, 4/255), with no animals having a BORD monoinfection. Dual infections affected 36.4% of animals (93/255), with MYC detected in 30.1% (77/255) dual infections and FCV detected in 12.9% (33/255) dual infections. Dual infections with MYC and FCV together were detected in 9.8% (25/255) animals. Many animals (35.3%, 90/255) were found to be affected by 3 or more pathogens, and 7.1% (18/255) animals had no pathogens detected. OSD scores were not influenced by any variable assessed, including the number and type of pathogens detected. CONCLUSION: MYC, FHV-1, FCV, and CHL were commonly detected in this group of animals with OSD. Both MYC and FCV (alone or in combination with each other) were detected in multiple animals with active OSD, supporting prior evidence that either may independently act as a primary ocular surface pathogen.

A novel fast hybrid capture sequencing method for high-efficiency common human coronavirus whole-genome acquisition.

Rapid and accurate sequencing of the entire viral genome, coupled with continuous monitoring of genetic changes, is crucial for understanding the epidemiology of coronaviruses. We designed a novel method called micro target hybrid capture system (MT-Capture) to enable whole-genome sequencing in a timely manner. The novel design of probes used in target binding exhibits a unique and synergistic "hand-in-hand" conjugation effect. The entire hybrid capture process is within 2.5 hours, overcoming the time-consuming and complex operation characteristics of the traditional liquid-phase hybrid capture (T-Capture) system. By designing specific probes for these coronaviruses, MT-Capture effectively enriched isolated strains and 112 clinical samples of coronaviruses with cycle threshold values below 37. Compared to multiplex PCR sequencing, it does not require frequent primer updates and has higher compatibility. MT-Capture is highly sensitive and capable of tracking variants.IMPORTANCEMT-Capture is meticulously designed to enable the efficient acquisition of the target genome of the common human coronavirus. Coronavirus is a kind of virus that people are generally susceptible to and is epidemic and infectious, and it is the virus with the longest genome among known RNA viruses. Therefore, common human coronavirus samples are selected to evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of MT-Capture. This method utilizes innovative probe designs optimized through probe conjugation techniques, greatly shortening the time and simplifying the handwork compared with traditional hybridization capture processes. Our results demonstrate that MT-Capture surpasses multiplex PCR in terms of sensitivity, exhibiting a thousandfold increase. Moreover, MT-Capture excels in the identification of mutation sites. This method not only is used to target the coronaviruses but also may be used to diagnose other diseases, including various infectious diseases, genetic diseases, or tumors.

Enhancing Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Through Crystal Phase Engineering: Unveiling the Hydrogen Bonding Effect in δ-FeOOH Electrocatalysis.

Crystal phase engineering has emerged as a powerful tool for tailoring the electrocatalytic performance, yet its impact on nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) remains largely uncharted territory. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to unravel the influence of the crystal phase of FeOOH on the adsorption behavior of *NO3 . Inspiringly, FeOOH samples with four distinct crystal phases (δ, γ, α, and ß) are successfully synthesized and deployed as electrocatalysts for NRA. Remarkably, among all FeOOH samples, δ-FeOOH demonstrates the superior NRA performance, achieving a NH3 Faradic efficiency ( FE NH 3 $\rm{FE} _ {\rm{NH_3}}$ ) of 90.2% at -1.0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a NH3 yield rate ( Yield NH 3 $\rm{Yield} _ {\rm{NH_3}}$ ) of 5.73 mg h-1 cm-2 at -1.2 V. In-depth experiments and theoretical calculations unveil the existence of hydrogen bonding interaction between δ-FeOOH and *NOx , which not only enhances the adsorption of *NOx but also disrupts the linear relationships between the free energy of *NO3 adsorption and various parameters, including limiting potential, d-band center (εd ) and transferred charge from FeOOH to *NO3 , ultimately contributing to the exceptional NRA performance.

PRMT5-mediated homologous recombination repair is essential to maintain genomic integrity of neural progenitor cells.

