In this work, calcium oxalate (CaOx) precursors were stabilized by poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as an additive under in vitro crystallization assays involving the formation of pre-nucleation clusters of CaOx via a non-classical crystallization (NCC) pathway. The in vitro crystallization of CaOx was carried out in the presence of 10, 50 and 100 mg/L PAA by using automatic calcium potentiometric titration experiments at a constant pH of 6.7 at 20 °C. The results confirmed the successful stabilization of amorphous calcium oxalate II and III (ACOII and ACO III) nanoparticles formed after PNC in the presence of PAA and suggest the participation and stabilization of polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) in the presence of PAA. We demonstrated that PAA stabilizes CaOx precursors with size in the range of 20–400 nm. PAA additive plays a key role in the in vitro crystallization of CaOx stabilizing multi-ion complexes in the pre-nucleation stage, thereby delaying the nucleation of ACO nanoparticles. Indeed, PAA additive favors the formation of more hydrated and soluble phase of ACO nanoparticles that are bound by electrostatic interactions to carboxylic acid groups of PAA during the post-nucleation stage. These findings may help to a better understanding of the pathological mineralization resulting in urolithiasis in mammals.

Biominerals fulfill various physiological functions in living organisms, however, pathological mineralization can also occur generating mineral pathologies such as the formation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) calculi in the urinary tract. Inspired by the ability of living organisms to generate biogenic minerals using biological organic matrices, and the need to understand the mechanisms of crystallization, three-dimensional fibrillary meshes based on chitosan fibers with random and controlled topology by electrospinning were manufactured. Chitosan was selected due to its active role on in vitro crystallization and its physicochemical properties, which allows the exposure of their functional chemical groups that could selectively stabilize hydrated crystalline forms of CaOx. CaOx crystals were generated on conductive tin indium oxide (ITO) glass substrates modified with electrospun chitosan fibers by using electrocrystallization (EC) technique. The chitosan fibers and the resulting CaOx crystals were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, which demonstrated that the chemical nature and topology of the three-dimensional fibers used as organic template are key factors in the control of type, morphology, and crystallographic orientation of CaOx.

Este artículo pretende hacer una reflexión psicopatológica preliminar de la perversión masoquista a partir de las lecturas de Jacques Lacan y de Gilles Deleuze. Para ello, se asume la premisa lacaniana de que el sujeto perverso busca interrogar y recuperar la porción de goce sustraída para dar lugar a un sujeto. Luego, se intenta dar cuenta de esta premisa retomando dos aspectos fundamentales de la puesta en escena masoquista descrita por Deleuze: el fetichismo y la idealización. Para finalizar, se propone que ambos mecanismos, con el fin de cumplir tal empresa, procuran la producción de un objeto positivo en la puesta en escena masoquista.

Background: Continuous insulin infusion protocols are essential for managing decompensated diabetic dogs, but comparative data between variable and fixed infusion rates are limited. Methods: This prospective observational study evaluated the glycemic response of 21 diabetic dogs treated with a fixed-dose continuous-rate infusion (CRI) of regular insulin at 0.05 IU/kg/h for 12 h. Capillary blood glucose was measured hourly. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Friedman test, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: A significant reduction in glucose concentration occurred during the first five hours of infusion (p < 0.0001), followed by a stabilization phase with no further significant changes. No differences in glycemic response were found by sex or breed. The protocol was well tolerated, with no hypoglycemic events observed. Conclusions: A fixed-dose CRI of 0.05 IU/kg/h offers a safe and effective option for acute glycemic control in diabetic dogs, including those with early ketoacidosis. The standardized approach simplifies management without compromising efficacy and supports its inclusion in emergency treatment protocols.

Protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) involves a heterogeneous group of pathologies leading to selective glomerular damage and development of renal disease. ICGN, the main cause of PLN, requires immunosuppressive treatment. However, the scientific evidence in veterinary medicine on immunosuppressive therapeutic schemes in this condition is limited. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and paraclinical evolution of five dogs with PLN, presumably associated with ICGN, treated with chlorambucil as immunosuppressive monotherapy. Suspected IGCN was established by the presence of a urine protein–creatinine ratio (UPC) ≥ 3 without response to standard therapy, hypoalbuminemia < 2, or progressive azotemia. Patients were treated with a dosage range of chlorambucil from 0.16 to 0.4 mg/kg (mean 0.25 mg/kg) every 24 h as the sole immunosuppressant. In the end, 4/5 patients showed significant clinical improvement, 3/3 had resolution of the nephrotic syndrome, 5/5 had a sustained decrease in UPC values during follow-up and no relevant adverse effects were observed. In this report, chlorambucil proved to be a well-tolerated and potentially effective monotherapy for immune-mediated PLN in dogs.