Degenerative effects of cobalt-chloride treatment on neurons and microglia in a porcine retina organ culture model

In order to understand the pathological processes of retinal diseases, experimental models are necessary. Cobalt, as part of the vitamin B12 complex, is important for neuronal integrity. However, it is known that high quantities of cobalt induce cytotoxic mechanisms via hypoxia mimicry. Therefore, we tested the degenerative effect of cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) on neurons and microglia in a porcine retina organ culture model. Organotypic cultures of porcine retinas were cultured and treated with different concentrations of CoCl₂ (0, 100, 300 and 500 μM) for 48 h. After four and eight days, CoCl₂ induced a strong degeneration of the porcine retina, starting at 300 μM. A loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs, Brn-3a), amacrine cells (calretinin) and bipolar cells (PKCα) was observed. Additionally, a high expression of hypoxia induced factor-1a (HIF-1a) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was noted at both points in time. Also, the Caspase 3 protein was activated and P21 expression was induced. However, only at day four, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was increased. The effect of CoCl₂ was not restricted to neurons. CoCl₂ concentrations reduced the microglia amount (Iba1) and activity (Iba1 + Fc_γ-Receptor) at both points in time. These damaging effects on microglia were surprising, since CoCl₂ causes hypoxia and a pro-inflammatory environment. However, high concentrations of CoCl₂ also seem to be toxic to these cells. Similar degenerative mechanisms as in comparison to retinal ischemia animal models were observed. In summary, an effective and reproducible hypoxia-mimicking organotypic model for retinal degeneration was established, which is easy to handle and ready for drug studies.

Progressive versus Nonprogressive Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: Characteristics and Outcomes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A minority of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas progress with time. We sought to determine features that predict progression and define outcomes of patients with progressive dural arteriovenous fistulas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective imaging and clinical record review of patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula evaluated at our hospital.

RESULTS

Of 579 patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas, 545 had 1 fistula (mean age, 45 ± 23 years) and 34 (5.9%) had enlarging, de novo, multiple, or recurrent fistulas (mean age, 53 ± 20 years; P = .11). Among these 34 patients, 19 had progressive dural arteriovenous fistulas with de novo fistulas or fistula enlargement with time (mean age, 36 ± 25 years; progressive group) and 15 had multiple or recurrent but nonprogressive fistulas (mean age, 57 ± 13 years; P = .0059, nonprogressive group). Whereas all 6 children had fistula progression, only 13/28 adults (P = .020) progressed. Angioarchitectural correlates to chronically elevated intracranial venous pressures, including venous sinus dilation (41% versus 7%, P = .045) and pseudophlebitic cortical venous pattern (P = .048), were more common in patients with progressive disease than in those without progression. Patients with progressive disease received more treatments than those without progression (median, 5 versus 3; P = .0068), but as a group, they did not demonstrate worse clinical outcomes (median mRS, 1 and 1; P = .39). However, 3 young patients died from intracranial venous hypertension and intracranial hemorrhage related to progression of their fistulas despite extensive endovascular, surgical, and radiosurgical treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Few patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas follow an aggressive, progressive clinical course despite treatment. Younger age at initial presentation and angioarchitectural correlates to venous hypertension may help identify these patients prospectively.

A quantum cascade laser-based water vapor isotope analyzer for environmental monitoring

A field-deployable mid-infrared quantum cascade laser-based spectrometer was designed and developed for measurements of H2(16)O and H2(18)O at 7.12 μm. H2(16)O and H2(18)O absorption features at 1390.52 cm(-1) and 1389.91 cm(-1), respectively, accessible within current tuning range of the laser, were targeted. The target lines were carefully selected to assure similar absorption levels and similar temperature sensitivities of the line strength due to comparable lower state energies. A real-time spectral fitting algorithm was implemented for isotopic concentration retrieval. Detection limits for H2(16)O and H2(18)O of 2.2 ppm and 7.0 ppb, respectively, were achieved at a dew point of 14 °C (volume mixing ratio of 15,766 ppm) in 1 s integration time, which resulted in a δ(18)O isotopic ratio measurement precision of 0.25‰. The ultimate minimum detection limits obtained after 160 s integration time for H2(16)O and H2(18)O, and δ(18)O measurements were 0.6 ppm, 1.7 ppb, and 0.05‰, respectively.

