Effects of ß-Glucan on growth performance and immunomodulation in weaned piglets

Seventy-four weaned piglets were used in a 6-week experiment to determine the effects of ß-Glucan on growth performance and immunomodulation of weaned piglets. Piglets were randomly chosen and divided into control and treatment groups. Body weight gain and feed consumption were recorded at weeks 2, 3 and 6. The immunomodulatory effects of ß-Glucan were determined by gross examination of lung lesions during post mortem. Weaned piglets from the treatment group had overall greater growth performance compared to the control group. This was also evident from the overall higher body weight and percentage of body weight gain as well as a lower feed conversion ratio. The fecal coliform count also implied that fecal coliform count in the treatment group was lower than the control group. Piglets treated with ß-Glucan were observed to have positive immunomodulatory effects on piglets. This was shown by an overall lower lung lesion score in the treatment group. The post mortem revealed 2 piglets with fibrinous pneumonia (APP) and 1 pig with severe atrophic rhinitis (Grade 5). In conclusion, treatment with ß-Glucan may lessen inflammatory response towards Gram negative bacteria via the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and promote the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of ß-Glucan in reducing total coliform count and its effect on immunomodulation

Estimation of axial curvature of anterior sclera: correlation between axial length and anterior scleral curvature as affected by angle kappa

Background: Though the development and fitting of scleral contact lenses are expanding steadily, there is no simple method to provide scleral metrics for scleral contact lens fitting yet. The aim of this study was to establish formulae for estimation of the axial radius of curvature (ARC) of the anterior sclera using ocular biometric parameters that can be easily obtained with conventional devices. Methods: A semi-automated stitching method and a computational analysis tool for calculating ARC were developed by using the ImageJ and MATLAB software. The ARC of all the ocular surface points were analyzed from the composite horizontal cross-sectional images of the right eyes of 24 volunteers; these measurements were obtained using anterior segment optical coherence tomography for a previous study (AS-OCT; Visante). Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from the same volunteers with slit-scanning topography and partial coherence interferometry. Correlation analysis was performed between the ARC at 8 mm to the axis line (ARC[8]) and other ocular parameters (including age). With ARC obtained on several nasal and temporal points (7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 mm from the axis line), univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to develop a model for estimating ARC with the help of ocular biometric parameters. Results: Axial length, spherical equivalent, and angle kappa showed correlations with temporal ARC[8] (tARC[8]; Pearson’s r = 0.653, −0.579, and −0.341; P = 0.001, 0.015, and 0.015, respectively). White-to-white corneal diameter (WTW) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) showed correlation with nasal ARC[8] (nARC[8]; Pearson’s r = −0.492 and −0.461; P = 0.015 and 0.023, respectively). The formulae for estimating scleral curvatures (tARC, nARC, and average ARC) were developed as a function of axial length, ACD, WTW, and distance from the axis line, with good determinant power (72 − 80 %; SPSS ver. 22.0). Angle kappa showed strong correlation with axial length (Pearson’s r = −0.813, P <0.001), and the different correlation patterns of nasal and temporal ARC with axial length can be explained by the ocular surface deviation represented by angle kappa. Conclusions: Axial length, ACD, and WTW are useful parameters for estimating the ARC of the anterior sclera, which is important for the haptic design of scleral contact lenses. Angle kappa affects the discrepancies between the nasal and temporal scleral curvature.Korea (South). Ministry of Health & Welfare (Projects A084496 and A120018

Effects of Altered Somatosensory Input on Lower Limb Mechanics via Different Shoes and Barefoot Walking in Individuals with Chronic Post-Stroke Hemiparesis

[Purpose/Hypothesis] Stroke is a leading cause of disability that results in various neurological deficits. Stroke can cause impaired somatosensory input, which results in decreased balance and gait speed, ultimately increasing fall risks. Therapies to increase somatosensory input have shown promise for people with stroke as well as other neurological populations. However, few studies have systematically investigated varying somatosensory input via different footwear to improve walking in people post-stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of altering somatosensory input via different types of footwear (i.e., barefoot, self-selected shoes, and memory foam shoes) on gait kinetics and ankle kinematics during gait in individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis. We hypothesized that increased somatosensory input via barefoot walking would improve paretic propulsive force, reduce paretic braking force, and improve paretic ankle kinematics. [Number of Subjects] 9 individuals post-stroke (62.9±11.2 years old; 5.9±4.4 years post-stroke) and 5 non-neurologically impaired (53.4±17.0 years old) individuals. [Methods/Materials] Reflective markers were placed over lower extremities landmarks, and surface electromyography sensors over ankle muscles. Participants then walked over a dual belt instrumented treadmill for 5 minutes, under self-selected walking speed, wearing self-selected shoes. Subsequently, trials were conducted barefoot and with memory foam shoes, in randomly assigned order. Peak propulsive force, peak braking force, peak plantarflexion angle at push-off, and peak dorsiflexion angle during swing phase were assessed using a 3 (Limbs: paretic, non-paretic, and non-impaired) X 3 (Shoes: self-selected footwear, memory foam shoes, and barefoot) mixed factorial ANOVA. A priori significance was set at p \u3c 0.05. [Results] A statistically significant interaction was observed for Shoes x Limb for peak propulsive force (p=0.04). Additionally, simple main effects revealed that in non-impaired legs, greater propulsive forces were generated when wearing self-selected shoes compared to memory foam or barefoot. A statistically significant main effect of Shoes was observed for ankle angle at toe off (p \u3c 0.01), suggesting that regardless of limb, wearing self-selected shoes increases plantarflexion at toe off, whereas wearing memory foam shoes increases dorsiflexion at toe off. A statistically significant main effect of Shoes was observed for peak dorsiflexion during swing (p \u3c 0.01), indicating that regardless of limb, wearing memory foam shoes causes more dorsiflexion during swing than self-selected shoes. [Conclusion] We found that memory foam shoes can encourage paretic ankle dorsiflexion during swing phase of gait, which could be used to address foot-drop in post-stroke gait training. If the goal of gait training was to target propulsive force to increase walking speed, then memory foam shoes or barefoot is not recommended. [Clinical Relevance] Findings can help inform clinicians on appropriate footwear recommendations to ensure safety for community ambulation and may be incorporated into gait training paradigms in rehabilitation

