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Wassenaar PNH, Trasande L, Legler J. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Early-Life Exposure to Bisphenol A and Obesity-Related Outcomes in Rodents. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:106001. [PMID: 28982642 PMCID: PMC5933326 DOI: 10.1289/ehp1233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has been implicated to play a role in the development of obesity. OBJECTIVE A systematic review with meta-analyses of experimental rodent studies was conducted to answer the following question: does early-life exposure to BPA affect the obesity-related outcomes body weight, fat (pad) weight, and circulating and tissue levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids (FFA), and leptin? METHODS The methodology was prespecified in a rigorous protocol using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) approach. Using PubMed and EMBASE, we identified 61 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias and the methodological quality of these articles were assessed using the SYRCLE Risk of Bias tool, and a confidence-rating methodology was used to score the quality of evidence. Meta-analyses were performed using random effect models and standardized mean differences (SMDs), or, where possible, mean differences (MDs) were calculated. RESULTS Overall summary estimates indicated significant positive associations between BPA and fat weight [SMD=0.67 (95% CI: 0.53, 0.81)], triglycerides [SMD=0.97 (95% CI: 0.53, 1.40)], and FFA [SMD=0.86 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.22)], and a nonsignificant positive association with leptin levels [MD=0.37 (95% CI: -0.14, 0.87)] and a significant negative association with body weight were estimated [MD=-0.22 (95% CI: -0.37, -0.06)]. Subgroup analyses revealed stronger positive associations for most outcome measures in males and at doses below the current U.S. reference dose of 50μg/kg/d compared with doses above the reference dose. It should be noted that there was substantial heterogeneity across studies for all outcomes assessed and that there was insufficient information to assess risk of bias for most studies. CONCLUSIONS Findings from our systematic review suggest that early-life exposure to BPA may increase adiposity and circulating lipid levels in rodents. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1233.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pim Nicolaas Hubertus Wassenaar
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- New York University Wagner School of Public Service , New York, New York, USA
- New York University Global Institute of Public Health , New York, New York, USA
| | - Juliette Legler
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London , Uxbridge, UK
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102
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Stradiot L, Verhulst S, Roosens T, Øie C, Moya I, Halder G, Mannaerts I, van Grunsven L. Functionality based method for simultaneous isolation of rodent hepatic sinusoidal cells. Biomaterials 2017; 139:91-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.05.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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103
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Toris CB, Gelfman C, Whitlock A, Sponsel WE, Rowe-Rendleman CL. Making Basic Science Studies in Glaucoma More Clinically Relevant: The Need for a Consensus. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2017; 33:501-518. [PMID: 28777040 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2017.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive, and debilitating optic neuropathy that causes retinal damage and visual defects. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of glaucoma remain ill-defined, and there is an indisputable need for contributions from basic science researchers in defining pathways for translational research. However, glaucoma researchers today face significant challenges due to the lack of a map of integrated pathways from bench to bedside and the lack of consensus statements to guide in choosing the right research questions, techniques, and model systems. Here, we present the case for the development of such maps and consensus statements, which are critical for faster development of the most efficacious glaucoma therapy. We underscore that interrogating the preclinical path of both successful and unsuccessful clinical programs is essential to defining future research. One aspect of this is evaluation of available preclinical research tools. To begin this process, we highlight the utility of currently available animal models for glaucoma and emphasize that there is a particular need for models of glaucoma with normal intraocular pressure. In addition, we outline a series of discoveries from cell-based, animal, and translational research that begin to reveal a map of glaucoma from cell biology to physiology to disease pathology. Completion of these maps requires input and consensus from the global glaucoma research community. This article sets the stage by outlining various approaches to such a consensus. Together, these efforts will help accelerate basic science research, leading to discoveries with significant clinical impact for people with glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol B Toris
- 1 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | | | - William E Sponsel
- 3 WESMD Professional Association , San Antonio, Texas.,4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas San Antonio , San Antonio, Texas.,5 Department of Vision Sciences, University of the Incarnate Word , San Antonio, Texas
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104
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Kaltenhäuser J, Kneuer C, Marx-Stoelting P, Niemann L, Schubert J, Stein B, Solecki R. Relevance and reliability of experimental data in human health risk assessment of pesticides. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 88:227-237. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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105
