The human and canine TERT promoters function equivalently in human and canine cells.

Telomerase targeted cancer gene therapy is being exploited for treatment of human cancer. The high incidence and many comparative aspects of human and canine cancer and the compliance and dedication of dog owners to treat cancer makes the canine pet population a good clinical model for investigating and developing new cancer therapeutics. Here, we report that the human telomerase promoter operates in canine cells, suggesting that human telomerase promoter-driven cancer therapy can be used to treat cancer in canines.

Validity of noncycloplegic refraction in the assessment of refractive errors: the Tehran Eye Study.

Purpose: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of noncycloplegic autorefraction for determining refractive status compared to cycloplegic autorefraction.

Methods: The target population was noninstitutionalized citizens of all ages, residing in Tehran in 2002, selected through stratified cluster sampling. From 6497 eligible residents, 70.

Complications of frontal sinus fractures with emphasis on chronic craniofacial pain and its treatment: a review of 43 cases.

Purpose: Frontal sinus fractures constitute 5% to 12% of all facial fractures. The optimal management of frontal sinus fractures is controversial but involves preserving the function of the nasofrontal ducts when feasible. We reviewed the postoperative complications of a series of 43 patients treated surgically for frontal sinus fractures.

Human papillomavirus E1 and E2 mediated DNA replication is not arrested by DNA damage signalling.

Integration of human papillomaviruses into that of the host promotes genomic instability and progression to cancer; factors that promote integration remain to be fully identified. DNA damage agents can promote double strand breaks during DNA replication providing substrates for integration and we investigated the ability of DNA damage to regulate HPV E1 and E2 mediated DNA replication. Results demonstrate that HPV E1 and E2 replication is not arrested following DNA damage, both in vivo and in vitro, while replication by SV40 Large T antigen is arrested and ATR is the candidate kinase for mediating the arrest.

Use of visual acuity to screen for significant refractive errors in adolescents: is it reliable?

Objective: To detect significant refractive error in a population-based random cluster sample of 12-year-old schoolchildren by using sensitivity and specificity of uncorrected visual acuity (VA).

Methods: The Sydney Myopia Study randomly selected 21 secondary schools stratified by socioeconomic status. All year 7 students (mean age, 12.

Participatory disease surveillance and response in Indonesia: strengthening veterinary services and empowering communities to prevent and control highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The participatory disease surveillance and response (PDSR) approach to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Indonesia has evolved significantly from the participatory disease surveillance (PDS) system developed for rinderpest eradication in Africa and Pakistan. The first phase of the PDSR project emphasized the detection and control of HPAI by separate PDS and participatory disease response teams primarily in sector 4 poultry at the household level. Lessons learned during the first phase were taken into account in the design of the second phase of the project, which has sought to further strengthen management of disease prevention and control activities by improving technical approaches, increasing active participation of key stakeholders, including local and central governments, and focusing on the village level.

Synthesis of bioorthogonal and crosslinking amino acids for use in peptide synthesis.

The ability to incorporate non-canonical amino acids into proteins by genetic or chemical methods allows one to introduce novel chemical properties into a protein at a defined residue. Such a residue may then be modified using common organic transformations. In this way, the structure or function of the peptide may be altered without perturbing any of the other neighbouring amino acids in the peptide chain.

Alterations in ZENK and glucagon RNA transcript expression during increased ocular growth in chickens.

Purpose: To examine in detail the time-course of changes in Zif268, Egr-1, NGFI-A, and Krox-24 (ZENK) and pre-proglucagon (PPG) RNA transcript levels in the chick retina during periods of increased ocular growth induced by form-deprivation and negative-lens wear. To further elucidate the role of ZENK in the modulation of ocular growth, we investigated the effect of intravitreal injections of the muscarinic antagonist atropine and the dopamine agonist 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene hydrobromide (ADTN), both of which block the development of experimental myopia, on the expression of ZENK in eyes fitted with negative-lenses.