Bilateral herpetic keratitis presenting with unilateral neurotrophic keratitis in pemphigus foliaceus: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We report a case of bilateral herpetic keratitis developing after rapid oral corticosteroid tapering in a patient with pemphigus foliaceus, which was followed by unilateral neurotrophic keratitis that was treated with amniotic membrane transplantation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 71-year-old Korean man developed bilateral herpetic keratitis one week after rapid tapering of systemic corticosteroid. He had been on high-dose oral corticosteroid and azathioprine therapy for six months for treatment of pemphigus foliaceus. Topical acyclovir ointment was prescribed. A week later, our patient's right eye had healed, but his left eye showed increased stromal edema with enlarged epithelial defects. He was prescribed oral acyclovir with topical broad-spectrum antibiotics applied to his left eye. The stromal edema cleared within a week but the epithelial defect remained unchanged. An amniotic membrane transplantation was performed on our patient's left eye, and his epithelial defect had totally healed three weeks later.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Patients with autoimmune disease or who are on immunosuppressive therapy have a higher chance of developing bilateral herpetic keratitis. Although rare, the condition may be followed by unilateral neurotrophic keratitis. Rapid corticosteroid tapering may act as a triggering factor for viral infection or reactivation of herpes.</p

Avifauna of Bangtaesan Mountain, Gangwon-do, Korea

AbstractAn investigation on avifauna of the Bangtaesan Mountain was carried out from February until November, 2010 and it drew the results as follow. The number of birds observed in the whole Bangtaesan Mountain region was 989 individuals of 51 species (Maximum counts). Considering the results from literature research in addition, at least 90 species 1,000 individuals are thought to live in this region. In result, dominant species proved to be Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans), Marsh Tit (Parus palustris), Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana), Eastern Crowned Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus), Varied Tit (Parus varius), and more. Most of birds breeding in the forest of Korea were found to constitute these dominant bird species. Entire species diversity index appeared to be 3.35 relatively a high level; 3.34 in the south slopes while 3.22 in the north slopes showing relatively a high level in the south. Of them, 12 species including Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) were the Protected Birds species nominated and protected by the Cultural Heritage Administration or the Ministry of Environment, while 10 and 6 species were the natural monument species and endangered species level, respectively. Should further consistent surveys be carried out, a broader range of species would be found to breed, and therefore the Bangtaesan Mountain region including the area where the protected species are observed is believed to need a conservation and management through protected area designation

Interaction of Hb South Florida (codon 1; GTG→ATG) and HbE, with β-thalassemia (IVS1-1; G→A): expression of different clinical phenotypes

Introduction: Interactions of different hemoglobin variants with thalassemia alleles can result in various clinical phenotypes. HbE-β-thalassemia generally manifests with severe anemia where individuals exhibit β-thalassemia major with regular blood transfusions or β-thalassemia intermedia with periodic blood transfusions. This study presents a unique Malay family with three β-globin gene defects—HbE, Hb South Florida, and IVS1-1 (G→A). Materials and methods: HbE activates a cryptic splice site that produces non-functional mRNAs. Hb South Florida is a rare β-hemoglobin variant, and its interactions with other β-thalassemia alleles have not been reported. IVS1-1 is a Mediterranean mutation that affects mRNA processing giving rise to βo-thalassemia. Results and discussion: Fifteen mutations along the β-globin gene complex were analyzed using the amplification refractory mutation system. Hb South Florida was identified by direct sequencing using genomic DNA Conclusion: The affected child with HbE/IVS1-1 produced a β-thalassemia major phenotype. Compound heterozygosity for Hb South Florida/IVS1-1 produced a β-thalassemia carrier phenotype in the mother

Hydrogenation of Tetralin over Supported Ni and Ir Catalysts

Selective hydrogenation and ring opening (SRO) of tetrahydronaphthalene (tetralin) was studied over nickel and iridium supported catalysts in the context of the removal of polynuclear aromatics from diesel fuel. The tetralin hydrogenation was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor at 270 ∘ C, using H 2 pressure of 30 bars, WHSV of 2.3 h −1 , and H 2 /feed molar ratio of 40; the resultant products were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The Ir/SiO 2 catalyst gave 85% of tetralin conversion and 75.1% of decalin products selectivity whereas Ni/SiO 2 catalyst showed an unprecedented high catalytic performance with 88.3% of tetralin conversion and 93% of decalin products selectivity. The catalysts were characterized by using different characterization techniques such as XRD, TPR, and HR-TEM to know the physicochemical properties as well as active sites in the catalysts