Prevalence of hepatic parasites in Korean wild rats (Rattus norvegicus) and their association with pulmonary arteriolar medial hypertrophy.

C hepatica, an important zoonotic parasite, and C fasciolaris are common parasites in rodents. In rodent livers, C hepatica causes sequential morphologic changes that are designated as early, intermediate, or late phase, and C fasciolaris forms cysts surrounded by fibroplasia and granulomatous inflammation. The present study describes the prevalence of these parasites and associated liver and lung lesions in wild rats (Rattus norvegicus) living around pig farms in South Korea. Selected parenchymal organs, including liver and lung, of 89 wild rats were examined. Of 89 rats, 28 (31.5%) were infected with either C hepatica or C fasciolaris or with both parasites. Severe medial hypertrophy of small arterioles was observed in the lungs of 11 of the 28 parasite-infected rats (P < .01). The pulmonary arteriolar hypertrophy in the rats infected with C hepatica was strongly associated with early and/or intermediate phases (88.8%) of morphologic change in the livers (P < .01). As such, this report is the first to suggest a significant association between parasite-induced hepatitis and pulmonary arteriolar hypertrophy in rodents. Further studies are warranted for the use of C hepatica-infected rats as an animal model to explore the underlying mechanisms of portopulmonary hypertension in humans.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Gogu valley) protein as an antimicrobial agent in the diets of broilers.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate potato protein (PP, experiment 1) and refined PP (RPP, experiment 2) obtained from Gogu valley tubers as an antimicrobial agent in broiler diets. In both the experiments, 1-d-old male Ross 308 chicks were allotted to 5 treatments and performance, nutrient retention, and microbial populations in excreta and cecum were studied. Dietary treatments were as follows: basal diet (negative control, NC), basal diet with antibiotic (positive control, PC, 10 mg/kg of avilamycin), and low, medium, or high levels of PP (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75%, respectively, in experiment 1) or RPP (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg, respectively, in experiment 2). The overall gain and retention of DM (d 20 to 21) and CP (d 20 to 21 and d 41 to 42) were greater in birds fed PC and high PP diets than birds fed the NC diet. Population of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms was lowest in the cecum and excreta of birds fed the PC diet and highest in birds fed the NC diet. An increase in dietary PP linearly improved BW gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio during starter phase and overall BW gain. Also, there was linear improvement in retention of DM (d 20 to 21) and CP (d 20 to 21 and d 41 to 42) and reduced populations of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms in the cecum (d 42) and excreta (d 28 and 42) due to an increase in dietary PP. In the second experiment, the PC diet and diets with increasing levels of RPP had no effect on performance and nutrient retention. Birds fed the PC diet had the lowest microbial population in excreta and cecum, whereas the population of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms in excreta and cecum decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as the level of RPP was increased in the diet. These results suggest that both PP and RPP obtained from Gogu valley potato tubers have in vivo antimicrobial activity.

Effects of supplementation of beta-glucan on the growth performance and immunity in broilers.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of beta-glucan on commercial broilers. In experiment 1, one hundred and forty-four broiler chicks were employed in a 2x3 factorial design with cage and open floor housing with three levels of beta-glucan viz. 0%, 0.02% and 0.04%. In experiment 2, ninety-six broilers were used with 4 treatments: No beta-glucan and antibiotic (T1), beta-glucan 0.03% (T2), antibiotic (T3), and beta-glucan 0.03% + antibiotic (T4) for 34 d with 3 replicates of 8 chicks each in both studies. During experiment 1 there was no significant effect of the feeding system or the beta-glucan levels on the performance from 0 to 17 d but during 18-34 days birds housed on the open floor had significantly (p<0.0001) higher weight gain compared with those in cages. In experiment 2, no significant effect was noticed on the weight gains when the effect of beta-glucan, antibiotic or their interaction were tested. The retention of dry matter increased in both experiments with beta-glucan supplementation. The CD8 and TCR 1 cells were significantly higher in the 0.04% beta-glucan group at 42 days as compared with the control. It could be concluded that beta-glucan supplementation was beneficial for broilers.

