Solid intraocular xanthogranuloma in three Miniature Schnauzer dogs

OBJECTIVE: Macrophages that contain abundant intracytoplasmic lipid are called 'foam cells'. In four canine globes submitted to the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW), foam cells formed a solid intraocular mass. The purpose of this study was to describe the histopathologic findings in these cases. PROCEDURE: The electronic COPLOW database (1993-2006) was searched for the diagnosis of 'foam cell tumor'. Clinical history, gross pathology and histopathology (5-micron sections, hematoxylin and eosin and Alcian blue periodic acid Schiff) were reviewed in all cases. Cases were included if the globe was grossly filled by a solid mass and if all intraocular structures were effaced by lipid-laden foam cell macrophages admixed with birefringent, Alcian blue-positive crystals oriented in stellate patterns. RESULTS: All three patients (four globes) satisfying the selection criteria were Miniature Schnauzers. In all cases the clinical history included diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and chronic bilateral uveitis that was interpreted to be lens-induced. All globes were enucleated because of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: The term solid intraocular xanthogranuloma was used to describe these cases because the intraocular contents were effaced by a solid mass of foam cells and birefringent crystals. The cases in this report suggest that diabetic Miniature Schnauzers with hyperlipidemia are at risk for lipid and macrophage-rich uveitis, which may in some cases form a solid inflammatory intraocular mass, precipitate glaucoma, and lead to enucleation.     

High glucose induces H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through Ca2+-CaN-NFAT3 signaling pathway

AIM: To study the morphological changes of cardiac H9c2 cells during the developmental process of fetal rat. METHODS: Embryonic rat heart-derived H9c2 cells were maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The H9c2 cells were plated at a density of 6000 cells/cm and divided into 5 groups: H9c2 cells were treated with 5 mmol/L glucose, 25 mmol/L glucose, 50 mmol/L glucose, Norvasc (25 nmol/L)+25 mmol/L glucose, or Norvasc (25 nmol/L)+50 mmol/L glucose for 48 h. The morphology of H9c2 cells was observed. The cell surface area was measured by Image-Pro Plus 6.1 software. Fluorescence spectrophotometry was used to detect the concentration of intracellular calcium ion ([Ca²⁺]_i)in the cardiomyocytes. The concentration of CaN in the cell was measured by ELISA. The mRNA expression of CaNAβ, NFAT3 and β-MHC in the cells was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of CaNAβ, NFAT3 and β-MHC in cultural H9c2 cells were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The mean area of the cells, the mean fluorescence value of [Ca²⁺]_i and the concentration of CaN in 25 mmol/L glucose group were higher than those in 5 mmol/L glucose group, and those were lower than those in 50 mmol/L glucose group. After treated with Norvasc, those results decreased significantly. The expression of CaNAβ, NFAT3 and β-MHC at mRNA and protein levels in 25 mmol/L glucose group was higher than those in 5 mmol/L glucose group, but was lower than those in 50 mmol/L glucose group. The expression of CaNAβ, NFAT3 and β-MHC at mRNA and protein levels decreased significantly in Norvasc treatment group. CONCLUSION: Ca²⁺-CaN-NFAT3 signaling pathway is perhaps involved in high glucose-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.     

大波斯菊种子水提取物对Ⅰ型糖尿病模型小鼠肝脏组织的影响

以大波斯菊种子水提物为基础,研究其对糖尿病小鼠肝脏组织形态学变化的影响,进而探讨其在治疗糖尿病模型小鼠方面的药用价值。将60只8周龄雄性昆明小鼠随机分为5组,每组12只;第1组为正常对照组,第2组~第5组采用四氧嘧啶尾静脉注射造成Ⅰ型糖尿病模型。5组小鼠按基础日粮饲喂的同时,其中第2组为模型组,每日每只小鼠分别灌服生理盐水0.2mL;第3组~第5组为大波斯菊水提物低、中、高浓度组,每日分别灌服不同浓度(0.5、1.0、2.0g/mL)的大波斯菊种子水提物0.2mL,连续给药30d。期间每日测量各组小鼠体重,在饲喂30d后,处死小鼠,记录肝脏重量,计算肝脏指数,并进行组织学观察。肝脏病理学显示,高剂量试验组小鼠肝脏指数低于模型组和低浓度组,差异显著(P0.05);糖尿病模型组小鼠的肝脏有不同程度的颗粒变性,组织结构改变。不同浓度大波斯菊种子水提物可使Ⅰ型糖尿病模型小鼠肝脏指数降低,能抑制糖尿病小鼠肝脏肿大,并可减轻肝脏组织病理变化,进而起到调节糖尿病肝脏糖代谢的作用。     

