Effects of GnRH vaccination in wild and captive African Elephant bulls (Loxodonta africana) on reproductive organs and semen quality

OBJECTIVES: Although the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in some isolated habitats in southern Africa, contraception is of major interest due to local overpopulation. GnRH vaccination has been promoted as a non-invasive contraceptive measure for population management of overabundant wildlife. We tested the efficacy of this treatment for fertility control in elephant bulls. METHODS: In total, 17 male African elephants that were treated with a GnRH vaccine were examined in two groups. In the prospective study group 1 (n = 11 bulls, ages: 8±36 years), semen quality, the testes, seminal vesicles, ampullae and prostate, which were all measured by means of transrectal ultrasound, and faecal androgen metabolite concentrations were monitored over a three-year period. Each bull in the prospective study received 5 ml of Improvac® (1000 μg GnRH conjugate) intramuscularly after the first examination, followed by a booster six weeks later and thereafter every 5±7 months. In a retrospective study group (group 2, n = 6, ages: 19±33 years), one examination was performed on bulls which had been treated with GnRH vaccine for 5±11 years. RESULTS: In all bulls of group 1, testicular and accessory sex gland sizes decreased significantly after the third vaccination. In six males examined prior to vaccination and again after more than five vaccinations, the testis size was reduced by 57.5%. Mean testicular height and length decreased from 13.3 ± 2.6 cm x 15.2 ± 2.8 cm at the beginning to 7.6 ± 2.1 cm x 10.2 ± 1.8 cm at the end of the study. Post pubertal bulls (>9 years, n = 6) examined prior to vaccination produced ejaculates with viable spermatozoa (volume: 8±175 ml, sperm concentration: 410-4000x106/ml, total motility: 0±90%), while after 5±8 injections, only 50% of these bulls produced ejaculates with a small number of immotile spermatozoa. The ejaculates of group 2 bulls (vaccinated >8 times) were devoid of spermatozoa. Faecal androgen metabolite concentrations measured in captive males decreased significantly after the fourth vaccination. None of the males entered musth during the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a marked decrease in semen quality, testicle and secondary sex gland sizes following repeated GnRH vaccinations. After 2±4 years of continuous treatment every 5±7 months, the effects were similar to surgical castration.ISIScopu

Erratum to: Changes in patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Northern Italy: analysis of 990 consecutive cases

Erratum to: Changes in patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Northern Italy: analysis of 990 consecutive case

Doxycycline for treatment of blepharochalasis via inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases

Two cases of blepharochalasis were studied. In Case 1, a 16-year-old male presented with the history and clinical features of blepharochalasis. A positive tissue biopsy for matrix metalloproteinases suggested a benefit from treatment with doxycycline. The patient remained disease-free for 18 months following commencement of doxycycline. In Case 2, a 21-year-old male with a 5-month history of swelling affecting his upper eyelids was diagnosed with blepharochalasis. He received an 8-month course of doxycycline and remained symptom-free on review 2 months after treatment cessation. While the pathogenesis of blepharochalasis has remained uncertain, an immune mechanism has been suspected. The presence of matrix metalloproteinases in the tissue biopsy of our first patient supports such an immune mechanism. As doxycycline inhibits matrix metalloproteinase activity, it may provide an effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative for cases of blepharochalasis for which surgery has previously been the only treatment option.3 page(s

Prevalence of Glaucoma Following Paediatric Cataract Surgery in an Australian Tertiary Referral Centre

Alanna Wood,1,2 Benjamin Lim,2 Jim Matthews,3 Tanya Karaconji,1,2 Sophia L Zagora,1,2 Robyn V Jamieson,1,2,4,5 John R Grigg,1,2,4 Michael Jones,2,* Neil Rowe,2,* Stephen Hing,2,* Craig Donaldson,2,* James EH Smith2,* 1Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 2Department of Ophthalmology, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia; 3Sydney Informatics Hub, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 4Eye Genetics Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children’s Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 5Disciplines of Genetic Medicine, and Child and Adolescent, Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Alanna Wood, Tel +61 404 072 401, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Secondary glaucoma following childhood cataract surgery remains the most common complication in the paediatric population. This study aimed to determine the incidence, time to progression and risk factors associated with the development of secondary glaucoma following childhood cataract surgery in a paediatric population. Outcome measures were the detection of secondary glaucoma, postoperative time frame to development of glaucoma and risk factors in its development.Patients and Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted between 2003 and 2017 at a tertiary children’s hospital in Sydney. The patient population included those 16 years or less of age who underwent congenital cataract extraction, with or without an intraocular lens implantation and who had been followed up for a minimum of six months following surgery. Patients were excluded if they had cataract aetiology other than congenital idiopathic cataract. Multivariate Cox Regression analysis was used to determine relevant risk factors.Results: A total of 320 eyes in 216 patients were included in the study. Secondary glaucoma developed in 11.9% of eyes. In those that developed secondary glaucoma, the average time to onset from surgery was 3.2 years (median 2.75 years). The mean age of diagnosis of secondary glaucoma was 4.58 years (median 3.5 years, range 2.5 months to 13.23 years). Microcornea was the only adverse characteristic significantly associated with an increased risk of secondary glaucoma (HR 6.30, p 0.003).Conclusion: Despite modern surgical techniques, glaucoma remains a significant long-term sequela in children following cataract surgery.Keywords: secondary glaucoma, paediatric, childhood cataract surgery, glaucoma following cataract surger

Revealing hidden genetic diagnoses in the ocular anterior segment disorders

PURPOSE: Ocular anterior segment disorders (ASDs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous, and genetic diagnosis often remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate the value of a combined analysis protocol using phenotypic, genomic, and pedigree structure data to achieve a genetic conclusion. METHODS: We utilized a combination of chromosome microarray, exome sequencing, and genome sequencing with structural variant and trio analysis to investigate a cohort of 41 predominantly sporadic cases. RESULTS: We identified likely causative variants in 54% (22/41) of cases, including 51% (19/37) of sporadic cases and 75% (3/4) of cases initially referred as familial ASD. Two-thirds of sporadic cases were found to have heterozygous variants, which in most cases were de novo. Approximately one-third (7/22) of genetic diagnoses were found in rarely reported or recently identified ASD genes including PXDN, GJA8, COL4A1, ITPR1, CPAMD8, as well as the new phenotypic association of Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly with a homozygous ADAMTS17 variant. The remainder of the variants were in key ASD genes including FOXC1, PITX2, CYP1B1, FOXE3, and PAX6. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the benefit of detailed phenotypic, genomic, variant, and segregation analysis to uncover some of the previously "hidden" heritable answers in several rarely reported and newly identified ocular ASD-related disease genes