Scoliosis induced by costotransversectomy in minipigs model.

Aim To validate surgical costotransversectomy as a technique for creating a scoliosis model in minipigs and to assess whether differences in approach (posterior medial approach, posterior paramedial approach and anterior approach by video-assisted thoracoscopy) lead to differences in the production of spinal deformity. Creation of disease models in experimental animals, specifically in minipigs, is controversial, as no appropriate technique has been reported. Methods Surgical costotransversectomy was performed in 11 minipigs using 3 different approaches: posterior medial approach (4 animals, group I), posterior paramedial approach (3 animals, group II) and anterior approach by videothoracoscopy (4 animals, group III).

Genetic variations of HSPA1A, the heat shock protein levels, and risk of atherosclerosis.

HSPA1A is a serum and intracellular heat shock protein with antiapoptotic and antithrombotic properties. The present study examines the hypothesis that a decrease in the synthesis of this protein in relation to certain polymorphisms of the regulatory region of the HSPA1A gene can define a vascular disease risk phenotype. A randomly selected population was studied and stratified into groups according to the degree of vascular risk.

Mathematically gifted adolescents use more extensive and more bilateral areas of the fronto-parietal network than controls during executive functioning and fluid reasoning tasks.

The main goal of this study was to investigate the neural substrates of fluid reasoning and visuospatial working memory in adolescents with precocious mathematical ability. The study population comprised two groups of adolescents: 13 math-gifted adolescents and 14 controls with average mathematical skills. Patterns of activation specific to reasoning tasks in math-gifted subjects were examined using functional magnetic resonance images acquired while the subjects were performing Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) and the Tower of London (TOL) tasks.

Extracellular heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A) and classical vascular risk factors in a general population.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease. Candidate molecules/autoantigens include heat shock proteins (HSPs); Hsp70 (HSPA1A) is one of the best studied HSPs. Various studies have shown a correlation between extracellular Hsp70 (eHsp70) and anti-Hsp70/anti-Hsp60 antibody concentration and development of atherosclerosis.

Detection of visual activation in the rat brain using 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D: -glucose and statistical parametric mapping (SPM).

Purpose: This study was designed to assess changes in brain glucose metabolism in rats after visual stimulation.

Materials And Methods: We sought to determine whether visual activation in the rat brain could be detected using a small-animal positron emission tomography (PET) scanner and 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D: -glucose (FDG). Eleven rats were divided into two groups: (a) five animals exposed to ambient light and (b) six animals stimulated by stroboscopic light (10 Hz) with one eye covered.