四氧嘧啶与链脲佐菌素诱导小鼠糖尿病模型的效果比较

用相同总剂量的四氧嘧啶1次给药和2次给药及较大剂量链脲佐菌素1次给药3种方法诱导小白鼠糖尿病模型,多次测定血糖,体重等糖尿病相关指标,以确定糖尿病模型建立的最佳方法。结果表明,四氧嘧啶建模率为91．94％,高于链脲佐菌素建模率(66．7％)(P<0．05);四氧嘧啶建模组的死亡率为15％及体重下降率为 18．1％,均高于链脲佐菌素建模组(死亡率3．3％,体重下降率12．0％)(P<0．05);四氧嘧啶连续2次小剂量给药的建模效果优于1次性大剂量给药。两种药物比较,虽然四氧嘧啶的建模率高于链脲佐菌素,但其对建模小鼠的损害亦明显大于链脲佐菌素,建模时连续小剂量给药,并于4．5～5 h后灌胃质量分数50％葡萄糖,可以降低死亡率, 提高建模率。     

Looking Beyond the Terrestrial: The Potential of Seaweed Derived Bioactives to Treat Non-Communicable Diseases

Seaweeds are a large and diverse group of marine organisms that are commonly found in the maritime regions of the world. They are an excellent source of biologically active secondary metabolites and have been shown to exhibit a wide range of therapeutic properties, including anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. Several Asian cultures have a strong tradition of using different varieties of seaweed extensively in cooking as well as in herbal medicines preparations. As such, seaweeds have been used to treat a wide variety of health conditions such as cancer, digestive problems, and renal disorders. Today, increasing numbers of people are adopting a “westernised lifestyle” characterised by low levels of physical exercise and excessive calorific and saturated fat intake. This has led to an increase in numbers of chronic Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus, being reported. Recently, NCDs have replaced communicable infectious diseases as the number one cause of human mortality. Current medical treatments for NCDs rely mainly on drugs that have been obtained from the terrestrial regions of the world, with the oceans and seas remaining largely an untapped reservoir for exploration. This review focuses on the potential of using seaweed derived bioactives including polysaccharides, antioxidants and fatty acids, amongst others, to treat chronic NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.     

Studies on the effect of curry leaves supplementation (Murraya koenigi) on lipid profile,glycated proteins and amino acids in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients

Curry leaves powder supplementation (12 g providing 2.5 g fibre) was carried out for a period of 1 month in 30 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. The parameters monitored at 1, 15 and 30 days were fasting and 2 h post-prandial blood sugar levels, serum total cholesterol and its lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides, total amino acids, uronic acid, glycosylated serum proteins and glysocylated low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction. The results indicated a transient reduction in fasting and post-prandial blood sugar levels at 15-day period with no appreciable changes in serum glycosylated protein levels, glycosylated low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction, serum lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol levels, uronic acid and total amino acids were observed during the supplementation period, i.e. either at 15 days or 30 days.     

Comparison of two insulin protocols for diabetic dogs undergoing cataract surgery

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of two insulin doses to maintain an acceptable range of blood glucose concentrations (70–200 mg dL^?1) in the peri‐operative period in diabetic dogs. Animals Twenty‐four diabetic dogs with a median weight of 20.6 kg and a median age of 8 years old. Methods The dogs were randomly assigned to receive either 25 or 100% of their normal insulin dose subcutaneously on the morning of surgery. The anesthetic and feeding protocols were standardized. On the day before surgery, venous blood was collected for measurement of β‐hydroxybutyrate, cholesterol, glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, hematocrit, total plasma protein and urea nitrogen. On the day of surgery, blood glucose concentrations were measured prior to anesthesia, prior to the start of surgery, 1 and 2 hours after beginning of surgery, 1 hour after extubation, at 16 : 00 hours and at 20 : 00 hours. β‐hydroxybutyrate concentrations were measured at 20 : 00 hours that day. At 08 : 00 hours the following day, β‐hydroxybutyrate and glucose concentrations were measured. The significance of differences between groups was tested with Wilcoxon's two‐tailed rank‐sum test, Chi‐square test and Fisher's exact test. Results There were no differences in insulin treatments, clinical signs, concurrent diseases and most clinicopathological parameters between the two groups of dogs at entry to the study. The 25% dose group had blood glucose values of 296 (102–601) mg dL^?1 at 16 : 00 hours and 429 (97–595) mg dL^?1 at 20 : 00 hours on the day of surgery. The 100% insulin dose group had lower corresponding values of 130 (55–375) mg dL^?1 (p = 0.04) and 185 (51–440) mg dL^?1 (p = 0.004). No other differences (p < 0.05) were detected between the two groups. Conclusions The administration of a full dose of insulin is only marginally advantageous for reducing glucose to normal (70–120 mg dL^?1) after anesthesia but neither dose consistently induced glycemic values in an acceptable range (70–200 mg dL^?1) or normoketonemia. Clinical relevance Blood glucose should be measured immediately before anesthesia and periodically throughout the peri‐operative period in all diabetic dogs because presurgical subcutaneous administration of 25 or 100% of the normal insulin dose resulted in unpredictable blood glucose concentrations.