A long-lasting gel-based diffuser of feline pheromone can help reduce undesirable behaviors in cats at home: comparison with an electric diffuser.

Using pheromone diffusers is part of the strategy to control stress-related behaviors in cats (). The goal of the study was to compare the efficacy of a novel long-acting, unpowered gel-based diffuser containing a facial pheromone analog (Zenifel gel diffuser, Virbac) with a similar electrically powered feline pheromone diffuser that already has proven efficacy, on situational stress in cats, at home. The study involved 90 owners of cats presenting undesirable behaviors receiving one diffuser or the other: 46 received one gel diffuser and 44 received one plug-in device and a refill, for the 2-month study duration.

Owner-Perception of the Effects of Two Long-Lasting Dog-Appeasing Pheromone Analog Devices on Situational Stress in Dogs.

Devices that release a synthetic analog of the canine-appeasing pheromone can help to relax dogs during stressful situations, but they usually last for only one month. Two new devices with this analog were tested by owners of dogs showing signs of stress in a range of everyday situations: Zenidog™ collar, lasting three months, and Zenidog™ diffusing gel, lasting two months (Virbac, Carros, France). They were compared against reference products that last for one month.

Iodination of proteins by IPy2BF4, a new tool in protein chemistry.

Iodination is a very useful method for protein characterization and labeling. However, derivatization chemistries used in most conventional iodination procedures may cause substantial alterations in protein structure and function. The IPy(2)BF(4) reagent [bis(pyridine)iodonium (I) tetrafluoroborate] has been shown to be an effective iodinating reagent for peptides.

A proteomic approach to the identification of new tPA receptors in pancreatic cancer cells.

We have developed a strategy to identify putative tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA)receptors present in pancreatic cancer cells by affinity capture with tPA-Sepharose followed by 2-DE and MALDI-MS PMF. Proteins pulled down from either total lysates or raft membrane fractions were characterized and compared with those from a total lysate of an endothelial cell line (HUVEC) to identify pancreas-restricted tPA receptors. A total of 31 proteins were found by this approach, including annexin A2, already described as a tPA receptor in pancreas and endothelial cells, other proteins acting as tPA receptors (i.

17alpha-methyltestosterone: 28-day oral toxicity study in the rat based on the "Enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407" to detect endocrine effects.

A 28-day oral gavage toxicity study in the rat with 17alpha-methyltestosterone was conducted as part of the international validation exercise on the modified Enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris). Special emphasis was placed on the endocrine mediated effects exerted by 17alpha-methyltestosterone, a potent androgen agonist. The test compound was administered daily by oral gavage for at least 28 days to groups of 7-week-old-Wistar rats.

Tamoxifen: 28-day oral toxicity study in the rat based on the Enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407 to detect endocrine effects.

The main objective of this 28-day oral gavage toxicity study in the rat was to investigate which of the current and/or additional parameters of the OECD Test Guideline 407 would reliably and sensitively detect the endocrine-mediated effects of the nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen. In addition, as this study was performed using two subgroups of five animals of each sex run concurrently, it enabled an assessment of the intralaboratory reproducibility while also assessing the potential value of using ten animals of each sex per group instead of using the standard five animals of each sex per group stipulated by the current guideline. Tamoxifen was administered daily by gavage to groups of 7-week-old Wistar rats for at least 28 days at dose levels of 5, 30, or 200 microg/kg body weight.