Impact of Pichia guilliermondii on sow, litter, and weaned pig immune performance

Three groups of gestating gilts and sows (Exp. 1; n = 98) were used to determine the effects of Pichia guilliermondii (Pg), a whole yeast product (CitriStim, ADM Alliance Nutrition), on dam and litter immune parameters. At breeding, gilts and sows were allotted to 1 of 3 treatments maintained through lactation: sow control (SC) diet or SC supplemented with 0.1 (S1) or 0.2% (S2) Pg. Pigs from groups 1 (Exp. 2) and 2 (Exp. 3) were weaned (21 d) and allotted in a 3 (SC, S1, or S2) × 2 [nursery with Pg (NPg) or without Pg (NC)] factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. In Exp. 2 blood samples were collected on days 5 and 28 postweaning for analysis. In Exp. 3, 36 pigs were individually penned and challenged with lipopolysaccharide (25 μg/kg BW intramuscular; 0 h). Individual BW, ADFI, and rectal temperature (RT) were collected at -48, -24, 0, 24, and 48 h and blood samples were collected at 0, 5, and 24 h for analysis. In Exp. 1, total neutrophil count (NEU) and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were greater on day 110 of gestation (P < 0.05) in S1 than SC. At weaning there was a liner increase (P < 0.05) in NEU, NLR, and percentage of total leukocytes (PTL) that were NEU as level of Pg increased in sow diets. In Exp. 2, pigs from S1 had increased (P < 0.05) overall IgG than SC. The PTL that were eosinophils was greater in pigs from S2 fed NPg on day 5 than NC (P < 0.05) and increased in all pigs from S2 on day 28 (sow linear, P < 0.1). On day 28, total leukocytes and eosinophils were increased in pigs from SC [quadratic response (Q), P < 0.05]. In Exp. 3, a linear increase (P < 0.05) in ADFI was observed at -24 to 0 h, -48 to 0 h, and 24 to 48 h as the level of Pg increased in sow diets. There was a linear increase in RT at -48, -24, 0, and 5 h with increasing Pg inclusion in sow diets (P < 0.05). However, RT decreased more from 5 to 24 h in pigs from sows receiving Pg. The number of monocytes and PTL that were monocytes were higher in S2 compared to SC and S1 (P < 0.05). Also, NEU were reduced at 5 h in S1 (P < 0.05), NLR was lower in S2 at 0 h and S1 at 5 h, IL-1β concentration was greater in SC at 0 h and S1 at 5 h, and IL-6 concentration was greater in S2 at 0 h and S1 at 5 h (P < 0.05). Furthermore, blood urea N (BUN) was higher in NC at 0 and 5 h than NPg (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Pg appears to impact immune response criteria of sows and weaned pigs.

Lymphoma, thymoma and the wooden man: stiff-person syndrome post-thymoma excision and non-Hodgkin lymphoma remission

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is an uncommon yet under-diagnosed, neuromuscular disorder characterised by progressive muscle rigidity with superimposed painful muscle spasms triggered by tactile, auditory or emotional stimulation. We describe the world's first case report of typical SPS in a patient with previously excised thymoma and treated non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This is of relevance because of the increasingly elucidated autoimmune aetiology of SPS.

1.12 Tb/s superchannel coherent PM-QPSK InP transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC)

In this work, a 10-wavelength, polarization-multiplexed, monolithically integrated InP coherent QPSK transmitter PIC is demonstrated to operate at 112 Gb/sec per wavelength and total chip superchannel bandwidth of 1.12 Tb/s. This demonstration suggests that increasing data capacity to multi-Tb/s per chip is possible and likely in the future.