Methods: Myopia was induced by fitting translucent diffusers or -10D polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lenses over one eye of the chicken.

All-trans retinoic acid regulates the expression of the extracellular matrix protein fibulin-1 in the guinea pig sclera and human scleral fibroblasts.

Purpose: Fibulin-1 (FBLN1) mRNA is expressed in human sclera and is an important adhesion modulatory protein that can affect cell-matrix interactions and tissue remodeling. Scleral remodeling is influenced by all-trans retinoic acid (RA). Our purpose was to confirm the presence of fibulin-1 protein in guinea pig sclera and investigate the effect of RA on the expression of fibulin-1 in guinea pig sclera in vivo and in cultured human scleral fibroblasts (HSFs).

Distribution of axial length and ocular biometry measured using partial coherence laser interferometry (IOL Master) in an older white population.

Purpose: We aimed to describe norms for the distribution of axial length (AL) and other ocular biometric parameters in an older Caucasian population, measured using partial coherence laser interferometry (Zeiss IOL Master; Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany), a technique now routinely used in measuring AL before cataract surgery. We also aimed to assess age and gender relationships with these parameters and their correlations with spherical equivalent refraction (SER).

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) cohort at the examinations (10-year follow-up examination).

Facile syntheses of dissymmetric ferrocene-functionalized Lewis acids and acid-base pairs.

A facile synthetic approach is reported for the synthesis of dissymmetric 1,2-ferrocenediyl Lewis acids and mixed acid-base pairs including the first example of a 1-phosphino-2-borylferrocene; the use of non-racemic electrophiles allows for the isolation of single diastereomer products.

Is emmetropia the natural endpoint for human refractive development? An analysis of population-based data from the refractive error study in children (RESC).

Purpose: To determine the natural end-point for refractive development during childhood.

Methods: Cycloplegic (1% cyclopentolate) autorefraction was performed on 38, 811 children aged 5 and 15 in population-based samples at eight sites in the Refractive Error Study in Children (RESC). Refractions (right eye) were categorized as myopic (≤-0.

Evaluation of electronics, electrostatics and hydrogen bond cooperativity in the binding of cyanide and fluoride by Lewis acidic ferrocenylboranes.

Synthetic approaches based on the direct borylation of ferrocene by BBr(3), followed by boryl substituent modification, or on the lithiation of ferrocene derivatives and subsequent quenching with the electrophile FBMes(2), have given access to a range of ferrocene derivatized Lewis acids with which to conduct a systematic study of fluoride and cyanide binding. In particular, the effects of borane electrophilicity, net charge, and ancillary ligand electronics/cooperativity on the binding affinities for these anions have been probed by a combination of NMR, IR, mass spectrometric, electrochemical, crystallographic, and UV-vis titration measurements. In this respect, modifications made at the para position of the boron-bound aromatic substituents exert a relatively minor influence on the binding constants for both fluoride and cyanide, as do the electronic properties of peripheral substituents at the 1'- position (even for cationic groups).

A novel two-step transcriptional activation system for gene therapy directed toward epithelial cells.

The two-step transcriptional activation (TSTA) mechanism in gene therapy amplifies cell type-specific promoter activity, allowing for increased levels of gene expression in target tissues. In this system, the specific promoter drives expression of a strong transcriptional activator that binds to DNA target sequences located upstream from a second promoter controlling the expression of the therapeutic gene. The majority of previous studies have exploited a fusion between the DNA binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator Gal4 fused to the VP16 activation domain of herpes simplex virus 1 as the transcriptional activator.

Changes in retinal alphaB-crystallin (cryab) RNA transcript levels during periods of altered ocular growth in chickens.

