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Cruzat A, Qazi Y, Hamrah P. In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of Corneal Nerves in Health and Disease. Ocul Surf 2017; 15:15-47. [PMID: 27771327 PMCID: PMC5512932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is becoming an indispensable tool for studying corneal physiology and disease. Enabling the dissection of corneal architecture at a cellular level, this technique offers fast and noninvasive in vivo imaging of the cornea with images comparable to those of ex vivo histochemical techniques. Corneal nerves bear substantial relevance to clinicians and scientists alike, given their pivotal roles in regulation of corneal sensation, maintenance of epithelial integrity, as well as proliferation and promotion of wound healing. Thus, IVCM offers a unique method to study corneal nerve alterations in a myriad of conditions, such as ocular and systemic diseases and following corneal surgery, without altering the tissue microenvironment. Of particular interest has been the correlation of corneal subbasal nerves to their function, which has been studied in normal eyes, contact lens wearers, and patients with keratoconus, infectious keratitis, corneal dystrophies, and neurotrophic keratopathy. Longitudinal studies have applied IVCM to investigate the effects of corneal surgery on nerves, demonstrating their regenerative capacity. IVCM is increasingly important in the diagnosis and management of systemic conditions such as peripheral diabetic neuropathy and, more recently, in ocular diseases. In this review, we outline the principles and applications of IVCM in the study of corneal nerves in various ocular and systemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cruzat
- Cornea & Refractive Surgery Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yureeda Qazi
- Cornea & Refractive Surgery Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pedram Hamrah
- Cornea & Refractive Surgery Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Boston Image Reading Center, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
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Lee W, Mammen A, Dhaliwal DK, Long C, Miyagawa Y, Ayares D, Cooper DKC, Hara H. Development of retrocorneal membrane following pig-to-monkey penetrating keratoplasty. Xenotransplantation 2016; 24. [PMID: 28247507 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent reports of long-term survival after wild-type (WT) pig-to-monkey corneal xenotransplantation are encouraging. We experienced the rapid development of retrocorneal membranes, a rare complication after corneal allotransplantation (although seen in infants and young children). The original specific aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with successful (young) pig corneal transplantation in monkeys. However, when it was obvious that retrocorneal membranes rapidly developed, our aims became to determine the factors involved in its development after both WT and Genetically engineered (GE ) pig corneal xenotransplantation and to investigate the characteristics of the retrocorneal membrane. Rhesus monkeys were recipients of penetrating keratoplasty using WT and GE pigs (n=2, respectively, 1-3 months old). Local/systemic steroids were administered for 3 months. Grafts were evaluated by slit lamp for corneal transparency, edema, and neovascularization. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome staining, and immunohistochemical analysis were performed. Gal staining was also carried out to distinguish the origin of the membrane. All penetrating keratoplasty recipients developed fibrous retrocorneal membranes in the early post-transplantation period, regardless of whether the graft was from a WT or GE pig. There were no features of rejection, with no cell infiltrate in the graft or anterior chamber during the three-month follow-up. There was no difference in the clinical course between the two groups (WT or GE corneas). Immunohistochemistry indicated that the retrocorneal membranes were CK negative, α-SMA positive, and vimentin positive, suggesting that they were of fibrous (keratocytic) origin. Also, the membrane was Gal positive, suggesting that it is derived from pig cornea. Following pig-to-monkey corneal xenotransplantation, we report that retrocorneal membranes are derived from donor pig keratocytes. Prevention of retrocorneal membranes will be necessary to achieve successful corneal xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whayoung Lee
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alex Mammen
- Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Deepinder K Dhaliwal
- Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Cassandra Long
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yuko Miyagawa
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - David K C Cooper
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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53
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Attitudes and Knowledge Concerning Corneal Donation in a Population-Based Sample of Urban Chinese Adults. Cornea 2016; 35:1362-7. [DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000000943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Parker J, van Dijk K, Melles G. Updates in anterior lamellar keratoplasty: the state of the debates. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2016.1224656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Zhou H, Zhang W, Bi M, Wu J. The molecular mechanisms of action of PPAR-γ agonists in the treatment of corneal alkali burns (Review). Int J Mol Med 2016; 38:1003-11. [PMID: 27499172 PMCID: PMC5029963 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2016.2699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal alkali burns (CAB) are characterized by injury-induced inflammation, fibrosis and neovascularization (NV), and may lead to blindness. This review evaluates the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for CAB. The processes of cytokine production, chemotaxis, inflammatory responses, immune response, cell signal transduction, matrix metalloproteinase production and vascular factors in CAB are discussed. Previous evidence indicates that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) agonists suppress immune responses, inflammation, corneal fibrosis and NV. This review also discusses the role of PPAR-γ as an anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-angiogenic agent in the treatment of CAB, as well as the potential role of PPAR-γ in the pathological process of CAB. There have been numerous studies evaluating the clinical profiles of CAB, and the aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence regarding the treatment of CAB with PPAR-γ agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130033, P.R. China
