Bioremediation with freshwater bivalves: A sustainable approach to reducing the environmental impact of inland trout farms.

Integrated multi trophic aquaculture (IMTA) is well developed in seawater, while the only suitable organisms for bioremediation in freshwater are bivalves. The aim of this research has been to investigate a novel system, based on freshwater bivalves integrated with rainbow trout, for the bioremediation of inland aquaculture systems. The Unionid species selected for the experiments was Sinanodonta woodiana.

Cardioprotective effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide in isolated rat heart and in H9c2 cells via redox signaling.

The calcitonin-gene-related-peptide (CGRP) release is coupled to the signaling of Angeli's salt in determining vasodilator effects. However, it is unknown whether CGRP is involved in Angeli's salt cardioprotective effects and which are the mechanisms of protection. We aimed to determine whether CGRP is involved in myocardial protection induced by Angeli's salt.

Preclinical evaluation of a novel abluminal surface coated sirolimus eluting stent with biodegradable polymer matrix.

Background: Second generation of drug eluting stents (DES) has attempted to improve safety using abluminal sirolimus drug delivery with biodegradable polymers matrix. The present preclinical study was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy profile of Abluminus™ stents (SES). This is a new coronary stent with sirolimus and biodegradable polymer matrix coated on abluminal stent and balloon surface.

Weighing brain activity with the balance: Angelo Mosso's original manuscripts come to light.

Neuroimaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging are essential tools for the analysis of organized neural systems in working and resting states, both in physiological and pathological conditions. They provide evidence of coupled metabolic and cerebral local blood flow changes that strictly depend upon cellular activity. In 1890, Charles Smart Roy and Charles Scott Sherrington suggested a link between brain circulation and metabolism.

Chemico-physical characterisation and in vivo biocompatibility assessment of DLC-coated coronary stents.

The vast majority of stent thrombosis occurs in the acute and sub-acute phases and is more common in patients with acute coronary syndromes, due to the thrombotic milieu where stent struts are positioned. Stent thrombosis is likely due to incomplete tissue coverage of metallic stents as the contact between metallic stents and blood elements may lead to platelet adhesion and trigger vessel thrombosis. If a stent is covered after 7 days, the risk that it will be found uncovered at later stages is very low (<1%).

Cre8™ coronary stent: preclinical in vivo assessment of a new generation polymer-free DES with Amphilimus™ formulation.

Aims: This new generation of DES has attempted to improve clinical safety by avoiding the presence of polymers. The present preclinical in vivo study was designed to investigate the safety profile of Cre8™ stent. This is a new coronary stent based on Amphilimus™, a sirolimus formulated with a polymer-free amphiphilic carrier released from reservoirs machined onto the abluminal stent surface.

Anatomic, histologic, and two-dimensional-echocardiographic evaluation of mitral valve anatomy in dogs.

Objective: To compare echocardiographic variables of dogs with postmortem anatomic measurements and histologic characteristics of the mitral valve (MV).

Animals: 21 cardiologically normal dogs.

Procedures: The MV was measured echocardiographically by use of the right parasternal 5-chamber long-axis view.

Microdamage accumulation changes according to animal mass: an intraspecies investigation.

The fatigue life of a structure is also influenced by its size. Statistically, a bone from a large animal is expected to bear a higher risk of stress fracture if compared to the same bone from a small animal of the same species. This is not documented in the dog, where individuals can have a 40 times difference in body mass.

Effect of a novel drug-eluted balloon coated with genistein before stent implantation in porcine coronary arteries.

Background: The major drawback of stent implantation in native human coronary vessels is the occurrence of restenosis. Drug-eluting stents significantly reduce restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but may be associated with persistent local inflammation involved in the restenosis mechanisms. In this setting coating coronary devices with anti-inflammatory agents represents an intriguing alternative to stent-based local drug delivery.

Verrucoid lesions of mitral valve in a dog with features of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.

We report a mitral valve lesion detected at autopsy in a 9-year-old male German Shepherd dog suffering from mild mitral regurgitation. Gross examination of the heart showed exophitic, noncontiguous lesions involving the atrial aspect of both mitral leaflets. Microscopic evaluation of the mitral lesions disclosed a diffuse proliferation of myofibroblasts with little atypia, arranged loosely and rather randomly, within a myxoid stroma and associated with inflammatory cells identified as CD138+ plasma cells, CD68+ macrophages, and eosinophils.

Cytostatic drugs differentially affect phenotypic features of porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cell populations.

We studied the effects of cytostatic drugs on porcine coronary artery spindle-shaped (S) and rhomboid (R) smooth muscle cell (SMC) biological activities related to intimal thickening (IT) formation. Imatinib, and to a lesser extent curcumin, decreased proliferation of S- and R-SMCs and migratory and urokinase activities of R-SMCs more efficiently compared with cyclosporine plus rapamycin. Imatinib increased the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in both SMC populations and that of smoothelin in S-SMCs.

Carbon-coated stents implanted in porcine iliac and renal arteries: histologic and histomorphometric study.

Purpose: To test in a pig model the biocompatibility and effectiveness of carbon-coated renal and iliac artery stent systems during implantation procedures and at different follow-up periods.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two miniature pigs received carbon-coated balloon-expandable stainless-steel stents in their renal and iliac arteries. Animals were killed at 7, 30, or 180 days for evaluation of acute, subacute, and chronic biologic response to the implanted devices.