Introduction of Telemedicine in a Prehospital Emergency Care Setting: A Pilot Study.

Background: Advances in information and communication technology have led to telemedicine applications that could support paramedics in the prehospital field. In an effort to optimise the available resources like prehospital emergency physicians (PHP), the State Health Services of a Swiss state decided to launch a pilot study on the feasibility of using telemedicine in the prehospital emergency setting.

Objective: The primary objective was to measure the number of missions completed without technical problems with remote PHP support through telemedicine (tele-PHP).

Detailed Analytical Characterization of a Bispecific IgG1 CrossMab Antibody of the Knob-into-Hole Format Applying Various Stress Conditions Revealed Pronounced Stability.

In recent years, a variety of new antibody formats have been developed. One of these formats allows the binding of one type of antibody to two different epitopes. This can for example be achieved by introduction of the "knob-into-hole" format and a combined CrossMab approach.

Structure and function of purified monoclonal antibody dimers induced by different stress conditions.

Purpose: To investigate structure and function of different monoclonal antibody (MAb) dimers.

Methods: MAb dimers were induced by process-related, low pH and UV light stress. Dimers were isolated and purified by chromatography and extensively characterized by biochemical, structural and functional methods.

The use of microgel iron oxide nanoparticles in studies of magnetic resonance relaxation and endothelial progenitor cell labelling.

In vivo tracking of stem cells after transplantation is crucial for understanding cell-fate and therapeutic efficacy. By labelling stem cells with magnetic particles, they can be tracked by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We previously demonstrated that microgel iron oxide nanoparticle (MGIO) provide superior tracking sensitivity over commercially available particles.

Microgel iron oxide nanoparticles for tracking human fetal mesenchymal stem cells through magnetic resonance imaging.

Stem cell transplantation for regenerative medicine has made significant progress in various injury models, with the development of modalities to track stem cell fate and migration post-transplantation being currently pursued rigorously. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows serial high-resolution in vivo detection of transplanted stem cells labeled with iron oxide particles, but has been hampered by low labeling efficiencies. Here, we describe the use of microgel iron oxide (MGIO) particles of diameters spanning 100-750 nm for labeling human fetal mesenchymal stem cells (hfMSCs) for MRI tracking.

In vivo assessment of mouse hindleg intramyocellular lipids by 1H-MR spectroscopy.

Rationale And Objectives: (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) has proved to be the sole in vivo technique able to measure intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) in both humans and animals. Mouse models are now widely used for physiologic studies and drug discovery. However, IMCL assessment using (1)H-MRS is hindered in this animal model by the small muscle size and strong contamination from the extramyocellular lipid (EMCL) signal.

Biomimetic MRI contrast agent for imaging of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaque of ApoE-/- mice: a pilot study.

Objective: Atherosclerosis involves an inflammatory process characterized by cellular and molecular responses. A slow-clearance blood-pool paramagnetic agent (CMD-A2-Gd-DOTA: P717) chemically modified to create a functionalized product (F-P717) for targeting inflammation in vessel walls was evaluated in vivo in mice.

Methods And Results: Carboxylate and sulfate groups were grafted onto the macromolecular paramagnetic Gd-DOTA-dextran backbone.

Effect of calpain and proteasome inhibition on Ca2+-dependent proteolysis and muscle histopathology in the mdx mouse.

Dystrophin deficiency is the underlying molecular cause of progressive muscle weakness observed in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Loss of functional dystrophin leads to elevated levels of intracellular Ca(2+), a key step in the cellular pathology of DMD. The cysteine protease calpain is activated in dystrophin-deficient muscle, and its inhibition is regarded as a potential therapeutic approach.

Effects of chloramphenicol on brain energy metabolism using 31P spectroscopy: influences on sleep-wake states in rat.

Effects of chloramphenicol (antibiotic inhibiting complex-1 of respiratory chain) and thioamphenicol (TAP, a structural analog of CAP inactive on complex-1) were examined on cerebral energy metabolites and sleep-wake cycle architecture in rat. In the first group, animals were chronically equipped with a cranial surface resonator and (31)P spectroscopic measurements were performed using a 2 T magnetic resonance spectrometer (operating frequency 34.46 MHz).

Loss of skeletal muscle strength by ablation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum protein JP45.

Skeletal muscle constitutes approximately 40% of the human body mass, and alterations in muscle mass and strength may result in physical disability. Therefore, the elucidation of the factors responsible for muscle force development is of paramount importance. Excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) is a process during which the skeletal muscle surface membrane is depolarized, causing a transient release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum that activates the contractile proteins.

Biomedical engineering degrees at Lyon 1 University.

Biomedical diploma degrees have a long tradition at Lyon 1, Claude Bernard University. Since 2004, the transition towards the LMD system leaded to a unified Bachelor and Master Degree in Biomedical Engineering. A next evolution plans the creation of a Biomedical Engineering Department in the future Polytechnic School of Claude Bernard University.

Investigation of NMR limits of detection for implantable microcoils.

Although NMR has the ability to investigate biological systems non-destructively, its low sensitivity primarily has hampered their investigation compared to other analytical techniques. Therefore, optimi zing radio frequency (RF) coils to improve sensitivity do offer benefits in MR spectroscopy (MRS). Sensitivity may be improved for mass- and volume-limited samples if the size of the detection RF coils matches the sample size.

High-resolution contrast-enhanced MRI of atherosclerosis with digital cardiac and respiratory gating in mice.