Maintaining genomic stability is a prerequisite for proliferating NPCs to ensure genetic fidelity. Though histone arginine methylation has been shown to play important roles in safeguarding genomic stability, the underlying mechanism during brain development is not fully understood. Protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is a type II protein arginine methyltransferase that plays a role in transcriptional regulation. Here, we identify PRMT5 as a key regulator of DNA repair in response to double-strand breaks (DSBs) during NPC proliferation. Prmt5F/F; Emx1-Cre (cKO-Emx1) mice show a distinctive microcephaly phenotype, with partial loss of the dorsal medial cerebral cortex and complete loss of the corpus callosum and hippocampus. This phenotype is resulted from DSBs accumulation in the medial dorsal cortex followed by cell apoptosis. Both RNA sequencing and in vitro DNA repair analyses reveal that PRMT5 is required for DNA homologous recombination (HR) repair. PRMT5 specifically catalyzes H3R2me2s in proliferating NPCs in the developing mouse brain to enhance HR-related gene expression during DNA repair. Finally, overexpression of BRCA1 significantly rescues DSBs accumulation and cell apoptosis in PRMT5-deficient NSCs. Taken together, our results show that PRMT5 maintains genomic stability by regulating histone arginine methylation in proliferating NPCs.

Schisandrin B promotes hepatic differentiation from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs)-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) have shown great promise in the treatment of liver diseases. However, most current induction protocols yield hepatocyte-like cells with limited function as compared with primary hepatocytes. Schisandrin B (Sch B) is one of the main components of Schisandra chinensis, which can prevent fibrosis progression and promote liver cell regeneration. Herein, we investigated the effects of Sch B on hepatic differentiation of UC-MSCs. We found that treatment with 10 µM Sch B from the second stage of the differentiation process increased hepatic marker levels and hepatic function. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis revealed that Sch B promoted hepatic differentiation via activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. When transplanted HLCs into mice with CCL4-induced liver fibrosis, Sch B-treated HLCs exhibited significant therapeutic effects. This study provides an optimized hepatic differentiation protocol for UC-MSCs based on Sch B, yielding functioning cells for liver disease treatment.

Impact of solar-driven heating strategies on the phase change thermal storage performance of erythritol.

With escalating energy demands, solar power stands out for its abundance and renewable advantages, presenting a paramount sustainable solution. Herein, we tactically incorporate phase change material (PCM) into solar energy systems, resulting in substantial enhancements in energy storage and utilization. Through numerical simulations, the thermal dynamics and phase change processes associated with various heating methodologies are investigated, aiming to achieve optimal thermal performance and energy efficiency. Detailed analysis of temperature dynamics within the PCM under two distinct heating methods reveals pivotal thermal fluctuations in both the PCM and water during heat release. The results indicate that bottom heating promptly induces rayleigh convection, resulting in a uniform temperature and a stable phase interface, which are desirable for heat transfer. In contrast, central tube heating concentrates heat transfer in the upper PCM layer, leading to an uneven phase interface and thermal stratification. Configurations with two horizontally aligned heating tubes result in a 36% reduction in melting duration compared to the single central tube setup, highlighting enhanced efficiency. Additionally, the bottom heating approach demonstrates improved energy storage efficiency in both the initial and second heating cycles. These findings highlight the potential of PCM-integrated combined heating systems for solar energy capture, confirming their efficiency and practicality in addressing modern household energy demands.

Differential Diagnostic Value of Two-dimensional Ultrasound Combined with Three-dimensional Ultrasound Imaging Technology for Cesarean Scar Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) refers to the phenomenon in which a fertilized egg implants and develops in the scar of the uterus in a woman with a history of cesarean section. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to explore the differential diagnostic value of two-dimensional ultrasound (2D US) combined with three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) for CSP. METHODS: Clinical data of 89 patients with CSP admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 65 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients underwent 2D US, 3D US, and combined 2D and 3D US imaging. Using the clinical pathological diagnosis as the "gold standard", the differential diagnostic value of 2D US, 3D US, and 2D US combined with 3D US for CSP was compared. RESULTS: The detection rate of CSP using a combined 2D US and 3D US was 98.46%, which was higher than 84.62% and 89.23% achieved with 2D US and 3D US alone, respectively (P<0.05). The pathological results showed that among 65 patients, CSP type I accounted for 24.62%, type II accounted for 55.38%, and type III accounted for 20.00%. The coincidence rate of 2D US combined with 3D US was 98.46%, which was higher than that of 2D US (83.08%) and 3D US 89.23%) alone (P<0.05). The accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of 2D US combined with 3D US in diagnosing CSP were higher compared to the two methods alone (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of 2D US and 3D US can accurately detect and classify CSP, further improving diagnostic efficiency.