Comparative intravitreal antibiotic therapy for experimental Enterococcus faecalis endophthalmitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the most effective intravitreal antibiotic treatment of vancomycin-sensitive and -resistant Enterococcus faecalis endophthalmitis. DESIGN: Animal experiment. SETTING: Seventy-eight New Zealand white rabbits received an intravitreal injection of 10(5) vancomycin-sensitive or -resistant E faecalis organisms in one eye. Infections were allowed to proceed 3 hours before dividing animals randomly into the following treatment groups (n = 6, each): the vancomycin-sensitive E faecalis model--(1) vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL), (2) combined vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL) and amikacin (0.4 mg/0.1 mL), (3) combined vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL) and gentamicin (0.1 mg/0.1 mL), (4) combined vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 mL) and ceftazidime (2 mg/0.1 mL), (5) combined ampicillin (5 mg/0.1 mL) and gentamicin (0.1 mg/0.1 mL), and (6) pristinamycin (1 mg/0.1 mL); and the vancomycin-resistant E faecalis model--(1)same as above, excluding group 4. Control groups received sterile balanced salt solution. Twenty-four hours following intravitreal treatment, vitreous humor was collected for quantitative bacteriological studies. RESULTS: Intravitreal therapy with combined vancomycin and amikacin provided the most effective reduction of vancomycin-sensitive E faecalis organisms compared with combined vancomycin and gentamicin therapy (P =.10, Wilcoxon's rank sum test) or any other treatment group (P < .01, Wilcoxon's rank sum test). For vancomycin-resistant E faecalis endophthalmitis model, the combined ampicillin and gentamicin therapy was the most effective, followed by the combined vancomycin and amikacin therapy (P < .01, Wilcoxon's rank sum test). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with intravitreal vancomycin plus amikacin and with intravitreal ampicillin plus gentamicin provide an effective bactericidal therapy for severe experimental vancomycin-sensitive and -resistant E faecalis endophthalmitis, respectively.

Photorefractive keratectomy for undercorrected myopia after radial keratotomy: two-year follow up.

We evaluated the clinical results of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on 18 myopic eyes of 13 patients with residual myopia after radial keratotomy. Follow up was 24 months or more and the time interval between radial keratotomy and PRK ranged from 12 to 94 months. Patients were divided into two groups for analysis based on their preoperative myopia: group 1 (-6.00 diopters (D) or less), group 2 (more than -6.00 D). Uncorrected visual acuity at 2 years follow up was 20/40 or better in 86% (group 1) and 50% (group 2). Mean manifest refractive change was from -3.55 D to -0.91 D in group 1 and from -7.44 D to -2.50 D in group 2. Predictability within 1.00 D between attempted and achieved correction was 71.4% (group 1) and 80% (group 2). Most complications were transient except decreased spectacle corrected visual acuity in one eye--a complication also reported by others. Glare (61%) and decreased vision at night (50%) were the most troublesome subjective symptoms. These results show that previous radial keratotomy may not influence the myopic correction of PRK. Planned two-stage myopic correction (PRK after radial keratotomy) in high myopia can be considered a useful technique.

Excimer laser ablation of conjunctival epithelial melanosis.

Two patients with conjunctival epithelial melanosis received a 193 nm argon fluoride excimer laser treatment. In both patients the melanosis was easily removed with a smoothing technique using the excimer laser. The ablated area showed normal appearing conjunctiva. The lesion did not recur during the eight-month follow-up. Therapeutically, the excimer laser can be used to treat benign conjunctival lesions as well as superficial corneal diseases.

Secondary intraocular lens implantation in aphakia.

