Forward genetic screening using fundus spot scale identifies an essential role for Lipe in murine retinal homeostasis.

Microglia play a role in the pathogenesis of many retinal diseases. Fundus spots in mice often correlate with the accumulation of activated subretinal microglia. Here we use a semiquantitative fundus spot scoring scale in combination with an unbiased, state-of-the-science forward genetics pipeline to identify causative associations between chemically induced mutations and fundus spot phenotypes.

Forward genetic analysis using OCT screening identifies mutations leading to progressive outer retinal degeneration in mice.

Retinal disease and loss of vision can result from any disruption of the complex pathways controlling retinal development and homeostasis. Forward genetics provides an excellent tool to find, in an unbiased manner, genes that are essential to these processes. Using -ethyl--nitrosourea mutagenesis in mice in combination with a screening protocol using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and automated meiotic mapping, we identified 11 mutations presumably causative of retinal phenotypes in genes previously known to be essential for retinal integrity.

Mice With a Combined Deficiency of Superoxide Dismutase 1 (Sod1), DJ-1 (Park7), and Parkin (Prkn) Develop Spontaneous Retinal Degeneration With Aging.

Purpose: Chronic oxidative stress is an important mechanism of disease in aging disorders. We do not have a good model to recapitulate AMD and other retinal disorders in which chronic oxidative stress plays an important role. We hypothesized that mice with a combined deficiency in superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1), DJ-1 (Park-7), and Parkin (Prkn) (triple knock out, TKO) would have an increased level of chronic oxidative stress in the retina, with anatomic and functional consequences just with aging.

Relationship between ADAMTS4 and carotid atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability in humans.

Background: Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques and the resulting thrombosis are vital causes of clinical ischemic events. Recent studies have shown that ADAMTS4 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4) is a pathogenic factor of plaque vulnerability in mice. However, the relationship between ADAMTS4 and carotid atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques in humans remains unclear.

Increased susceptibility to fundus camera-delivered light-induced retinal degeneration in mice deficient in oxidative stress response proteins.

Oxidative stress is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of many retinal diseases including age-related macular degeneration and retinal dystrophies. Light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD) can serve as a model in which to study the response of the retina to stress. Of note, many genetic mutant mice are in a C57BL/6 J background and are thus resistant to the usual LIRD models.

Fundus Camera-Delivered Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration in Mice With the RPE65 Leu450Met Variant is Associated With Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

Purpose: Oxidative stress, partly due to light, has an important role in many retinal diseases, including macular degeneration and retinal dystrophies. The Leu450Met variant of RPE65 is expressed in C57BL/6 and in many genetically modified mice. It confers significant resistance to light induced retinal degeneration (LIRD).

Evaluation of urine fibrinogen level in a murine model of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Objective: The mechanisms of contrast-induced nephropathy are not fully understood and sensitive biomarkers of contrast-induced nephropathy are yet to be found. We investigated whether urinary fibrinogen could be a potential biomarker for contrast-induced nephropathy.

Methods: To create a contrast-induced nephropathy model, mice received a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor (indomethacin) and a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) intraperitoneally followed by a different dose of iodixanol.

Grading system modification and management of blunt aortic injury.

Background: The traditional approach to blunt aortic injury (BAI) has been emergent intervention. This study aimed to utilize a modified imaging grading system that may allow us to categorize these injuries as needing emergent, urgent, or non-operative management.

Methods: From January 2003 to December 2011, 28 patients with BAI were managed at our institution.

Experience with a new negative pressure incision management system in prevention of groin wound infection in vascular surgery patients.

Objective: Groin wound infection is an important cause of postoperative morbidity in vascular surgery patients, especially when prosthetic grafts are involved. The objective of this study was to investigate if Prevena (Kinetic Concepts, Inc, San Antonio, Tex), a negative pressure incision management system, could reduce the risk of groin wound infection in patients after vascular surgery.

Methods: Ninety patients (115 groin incisions) underwent longitudinal or transverse femoral cutdown for vascular procedures.

Accuracy of digital subtraction angiography, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography in grading of carotid artery stenosis in comparison with actual measurement in an in vitro model.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of digital subtraction angiography (DSA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in grading of carotid stenosis compared with actual measurement in an in vitro model.

Methods: Various grades of stenosis were created by adhering different amounts of silicone rubber sealant onto the inner wall of clear, radiolucent tubes. After DSA, CTA, and MRA, the tubes were transected with 1-mm interval through the plaques.