The Electrochemical Properties of the Porous Nafion Membrane for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) Nafion membrane;Porous membrane;Proton conductivity;Polymer electrolyte membrane;Vapor pressure of water;

Kim K, et al. J Vet Sci. 2019 Oct;20:e59. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2019.20.e59

Inflammatory diseases are common in companion dogs. Although white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) are routinely used to assess systemic inflammation, their individual prognostic value remains limited. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), reflecting red blood cell aggregation driven by plasma proteins, has long been applied in human medicine as both an inflammatory and prognostic marker. This study evaluated the prognostic utility of ESR in dogs, including clinically healthy and diseased populations. Associations between ESR, other inflammatory markers, and age were examined, and its role as an independent predictor of mortality and optimal clinical cut-off were determined. A subgroup of dogs meeting the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria were also analyzed to assess the latter’s usefulness in acute settings. A total of 350 dogs were enrolled: 241 diseased and 109 healthy. ESR was measured using an automated analyzer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, expressed as the area under the curve (AUC), evaluated diagnostic accuracy, followed by Kaplan–Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard analyses. ESR values were significantly higher in the disease group than in the healthy group (p < 0.0001). ESR showed fair to good prognostic accuracy for mortality in both the overall cohort (AUC = 0.776 [95% CI: 0.709–0.842]) and the SIRS subgroup (AUC = 0.846 [95% CI: 0.747–0.946]). An ESR cut-off of 18 mm/h was associated with mortality in SIRS dogs with 87.5% specificity. In the multivariate analysis, ESR showed an independent association with mortality (hazard ratio 1.013 [95% CI: 1.004–1.022], p = 0.004). These findings support ESR as a practical and independent prognostic marker for risk stratification in dogs with systemic inflammation.

Bartonella species are known as candidates for zoonotic transmission, and cats serve as the main reservoir for Bartonella henselae , the primary causative agent of cat scratch disease (CSD). However, research on the transmission of bartonellosis to humans remains very limited. In East Asia, there is a lack of comprehensive studies regarding the prevalence of B. henselae infection and its associated risk factors among companion cats, their owners, and individuals working in veterinary professions. This study aimed to investigate both the molecular and seroprevalence of B. henselae in veterinary personnel and companion cats in South Korea, along with a questionnaire‐based analysis of transmission risk factors. Blood and saliva samples were collected from humans, whereas blood, saliva, claw, and fecal samples were obtained from cats. Seroprevalence and molecular prevalence were measured for all these samples. Additionally, participants were required to complete an epidemiological information questionnaire related to CSD. The study enrolled 300 veterinary professionals and 126 companion cats owned by them. The serum IgG prevalence in humans was 64.6% (190/294), whereas, in cats, it was 5.5% (6/108). The molecular prevalence in human blood and saliva was 3% (9/298) and 1.7% (5/298), respectively. In cats, it was 10.1% (12/119) for blood, 0% (0/123) for saliva, 1.7% (2/119) for nails, and 4.5% (5/112) for feces. Phylogenetic analysis of the PCR‐positive samples confirmed that all of them were B. henselae . This study demonstrates that Bartonella species are widespread among veterinary professionals in South Korea, highlighting their significance as zoonotic pathogens. Given the potential for indirect transmission from cats, enhancing awareness of Bartonella exposure risk among veterinary personnel is warranted, along with emphasizing preventive education for cat owners, including strict ectoparasite control.

Dong-Yun Kim, Jeong Uk Choi, Keon Kim, Sang-Ik Park, Guk-Hyun Suh, Young-Chang Cho, Chang-Min Lee. J Vet Clin 2021;38:310-4. https://doi.org/10.17555/jvc.2021.38.6.310