A new device to prevent fascial retraction in the open abdomen - proof of concept in vivo.

Background: An open abdomen is often necessary for survival of patients after peritonitis, compartment syndrome, or in damage control surgery. However, abdominal wall retraction relieves delays and complicates abdominal wall closure. The principle of the newly fascia preserving device (FPD) is the application of anteriorly directed traction on both fascial edges over an external support through a longitudinal beam to relieve increased abdominal pressure and prevent fascial retraction.

Experimental Studies for Small Diameter Grafts in an In Vivo Sheep Model-Techniques and Pitfalls.

Background:  Scientific attempts to create the "ideal" small diameter vascular graft have been compared with the "search of the holy grail." Prosthetic material as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene or Dacron shows acceptable patency rates to large caliber vessels, while small diameter (< 6 mm) prosthetic conduits present unacceptably poor patency rates. Vascular tissue engineering represents a promising option to address this problem.

Esophageal Heat Exchanger Versus Water-Circulating Cooling Blanket for Targeted Temperature Management.

To date, the optimal cooling device for targeted temperature management (TTM) remains unclear. Water-circulating cooling blankets are broadly available and quickly applied but reveal inaccuracy during maintenance and rewarming period. Recently, esophageal heat exchangers (EHEs) have been shown to be easily inserted, revealed effective cooling rates (0.

Intravascular Cooling Device Versus Esophageal Heat Exchanger for Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia in an Experimental Setting.

Background: Targeted temperature management is a standard therapy for unconscious survivors of cardiac arrest. To date, multiple cooling methods are available including invasive intravascular cooling devices (IVDs), which are widely used in the clinical setting. Recently, esophageal heat exchangers (EHEs) have been developed providing cooling via the esophagus that is located close to the aorta and inferior vena cava.

Evaluation of small intestinal damage in a rat model of 6 Minutes cardiac arrest.

Background: Contribution of the small intestine to systemic inflammation after cardiac arrest (CA) is poorly understood. The objective was to evaluate whether an in vivo rat model of 6 min CA is suitable to initiate intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion-injury and to evaluate histomorphological changes and inflammatory processes in the small intestinal mucosa resp. in sera.

Patency and in vivo compatibility of bacterial nanocellulose grafts as small-diameter vascular substitute.

Objective: Despite the clinical success of large-diameter vascular grafts, synthetic grafts in small-diameter vessels are of limited use because of their poor patency rates. Previous experiments of our group provided evidence for good biocompatibility of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) as a small-vessel graft in the carotid artery in sheep. However, the patency rate of our first-generation tubes after 3 months was only 50%.

Stereological assessment of the blood-air barrier and the surfactant system after mesenchymal stem cell pretreatment in a porcine non-heart-beating donor model for lung transplantation.

More frequent utilization of non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) organs for lung transplantation has the potential to relieve the shortage of donor organs. In particular with respect to uncontrolled NHBD, concerns exist regarding the risk of ischaemia/reperfusion (IR) injury-related graft damage or dysfunction. Due to their immunomodulating and tissue-remodelling properties, bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been suspected of playing a beneficial role regarding short- and long-term survival and function of the allograft.

Metformin causes a futile intestinal-hepatic cycle which increases energy expenditure and slows down development of a type 2 diabetes-like state.

Objective: Metformin, the first line drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes, suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis and reduces body weight in patients, the latter by an unknown mechanism.

Methods: Mice on a high fat diet were continuously fed metformin in a therapeutically relevant dose, mimicking a retarded formulation.

Results: Feeding metformin in pharmacologically relevant doses to mice on a high fat diet normalized HbA1c levels and ameliorated glucose tolerance, as expected, but also considerably slowed down weight gain.

Oesophageal heat exchangers with a diameter of 11mm or 14.7mm are equally effective and safe for targeted temperature management.

Background: Targeted temperature management (TTM) is widely used in critical care settings for conditions including hepatic encephalopathy, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, meningitis, myocardial infarction, paediatric cardiac arrest, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke and sepsis. Furthermore, TTM is a key treatment for patients after out-of-hospital cardiac-arrest (OHCA). However, the optimal cooling method, which is quick, safe and cost-effective still remains controversial.

