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Objective Animals Studied Procedure Results Conclusions The aim of this report was to provide a clinical description and clinical, ultrasonographic, and histologic images of a foal with microphthalmia and multiple ocular abnormalities.A 12‐h old Friesian‐American Paint Horse crossbred filly presented for blindness, microphthalmia and marked ventral strabismus in both eyes.A complete ophthalmic examination was performed. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and B‐mode ultrasonography were performed. The globes were submitted for histopathology.Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated a hyperechoic cornea void of the typical epithelium, stroma, and Descemet's membrane layers. The anterior chamber was spanned by thick strands of hyperechoic tissue extending from the iris to the cornea. The lens was not visualized. B‐mode ultrasound showed aphakia and mild, mottled echogenicity within the vitreous with no evidence of retinal detachment. On histopathology, both globes were microphthalmic with poorly defined corneal tissue. The anterior chambers were poorly formed and contained lacrimal glandular tissue. Portions of iridal tissue were present, but no lenses were noted. The retinas were segmentally detached and markedly atrophied with areas of retina dysplasia noted.This report provides a clinical, ultrasonographic and histologic description of a rare, congenital condition in a foal characterized by microphthalmia, aphakia, poorly defined corneal tissue, choristomatous differentiation of the anterior segment and retinal dysplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This case report describes the successful correction of partial obstruction of the NL duct in a cat by means of a modified retrograde NL duct cannulation using a steerable angle‐tipped hydrophilic guidewire (AH guidewire) following a paranasal incision. Animal Studied: A 2‐year‐old neutered male American domestic shorthair cat was referred to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital (PUVH) for chronic epiphora suspected secondary to nasolacrimal (NL) system obstruction. Procedures: At the first visit, the cat had epiphora OD and facial dermatitis but no other abnormalities on physical and ophthalmic examinations. Computed tomography (CT)‐dacryocystorhinography revealed partial obstruction of the NL duct secondary to stenosis near the distal root of the right maxillary third premolar (107). A digital three‐dimensional (3D) model of the right maxilla and NL duct was created for inspection and virtual cannulation of the NL. The model was 3D printed and cannulation of the NL duct was rehearsed with various stent materials. Retrograde NL stenting with the guidance of a steerable angle‐tipped hydrophilic guidewire was conducted following a paranasal incision. A urethral catheter was cannulated over the guidewire and maintained for 44 days. Results: The epiphora resolved immediately after stenting. At 21 days post‐stenting, the cat developed acute bullous keratopathy secondary to self‐trauma which was treated with a third eyelid flap. On the final follow‐up communication with the owner at 210 days post‐stenting, no epiphora or any other concerns were reported. Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of successful NL stenting and resolution of epiphora in a cat with a partial NL system obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, a progressive optic neuropathy with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death beginning in the optic nerve head (ONH). A primary risk factor for developing glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Reducing IOP is the only treatment proven to be effective at delaying disease progression. Nevertheless, even when patients have their IOP reduced, the majority of them continue to lose vision. There are, in both humans and dogs, significant interindividual variabilities in susceptibilities to IOP‐induced optic nerve damage. Vision loss progresses much more slowly in Beagles with open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) caused by ADAMTS10 mutation. This can be attributed to the mutation‐related altered ocular biomechanical properties. The principal site of optic nerve (ON) damage in glaucoma is the ONH. It is suggested that the biomechanical properties of the ONH and the surrounding peripapillary sclera (PPS) contribute to glaucoma development and progression. As far as the beneficial biomechanical properties of the ONH and PPS for a decreased susceptibility and slow progression of glaucoma, data are inconsistent and conflicting. Recent biomechanical studies on beagles with ADAMTS10 mutation demonstrated that the mutant dogs have mechanically weak posterior sclera. This weakness was associated with a reduced collagen density and a lower proportion of insoluble collagen. These changes, observed before glaucoma development, were considered intrinsic characteristics caused by the mutation rather than a secondary effect of IOP elevation. Further studies of ADAMTS10‐OAG may elucidate the effects of altered biomechanical