Ventricular septal defect in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

A four-year-old, castrated male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated because of a one-year history of sporadic cough. On physical examination a grade 5 of 6 holosystolic murmur was audible over the right apex of the heart. Radiographic findings included the presence of air bronchograms in apical lobes accompanied by pulmonary venous congestion. Colour Doppler echocardiography revealed a left-to-right shunting compatible with a ventricular septal defect. Medical therapy was initiated at the time of the diagnosis. The ferret was presented again 2 months after the initial examination for coughing and respiratory distress. Echocardiographic findings included tricuspid regurgitation, relative enlargement of left-atrial diameter and decreased systolic function, with presence of pleural effusion. Thoracocentesis was performed and the therapeutic plan was revised. In the following months the symptoms did not recur. In the authors' opinion this is the first report to describe the clinical findings of isolated ventricular septal defect in the ferret. Congenital heart defects are rare in this species, the present ferret being only the second case described.

Ablation of human nail by pulsed lasers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The hard and resistant structure of the nail plate forms a natural barrier that limits the penetration of topical drugs. To overcome this barrier, the use of pulsed laser systems has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of four laser systems on nail plate ablation rates, ablation efficiencies, and subsequent craters morphology. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIAL AND METHODS: Solid state Er:YAG (2.94 microns, 250 microseconds), a Ho:YSGG (2.08 microns, 250 microseconds), a XeC1 Excimer (308 nm, 15 ns), and a novel solid-state ultrashort pulse laser (1.05 microns, 350 fs) were used. Ablation rates, surface morphology, and extent of collateral damage were evaluated using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Best ablation efficiencies were demonstrated with the ultrashort pulsed laser (1 micron/mJ), whereas maximum material removal per pulse was obtained with the Er:YAG laser (80 microns/ pulse). Scanning electron microscopy showed cracking damage with both Ho:YSGG and Er:YAG. XeC1 and the ultrashort pulse system left tissue surfaces free of cracks or thermal damage. CONCLUSION: With its minimal acoustical and mechanical impact, high efficiency, and negligible collateral damage, the ultrashort pulse laser at 3 J/cm2 was found to be the optimal laser system for nail ablation.

Modulation of melanocyte intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by immune cytokines.

Human melanocyte expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) with or without stimulation by interferon gamma (IFN-G), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), or interleukin-1-alpha (IL-1 alpha), was measured utilizing direct immunofluorescence and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Melanocytes grown in vitro expressed low levels of ICAM-1, which could be increased by exposing the cells to IFN-G, TNF-alpha, or IL-1 alpha. Each cytokine caused an enhancement of melanocyte ICAM-1 expression in a dose-dependent fashion. The lowest dose necessary to cause a significant increase in melanocyte ICAM-1 expression was 1 U/ml IFN-G, 0.3 ng/ml TNF-alpha, or 3 U/ml IL-1 alpha. Melanocytes were most sensitive to TNF-alpha stimulation, with the greatest levels of ICAM-1 expression following 30 ng/ml or more TNF-alpha. When IFN-G was added to melanocyte cultures in combination with TNF-alpha or IL-1 alpha, there was an additive increase in ICAM-1 expression but no synergy was noted with the combined cytokines. To our knowledge, this is the first report of melanocyte ICAM-1 induction by TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha and by physiologically relevant doses of IFN-G. Because of the importance of ICAM-1 in the regulation of immune cell-target interactions, the study of ICAM-1 expression by melanocytes may help us to better understand immune mechanisms of melanocyte injury.