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Impact of a daily exercise dose on knee joint cartilage - a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in healthy animals. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2017; 25:1223-1237. [PMID: 28323138 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of a daily exercise dose on cartilage composition and thickness, by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving healthy animals. METHODS A narrative synthesis of the effect of a daily exercise dose on knee cartilage aggrecan, collagen and thickness was performed. A subset of studies reporting sufficient data was combined in meta-analysis using a random-effects model. Meta-regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of covariates. RESULTS Twenty-nine RCTs, involving 64 comparisons, were included. In the low dose exercise group, 21/25 comparisons reported decreased or no effect on cartilage aggrecan, collagen and thickness. In the moderate dose exercise group, all 12 comparisons reported either no or increased effect. In the high dose exercise group, 19/27 comparisons reported decreased effect. A meta-analysis of 14 studies investigating cartilage thickness showed no effect in the low dose exercise group (SMD -0.02; 95% CI -0.42 to 0.38; I2 = 0.0%), large but non-significant cartilage thickening in the moderate dose exercise group (SMD 0.95; 95% CI -0.33 to 2.23; I2 = 72.1%) and non-significant cartilage thinning in the high dose exercise group (SMD -0.19; 95% CI -0.49 to 0.12; I2 = 0.0%). Results were independent of analyzed covariates. The overall quality of the studies was poor because of inadequate reporting of data and high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the relationship between daily exercise dose and cartilage composition, but not necessarily cartilage thickness, may be non-linear. While we found inconclusive evidence for a low daily dose of exercise, a high daily dose of exercise may have negative effects and a moderate daily dose of exercise may have positive effects on cartilage matrix composition in healthy animals.
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106
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Tellechea ML, Mensegue MF, Pirola CJ. The Association between High Fat Diet around Gestation and Metabolic Syndrome-related Phenotypes in Rats: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5086. [PMID: 28698653 PMCID: PMC5506021 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05344-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous rodent studies have evaluated the effects of a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) on later in life susceptibility to Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) with varying results. Our aim was to quantitatively synthesize the available data on effects of maternal HFD around gestation on offspring's body mass, body fat, plasma leptin, glucose, insulin, lipids and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Literature was screened and summary estimates of the effect of maternal HFD on outcomes were calculated by using fixed- or random-effects models. 362 effect sizes from 68 studies together with relevant moderators were collected. We found that maternal HFD is statistically associated with higher body fat, body weight, leptin, glucose, insulin and triglycerides levels, together with increased SBP in offspring later in life. Our analysis also revealed non-significant overall effect on offspring's HDL-cholesterol. A main source of variation among studies emerged from rat strain and lard-based diet type. Strain and sex -specific effects on particular data subsets were detected. Recommendations are suggested for future research in the field of developmental programming of the MetS. Despite significant heterogeneity, our meta-analysis confirms that maternal HFD had long-term metabolic effects in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L Tellechea
- University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research A Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Melisa F Mensegue
- University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research A Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos J Pirola
- University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research A Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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107
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Ho J, Walsh C, Yue D, Dardik A, Cheema U. Current Advancements and Strategies in Tissue Engineering for Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2017; 6:191-209. [PMID: 28616360 PMCID: PMC5467128 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2016.0723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Significance: With an aging population leading to an increase in diabetes and associated cutaneous wounds, there is a pressing clinical need to improve wound-healing therapies. Recent Advances: Tissue engineering approaches for wound healing and skin regeneration have been developed over the past few decades. A review of current literature has identified common themes and strategies that are proving successful within the field: The delivery of cells, mainly mesenchymal stem cells, within scaffolds of the native matrix is one such strategy. We overview these approaches and give insights into mechanisms that aid wound healing in different clinical scenarios. Critical Issues: We discuss the importance of the biomimetic niche, and how recapitulating elements of the native microenvironment of cells can help direct cell behavior and fate. Future Directions: It is crucial that during the continued development of tissue engineering in wound repair, there is close collaboration between tissue engineers and clinicians to maintain the translational efficacy of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Ho
- UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, UCL Institute for Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Walsh
- UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, UCL Institute for Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic Yue
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Dardik
- The Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program and the Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Umber Cheema
- UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, UCL Institute for Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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108
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Abstract
Systematic reviews, pioneered in the clinical field, provide a transparent, methodologically rigorous and reproducible means of summarizing the available evidence on a precisely framed research question. Having matured to a well-established approach in many research fields, systematic reviews are receiving increasing attention as a potential tool for answering toxicological questions. In the larger framework of evidence-based toxicology, the advantages and obstacles of, as well as the approaches for, adapting and adopting systematic reviews to toxicology are still being explored. To provide the toxicology community with a starting point for conducting or understanding systematic reviews, we herein summarized available guidance documents from various fields of application. We have elaborated on the systematic review process by breaking it down into ten steps, starting with planning the project, framing the question, and writing and publishing the protocol, and concluding with interpretation and reporting. In addition, we have identified the specific methodological challenges of toxicological questions and have summarized how these can be addressed. Ultimately, this primer is intended to stimulate scientific discussions of the identified issues to fuel the development of toxicology-specific methodology and to encourage the application of systematic review methodology to toxicological issues.
