Therapeutic Potential of Dimethyl Sulfoxide Subconjunctival Injection in a Diabetic Retinopathy Rat Model.

Background/aim: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a complication of diabetes, causes damage to retinal blood vessels and can lead to vision impairment. Persistent high blood glucose levels contribute to this damage, and despite ongoing research, effective treatment options for DR remain limited. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in both in vivo and in vitro studies; however, its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent in the context of DR has not yet been explored.

Quantitative analysis of iridocorneal angle and ciliary cleft structures in canine eyes using ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the relationship between the relative opening of the ICA (RO-ICA) and the structure of the ciliary cleft (CC) using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM).

Materials And Methods: Clinical data from 31 eyes of 17 dogs at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Chungbuk National University, Korea, were analyzed. RO-ICA was categorized as "Slightly Narrow", "Narrow", "Open", and "Wide Open", with eyes further grouped into "Narrow" (including Slightly Narrow and Narrow) and "Open" (including Open and Wide Open) for analysis.

Evaluation of the Accuracy of FreeStyle Libre 2 for Glucose Monitoring in White New Zealand Rabbits.

Background: Studies are currently being conducted on rabbits requiring serial glucose monitoring. The FreeStyle Libre 2 (FSL2), a serial glucose monitoring device, has been validated in humans, dogs and cats, but not in rabbits.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the FSL2 in rabbits.

Gender differences in canine anterior chamber dimensions: Potential implications for primary angle-closure glaucoma.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore anatomical differences in the aqueous humor (AH) outflow pathway between male and female dogs using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

Animals Studied: Clinical data were collected from 30 eyes of 30 dogs (15 males: 10 right eyes, 5 left eyes; and 15 females: 7 right eyes, 8 left eyes) treated at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungbuk National University, South Korea, between August 2018 and February 2024.

Procedure: The study conducted an in-depth UBM examination, specifically observing peripheral anterior chamber depth (ACD), geometric iridocorneal angle (ICA), and angle-opening distance (AOD) alongside measurements of ciliary cleft width (CCW), length (CCL), and area (CCA), and assessed the longitudinal fibers of ciliary muscle thickness (Lf-CMT) and the longitudinal and radial fibers of ciliary muscle thickness (LRf-CMT) for gender-based differences.

Bacterial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity in canine bacterial keratitis in Korea.

Objective: To analyze bacterial isolates associated with canine bacterial keratitis and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Korea, focusing on multidrug resistance (MDR) and identifying effective antibiotic combinations for clinical treatment.

Animal Studied: A total of 146 dogs diagnosed with suspected bacterial keratitis between October 2022 and October 2023 in Korea, with 157 eye samples collected for analysis.

Procedure: Eye samples were cultured to isolate bacteria, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method.

Successful Management of Incompletely Resected Transitional Cell Carcinoma with Sorafenib Tosylate in a Dog.

Most urinary bladder (UB) tumors are malignant, and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common neoplasm affecting the UB in dogs. Sorafenib may be a potential therapeutic agent for canine TCC. A 12 yr old spayed female Maltese dog weighing 3.

Predicting sleep based on physical activity, light exposure, and Heart rate variability data using wearable devices.

Objective: We aimed to improve the performance of sleep prediction algorithms by increasing the data amount, adding variables reflecting psychological state, and adjusting the data length.

Materials And Methods: We used ActiGraph GT3X+ and Galaxy Watch Active2 to collect physical activity and light exposure data. We collected heart rate variability (HRV) data with the Galaxy Watch.

Understanding patient perspectives on digital therapeutics and its platform for insomnia: insights from focused group interviews.

Background: Digital therapeutics (DTx) is a treatment option that uses computer software to provide evidence-based interventions for medical disorders. DTx platforms are digital services that facilitate interactions among stakeholders of DTx treatment within a standardized structure. However, there is still a lack of overall awareness regarding the effectiveness and usage of DTx and DTx platforms.

Current Status of Hospitalist Practice and Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction in Korea.

Background: Although the roles and responsibilities of hospitalists have grown considerably in recent years, research on the current job status and satisfaction levels of Korean hospitalists is lacking.

Objective: We investigate the present state of Korean hospitalists and the factors influencing their job satisfaction 6 years after the pilot program's launch.

Design: This cross-sectional analysis was based on an online survey conducted from January 30 to February 18, 2023.

The prevalence and moderating factors of sleep disturbances in people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-reported sleep disturbances in people living with HIV considering the effects of age, depression, anxiety, CD4 cell counts, time since HIV diagnosis, study region, and the instruments used to measure sleep disturbances. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE to include eligible articles. In this meta-analysis of 43 studies, the pooled prevalence of self-reported sleep disturbances was 52.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy analysis of ciliary muscle dynamics and its relation to intra-ocular pressure after phacoemulsification in dogs.

Introduction: This study investigates the relationship between ciliary muscle dynamics, thickness, and the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP), focusing on the progression of cataracts and changes post-phacoemulsification. It explores how these factors impact canine ocular health, particularly in the context of cataract development and subsequent surgical intervention.

