Superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery as therapy for limbal neoplasms in 13 horses

Objective To determine the usefulness and clinical outcome of a combined procedure of superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery as a treatment for limbal neoplasms in horses. Study design Retrospective study. Animals Thirteen horses with 14 limbal tumors. Methods Medical records of all patients with limbal tumors, referred to the Department of Equine Sciences of Utrecht University between 1995 and 2002, were retrieved. Patient data were analyzed with respect to signalment, tumor surface area and histologic diagnosis. Surgery, performed under general anesthesia, included surgical debulking of the tumor followed by cryosurgery. Long‐term follow‐up information was obtained by re‐evaluation in the clinic, by the referring veterinarian, and/or by telephone enquiry. Results Therapy was successful in 9 out of 14 eyes after the first attempt (64%); one eye needed retreatment (7%), and four eyes were eventually enucleated (29%). The mean follow‐up period was 4.8 years. The initial surface area of the tumor significantly influenced outcome (P < 0.01). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most predominant tumor type (79%). Haflinger horses accounted for 69% of the cases whereas their occurrence in the overall hospital population is approximately 5%. Conclusions and clinical relevance The described technique of superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery is a simple procedure for the treatment of limbal tumors in equine patients that does not require sophisticated equipment. Nor is it tampered by legal restriction, and appears to be effective in tumors with a small surface area (< 2 cm²). Haflinger horses seem to be predisposed for the development of ocular squamous cell carcinoma.     

Human guanylate-binding protein 1 as a model system investigated by several surface techniques

In medical technologies concerning the surface immobilization of proteins in a defined orientation, maintaining their activity is a critical aspect. Therefore, in this study, the authors have investigated the activity of an elongated protein attached to a self-assembled monolayer supported streptavidin layer for different relative orientations of the protein with regard to the surface. Several mutants of this protein, human guanylate-binding protein 1 (hGBP1) showing GTPase catalytic activity, have been furnished with either one or two biotin anchors. Various independent methods that are based on different biophysical properties such as surface plasmon resonance, atomic force microscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance have been used to determine the orientation of the hGBP1 variants after anchoring them via a streptavidin-linker to a biotinylated surface. The activity of guanosine-triphosphate hydrolysis of hGBP1 monomers bound on the surface is found to depend on their orientation relative to the substrate, relating to their ability to form dimers with other neighboring anchored mutants; the maximum activity is lower than that observed in solutions, as might be expected from diffusion limitations at the solid/liquid interface on the one hand and prevention from homodimer formation due to immobilization on the other hand.     

A socio-ecological exploration of fear of crime in urban green spaces – A systematic review

Studies have pointed at the negative side of urban green spaces in terms of evoking fear of crime. However research on fear-provoking attributes suggests that there usually is no single attribute that influences fear but that rather a combination of attributes prevails. The aim of the paper is to systematically review those attributes that evoke fear of crime in urban green spaces and to highlight their complex interaction by adopting a social-ecological framework. Results include an overview of the reviewed literature with regard to authorship, journal, geographical distribution of the studies, types of urban green spaces studies, types of landscape stimulus used, applied methods, types of respondents involved and main study findings. Forty-eight studies met the authors’ inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies highlighted that individual factors (such as gender and past experience) were more influential than social and physical factors in evoking fear of crime. A proposed socio-ecological framework highlights the attributes which evoke fear of crime in urban green spaces and its interactions and can help guide future research.     

Atmospheric detection of water dimers via near-infrared absorption

Weakly bonded pairs of water molecules (H2O)2, or water dimers (WDs), may play an important role in photochemistry and climate, but the overlap of most of its spectral features with the water monomer (WM) has made detection difficult. We report on WD absorption measurements by means of atmospheric long-path (18.34 kilometers) differential optical absorption spectroscopy of the near-infrared OH stretching mode 0>f 4>b overtone transition predicted to be located near 746 nanometers. Our observation is in reasonable agreement with the known thermochemistry, calculated and measured structure, and spectroscopy (band strength, shape, and width) of the WD. The observation implies that the WD 0>f 4>b band is located at 749.5 nanometers, with a full width at half maximum of approximately 19.4 wave numbers, and that its band strength ranges between 1.23 x 10(-22) and 5.25 x 10(-22) centimeters per molecule.     

Ion chromatographic determination of chloride in mustard sauces.

A new, simple, precise, and rapid ion chromatography (IC) method has been developed to determine chloride in mustard sauces using a mixture of phthalic acid, acetone, and water adjusted to pH 5.0 as eluent. Conductometric detection was carried out. The retention time for chloride was 1.5 min. Linearity was obtained up to a concentration level of 100 mg/L NaCl. The method was statistically evaluated for accuracy and precision after being used to assay the chloride from mustard sauces. Within the same samples, the chloride levels obtained by IC were compared with the sodium concentrations quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.     

Dietary and animal-related factors associated with the rate of urinary oxalate and calcium excretion in dogs and cats

This paper reports the results of a cohort study and randomised clinical trial (RCT) in cross-over design. In the cohort study, the range of urinary oxalate (Uox) and calcium (Uca) excretion was determined within a sample of the Dutch population of dogs and cats, and dietary and animal-related factors associated with these urine parameters were identified. Spot urine samples were collected from privately owned dogs (n=141) and cats (n=50). The RCT determined the effect of a commercial raw meat diet versus a dry diet on Uox and Uca excretion rate in 23 dogs. In the cohort study, Uox excretion ranged from 21.1 to 170.6 mmol oxalate/mol creatinine in dogs and 27.5 to 161.6 in cats. Urinary calcium excretion ranged from 3.4 to 462.8 mmol calcium/mol creatinine in dogs and 10.1 to 128.0 in cats. In dogs, increased Uox and Uca excretion was associated with (1) the intake of a dry diet as the primary source of energy, (2) receiving no snacks and (3) breed. Increased Uox excretion was associated with males as well. In cats, urine collection in anaesthetised subjects was identified as a confounder. In the RCT, feeding the dry diet resulted in higher Uox (P<0.001) and Uca (P=0.021) excretion rates in dogs.