We retrospectively studied secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in 165 aphakic patients (162 eyes) from May 1983 to August 1989. Seventy-five eyes (46.3%) had secondary IOL implantation; these included seven cases of trans-sulcus scleral fixation of the posterior chamber lens. The remaining 87 eyes could not have secondary IOL implantation because of the ocular conditions. The most common reason for secondary implantation was to relieve the discomfort caused by spectacles or contact lenses (56.2%). An anterior chamber lens was used in 43 eyes (57.3%) and a posterior chamber lens in 32 eyes (42.7%). Final postoperative visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 92.0% of the eyes with posterior chamber lenses, in 71.4% of the eyes with anterior chamber lenses, and in 57.1% of the eyes with scleral-fixated posterior chamber lenses. Endothelial cell loss was greater in the eyes with anterior chamber lenses than in the eyes with posterior chamber lenses. Of the cases that could be followed, 83.3% showed endothelial cell loss of less than 30% at six months postoperatively. Postoperative complications such as cystoid macular edema, persistent fibrinous membrane formation, and neovascular glaucoma occurred in only ten (13.3%) of the 75 eyes that had secondary implantation. These complications occurred more frequently in eyes that had anterior chamber lenses with anterior vitrectomy. There were no noticeable complications in the eyes that had trans-sulcus scleral fixation of posterior chamber lenses. Updrawn pupil, prolapsed vitreous, and peripheral anterior synechia were common conditions preventing secondary IOL implantation.

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia: two-year follow-up.

We evaluated the results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with an excimer laser on 45 consecutive myopic eyes (23 patients) that were followed two years or more. The myopic range was from -2.00 diopters (D) to -6.00 D with astigmatism less than 1.50 D. Uncorrected visual acuity better than 20/25 was achieved in 88.9% of all cases two years postoperatively. Best corrected visual acuity was equal to or better than preoperatively in 95.6% of eyes. The difference between the attempted and achieved correction was within +/- 1.00 D in 91.1% two years postoperatively. Keratometric readings and central corneal thickness showed a gradual restoration until six months postoperatively and then stabilized. The cornea was clear in 66.7% of the eyes. The most common subjective complaint was decreased night vision two years after PRK. From our experience, excimer laser PRK is a predictable and effective surgical method to correct myopia up to -6.00 D in a single-step procedure.

Five years results of photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term stability, complications, and causative factors in eyes that had photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. SETTING: Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: This study evaluated the results of PRK in 201 myopic eyes with a consecutive 5 year follow-up. Preoperative myopia ranged from 2.25 to 12.50 diopters (D), with astigmatism of less than 1.50 D. The Excimer laser was set to a maximum correction of -6.50 D at a 5.0 mm diameter ablation zone. Patients with more than 7.00 D of myopia had double-pass PRK with two different ablation zone sizes (5.0 and 4.5 mm). The data were statistically analyzed using polynomial regression for evaluating long-term stability and myopic regression and Cox's proportional hazard model for evaluating causative factors. RESULTS: An uncorrected visual acuity better than 20/25 was achieved in 62.4% of eyes. The main complication after PRK was myopic regression. Mean refractive error 5 years after PRK was -2.43 +/- 1.90 D. It was -1.49 +/- 0.60 D in moderately myopic eyes (less than 6.50 D) and -3.55 +/- 2.31 D in highly myopic eyes (over 7.00 D). According to our evaluation, the possible causative factors for myopic regression were pre-PRK refraction (P < .0001) and post-PRK corneal haze (P = .01); their relative risks were 3.33 and 1.93, respectively. Multivariate analysis eliminated the corneal haze factor. CONCLUSION: Myopic regression occurred as long as 5 years after PRK, with the most important factor for myopic regression being pre-PRK refraction.

Amniotic membrane, tear film, corneal, and aqueous levels of ofloxacin in rabbit eyes after amniotic membrane transplantation.

PURPOSE: We evaluated ocular penetration and drug levels in tears after topical ofloxacin instillation in rabbit eyes with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT). METHODS: Forty-eight New Zealand White rabbits were used. In the first set of experiments, 24 rabbits (24 eyes) were divided into four groups according to the epithelial removal or AMT. Topical ofloxacin was instilled four times every 15 minutes. One hour after the last eyedrop, the concentration of ofloxacin in the amniotic membrane, cornea, and aqueous humor was evaluated. In the second set of experiments, 24 rabbits were divided into six groups according to AMT (transplantation of lyophilized or fresh amniotic membrane) or duration of application. Ofloxacin ointment or two drops of ofloxacin were applied to the right eye, and then tear samples were collected after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours for the analysis of ofloxacin concentration. RESULTS: Mean ofloxacin concentrations in the cornea and aqueous humor were statistically higher in deepithelialized cornea regardless of AMT (p < 0.05). The mean tear levels of ofloxacin in the AMT groups were statistically higher than those in non-AMT groups (p < 0.05). There was no statistical significance in the tear level of ofloxacin between lyophilized amniotic membrane groups and fresh amniotic membrane groups nor between 1-hour amniotic membrane-attached groups and 6-hour amniotic membrane-attached groups. CONCLUSION: Amniotic membrane transplantation seems to interfere with the ocular penetration of topical ofloxacin in normal rabbit corneas but enhances ofloxacin penetration in corneas with epithelial defects. The ofloxacin level in tears was higher in eyes with AMT up to 1 hour after topical ofloxacin use. Therefore, it seems that amniotic membrane has some potential to act as an effective drug delivery system.

