Wolfram-silicone implants as effective radiation shielding for ocular brachytherapy: dosimetric features and in vivo animal study on biocompatibility.

Objective: To evaluate wolfram as a photon and beta absorber in the management of uveal melanoma with radiotherapy, examining its potential ocular adverse effects and physiologic tolerance using an in vivo rabbit ocular model.

Methods: A method of manufacturing implants from mixtures of wolfram and silicone was developed. Their shielding effect on the radiation of sources used in ocular brachytherapy was investigated by dosimetric measurement in an eye phantom as well as numerical simulations.

What Can Laboratory Animal Facility Managers Do to Improve the Welfare of Laboratory Animals and Laboratory Animal Facility Staff? A German Perspective.

Laboratory animal facility managers must ensure that animal experiments can be carried out under optimal scientific conditions, that all legal requirements are met, and that animal welfare is maximized. Animal experimentation is stressful not only for the animals involved but also for the people who maintain these animals or carry out the experiments. Many of those involved find themselves in a constant conflict between scientific necessity, care, and harm.

Establishment of the body condition score for adult female Xenopus laevis.

The assessment of animals' health and nutritional status using a Body Condition Score (BCS) has become a common and reliable tool in lab-animal science. It enables a simple, semi-objective, and non-invasive assessment (palpation of osteal prominences and subcutaneous fat tissue) in routine examination of an animal. In mammals, the BCS classification contains 5 levels: A low score describes a poor nutritional condition (BCS 1-2).

Increased UHMWPE Particle-Induced Osteolysis in Fetuin-A-Deficient Mice.

Particle-induced osteolysis is a major cause of aseptic prosthetic loosening. Implant wear particles stimulate tissue macrophages inducing an aseptic inflammatory reaction, which ultimately results in bone loss. Fetuin-A is a key regulator of calcified matrix metabolism and an acute phase protein.

cAMP and the Fibrous Sheath Protein CABYR (Ca-Binding Tyrosine-Phosphorylation-Regulated Protein) Is Required for 4D Sperm Movement.

A new life starts with successful fertilization whereby one sperm from a pool of millions fertilizes the oocyte. Sperm motility is one key factor for this selection process, which depends on a coordinated flagellar movement. The flagellar beat cycle is regulated by Ca entry via CatSper, cAMP, Mg, ADP and ATP.

The antennal scape organ of Scutigera coleoptrata (Myriapoda) and a new type of arthropod tip-pore sensilla integrating scolopidial components.

Background: Centipedes are terrestrial, predatory arthropods with specialized sensory organs. However, many aspects of their sensory biology are still unknown. This also concerns hygroreception, which is especially important for centipedes, as their epicuticle is thin and they lose water rapidly at low humidity.

Prednisone prevents particle induced bone loss in the calvaria mouse model.

Introduction: Glucocorticoids are essential in the treatment of many chronic inflammatory and malignant diseases but are known to have detrimental effects on bone. This study aimed to investigate the effects of prednisone on osteoclast functioning in the calvaria particle-induced bone loss mouse model.

Methods: 12-week-old male C57BL6/J mice received subcutaneously implanted prednisone (2.

The tracheal system of scutigeromorph centipedes and the evolution of respiratory systems of myriapods.

The tracheal system of scutigeromorph centipedes (Chilopoda) is special, as it consists of dorsally arranged unpaired spiracles. In this study, we investigate the tracheal systems of five different scutigeromorph species. They are strikingly similar to each other but depict unique characters compared to the tracheal systems of pleurostigmophoran centipedes, which has engendered an ongoing debate over a single versus independent origin of tracheal systems in Chilopoda.

Porcine slaughterhouse lungs for ex vivo lung perfusion - a pilot project.

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is an emerging technique for evaluation and eventual reconditioning of donor lungs. Before clinical use experiments with laboratory animals are standard. It was the aim of this study to compare lungs evaluated with EVLP from laboratory animals with slaughterhouse lungs and to investigate the potential use of a slaughterhouse lung model for ex vivo lung perfusion as an alternative for the use of laboratory animals.

In-vivo comparison of the Ni-free steel X13CrMnMoN18-14-3 and titanium alloy implants in rabbit femora - A promising steel for orthopedic surgery.

A variety of metallic biomaterials is used for fracture fixation. Allergic reactions towards nickel-containing steels urge the need for alternatives. The present study investigated the suitability of the nickel-free stainless steel P2000 in comparison to titanium alloy implants for bone surgical applications in a rabbit femora defect model.

Clinical Development of Sphingosine as Anti-Bacterial Drug: Inhalation of Sphingosine in Mini Pigs has no Adverse Side Effects.

Background/aims: Pulmonary infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) or Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are of utmost clinical relevance in patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after trauma and burn, upon ventilation or in immuno-compromised patients.

A single intraperitoneal injection of bovine fetuin-A attenuates bone resorption in a murine calvarial model of particle-induced osteolysis.