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109
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Hawkins P, Golledge HDR. The 9 to 5 Rodent - Time for Change? Scientific and animal welfare implications of circadian and light effects on laboratory mice and rats. J Neurosci Methods 2017; 300:20-25. [PMID: 28502554 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Rodents, particularly rats and mice, are the most commonly used laboratory animals and are extensively used in neuroscience research, including as translational models for human disorders. It is common practice to carry out scientific procedures on rats and mice during the daytime, which is the inactive period for these nocturnal species. However, there is increasing evidence for circadian and light-induced effects on rodent physiology and behaviour which may affect the validity of results obtained from mice and rats in neuroscience studies. For example, testing animals during their inactive periods may produce abnormal results due to cognitive deficits, lack of motivation to perform the task or stress from being disturbed during the resting period. In addition, conducting procedures during an animal's resting period may also pose an animal welfare issue, as procedures may be experienced as more stressful than if these were done during the active phase. In this paper we set out the need to consider the impact of time of day and lighting conditions, when scientific procedures or routine husbandry are performed, on both the welfare of mice and rats used in neuroscience research and on data quality. Wherever possible, husbandry and experimental procedures should be conducted at times of day when the animals would be active, and under naturalistic lighting conditions, to minimise stress and maximise data quality and translatability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penny Hawkins
- Research Animals Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Southwater, UK.
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110
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Mullane K, Williams M. Enhancing reproducibility: Failures from Reproducibility Initiatives underline core challenges. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 138:7-18. [PMID: 28396196 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Efforts to address reproducibility concerns in biomedical research include: initiatives to improve journal publication standards and peer review; increased attention to publishing methodological details that enable experiments to be reconstructed; guidelines on standards for study design, implementation, analysis and execution; meta-analyses of multiple studies within a field to synthesize a common conclusion and; the formation of consortia to adopt uniform protocols and internally reproduce data. Another approach to addressing reproducibility are Reproducibility Initiatives (RIs), well-intended, high-profile, systematically peer-vetted initiatives that are intended to replace the traditional process of scientific self-correction. Outcomes from the RIs reported to date have questioned the usefulness of this approach, particularly when the RI outcome differs from other independent self-correction studies that have reproduced the original finding. As a failed RI attempt is a single outcome distinct from the original study, it cannot provide any definitive conclusions necessitating additional studies that the RI approach has neither the ability nor intent of conducting making it a questionable replacement for self-correction. A failed RI attempt also has the potential to damage the reputation of the author of the original finding. Reproduction is frequently confused with replication, an issue that is more than semantic with the former denoting "similarity" and the latter an "exact copy" - an impossible outcome in research because of known and unknown technical, environmental and motivational differences between the original and reproduction studies. To date, the RI framework has negatively impacted efforts to improve reproducibility, confounding attempts to determine whether a research finding is real.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Mullane
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Michael Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.
