Despite their good biocompatibility and adequate mechanical behavior, the main limitation of Mg alloys might be their high degradation rates in a physiological environment. In this study, a novel Mg-based alloy exhibiting an elastic modulus E = 42 GPa, Mg-1Ca-0.2Mn-0.6Zr, was synthesized and thermo-mechanically processed. In order to improve its performance as a temporary bone implant, a coating based on cellulose acetate (CA) was realized by using the dipping method. The formation of the polymer coating was demonstrated by FT-IR, XPS, SEM and corrosion behavior comparative analyses of both uncoated and CA-coated alloys. The potentiodynamic polarization test revealed that the CA coating significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloy. Using a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, the biocompatibility of both groups of biomaterials was assessed. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the media containing their extracts showed good cytocompatibility on MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts in terms of cell adhesion and spreading, viability, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. In vivo studies conducted in rats revealed that the intramedullary coated implant for fixation of femur fracture was more efficient in inducing bone regeneration than the uncoated one. In this manner, the present study suggests that the CA-coated Mg-based alloy holds promise for orthopedic aplications.

More and more dogs are legally entering the UK from overseas, bringing with them the risk of importing unusual parasites, some of which are zoonotic. Here, Ian Wright and colleagues describe three cases of parasitic worms found in Romanian dogs.

No abstract

Due to their superior mechanical and chemical properties, titanium (Ti) and its alloys have been widely used as orthopedic implantable devices. However, their bioinertness represents a limitation, which can be overcome by employing various surface modifications, such as TiO2 nanotube (TNT) fabrication via electrochemical anodization. Anodic TNTs present tunable dimensions and unique structures, turning them into feasible drug delivery platforms. In the present work, TNTs were loaded with icariin (Ica) through an adhesive intermediate layer of polydopamine (DP), and their in vitro and in vivo biological performance was evaluated. The successful fabrication of the modified surfaces was verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and contact angle measurements (CA), while the in vitro release of Ica was evaluated via UV-VIS spectrophotometry. In terms of in vitro behaviour, comparative studies on RAW 264.7 macrophages demonstrated that the TNT substrates, especially TNT-DP-Ica, elicited a lower inflammatory response compared to the Ti support. Moreover, the in vivo implantation studies evinced generation of a reduced fibrotic capsule around this implant and increased thickness of the newly formed bone tissue at 1 month and 3 months post-implantation, respectively. Overall, our results indicate that the controlled release of Ica from TNT surfaces could result in an improved osseointegration process.

Skin physiology in cats has received little attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term influence of sex, time and the level of dietary fat and energy on the dynamics and qualities of the hair coat. Twenty-four European short-haired laboratory cats were followed over a 1-year period. They were divided into eight groups of three, according to: sex (12 males and 12 females), sexual status (intact or neutered) and diets [(high energy 4300 kcal/kg as fed, 21% fat) vs. (moderate energy 3500 kcal/kg as fed, 10% fat)]. Both diets were fed for 6 months to all cats following a cross-over design. The following parameters were evaluated throughout the study: thickness of hair coat and hair lengths (neck, rump, lateral, flank), hair regrowth (after periodic clippings of 25 cm 2 areas), and telogen/anagen ratio. The thickness of the hair coat initially varied from 1.2-1.7 cm on the neck, 1-1.4 cm on the rump, 1.8-2.5 cm on the flank, and hair shaft lengths were 1.7-2.5, 3.7-3.9 and 2.5-3.2 cm, respectively. Comparison of values revealed few statistical differences: increase of the thickness of hair coat in neutered cats (male and female) during the study, and increase of the length of lateral hairs in all groups during the study. Over all periods and in all groups, the curve of growth was similar (rapid then slower). Some transient variations were attributed to temporary changes in ambient conditions. In conclusion, neither sex, nutrition or season (in housed cats) influenced the general quality of hair coat, in particular hair regrowth. Funding: Royal Canin. P-2Evaluation of the influence of sex, diet and time on skin pH and surface lipids of cats P. BOURDEAU, K. W. TAYLOR, P. NGUYEN and V. BIOURGE National Veterinary School of Nantes, Nantes, France; Royal Canin, Aimargues, France Skin lipids and pH are two factors classically considered of importance in homeostatic characteristics of skin. Skin physiology in cats has received little attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term influence of sex, sexual status, season, and dietary fat and energy on these parameters. Twenty-four European short-haired laboratory cats, 14 months of age, were followed over a 1-year period. They were divided into 8 groups of three, according to: sex (12 males and 12 females), sexual status (intact or neutered) and diets [(high energy 4300 kcal/kg as fed, 21% fat) vs. (moderate energy 3500 kcal/kg as fed, 10% fat)]. Both diets were fed to all cats for 6 months following a cross-over design. Parameters regularly evaluated were skin pH and hair total lipid content (extraction from samples of 0.6-1.2 g of clipped hairs). The pH of the skin varied from 6.6-6.8 initially to 7.2-7.4 at the end of the study. This increase was significant only in intact animals (male and female). The dietary changes did not affect skin pH. Hair total lipid content was not affected by sex or the diets but slightly increased in all groups over the study period from 1.5-2.4 to 2.4-3.3%. In conclusion, skin pH appeared to be potentially m...