Tympanic membrane perforations cannot be reliably detected using computed tomography based on 15 cadaver dogs.

The integrity of the tympanic membrane is an important factor when deciding treatment and therapeutic recommendations for dogs with ear disease; however, otoscopic examination may be difficult to perform due to features of external ear canal disease or patient compliance. CT is useful for the evaluation of middle ear disease, including cases in which middle ear disease is detected incidentally. The tympanic membrane is detectable using CT, but anecdotally, apparent focal defects or discontinuities of the tympanic membrane are often seen in patients with and without ear disease. The purpose of this prospective, observer agreement study was to determine if perforations of the tympanic membrane are reliably detectable on CT. Fifteen cadaver dogs underwent CT and video otoscopy to verify the integrity of each tympanic membrane. Cadavers were randomly assigned to have the tympanic membranes left intact or to undergo a myringotomy on either the left, the right, or both sides. CT was performed immediately following the myringotomies. Four blinded evaluators evaluated the pre- and post-myringotomy scans for a total of 30 scans (60 tympanic membranes). Average accuracy was low (44%), and interobserver agreement for all four evaluators was fair. Although the tympanic membrane is visible on CT, perforations of the tympanic membrane are unlikely to be accurately detected or excluded. The appearance of an intact tympanic membrane or defect in the membrane on CT should not be used as criteria to guide clinical treatment recommendations based on this cadaver model.

CLINICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC OCULAR FINDINGS IN AQUARIUM-HOUSED COWNOSE RAYS (RHINOPTERA BONASUS).

Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) are susceptible to ocular disease with their prominent globes, but despite being popular animals housed in aquaria, there is little published information about their normal ocular anatomy and common pathologic ocular findings. A total of 63 live cownose rays (CNR) from three unrelated, separately housed groups had ocular examinations, and 5 adult rays were selected for ocular ultrasound. All examinations were performed out of the water, and most without anesthesia. Clinical findings were described, categorized, and scored by severity. Sixty-two of 63 rays (123 eyes) had clinical abnormalities, including 110 eyes with corneal pathology (mild = 76, moderate/severe = 34) and 74 eyes with intraocular pathology (mild = 44, moderate/severe = 30). Grey-to-white corneal opacities were the most common pathology (n = 58 rays/100 eyes) followed by cataracts (n = 41 rays/58 eyes), then persistent (or dysplastic) pupillary membranes (n = 14 rays/15 eyes). Most pathologic findings appeared inactive, but one aquarium had several CNR with active ocular pathology. There was a significant association between the diagnosis of moderate/severe corneal and intraocular pathology with age (P = 0.008 and P = 0.014, respectively) and weight (P = 0.001 and P = 0.039, respectively), as well as moderate/severe corneal pathology and group sampled (P = 0.03). There were no other significant variables identified. Additionally, histopathology of 14 eyes (11 rays) from two different facilities were examined, with keratitis (n = 8) and uveitis (n = 2) as the most common lesions. This study shows a high prevalence of pathologic ocular findings in cownose ray eyes with heavier adults more likely to be affected than lighter juveniles. Comprehensive ocular evaluation is important in this species and serial ocular exams and future studies should be pursued to monitor ocular disease progression and better understand possible etiologies.

INTRAOCULAR PRESSURES OF AQUARIUM-HOUSED COWNOSE RAYS (RHINOPTERA BONASUS) WITH NORMAL AND ABNORMAL OPHTHALMIC EXAMS.

Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) are common elasmobranchs in zoos and aquaria; however, there is a lack of published information regarding ocular findings in this species. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in a total of 52 cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) from two unrelated aquaria (n = 22 from A1, n = 30 from A2) using a TonoVet rebound tonometer on two settings (dog = D, and unidentified species = P) as part of a full ophthalmologic examination. Adult (n = 38) and juvenile (n = 14) rays were sampled out of water briefly in sternal recumbency. Intraocular pressure (mean ± SD [range]) in the D setting (9.10 ± 2.57 [4-18] mmHg) was higher than the P setting (5.21 ± 2.32 [0-12] mmHg) (P<0.001). Statistical analysis revealed no difference in IOP between right and left eyes, and no correlation between body weight and IOP. No differences in IOP between sex, age group, and location were identified in either setting. However, a significant difference was observed between levels of severity of corneal disease in IOP D setting (P=0.006) and P setting (P=0.024), and levels of severity of intraocular disease in IOP D setting (P=0.034) only. This study provides baseline IOP values using rebound tonometry in aquarium-housed cownose rays with apparent corneal and intraocular lesions and reveals that the D setting may be more sensitive in identifying IOP changes in eyes with intraocular disease.

HEMATOLOGY AND PLASMA CHEMISTRY COMPARISONS AMONG JUVENILE AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS) UNDERGOING REHABILITATION.

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is an opportunistic and adaptable species with high rehabilitation success rates. Injured, ill, and orphaned bears across the southeastern United States are examined and treated at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine followed by rehabilitation at Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR). Hematology and biochemistry reference ranges exist for healthy adult black bears; however, most bears presenting to ABR are young and of variable health status. Thus, further investigation into the difference of blood values at varying ages and presentations is warranted. ABR records from 1996 to 2022 included 106 bears with completed hematology and plasma biochemistry panels (22 paired samples at intake and release, 84 at intake only). Intake-only samples consisted of 12 neonates (<3 mon old), 64 cubs (3-12 mon), and 30 yearlings (1-2 yr). Bears presented as orphaned neonates (22%), orphaned cubs (45%), malnourished yearlings (24%), and injured/ill (9%) during fall (16%), winter (13%), spring (32%), and summer (39%). Changes in hematology and plasma biochemistry results between intake and release included an increase in hematocrit and glucose. Injured/ill bears presented with higher total leukocyte count (WBC), absolute neutrophils (ABS segs), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase (P < 0.05). Positive correlation between ALT, AST, proteins, and blood urea nitrogen and negative correlation between absolute lymphocytes and alkaline phosphatase were noted with age. Both WBC and ABS segs were lower during winter (P < 0.05). Understanding what factors affect juvenile black bear blood values improves clinical expectations and evaluation upon intake, clinical evaluation, and treatment.

Butorphanol-Azaperone-Medetomidine Is as Safe and Effective as Nalbuphine-Azaperone-Medetomidine for Immobilization of Juvenile American Black Bears (Ursus americanus).

Immobilization kits including butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM) and nalbuphine-azaperone-medetomidine can provide effective, safe, and easy-to-use protocols in bears. Nalbuphine-azaperone-medetomidine is not commercially available but may be useful for wildlife agencies because it does not contain controlled substances. This study directly compared BAM to nalbuphine-azaperone-medetomidine immobilization in 10 juvenile healthy black bears (10 mo old; four females, six males) undergoing prerelease examinations after rehabilitation. Bears were immobilized via remote delivery of 1 mL of BAM (n=5) or nalbuphine-azaperone-medetomidine (n=5) intramuscularly in the shoulder during December (randomized, blinded trial). Bears were intubated, monitored with an electrocardiogram, pulse oximeter, capnograph, noninvasive blood pressure cuff, and rectal thermometer, and underwent physical examination, sample collection, morphometrics, and ear-tag placement. Induction, physiologic, and recovery parameters were recorded, including arterial blood gas analysis. The anesthetic agents were antagonized with atipamezole and naltrexone. There were no differences between protocols in induction or recovery times. There were no differences between protocols in heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO2, mean arterial pressure, or blood gas analysis or any differences between male and female bears in any parameters. Bears were hypertensive and normoxemic with low oxygen saturation via pulse oximeter, but all recovered smoothly and were released within 2 h of recovery. This study supports that nalbuphine-azaperone-medetomidine is clini-cally as safe and effective as BAM in American black bears.