properties of ONH and PPS in determining the glaucoma progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaucoma is a complex group of optic neuropathies that affects both humans and animals. Intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation is a major risk factor that results in the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Currently, lowering IOP by medical and surgical methods is the only approved treatment for primary glaucoma, but there is no cure, and vision loss often progresses despite therapy. Recent technologic advances provide us with a better understanding of disease mechanisms and risk factors; this will permit earlier diagnosis of glaucoma and initiation of therapy sooner and more effectively. Gene and cell therapies are well suited to target these mechanisms specifically with the potential to achieve a lasting therapeutic effect. Much progress has been made in laboratory settings to develop these novel therapies for the eye. Gene and cell therapies have already been translated into clinical application for some inherited retinal dystrophies and age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Except for the intravitreal application of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) by encapsulated cell technology for RGC neuroprotection, there has been no other clinical translation of gene and cell therapies for glaucoma so far. Possible application of gene and cell therapies consists of long‐term IOP control via increased aqueous humor drainage, including inhibition of fibrosis following filtration surgery, RGC neuroprotection and neuroregeneration, modification of ocular biomechanics for improved IOP tolerance, and inhibition of inflammation and neovascularization to prevent the development of some forms of secondary glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a facile synthesis of Pt single atoms on thiolated carbon nanotubes. To obtain Pt single atoms, it is crucial to treat thiol groups on carbon nanotubes. Pt single atoms on carbon nanotubes were used efficient catalyst for hydroalkoxylation of 3-buten-1-ol or 4-penten-1-ol. Hydroalkoxylation represents an atom-economic route to construct four or five- membered cyclic ethers through intramolecular addition of hydroxyl group. This catalyst exhibited higher catalytic activity than Pt complex and Pt nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate repeatability and reproducibility of tear osmolarity measured using the TearLab™ osmometer in normal dogs and to assess its diagnostic potential in dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca ( KCS). Animals studied Beagle dogs; six normal and five with KCS. Procedures Tear osmolarity and Schirmer tear test-1 ( STT-1) values were obtained at various times. Normal dogs were assessed for diurnal variation and repeatability and reproducibility of measurements. Dogs with KCS were evaluated before and after 5 months' topical twice-daily therapy with 2% cyclosporine. Results Mean ± SD tear osmolarity ( mOsm/L) was significantly higher in normal dogs (337.4 ± 16.2) than in dogs with KCS before therapy (306.2 ± 18.0; P < 0.0001), but not following therapy with 2% cyclosporine (330.5 ± 13.7; P = 1.00). Osmolarity readings lower than 325.5 mOsm/L were suggestive of KCS (84.8% sensitivity and 87.1% specificity). In normal dogs, tear osmolarity readings were stable during the daytime ( P = 0.99). Repeated measurements revealed high variability and typically poor-to-moderate repeatability and reproducibility, although this was improved by taking three successive measurements at each session. Considering combined data from all dogs, a positive correlation existed between STT-1 and tear osmolarity measurements (Pearson's correlation test, P = 0.04, r = 0.62). Conclusions Canine tear osmolarity as determined by TearLab™ osmometer was variable, required multiple readings to be informative, and differed from values reported for humans. Dogs with KCS had a lower tear osmolarity than did normal dogs, and this increased following cyclosporine therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, inexpensive approach is proposed for enhancing the durability of automotive proton exchange membrane fuel cells by selective promotion of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and suppression of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the anode in startup/shutdown events. Dodecanethiol forms a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the surface of Pt particles, thus decreasing the number of Pt ensemble sites. Interestingly, by controlling the dodecanethiol concentration during SAM formation, the number of ensemble sites can be precisely optimized such that it is sufficient for the HOR but insufficient for the ORR. Thus, a Pt surface with an SAM of dodecanethiol clearly effects HOR-selective electrocatalysis. Clear HOR selectivity is demonstrated in unit cell tests with the actual membrane electrode assembly, as well as in an electrochemical three-electrode setup with a thin-film rotating disk electrode configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine adjuvants are agents that are used to promote immune responses to vaccine antigens and thereby to enhance the protective efficacy of the vaccines. In this study, we investigated the adjuvant activity of CIA06, an adjuvant system that is composed of a toll-like receptor 4 agonist de-O-acylated lipooligosaccharide (dLOS) and aluminum hydroxide, on the H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine Greenflu-S® in mice. CIA06 significantly enhanced influenza-specific serum IgG, hemagglutination-inhibition, and virus-neutralizing antibody titers, which eliminated vaccine dose-dependency in the antibody response. Mice immunized with the CIA06-adjuvanted Greenflu-S showed Th1-type-predominant cytokine profiles, and both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were induced. Immunization of mice with the CIA06-adjuvanted vaccine reduced the mortality and morbidity of mice upon lethal challenges with influenza virus, and no excessive inflammatory responses were observed in the lung tissues of the immunized mice after viral infection. These data suggest that the dLOS-based adjuvant system CIA06 can be used to promote the immune responses to influenza vaccine or to spare antigen dose without causing harmful inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The lacrimal gland (LG) and the third eyelid gland (TELG) are two intraorbital glands that, in dogs, secrete the aqueous component of the tear film. Despite the central importance of these structures for maintaining ocular surface health, the gross anatomy of the glands remains understudied. We investigated the macroscopic morphometric characteristics of the LG and TELG in three different dog breeds. Procedures Twenty-six dog heads were dissected to expose the LG and TELG; the length, width, thickness, and weight of each were measured. During the dissections, the relationships between the glands and adjacent ocular structures and the blood and nerve supplies to the LG were photo-documented. Results The LG had a flat and irregular shape with morphological variations among dogs. The LG was located on the dorsolateral aspect of the globe underneath the orbital ligament. The average length, width, and thickness (SEM) of the LG (mm) were 16.5 ± 0.7, 12.5 ± 0.4, and 2.7 ± 0.1 and of the TELG 10.5 ± 0.6, 11.0 ± 0.3, and 3.3 ± 0.1, respectively. The mean weights (SD) of the LG and TELG (mg) were 315.7 ± 21.1 and 263.3 ± 13.2, respectively. Beagles were observed to have significantly smaller LGs compared to pit bull terriers and pointer mixed-breed dogs. Conclusions The present study provides detailed normative anatomical and morphometric data for the LG and TELG. These data will aid researchers investigating alterations induced by disease states and should inform strategies for the local delivery of pharmacologic and cellular therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely recognized that RuO2 is the best electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction ( OER) in water splitting in acidic media. In this study, we investigated the effect of a surface area and a d-band oxidation state on the activity and the stability of RuO x electrocatalysts for OER. We synthesized RuO x thin film on glassy carbon electrode by the radio frequency magnetic sputtering and controlled the deposition temperature to vary the surface morphology and the electronic structure. In particular, we obtained a precise d-band valence structure by using the synchrotron beam. A higher surface area and a more stable Ru4+ state were obtained at a lower deposition temperature owing to a smaller grain size and a lower oxidation state, respectively. As a result, the order of activity and stability is clearly consistent with that of surface area and stable Ru4+ state ( RuO x > RuO x 200 > RuO x 400 > RuO x 600). Hence, we suggest that the surface area and the Ru d-band oxidation state should be carefully controlled in the synthesis process in order to enhance the activity and the stability of RuO x electrocatalysts for OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The murine dorsum dermal excisional wound model has been widely utilized with or without splint application. However, variations in experimental methods create challenges for direct comparison of results provided in the literature and for design of new wound healing studies. Here, we investigated the effects of wound location and size, number of wounds, type of adhesive used for splint fixation on wound healing using splinted or unsplinted dorsum excisional full thickness wound models. One or two 6- or 8-mm full thickness wounds were made with or without splinting in genetically diabetic but heterozygous mice ( Dock7 m + / + Lepr db). Two different adhesives: tissue adhesive and an over the counter cyanoacrylate adhesive (OTCA) 'Krazy glue' were used to fix splints. Wound contraction, wound closure, and histopathological parameters including reepithelialization, collagen deposition and inflammation were compared between groups. No significant effect of wound number (1 vs. 2), side (left vs. right and cranial vs. caudal) or size on wound