Amniotic membrane transplantation in infectious corneal ulcer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation in the management of treated infectious corneal ulcer in which inflammatory reactions were responsible for corneal damage. METHOD: A prospective study of 21 consecutive eyes (21 patients) was performed. Sufficient antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral agents were applied to eradicate causative organisms before permanent or temporary amniotic membrane transplantation, or a combination of the two in few patients. The amniotic membrane was soaked in antiinfective agents before transplantation in all cases. RESULTS: After amniotic membrane transplantation, follow-up times ranged from 4 to 28 months (mean, 18 months). Clinical indications included Staphylococcus species (four cases), Pseudomonas species (five cases), Acanthamoeba species (three cases), fungus (two cases), and herpesvirus (seven cases). The corneal surface was healed successfully and recurrences of microbial infection were not noted in any case. Visual acuity was improved in cases that were nonscarring or after additional penetrating keratoplasty. CONCLUSION: Amniotic membrane transplantation seems to be a useful adjunctive surgical procedure for the management of infectious corneal ulcer by promoting wound healing and reducing inflammation.

Matrix metalloproteinases are expressed during wound healing after excimer laser keratectomy.

To determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cornea following excimer laser keratectomy, two sets of experiments were performed. In the first experiment, disciform excimer keratectomy was performed on rat corneas. The central regenerating epithelium was harvested at 3-96 h postwounding. MMP levels were assayed in the regenerated central epithelium and the stroma using zymography and immunoblot assays. In the second set of experiments, deep excimer annular keratectomy was performed on rabbit corneas to induce intrastromal epithelial migration. The effect of beta-mercaptomethyl tripeptide, a synthetic inhibitor of metalloproteinase, on the presence and extent of intrastromal epithelial migration was determined. In experiment I, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were expressed in the epithelium of excimer-ablated rat corneas 6-24 h postwounding, but not in the debridement wounds and untreated controls. Only excimer-treated stroma showed MMP-9 activity. In experiment II, intrastromal epithelial migration was delayed by topical application of beta-mercaptomethyl tripeptide, a synthetic inhibitor of MMPs (p < 0.05). After excimer wounds, MMPs are expressed in corneal epithelium and stroma during wound closure. They may play an important role in wound healing after excimer laser keratectomy.

Sequence of precursor polyprotein gene (segment A) of infectious bursal disease viruses isolated in Korea.

The coding regions of segment A of two recent Korean very virulent (vv) infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) isolates (KK1 and KSH) and one atypical IBDV isolate (K310) were amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, sequenced, and compared with published sequences for IBDV. The overall amino acid sequence similarity of the KK1 and KSH strains compared with foreign vvIBDV strains was between 97.43% and 98.02%. The KK1 and KSH strains, like vvIBDV strains, share unique amino acid residues at positions 222(A), 256(I), 294(I), and 299(S). The sequence of K310 strain was markedly different from other IBDV strains. The K310 strain had 12, 2, and 1 unique amino acid substitutions in the VP2 hypervariable region, VP4, and VP3 gene, respectively, and 3 of 12 substitutions in a VP2 hypervariable region were found in two hydrophilic regions known to be involved in antigenic determination. Also, the K310 strain had 222(S) and 254(S), which were found in variant IBDV strains. The SWSASGS heptapeptide is conserved in all Korean IBDV isolates. By phylogenetic analysis, KK1 and KSH were categorized in one group with foreign vvIBDV isolates, but K310 isolate was categorized in a separate group that was differentiated from the other IBDV strains compared. The K310 strain seemed to be evolved from a separate lineage of IBDV strain.

