Study purposes were to evaluate ultrasonographic characteristics of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and quantitate bladder tumor size in dogs. Heterogeneous mass, wall involvement, and broad-based attachment were significantly associated with TCC, but not prominently the trigone region. Mass size evaluation revealed a significant correlation between progressive disease (PD) in TCC patients with piroxicam therapy. Largest diameter of target lesion/body weight (cm/kg) ratio showed a high mean value in PD. A value > 0.3 was associated with PD with 83% sensitivity and 66% specificity. The results suggest that ultrasonography can provide evidence for diagnosing and predicting a prognosis for TCC.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Dogs* ; Humans ; Piroxicam ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

Metagenomics has become one of the indispensable tools in microbial ecology for the last few decades, and a new revolution in metagenomic studies is now about to begin, with the help of recent advances of sequencing techniques. The massive data production and substantial cost reduction in next-generation sequencing have led to the rapid growth of metagenomic research both quantitatively and qualitatively. It is evident that metagenomics will be a standard tool for studying the diversity and function of microbes in the near future, as fingerprinting methods did previously. As the speed of data accumulation is accelerating, bioinformatic tools and associated databases for handling those datasets have become more urgent and necessary. To facilitate the bioinformatics analysis of metagenomic data, we review some recent tools and databases that are used widely in this field and give insights into the current challenges and future of metagenomics from a bioinformatics perspective.
Computational Biology ; Dermatoglyphics ; Ecology ; Handling (Psychology) ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epithelialization of the fistula in chronic cases of oroantral fistula hinders natural healing of its opening. This requires surgical repair in most cases. We aimed to evaluate the treatment results of 12 cases managed by different surgical methods. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twelve patients with oroantral fistula were managed in our hospital between March 1991 and July 2000. The male to female ratio was 4:8 and their ages ranged from 27 to 63 years with the mean of 46 years. Medical records of oroantral fistula were reviewed for the evaluation of causes, treatment methods, and final outcomes. RESULTS: Eight fistulas developed after tooth extraction due to dental problem or sinusitis, and four fistulas originated from postoperative mucocele of the maxillary sinus. The first upper molar was most frequently involved, followed by the second premolar. One patient was cured by conservative management alone and eleven patients underwent Caldwell-Luc's operation, fistulectomy, and flap surgery. Two fistulas were repaired with the use of palatal mucosal rotation flap, and nine fistulas with the use of buccal mucosal advancement flaps resulting in successful outcomes. CONCLUSION: Tooth extraction and postoperative mucocele are the two common causes of oroantral fistula. Caldwell-Luc's operation with fistulectomy and flap surgery for repairing the opening of the fistula resulted in cure without recurrence.
Bicuspid ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; Medical Records ; Molar ; Mucocele ; Oroantral Fistula* ; Recurrence ; Sinusitis ; Tooth Extraction ; Treatment Outcome*

A 33-year-old woman visited the emergency department presenting with fever and dyspnea. She was pregnant with gestational age of 31 weeks and 6 days. She had dysuria for 7 days, and fever and dyspnea for 1 day. The vital signs were as follows: blood pressure 110/70 mmHg, heart rate 118 beats/minute, respiratory rate 28/minute, body temperature 38.7℃, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry 84% during inhalation of 5 liters of oxygen by nasal prongs. Crackles were heard over both lung fields. There were no signs of uterine contractions. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan showed multiple consolidations and air bronchograms in both lungs. According to urinalysis, there was pyuria and microscopic hematuria. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI) that progressed to severe sepsis and acute respiratory failure. We found extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in the blood culture and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the sputum culture. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with administration of antibiotics and supplementation of high-flow oxygen. On hospital day 2, hypoxemia was aggravated. She underwent endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. After 3 hours, fetal distress was suspected. Under 100% fraction of inspired oxygen, her oxygen partial pressure was 87 mmHg in the arterial blood. She developed acute kidney injury and thrombocytopenia. We diagnosed her with multi-organ failure due to severe sepsis. After an emergent cesarean section, pneumonia, UTI, and other organ failures gradually recovered. The patient and baby were discharged soon thereafter.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Anoxia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Cesarean Section ; Dyspnea ; Dysuria ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fever ; Gestational Age ; Heart Rate ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Lung ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Oximetry ; Oxygen ; Partial Pressure ; Pneumonia ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Pregnancy ; Pyuria ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory Rate ; Respiratory Sounds ; Sepsis ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Thrombocytopenia ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Uterine Contraction ; Vital Signs

A 33-year-old woman visited the emergency department presenting with fever and dyspnea. She was pregnant with gestational age of 31 weeks and 6 days. She had dysuria for 7 days, and fever and dyspnea for 1 day. The vital signs were as follows: blood pressure 110/70 mmHg, heart rate 118 beats/minute, respiratory rate 28/minute, body temperature 38.7℃, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry 84% during inhalation of 5 liters of oxygen by nasal prongs. Crackles were heard over both lung fields. There were no signs of uterine contractions. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan showed multiple consolidations and air bronchograms in both lungs. According to urinalysis, there was pyuria and microscopic hematuria. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI) that progressed to severe sepsis and acute respiratory failure. We found extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in the blood culture and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the sputum culture. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with administration of antibiotics and supplementation of high-flow oxygen. On hospital day 2, hypoxemia was aggravated. She underwent endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. After 3 hours, fetal distress was suspected. Under 100% fraction of inspired oxygen, her oxygen partial pressure was 87 mmHg in the arterial blood. She developed acute kidney injury and thrombocytopenia. We diagnosed her with multi-organ failure due to severe sepsis. After an emergent cesarean section, pneumonia, UTI, and other organ failures gradually recovered. The patient and baby were discharged soon thereafter.

