The influence of upright posture on craniospinal, arteriovenous, and abdominal pressures in a chronic ovine in-vivo trial.

Introduction: Most investigations into postural influences on craniospinal and adjacent physiology have been performed in anesthetized animals. A comprehensive study evaluating these physiologies while awake has yet been completed.

Methods: Six awake sheep had telemetric pressure sensors (100 Hz) implanted to measure intracranial, intrathecal, arterial, central venous, cranial, caudal, dorsal, and ventral intra-abdominal pressure (ICP, ITP, ABP, CVP, IAPcr, IAPcd, IAPds, IAPve, respectively).

Influence of head-over-body and body-over-head posture on craniospinal, vascular, and abdominal pressures in an acute ovine in-vivo model.

Introduction: Optimal shunt-based hydrocephalus treatments are heavily influenced by dynamic pressure behaviors between proximal and distal ends of shunt catheters. Posture-dependent craniospinal, arterial, venous, and abdominal dynamics thereby play an essential role.

Methods: An in-vivo ovine trial (n = 6) was conducted to evaluate communication between craniospinal, arterial, venous, and abdominal dynamics.

Venous dynamics in anesthetized sheep govern postural-induced changes in cerebrospinal fluid pressure comparable to those in humans.

Sheep are popular large animals in which to model human disorders and to study physiological processes such as cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. However, little is known about vascular compensatory mechanisms affecting cerebrospinal fluid pressures during acute postural changes in sheep. Six female white Alpine sheep were anesthetized to investigate the interactions of the vascular and cerebrospinal fluid system by acquiring measurements of intracranial pressure and central and jugular venous pressure during passive postural changes induced by a tilt table.

The Sheep as a Comprehensive Animal Model to Investigate Interdependent Physiological Pressure Propagation and Multiparameter Influence on Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics.

The present study aims to develop a suitable animal model for evaluating the physiological interactions between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, hemodynamics, and abdominal compartment pressures. We seek to contribute to the enhanced recognition of the pathophysiology of CSF-dependent neurological disorders like hydrocephalus and the improvement of available treatment options. To date, no comprehensive animal model of CSF dynamics exists, and establishing an accurate model will advance our understanding of complex CSF physiology.

Intercompartmental communication between the cerebrospinal and adjacent spaces during intrathecal infusions in an acute ovine in-vivo model.

Introduction: The treatment of hydrocephalus has been a topic of intense research ever since the first clinically successful use of a valved cerebrospinal fluid shunt 72 years ago. While ample studies elucidating different phenomena impacting this treatment exist, there are still gaps to be filled. Specifically, how intracranial, intrathecal, arterial, and venous pressures react and communicate with each other simultaneously.

Analysis of Pain and Analgesia Protocols in Acute Cerulein-Induced Pancreatitis in Male C57BL/6 Mice.

Pancreatitis is known to be painful in humans and companion animals. However, the extent of pain in experimental mouse models of acute pancreatitis is unknown. Consequently, the severity classification of acute pancreatitis in mice is controversially discussed and standardized pain management is missing.

Modeling the saturation of detergent association in mixed liposome systems.

Cells tune the lipid types present in their membranes to adjust for thermal and chemical stability, as well as to promote association and dissociation of small molecules and bound proteins. Understanding the influence of lipid type on molecule association would open doors for targeted cell therapies, in particular when molecular association is observed in the presence of competing membranes. For this reason, we modeled and experimentally observed the association of a small molecule with two membrane types present by measuring the association of the detergent Triton X-100 with two types of liposomes, egg phosphatidylcholine (ePC) liposomes and egg phosphatidic acid (ePA) liposomes, at varying ratios.

Lidocaine and bupivacaine as part of multimodal pain management in a C57BL/6J laparotomy mouse model.

While the use of local anesthesia as part of multimodal pain management is common practice in human and veterinarian surgery, these drugs are not applied routinely in rodent surgery. Several recommendations on the use of local anesthesia exist, but systematic studies on their efficacy and side effects are lacking. In the present study, male and female C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a sham vasectomy or a sham embryo transfer, respectively.

Polystyrene Homopolymer Enhances Dispersion of MWCNTs Stabilized in Solution by a PS--P2VP Copolymer.

Block copolymers (BCPs) have previously been identified as powerful multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) dispersants in solution. However, relatively high costs and limited dispersibility hinder the use of BCPs in large-scale practical applications. Partial replacement of BCP with a low-cost homopolymer (HP) offers a promising approach to produce cost-effective MWNCT dispersions.

Design and in vivo evaluation of a microparticulate depot formulation of buprenorphine for veterinary use.

Buprenorphine is a frequently used analgetic agent in veterinary medicine. A major drawback, however, is the short duration of action requiring several daily administrations. We therefore designed a poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) based microparticulate drug formulation for sustained parenteral drug release.

Lipid shape determination of detergent solubilization in mixed-lipid liposomes.

The effects of lipid charge and head group size on liposome partitioning by detergents is an important consideration for applications such as liposomal drug delivery or proteoliposome formation. Yet, the solubilization of mixed-lipid liposomes, those containing multiple types of lipids, by detergents has received insufficient attention. This study examines the incorporation into and subsequent dissolution of mixed-lipid liposomes comprised of both egg phosphatidylcholine (ePC) and egg phosphatidic acid (ePA) by the detergent Triton-X100 (TX).

Semi-automated generation of pictures for the Mouse Grimace Scale: A multi-laboratory analysis (Part 2).

