Corynebacterium bovis Growth in Tissue Culture Conditions and Media.

A common concern in preclinical cancer research is the introduction of Corynebacterium bovis into immunodeficient mouse colonies through cancer cell lines. C. bovis is a known contaminant of patient-derived xenograft tumors passaged horizontally between immunodeficient mice.

A Clinical Scoring System and Impact of Athymic Nude Mouse Age on Clinical Disease.

infection in biomedical research is synonymous with skin hyperkeratosis of athymic nude mice. This clinical sign can be obvious and is the namesake for 'scaly skin disease.' Other clinical signs that accompany scaly skin, including early presentation, duration, and rate of resolution, are less well known.

Antibiotic Treatment of -associated Clinical Disease in NSG Mice.

Depending on the strain of immunodeficient mice, infection can be asymptomatic or cause transient or prolonged skin disease. infection of NOD. Cg- /SzJ (NSG) mice results in clinical skin disease that progresses in severity.

Effects of Extended Cage Component Sanitation Interval on the Microenvironment, Health, and Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Rats ().

Washing and sanitizing rodent cage components requires costly equipment, significant personnel effort, and use of natural resources. The benchmark frequency for sanitation of individually ventilated caging (IVC) has traditionally been every 2 wk. In this study, we investigated the effects of extending this interval on the cage microenvironment, basic markers of health, and the gastrointestinal microbiota of rats.

A Critical Appraisal of the Physicochemical Properties and Biological Effects of Artificial Tear Ingredients and Formulations.

Dry eye disease is among the most prevalent diseases affecting the ocular surface. Artificial tears remain the cornerstone therapy for its management. There are currently a wide variety of marketed artificial tears available to choose from.

A Clinical Scoring Systems for the Evaluation of -associated Disease in NSG Mice.

Clinical signs of infections are well-known in athymic nude mice. However, can also infect and cause clinical signs in many hirsute, immunocompromised mouse strains such as NSG (NOD. Cg-Prkdc Il2rg/SzJ).

Corneal fibrosis abrogation by a localized AAV-mediated inhibitor of differentiation 3 (Id3) gene therapy in rabbit eyes in vivo.

Previously we found that inhibitor of differentiation 3 (Id3) gene, a transcriptional repressor, efficiently inhibits corneal keratocyte differentiation to myofibroblasts in vitro. This study evaluated the potential of adeno-associated virus 5 (AAV5)-mediated Id3 gene therapy to treat corneal scarring using an established rabbit in vivo disease model. Corneal scarring/fibrosis in rabbit eyes was induced by alkali trauma, and 24 h thereafter corneas were administered with either balanced salt solution AAV5-naked vector, or AAV5-Id3 vector (n = 6/group) via an optimized reported method.

A Novel Topical Ophthalmic Formulation to Mitigate Acute Mustard Gas Keratopathy In Vivo: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: This pilot study investigated the in vivo therapeutic potential and tolerability of a multimodal ophthalmic formulation, topical eye drops (TED), for acute mustard gas keratopathy (MGK) using a rabbit model.

Methods: Twenty New Zealand White rabbits were used. Only right eyes of 18 rabbits (oculus dexter [OD]) received single sulfur mustard gas (SM) vapor injury, whereas contralateral eyes were left untreated or received TED for tolerabilty evaluation.

A rabbit model for evaluating ocular damage from acrolein toxicity in vivo.

Acrolein is a highly reactive and volatile unsaturated aldehyde commonly used for producing scores of commercial products. It has been recognized as a chemical weapon since its use during World War I, and more recently, in Syria. Acrolein exposure causes severe eye, skin, and lung damage in addition to many casualties.

Metaphylactic Antibiotic Treatment to Prevent the Transmission of to Immunocompromised Mouse Offspring.

Current methods for eradicating , such as depopulation, embryo transfer, and cesarean rederivation followed by cross fostering, are expensive, complex, and time-consuming. We investigated a novel method to produce immunocompromised offspring free of from infected NOD. Cg-PrkdcIl2rg/SzJ (NSG) breeding pairs.

Diagnosis, Surveillance and Management of subspecies Infections in Chinchillas (.

