Case report: use of pleural dialysis as an alternate means of renal replacement therapy in three cats.

Objective: The objective of this case series is to describe the indications, methodology, and short-term outcomes of three cats with severe azotemia managed with pleural dialysis.

Case Summary: Three cats were presented separately to the emergency room (ER) on referral for severe azotemia of varying etiologies. Despite aggressive medical and/or surgical management, none of the cats showed improvement in their blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or creatinine values.

Successful management of minoxidil 5% toxicosis in 2 cats from the same household.

Objective: To describe the successful management of 2 cats following ingestion of minoxidil 5%.

Series Summary: Two 2-year-old neutered male Savannah cats were presented following suspected minoxidil 5% ingestion. Both cats developed significant myocardial injury, and clinical signs were consistent with congestive heart failure, supported by cardiac troponin I concentrations, echocardiogram, and thoracic radiographs.

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule enhances coagulation and decreases fibrinolysis in canine plasma exposed to Crotalus viridis venom in vitro and in vivo.

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2), an emerging therapeutic in human medicine, enhances plasmatic coagulation and attenuates fibrinolysis in vitro in human, rabbit and horse plasma and ameliorates hypocoagulation and hyperfibrinolysis secondary to venom exposure in human plasma in vitro. Fibrinogenases in rattlesnake venom cause decreased clot strength, and in the presence of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in vitro, a markedly increased rate of clot lysis. CO interacts with a haem group on fibrinogen, changing its configuration so that the fibrin clot is strengthened and more resistant to fibrinolysis.

High-throughput screen for sorting cells capable of producing the biofuel feedstock botryococcene.

Botryococcene is a branched triterpene produced by the algae Botryococcus braunii. Hydrocracking botryococcene yields a variety of combustible fuels such as gasoline and jet fuel. Engineering host systems and proteins involved in the biosynthesis of botryococcene to optimize production is of interest given these applications.