Sarah and Nate

Honorable Mention, Creative Corner
Tiffany Beck, Mississippi State

 

Visualization of Uroplakin Expression in a Mouse Model of Urinary Schistosomiasis

Honorable Mention, Cases and Abstracts
Amber Kerk, Purdue University 

 

Amber R. E. Kerk1, Yi-Ju Hsieh2, Michael H. Hsieh2

1Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

2Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine

Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease with global impact, which causes chronic urinary tract infections as well as increased risk of bladder cancer and HIV infection. It is the most prevalent form of schistosomiasis in humans world-wide, and is closely related to veterinary diseases caused by other species of schistosome. Infection with the causative parasite, Schistosoma haematobium, results in damage to the bladder lining as evidenced by the hematuria which is a hallmark feature of the disease. The presence of hematuria indicates damage to the bladder lining, which normally consists of an impermeable and flexible barrier. The primary component of this barrier is a meshwork made of tetramers of uroplakin proteins which form an interlocking structure on the luminal surface of the bladder. Previous work by our lab has shown that S. haematobium infection is associated with downregulation of uroplakin expression in the whole bladder.

 

To investigate the expression of uroplakins specifically in the urothelial lining of the bladder, transgenic RFP-uroplakin 1b mice were experimentally infected via bladder wall injection with infective S. haematobium eggs. At 7, 14, and 21 days after experimental infection, mice were sacrificed and immunohistochemistry for multiple urothelial markers was performed on the bladders. Digital processing of the images allowed fluorescence signals from only the urothelium to be analyzed. The relative fluorescence intensities of each marker were quantified and compared. Although no significant difference in relative fluorescence intensity was found between infected and control vehicle-injected bladders, this may be due to a lack of sensitivity in the immunohistochemistry techniques described here. Pursuit of further methods to refine this technique for investigating uroplakin expression in the bladder lining is ongoing.

Veterinary Shortage?

Honorable Mention, Forum
Arielle Breite, Cornell

Having recently had the opportunity to talk with some veterinarians who are “out in the trenches”, I feel as though I have some insight into the supposed veterinarian shortage. According to a large majority of these individuals there is indeed NO shortage of veterinarians at all. Not only are they not worried about a shortage, but instead are worried about the job outlook for our upcoming graduates. From what I gather, most veterinarians feel as though a shortage exists only in places where there is not enough business to support a practice. In the existing practices on the other hand, there are simply no openings for qualified applicants. In light of this, I am strongly against the opening of these new veterinary colleges in such places as Utah, Arizona and, our very own, New York.

Although, with my own graduation looming, I myself am worried about competing with the ever growing number of graduates for the few available jobs, I am also concerned about the quality of education these new institutions will provide and the cost at which they will provide it. With their seeming disregard of the current veterinary climate I worry that their only concern will be their own financial gain and not the education and wellbeing of the students they educate or profession they contribute to. My suggestion is that the AVMA take a stance on this issue and inform these new institutions that they will not accredit them. After all, if the AVMA will not look out for the future of our profession, who will?

Veterinary School Proposal

Honorable Mention, Forum
Randy Bond, Ohio State University

In the past 3 years, class size in veterinary schools has exploded.  The Ohio State University increased from 142 to 162 (a 13% increase and the title for largest veterinary class), Auburn increased from 95 to 120 (a 21% increase), North Carolina increased from 80 to 100 (a 20% increase), Cornell from 102 to 120 (a 15% increase), Purdue from 70 to 84 (a 20% increase), and the list goes on. Literally, almost every veterinary school in the United States has taken on the stance, "expand or die." One can assume that there are only two main reasons for these expansions and proposals:  an abundant demand in the current market (or soon will be), or a desire to make the university more profitable. I will explain why new veterinary school proposals are emerging due to the latter rather than the former.

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Careful what you wish for...

Honorable Mention, Foot in Mouth Disease
Ellen Haynes, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

As veterinary students in busy referral hospitals, we encounter a wide
range of client (and patient) personalities.  Some clients are more
reserved and others seem to want to share more than we want to hear.
Recently, I worked with an older couple who brought their dog to the
Dermatology service because of a chronic skin condition.  During the
appointment, the owners limited their discussion to their dog and his
condition, but as they were getting ready to leave the hospital the
husband turned to me and told me that he wanted to tell me a story.
His wife, knowing immediately what he was going to say, asked if he
was sure it would be appropriate.  With that introduction, I couldn't
possibly resist and the man continued with this story:  Once there was
an old maid who lived alone with only her old cat for company.  One
day, a fairy appeared in her home and told her that he would grant her
three wishes.  Not wanting to waste this extraordinary opportunity,
the old maid thought and thought.  Her first wish, she said, was to
have as money as she could spend for the rest of her life.  As soon as
she spoke, a huge pile of money appeared in front of her.  Then the
spirit asked for her second wish.  The old maid asked to be the most
beautiful woman in the world and immediately her wrinkly, warty face
was transformed and she became a lovely woman.  Finally, she was asked
for her third wish.  After taking time to think carefully, she pointed
to her cat, who was sitting in the corner, and told the spirit that
she wanted the old tom cat transformed into a handsome prince.  As
with the other wishes, this was granted immediately and the
now-handsome prince crossed the room to the now-beautiful woman,
embracing her.  After a moment, the prince stopped and, smirking at
the woman, said, "Don't you wish you hadn't taken me to the
veterinarian all those years ago to have me neutered?"