Materials And Methods: Data was collected using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM) from dogs at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungbuk National University, Korea.

Production of Plant-Based, Film-Type Scaffolds Using Alginate and Corn Starch for the Culture of Bovine Myoblasts.

Natural scaffolds have been the cornerstone of tissue engineering for decades, providing ideal environments for cell growth within extracellular matrices. Previous studies have favored animal-derived materials, including collagen, gelatin, and laminin, owing to their superior effects in promoting cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation compared to non-animal scaffolds, and used immortalized cell lines. However, for cultured meat production, non-animal-derived scaffolds with edible cells are preferred.

Molecular detection and characterization of Acanthamoeba infection in dogs and its association with keratitis in Korea.

Acanthamoeba infection is associated with keratitis in humans; however, its association with keratitis in dogs remains unclear. To investigate this possibility, we collected 171 conjunctival swab samples from dogs with eye-related diseases (65 with keratitis and 106 without keratitis) at Chungbuk National University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Korea, from August 2021 to September 2022. Polymerase chain reaction identified 9 samples (5.

Beneficial Effect of Sirolimus-Pretreated Mesenchymal Stem Cell Implantation on Diabetic Retinopathy in Rats.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a vision-threatening complication that affects virtually all diabetic patients. Various treatments have been attempted, but they have many side effects and limitations. Alternatively, stem cell therapy is being actively researched, but it faces challenges due to a low cell survival rate.

Successful surgical attenuation of portosystemic shunt in a dog with imaging-diagnosed portal vein aplasia.

An 8-month-old female Maltese dog was referred for examination with a history of circling, dullness, and drooling. Serum biochemical analysis revealed hyperammonemia, with microhepatica observed on radiography. Computed tomography angiography revealed a portosystemic shunt originating from the right gastric vein and inserting into the prehepatic caudal vena cava.

Tacrolimus Improves Therapeutic Efficacy of Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Diabetic Retinopathy by Suppressing DRP1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in diabetic patients. Umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) are emerging as a promising new drug for degenerative disease associated with diabetes. Recent studies have shown that high glucose-increased excessive calcium levels are a major risk factor for mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) accumulation and apoptosis.

Preventive Effects of Exosome-Rich Conditioned Medium From Amniotic Membrane-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Diabetic Retinopathy in Rats.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an important disease that causes vision loss in many diabetic patients. Stem cell therapy has been attempted for treatment of this disease; however, it has some limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive efficacy of exosome-rich conditioned medium (ERCM) derived from amniotic membrane stem cells for DR in rats.

Digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite research into the development of digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I), research into the outcomes of dCBT-I on insomnia and the associated clinical conditions of depression and anxiety have been limited. The PubMed, PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on adult patients with insomnia also having reported measures of depressive or anxiety symptoms. In total, 2504 articles were identified after duplicate removal, and 22 RCTs were included in the final meta-analysis.

Two cases of ectopic dirofilariasis by Dirofilaria immitis in subconjunctival and subcutaneous tissues in dogs.

We report two cases of ectopic dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria immitis in the subconjunctival and subcutaneous tissues of dogs. In Case 1, a 10-year-old female poodle suffered from a subconjunctival mass in the left eye that was refractory to antibiotic and steroid treatments. The mass was removed surgically, and a whitish nematode was identified within the mass.

Initial Healing Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Gel and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) in the Deep Corneal Wound in Rabbits.

Platelet concentrates (PCs), including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), are autologous blood-derived biomaterials containing numerous growth factors. This study aimed to evaluate the initial healing effects of PRP gel and PRF on deep corneal wounds. Thirty-three eyes from New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups: group 1, lamellar keratectomy (LK); group 2, LK + commercial porcine small intestinal submucosal membrane (SIS); group 3, LK + SIS + PRP gel; and group 4, LK + SIS + PRF.

Prediction of good sleep with physical activity and light exposure: a preliminary study.

Study Objectives: Cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia is performed under the premise that feedback provided by evaluation of sleep diaries written by patients will result in good sleep. The sleep diary is essential for behavior therapy and sleep hygiene education. However, limitations include subjectivity and laborious input.

Impact of data extraction errors in meta-analyses on the association between depression and peripheral inflammatory biomarkers: an umbrella review.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in inflammatory biomarkers are important in depression. However, previous meta-analyses disagree on these associations, and errors in data extraction may account for these discrepancies.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception to 14 January 2020.

Effect of Childhood Trauma on the Association Between Stress-Related Psychological Factors and Hair Cortisol Level in Young Adults.

Objective: Relationship between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and stress-related psychological measures are inconclusive, possibly due to overlooked heterogeneity regarding childhood trauma and a lack of comprehensive research on stress-related psychological factors. This study aims to compare young adults without history of childhood trauma to young adults who experienced childhood trauma using HCC and various stress-related psychological factors, as well as investigate the impacts of childhood trauma on the association between HCC and stress-related psychological measures.

Methods: A total of 206 young, healthy adults were recruited.