Effects of Feeding a Hypoallergenic Diet with a Nutraceutical on Fecal Dysbiosis Index and Clinical Manifestations of Canine Atopic Dermatitis.

Background: an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota can cause health problems in the gastrointestinal tract and in other organs. Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed, inflammatory and pruritic allergic skin disease with multifactorial etiology and multimodal treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a nutraceutical product on Dysbiotic Index (DI) and the skin lesions of atopic dogs.

The Role of hCG Triggering Progesterone Levels: A Real-World Retrospective Cohort Study of More Than 8000 IVF/ICSI Cycles.

To assess the association between serum ovulation trigger progesterone (P) levels and the outcome of fertilization cycles. Real world single-center retrospective cohort study. All fresh cleavage and blastocyst-stage embryo transfers (ETs) performed from January 2012 to December 2016.

High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Infertile Women Referring for Assisted Reproduction.

A comprehensive analysis of the vitamin D status of infertile women is the first step in understanding hypovitaminosis impact on reproductive potential. We sought to determine vitamin D profiles of women attending an infertility center and to investigate non-dietary determinants of vitamin D status in this population. In this cross-sectional analysis, a cohort of 1072 women (mean age ± standard deviation 36.

An antioxidant bioinspired phenolic polymer for efficient stabilization of polyethylene.

The synthesis, structural characterization and properties of a new bioinspired phenolic polymer (polyCAME) produced by oxidative polymerization of caffeic acid methyl ester (CAME) with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-H2O2 is reported as a new sustainable stabilizer toward polyethylene (PE) thermal and photo-oxidative degradation. PolyCAME exhibits high stability toward decarboxylation and oxidative degradation during the thermal processes associated with PE film preparation. Characterization of PE films by thermal methods, photo-oxidative treatments combined with chemiluminescence, and FTIR spectroscopy and mechanical tests indicate a significant effect of polyCAME on PE durability.

Enhancement of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) thermal and processing stability using a bio-waste derived additive.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer, whose applicability is limited by its brittleness and narrow processing window. In this study a pomace extract (EP), from the bio-waste of winery industry, was used as thermal and processing stabilizer for PHB, aimed to engineer a totally bio-based system. The results showed that EP enhanced the thermal stability of PHB, which maintained high molecular weights after processing.

Continuous low-dose oral contraceptive in the treatment of colorectal endometriosis evaluated by rectal endoscopic ultrasonography.

Objective: Limited attention has been focused on the medical treatment of bowel endometriosis. This study evaluates the efficacy of administration of a continuous low-dose oral contraceptive in treating pain and other symptoms associated with colorectal endometriotic nodules, as evaluated by rectal endoscopic ultrasonography.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Detection of feline herpes virus 1 via polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry in cats with ulcerative facial dermatitis, eosinophilic granuloma complex reaction patterns and mosquito bite hypersensitivity.

Ulcerative dermatitis caused by feline herpes virus 1 (FHV-1) is an uncommon disease characterized by cutaneous ulcers secondary to epidermal, adnexal and dermal necrosis. Differential diagnoses for FHV-1 lesions include, but are not limited to, mosquito bite hypersensitivity and eosinophilic granuloma complex. Histopathological diagnosis of FHV-1 dermatitis is based on the detection of the intranuclear inclusion bodies.

Quality of life of dogs with skin disease and of their owners. Part 2: administration of a questionnaire in various skin diseases and correlation to efficacy of therapy.

A previously validated 15-item questionnaire on dogs' life quality (QoL1) and that of their owners (QoL2) was applied in a multicentre study to owners of 200 dogs with different dermatological conditions, together with a question on the owner-perceived disease severity (S). Factor analysis was applied to the whole questionnaire. The correlation of S with QoL1 and QoL2 scores was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation tests.

Canine nodular dermatophytosis (kerion): 23 cases.