This study was undertaken to assess the lateral ventricle, which was some portion of brain and related to congenital anomalies, from 1, 2, 4, and 8 months of age in healthy micropigs. They were induced general anesthesia and performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a 0.3 Tesla magnet. Each age group was evaluated by three subjects such as lateral ventricular volume, ventricular volume ratio and asymmetry. T1 weighted transverse images were acquired for calculation of lateral ventricular and corresponding brain parenchyma areas. The ratio of bilateral ventricle areas used to analyze the asymmetry. The mean ventricular volumes of each month were 676.74 +/- 25.58 mm3 (1 month-old), 630.64 +/- 143.84 mm3 (2 month-old), 992.12 +/- 106.03 mm3 (4 month-old) and 1172.62 +/- 237.57 mm3 (8 month-old), respectively. The ventricular volume ratio was the smallest at 2 month-old and re-increased from that age. The ratio was significantly different between 2 month-old and other age groups (p < 0.05). The value of bilateral area ratio showed within 1.5 in all experimental animals. Consequently the lateral ventricle showed a positive correlation with aging and symmetric shapes in both sides. The developmental pattern of the lateral ventricle provides basic data in micropigs as an experimental animal model for physiological and neurosurgical approach.
Aging ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Brain ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnets ; Models, Animal

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping are functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques for detecting water diffusion. DWI and the ADC map were performed for intracranial lesions in two dogs. In necrotizing leukoencephalitis, cavitated lesions contained a hypointense center with a hyperintense periphery on DWI, and hyperintense signals on the ADC maps. In metastatic sarcoma, masses including a necrotic region were hypointense with DWI, and hyperintense on the ADC map with hyperintense perilesional edema on DWI and ADC map. Since DWI and ADC data reflect the altered water diffusion, they can provide additional information at the molecular level.
Animals ; Brain/*pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology/*veterinary ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*veterinary ; Dog Diseases/*pathology ; Dogs ; Female ; Leukoencephalopathies/pathology/*veterinary ; Necrosis/veterinary ; Neuroimaging/*veterinary ; Sarcoma/pathology/*veterinary

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical results of single-piece hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOL) (Akreos AdaptTM, B&L) with those of three-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL (Sensar(R), AMO) after cataract surgery. METHODS: This study was a prospective case-control study in which Akreos lenses were implanted for the experimental group and Sensar lenses were implanted for the control group. All surgical procedures were performed by the same surgeon. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), change of anterior chamber depth, degree of posterior capsule opacification (PCO), higher-order aberration, and contrast sensitivity (CS) were examined. Measurements were performed by masked examiners prior to the surgery and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in BCVA, CS or PCO between the two groups. The Refractive error was -0.17+/-0.67D in the experimental group and -0.02+/-0.41D in the control group at 6 months, postoperatively. During the first postoperative month, forward movement of both IOLs was detected. Afterward, both IOLs moved backwards until 6 months. Fourth-order spherical aberrations were significantly higher in the Akreos group (p<0.05) at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical results for Akreos IOL and Sensar IOL were similar in most aspects.
Anterior Chamber ; Capsule Opacification ; Case-Control Studies ; Cataract* ; Contrast Sensitivity ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Masks ; Prospective Studies ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

Background: Quantitative evaluation of renal cortical echogenicity (RCE) has been tried anddeveloped in human and veterinary medicine. Objectives: The objective of this study was to propose a method for evaluating RCEquantitatively and intuitively, and to determine associations between ultrasonographic renalstructural distinction and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in canine chronickidney disease (CKD). Methods: Data were collected on 63 dogs, including 27 with normal kidney function and 36CKD patients. Symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine concentrations were measuredfor calculating eGFR. RCE was evaluated as 3 grades on ultrasonography images accordingto the distinction between the renal cortex and outer medulla. The RCE grade of each kidneywas measured. Results: There was a significant difference in eGFR between the group normal and CKD (p< 0.001). As mean of RCE grades (the mean values of each right and left kidney's RCE grade)increases, the proportion of group CKD among the patients in each grade increases (p <0.001). Also, severity of RCE (classified as "high" if any right or left kidney evaluated as RCEgrade 3, "low" otherwise) and eGFR is good indicator for predicting group CKD (p < 0.001). Conclusions The degree of distinction between the renal cortex and the outer medulla isclosely related to renal function including eGFR and the RCE grade defined in this study canbe used as a method of objectively evaluating RCE.