The post Pandora’s Syndrome in Cats: Causes‚ Signs &; Treatment (Vet Answer) by Dr. Joe Mallat appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Have you ever been stressed for a long time‚ and as a result of this had a bad skin break out or picked up a head cold? In many ways‚ cats aren’t too different to us. Chronic stress leads to many illnesses in people and cats alike. Pandora’s Syndrome refers to a complex and challenging disease in cats‚ presumed to be related to chronic stress. Cats suffering from Pandora’s Syndrome have a long list of potential signs related to many different body systems. The urinary system is the most commonly involved. For this reason‚ Pandora’s Syndrome was previously referred to as “feline lower urinary tract disease” or “feline urological syndrome”‚ and stress or anxiety was believed to be one of the main causes of the urinary issues. However‚ new research suggests that many other organs in cats are affected by chronic stress‚ including the heart‚ the digestive system‚ the respiratory tract‚ and even the skin. This article will explain Pandora’s Syndrome in cats—what’s behind the name‚ why it matters‚ and what can be done to improve their overall well-being. Where Does the Name Originate? In Greek mythology‚ Pandora opened a box that led to many complicated problems. The more we research cats‚ the more it seems that stress potentially plays a role in many of the poorly understood feline health problems. Previously‚ many other names were given to the urinary issues associated with stress. Recently‚ a leading veterinarian in the field named Dr. C.A. Tony Buffington‚ proposed the name Pandora’s Syndrome‚ after years of research revealed that stress or anxiety was potentially affecting much more than just a cat’s bladder. Image Credit: Africa Studio‚ Shutterstock What Is Pandora’s Syndrome in Cats? Pandora’s Syndrome is an “umbrella” term used to describe cats with many diseases‚ potentially all stemming from chronic stress. These cats are in a constant state of “fight or flight”‚ and cannot appropriately control their stress response. This may be the result of maternal stress during pregnancy or early trauma experienced by the kitten; genetics and stressful home environments likely also play a role. As a result of chronic stress‚ these cats develop “co-morbidities”. This term describes the presence of two or more different diseases at the same time. For example‚ the cat may have respiratory illness such as cat flu‚ while also having difficulty urinating due to an inflamed bladder. Or‚ they may have early heart disease and diabetes. Whatever the situation‚ stress is believed to be a key driver for all of the problems. What Are the Signs of Pandora’s Syndrome in Cats? This depends on which body system is involved. The most commonly involved body system is the urogenital or urinary system. Signs include: Straining to urinate Passing small amounts of urine Urinating in abnormal locations Frequenting the litter tray Vocalizing while urinating Behaviorally‚ affected cats are often excessively hiding‚ showing aggression‚ eating indiscriminately‚ and over-grooming. Other body systems can be involved‚ resulting in dental disease‚ heart disease‚ upper respiratory infections‚ diabetes‚ and chin acne. It is worth mentioning that most signs of Pandora’s Syndrome “wax and wane”‚ meaning they are observed‚ then seem to subside‚ then manifest again‚ and this cycle tends to repeat itself. Regardless‚ any of the above signs warrant a trip to your veterinarian. Pandora Syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion‚ so bladder stones‚ urinary crystals‚ and infections need to be ruled out‚ first. Image Credit: New Africa‚ Shutterstock What Are the Causes of Pandora’s Syndrome in Cats? At this stage‚ no single cause has been identified. There are a few theories as to why cats develop Pandora’s Syndrome: Stress in utero. The mother of affected cats may have had illness or stress during pregnancy. Stress in early life. Affected cats may have been abandoned‚ injured‚ or sick in their early days and weeks as a kitten‚ resulting in chronic stress when mature. Genetics. Genetics may play a role‚ though more research is required. Home environment. Multi-cat households lacking routine‚ quiet‚ food bowls‚ litter trays‚ and companionship may predispose a cat to Pandora’s Syndrome. How Do I Care for a Cat with Pandora’s Syndrome? Managing Pandora’s Syndrome often involves a combination of at-home changes to give the cat more control of their