The perception of students on the use of animals in higher education at the Federal University of Paraná, Southern Brazil.

The use of animals in education and research is a controversial issue that involves ethical considerations. In Brazil, Act 11,794, which was approved in 2008, established the National Council on the Control of Animal Experimentation (CONCEA) and a database of institutions that use animals for research and education (CIUCA). This legislation also set out the regulations for the use of animals. In this study, we have evaluated the ethical issues involved in the use of animals for educational purposes at the Federal University of Paraná, through a qualitative-quantitative analysis that relied on written questionnaires. Our objective was to find out the opinions of students and staff from different academic fields, and at different stages in their professional development, on the use of animals for educational purposes. The study involved 101 students and 20 lecturers (i.e. tenure-track professors and all those who teach the students) in Biology, Pharmacology, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Approximately half of the students (45.5%) did not know the legislation that regulates the use of animals in education, and most of the lecturers believed that learning goals could not be achieved with alternative methods. Only 38.9% of the lecturers and 31.9% of the students trusted the usefulness of alternative methods. Furthermore, recent graduates were as unaware of the legislation, as were students in the first two years of their university courses. These results suggest that it is necessary to considerably expand the discussion on alternatives to animal use in the academic environment.

Acute Thyroiditis and Bilateral Optic Neuritis following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination with CoronaVac: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of acute thyroiditis and bilateral optic neuritis associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. METHODS: A single case report from a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: The patient described in the following case report developed acute thyroiditis and bilateral optic neuritis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The patient underwent pulse therapy followed by oral tapering corticosteroid therapy with an improvement of the bilateral disc swelling and the visual field, and recovery of thyroid-stimulating hormone to the normal limits. CONCLUSION: Although the association between immunization and the onset of demyelinating manifestations of the central nervous system is well documented, this is the first reported case of bilateral optic neuritis and acute thyroiditis and subsequent to administration of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Objective assessment of YAG laser vitreolysis in patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters.

BACKGROUND: To objectively evaluate YAG laser vitreolysis for symptomatic vitreous floaters using color photo imaging. METHODS: In this interventional and prospective study, 32 eyes of 32 patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters secondary to posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) were treated with a single session of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser. Primary outcomes were objective and subjective changes measured by masked grading of color fundus photographs and National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25), respectively. Secondary outcomes included Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and adverse events. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the results of the objective and subjective assessments at each time point. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (32 eyes; 13 men and 19 women) with symptomatic vitreous floaters were enrolled in this study (mean age: 59.4 years). All study patients were followed up for 6 months. Following the laser vitreolysis, there was a statistically significant improvement in both the near visual function (z = - 2.97; p = 0.003; r = 0.633) and visual disturbance rate (z = - 3.97; p < 0.001; r = 0.84). Distance visual function did not show statistically significant difference after the laser procedure (p = 1.00). Color fundus photograph did reveal vitreous opacity improvement over time in 93.7% of study eyes (partial improvement in 37.5% and total improvement in 56.2% of study eyes). During the follow-up period, recurrence of vitreous floaters, BCVA deterioration and adverse events were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: YAG laser vitreolysis decreased the amount of vitreous floaters opacities seen on color fundus imaging and improved related symptoms according to the NEI VFQ-25 responses.

Intravitreal Injection of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Associated with Dexamethasone as an Alternative Therapy for Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate intravitreal injections of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim in association with dexamethasone for treating toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. METHODS: Thirteen patients with active, recurrent ocular focal toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis and visual acuity worse than 20/63 in the affected eye were included. Ocular toxoplasmosis was diagnosed according to the classic clinical findings. The primary end point was the change in the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: The intraocular inflammation decreased within 2 weeks after injection in all eyes and resolved in 8 (62%) eyes with only one injection after 30 days; the remaining eyes received two injections. In all eyes, the retinitis was inactive and no patient had decreased early treatment diabetic retinopathy study lines of BCVA at the final examination. CONCLUSION: The combination of intravitreal trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and dexamethasone might be an alternative treatment strategy in patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

