Society of Toxicologic Pathology Neuropathology Interest Group Article: Neuropathologic Findings in Nonhuman Primates Associated With Administration of Biomolecule-Based Test Articles.

The increasing specificity of novel druggable targets coupled with the complexity of emerging therapeutic modalities for treating human diseases has created a growing need for nonhuman primates (NHPs) as models for translational drug discovery and nonclinical safety assessment. In particular, NHPs are critical for investigating potential unexpected/undesired on-target and off-target liabilities associated with administration of candidate biotherapeutics (nucleic acids, proteins, viral gene therapy vectors, etc.) to treat nervous system disorders.

Second Generation of Tissue-Engineered Ligament Substitutes for Torn ACL Replacement: Adaptations for Clinical Applications.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee joint is one of the strongest ligaments of the body and is often the target of traumatic injuries. Unfortunately, its healing potential is limited, and the surgical options for its replacement are frequently associated with clinical issues. A bioengineered ACL (bACL) was developed using a collagen matrix, seeded with autologous cells and successfully grafted and integrated into goat knee joints.

Evaluation of contractile phenotype in airway smooth muscle cells isolated from endobronchial biopsy and tissue specimens from horses.

OBJECTIVE To develop a method to maintain the initial phenotype of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells isolated from equine endobronchial biopsy specimens in long-term cell culture. SAMPLE Endobronchial tissue specimens (8 to 10/horse) collected from the lungs of previously healthy horses at necropsy (n = 12) and endobronchial biopsy specimens collected from standing, sedated, heaves-affected horses in clinical remission of the disease (5) and control horses (4). PROCEDURES A sampling protocol was developed to recover and maintain a contractile phenotype in ASM cells from endobronchial specimens from freshly harvested equine lungs and from healthy and heaves-affected horses.

A Novel and Faster Method to Obtain a Differentiated 3-Dimensional Tissue Engineered Bladder.

Purpose: We report what is to our knowledge a novel approach that led to the rapid development of a 3-dimensional bladder model, including a differentiated urothelium reconstructed without a period of exposure to the air-liquid interface.

Materials And Methods: Bilayered bladder constructs were produced using anchored mesenchymal cell seeded collagen gels to create the mesenchymal layer. Gels were coated with urine for 20 minutes before urothelial cell seeding.

Effects of continuing professional development on clinical performance: results of a study involving family practitioners in Quebec.

Objective: To evaluate the link between the quantity and quality of continuing professional development (CPD) activities completed by family physicians in Quebec and the quality of their practice.

Design: Retrospective analysis of data collected during professional inspection visits (PIVs).

Setting: Quebec.

Evaluation of the toxicity of eugenol at anesthetic doses in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis).

Eugenol has been shown to induce anesthesia in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). The toxicity of eugenol, administered at anesthetic doses, was evaluated in Xenopus frogs with an average body weight of 28.2 ± 13.

New ligament healing model based on tissue-engineered collagen scaffolds.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is often the target of knee trauma. This ligament does not heal very well, leading to joint instability. Long-term instability of the knee can lead to early arthritis and loss of function.

Potential of skin fibroblasts for application to anterior cruciate ligament tissue engineering.

Fibroblasts isolated from skin and from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) secrete type I and type III collagens in vivo and in vitro. However, it is much easier and practical to obtain a small skin biopsy than an ACL sample to isolate fibroblasts for tissue engineering applications. Various tissue engineering strategies have been proposed for torn ACL replacement.

Poorly performing physicians: does the Script Concordance Test detect bad clinical reasoning?

Introduction: Evaluation of poorly performing physicians is a worldwide concern for licensing bodies. The Collège des Médecins du Québec currently assesses the clinical competence of physicians previously identified with potential clinical competence difficulties through a day-long procedure called the Structured Oral Interview (SOI). Two peer physicians produce a qualitative report.

Eugenol anesthesia in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) of different body weights.

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the duration of anesthesia in Xenopus laevis frogs of different body weights relative to exposure time in a eugenol (350 microL/L) bath. Two groups of 5 female frogs each weighing 7.5 +/- 2.

Determining the number of patient charts necessary for a reliable assessment of practicing family physicians' performance.

In many countries, peer assessment programs based on the examination of patient charts are becoming a standard to assess physician's clinical performance. Although data on validity of the process are acceptable, reliability issues need some improvement. This article addresses the rarely studied aspect of optimal number of patient charts for an acceptable reliable assessment.

Identification of functional markers in a self-assembled skin substitute in vitro.

Some functional parameters were identified and assessed in a tissue-engineered self-assembled skin substitute. This skin substitute was produced using fibroblasts and keratinocytes isolated from adult human skin. Keratinocytes were seeded on a dermal layer, composed of two fibroblast sheets cultured for 35 d.

Practice features associated with patient-reported accessibility, continuity, and coordination of primary health care.

Purpose: On the eve of major primary health care reforms, we conducted a multilevel survey of primary health care clinics to identify attributes of clinic organization and physician practice that predict accessibility, continuity, and coordination of care as experienced by patients.