Engineered Bacillus subtilis Biofilm@Biochar living materials for in-situ sensing and bioremediation of heavy metal ions pollution.

The simultaneous sensing and remediation of multiple heavy metal ions in wastewater or soil with microorganisms is currently a significant challenge. In this study, the microorganism Bacillus subtilis was used as a chassis organism to construct two genetic circuits for sensing and adsorbing heavy-metal ions. The engineered biosensor can sense three heavy metal ions (0.1-75 µM of Pb2+ and Cu2+, 0.01-3.5 µM of Hg2+) in situ real-time with high sensitivity. The engineered B. subtilis TasA-metallothionein (TasA-MT) biofilm can specifically adsorb metal ions from the environment, exhibiting remarkable removal efficiencies of 99.5% for Pb2+, 99.9% for Hg2+and 99.5% for Cu2+ in water. Furthermore, this engineered strain (as a biosensor and absorber of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+) was incubated with biochar to form a hybrid biofilm@biochar (BBC) material that could be applied in the bioremediation of heavy metal ions. The results showed that BBC material not only significantly reduced exchangeable Pb2+ in the soil but also reduced Pb2+ accumulation in maize plants. In addition, it enhanced maize growth and biomass. In conclusion, this study examined the potential applications of biosensors and hybrid living materials constructed using sensing and adsorption circuits in B. subtilis, providing rapid and cost-effective tools for sensing and remediating multiple heavy metal ions (Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+).

Single center retrospective clinical audit and comparison of outcome between epicardial and transvenous endocardial permanent pacemaker implantations in dogs.

The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to provide a single-center clinical audit of complications for single chamber permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) techniques and determine if the clinical parameters, PPI technique or complications were associated with outcome. The electronic medical records were searched for dogs treated for bradyarrhythmia with PPI. Data related to presenting complaint, signalment of the dog, ECG diagnosis, echocardiographic findings, PPI technique, and programing of the pacemaker were recorded. Survival length (days) was recorded as the last veterinary visit; if the dog was dead the reason was documented. Cumulative survival of each pacemaker was examined by a Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the two techniques compared with a logrank test. Chi-square was used to determine the association between major complications and death. A total of 66 dogs with 52 transvenous and 30 epicardial PPIs were included. All epicardial pacemakers were implanted via transdiaphragmatic approach. A total of 31 life-threatening complications were reported. There were nine deaths related to major complications (13.6% of the study sample). The median follow-up period was 366 days, with a median survival of 255 days, and a significant difference in cumulative survival of each pacemaker (P = 0.01) between epicardial (93 days, range 0-1882 days) and transvenous (334 days, range 0-2745) PPIs but no significant difference in cumulative survival between the two techniques when only the first pacemaker was considered (p = 0.07). The presence of a major complications had a significant association with death due to pacemaker complications (P<0.001). The decision to perform epicardial PPI in failed transvenous PPI patients may have skewed the cumulative survival as was evident in the lack of significant difference in survival when only first PPI were examined. Major complication rates between the two techniques were similar and the authors consider both techniques equally reliable to manage symptomatic bradycardia in dogs.

Detecting fa leptin receptor mutation in Zucker rats with tetra-primer amplification-refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR.

Due to the genetic mutation (fa) in the gene encoding for leptin receptor, homozygous Zucker rats (fa-/-) develop excessive adiposity and become an experimental animal model in obesity and metabolic-related diseases research. Based on tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR), we developed a method to quickly genotype Zucker rats with a mutated fa allele from their wildtype littermates. The three genotypes are clearly discriminated on 2.0% agarose gel. Our method can be used as a reliable tool to set up and maintain the breeding colony in animal facilities as well as assign animals to control and treatment groups based on their genotypes for animal studies.

The role of HIF-1α/HO-1 pathway in hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis in epilepsy.

