The phosphorylation of c-Jun NH (2)-terminal protein kinase (JNK), one of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, was analyzed in the sciatic nerves of Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN). Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of both phosphorylated JNK1 (p-JNK1, approximately 46 kDa) and phosphorylated JNK2 (p-JNK2, approximately 54 kDa) in the sciatic nerves of rats with EAN increased significantly (p < 0.05) at day 14 post-immunization (PI) and remained at this level at days 24 and 30 PI, with a slight decrease. In EANaffected sciatic nerves, there was intense immunostaining for p-JNK in the infiltrating inflammatory cells (especially ED1- positive macrophages) and Schwann cells on days 14-24 PI, compared with those of controls. Some macrophages with increased p-JNK immunoreactivity was shown to be apoptotic, while some Schwann cells remained survived in this rat EAN model, suggesting that JNK is differentially involved in the EAN-affected sciatic nerves. These findings suggest that JNK phosphorylation is closely associated with the clearance of inflammatory cells as well as the activation of Schwann cells in the EAN affected sciatic nerves.
Animals ; Apoptosis/physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Ectodysplasins ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental/*enzymology/metabolism/pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; S100 Proteins/metabolism ; Schwann Cells/metabolism ; Sciatic Nerve/*enzymology/metabolism/pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factors/metabolism

The expression of caveolin-1 and -2 in the retina was examined; Western blot analysis showed that both were present. Immunohistochemistry indicated that caveolin-1 was expressed in the majority of retinal layers, including the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer, and in the vascular endothelial cells of the retina. Caveolin-2 was primarily immunostained in the vessels, but in a few other elements as well. This is the first demonstration of caveolin differential expression in the retina of rats, and suggests that caveolin plays an important role in signal transduction in glial cells and neuronal cells.
Animals ; Caveolin 1/*analysis/immunology ; Caveolin 2/*analysis/immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina/*chemistry

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors associated with the timeliness of electronic nursing documentation using the entry time on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. METHODS: As a retrospective study, data were extracted from January 1 to February 28, 2014 from a hospital EMR system and a nurses’ personnel information system. The timeliness of instances of nursing documentation was categorized into ‘timely’ or ‘untimely’ according to whether the entry time was time-stamped within the working hours during each day, evening, or night shift. Factors associated with the timeliness of the electronic nursing documentation were included in the logistic regression models as nurse- and patient-associated factors. RESULTS: Among 1,700,247 instances of electronic nursing documentation, 79.3% (n = 1,347,711) were completed within the working hours. Years of nursing experience, nursing shift, days of the week, patients’ age, and medical department had a statistically significant associated with the timeliness of nursing records. Nurses with experience of more than 1 year entered nursing records over 2 times more during their working hours than did less experienced nurses. During the evening and night shifts, nurses were 1.49 times and 9.19 times more likely to enter nursing documents in a timely manner, respectively, as compared to those in the day shift. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing documentation was typically completed outside of working hours when a nurse had little experience, worked during the day shift or weekdays, and when tasks were unpredictable. This shows that new nurses need support to familiarize them with various tasks and the overall workflow.
Electronic Health Records ; Information Systems ; Logistic Models ; Nursing Informatics ; Nursing Process ; Nursing Records ; Nursing* ; Retrospective Studies

The liver is a defense against infections due to its strategic location between the gastrointestinal and systemic circulations. In dogs and cats, infectious hepatitis encompasses a range of contagious diseases affecting the liver either directly or as part of a broader systemic infection, including bacterial, mycobacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic, and rickettsial diseases. Catechins possess well-recognized natural antioxidant properties. This study investigated their therapeutic potential for applications in hepatology, evaluating whether catechins reduce hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sprague-Dawley rats were given catechin 50 (C50) or 100 (C100) mg/kg body weight orally daily for 3 days. This treatment was given with or without concurrent intraperitoneal injections of CCl4. Phosphate-buffered saline served as the vehicle control, while silymarin administered at 100 mg/kg was used as the positive control.Gross examination revealed significant enlargement, edema, and darker tissue in CCl4-induced livers treated with vehicle. Additionally, spotty discoloration was observed on the surface. Kupffer cell activation suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in groups co-treated with catechin and CCl4; this effect was reversed when catalase replaced catechin in CCl4-injured rats. Catechin alleviates hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to CCl4; it also modulates the activation of Kupffer cells and monocytes. These results should lead to new treatments for liver inflammation in veterinary practice.

The liver is a defense against infections due to its strategic location between the gastrointestinal and systemic circulations. In dogs and cats, infectious hepatitis encompasses a range of contagious diseases affecting the liver either directly or as part of a broader systemic infection, including bacterial, mycobacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic, and rickettsial diseases. Catechins possess well-recognized natural antioxidant properties. This study investigated their therapeutic potential for applications in hepatology, evaluating whether catechins reduce hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sprague-Dawley rats were given catechin 50 (C50) or 100 (C100) mg/kg body weight orally daily for 3 days. This treatment was given with or without concurrent intraperitoneal injections of CCl4. Phosphate-buffered saline served as the vehicle control, while silymarin administered at 100 mg/kg was used as the positive control.Gross examination revealed significant enlargement, edema, and darker tissue in CCl4-induced livers treated with vehicle. Additionally, spotty discoloration was observed on the surface. Kupffer cell activation suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in groups co-treated with catechin and CCl4; this effect was reversed when catalase replaced catechin in CCl4-injured rats. Catechin alleviates hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to CCl4; it also modulates the activation of Kupffer cells and monocytes. These results should lead to new treatments for liver inflammation in veterinary practice.