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111
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Versteegden LRM, de Jonge PKJD, IntHout J, van Kuppevelt TH, Oosterwijk E, Feitz WFJ, de Vries RBM, Daamen WF. Tissue Engineering of the Urethra: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Eur Urol 2017; 72:594-606. [PMID: 28385451 DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2017.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Urethra repair by tissue engineering has been extensively studied in laboratory animals and patients, but is not routinely used in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE To systematically investigate preclinical and clinical evidence of the efficacy of tissue engineering for urethra repair in order to stimulate translation of preclinical studies to the clinic. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A systematic search strategy was applied in PubMed and EMBASE. Studies were independently screened for relevance by two reviewers, resulting in 80 preclinical and 23 clinical studies of which 63 and 13 were selected for meta-analysis to assess side effects, functionality, and study completion. Analyses for preclinical and clinical studies were performed separately. Full circumferential and inlay procedures were assessed independently. Evaluated parameters included seeding of cells and type of biomaterial. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Meta-analysis revealed that cell seeding significantly reduced the probability of encountering side effects in preclinical studies. Remarkably though, cells were only sparsely used in the clinic (4/23 studies) and showed no significant reduction of side effects. ln 21 out of 23 clinical studies, decellularized templates were used, while in preclinical studies other biomaterials showed promising outcomes as well. No direct comparison to current clinical practice could be made due to the limited number of randomized controlled studies. CONCLUSIONS Due to a lack of controlled (pre)clinical studies, the efficacy of tissue engineering for urethra repair could not be determined. Meta-analysis outcome measures were similar to current treatment options described in literature. Surprisingly, it appeared that favorable preclinical results, that is inclusion of cells, were not translated to the clinic. Improved (pre)clinical study designs may enhance clinical translation. PATIENT SUMMARY We reviewed all available literature on urethral tissue engineering to assess the efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies. We show that improvements to (pre)clinical study design is required to improve clinical translation of tissue engineering technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luuk R M Versteegden
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul K J D de Jonge
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joanna IntHout
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Toin H van Kuppevelt
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wout F J Feitz
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Radboudumc Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rob B M de Vries
- SYRCLE (SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation), Department for Health Evidence (section HTA), Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke F Daamen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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112
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Ramirez FD, Motazedian P, Jung RG, Di Santo P, MacDonald ZD, Moreland R, Simard T, Clancy AA, Russo JJ, Welch VA, Wells GA, Hibbert B. Methodological Rigor in Preclinical Cardiovascular Studies: Targets to Enhance Reproducibility and Promote Research Translation. Circ Res 2017; 120:1916-1926. [PMID: 28373349 PMCID: PMC5466021 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.117.310628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Methodological sources of bias and suboptimal reporting contribute to irreproducibility in preclinical science and may negatively affect research translation. Randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and considering sex as a biological variable are deemed crucial study design elements to maximize the quality and predictive value of preclinical experiments. OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence and temporal patterns of recommended study design element implementation in preclinical cardiovascular research. METHODS AND RESULTS All articles published over a 10-year period in 5 leading cardiovascular journals were reviewed. Reports of in vivo experiments in nonhuman mammals describing pathophysiology, genetics, or therapeutic interventions relevant to specific cardiovascular disorders were identified. Data on study design and animal model use were collected. Citations at 60 months were additionally examined as a surrogate measure of research impact in a prespecified subset of studies, stratified by individual and cumulative study design elements. Of 28 636 articles screened, 3396 met inclusion criteria. Randomization was reported in 21.8%, blinding in 32.7%, and sample size estimation in 2.3%. Temporal and disease-specific analyses show that the implementation of these study design elements has overall not appreciably increased over the past decade, except in preclinical stroke research, which has uniquely demonstrated significant improvements in methodological rigor. In a subset of 1681 preclinical studies, randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and inclusion of both sexes were not associated with increased citations at 60 months. CONCLUSIONS Methodological shortcomings are prevalent in preclinical cardiovascular research, have not substantially improved over the past 10 years, and may be overlooked when basing subsequent studies. Resultant risks of bias and threats to study validity have the potential to hinder progress in cardiovascular medicine as preclinical research often precedes and informs clinical trials. Stroke research quality has uniquely improved in recent years, warranting a closer examination for interventions to model in other cardiovascular fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Daniel Ramirez
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pouya Motazedian
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard G Jung
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pietro Di Santo
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zachary D MacDonald
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Moreland
