A Dynamic, Self-Tensioning Suture Contracts in Saline to Counteract Changes in Loop Length From Cyclic Loading.

Purpose: To compare the biomechanical performance of a suture with proposed dynamic self-tensioning properties with that of commonly used high-tensile sutures by evaluating suture loop length changes, responses to cyclic loading, and failure testing with intermittent saline soaks.

Methods: Six knots each of 4 different sutures were studied: 3 high-tensile sutures (ORTHOCORD, FiberWire, and ETHIBOND), and a dynamically self-tensioning suture (DYNACORD). After we measured loop length, knots were soaked in 37°C saline for 24 hours.

Sex and gonadectomy modify behavioral seizure susceptibility and mortality in a repeated low-dose kainic acid systemic injection paradigm in mice.

Objective: Sex differences in epilepsy appear driven in part due to effects of gonadal steroids, with varying results in experimental models based on species, strain, and method of seizure induction. Furthermore, removing the main source of these steroids via gonadectomy may impact seizure characteristics differently in males and females. Repeated low-dose kainic acid (RLDKA) systemic injection paradigms were recently shown to reliably induce status epilepticus (SE) and hippocampal histopathology in C57BL/6J mice.

Sex and gonadectomy modify behavioral seizure susceptibility and mortality in a repeated low-dose kainic acid systemic injection paradigm in mice.

Objective: Sex differences in epilepsy appear driven in part due to effects of gonadal steroids, with varying results in experimental models based on species, strain, and method of seizure induction. Furthermore, removing a main source of these steroids via gonadectomy may impact seizure characteristics differently in males and females. Repeated low-dose kainic acid (RLDKA) systemic injection paradigms were recently shown to reliably induce status epilepticus (SE) and hippocampal histopathology in C57BL/6J mice.

A Single Test to Study Social Behavior and Repetitive Self-grooming in Mice.

The ability to recognize and interact with members of the same species is essential for social communication. Investigating the neural substrates of social interest and recognition may offer insights into the behavioral differences present in disorders affecting social behavior. Assays used to study social interest in rodents include the 3-chamber test, a partition test, and a social interaction test.