The liver is a defense against infections due to its strategic location between the gastrointestinal and systemic circulations. In dogs and cats, infectious hepatitis encompasses a range of contagious diseases affecting the liver either directly or as part of a broader systemic infection, including bacterial, mycobacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic, and rickettsial diseases. Catechins possess well-recognized natural antioxidant properties. This study investigated their therapeutic potential for applications in hepatology, evaluating whether catechins reduce hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sprague-Dawley rats were given catechin 50 (C50) or 100 (C100) mg/kg body weight orally daily for 3 days. This treatment was given with or without concurrent intraperitoneal injections of CCl4. Phosphate-buffered saline served as the vehicle control, while silymarin administered at 100 mg/kg was used as the positive control.Gross examination revealed significant enlargement, edema, and darker tissue in CCl4-induced livers treated with vehicle. Additionally, spotty discoloration was observed on the surface. Kupffer cell activation suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in groups co-treated with catechin and CCl4; this effect was reversed when catalase replaced catechin in CCl4-injured rats. Catechin alleviates hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to CCl4; it also modulates the activation of Kupffer cells and monocytes. These results should lead to new treatments for liver inflammation in veterinary practice.

The liver is a defense against infections due to its strategic location between the gastrointestinal and systemic circulations. In dogs and cats, infectious hepatitis encompasses a range of contagious diseases affecting the liver either directly or as part of a broader systemic infection, including bacterial, mycobacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic, and rickettsial diseases. Catechins possess well-recognized natural antioxidant properties. This study investigated their therapeutic potential for applications in hepatology, evaluating whether catechins reduce hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sprague-Dawley rats were given catechin 50 (C50) or 100 (C100) mg/kg body weight orally daily for 3 days. This treatment was given with or without concurrent intraperitoneal injections of CCl4. Phosphate-buffered saline served as the vehicle control, while silymarin administered at 100 mg/kg was used as the positive control.Gross examination revealed significant enlargement, edema, and darker tissue in CCl4-induced livers treated with vehicle. Additionally, spotty discoloration was observed on the surface. Kupffer cell activation suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in groups co-treated with catechin and CCl4; this effect was reversed when catalase replaced catechin in CCl4-injured rats. Catechin alleviates hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to CCl4; it also modulates the activation of Kupffer cells and monocytes. These results should lead to new treatments for liver inflammation in veterinary practice.

The liver is a defense against infections due to its strategic location between the gastrointestinal and systemic circulations. In dogs and cats, infectious hepatitis encompasses a range of contagious diseases affecting the liver either directly or as part of a broader systemic infection, including bacterial, mycobacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic, and rickettsial diseases. Catechins possess well-recognized natural antioxidant properties. This study investigated their therapeutic potential for applications in hepatology, evaluating whether catechins reduce hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Sprague-Dawley rats were given catechin 50 (C50) or 100 (C100) mg/kg body weight orally daily for 3 days. This treatment was given with or without concurrent intraperitoneal injections of CCl4. Phosphate-buffered saline served as the vehicle control, while silymarin administered at 100 mg/kg was used as the positive control.Gross examination revealed significant enlargement, edema, and darker tissue in CCl4-induced livers treated with vehicle. Additionally, spotty discoloration was observed on the surface. Kupffer cell activation suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in groups co-treated with catechin and CCl4; this effect was reversed when catalase replaced catechin in CCl4-injured rats. Catechin alleviates hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to CCl4; it also modulates the activation of Kupffer cells and monocytes. These results should lead to new treatments for liver inflammation in veterinary practice.

Objective: The involvement of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, a pro-inflammatory molecule, in rat EAN is not fully understood. This study evaluated the potential role of GSK-3β in EAN through its inhibition by lithium. Methods: Lewis rats were injected with SP26 antigen to induce EAN. Lithium was administered from 1 day before immunization to day 14 post-immunization (PI). Then the rats were euthanized and their neural tissues were prepared for histological and Western blotting analyses. Results: Lithium, an inhibitor of GSK-3, significantly ameliorated EAN paralysis in rats, when administered from day 1 to day 14 PI. This corresponded with reduced inflammation in the sciatic nerves of EAN rats, where phosphorylation of GSK-3β was also upregulated, indicating suppression of GSK-3. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that lithium, an inhibitor of GSK-3β, plays a significant role in ameliorating rat EAN paralysis, by suppressing GSK-3β and its related signals in EAN-affected sciatic nerves.

The expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in the ovaries of pigs was examined to study the involvement of nitric oxide, a product of NOS activity, in the function of the ovary. Western blot analysis detected three types of NOS in the ovary, including constitutive neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS); eNOS immunoreactivity was more intense compared with that of iNOS or nNOS. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated the presence of nNOS and eNOS in the surface epithelium, stroma, oocytes, thecal cells, and endothelial cells of blood vessels. Positive immunoreactions for nNOS and iNOS were detected in the granulosa cells from multilaminar and antral follicles, but not in those of unilaminar follicles. iNOS was detected in the surface epithelium, oocytes, and theca of multilaminar and antral follicles. Taking all of the findings into consideration, the observed differential expression of the three NOS isoforms in the ovary suggests a role for nitric oxide in modulating reproduction in pigs.
Animals ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Ovarian Follicle/*enzymology/growth&development ; Swine/*physiology