The Mouse Grimace Scale (MGS) is an established method for estimating pain in mice during animal studies. Recently, an improved and standardized MGS set-up and an algorithm for automated and blinded output of images for MGS evaluation were introduced. The present study evaluated the application of this standardized set-up and the robustness of the associated algorithm at four facilities in different locations and as part of varied experimental projects.

Transplantation of Autologous Dermo-Epidermal Skin Substitutes in a Pig Model.

Due to its similarity of skin anatomy and physiology, the pig appears to be a well-suited animal model for preclinical studies of skin analog transplantations. The choice of the location of the skin defect and appropriate postoperative measures are essential for the protection of the transplanted graft. This protocol describes in detail a porcine skin transplantation model including peri- and postoperative measures taken to improve and refine the study outcome.

Features, reason for testing, and changes with time of 583 paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clones from 529 patients: a multicenter Italian study.

In this study, we aimed at disclosing the main features of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) clones, their association with presentation syndromes, and their changes during follow-up. A large-scale, cooperative collection (583 clones from 529 patients) of flow cytometric and clinical data was entered into a national repository. Reason for testing guidelines were provided to the 41 participating laboratories, which followed the 2010 technical recommendations for PNH testing by Borowitz.

Could there be Haemodynamic Stress Effects on Pro-Inflammatory CD14+CD16+ Monocytes during Convective-Diffusive Treatments? A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The main aim is to compare the pro-inflammatory CD14+CD16+ monocytes blood levels in patient in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing Mixed online Haemodiafiltration (Mixed OL-HDF) vs. post-dilution OL-HDF and online high-efficiency haemodialysis.

Methods: The study is a prospective double-blind randomized controlled cross-over trial.

Nanoconfinement and Sansetsukon-like Nanocrawling Govern Fibrinogen Dynamics and Self-Assembly on Nanostructured Polymeric Surfaces.

Surface nanostructures are increasingly more employed for controlled protein assembly on functional nanodevices, in nanobiotechnology, and in nanobiomaterials. However, the mechanism and dynamics of how nanostructures induce order in the adsorbed protein assemblies are still enigmatic. Here, we use single-molecule mapping by accumulated probe trajectories and complementary atomic force microscopy to shed light on the dynamic of in situ assembly of human plasma fibrinogen (HPF) adsorbed on nanostructured polybutene-1 (PB-1) and nanostructured polyethylene (PE) surfaces.

Analgesic Efficacy of Subcutaneous-Oral Dosage of Tramadol after Surgery in C57BL/6J Mice.

This study investigated the analgesic activity of tramadol in female C57BL/6J mice by using a single subcutaneous injection (25 mg/kg) of tramadol combined with the same dose given in drinking water for 24 h. We then evaluated the pharmacokinetics of tramadol and its active metabolite O-demethyltramadol (M1). To evaluate pain and analgesic efficacy, we performed clinical and behavioral assessment, burrowing tests, and activity analysis and measured body weight, food and water intake in mice that were untreated (control) or underwent analgesia only (T); anesthesia and surgery (AS); or anesthesia, surgery, and analgesia (AS+T).

The Interfacial Assembly of Polyoxometalate Nanoparticle Surfactants.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) using {MoV} as an example, dissolved in water, can interact with amine-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-NH) dissolved in toluene at the water/toluene interface to form POM-surfactants that significantly lower the interfacial tension and can be used to stabilize liquids via interfacial elasticity. The jamming of the POM-surfactants at the water/oil interface with consequent wrinkling occurs with a decrease in the interfacial area. The packing density of the POM-surfactants at the interface can be tuned by varying the strength of screening with the addition of cations with differing hydrated radii.

Preliminary pharmacokinetics of tramadol hydrochloride after administration via different routes in male and female B6 mice.

Objective: 1) To determine the pharmacokinetics of tramadol hydrochloride and its active metabolite, O-desmethyltramadol (M1), after administration through different routes in female and male C57Bl/6 mice; 2) to evaluate the stability of tramadol solutions; and 3) to identify a suitable dose regimen for prospective clinical analgesia in B6 mice.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, blinded, parallel design.

Animals: A total of 18 male and 18 female C57Bl/6 mice (20-30 g).

HLA-G molecules and clinical outcome in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

The human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) gene encodes a tolerogenic protein known to promote tumor immune-escape. We investigated HLA-G polymorphisms and soluble molecules (sHLA-G) in 68 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Patients with G*01:01:01 or G*01:01:02 allele had higher value of sHLA-G compared to G*01:01:03 (109.

KIR and their HLA Class I ligands: Two more pieces towards completing the puzzle of chronic rejection and graft loss in kidney transplantation.

Background: Kidney transplantation is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. However, despite progress in surgical techniques and patient management, immunological rejection continues to have a negative impact on graft function and overall survival. Incompatibility between donors and recipients for human leukocyte antigens (HLA) of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) generates a series of complex cellular and humoral immune response mechanisms that are largely responsible for rejection and loss of graft function.

Nanocrystal Width Controls Fibrinogen Orientation and Assembly Kinetics on Poly(butene-1) Surfaces.

From the view of biomedical relevance, it is known that a specific arrangement of surface-immobilized human plasma fibrinogen (HPF) molecules is required to retain their biological functionality. Here, we demonstrate a topographical effect of chemically identical isotactic poly(butene-1) (iPB-1) semicrystalline nanostructures on the adsorption behavior, i.e.