| | - Wensong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130000, P.R. China
| | - Miaomiao Bi
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130033, P.R. China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130033, P.R. China
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Gao B, Shao Q, Choudhry H, Marcus V, Dong K, Ragoussis J, Gao ZH. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of colorectal cancer liver metastasis genome sequencing data and screening of anti-metastasis drugs. Int J Oncol 2016; 49:1108-18. [PMID: 27571956 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 9% of cancer-related deaths are caused by colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC patients are prone to liver metastasis, which is the most important cause for the high CRC mortality rate. Understanding the molecular mechanism of CRC liver metastasis could help us to find novel targets for the effective treatment of this deadly disease. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis on the sequencing data of CRC with and with metastasis, we identified 5 colorectal cancer liver metastasis related modules which were labeled as brown, blue, grey, yellow and turquoise. In the brown module, which represents the metastatic tumor in the liver, gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed functions including the G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway, epithelial cell differentiation and cell surface receptor linked signal transduction. In the blue module, which represents the primary CRC that has metastasized, GO analysis showed that the genes were mainly enriched in GO terms including G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway, cell surface receptor linked signal transduction, and negative regulation of cell differentiation. In the yellow and turquoise modules, which represent the primary non-metastatic CRC, 13 downregulated CRC liver metastasis-related candidate miRNAs were identified (e.g. hsa-miR-204, hsa-miR-455, etc.). Furthermore, analyzing the DrugBank database and mining the literature identified 25 and 12 candidate drugs that could potentially block the metastatic processes of the primary tumor and inhibit the progression of metastatic tumors in the liver, respectively. Data generated from this study not only furthers our understanding of the genetic alterations that drive the metastatic process, but also guides the development of molecular-targeted therapy of colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Gao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China
| | - Qin Shao
- Department of Pathology, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Hani Choudhry
- McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, Québec H3B 1S6, Canada
| | - Victoria Marcus
- Department of Pathology, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Kung Dong
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Jiannis Ragoussis
- McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, Québec H3B 1S6, Canada
| | - Zu-Hua Gao
- Department of Pathology, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada
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Kim DH, Kim J, Jeong HJ, Lee HJ, Kim MK, Wee WR. Biophysico-functional compatibility of Seoul National University (SNU) miniature pig cornea as xenocorneal graft for the use of human clinical trial. Xenotransplantation 2016; 23:202-10. [PMID: 27170205 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xenocorneal transplantation is one of the solutions for shortage of donor cornea, and remarkable advances have been made in pig-to-rhesus studies from the immunological perspective. Most successful preclinical trials have been carried out with corneas of the Seoul National University (SNU) miniature pig (SNU pig, genetically unmodified) as donor tissues; however, there has been no biophysico-functional evaluation of the SNU pig cornea as a substitute for human cornea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biophysical and functional compatibility of SNU pig cornea for use in human clinical trials. METHODS Ninety-three eyeballs obtained from 51 SNU pigs were used to evaluate the physical properties and changes in porcine corneal endothelial cells (PCECs) depending on preservation time and storage condition before surgery, proliferative and functional characteristics of PCECs, and the microbiologic safety of porcine cornea. Corneal diameters and curvatures, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and central corneal thickness were measured and compared with previously reported human data. Corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) was serially measured with a confocal microscope during 7 days of preservation in the same storage solution used for human corneas. Corneal endothelial cell proliferation and immunofluorescence staining of Na- and K-dependent ATPase in PCECs were evaluated after 7 days of preservation. The corneoscleral rims of SNU pigs were cultured for gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi to evaluate their microbiological safety. RESULTS Corneal diameter and thickness in SNU pigs was larger than human and corneal curvature was flatter; however, they were within surgically operable ranges. Mean ECD (day 0) and ECD loss after 7 days of preservation were 2625 ± 81 cells/mm(2) and 7.60 ± 1.53%, respectively, which is comparable to human ECD and ECD loss in the same conditions. The ECD of SNU pigs was inversely decreased with aging (R(2) = 0.4034, P = 0.001), and the estimated ages of pigs whose mean ECD would be more than 2500 and 2200 cells/mm(2) or more were 48 and 72 months or less, respectively. Mean doubling time of the endothelial cells was 52 to 96 h depending on the method used. The Na- and K-dependent ATPase pump in SNU pig cornea was well maintained for 7 days. No cultured microorganisms were found upon using the modified European Eye Bank Association protocol, which included additional antiseptic management during the enucleation procedure. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, SNU pig cornea is feasible for xenocorneal transplantation using the same preservation protocol as human with respect to biophysical and functional properties and can be stored for up to 7 days for transplantation in human clinical trials. An age limitation of donor pigs may be required for qualified corneal products to be used in human trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Hyun Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.,Laboratory of Corneal Regenerative Medicine and Ocular Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaeyoung Kim