Zero-Heat-Flux Thermometry for Non-Invasive Measurement of Core Body Temperature in Pigs.

Hypothermia is a severe, unpleasant side effect during general anesthesia. Thus, temperature surveillance is a prerequisite in general anesthesia settings during experimental surgeries. The gold standard to measure the core body temperature (Tcore) is placement of a Swan-Ganz catheter in the pulmonary artery, which is a highly invasive procedure.

Morphological characterization and immunohistochemical detection of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-17A, and TNF-α in lung lesions associated with contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a severe respiratory disease, is characterized by massive inflammation of the lung especially during the acute clinical stage of infection. Tissue samples from cattle, experimentally infected with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Afadé, were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical examination in order to provide insight into innate immune pathways that shape inflammatory host responses.

Contrary seasonal changes of rates of nutrient uptake, organ mass, and voluntary food intake in red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Northern ungulates acclimatize to winter conditions with restricted food supply and unfavorable weather conditions by reducing energy expenditure and voluntary food intake. We investigated in a study on red deer whether rates of peptide and glucose transport in the small intestines are also reduced during winter as part of the thrifty phenotype of winter-acclimatized animals, or whether transport rates are increased during winter in order to exploit poor forage more efficiently. Our results support the latter hypothesis.

In vivo application of tissue-engineered blood vessels of bacterial cellulose as small arterial substitutes: proof of concept?

Background: Tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) represent an innovative approach for overcoming reconstructive problems associated with vascular diseases by providing small-caliber vascular grafts. This study aimed to evaluate a novel biomaterial of bacterially synthesized cellulose (BC) as a potential scaffold for small-diameter TEBV.

Methods: Small-diameter blood vessels with a supramolecular fiber network structure consisting of tubular hydrogels from biodesigned cellulose were created using Gluconacetobacter strains and Matrix reservoir technology.

trans-Resveratrol and ε-viniferin decrease glucose absorption in porcine jejunum and ileum in vitro.

trans-Resveratrol and ε-viniferin are used as dietary supplements. They are reported to be supportive in preventing arteriosclerosis and diabetes and a previous study could demonstrate an inhibitory potential on sodium-dependent glucose transport (SGLT1) in oocytes und mouse intestinal everted rings (Schulze et al., 2012, Genes Nutr.

Feed restriction enhances the depressive effects of erythromycin on equine hindgut microbial metabolism in vitro.

Equine typholocolitis is a sporadic diarrheal disease causing high mortality rates. One of the risk factors responsible for this is the oral application of the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin. The aim of the present in vitro study was to investigate whether erythromycin in combination with feed restriction provokes changes in microbial hindgut metabolism and could therefore be involved in the pathogenesis of equine typhlocolitis.

In vitro studies on intestinal calcium and phosphate transport in horses.

Transepithelial transport mechanisms play a key role in regulating the absorption and secretion of calcium (Ca(2+)) and inorganic phosphate (P(i)) in the gastrointestinal tract. Although intestinal disorders with imbalances in macromineral homeostasis are frequently observed in horses, available data on intestinal Ca(2+) and P(i) transport are limited. The aim of the present study was to characterize the intestinal Ca(2+) and P(i) transport functionally by using the in vitro radioisotope tracer technique with Ussing chambers and to identify components involved in Ca(2+) transport at both mRNA and protein level.

Effects of in vivo lidocaine administration at the time of ischemia and reperfusion on in vitro contractility of equine jejunal smooth muscle.

Objective: To determine whether administration of lidocaine during ischemia and reperfusion in horses results in concentrations in smooth muscle sufficient to protect against the negative consequences of ischemia-reperfusion injury on smooth muscle motility.

Animals: 12 horses.

Procedures: Artificial ischemia and reperfusion injury of jejunal segments was induced in vivo in conjunction with lidocaine treatment during ischemia (IRL) or without lidocaine treatment (IR).