healing was observed. The OTCA group had a significantly higher splint success compared to the tissue adhesive group that resulted in significantly higher reepithelialization and collagen deposition in the OTCA group. Understanding the outcomes and effects of the variables will help investigators choose appropriate experimental conditions for the study purpose and interpret data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe the lacrimal system of snakes using contrast micro-computed tomography (micro- CT) with 3-dimensional reconstruction, fluorescein passage ('Jones') testing, histology, and gross dissection. Animals studied One royal python and 19 snake cadavers representing 10 species. Procedures Direct observation following injection of fluorescein into the subspectacular space, micro- CT following injection of three contrast agents into the subspectacular space, gross dissection following injection of latex into the subspectacular space, and histopathology. Results Injection of fluorescein confirmed patency, but not course of the lacrimal duct. Barium enabled clear visualization of the lacrimal duct, whereas two iodinated contrast agents proved inadequate. Collectively, micro- CT, anatomic dissections, and histology suggest tears are produced by a single, large, serous, retrobulbar gland, released into the subspectacular space via several ductules, and drained through a single punctum originating in the ventronasal subspectacular space, and the lacrimal duct, which takes one of three routes of variable tortuosity before opening into the oral cavity in close association with the opening of the duct of the vomeronasal organ. Conclusions The ophidian lacrimal duct has a generally tortuous course, and the details of its anatomy are species-variable. The tortuous course of the duct likely predisposes snakes to duct occlusion and must be considered when planning medical and surgical interventions in snakes with pseudobuphthalmos and subspectacular abscessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A precise fabrication of nanobamboo structures made from hybrid coordination polymers of the type {Fe xIn1− x}-MIL-88B is demonstrated. The compositions of the hybrid coordination polymer nanobamboos of {Fe xIn1− x}-MIL-88B ( x=0.06, 0.19, or 0.75) are regulated by altering the amount of metal ions used in the reactions. Interestingly, the formation of a virtual In-MIL-88B (precise structure, {Fe0.06In0.94}-MIL-88B), which cannot be created in a typical reaction, is induced by the assistance of a Fe-MIL-88B structure. The a and c cell parameters of {Fe0.06In0.94}-MIL-88B are calculated at 10.95 and 19.86 Å, respectively. These values of {Fe0.06In0.94}-MIL-88B are larger than those of pure Fe-MIL-88B owing to the large ionic size of In3+ within the framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

s The excisional dorsal full-thickness skin wound model with or without splinting is widely utilized in wound healing studies using diabetic or normal mice. However, the effects of splinting on dermal wound healing have not been fully characterized, and there are limited data on the direct comparison of wound parameters in the splinted model between diabetic and normal mice. We compared full-thickness excisional dermal wound healing in db/db and heterozygous mice by investigating the effects of splinting, semi-occlusive dressing, and poly(ethylene glycol) treatment. Two 8-mm full-thickness wounds were made with or without splinting in db/db and heterozygous mice. Body weights, splint maintenance, wound contraction, wound closure, and histopathological parameters including reepithelialization, wound bed collagen deposition, and inflammation were compared between groups. Our results show that silicone splint application effectively reduced wound contraction in heterozygous and db/db mice. Splinted wounds, as opposed to nonsplinted wounds, exhibited no significant differences in wound closure between heterozygous and db/db mice. Finally, polyethylene glycol and the noncontact dressing had no significant effect on wound healing in heterozygous or db/db mice. We believe these findings will help investigators in selection of the appropriate wound model and data interpretation with fully defined parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We investigated how patients' spiritual and religious needs are addressed by healthcare staff in inpatient palliative care centers in Korea, a multi-religious country. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, multicenter survey of terminal cancer patients in inpatient palliative care centers. Results: Approximately half (50.5%) of the patients reported that their spiritual and religious needs were addressed by healthcare staff. Patients whose needs were addressed reported better quality of life (QoL), as measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for Palliative Care, than patients whose needs were not addressed ( p<0.05), although these groups did not differ when measured using the Comprehensive QoL Scale. Patients with a religious affiliation [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.70-8.05], those who were admitted to a religious palliative care center (aOR, 2.61; 95% CI, 0.86-7.96), and those whose religious affiliation was the same as that of the palliative care center (aOR, 2.42; 95% CI, 0.96-6.07) tended to have their spiritual and religious needs addressed, although not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although patients whose spiritual and religious needs were addressed by healthcare staff showed significantly better QoL, such needs were not addressed in a significant proportion of patients, especially those who were not religious or were admitted to non-religious palliative care centers. Strategies should be developed to ensure that spiritual care is provided to all patients with terminal cancer, regardless of the religious background of the patient. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effect of central corneal thickness (CCT) on the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) with the rebound (TonoVet) and applanation (TonoPen XL) tonometers in beagle dogs. Both eyes of 60 clinically normal dogs were used. The IOP was measured by the TonoVet, followed by the TonoPen XL in half of the dogs, while the other half was measured in the reverse order. All CCT measurements were performed 10 min after the use of the second tonometer. The mean IOP value measured by the TonoVet (16.9 ± 3.7 mmHg) was significantly higher than the TonoPen XL (11.6 ± 2.7 mmHg; P < 0.001). The IOP values obtained by both tonometers were correlated in the regression analysis (γ = 0.4393, P < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis showed that the lower and upper limits of agreement between the two devices were −0.1 and +10.8 mmHg, respectively. The mean CCT was 549.7 ± 51.0 μm. There was a correlation between the IOP values obtained by the two tonometers and CCT readings in the regression analysis (TonoVet : P = 0.002, TonoPen XL : P = 0.035). The regression equation demonstrated that for every 100 μm increase in CCT, there was an elevation of 1 and 2 mmHg in IOP measured by the TonoPen XL and TonoVet, respectively. The IOP obtained by the TonoVet and TonoPen XL would be affected by variations in the CCT. Therefore, the CCT should be considered when interpreting IOP values measured by tonometers in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CIA07 is an immunostimulatory agent composed of E. coli DNA fragments and modified LPS lacking the lipid A moiety. In this study, we investigated whether CIA07 promotes immune responses as an adjuvant to the influenza subunit vaccine. Balb/c mice were immunized intramuscularly once or twice at a 4-week interval with the trivalent influenza subunit vaccine antigen alone or in combination with CIA07 as adjuvant. Antigen-specific serum antibody titers and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titers were assessed. At 4 weeks after each immunization, the antigen-specific total serum IgG antibody titer in mice receiving CIA07 was 2 to 3 times higher than that in animals administered antigen alone (P<0.05). The CIA07-treated group additionally displayed higher HI antibody titers against each of the 3 vaccine strains, compared to the antigen group. Animals receiving antigen alone displayed barely detectable antigen-specific serum IgG2a antibody titers. In contrast, coadministration of CIA07 with antigen led to significantly enhanced IgG2a antibody responses, suggesting that CIA07 stimulates a Th1-type immune response. Moreover, the CIA07-treated group displayed a marked increase in the number of interferon gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells in splenocytes. These data collectively demonstrate that CIA07 has the ability to induce both Th1-type cellular and Th2-type humoral immune responses to the influenza subunit vaccine, and support its potential as an effective adjuvant to the influenza vaccine.

We previously described the immunostimulatory activity of CIA07, a combination of bacterial DNA fragments and modified LPS, and demonstrated that CIA07 has antitumor activity in a mouse bladder cancer model. In this study, we investigated whether methylation of the CpG motifs on the bacterial DNA fragments affects the immunostimulatory potential of CIA07. E. coli DNA fragments were methylated with CpG methylase, and then combined with modified LPS for experiments. Our results revealed that methylated CIA07 (mCIA07) and unmethylated CIA07 were equally active in inducing cytokine secretion from human whole blood cells. In addition, both methylated DNA fragments and mCIA07 retained the ability to activate expression and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in RAW 264.7 cells. Finally, methylated DNA fragments and mCIA07 exhibited an antitumor activity comparable to those of their unmethylated counterparts in our mouse bladder cancer model. These data demonstrate that CpG methylation of E. coli DNA does not abrogate the immunostimulatory activity of DNA fragments or CIA07, suggesting that the synergistic activity by bacterial DNA in combination with LPS may be independent of the methylation status of CpG motifs.