Student attitudes regarding the educational value and welfare implications in the use of model eyes and live dogs in teaching practical fundus examination: evaluation of responses from 40 students.

This study sought to document student opinions on the educational value and welfare implications of use of artificial model eyes and live dogs in the training of veterinary students in examination of the canine fundus. Forty students who had undertaken a practical class on canine fundoscopy involving both use of artificial model eyes and live dogs were asked to complete a short questionnaire using a Likert scale to gauge their opinion on whether the use of live dogs and artificial eyes was very valuable (scoring 2), valuable (1), a neutral response (0), not particularly valuable (-1) or not at all valuable (-2) and to write a free text response on their views of the educational value and welfare implications of using artificial model eyes or live dogs in training for ophthalmic examination of the canine ocular fundus. Likert responses were 1.84±0.37 for using live greyhounds and 0.58±0.79 for using simulator eyes (p<0.0001). Thematic analysis of the written responses showed that while the artificial eyes were considered somewhat valuable in initial training, the live dogs were significantly preferred for their realism and the opportunity to examine the eye while handling a live animal. In conclusion, while model eyes are valuable initial training in use of the ophthalmoscope for funduscopic examination, students consider that examining the eye in the live dog is significantly more valuable and that the welfare of dogs thus used is not in their view unduly compromised.

Classical versus alternative macrophage activation: the Ying and the Yang in host defense against pulmonary fungal infections.

Macrophages are innate immune cells that possess unique abilities to polarize toward different phenotypes. Classically activated macrophages are known to have major roles in host defense against various microbial pathogens, including fungi, while alternatively activated macrophages are instrumental in immune-regulation and wound healing. Macrophages in the lungs are often the first responders to pulmonary fungal pathogens, and the macrophage polarization state has the potential to be a deciding factor in disease progression or resolution. This review discusses the distinct macrophage polarization states and their roles during pulmonary fungal infection. We focus primarily on Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis model systems as disease resolution of these two opportunistic fungal pathogens is linked to classically or alternatively activated macrophages, respectively. Further research considering macrophage polarization states that result in anti-fungal activity has the potential to provide a novel approach for the treatment of fungal infections.

The first directed reduction of beta-alkoxy ketones to anti-1,3-diol monoethers: identification of spectator and director alkoxy groups.

A new reduction procedure for the stereoselective reduction of certain beta-alkoxy ketones is described. The method relies upon electron-transfer reduction using samarium diiodide in THF with MeOH as an additive. Reduction is facile for a number of alkoxy groups that can complex samarium effectively but is not observed with TBS or benzyl protecting groups. Experiments with deuterated methanol show that the stereoselectivity arises from protonation of a samarium carbanion intermediate.

A longitudinal study of low-level lead exposure and impairment of renal function. The Normative Aging Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether low-level lead exposure is associated with impaired renal function. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were 459 men randomly selected from the participants of the Normative Aging Study who were originally recruited from healthy veterans in the greater Boston area in 1961 and were periodically examined at the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic every 3 to 5 years. We reconstructed blood lead concentrations for the period between 1979 and 1994 using samples of either archived red blood cells or fresh whole blood. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum creatinine concentration. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, educational level, and hypertension, blood lead concentration was positively and significantly associated with concurrent concentration of serum creatinine (P=.005). A 10-fold increase in blood lead level predicted an increase of 7 micromol/L (0.08 micrograms/dL) in serum creatinine concentration, which is roughly equivalent to the increase predicted by 20 years of aging. The association was also significant among subjects whose blood lead concentrations had never exceeded 0.48 micromol/L (10 micrograms/L) throughout the study period. The age-related increase in serum creatinine level was earlier and faster in the group with the highest-quartile levels of long-term lead exposure than in the group with the lowest-quartile levels. CONCLUSIONS: Low-level exposure to lead may impair renal function in middle-aged and older men. Longitudinal data suggest an acceleration of age-related impairment of renal function in association with long-term low-level lead exposure.

Relation of FEV1 and peripheral blood leukocyte count to total mortality. The Normative Aging Study.

Increased peripheral blood leukocyte count and decreased level of pulmonary function have both been implicated as causes of increased total mortality in population-based studies. The extent to which these factors are independent of cigarette smoking is controversial. The authors explored the relation of leukocyte count and the level of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to total mortality in the Normative Aging Study population in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. Other covariates examined included forced vital capacity, height, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol. The sample for the current analysis consisted of 1,956 men who underwent the baseline Normative Aging Study examination during 1961-1969. Subjects ranged in age from 21 to 80 years of age at the time of entry. A total of 170 deaths occurred over the 30 years of follow-up. Statistical analysis was conducted utilizing Cox proportional hazards modeling and regression trees for censored survival data. The Cox proportional hazards model suggested that age, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peripheral blood leukocyte count were the three most important predictors of increased mortality in this cohort. A regression tree analysis in general confirmed these results. Both methods of analysis suggest that forced expiratory volume in 1 second and peripheral blood leukocyte count were predictors of mortality, independent of cigarette smoking.