Spatial factors influencing the pain-ameliorating effect of CT-optimal touch: a comparative study for modulating temporal summation of second pain.

Recent studies show that CT-optimal touch, gentle slow stroking of the skin, can reduce pain. However, much is unknown regarding the factors influencing its pain-ameliorating effect, such as tactile attention and touch application site. The current study investigates in 36 healthy individuals, whether CT-optimal touch can reduce temporal summation of second pain (TSSP) compared to CT non-optimal touch and tapping the skin.

Expression of viral CD45 ligand E3/49K on porcine cells reduces human anti-pig immune responses.

Transgenic expression of protective molecules in porcine cells and tissues is a promising approach to prevent xenograft rejection. Viruses have developed various strategies to escape the host's immune system. We generated porcine B cells (B cell line L23) expressing the human adenovirus protein E3/49K or the human cytomegalovirus protein pUL11 and investigated how human T, NK and B cell responses are affected by the expression of the viral proteins.

A new bone-cutting approach for minimally invasive surgery.

Aims: Resection of bone is performed in over 75% of all orthopaedic procedures and the electrically powered oscillating saw is commonly used to cut bone. Drawbacks are relatively large incisions and tissue damage due to overshooting often occur. Therefore, the goal of this study is to develop an improved bone-cutting system that has minimally invasive characteristics.

Triple (GGTA1, CMAH, B2M) modified pigs expressing an SLA class I phenotype-Effects on immune status and susceptibility to human immune responses.

Porcine xenografts lacking swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) class I are thought to be protected from human T cell responses. We have previously shown that SLA class I deficiency can be achieved in pigs by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of β -microglobulin (B2M). Here, we characterized another line of genetically modified pigs in which targeting of the B2M locus did not result in complete absence of B2M and SLA class I but rather in significantly reduced expression levels of both molecules.

Possible detrimental effects of beta-2-microglobulin knockout in pigs.

Background: Despite major improvements in pig-to-primate xenotransplantation, long-term survival of xenografts is still challenging. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, which is crucial in cellular immune response, is an important xenoantigen. Abrogating MHC class I expression on xenografts might be beneficial for extending graft survival beyond current limits.