Chronic Gingivostomatitis with Esophagitis in Cats.

BACKGROUND: Chronic gingivostomatitis in cats (FCG) is a debilitating disease with potentially deleterious effects on overall health. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the pathophysiology and overall impact of FCG. The aims of our study were to investigate whether gingivostomatitis occurs concurrently with esophagitis, if FCG treatment contributes to esophagitis and if esophagitis exacerbates signs of FCG. ANIMALS: Fifty-eight cats with clinical signs of FCG and 12 healthy control cats exhibiting no signs of oral disease, all client-owned. METHODS: Prospective study. Physical, oral and endoscopic examinations were performed on all cats. Measurements of salivary and esophageal lumen pH were obtained from both groups. Biopsies were acquired from sites of esophageal inflammation in cats with FCG and from normal-appearing esophageal mucosa in control cats. RESULTS: The majority of cats with clinical signs of FCG exhibited some degree of esophagitis especially in the proximal (44/58) and distal (53/58) parts (P < 0.001) with or without columnar metaplasia, compared to controls. All cats lacked signs related to gastrointestinal disease. Salivary and esophageal lumen pH were not statistically different compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis seems to occur concurrently with esophagitis. Esophagitis also should be managed in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis because it may aggravate the existing condition.

Fluorescent polymeric nanovehicles for neural stem cell modulation.

Nanomaterials are emerging as strong candidates for applications in drug delivery and offer an alternative platform to modulate the differentiation and activity of neural stem cells. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of two different classes of polymeric nanoparticles: N-isopropylacrylamide-based thermoresponsive nanogels RM1 and P(TEGA)-b-P(d,lLA)2 nano-micelles RM2. We covalently linked the nanoparticles with fluorescent tags and demonstrate their ability to be internalized and tracked in neural stem cells from the postnatal subventricular zone, without affecting their proliferation, multipotency and differentiation characteristics up to 150 µg ml-1. The difference in chemical structure of RM1 and RM2 does not appear to impact toxicity however it influences the loading capacity. Nanogels RM1 loaded with retinoic acid improve solubility of the drug which is released at 37 °C, resulting in an increase in the number of neurons, comparable to what can be obtained with a solution of the free drug solubilised with a small percentage of DMSO.

Influence of a titanium mesh on the management of segmental long bone defects. An experimental study in a canine ulnar model.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of titanium mesh on guided bone regeneration when used, either alone or in combination with autogenous bone block graft, in a canine ulnar model. METHODS: Thirty-two, purpose bred, adult, castrated male Beagles were used, divided into four equal-size groups. A unilateral mid-diaphyseal ulnar critical-size defect was created in each dog. The ulnar segments were stabilized with a stainless-steel plate and screws. Each defect was managed by: no further treatment (Group A) or by placement of a bone block graft taken from the ipsilateral iliac crest (Group B), or titanium mesh wrapped around the ulna (Group C), or a bone block graft and titanium mesh (Group D). After six months, bone block biopsies were performed and the samples were scanned using micro-computed tomography. Qualitative histological evaluation was performed on two non-decalcified longitudinal sections from each block. RESULTS: No significant differences in terms of mineralized bone volume were detected between the grafted sites (Groups B and D) or between the non-grafted ones (Groups A and C). The histological evaluation indicated good integration of the bone blocks irrespective of the use of titanium mesh. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of titanium mesh does not influence the amount of bone formation. The canine ulnar critical-size defect model seems to be a reliable model to use in experimental studies.

Periodontal disease as a potential factor for systemic inflammatory response in the dog.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that has numerous consequences both locally and systemically The aim of this study was to assess whether periodontal disease causes systemic inflammatory response in otherwise healthy, adult dogs. We estimated the total mouth periodontal score (TMPS), measured the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), hematocrit, and albumin, and determined the white blood cell (WBC) and polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) counts in client-owned dogs. There was a statistically significant relationship between the gingival bleeding index (TMPS-G) and CRP concentration, and WBC and PMN counts, possibly during the active periods of periodontal tissue destruction. No correlation was found between the periodontal destruction index (TMPS-P) and the measured blood parameters. We conclude that chronic periodontal disease does not cause anemia or a reduction in serum albumin. However, active periods of periodontal inflammation may be associated with laboratory values suggestive of a systemic inflammatory response.

Facile synthesis of polyester-PEG triblock copolymers and preparation of amphiphilic nanoparticles as drug carriers.

Novel amphiphilic triblock copolymers of poly(propylene succinate) (PPSu) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with different hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratios were synthesized using a facile one-pot procedure. The molecular weight of the copolymers was adjusted by varying the molecular weight of PPSu while keeping that of PEG constant. The copolymers exhibited glass transition temperatures between -36.0 and -38°C and single melting points around 44°C. WAXD data indicated that both blocks of the copolymers could crystallize. The mPEG-PPSu copolymers exhibited low in vitro toxicity against HUVEC cells. The synthesized copolymers were used to prepare core-shell nanoparticles with hydrophobic PPSu and hydrophilic PEG forming the core and shell, respectively. The drug loading efficiency and drug release properties of the mPEG-PPSu nanoparticles were investigated using two model drugs: the hydrophilic Ropinirole and the hydrophobic Tibolone. The mean size of the drug-loaded mPEG-PPSu nanoparticles ranged between 150 and 300nm and increased with the molecular weight of the PPSu block. The drug loading efficiency of the nanoparticles was found to be dependent upon drug hydrophilicity and was much higher for the hydrophobic Tibolone. Drug release characteristics also depended on drug hydrophilicity: the hydrophilic Ropinirole was released at a much higher rate than the hydrophobic Tibolone. Contrary to Ropinirole, the profiles of Tibolone exhibited an early phase of burst release followed by a phase of slow release. By varying the composition (mPEG/PPSu ratio) of mPEG-PPSU copolymers, nanoparticles of different sizes and drug loading capacities can be synthesized exhibiting different drug release characteristics. Based on the results obtained, the proposed mPEG-PPSu copolymers can be useful in various controlled drug delivery applications, especially those involving relatively hydrophobic drugs.