Spontaneous ophthalmic diseases in 586 new zealand white rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to investigate spontaneous eye disease in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits, which are commonly used for toxicity tests, and to provide reference materials for pharmaceutical companies and research centers. A total of 586 NZW rabbits were randomly chosen without sex preference and were examined using ocular equipment, including a direct ophthalmoscope, an indirect ophthalmoscope, a slit-lamp biomicroscope, a focal illuminator, and a fundus camera. This study showed that the incidence rate of temporary cataracts, regarded as a change within normal variation, was 0.5% in the NZW rabbits. Regarding abnormal ophthalmic disease, blepharitis was the most commonly observed ocular disease. Other findings included cataract, conjunctivitis, choroidal hypoplasia, keratitis, corneal scarring, eyelid laceration, posterior synechiae, uveitis, dacryocystitis, and persistent pupillary membrane. In total, the incidence rate of ophthalmic diseases was 9.6%. Based on sex and age distributions, females had more ocular diseases than males, and rabbits were less susceptible to eye diseases as they got older. In this study, photographs were taken to document findings, such as normal fundus, normal variations, ophthalmic disease, and histopathologic examination.     

A portable potentiostat for the bilirubin-specific sensor prepared from molecular imprinting

A portable amperometric potentiostat was designed and implemented in this work. It was developed to acquisit the current signals produced from bilirubin by an electrochemical sensor. Based on an SOC-based chip, this potentiostat has the merits of moderate accuracy, small size, low cost, and high portability. The bilirubin electrode was prepared by synthesizing a thin layer of bilirubin imprinted poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) onto the Au layer. With the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film, specific detection of bilirubin was successfully achieved. The cyclic voltammogram of the electrode was measured from this assembled potentiostat. The performance from a commercial potentiostat was considered rather stable and was used as a reference to examine and evaluate the performance of the assembled potentiostat. The detected current signals by the bilirubin sensing were obtained. Linear calibration with a sensitivity of 1.344+/-0.38 microA/mg dl was achieved. Our experimental results showed that the proposed potentiostat's performance could achieve sufficient performance. The evaluation was also made from the aspects such as reset time and steady-response time. The self-assembled potentiostat thus demonstrated its ability in precise detection of bilirubin from an electrode layered with the imprinted polymer film.     

Pro‐apoptotic effect of haem oxygenase‐1 in human colorectal carcinoma cells via endoplasmic reticular stress

Several biological effects of haem oxygenase (HO)‐1, including anti‐inflammatory, antiapoptotic and antioxidative properties were reported; however, the role of HO‐1 in apoptosis is still unclear. In the presence of stimulation by cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), an HO‐1 inducer, apoptotic characteristics were observed, including DNA laddering, hypodiploid cells, and cleavages of caspase (Casp)‐3 and poly(ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) proteins in human colon carcinoma COLO205, HCT‐15, LOVO and HT‐29 cells in serum‐free (SF) conditions with increased HO‐1, but not heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) or HSP90. The addition of 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) or 1% bovine serum albumin accordingly inhibited CoPP‐induced apoptosis and HO‐1 protein expression in human colon cancer cells. CoPP‐induced apoptosis of colon cancer cells was prevented by the addition of the pan‐caspase inhibitor, Z‐VAD‐FMK (VAD), and the Casp‐3 inhibitor, Z‐DEVD‐FMK (DEVD). N‐Acetyl cysteine inhibited reactive oxygen species‐generated H₂O₂‐induced cell death with reduced intracellular peroxide production, but did not affect CoPP‐induced apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells. Two CoPP analogs, ferric protoporphyrin and tin protoporphyrin, did not affect the viability of human CRC cells or HO‐1 expression by those cells, and knockdown of HO‐1 protein expression by HO‐1 small interfering (si)RNA reversed the cytotoxic effect elicited by CoPP. Furthermore, the carbon monoxide (CO) donor, CORM, but not FeSO₄ or biliverdin, induced DNA ladders, and cleavage of Casp‐3 and PARP proteins in human CRC cells. Increased phosphorylated levels of the endoplasmic reticular (ER) stress proteins, protein kinase R‐like ER kinase (PERK), and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) by CORM and CoPP were identified, and the addition of the PERK inhibitor, GSK2606414, inhibited CORM‐ and CoPP‐induced apoptosis. Increased GRP78 level and formation of the HO‐1/GRP78 complex were detected in CORM‐ and CoPP‐treated human CRC cells. A pro‐apoptotic role of HO‐1 against the viability of human CRC cells via induction of CO and ER stress was firstly demonstrated herein.