Evaluation of a flow-mediated vasodilation measurement technique in healthy dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the between- and within-dog repeatability of a flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) measurement technique in healthy dogs.

Animals: 43 male and female dogs of various breeds (weight range, 6.9 to 31.

Dietary constituents are able to play a beneficial role in canine epidermal barrier function.

Epidermal barrier function is a critical attribute of mammalian skin. The barrier is responsible for preventing skin-associated pathologies through controlling egress of water and preventing ingress of environmental agents. Maintaining the quality and integrity of the epidermal barrier is therefore of considerable importance.

Contractility of single human dermal myofibroblasts and fibroblasts.

Human dermal myofibroblasts, characterised by the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, are part of the granulation tissue and implicated in the generation of contractile forces during normal wound healing and pathological contractures. We have compared the contractile properties of single human dermal fibroblasts and human dermal myofibroblasts by culturing them on flexible silicone elastomers. The flexibility of the silicone substratum permits the contractile forces exerted by the cells to be measured [Fray et al.