space‚ and appropriate medications to lower their stress threshold. Environmental Modification A full discussion of environmental modification is beyond the scope of this article‚ however‚ in short‚ cats should feel safe and comfortable in their home environment. Some rules of thumb are included below: Every cat should have a hiding place Every cat should have adequate social time with its owners No cat should feel overly threatened by other cats or dogs in the house Every cat should be able to eat in peace There should be a food bowl and litter tray for each cat in the house‚ plus one “spare”. For example‚ a household with three cats should have four water bowls and litter trays. Every cat should have stimulation in the form of toys Similar to people‚ cats tend to like routine Medications Many affected cats benefit from anti-anxiety medications. The purpose of these is not to sedate the cat but to “take the edge off” or lower their stress threshold. Many options are available‚ such as gabapentin and alprazolam. These medications are considered off-label‚ meaning they must be discussed with‚ and prescribed by‚ a veterinarian. Image Credit: Dina Photo Stories‚ Shutterstock Frequently Asked Questions How Is Pandora’s Syndrome Diagnosed? There is no definitive test to diagnose Pandora’s Syndrome. A diagnosis may be reached based on a history of the cat’s life‚ an assessment of their home environment‚ consideration of the signs they are showing‚ and the exclusion of other diseases. What Is the Prognosis for Cats with Pandora’s Syndrome? With appropriate home modification and medication‚ most cats have a good prognosis. The bigger concern may be that cats with Pandora’s Syndrome experience a poor quality of life if left untreated. Conclusion Pandora’s Syndrome is a tricky and often frustrating feline disease driven primarily by chronic stress. Stress has many detrimental effects on the body. In cats‚ this most commonly results in urinary issues‚ though heart disease‚ skin disease‚ dental disease‚ and respiratory disease may also be linked to Pandora’s Syndrome. While more research is required‚ there are many steps that can be taken to reduce anxiety and improve affected cats’ quality of life. Sources https://fairhavenvet.com/what-is-pandora-syndrome-in-our-feline-patients/ https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/urology-renal-medicine/pandora-syndrome-in-cats/ https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&;catId=102903&;id=10780044   Featured Image Credit: New Africa‚ Shutterstock The post Pandora’s Syndrome in Cats: Causes‚ Signs &; Treatment (Vet Answer) by Dr. Joe Mallat appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Pocketpair has recently disclosed its Early Access roadmap for Palworld and announced a bunch of upcoming features. In the span of approximately one year‚ we should see most‚ if not all‚ of these features implemented into Palworld‚ so let’s dive into what they are. All upcoming features announced for Palworld Early Access roadmap If you’re excited to continue playing Palworld‚ there are tons of new features coming in the future on the way to its full release. Now that Palworld recently reached five million sales‚ more and more players are fiending for what’s next. Screenshot: Pocketpair PvP/Arena mode PvP combat is on its way‚ which is essentially an Arena mode. Pocketpair hopes to implement PvP servers‚ since it’s now testing this feature internally. While players can currently play Palworld with friends‚ it’s only cooperatively‚ and not through any PvP Arena mode. Crossplay Although you can c...

Palworld incentivizes capturing multiple of each Pal for those sweet EXP gains. If you’re playing optimally‚ you could have up to 10 of every Pal you’ve encountered. While I respect any player who wants an army of Chikipis‚ let me show you what to do with extra Pals in Palworld. Related: Best Character stats to level up in Palworld – Player leveling guide How to use extra Pals in Palworld If you’re tired of your duplicate Pals clogging up your boxes‚ you can do a few things with them. You may have to level up a bit to do everything‚ but here are your options: Sell unwanted Pals to the Trader Image: PC Invasion You can quickly amass a decent amount of cash by selling your unwanted Pals. The Small Settlement‚ west of the Plateau of Beginnings‚ is the easiest place to sell‚ and it even has its own Fast Travel point. Speak to the Pal Merchant to trade your Pals for Gold. The Pal type and level greatly affec...