- Laboratory of Corneal Regenerative Medicine and Ocular Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Jeong Jeong
- Laboratory of Corneal Regenerative Medicine and Ocular Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Ju Lee
- Laboratory of Corneal Regenerative Medicine and Ocular Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mee Kum Kim
- Laboratory of Corneal Regenerative Medicine and Ocular Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won Ryang Wee
- Laboratory of Corneal Regenerative Medicine and Ocular Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Cooper DKC. Modifying the sugar icing on the transplantation cake. Glycobiology 2016; 26:571-81. [PMID: 26935763 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cww028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a transplant surgeon, my interest in glycobiology began through my research into ABO-incompatible allotransplantation, and grew when my goal became overcoming the shortage of organs from deceased human donors by the transplantation of pig organs into patients with terminal organ failure (xenotransplantation/cross-species transplantation). The major target for human "natural" (preformed) anti-pig antibodies is galactose-α(1,3)-galactose (the "Gal" epitope), which is expressed on many pig cells, including the vascular endothelium. The binding of human IgM and IgG antibodies to Gal antigens initiates the process of hyperacute rejection, resulting in destruction of the pig graft within minutes or hours. This major barrier has been overcome by the production of pigs in which the gene for the enzyme α(1,3)-galactosyltransferase (GT) has been deleted by genetic engineering, resulting in GT knockout (GTKO) pigs. The two other known carbohydrate antigenic targets on pig cells for human anti-pig antibodies are (i) the product of the cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) gene, i.e., N-glycolylneuraminic acid, and (ii) the product of the β1,4 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase gene, i.e., the Sd(a) antigen. Expression of these two has also been deleted in pigs. These genetic manipulations, together with others directed to overcoming primate complement and coagulation activation (the latter of which also relates to glycobiology) have contributed to the prolongation of pig graft survival in nonhuman primate recipients to many months rather than a few minutes. Clinical trials of the transplantation of pig cells are already underway and transplantation of pig organs may be expected within the relatively near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Cooper DKC, Ezzelarab MB, Hara H, Iwase H, Lee W, Wijkstrom M, Bottino R. The pathobiology of pig-to-primate xenotransplantation: a historical review. Xenotransplantation 2016; 23:83-105. [PMID: 26813438 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The immunologic barriers to successful xenotransplantation are related to the presence of natural anti-pig antibodies in humans and non-human primates that bind to antigens expressed on the transplanted pig organ (the most important of which is galactose-α1,3-galactose [Gal]), and activate the complement cascade, which results in rapid destruction of the graft, a process known as hyperacute rejection. High levels of elicited anti-pig IgG may develop if the adaptive immune response is not prevented by adequate immunosuppressive therapy, resulting in activation and injury of the vascular endothelium. The transplantation of organs and cells from pigs that do not express the important Gal antigen (α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout [GTKO] pigs) and express one or more human complement-regulatory proteins (hCRP, e.g., CD46, CD55), when combined with an effective costimulation blockade-based immunosuppressive regimen, prevents early antibody-mediated and cellular rejection. However, low levels of anti-non-Gal antibody and innate immune cells and/or platelets may initiate the development of a thrombotic microangiopathy in the graft that may be associated with a consumptive coagulopathy in the recipient. This pathogenic process is accentuated by the dysregulation of the coagulation-anticoagulation systems between pigs and primates. The expression in GTKO/hCRP pigs of a human coagulation-regulatory protein, for example, thrombomodulin, is increasingly being associated with prolonged pig graft survival in non-human primates. Initial clinical trials of islet and corneal xenotransplantation are already underway, and trials of pig kidney or heart transplantation are anticipated within the next few years.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mohamed B Ezzelarab
- The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hayato Iwase
- The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Whayoung Lee
- The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Martin Wijkstrom
- The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rita Bottino
- Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Kim MK, Hara H. Current status of corneal xenotransplantation. Int J Surg 2015; 23:255-260. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.07.685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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Burlak C, Taylor RT. Xenotransplantation literature update, March-April 2014. Xenotransplantation 2014; 21:301-5. [PMID: 24894205 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Burlak
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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