Oxidative Stress Is a Key Modulator in the Development of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, and scientific studies consistently report that NAFLD development can be accelerated by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can induce the progression of NAFLD to NASH by stimulating Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells, and hepatocytes. Therefore, studies are underway to identify the role of antioxidants in the treatment of NAFLD. In this review, we have summarized the origins of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, the relationship between ROS and NAFLD, and have discussed the use of antioxidants as therapeutic agents for NAFLD.

Arthroscopic detection of medial meniscal injury with the use of a joint distractor in small-breed dogs.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of a joint distractor in arthroscopy in small-breed dogs. Sixty stifle joints, which were collected from thirty cadavers, were used in this study. To simulate different injuries, no medial meniscal tear, a full-thickness vertical longitudinal tear, a partial-thickness vertical longitudinal tear, full- and partial-thickness vertical longitudinal tears, or a peripheral detachment were created on the caudal horn of the medial meniscus of each stifle joint along with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Each stifle joint then underwent arthroscopy with and without a joint distractor. The sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and correct classification rate (CCR) for the diagnosis of each type of medial meniscus pathology were calculated. For arthroscopy with and without a joint distractor, the Sn was 85% and 60%, the Sp was 96% and 92%, the PPV was 85% and 65%, the NPV was 96% and 90%, and the CCR was 94% and 86%, respectively. Arthroscopy is an effective diagnostic method for the assessment of medial meniscal pathologies in small-breed dogs, especially when performed with the aid of a joint distractor.

Evaluation of a Veress needle for the fluid egress system of stifle arthroscopy in toy dog breeds.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a Veress needle as a fluid egress system for stifle arthroscopy in toy dog breeds. METHODS: Cadaveric canine stifle joints (n = 32) were prepared to induce an artificial intra-articular haemorrhagic effect, followed by stifle arthroscopy. The stifles were randomly assigned to one of three groups, and a fluid egress portal was established using a Veress needle (VN), a standard egress cannula (SE), or an intravenous catheter stylet (CS). Time to establish the egress portal, arthroscopic visibility, and egress portal performance were evaluated during the arthroscopy. After the arthroscopic examinations, iatrogenic cartilage lesions were identified and analysed using the percentage area of cartilage damage (%ACD). RESULTS: The overall arthroscopic visibility and egress portal performance were not significantly different among the groups. The egress portal establishment was faster for the VN (33 sec) and the CS (34 sec) groups than for the SE (43 sec) group (p = 0.001). On gross joint examination, no iatrogenic laceration was found in the VN group, whereas four out of 10 of the SE and two out of 10 of the CS specimens had linear cartilage excoriation on the stifle joints. The %ACD score of the VN group was lower than those of the SE group (p = 0.009) and the CS group (p = 0.001). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Veress needle method used in this study was useful to establish a fluid egress system and limit iatrogenic cartilage excoriations. This technique could become the method of choice for stifle arthroscopy, especially in smaller dogs.

Total hip replacement in two dogs with unsuccessful femoral head ostectomy.

An English setter (case 1) and a Tibetan mastiff (case 2) presented with intermittent weight-bearing lameness on the right hind limb when trotting. The dogs had a history of femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHNO). Orthopedic examination revealed pain and crepitus on the right hip joint. The dogs underwent total hip replacement (THR). At the 2-year (case 1) and 1-year (case 2) follow-up, both dogs had resumed normal activity without lameness. The muscle mass and range of motion were significantly improved in the affected hind limb. In conclusion, FHNO with poor functional outcomes can be successfully ameliorated with THR.

Using stable isotope analysis to discriminate gasoline on the basis of its origin.

RATIONALE: Leakage of gasoline and diesel from underground tanks has led to a severe environmental problem in many countries. Tracing the production origin of gasoline and diesel is required to enable the development of dispute resolution and appropriate remediation strategies for the oil-contaminated sites. METHODS: We investigated the bulk and compound-specific isotopic compositions of gasoline produced by four oil companies in South Korea: S-Oil, SK, GS and Hyundai. The relative abundance of several compounds in gasoline was determined by the peak height of the major ion (m/z 44). RESULTS: The δ(13)C(Bulk) and δD(Bulk) values of gasoline produced by S-Oil were significantly different from those of SK, GS and Hyundai. In particular, the compound-specific isotopic value (δ(13)C(CSIA)) of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in S-Oil gasoline was significantly lower than that of gasoline produced by other oil companies. The abundance of several compounds in gasoline, such as n-pentane, MTBE, n-hexane, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene, differed widely among gasoline from different oil companies. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that gasoline can be forensically discriminated according to the oil company responsible for its manufacture using stable isotope analysis combined with multivariate statistical analysis.