Changes in retinal crystallin gene expression have been implicated in the development of myopia in animal models. We therefore investigated the expression of alphaB-crystallin (cryab) in the chicken retina during periods of increased ocular growth induced by form-deprivation and negative lens-wear, and during periods of decreased ocular growth induced by diffuser removal from previously form-deprived eyes, and plus lens-wear. Cryab RNA transcript levels in the chicken retina were measured using semi-quantitative real-time RT-PCR, at times between 1 h and 10 days after the fitting of diffusers or negative lenses, and at times between 1 h and 3 days following the removal of diffusers from previously form-deprived eyes, or the addition of plus lenses.

Prevalence of heterophoria and associations with refractive error, heterotropia and ethnicity in Australian school children.

AIMS To establish the prevalence of heterophoria and its association with refractive error and ethnicity in a population-based study of Australian schoolchildren. METHODS The Sydney Myopia Study is a stratified, random cluster (school-based) sample of 4093 students (examined: 2003-2005). Two samples aged 6 (n=1692) and 12 years (n=2289) without heterotropia were included.

The human papillomavirus 16 E2 protein is stabilised in S phase.

The human papillomavirus 16 E2 protein regulates transcription from, and replication of, the viral genome and is also required for segregation of the viral genome via interaction with mitotic bodies. To regulate DNA replication E2 interacts with sequences around the origin of replication and recruits the viral helicase E1 via a protein-protein interaction, which then initiates viral genome replication. The replication role of E2 must originally function in a host cell S phase.

Increased hyperopia with ageing based on cycloplegic refractions in adults: the Tehran Eye Study.

Aim: To determine the trend in the prevalence of hyperopia in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: Using a stratified random cluster sample of the population of Tehran, all participants 5 years of age and older were studied with cycloplegic autorefraction 30 min after instilling two drops of cyclopentolate 1%. Prevalence rates of cycloplegic hyperopia for different cut points were determined, stratified by age.

Oncolytic gene therapy for canine cancers: teaching old dog viruses new tricks.

The use of viruses to treat cancer has been studied for decades. With the advancement of molecular biology, viruses have been modified and genetically engineered to optimize their ability to target cancer cells. Canine viruses, such as distemper virus and adenovirus, are being exploited for the treatment of canine cancer as the dog has proven to be a good comparative model for human cancer research and proof of concept investigations.

Small interfering RNA targeting bovine papillomavirus type 1 E2 induces apoptosis in equine sarcoid transformed fibroblasts.

Equine sarcoids are skin tumours of horses caused by infection with BPV-1 or 2. Maintenance and replication of the viral genome depend upon the viral proteins E1 and E2. We examined the effects of an E2 specific siRNA on E2 and E1 viral gene expression, viral load and cell growth in BPV-1 transformed sarcoid-derived cells.

Metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions of cis-4-hydroxy-5-alkynylpyrrolidinones and cis-5-hydroxy-6-alkynylpiperidinones: synthesis of furo[3,2-b]pyrroles and furo[3,2-b]pyridines.

Furo[3,2-b]pyrroles and furo[3,2-b]pyridines can be conveniently prepared in good yields from the cycloisomerization reactions of cis-4-hydroxy-5-alkynylpyrrolidinones and cis-5-hydroxy-6-alkynylpiperidinones, respectively, using Ag(I), Pd(II)/Cu(I), or Au(I) catalysis. In one case, the cycloisomerization product was unstable and produced a furan derivative by a ring-opening reaction.

Presence of beta human papillomaviruses in nonmelanoma skin cancer from organ transplant recipients and immunocompetent patients in the West of Scotland.

Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has been linked to cutaneous human papillomaviruses of the genus beta (betaPV).

Objectives: We sought to assess the presence of betaPV in NMSC biopsies from a group of Scottish skin cancer patients, both immunocompetent (IC) patients and immunosuppressed (IS) organ transplant recipients.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-one paraffin-embedded skin tumours (27 actinic keratosis, 41 intraepidermal carcinoma, 53 squamous cell carcinoma) and 11 normal skin samples were analysed for the presence of betaPV by a polymerase chain reaction-reverse hybridization assay designed to detect the presence of the 25 known betaPV genotypes.