WNT16 Influences Bone Mineral Density, Cortical Bone Thickness, Bone Strength, and Osteoporotic Fracture Risk

Peer reviewe

Abnormal Appearance of the Area Centralis in Labrador Retrievers With an ABCA4 Loss-of-function Mutation

Purpose: To study retinal appearance and morphology in Labrador retrievers (LRs) heterozygous and homozygous for an ABCA4 loss-of-function mutation. Methods: Ophthalmic examination, including ophthalmoscopy and simple testing of vision, was performed in five ABCA4(wt/wt), four ABCA4(wt/InsC), and six ABCA4(InsC/InsC) LRs. Retinas were also examined with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Infrared and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images were studied, and outer nuclear layer (ONL) and neuroretinal thickness were measured in the central and peripheral area centralis. Results: Clinical signs in young ABCA4(InsC/InsC) LRs were subtle, whereas ophthalmoscopic findings and signs of visual impairment were obvious in old ABCA4InsC/InsC LRs. Retinal appearance and vision testing was unremarkable in heterozygous LRs regardless of age. The cSLO/OCT showed abnormal morphology including ONL thinning, abnormal outer retinal layer segmentation, and focal loss of retinal pigment epithelium in the fovea equivalent in juvenile ABCA4(InsC/InsC) LRs. The abnormal appearance extended into the area centralis and visual streak in middle-aged ABCA4(InsC/InsC) and then spread more peripherally. A mild phenotype was seen on cSLO/OCT and FAF in middle-aged to old ABCA4(wt/InsC) LRs. Conclusions: Abnormal appearance and morphology in the fovea equivalent are present in juvenile ABCA4InsC/InsC. In the older affected LRs, the visual streak and then the peripheral retina also develop an abnormal appearance. Vision deteriorates slowly, but some vision is retained throughout life. Older heterozygotes may show a mild retinal phenotype but no obvious visual impairment. The ABCA4InsC/InsC LR is a potential model for ABCA4-mediated retinopathies/juvenile-onset Stargardt disease in a species with human-sized eyes. Translational Relevance: The ABCA4(InsC) mutation causes juvenile-onset abnormal appearance of the fovea equivalent in affected dogs that slowly spreads in the retina, while only a mild phenotype is seen in older carriers. This is the first non-primate, large animal model for ABCA4-related/STGD1 retinopathies in a species with a fovea equivalent

Anti-browsing effects of birch bark extract on fallow deer

A major problem within forest industry is unwanted browsing on seedlings from mammalian herbivores. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of birch bark extracts as repellents towards fallow deer. Birch bark was extracted in a conventional way with ethanol as solvent at ambient temperature and with a new method, liquid CO2 extraction. An analysis of the ethanol-extracted birch bark showed that it contained large amounts of terpenoids, of which the most abundant was betulin. In seven different treatment trials, we used 15 individually handled fallow deer. To investigate the binary taste preferences, birch bark extract was added to food and presented in two bowls in typical two-choice tests. We found that the amount of a food type consumed during a trial and the number of shifts between food bowls were dependent on the amount of the birch extract the food contained. Concentrations of above 1 % by dry weight of birch extract acted as a repellent. In addition, such concentrations produced shorter feeding bouts by a greater willingness to change bowls. Therefore, our conclusion is that birch bark extract acts as a repellent towards fallow deer and is therefore likely to act as a repellent against other deer species. In addition, we show that birch bark extract produced by the new and more environmentally sustainable method employing liquid CO2 mixed with ethanol has the same repellent effect as the traditional ethanol extraction

Factors associated with the increased incidence of necrotising enterocolitis in extremely preterm infants in Sweden between two population-based national cohorts (2004-2007 vs 2014-2016)

Objective To investigate potential risk factors behind the increased incidence of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in Swedish extremely preterm infants.Design Registry data from two population-based national cohorts were studied. NEC diagnoses (Bell stage &amp;gt;= II) were validated against hospital records.Patients All liveborn infants &amp;lt;27 weeks of gestation 2004-2007 (n=704) and 2014-2016 (n=895) in Sweden.Main outcome measures NEC incidence.Results The validation process resulted in a 28% reduction of NEC cases but still confirmed a higher NEC incidence in the later epoch compared with the earlier (73/895 (8.2%) vs 27/704 (3.8%), p=0.001), while the composite of NEC or death was lower (244/895 (27.3%) vs 229/704 (32.5%), p=0.022). In a multivariable Cox regression model, censored for mortality, there was no significant difference in early NEC (0-7 days of life) between epochs (HR=0.9 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.9), p=0.9), but being born in the later epoch remained an independent risk factor for late NEC (&amp;gt;7 days) (HR=2.7 (95% CI 1.5 to 5.0), p=0.001). In propensity score analysis, a significant epoch difference in NEC incidence (12% vs 2.8%, p&amp;lt;0.001) was observed only in the tertile of infants at highest risk of NEC, where the 28-day mortality was lower in the later epoch (35% vs 50%, p=0.001). More NEC cases were diagnosed with intramural gas in the later epoch (33/73 (45.2%) vs 6/26 (23.1%), p=0.047).Conclusions The increase in NEC incidence between epochs was limited to cases occurring after 7 days of life and was partly explained by increased survival in the most extremely preterm infants. Misclassification of NEC is common.Funding Agencies|ALF grants from Region Vasterbotten; Region Stockholm [2020-0443]; Region Skane; Swedish Research Council [2019-01005, 2020-01236]; Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation [20200808]; Childhood Foundation of the Swedish Order of Freemasons</p