Epilepsy, a common central nervous system disorder, remains an enigma in pathogenesis. Emerging consensus designates hippocampal neuronal injury as a cornerstone for epileptogenic foci, pivotal in epileptic genesis and progression. Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death modality hinging on iron, catalyzes lipid reactive oxygen species formation through iron and membrane polyunsaturated fatty acid interplay, culminating in oxidative cell death. This research investigates the role of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α/heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in hippocampal neuron ferroptosis during epilepsy. Untargeted metabolomics exposes metabolite discrepancies between epilepsy patients and healthy individuals, unveiling escalated oxidative stress, heightened bilirubin, and augmented iron metabolism in epileptic blood. Enrichment analyses unveil active HIF-1 pathway in epileptic pathogenesis, reinforced by HIF-1α signaling perturbations in DisGeNET database. PTZ-kindled mice model confirms increased ferroptotic markers, oxidative stress, HIF-1α, and HO-1 in epilepsy. Study implicates HIF-1α/HO-1 potentially regulates hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis, iron metabolism, and oxidative stress, thereby promoting the propagation of epilepsy.

Establishing an hTERT-driven immortalized umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell line and its therapeutic application in mice with liver failure.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by rapid liver cell destruction. It is a multi-etiological and fulminant complication with a clinical mortality of over 80%. Therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or MSCs-derived exosomes can alleviate acute liver injury, which has been demonstrated in animal experiments and clinical application. However, similar to other stem cells, different cell sources, poor stability, cell senescence and other factors limit the clinical application of MSCs. To achieve mass production and quality control on stem cells and their exosomes, transfecting umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSC) with lentivirus overexpressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, the hTERT-UCMSC was constructed as an immortalized MSC cell line. Compared with the primary UCMSC (P3) and immortalized cell line hTERT-UCMSC at early passage (P10), the hTERT-UCMSC retained the key morphological and physiological characteristics of UCMSC at the 35th passage (P35), and showed no signs of carcinogenicity and toxic effect in mice. There was no difference in either exosome production or characteristics of exosomes among cultures from P3 primary cells, P10 and P35 immortalized hTERT-UCMSCs. Inoculation of either hTERT-UCMSC (P35) or its exosomes improved the survival rate and liver function of ALF mice induced by thioacetamide (TAA). Our findings suggest that this immortalized cell line can maintain its characteristics in long-term culture. Inoculation of hTERT-UCMSC and its exosomes could potentially be used in clinics for the treatment of liver failure in the future.

Distribution of equine and food animal emergency caseload by time of day, day of week, time of year, holiday, and phase of moon at an academic ambulatory and referral hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the association of time of day, day of week, time of year, holiday, and phase of moon on academic ambulatory and hospital emergency caseload for equine and food animal species. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Large animal teaching hospital emergency service. ANIMALS: Equine and food animals. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The hospital database was searched for after-hours on-farm and in-hospital emergencies seen from 2014 to 2020. Variables included date and time of admission, species (equine or food/fiber animal [FA]), and hospital service (field or in-hospital). The association of the caseload with time of day, day of week, day of year (holiday, full moon, or new moon), and season of year was defined and examined. The majority of equine field-based emergencies occurred on the weekend, in contrast to 44.8% of hospital cases. Most equine emergencies occurred between 4:00 p.m. and midnight on weekdays and between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekends for both field (89.1% and 46.9%) and hospital (82.8% and 48%) services. The same was true for FA cases on the farm (90% and 49.2%) and in the hospital (85% and 51.4%). More equine cases (67%) were seen in the field than FA. Winter had the fewest emergency cases for all species and locations, and spring had the most for FA. The majority of holiday equine emergencies were seen in the field (62.2%), but the majority of holiday FA emergencies were seen in the hospital (66.3%). Moon phase had no significance on caseload for all species and locations. CONCLUSIONS: Saturdays and Sundays were the busiest days for all species and services. Winter was the slowest time for emergencies for all species and services. Most emergencies were seen between 4:00 p.m. and midnight on weekdays and between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sundays and Saturdays.