Superovulation of dairy cows using recombinant FSH (bscrFSH): Effect of the number of FSH applications on ovarian response, hormone profiles, and in vivo embryo production.

The application of bovine single-chain recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (bscrFSH) for developing new superovulation (SOV) protocols with a reduced number of FSH applications was tested in lactating dairy cows with the aim of reducing animal welfare concerns and lowering labour requirements. Embryo donor cows were randomly divided into two experimental groups (n = 12 each) to undergo two different SOV protocols: a) SOV protocol using four bscrFSH applications (one dose/day, 24 h apart, four consecutive days; total: four decreasing doses), and b) SOV protocol using two bscrFSH applications (one dose/day, 48 h apart, two alternate days; total: two decreasing doses) to determine their potential effects on superovulatory response, circulating hormone levels, and in vivo embryo production. Circulating 17β-estradiol, FSH, LH, and progesterone concentrations were unaffected over time by bscrFSH treatment, irrespective of the SOV protocol used (p > 0.

Multilayer Nanocarrier for the Codelivery of Interferons: A Promising Strategy for Biocompatible and Long-Acting Antiviral Treatment.

Interferons (IFNs) are cytokines involved in the immune response with a synergistic regulatory effect on the immune response. They are therapeutics for various viral and proliferative conditions, with proven safety and efficacy. Their clinical application is challenging due to the molecules' size, degradation, and pharmacokinetics.

Recombinant Subunit Vaccine Candidate against the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus.

Multivalent live-attenuated or inactivated vaccines are often used to control the bovine viral diarrhea disease (BVD). Still, they retain inherent disadvantages and do not provide the expected protection. This study developed a new vaccine prototype, including the external segment of the E2 viral protein from five different subgenotypes selected after a massive screening.

Development and characterization of a novel variant of long-acting bovine follicle-stimulating hormone (brscFSH).

Assisted reproduction is a key aspect of modern animal breeding, providing valuable assistance in improving breeding programs. In this field, the administration of exogenous hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), plays a crucial role in the induction of multiple ovulations. However, commercial FSH used in veterinary practice has been derived primarily from pituitary glands, obtained mostly from pigs for nearly four decades.

COVID-19 among lung cancer patients: Data from a real-life prospective French multicentric study.

Background: COVID-19 started to spread early in 2020, the precise year that lung cancer (LC) patients were recruited into the prospective epidemiological cohort KBP-2020-CPHG in French hospitals. This provides a unique opportunity to study COVID-19 incidence, survival risk factors, and overall prognosis.

Methods: COVID data was collected before vaccination was made available.

First report of bovine viral diarrhea virus subgenotypes 1d and 1e in southern Chile.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) affects cattle worldwide causing severe productive and economic loss. In this study, we investigated the subgenotypes of BVDV circulating in cattle samples from the Aysén region, an active cattle breeding area located in southern Chile. Partial amplification of the 5' untranslated region (UTR) was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and twelve samples were analyzed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

Effects of recombinant FSH (bscrFSH) and pituitary FSH (FSH-p) on embryo production in superovulated dairy heifers inseminated with unsorted and sex-sorted semen.

Superovulation is a drug-based method used in cattle to stimulate the ovarian folliculogenesis and the number of oocytes and transferable embryos. The present study aimed to test the effects of recombinant FSH (bscrFSH) and pituitary FSH (FSH-p) on ovarian response and in vivo embryo production in superovulated dairy heifers inseminated with unsorted and sex-sorted semen. Forty healthy Holstein heifers subjected to a superovulation (SOV) protocol by using FSH-p or bscrFSH were divided randomly into four groups: a) FSH-p inseminated with unsorted semen (USP; n = 10), b) FSH-p inseminated with sex-sorted semen (SSP; n = 10), c) bscrFSH inseminated with unsorted semen (USR; n = 10), and d) bscrFSH inseminated with sex-sorted semen (SSR; n = 10).

Neuroprotective effect of a new variant of Epo nonhematopoietic against oxidative stress.

