A large deletion in RPGR causes XLPRA in Weimaraner dogs.

Background: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) belongs to a group of inherited retinal disorders associated with gradual vision impairment due to degeneration of retinal photoreceptors in various dog breeds. PRA is highly heterogeneous, with autosomal dominant, recessive or X-linked modes of inheritance. In this study we used exome sequencing to investigate the molecular genetic basis of a new type of PRA, which occurred spontaneously in a litter of German short-hair Weimaraner dogs.

The effect of repeated eye examinations and breeding advice on the prevalence and incidence of cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy in German dachshunds over a 13-year period.

Objective: To analyze the change in prevalence and incidence of hereditary eye diseases (HED) in dachshunds due to breeding regulations based on biennial examinations performed by the German panel of veterinary ophthalmologists (DOK) from 1998 to 2011.

Animals Included: A total of 12 242 dachshunds examined by the DOK and pedigree data of 318 852 dachshunds provided by the German Dachshund Club (DTK).

Procedures: The prevalence of congenital cataract (CC), distichiasis (DIST), hereditary cataract (HC), persistent pupillary membranes (PPMs), persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis / persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHTVL/PHPV), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), retinal dysplasia (RD), and findings such as fiberglass-like cataract (FGC) and prominent suture lines (PSLs) was analyzed.

Prevalence and formation of primary cataracts and persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis in the German Pinscher population in Germany.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalences of primary noncongenital cataracts (CAT) and persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis (PHTVL) in the German Pinscher population in Germany and to analyze the mode of inheritance of CAT in this dog breed.

Animals Studied: All German Pinschers with a certified veterinary ophthalmological diagnosis and born between 1993 and 2010 were included in this study. Examinations were performed between 1997 and 2013 by certified veterinary ophthalmologists of the German panel of the European Eye Scheme for Diagnosis of Inherited Eye Diseases in Animals (DOK).

Cell death biomarkers as early predictors for hepatic dysfunction in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Background: Valid prognostic factors for early identification of a complicated course after orthotopic liver transplantation from deceased donors are rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of different cell death biomarkers and inflammatory markers in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation from deceased donors.

Methods: In total, 100 patients were evaluated for short-term complications within 10 days after orthotopic liver transplantation from deceased donors.

L-arginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine are early predictors for survival in septic patients with acute liver failure.

Dysfunctions of the L-arginine (L-arg)/nitric-oxide (NO) pathway are suspected to be important for the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in septic shock. Therefore plasma concentrations of L-arg and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were measured in 60 patients with septic shock, 30 surgical patients and 30 healthy volunteers using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Plasma samples from patients with septic shock were collected at sepsis onset, and 24 h, 4 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d later.