Visual performance of AcrySof ReSTOR apodized diffractive IOL: a prospective comparative trial.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the visual performance of the AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens (IOL) and compare it with the monofocal SA60AT IOL. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, clinical trial. METHODS: Forty patients (80 eyes) from the Federal University of São Paulo were enrolled in two groups. Twenty-five patients were assigned to the ReSTOR group and 15 patients to the monofocal group. Inclusion criteria were corneal astigmatism <1.0 diopter, potential acuity meter >0.2 logMAR units, and no associated ocular diseases. Parameters analyzed included distance uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, near uncorrected and distance corrected visual acuity, intermediate visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson chart), stereopsis (Titmus test), reading speed, wavefront measurement (LADARWave aberrometer), and a quality-of-life questionnaire. main outcome measure: Distance and near uncorrected and best distance corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and reading speed. RESULTS: Distance uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity in the ReSTOR group were not statistically different from the monofocal group (P = .66). Near uncorrected and distance corrected visual acuity were statistically better in the ReSTOR group than the monofocal group (0.16 +/- 0.13 vs 0.62 +/- 0.09, P < .001, and 0.14 +/- 0.12 vs 0.62 +/- 0.07, P < .001, respectively). The ReSTOR group demonstrated less spherical aberrations compared with the monofocal group (P < .001). Monocular photopic contrast sensitivity was statistically lower in the ReSTOR group (P < .001). Stereopsis and reading speed were not statistically different between the groups. CONCLUSION: The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL provides a satisfactory full range of vision and achieves a more satisfactory quality of life when compared with the monofocal SA60AT IOL, but with lower contrast sensitivity.

Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, reading speed, and wavefront analysis: pseudophakic eye with multifocal IOL (ReSTOR) versus fellow phakic eye in non-presbyopic patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual performance in the pseudophakic eye and the phakic eye in four patients who underwent unilateral intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: Four patients presenting with unilateral cataract underwent ReSTOR (Alcon Laboratories, Ft Worth, Tex) IOL implantation in their nondominant eye, targeting emmetropia. RESULTS: Uncorrected near visual acuity was >20/32 in all operated eyes and best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity was 20/16 for two eyes, 20/25 for one eye, and 20/32 for one eye. Reading speed was similar between the eyes, but not for critical print size. Contrast sensitivity was lower in the pseudophakic eyes. Wavefront analysis showed no considerable difference in total high order aberrations, coma, and spherical aberration between eyes for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: In young patients with unilateral cataract surgery, unilateral multifocal IOL implantation provides satisfactory visual acuity and may be considered an alternative treatment option in this patient population.

Proteomics of cauda epididymal fluid from mature Holstein bulls.

The proteome of cauda epididymal fluid (CEF) from Holstein bulls was defined. Fluid was collected from the vas deferens, subjected to 2-D SDS-PAGE and spots identified by CapLC-MS/MS and MALDI-ToF/ToF. Because albumin accounted for 21.1% of all spot intensities in the gels examined by PDQuest, samples were subjected to albumin depletion and then analyzed again as before. Original CEF gels had 114 ± 3 spots, including as the most abundant: albumin, epididymal secretory protein E1, prostaglandin d-synthase and gelsolin. Epididymal fluid also expressed: clusterin, transferrin, N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase, cauxin, glutathione peroxidase, acidic seminal fluid protein (aSFP), aldehyde reductase, α-l-fucosidase, α-1-ß-glycoprotein, apolipoprotein A-1, ß actin, calmodulin, cathepsin D, cystatin E/M, enolase, galectin 3-binding protein, leucine amino-peptidase and nucleobindin. Albumin depletion decreased that very spot to 10% of its original intensity and the resulting gels had, on average, 137 ± 4 spots. Spots identified as dipeptidyl-peptidase 7, angiotensin-converting enzyme, arylsulfatase A, aspartylglucosaminidase, serine protease inhibitors, new isoforms of calmodulin, cystatin E/M and a 17-kDa nucleobindin appeared only in depleted maps. This study is the first to report nucleobindin and aSFP as epididymal components. We suggest that CEF proteins act to facilitate membrane remodeling, transport of lipophilic substances, protect sperm and prevent premature acrosome reaction.