Methods: Primary health care clinics were selected by stratified random sampling in urban, suburban, rural, and remote locations in Quebec, Canada. Up to 4 family or general physicians were selected in each clinic, and 20 patients seeing each physician used the Primary Care Assessment Tool to report on first-contact accessibility (being able to obtain care promptly for sudden illness), relational continuity (having an ongoing relationship with a physician who knew their particulars), and coordination continuity (having coordination between their physician and specialists).

Assessment of family physicians' performance using patient charts: interrater reliability and concordance with chart-stimulated recall interview.

Peer-assessment processes with chart review have been used for many years to assess the clinical performance of physicians. The Quebec medical licensing authority has been required by provincial law to assess the practicing Quebec physicians on a nonvoluntary basis. During the period from January 2001 to November 2004, 25 family physicians in active practice were randomly selected from a pool of about 300.

Room for improvement: patients' experiences of primary care in Quebec before major reforms.

Objective: To investigate variations in accessibility, continuity of care, and coordination of services as experienced by patients in Quebec on the eve of major reforms, and to provide baseline information against which reforms could be measured.

Design: Multilevel cross-sectional survey of practice.

Setting: One hundred primary health care settings were randomly selected in urban, suburban, rural, and remote locations in 5 health regions in Quebec.

Influence of remedial professional development programs for poorly performing physicians.

Introduction: The Collège des Médecins du Québec (CMQ) offers an individualized remedial professional development program to help physicians overcome selected clinical shortcomings. To measure the influence of the remedial professional development program, physicians who completed the program between 1993 and 2004 and who were assessed by peer review during a 2-year period preceding or following the remedial activities were tracked.

Methods: For each physician, 30 to 50 patient records were selected randomly for review.

CME workshop in recognizing boundary limits during a medical visit.

Background And Objectives: Professional boundaries help to establish and maintain the foundation of the doctor-patient relationship. Our objective was to measure physicians' level of awareness in recognizing a boundary limit, their intention to change their behavior regarding boundaries, and their self-reported changes in behavior after participation in an educational workshop, "The Right Distance."

Methods: This longitudinal study used questionnaires to measure the level of awareness of the participants in recognizing boundary limits before and after the workshop and to measure their intention to change their behavior and self-reported behavior changes immediately after the workshop and 6 months later.

The use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to estimate the dissected composition of lamb carcasses.

A total of 140 male and female Dorset and Suffolk lambs were slaughtered according to four live weight classes (36-39kg, 41-44kg, 46-49kg and 51-54kg). Total tissue, fat and lean masses, and bone mineral content measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were used to predict dissected tissue weights. The DXA total weights accurately predict half-carcasses and primal cuts weights (shoulder, leg, loin and flank) (R(2)>0.

Modulated expression of a nuclear-associated glycoprotein during normal rat liver development and in various hepatoma cells.

Liver plays a major role in systemic detoxification and drug metabolism. NF-164, a protein of 164 kDa predominantly localized in hepatocyte nuclei, was found to be present in increasing amounts during liver maturation. In addition, fetal rat hepatocytes had ten times, and neonatal five times less of this protein than adult hepatocytes.

An innovative approach to remedial continuing medical education, 1992-2002.

The authors describe the process of remedial retraining programs organized and planned for Quebec physicians by the College des medecins du Quebec (CMQ) and report the outcomes of these efforts from April 1992 to March 2002. The CMQ (the Quebec medical licensing authority) developed a process to identify physicians who had shortcomings in their clinical performance, determine their educational needs, propose, in collaboration with the four medical schools in the province, personalized retraining programs (clinical training programs, tutorials, focused readings, workshops, and refresher courses), and subsequently evaluate the impact of these retraining programs. During the ten-year period reported, 305 physicians (216 family physicians and 89 specialists) were referred to the Practice Enhancement Division of the CMQ for personalized remedial retraining.

Cross-sectional profiles and volume reconstructions of soft tissues using laser beam measurements.

Precise geometric reconstruction is a valuable tool in the study of soft tissues biomechanics. Optical methods have been developed to determine the tissue cross section without mechanical contact with the specimen. An adaptation of the laser micrometer developed by Lee and Woo [ASME J.

Tissue-engineered human asthmatic bronchial equivalents.

The isolation of human bronchial epithelial (HBEC) and fibroblastic cells (HBFC) from biopsies of asthmatic and non-asthmatic volunteers provided unique cellular materials to be used for the production of bioengineered bronchial equivalents (BE) in vitro. The HBEC are grown on a mesenchymal layer seeded with HBFC and the BE can be maintained for at least 15 days in culture. Under the BE culture conditions established previously, HBEC undergo differentiation into ciliated and goblet cells, within a pseudostratified organization comparable to human bronchi.

Breaking bad news: impact of a continuing medical education workshop.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of an interactive continuing medical education workshop designed to help physicians in breaking bad news to their patients.

Methodology: Analysis of post-workshop questionnaires from 539 physicians assessing the retention of the key concepts and the perception of the potential impact of the workshop on their practice immediately after the workshop and six months later.

Results: The most significant concepts retained by the respondents are: the need to take into consideration the whole patient (42.