Improved Hepatocyte Engraftment After Portal Vein Occlusion in LDL Receptor-Deficient WHHL Rabbits and Lentiviral-Mediated Phenotypic Correction In Vitro.

Innovative cell-based therapies are considered as alternatives to liver transplantation. Recent progress in lentivirus-mediated hepatocyte transduction has renewed interest in cell therapy for the treatment of inherited liver diseases. However, hepatocyte transplantation is still hampered by inefficient hepatocyte engraftment.

Analgesic properties of calcium phosphate apatite loaded with bupivacaine on postoperative pain.

Synthetic calcium-deficient apatites (CDA) are structurally similar to biological apatites and are well known as chemical precursors of biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP). BCP are mixtures of hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate and are widely used as bone substitutes in human surgery. Bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, has been loaded onto CDA using isostatic compaction.

CGP12177-induced haemodynamic and vascular effects in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

CGP12177 is a non-conventional partial agonist, known to have cardiostimulating and vasorelaxant properties related to its agonist action on the low affinity state of the beta(1)-adrenoceptor (beta(1LA)-adrenoceptor). In normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), CGP12177-induced vasorelaxant effects were analysed in hindquarter vessels to assess modifications in hind limb vascular resistance, and in femoral artery rings. The global haemodynamic effects induced by CGP12177 were also investigated using telemetry in conscious animals.

Biopharmaceutics of intrathecal baclofen-loaded microparticles in a goat model.

The goal of this study was to develop a goat model allowing reliable pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) sustained release dosage forms using an implanted silicone catheter. ITB PK parameters (clearance, volume of distribution) following intrathecal bolus injection were determined for doses ranging from 100 to 560 microg and a comparison to human data was made. Baclofen-loaded microparticles were then implanted in the intrathecal space of goats and the resulting baclofen levels were determined during 28 days.

Beta-adrenoceptor-mediated vascular relaxation in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Although the impairment of beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR)-induced vascular relaxation to isoprenaline has been extensively described, discrepancy persisted in the literature. In this work, we investigated beta-AR-induced relaxation in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats aorta. We attempted to determine beta-AR subtypes involved in order to understand the conflicting data regarding the beta-AR-induced vasodilation to isoprenaline.