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor Simard
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aisling A Clancy
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Juan J Russo
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vivian A Welch
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - George A Wells
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin Hibbert
- From the Division of Cardiology (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), CAPITAL Research Group (F.D.R., P.M., R.G.J., P.D.S., Z.D.M.D., R.M., T.S., J.J.R., B.H.), Vascular Biology and Experimental Medicine Laboratory (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), and Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre (G.A.W.), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario, Canada; and School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine (F.D.R., V.A.W., G.A.W.), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (R.G.J., T.S., B.H.), Department of Radiology (R.M.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.A.C.), Bruyère Research Institute (V.A.W.), and Centre for Global Health (V.A.W.), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Lacerda DC, Ferraz-Pereira KN, Bezerra de morais AT, Costa-de-santana B, Quevedo OG, Manhães-de-Castro R, Toscano AE. Oro-facial functions in experimental models of cerebral palsy: a systematic review. J Oral Rehabil 2017; 44:251-260. [DOI: 10.1111/joor.12489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. C. Lacerda
- Post Graduate Program in Nutrition; Federal University of Pernambuco UFPE; Recife PE Brazil
| | - K. N. Ferraz-Pereira
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Science; CAV; Federal University of Pernambuco; Vitória de Santo Antão PE Brazil
| | - A. T. Bezerra de morais
- Post Graduate Program in Physical Therapy; Federal University of Pernambuco; Recife PE Brazil
| | - B. J. R. Costa-de-santana
- Post Graduate Program in Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Federal University of Pernambuco UFPE; Recife PE Brazil
| | - O. G. Quevedo
- Facultad de Químico-Farmacobiología; Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo; Morelia Michoacán Mexico
| | | | - A. E. Toscano
- Department of Nursing; CAV; Federal University of Pernambuco; Vitória de Santo Antão Brazil
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NMDAR hypofunction and somatostatin-expressing GABAergic interneurons and receptors: A newly identified correlation and its effects in schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH-COGNITION 2017; 8:1-6. [PMID: 28740825 PMCID: PMC5514309 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
This review investigates the association between N-methyl-d-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction and somatostatin-expressing GABAergic interneurons (SST +) and how it contributes to the cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia (SZ). This is based on evidence that NMDAR antagonists caused symptoms resembling SZ in healthy individuals. NMDAR hypofunction in GABAergic interneurons results in the modulation of the cortical network oscillation, particularly in the gamma range (30–80 Hz). These gamma-band oscillation (GBO) abnormalities were found to lead to the cognitive deficits observed in the disorder. Postmortem mRNA studies have shown that SST decreased more significantly than any other biomarker in schizophrenic subjects. The functional role of Somatostatin (SST) in the aetiology of SZ can be studied through its receptors. Genetic knockout studies in animal models in Huntington's disease (HD) have shown that a specific SST receptor, SSTR2, is increased along with the increased NMDAR activity, with opposing patterns observed in SZ. A direct correlation between SSTR and NMDAR is hence inferred in this review with the hope of finding a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of SZ and related neurological conditions.
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115
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Laber K, Newcomer CE, Decelle T, Everitt JI, Guillen J, Brønstad A. Recommendations for Addressing Harm-Benefit Analysis and Implementation in Ethical Evaluation - Report from the AALAS-FELASA Working Group on Harm-Benefit Analysis - Part 2. Lab Anim 2017; 50:21-42. [PMID: 27188276 PMCID: PMC5815834 DOI: 10.1177/0023677216642397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
International regulations and guidelines strongly suggest that the use of animal models in scientific research should be initiated only after the authority responsible for the review of animal studies has concluded a well-thought-out harm–benefit analysis (HBA) and deemed the project to be appropriate. The AALAS–FELASA working group on HBA has performed a literature review and based on this review, proposed a method for HBA. Examples of the working group’s approach are included in this report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy Laber
- Chief, Comparative Medicine Branch, NIEHS/NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey I Everitt
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle, Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Aurora Brønstad
- University of Bergen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Bergen, Norway
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Manservisi F, Marquillas CB, Buscaroli A, Huff J, Lauriola M, Mandrioli D, Manservigi M, Panzacchi S, Silbergeld EK, Belpoggi F. An Integrated Experimental Design for the Assessment of Multiple Toxicological End Points in Rat Bioassays. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:289-295. [PMID: 27448388 PMCID: PMC5332192 DOI: 10.1289/ehp419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For nearly five decades long-term studies in rodents have been the accepted benchmark for assessing chronic long-term toxic effects, particularly carcinogenicity, of chemicals. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have pointed out that the current set of internationally utilized test methods capture only some of the potential adverse effects associated with exposures to these agents over the lifetime. OBJECTIVES In this paper, we propose the adaption of the carcinogenicity bioassay to integrate additional protocols for comprehensive long-term toxicity assessment that includes developmental exposures and long-term outcomes, capable of generating information on a broad spectrum of different end points. DISCUSSION An integrated study design based on a stepwise process is described that includes the priority end points of the Economic Co-operation and Development and the National Toxicology Program guidelines on carcinogenicity and chronic toxicity and developmental and reproductive toxicity. Integrating a comprehensive set of relevant toxicological end points in a single protocol represents an opportunity to optimize animal use in accordance with the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement). This strategy has the potential to provide sufficient data on multiple windows of susceptibility of specific interest for risk assessments and public health decision-making by including prenatal, lactational, neonatal exposures and evaluating outcomes over the lifespan. CONCLUSION This integrated study design is efficient in that the same generational cohort of rats used for evaluating long-term outcomes can be monitored in satellite parallel experiments to measure biomarkers and other parameters related to system-specific responses including metabolic alterations and endocrine disturbances. Citation: Manservisi F, Babot Marquillas C, Buscaroli A, Huff J, Lauriola M, Mandrioli D, Manservigi M, Panzacchi S, Silbergeld EK, Belpoggi F. 2017. An integrated experimental design for the assessment of multiple toxicological end points in rat bioassays. Environ Health Perspect 125:289-295; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP419.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Manservisi
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
| | - Clara Babot Marquillas
- Leonardo da Vinci Programme at the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Buscaroli
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
| | - James Huff
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michelina Lauriola
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniele Mandrioli
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Marco Manservigi
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simona Panzacchi
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ellen K. Silbergeld
- Leonardo da Vinci Programme at the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fiorella Belpoggi
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
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Smith MM, Clarke EC, Little CB. Considerations for the design and execution of protocols for animal research and treatment to improve reproducibility and standardization: "DEPART well-prepared and ARRIVE safely". Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2017; 25:354-363. [PMID: 27816577 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review the factors in experimental design that contribute to poor translation of pre-clinical research to therapies for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and how this might be improved. METHODS Narrative review of the literature, and evaluation of the different stages of design conduct and analysis of studies using animal models of OA to define specific issues that might reduce quality of evidence and how this can be minimised. RESULTS Preventing bias and improving experimental rigour and reporting are important modifiable factors to improve translation from pre-clinical animal models to successful clinical trials of therapeutic agents. Despite publication and adoption by many journals of guidelines such as Animals in Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE), experimental animal studies published in leading rheumatology journals are still deficient in their reporting. In part, this may be caused by researchers first consulting these guidelines after the completion of experiments, at the time of publication. This review discusses factors that can (1) bias the outcome of experimental studies using animal models of osteoarthritis or (2) alter the quality of evidence for translation. We propose a checklist to consult prior to starting experiments; in the Design and Execution of Protocols for Animal Research and Treatment (DEPART). CONCLUSIONS Following DEPART during the design phase will enable completion of the ARRIVE checklist at the time of publication, and thus improve the quality of evidence for inclusion of experimental animal research in meta-analyses and systematic reviews: "DEPART well-prepared and ARRIVE safely".
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Smith
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Kolling Institute (University of Sydney), Level 10, Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - E C Clarke
- Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Laboratory, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Kolling Institute (University of Sydney), Level 10, Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - C B Little
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Kolling Institute (University of Sydney), Level 10, Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.
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Verdouw PM, van Esterik JC, Peeters BW, Millan MJ, Groenink L. CRF1 but not glucocorticoid receptor antagonists reduce separation-induced distress vocalizations in guinea pig pups and CRF overexpressing mouse pups. A combination study with paroxetine. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 154:11-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Marbacher S. Can Quality Improvement Tools Overcome the Translational Roadblock—the Vital Influence of the Researcher. Transl Stroke Res 2017; 8:203-205. [DOI: 10.1007/s12975-017-0524-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Abstract
In light of an enhanced awareness of ethical questions and ever increasing costs when working with animals in biomedical research, there is a dedicated and sometimes fierce debate concerning the (lack of) reproducibility of animal models and their relevance for human inflammatory diseases. Despite evident advancements in searching for alternatives, that is, replacing, reducing, and refining animal experiments-the three R's of Russel and Burch (1959)-understanding the complex interactions of the cells of the immune system, the nervous system and the affected tissue/organ during inflammation critically relies on in vivo models. Consequently, scientific advancement and ultimately novel therapeutic interventions depend on improving the reproducibility of animal inflammation models. As a prelude to the remaining hands-on protocols described in this volume, here, we summarize potential pitfalls of preclinical animal research and provide resources and background reading on how to avoid them.