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Sen. Ted Cruz is raising the alarm about President Joe Biden’s administration partnering with a far-left group demonizing conservatives in its efforts to combat “domestic terrorism.” “The woke and weaponized bureaucracy of the Biden administration is using the Southern Poverty Law Center’s widely debunked database to target conservatives‚” the Texas Republican told The Daily Signal in an exclusive statement. Cruz was responding to The Daily Signal’s exclusive report that SPLC President Margaret Huang bragged in 2021 that the Biden administration had reached out to her organization in its efforts to combat “the domestic terrorism threat.” The Southern Poverty Law Center puts mainstream conservative and Christian groups on a “hate map” along with chapters of the Ku Klux Klan. This bias suggests the Biden administration views conservatives as a threat to domestic tranquility‚ critics say. “The SPLC is a one-trick pony‚ and its song-and-dance of labeling conservatives ‘domestic terrorists’ is tired and fraudulent‚” Cruz added. “It is incredible that the SPLC has the audacity to label conservatives ‘domestic terrorists’ while one of its own lawyers is currently being prosecuted for charges of actual domestic terrorism.” Cruz was referring to the case of Thomas Webb Jurgens‚ an SPLC lawyer who faces domestic terrorism charges for a riot involving Molotov cocktails last March. The SPLC and the National Lawyers Guild claimed Jurgens had been there as a “legal observer‚” but did not address whether he dressed in Antifa-style black bloc clothing‚ nor whether he engaged in any of the violence at the riot. While the SPLC does not‚ strictly speaking‚ label conservatives “domestic terrorists‚” it has redirected the program it used to bankrupt Ku Klux Klan organizations to target mainstream conservative and Christian groups like Alliance Defending Freedom‚ the Center for Immigration Studies‚ Moms for Liberty‚ and the Family Research Council. The SPLC insinuates that these groups pose a domestic terrorism threat similar to the 1920s Klan by putting them on a “hate map” alongside KKK chapters. “Joe Biden’s choice to associate with the SPLC is unacceptable‚ and I hope that every member of the administration associated with this extremist group is held accountable‚” Cruz concluded. SPLC Head Boasts About Advising Biden The Daily Signal exclusively reported that Huang‚ SPLC’s president‚ appears in a video bragging to donors attending a fall 2021 meeting that many agencies in Biden’s administration had approached the center to craft a domestic terrorism strategy. “I think there’s no question that we are unparalleled in our abilities to track and monitor the hate and extremist groups in the country‚ and I can tell you that we’ve had many agencies in the new Biden administration reaching out to solicit our expertise and our knowledge and information to help shape the policies that the new administration is adopting to counter the domestic terrorism threat‚” Huang said‚ according to the video. The Biden administration’s ties to the SPLC make Huang’s claim credible‚ and neither the White House nor any of the agencies involved in the administration’s domestic terrorism strategy denied Huang’s assertion. Biden and his team have hosted SPLC leaders and staff at the White House at least 11 times since Jan. 20‚ 2021‚ when Biden became president. Biden nominated an SPLC attorney‚ Nancy Abudu‚ to a federal judgeship. Last year‚ the FBI’s Richmond‚ Virginia‚ office used the SPLC’s “hate group” list to target “radical-traditional Catholics” in a now-infamous memo. According to the SPLC’s logic‚ critics say‚ the entire Roman Catholic Church arguably should be listed as a “hate group” because the SPLC cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church in branding the Ruth Institute a “hate group.” Earlier this month‚ the White House touted Vice President Kamala Harris’ meeting “with voting rights leaders.” Among the leaders highlighted: Seth Levi‚ the SPLC’s chief strategy officer. SPLC’s Lack of Credibility As I wrote in my book “Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center‚” the SPLC has faced numerous hits to its credibility‚ especially on the issue of domestic terrorism. In 2012‚ a terrorist gunman used the SPLC “hate map” to target the Christian nonprofit the Family Research Council. He planned to shoot everyone in the building‚ but the building manager successfully foiled his plan. Although the SPLC condemned the attack‚ it kept FRC on its map. The SPLC also has a long track record of carrying water for Antifa‚ the violent extremist group involved in the 2020 riots across the country. Critics on both the Right and the Left long have accused the Southern Poverty Law Center of exaggerating hate in order to scare donors into ponying up cash. In 2019‚ amid a racial discimination and sexual harassment scandal‚ a former employee called the SPLC’s “hate” accusations a “highly profitable scam.” In 2018‚ the SPLC paid $3.4 million to settle a defamation lawsuit after it branded a Muslim reformer an “anti-Muslim extremist.” The SPLC currently faces another defamation lawsuit for branding an immigration reform organization an “anti-immigrant hate group.” Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.  The post ‘UNACCEPTABLE’: Ted Cruz Slams Biden’s Association With Far-Left Group Demonizing Conservatives appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Sign Up To Keep Reading This post is for Reclaim The Net supporters. Gain access to the entire archive of features and supporters-only content. Help protect free speech‚ freedom from surveillance‚ and digital civil liberties. Join Already a supporter? Login here The post Make These Changes To Your Router to Patch Security Holes and Increase Internet Speed appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The Dutch Queen Maxima utilized her platform during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to advocate for the far-reaching benefits of digital ID for various sectors. Queen Maxima highlighted that a digital ID could become a critical instrument‚ capable of determining vaccination statuses‚ facilitating school registrations‚ and simplifying the process of claiming government subsidies. There has been a growing push by various global elites‚ including governments‚ tech companies‚ and international organizations‚ towards the adoption of digital identity systems. This shift is often presented as a means to increase efficiency and security. But‚ few talk about the major implications for surveillance and the erosion of civil liberties. https://video.reclaimthenet.org/articles/maxim-davos.mp4 The Dutch monarch emphasized the relevance of digital ID for expanding financial systems‚ during a panel called “Comparing Notes on Financial Inclusion.” She expressed her earlier concern about the rarity of a universal ID system‚ particularly in regions like Latin America and Africa. “In order to open up an account‚ you need to have an ID. I have to say that when I started this job‚ there were actually very little countries in Africa or Latin America that had one ubiquitous type of ID‚ and certainly that was digital and certainly that was biometric. “We’ve really worked with all our partners to actually help grow this‚ and the interesting part of it is that yes‚ it is very necessary for financial services‚ but not only.” Africa is being used as the testing ground for several digital ID projects. Of course‚ Queen Maxima also said that digital ID systems would be useful to act as a vaccine passport. “It is also good for school enrollment; it is also good for health – who actually got a vaccination or not; it’s very good actually to get your subsidies from the government‚” she said. With her role as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development‚ Queen Maxima has been a key figure in driving the digital ID paradigm shift. This trend also applies to vaccine passports‚ a form of digital ID that the WEF says are an essential part of our future. They envision that this digital identity could be linked to diverse aspects such as financial services‚ healthcare records‚ mobility‚ travel‚ and digital governance. The post Netherlands’ Queen Maxima Pushes for Global Digital ID Systems for Financial Access‚ Vaccine Verification and More appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

What is a war movie? Is it a faithful restaging of an actual historical event? Or is it a fictional morality play set against a well-known historical background? Is it solely a story of a battle‚ of soldiers in combat? Or can it portray wider themes of war‚ such as the home front; veterans returning to the real world; or higher-level commanders far from the front lines wrestling with excruciating strategic and leadership decisions? Is a classic John Ford cavalry picture a Western‚ or a war movie‚ or both? What about war comedies? POW films? Science fiction films like Ender’s Game and Starship Troopers? As this fascinating five-part documentary series makes clear‚ a war movie can be all these things. War films cast a long shadow over American popular culture of the last 100 years. Nineteen of the 95 Oscars awarded for best picture have gone to war movies‚ starting with the first such award‚ the 1927 silent movie Wings‚ and followed closely by All Quiet on the Western Front‚ in 1930. War Movie explores this film genre‚ starting with the earliest-known example‚ Tearing Down the Spanish Flag. This rather primitive and short silent movie made in 1898 was the start of the long line that runs in a very wide pattern‚ but straight to 2014’s American Sniper and 2019’s The Outpost. The five-part series is organized chronologically: 1. “The Camera and the Gun‚ 1900–1938”; 2. “The ‘Good’ War‚ 1939–1949”; 3. “The Shifting Tide‚ 1950–1975”; 4. “Into the Jungle‚ 1976–2000”; and 5. “Brave New World‚ 2001–2020.” Interspaced between clips from many of the most influential war movies‚ the series offers commentary from noted film critics‚ film historians‚ and most important‚ technical advisers who have been real soldiers. Those advisers who know war up close and personal include retired Navy SEAL Kevin Kent and the legendary former U.S. Marine Corps Captain Dale Dye. This compelling series ends with just as many questions as it answers: Can a soldier’s story be heard as a life of lived experience and not just another plot device? We can learn about what happened in the war; but then once we step out of the movie theater‚ what do we do about that? As viewers can we transcend these repeated storylines of conflict and violence and try to evolve beyond our own repeated history? Questions to ponder‚ indeed. War Movie: The American Battle in Cinema (on DVD and Blu-ray‚ five-part documentary‚ 315 minutes)‚ Cantilever Films‚ written and directed by Steve Summers‚ $24.99–$34.99‚ 2023