Atherosclerosis initially develops predominantly at the aortic root and carotid origin, where effective visualization in mice requires efficient cardiac and respiratory gating. The present study sought to first compare the high-resolution MRI gating performance of two digital gating strategies using: 1) separate cardiac and respiratory signals (double-sensor); and 2) a single-sensor cardiorespiratory signal (ECG demodulation), and second, to apply an optimized processing technique to dynamic contrast-enhanced (CE) carotid origin vessel-wall imaging in mice. High-resolution MR mouse heart and aortic arch images were acquired by ECG signal detection, digital signal processing, and gating signal generation modeled using Simulink (MathWorks, USA).

NMR planar micro coils for micro spectroscopy: design and characterisation.

The goal of this study is to determine the concentration sensitivity and the limit of detection of a SNMR receiver planar micro coil with ellipsoidal geometry 1000x500 microm, fabricated using an electroplating technique and used as SNMR receiver coil at 200 MHz. The maximum signal intensity on the NMR images and simulation of RF field distribution allows defining an active volume of 0.8 microL.

Metabolite concentrations of healthy mouse brain by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 7 Tesla.

In vivoH short echo-time Magnetic Resonance spectra are made up of overlapping spectral components from many metabolites. Typically, they exibit low signal-to-noise ratio. Metabolite concentrations are obtained by quantitating such spectra.

Real-time gating system for mouse cardiovascular MR imaging.

Mouse cardiac MR gating using ECG is affected by the hostile MR environment. It requires appropriate signal processing and correct QRS detection, but gating software methods are currently limited. In this study we sought to demonstrate the feasibility of digital real-time automatically updated gating methods, based on optimizing a signal-processing technique for different mouse strains.

Utrophin is a calpain substrate in muscle cells.

Calpains are Ca2+ -dependent cytosolic cysteine proteases that participate in the pathology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Utrophin is a functional homolog of dystrophin that partially compensates for dystrophin deficiency in myofibers of mdx mice. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility of utrophin to cleavage by calpain in vitro and in muscle cells.

Reference signal extraction from corrupted ECG using wavelet decomposition for MRI sequence triggering: application to small animals.

Background: Present developments in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) imaging techniques strive for improved spatial and temporal resolution performances. However, trying to achieve the shortest gradient rising time with high intensity gradients has its drawbacks: It generates high amplitude noises that get superimposed on the simultaneously recorded electrophysiological signals, needed to synchronize moving organ images. Consequently, new strategies have to be developed for processing these collected signals during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examinations.

Sucrose solution freezing studied by magnetic resonance imaging.

Ice formation of a 20% w/v sucrose solution was monitored during the freezing process by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An original experimental setup was designed with oil as a cooling fluid that allows accurate control of the temperature. The NMR signal intensity of particular sampled volumes was observed during the entire cooling period, from 0 to -50 degrees C, showing a peak characteristic to a transition before the loss of the signal.

Novel cell-penetrating alpha-keto-amide calpain inhibitors as potential treatment for muscular dystrophy.

Dipeptide-derived alpha-keto-amide compounds with potent calpain inhibitory activity have been identified. These reversible covalent inhibitors have IC(50) values down to 25nM and exhibit greatly improved activity in muscle cells compared to the reference compound MDL28170. Several novel calpain inhibitors have shown positive effects on histological parameters in an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy demonstrating their potential as a treatment option for this fatal disease.

Evaluation of adipose tissue distribution in obese fa/fa Zucker rats by in vivo MR imaging: effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists.

High-resolution MRI of obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats was investigated to characterize and assess in vivo adipose tissue distribution. Thirty animals were gavaged with a placebo, a PPARgamma activator (pioglitazone), or a dual PPARalphagamma activator (LM 4156). At day 15, T1-weighted images were acquired in vivo using a 2TMRI system with a high in-plane spatial resolution (254 microm).

Contrast enhancement in atherosclerosis development in a mouse model: in vivo results at 2 Tesla.

To develop an MRI method for the evaluation of contrast enhancement in early atherosclerotic plaque development in the abdominal aorta of a mouse model. Male apoE-/- mice from three groups, respectively 4 (n = 6), 8 (n = 11) and 16 (n = 4) weeks were included. Axial T1 spin echo images of the abdominal aorta were obtained above and below the renal arteries (90 microm spatial resolution) before and over 1 h after the injection of a macromolecular contrast agent.

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of large spontaneous aortic aneurysms in old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Unlabelled: Old ApoE-deficient mice were studied in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to prospectively evaluate vascular remodeling associated with atherosclerotic lesions.

Material And Methods: Old female ApoE-/- mice on a normal diet were followed by MRI at 2 Tesla for a 3-month period and killed for histopathology. Aortic dimensions were measured and compared.

Trabecular alveolar bone microarchitecture in the human mandible using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: Cancellous bone microarchitecture in the mandible can influence the success of dental implant osseointegration. The aims of this study were to explore the feasibility of two-dimensional (2D) high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of trabecular bone architecture and to compare architecture parameters derived from MR images between different areas in the mandible, and between sex and dental status.

Methods: 45 mandibular bone specimens (8 mm thickness) were cut from 15 fresh cadavers.

Histological parameters for the quantitative assessment of muscular dystrophy in the mdx-mouse.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe X-linked hereditary disease caused by the absence of functional dystrophin. The dystrophin-deficient mdx-mouse strain is a widely used animal model for dystrophin-deficiency. Several therapeutic approaches for muscular dystrophy have been proposed by different laboratories.