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Our group has recently developed the GlycoTyper assay which is a streamlined antibody capture slide array approach to directly profile N-glycans of captured serum glycoproteins including immunoglobulin G (IgG). This method needs only a few microliters of serum and utilizes a simplified processing protocol that requires no purification or sugar modifications prior to analysis. In this method, antibody captured glycoproteins are treated with peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) to release N-glycans for detection by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). As alterations in N-linked glycans have been reported for IgG from large patient cohorts with fibrosis and cirrhosis, we utilized this novel method to examine the glycosylation of total IgG, as well as IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4, which have never been examined before, in a cohort of 106 patients with biopsy confirmed liver fibrosis. Patients were classified as either having no evidence of fibrosis (41 patients with no liver disease or stage 0 fibrosis), early stage fibrosis (10 METAVIR stage 1 and 18 METAVIR stage 2) or late stage fibrosis (6 patients with METAVIR stage 3 fibrosis and 37 patients with METAVIR stage 4 fibrosis (cirrhosis)). Several major alterations in glycosylation were observed that classify patients as having no fibrosis (sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 90%), early fibrosis (sensitivity of 84% with 90% specificity) or significant fibrosis (sensitivity of 94% with 90% specificity).

Objective: To assess how pet owners perceive the role of veterinary medicine in addressing climate change and animal health and determine if there is a client-driven economic incentive to establish sustainable veterinary business practices.Sample: 1,044 dog and/or cat owners residing in the United States who had used veterinary services within the last 3 years.Procedures: An online Amazon mTurk survey about climate change and the perceived effects on client-owned dogs and cats was distributed to pet owners.Results: Most respondents believe climate change is occurring, and two-thirds of pet owners would value knowing their veterinarian received training on the animal health impacts of climate change. Over half of the respondents would pay more for veterinary services at a clinic with a reduced environmental impact. Additionally, clients would value some form of sustainability certification to aid in identification of such practices. Demographic influences found to be statistically significant included age, political ideology and where one resides (i.e., urban, suburban, or rural) whereas gender and income level, were not found to be significant.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Our data suggest there is an economic incentive for veterinary professionals to be knowledgeable about the health impacts of climate change and to implement and market sustainable practice initiatives. Prioritizing sustainable practice initiatives and climate change education in veterinary practices has the potential to mutually benefit both practitioner and client through shared patient health and financial incentives.