Prevalence of hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression with alternate day use of azathioprine and glucocorticoids for treatment of dermatological conditions in dogs.

Background: The use of azathioprine (AZA) in dogs is limited by the potential for hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine the prevalence of AZA-associated hepatotoxicity in dogs with dermatological conditions receiving alternate-day AZA. The hypothesis was that dogs receiving AZA every other day (EOD) would have a lower prevalence of hepatotoxicity compared to published data for dogs receiving daily AZA.

Low-Cost Devices for Three-Dimensional Cell Aggregation, Real-Time Monitoring Microscopy, Microfluidic Immunostaining, and Deconvolution Analysis.

The wide use of 3D-organotypic cell models is imperative for advancing our understanding of basic cell biological mechanisms. For this purpose, easy-to-use enabling technology is required, which should optimally link standardized assessment methods to those used for the formation, cultivation, and evaluation of cell aggregates or primordial tissue. We thus conceived, manufactured, and tested devices which provide the means for cell aggregation and online monitoring within a hanging drop.

Resilient yet entirely degradable gelatin-based biogels for soft robots and electronics.

Biodegradable and biocompatible elastic materials for soft robotics, tissue engineering or stretchable electronics with good mechanical properties, tunability, modifiability or healing properties drive technological advance, and yet they are not durable under ambient conditions and do not combine all the attributes in a single platform. We have developed a versatile gelatin-based biogel, which is highly resilient with outstanding elastic characteristics, yet degrades fully when disposed. It self-adheres, is rapidly healable and derived entirely from natural and food-safe constituents.

Expression of T-Bet, Eomesodermin, and GATA-3 Correlates With Distinct Phenotypes and Functional Properties in Porcine γδ T Cells.

Unlike mice and humans, porcine γδ T cells represent a prominent subset of T cells in blood and secondary lymphatic organs. GATA-3, T-bet and Eomesodermin (Eomes) are transcription factors with crucial functions in T-cell development and functional differentiation, but their expression has not been investigated in porcine γδ T cells so far. We analyzed the expression of these transcription factors in γδ thymocytes, mature γδ T cells from blood, spleen, lymph nodes, and lung tissue as well as stimulated γδ T cells on the protein level by flow cytometry.

Emerging implications of policies on malaria treatment: genetic changes in the gene affecting susceptibility to artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine in Africa.

Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) are the most commonly used artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) for treatment of in Africa. Both treatments remain efficacious, but single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the multidrug resistance 1 () gene may compromise sensitivity. AL and AS-AQ exert opposing selective pressures: parasites with genotype 86Y, Y184 and 1246Y are partially resistant to AS-AQ treatment, while N86, 184 F and D1246 are favoured by AL treatment.

Characterization and quantification of ceramides in the nonlesional skin of canine patients with atopic dermatitis compared with controls.

As in humans, there is mounting evidence in support of an abnormal skin barrier contributing to the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis (AD). Studies in people with AD have associated an abnormal skin barrier with deficiencies in ceramides, which represent important components of the stratum corneum (SC) intercellular lipid lamellae. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine if the SC of dogs with AD is deficient in ceramides compared to normal dogs.

Investigation of the pruritogenic effects of histamine, serotonin, tryptase, substance P and interleukin-2 in healthy dogs.

There are numerous studies of the pruritus-producing effects of histamine, serotonin, tryptase, substance P and interleukin-2 in humans and mice, but very little reported in dogs even though a common reason dogs are presented to veterinarians is pruritus. The aim of this study was to determine whether substances known to cause pruritus in humans also cause pruritus in dogs. Twenty-five clinically healthy research beagle dogs were included in the study.