Acridine orange staining for rapid diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is uncommon, but one of the most severe infectious diseases of the cornea. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis as bacterial or herpes simplex keratitis leads to extensive corneal inflammation and profound visual loss. Therefore, accurate and rapid diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis is essential for successful treatment and good prognosis. We evaluated the usefulness of acridine orange staining from corneal scrapings and contact lens solutions for the rapid diagnosis of four consecutive cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Gram stain and culture on nonnutrient agar plates with Escherichia coli overlay were also made. Corneal scrapings stained with acridine orange revealed yellow-to-orange polygonal, cystic structures consistent with the appearance of Acanthamoeba among inflammatory cells and the corneal epithelial cells. The contact lens case solutions of two patients also showed numerous cysts with double wall. Some organisms from the third patient were identified as Acanthamoeba castellani and others as Acanthamoeba lugdunensis. Based on the acridine orange staining results in four cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis, this stain is recommended as a simple and reliable method for the rapid diagnosis of this disease.

Myopic regression after photorefractive keratectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using the 193 nm excimer laser is an effective and precise surgical procedure to correct myopia, but not without complications, such as corneal haze, over- or undercorrection, halo, glare, and myopic regression. Among these, myopic regression, which can reduce uncorrected visual acuity, is the most common and progressive long-term complication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 228 eyes that received successful myopic PRK with the Summit excimer laser (ExciMed UV 200LA, 5.0 mm optical zone) and followed up more than three years at Kangnam St. Mary's hospital. Two hundred twenty eight eyes were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of preoperative myopia and correction: Group I, 79 eyes of moderate myopia (-2.25 to-6.75 diopters [D]) with full correction; Group II, 110 eyes of high myopia (-7.00 to -12.50 D) with full correction by two-zone ablation; Group III, 29 eyes of high myopia (-7.00 to -12.00 D) with partial correction of 6.00 D. Retrospective analysis of the data was performed with statistical evaluation of the incidence of myopic regression, regression formula, coefficient of parameters, and cumulative hazard of regression in each group. RESULTS: An incidence of myopic regression greater than 1.00 D was noted in 40.5%, 83.3%, and 18.2% of patients in Group I, II, and III, respectively. The regression formula obtained from the repeated measure ANOVA was Y = 2.13 -0.47 InX, Y = 3.02 -0.82 InX, and Y = 3.69 -0.50 InX, in Group I, II, and III, respectively. The amount of correction was a statistically significant correlation factor to the myopic regression (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.78, P < 0.001). The amount of preoperative myopia may act as a negative correlation factor to the myopic regression. According to the Kaplan-Meyer survival table, the cumulative correlation hazard was significantly higher in high myopia with full correction than in moderate myopia with full correction. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that the incidence and amount of myopic regression have a tendency to be dependent on the amount of correction, but may be reduced as the preoperative myopia increases, if the amount of correction is the same. A longer term and more detailed study of PRK using a 6.0 mm optical zone will be needed to determine how the amount of preoperative myopia and would profiles affect the myopic regression.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Gogu valley) protein as a novel antimicrobial agent in weanling pigs.

