High-sensitivity real-time monitoring of pH and respiration activity unveils metabolic dynamics in shake flask cultures.

Erlenmeyer shake flasks are widely used during the first steps of bioprocess development. Despite their broad application in academia and industry, shake flasks usually lack standardized and user-friendly online monitoring techniques. In this work, the pH and Respiratory Activity MOnitoring System (pH-RAMOS) for the non-invasive online measurement of the oxygen transfer rate (OTR), carbon dioxide transfer rate (CTR), and pH in up to eight parallel shake flasks under sterile conditions is presented.

Phosphate limitation enhances malic acid production on nitrogen-rich molasses with Ustilago trichophora.

Background: An important step in replacing petrochemical products with sustainable, cost-effective alternatives is the use of feedstocks other than, e.g., pure glucose in the fermentative production of platform chemicals.

Metastasized Leydig cell tumor in a dog.

We present the clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of an 11-year old intact male Fox Terrier with a malignant Leydig cell tumor of the right testicle, which metastasized to the skeletal musculature of the left hind limb. The primary tumor and the metastasis were resected with narrow margins. The dog was treated with metronomic chemotherapy using thalidomid and dyclophosphamide.

Hepatocyte Transfection in Small Pigs After Weaning by Hydrodynamic Intraportal Injection of Naked DNA/Minicircle Vectors.

Liver is an attractive organ for gene delivery in order to correct various genetic (metabolic) diseases. Hydrodynamic vein injection of naked DNA/minicircles devoid of viral or plasmid backbones was demonstrated in, for example, murine phenylketonuria to allow sustained therapeutic transduction of hepatocytes. Here we show successful hepatocyte transfusion in domestic small pigs immediately after weaning upon portal vein catheterization and hydrodynamic injection of naked DNA/minicircle vectors expressing the luciferase gene from the CMV or a liver-specific promoter.

Chronic expanding haematoma in a cat.

A 5-year-old cat developed a recurrent haematoma in the right hindlimb after receiving an intramuscular injection. Cold packs and a compressive bandage were applied without success. The haematoma resolved initially but recurred twice within a week after conservative treatment.