Human erythropoietin is mainly recognized for its hematopoietic function; however, by binding to its receptor (EpoR), it can activate different signaling pathways as STAT, PI3K, MAPK and RAS to increase cellular differentiation or provide neuroprotective effects, among others. A recombinant human erythropoietin variant with low glycosylation and without hematopoietic effect (EpoL) was purified from skimmed goat milk. Recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) was obtained from CHO cell line and used as control to compare EpoL effects.

Stress, anxiety, depression and migraine.

This study investigated the intensity of stress, anxiety and depression in a sample of 141 migraineurs compared with a control group of 109 non-migraine workers matched for age and sex. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire, and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results indicated that stress and anxiety were higher in the migraine group than in the control group and above the clinical level.

[Churg-Strauss syndrome. Retrospective study of 20 cases].

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a disorder characterised by hypereosinophilia and systemic vasculitis complicating a preexisting asthma. Twenty cases have been studied. Mean duration of asthma before CSS was 8 years, the peripheral-blood eosinophilia, always > 1,700/microL, went above 5,000/microL in 17 cases.

[Nicorandil-induced giant lingual aphthosis in a patient with Behcet's disease].

Background: Even in patients with Behçet's disease, disease, the development of severe aphthosis should suggest the possibility of a drug reaction.

Case Report: We observed a case of giant lingual aphthosis that developed four months after adding microrandil to the regimen of a patient with Behçet's disease who had been treated with colchicine for 16 years. The aphthosis healed after withdrawal of nicorandil.

[Pneumopathies caused by inhalation of hydrocarbons: apropos of 3 cases].

We report three personal cases of hydrocarbide aspiration pneumonia. High-viscosity non-volatile hydrocarbides (paraffin oil, for instance) cause often pseudotumoral exogenous fat-aspiration lung disease. Low-viscosity volatile hydrocarbides (petroleum, gasoline, white spirit, for instance) cause acute pseudo-infectious lung disease with dyspnea and fever which usually resolves within a few weeks but which may also be life-threatening.

[Paroxetine withdrawal syndrome].

Withdrawal syndrome after discontinuing serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, especially paroxetine, is largely unknown to most physicians. Variable incidence has been reported. Our aim was to stress the main clinical features of this syndrome.

[Drug-induced gynecomastia].

Drugs are a very common cause of gynecomastia and should always be entertained as the possible causal agent of such a condition. This drug side-effect is due to an impaired balance in the serum estrogen/serum androgen ratio, whatever the mechanism, or a rise in prolactin level. Sex hormones, antiandrogens, are frequently involved as well as spironolactone, cimetidine, verapamil and cancer chemotherapy (especially alkylating agents).

Short-term variability of blood pressure and heart rate in hyperthyroidism.

The effect of hyperthyroidism on the short-term memory variability of blood pressure and heart rate was evaluated in 12 untreated hyperthyroid patients during thyrotoxicosis and after a 6 1/2 month treatment designed to achieve a stable euthyroid state. Beat-by-beat finger blood pressure was measured with a Finapres device. The pulse interval, from which pulse rate was derived, was obtained from the blood pressure signal.

Repeated doses of combined oral lysine acetylsalicylate and metoclopramide in the acute treatment of migraine.

The combination of lysine acetylsalicylate and metoclopramide is effective in the treatment of migraine attacks. It was unknown whether repeated doses could improve efficacy. The aim of this open trial was to evaluate the effects of a second, and eventually a third dose of lysine acetylsalicylate and metoclopramide when a first dose of the treatment was ineffective.

[Homonymy of drugs: a cause of prescription and dispensing errors].

There have been recently a prescription error and a dispensing error in our department due to drug names which look or sound alike. Errors of this type have frequently been quoted in the Anglo-Saxon literature. The method of choosing a drug trade name is recalled, and a table of French drug names which can involve errors of prescription and dispensing errors is provided.

[Drug interactions and the elderly].

Elderly people are particularly at risk for drug interactions, for several reasons. They are the part of the population who consume the most drugs: over 75 years the mean number of drugs on a prescription is 5.6.