Dermatophytosis is a common zoonotic disease, and one of its clinical presentations in the dog is nodular dermatophytosis (kerion). Because the infection is located within the dermis, routine diagnostic tests such as a Wood's lamp examination, microscopic examination of hair shafts for fungal elements and fungal culture can yield negative results. In such cases, histopathological examination with routine and special stains (periodic acid-Schiff, Gomori methenamine silver) is required to confirm the diagnosis.

Laparoscopic treatment of deep pelvic endometriosis with rectal involvement.

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic excision of deep pelvic endometriosis with extensive rectal involvement causing severe symptoms.

Methods: Ten patients, mean age 32 years (range, 27-43), with deep pelvic endometriosis and rectal wall involvement, requiring surgical resection, were studied since January 2004. Prior to surgery and 6 months postsurgery, patients completed a 100-point rank questionnaire on intensity of intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms.

Premature ovarian failure in suspected Whipple's disease.

Introduction: Whipple's disease is a relapsing systemic infectious disease probably caused by the Gram-positive bacillus Tropheryma whippelii. The diagnosis can be established based on the characteristic histopathological features found in the affected organ (foamy macrophages with a coarsely granular cytoplasm, which stains with PAS, and by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology).

Case Report: We report a case of a 23-year-old woman affected by suspected Whipple's disease.

Myocardial infarction complicating the initial phase of an ovarian stimulation protocol.

Two previous reports have reported myocardial infarction during ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a complication of controlled ovarian stimulation characterized by ascites, pleural effusion, hemoconcentration and an increased thromboembolic risk, but no association with the initial phase (before treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin) of a normal ovarian stimulation protocol for infertility has ever been described. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of acute myocardial infarction occurring during the initial phase of an otherwise uncomplicated ovarian stimulation protocol. A young woman with infertility associated to polycystic ovary syndrome was treated with leuprolide acetate and recombinant follicle stimulating hormone to induce ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Natural cycle as first approach in aged patients with elevated follicle-stimulating hormone undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a pilot study.

Background: Poor ovarian response to standard in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) protocols or different regimens of treatment, as consequence of a diminished ovarian reserve, correlates strictly with patient age, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and reduced antral follicle count. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with poor prognostic features undergoing IVF-ET with natural cycles as a first approach and not as a consequence of a previous failure treatment.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen aged patients (mean +/- standard deviation 40.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist and metformin for treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Aim: The combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and gonadotropin represents a valid alternative to the classical protocol with GnRH agonist for ovulation induction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The use of metformin is of benefit to women with PCOS. The aim of the present study was to compare the stimulation characteristics and in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) outcomes of the standard short GnRH antagonist protocol for ovarian stimulation with or without metformin.

Comparison of 4 fixation and staining methods for the cytologic evaluation of ear canals with clinical evidence of ceruminous otitis externa.

Background: Swab cytology of ear canals is one of the most useful and rapid methods to assess the presence of external ear infections. Smears are generally stained with rapid Romanowsky-type stains, with or without prior heat fixation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare 4 different methods of fixation and staining of ear swab cytology samples from dogs.

Pathologic findings in hysteroscopy before in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate hysteroscopy routinely performed prior to in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods: We analyzed in a prospective study 300 patients who underwent hysteroscopy before the first IVF-ET cycle. We analyzed then in a retrospective manner 300 patients who did not perform hysteroscopy.

Polar body morphology and spindle imaging as predictors of oocyte quality.

It has been suggested that first polar body (PBI) morphology reflects oocyte competence. Oocytes with an intact normal-sized PBI have been described as generating better day 2 embryos, higher blastocyst yield, and increased pregnancy and implantation rates. In other studies, PBI morphology was found to be unrelated to fertilization rate, embryo quality, and blastocyst formation.

Consecutive cycles in in vitro fertilization--embryo transfer.

Background: The decline of female fertility with advancing age is well documented. The aim of this study was to compare the ovarian performance after repeated ovarian stimulation cycles in women of different ages.

Methods: Four hundred patients who started at least three in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles during the 5-year period between 1998 and 2002 were identified.