Particle-induced osteolysis, which by definition is an aseptic inflammatory reaction to implant-derived wear debris eventually leading to local bone destruction, remains the major reason for long-term failure of orthopedic endoprostheses. Fetuin-A, a 66kDa glycoprotein with diverse functions, is found to be enriched in bone. Besides being an important inhibitor of ectopic calcification, it has been described to influence the production of mediators of inflammation.

The role of calcitonin receptor signalling in polyethylene particle-induced osteolysis.

The detection of peptides from the calcitonin (CT) family in the periarticular tissue of loosened implants has raised hopes of opening new regenerative therapies in the process of aseptic loosening, which remains the major cause of early implant failure in endoprosthetic surgery. We have previously shown the roles of α-calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP) and the CALCA gene which encodes α-CGRP/CT in this process. To uncover the role of direct calcitonin receptor (CTR) mediated signalling, we studied particle-induced osteolysis (PIO) in a murine calvaria model with a global deletion of the CTR (CTR-KO) using μCT analysis and histomorphometry.

Ultrastructure, functional morphology and evolution of recto-canal epidermal glands in Myriapoda.

In Chilopoda, solitary epidermal glands are composed of a couple of cells only. These glands are highly abundant on the entire body surface and are distributed throughout the single-layered epidermis. Some authors provided more or less comprehensive observations on the structure of epidermal glands of specific chilopod taxa.

Adiponectin attenuates osteolysis in aseptic loosening of total hip replacements.

Joint replacements have a longer durability in patients with high serum levels of adiponectin (APN) than in patients with low levels. We aimed to characterize the unknown pathophysiological effects of APN on wear particle-induced inflammation, apoptosis and osteolysis. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect APN, its receptors and apoptosis in patients with and without aseptic loosening.

RANKL-associated suppression of particle-induced osteolysis in an aged model of Calcitonin and α-CGRP deficiency.

An aging population with higher bone turnover intensifies the need for joint replacement surgery. However, particle-induced osteolysis (PIO) remains a major cause of early implant loosening. Differences in bone remodeling between young and aged Calcitonin (CT)- and α-CGRP (Calcitonin gene-related peptide)-deficient mice (Calca(-/-)) might modify our previous findings regarding CT/α-CGRP in PIO.

The source of chilopod sensory information: external structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in Scutigera coleoptrata (chilopoda, Scutigeromorpha).

The investigation of the antennae of Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of five types of sensilla: sensilla trichodea, beak-like sensilla, cone-shaped sensilla brachyconica on the terminal article, sensory cones at the antennal nodes, and the shaft organ. Alongside the presence and absence of antennal sensillar types, three unique characters were found in the Scutigeromorpha: the presence of long antennae with nodes bearing sensory cones, the presence of a bipartite shaft including the shaft organ, and the presence of beak-like sensilla. Neuroanatomical data showed that the animals' brains are equipped with well-developed primary olfactory and mechanosensory centers, suggesting that the antennae must be equipped with specialized sensilla to perceive chemosensory and mechanosensory cues.

Biochemical markers of particle induced osteolysis in C57BL/6 mice.

Background: Micro-structural changes associated with ultra high molecular weight polyethylene particle (UHMWPE) induced osteolysis, the most frequent cause of aseptic loosening, have been intensively investigated in the mammalian calvarian model by histomorphometry and micro-computed tomography. However, little is known regarding the serological changes that occur during this process.

Methods: Serological parameters for bone metabolism [calcium, phosphate, osteocalcin (OCN), deoxypyridinoline (DPD)/creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB] were analyzed in this animal model for particle induced osteolysis.

Biodistribution of (10)B for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) in a mouse model after injection of sodium mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate and l-para-boronophenylalanine.

In boron neutron capture therapy, the absorbed dose from the (10)B(n,alpha)(7)Li reaction depends on the (10)B concentration and (10)B distribution in the irradiated volume. Thus compounds used in BNCT should have tumor-specific uptake and low accumulation in normal tissues. This study compares in a mouse model the (10)B uptake in different organs as delivered by l-para-boronophenylalanine (BPA, 700 mg/kg body weight, i.

Structure and function of the maxillary nephridium of Lithobius forficatus (Chilopoda, Pleurostigmophora).

Notostigmophora and Lithobiomorpha are the only Chilopoda that have maxillary nephridia. The ultrastructure of the maxillary nephridium in Scutigera coleoptrata was described, but only light microscopic descriptions of this excretory organ of Lithobius forficatus are available. Therefore, we studied the ultrastructural organization of the maxillary nephridium of L.

Osteoarthitis of leptin-deficient ob/ob mice in response to biomechanical loading in micro-CT.

Objective: Mechanotransduction is the mechanism that due to reacting chondrocytes on biomechanical loading of body mass. Higher biomechanical loading lead to increased degeneration of chondrocytes, whereas moderate loading is protecting. This suggests that body fat regulates bone metabolism first by means of hormonal factors and second that the effects of muscle and loading are signaling factors in mechanotransduction.