During a 6-mo period, two 5-6 mo old female chinchillas () were examined at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus after the discovery of firm, nonmobile masses in the left ventral cervical and left axillary region. Other than these findings and mild weight loss, both chinchillas' physical exams were normal. Bloodwork revealed an inflammatory leukogram characterized by leukocytosis, toxic neutrophils, lymphopenia, and monocytosis with mild, nonregenerative anemia.

Is sex a biological variable in corneal wound healing?

Wound healing differs significantly between men and women in a tissue-dependent manner. Dermal wounds heal faster in women whereas mucosal wounds heal faster in men. However, the effect of sex as a variable in corneal wound healing is largely unknown.

Linear Polyethylenimine-DNA Nanoconstruct for Corneal Gene Delivery.

Purpose: This study investigated the efficiency and potential toxicity of a linear 22-kDa polyethylenimine (PEI)-DNA nanoconstruct for delivering genes to corneal cells and the effects of PEI nitrogen-to-DNA phosphate (N:P) ratio on gene transfer efficiency in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: A gel retardation assay, zeta potential measurement, bright-field microscopy, transfection with green fluorescent protein (GFP), immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to characterize the physicochemical and biological properties and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay for cytotoxicity of the linear PEI-DNA nanoconstruct using in vitro cultured primary human corneal fibroblast and in vivo mouse models.

Results: Of the several evaluated N:P ratios, the highest gene transfection efficiency achieved without any notable cytotoxicity was observed at an N:P ratio of 30:1 (N:P 30).

KCa3.1 ion channel: A novel therapeutic target for corneal fibrosis.

Vision impairment from corneal fibrosis is a common consequence of irregular corneal wound healing after injury. Intermediate-conductance calmodulin/calcium-activated K+ channels 3.1 (KCa3.

Novel Combination BMP7 and HGF Gene Therapy Instigates Selective Myofibroblast Apoptosis and Reduces Corneal Haze In Vivo.

Purpose: We tested the potential of bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) combination gene therapy to treat preformed corneal fibrosis using established rabbit in vivo and human in vitro models.

Methods: Eighteen New Zealand White rabbits were used. Corneal fibrosis was produced by alkali injury.

Diazoxide for Lowering Insulin Levels in Breast Cancer Patients.

Diazoxide is a nondiuretic benzothiadiazine that produces hyperglycemia by lowering insulin levels through activation of ATP‐sensitive K1‐channels and stimulating insulin degradation in the lysosomal system. Its effect on cancer growth is discussed.

Delayed and Aberrant Presentation of VX2 Carcinoma in a Rabbit Model of Hepatic Neoplasia.

A socially-housed New Zealand white rabbit presented with a large subcutaneous mass on the ventral thorax approximately 11 mo after the intrahepatic delivery of a suspension of VX2 carcinoma cells to induce hepatocellular carcinoma as part of a nanoparticle study. The mass and closely associated axillary lymph node were removed en bloc. Immunohistochemical staining identified the mass as an undifferentiated carcinoma.

Adjuvant Therapy Reduces Rate of Dissemination but Shortens Survival Thereafter.

In the subgroup of patients who suffer from metastases despite adjuvant therapy, survival after dissemination is shortened. This is partially due to an adjuvant chemotherapy-induced resistance to previous treatment and may be similar after hormonal therapy and immunotherapy.

Adjuvant therapy-related shortening of survival (ATRESS): an underrated phenomenon.

Shortening of survival after dissemination following adjuvant treatment is not understood well enough and is difficult to search for in public databases because of the lack of specific search terms. We suggest using the acronym ATRESS, for “adjuvant therapy-related shortening of survival,” in future literature concerning this issue.

Therapeutic potential of Pirfenidone for treating equine corneal scarring.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Pirfenidone (PFD) in the treatment of equine corneal fibrosis using an in vitro model.

Methods: Healthy donor equine corneas were collected and used to generate primary equine corneal fibroblasts (ECFs) by growing cultures in minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Equine corneal myofibroblasts (ECMs), used as a model of equine corneal fibrosis, were produced by growing ECF cultures in serum-free medium containing transforming growth factor β1 (1 ng/mL).