DeSantis: I'm Endorsing Trump‚ but Florida's Not Paying His Legal Fees

Trans LPGA Golfer Hits Pause After Pushback

Where did life begin? While musing over this question in 1871‚ Charles Darwin suggested that the origins of life may have emerged from a “warm little pond” on the surface of the primordial Earth. Since then‚ scientists have learned that the complex molecules of life can indeed emerge from inorganic materials found in certain bodies of water. All you need are the right conditions. Now new research posits that shallow “soda lakes” in western Canada may match these conditions.In 1952‚ the American chemist Stanley Miller‚ under the supervision of Harold C. Urey‚ conducted what is now known as the Miller-Urey experiment that tested whether organic molecules could be created from inorganic ones. During this experiment‚ the scientists found that amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and other organic molecules could be created from the environmental conditions present on the early Earth. As such‚ it was a powerful demonstration of chemical evolution‚ whereby complex chemicals could emerge from simple ones over time.Since then‚ researchers have shown that the building blocks of RNA can also be created in similar ways‚ but through a process requiring extremely high phosphate concentrations. This is because phosphates form the “backbone” of RNA and DNA‚ and is also a component of cell membranes.But this has represented a problem in the past. To create these biomolecules in a laboratory‚ researchers need to use concentrations of phosphate that are hundreds to 1 million times higher than the levels typically found in natural rivers‚ lakes‚ or oceans. This “phosphate problem” has been a hurdle for the emergence of life hypothesis. However‚ soda lakes may solve it.“I think these soda lakes provide an answer to the phosphate problem‚” senior author David Catling‚ a University of Washington professor of Earth and space sciences said in a statement. “Our answer is hopeful: This environment should occur on the early Earth‚ and probably on other planets‚ because it’s just a natural outcome of the way that planetary surfaces are made and how water chemistry works.”Soda lakes are named after the high levels of dissolved sodium and carbonate they contain‚ which is similar to dissolved baking soda. They get this property from the interaction between water and volcanic rocks beneath their surface. Importantly‚ these lakes can also contain high levels of dissolved phosphate.In 2019‚ other work from the University of Washington showed that soda lakes could have been the hot spot for the emergence of early life. By combining chemical models with laboratory experiments‚ they showed that natural processes could theoretically concentrate phosphate levels to up to 1 million times higher than is typical.In this new study‚ researchers went searching for potential examples of these types of conditions in nature. This brought them to the Last Chance Lake in British Columbia‚ Canada.This lake is about 0.3 meters (1 foot) deep‚ with various murky patches‚ and meets the requirements for a soda lake. It sits above volcanic rock (basalt) and is surrounded by a dry‚ windy atmosphere that keeps water levels low‚ allowing for higher concentrations of dissolved compounds.The team visited the lake three times between 2021 and 2022: they collected observations during early winter‚ when the lake was covered in ice; in early summer‚ when rain and ice-melt streams had raised water levels; and in late summer‚ when the lake had nearly dried up.In most lakes‚ dissolved phosphate quickly binds with calcium to form calcium phosphate‚ the hard stuff that makes our teeth enamel. This would remove phosphate from the water. But in Last Chance Lake‚ calcium binds with carbonate and magnesium‚ forming dolomite. This means that the phosphate lacks a bonding partner‚ so its concentration rises.“This study adds to growing evidence that evaporative soda lakes are environments meeting the requirements for origin-of-life chemistry by accumulating key ingredients at high concentrations‚” Catling said.In other lakes‚ such as the nearby Goodenough Lake‚ any spare phosphate tends to be used by other lifeforms‚ such as cyanobacteria– but at Last Chance‚ the salt content is so high that there are few living organisms present to consume it. This‚ the team argues‚ adds to its suitability as an analog for an otherwise lifeless Earth.“These new findings will help inform origin-of-life researchers who are either replicating these reactions in the lab or are looking for potentially habitable environments on other planets‚” Catling said.The study is published in the journal Communications Earth &; Environment.