C57BL/KsJ-db/db-ApcMin/+ Mice Exhibit an Increased Incidence of Intestinal Neoplasms

The numbers of obese people and diabetic patients are ever increasing. Obesity and diabetes are high-risk conditions for chronic diseases, including certain types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to develop a novel animal model in order to clarify the pathobiology of CRC development in obese and diabetic patients. We developed an animal model of obesity and colorectal cancer by breeding the C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mouse, an animal model of obesity and type II diabetes, and the C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ (Min/+) mouse, a model of familial adenomatous polyposis. At 15 weeks of age, the N9 backcross generation of C57BL/KsJ-db/db-ApcMin/+ (db/db-Min/+) mice developed an increased incidence and multiplicity of adenomas in the intestinal tract when compared to the db/m-Min/+ and m/m-Min/+ mice. Blood biochemical profile showed significant increases in insulin (8.3-fold to 11.7-fold), cholesterol (1.2-fold to 1.7-fold), and triglyceride (1.2-fold to 1.3-fold) in the db/db-Min/+ mice, when compared to those of the db/m-Min/+ and m/m-Min/+ mice. Increases (1.4-fold to 2.6-fold) in RNA levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IRF-1R, and IGF-2 were also observed in the db/db- Min/+ mice. These results suggested that the IGFs, as well as hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia, promoted adenoma formation in the db/db-Min/+ mice. Our results thus suggested that the db/db-Min/+ mice should be invaluable for studies on the pathogenesis of CRC in obese and diabetes patients and the therapy and prevention of CRC in these patients

Severe chemical corneal injury from hexavalent chromium exposure: a case report

AbstractEye exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) acid can cause blindness. A 42-year-old man working in a plating operation presented to the emergency department following a workplace incident. He had unintentionally fallen into a tank containing a mixture of 25% Cr(VI) and sulfuric acid (2.0 g/L) at a temperature of approximately 40 °C. The tank dimensions tank were 8 (depth) × 4 (width) × 3 (length) meters. A colleague rescued him from the tank, and he underwent a full body wash at the worksite. Emergency services adequately flushed both eyes with a 0.9% saline solution. He had significant corneal injury; however, no other significant injuries occurred. Upon presentation at the emergency department, the patient underwent a whole-body shower, and both eyes were flushed with 0.9% saline solution. As a treatment for acute chromium poisoning, he received dimercaprol and ascorbic acid. Additionally, he received eye drops for chemical corneal injury. The patient later underwent bilateral corneal transplants for chemical corneal injury but remained nearly blind. We describe a case of severe chemical corneal injury with limbal stem cell deficiency, leading to blindness due to Cr (VI) acid exposure