A total of 280 weaned pigs (Landrace x Yorkshire x Duroc) were used in a 28-d growth study to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of potato proteins on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune response, small intestinal morphology, and bacterial populations in feces and large intestine. Pigs (initially 6.42 +/- 0.74 kg of BW and 23 +/- 3 d of age) were randomly allotted to 5 treatments on the basis of BW, each treatment composed of 4 pens, each pen having 14 pigs. Dietary treatments included positive control (PC; basal diet + 150 mg/kg apramycin and 10 mg/ kg colistin sulfate); and potato protein (PP), consisting of the basal diet with 0, 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75% of potato protein. Diets were fed in 2 phases: phase I (d 0 to 14 postweaning) and phase 2 (d 14 to 28 postweaning). Potato protein was extracted from a value-added type of the new potato variety, Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Gogu valley, and was shown to have a minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 to 500 mug/mL. Performance of PC was compared with 0.25 to 0.75% PP, whereas linear and quadratic trends of increasing PP (0 to 0.75% PP) were tested. Over the 28-d trial, pigs fed the PC diets showed improved overall ADG (P < 0.05) and G:F (P = 0.090) compared with pigs fed PP, whereas increasing levels of PP linearly improved ADG (P < 0.05), ADFI (P = 0.052), and G:F (P = 0.098). The digestibility of DM and CP in both the phases was greater in PC than PP, and feeding of PP linearly improved the DM digestibility (P < 0.05) in phase II. The bacterial populations in the feces of pigs fed PC and PP were comparable, except for total bacteria and coliform bacteria in the feces at d 14 and 28, which were decreased in PC; and feeding of PP was effective in linearly reducing the populations of microbes in feces and contents of cecum, colon, and rectum. There was linear increase (P < 0.10) in skin-fold thickness in response to phytohemagglutinin with an increase in PP levels. Haemagglutinin titers on d 21 were greater (P = 0.054) in PC, and at d 28 the haemagglutinin titers were quadratically affected in pigs fed PP (P = 0.070). There was a trend toward a decrease in crypt depth (P = 0.068) and a greater villus height:crypt depth ratio (P = 0.082) of ileum in PC compared with PP. These results suggest that PP may be an alternative to medicated feed with antibiotics because it showed antimicrobial activity by effectively reducing the population of coliform bacteria and also improved the performance of weanling pigs.

Effects of supplementation of beta-glucans on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immunity in weanling pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of beta-glucan on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immunity in weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 210 weanling pigs (6.38 +/- 0.92 kg of BW) were fed dietary beta-glucan (0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, or 0.04%) for 5 wk. In Exp. 2, 168 pigs (6.18 +/- 1.31 kg of BW) were fed no beta-glucan or antibiotics (T1), 0.02% beta-glucan (T2), only antibiotics (T3), or 0.02% beta-glucan with antibiotics (T4) for 8 wk. In Exp. 2, the antibiotics fed were apramycin and carbadox in phase I (0 to 2 wk) and carbadox and chlortetracycline in phase II (3 to 8 wk). During Exp. 2, the performance study was conducted for 5 wk, and the immune response was tested until 8 wk. In Exp. 1, there was a trend for a linear increase (P = 0.068) in ADG as the dietary beta-glucan concentration increased in the diet. The digestibilities of DM, GE, CP, ether extract, Ca, and P increased linearly (P < 0.05) in the beta-glucan-supplemented pigs. In Exp. 2, the overall ADG was greater (P < 0.05) in treatment T4 compared with the control group (T1). Also, except for P, this group showed greater (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibilities than the control group. In Exp. 2, at d 15, 24, and 46 antibody titers were measured by ELISA against Pasteurella multocida type A and D after vaccination with atrophic rhinitis, and they differed significantly (P < 0.05) with no particular trend. Flow cytometry was used to determine porcine lymphocyte subpopulations at 4 and 8 wk of Exp. 2. There was an increase in CD4 cells (P < 0.05) and a trend for an increase in CD8 cells (P < 0.10) at 8 wk in pigs fed the T2 diet compared with the other groups. Overall, increasing the dietary concentrations of beta-glucan did not improve ADG without antibiotic, and in weanling pigs antibiotics seem to be more effective in improving nutrient digestibilities and growth performance than beta-glucan.

Two-step annular tectonic lamellar keratoplasty in severe Terrien's marginal degeneration.

We present a case of severe Terrien's marginal degeneration treated with two-step annular lamellar keratoplasty. Both eyes of the patient had peripheral corneal thinning with ectasia around the entire corneal circumference. First, an annular-shaped ectatic lesion was defined and removed, and donor tissue of the same size and shape was sutured on the recipient bed with 10-0 nylon. Four months later, the same operation was performed in the fellow eye. This procedure allows corneal astigmatism to be controlled either by suture removal or resuturing, thereby substantially improving visual acuity. No complications occurred during 1 1/2 years of follow up.