Retinal neuroanatomy of two emerging model organisms, the spiny mouse (Acomys dimidiatus) and the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

Current research using animal models to investigate retinal cell biology and model retinal degenerative diseases largely utilize small mammals that are nocturnal and lack the ability to restore lost vision. In contrast, the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones) is a diurnal rodent with good photopic vision, and the spiny mouse (Acomys) is a small desert-dwelling rodent with remarkable regenerative capabilities. The goal of this study was to identify antibodies that detect retinal cell classes in Meriones and Acomys, and to describe the retinal anatomy of these two species in comparison to outbred laboratory mice (Mus musculus).

Chromatin remodeler Chd7 regulates photoreceptor development and outer segment length.

Mutations in the chromatin remodeling factor CHD7 are the predominant cause of CHARGE syndrome, a congenital disorder that frequently includes ocular coloboma. Although CHD7 is known to be required for proper ocular morphogenesis, its role in retinal development has not been thoroughly investigated. Given that individuals with CHARGE syndrome can experience visual impairment even in the absence of coloboma, a better understanding of CHD7 function in the retina is needed.

Systematic Review: Cardiac Metastasis of Lingual Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: Lingual squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is an aggressive malignancy that carries significant mortality risk and the potential for cardiac metastasis. The authors performed a systematic review designed to characterize disease progression of LSCC cardiac metastasis by evaluating patient demographics, characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Two authors independently screened articles in Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up until December 2019 for study eligibility.

Adenosine A2A Receptor Activation Enhances Blood-Tumor Barrier Permeability in a Rodent Glioma Model.

The blood-tumor barrier (BTB) limits the entry of effective chemotherapeutic agents into the brain for treatment of malignant tumors like glioblastoma. Poor drug entry across the BTB allows infiltrative glioma stem cells to evade therapy and develop treatment resistance. Regadenoson, an FDA-approved adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) agonist, has been shown to increase drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier in non-tumor-bearing rodents without a defined mechanism of enhancing BTB permeability.

Ultraviolet-A Light and Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy to Accelerate Wound Healing and Reduce Bacterial Proliferation.

Background: Ultraviolet (UV)-A therapy is a simple, inexpensive, and effective modality for wound healing, with tremendous potential to improve healing and reduce clinical infections in a number of clinical settings. To date, application of UV-A relies on bulky and hard-to-dose lamps that provide inconsistent therapy, thus making it difficult to apply therapy that is appropriate for the patient.

Methods: This study was designed to test the effectiveness of a novel wound therapy device that combines UV-A with traditional negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to promote wound healing.