Preliminary evaluation of effect of two visual aid devices on navigation in blind dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate two visual aid devices in blind dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transit time and number of collisions through a maze were recorded for 12 chronically and irreversibly blind dogs. Each dog repeated the maze while fitted with a BlindSight® echolocation device, or Muffin's Halo® physical barrier. They then repeated another maze test after a 30-day device acclimation period at home. RESULTS: All dogs had fewer collisions when wearing the halo device versus their baseline with no device. Dogs ≤11.8 kg had fewer collisions when acclimated to the halo versus their baseline with no device or when acclimated to the BlindSight®. For dogs >11.8 kg, maze completion time was faster when acclimated to the BlindSight® versus their baseline with no device or when acclimated to a halo. Owner surveys indicated no noticeable improvement in quality of life or dog navigation at home with either device. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates the utility of commercially available visual aid devices in aiding blind dogs' navigation and may help veterinarians make recommendations to owners of blind dogs regarding the purchase of these devices.

Relationship between symptoms and quality of life in fecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Most measures of fecal incontinence (FI) severity assess the frequency of solid and liquid FI, but may incorporate other features. We compared two scales-the Fecal Incontinence Severity Score (FISS) and Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI)-to determine which questionnaire and which individual questions predict FI Quality of Life (FIQOL). METHODS: A national sample of American adults completed a health questionnaire, and 234 with monthly FI were selected. Participants completed assessments of FI severity, FIQOL, and somatization. Stepwise linear regression models evaluated whether FISS and FISI total scores, or individual items on the FISS and FISI predicted FIQOL after adjusting for gender, age, income, and somatization (Brief Symptom Inventory-18). KEY RESULTS: Reliable responses were provided by 186. Age was 49 years, and 52% were women. The mean FISS score was 8.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.0-8.9, 13 questions) and mean FISI was 29.9 (95% CI 27.4-32.4, 62 questions), indicating moderate FI severity. The mean FIQOL was 2.6 (95% CI 2.4-2.7, 5 questions). Lower income, greater somatization, and total FISS and FISI scores explained 69% of FIQOL; and total FISS and FISI scores were independent predictors. On the FISS, frequency, amount, and urgency to defecate were independently associated with FIQOL. After adding somatization, all but amount remained significant. For the FISI scale, solid and liquid FI and gas were significant predictors, but adjusting for somatization excluded solid FI. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: Five variables independently explained FIQOL: overall frequency of FI, frequency of liquid and gas leakage, urgency, and somatization.

Dual phase-shift Bragg grating silicon photonic modulator operating up to 60 Gb/s.

We demonstrate PAM-4 and OOK operation of a novel silicon photonic modulator. The modulator design is based on two phase-shifts in a Bragg Grating structure driven in a push pull configuration. Back-to-back PAM-4 modulation is demonstrated below the FEC threshold at up to 60 Gb/s. OOK modulation is also shown up to 55 Gb/s with MMSE equalization and up to 50 Gb/s without equalization. Eye diagrams and BER curves at different bit rates are provided for both PAM-4 and OOK modulations. To our knowledge, this structure is the fastest silicon photonic modulator based on Bragg gratings, reaching modulation speed comparable to the fastest Mach-Zehnder modulators and micro-ring modulators.

Runx2 association with progression of prostate cancer in patients: mechanisms mediating bone osteolysis and osteoblastic metastatic lesions.

Runx2, a bone-specific transcriptional regulator, is abnormally expressed in highly metastatic prostate cancer cells. Here, we identified the functional activities of Runx2 in facilitating tumor growth and osteolysis. Our studies show that negligible Runx2 is found in normal prostate epithelial and non-metastatic LNCaP prostate cancer cells. In the intra-tibial metastasis model, high Runx2 levels are associated with development of large tumors, increased expression of metastasis-related genes (MMP9, MMP13, VEGF, Osteopontin) and secreted bone-resorbing factors (PTHrP, IL8) promoting osteolytic disease. Runx2 siRNA treatment of PC3 cells decreased cell migration and invasion through Matrigel in vitro, and in vivo shRunx2 expression in PC3 cells blocked their ability to survive in the bone microenvironment. Mechanisms of Runx2 function were identified in co-culture studies showing that PC3 cells promote osteoclastogenesis and inhibit osteoblast activity. The clinical significance of these findings is supported by human tissue microarray studies of prostate tumors at stages of cancer progression, in which Runx2 is expressed in both adenocarcinomas and metastatic tumors. Together these findings indicate that Runx2 is a key regulator of events associated with prostate cancer metastatic bone disease.

The Long Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat develops hepatocellular damage in the absence of antimicrosomal antibodies.

Long Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats are an inbred strain with a mutation affecting a copper transporter. As a result, hepatic copper levels rise and the rats spontaneously develop hepatitis that is fatal in about 40% of the rats. The rats that die have been reported to develop anti-microsomal antibodies, most frequently against protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), prior to the onset of liver damage. The association between the presence of antibodies and death of the LEC rats, along with the detection of antibodies prior to the detection of liver damage suggested that the antibodies may have a role in the pathogenesis of liver damage. The objective of this study was to more clearly delineate the temporal relationship between antibody production and the onset of liver damage and copper accumulation. Serum was screened for the presence of anti-microsomal antibodies by immunoblotting. Liver damage was assessed by serum biochemistry and histological examination on rats between 6 and 12 weeks of age (four per group). Copper accumulation in the liver was determined by biochemistry and histological examination. Evidence of liver damage was detectable by serum biochemistry and histopathology by 11.5 weeks. Copper was rarely detected in hepatocytes, although it was detected in macrophages. Sera from only one of seven rats with evidence of liver damage had detectable anti-microsomal protein antibodies. The protein recognized was not PDI. The development of anti-microsomal autoantibodies did not precede the development of significant liver damage, suggesting that they play only a secondary role, if any, in the pathogenesis of hepatitis in this rat strain.

Sequential assessment of an antidrug antibody response in a patient with a systemic delayed-onset sulphonamide hypersensitivity syndrome reaction.

A 19-year-old man was treated with trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole intermittently over 4 weeks. He developed a rash and fever. Despite treatment with low-dose methylprednisolone, his condition worsened. He developed a confluent erythematous macular eruption, elevated liver enzymes, lymphadenopathy, polyserositis and eosinophilia. A tentative diagnosis of sulphonamide hypersensitivity syndrome reaction (SHSR) was made and a serum sample (acute) was obtained to screen for antibodies associated with SHSR. Intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate (250 mg every 6 h for 48 h) was administered. The patient's condition improved, and he was discharged with oral prednisone. A convalescent serum sample was obtained 14 weeks later. By Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antisulphamethoxazole IgG antibodies were detected in the acute serum sample, supporting the clinical diagnosis of SHSR. Contrary to expectations, antibodies were not detected in the convalescent serum sample by immunoblotting. Antisulphamethoxazole antibodies were detected by ELISA in the convalescent serum, but the titre was decreased approximately 45-fold. One possible explanation for the decrease in antibody concentration in the convalescent sample was the administration of high-dose glucocorticoids to the patient following collection of the acute serum sample.