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Abstract
There is no good science in bad models. Cell culture is especially prone to artifacts. A number of novel cell culture technologies have become more broadly available in the 21st century, which allow overcoming limitations of traditional culture and are more physiologically relevant. These include the use of stem-cell derived human cells, cocultures of different cell types, scaffolds and extracellular matrices, perfusion platforms (such as microfluidics), 3D culture, organ-on-chip technologies, tissue architecture, and organ functionality. The physiological relevance of such models is further enhanced by the measurement of biomarkers (e.g., key events of pathways), organ specific functionality, and more comprehensive assessment cell responses by high-content methods. These approaches are still rarely combined to create microphysiological systems. The complexity of the combination of these technologies can generate results closer to the in vivo situation but increases the number of parameters to control, bringing some new challenges. In fact, we do not argue that all cell culture needs to be that sophisticated. The efforts taken are determined by the purpose of our experiments and tests. If only a very specific molecular target to cell response is of interest, a very simple model, which reflects this, might be much more suited to allow standardization and high-throughput. However, the less defined the end point of interest and cellular response are, the better we should approximate organ- or tissue-like culture conditions to make physiological responses more probable. Besides these technologic advances, important progress in the quality assurance and reporting on cell cultures as well as the validation of cellular test systems brings the utility of cell cultures to a new level. The advancement and broader implementation of Good Cell Culture Practice (GCCP) is key here. In toxicology, this is a major prerequisite for meaningful and reliable results, ultimately supporting risk assessment and product development decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pamies
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz , 78464 Konstanz, Germany
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Coelho GDP, Martins VS, do Amaral LV, Novaes RD, Sarandy MM, Gonçalves RV. Applicability of Isolates and Fractions of Plant Extracts in Murine Models in Type II Diabetes: A Systematic Review. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2016; 2016:3537163. [PMID: 27843476 PMCID: PMC5098081 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3537163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Type II diabetes mellitus is one of the most common public health problems worldwide. Its increasing prevalence in several countries and the difficult metabolic control of individuals with the disease justify studying strategies for primary prevention. The population has sought alternative and cheaper ways to treat the disease, including the use of plants considered medicinal by the population. In this study, we carried out a systematic review on the applicability of isolates and fractions of plant extracts in animal models in type II diabetes. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases. Studies using other experimental animals (horses, rabbits, and monkeys) and humans as well as articles in Chinese, German, and Russian were excluded. We assessed the quality of the studies included by using the criteria described in the ARRIVE guidelines. In general, the animals that received fractions or isolates presented reduced blood glucose levels, normalization of body weight and plasma insulin levels, and reduced total triglycerides and cholesterol. In addition, we observed wide variation among the analyzed parameters, which hindered comparison between the studies found. In further studies, standardized reports and experimental design would help to establish comparable study groups and advance the overall knowledge, thus facilitating translatability from animal data to human clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rômulo Dias Novaes
- Institute of Biomedical Science, Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
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123
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Wáng YXJ. Systemic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic imaging technologies. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2016; 6:615-618. [PMID: 27942483 DOI: 10.21037/qims.2016.10.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yì Xiáng J Wáng
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Samuel GO, Hoffmann S, Wright RA, Lalu MM, Patlewicz G, Becker RA, DeGeorge GL, Fergusson D, Hartung T, Lewis RJ, Stephens ML. Guidance on assessing the methodological and reporting quality of toxicologically relevant studies: A scoping review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 92-93:630-646. [PMID: 27039952 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Assessments of methodological and reporting quality are critical to adequately judging the credibility of a study's conclusions and to gauging its potential reproducibility. To aid those seeking to assess the methodological or reporting quality of studies relevant to toxicology, we conducted a scoping review of the available guidance with respect to four types of studies: in vivo and in vitro, (quantitative) structure-activity relationships ([Q]SARs), physico-chemical, and human observational studies. Our aims were to identify the available guidance in this diverse literature, briefly summarize each document, and distill the common elements of these documents for each study type. In general, we found considerable guidance for in vivo and human studies, but only one paper addressed in vitro studies exclusively. The guidance for (Q)SAR studies and physico-chemical studies was scant but authoritative. There was substantial overlap across guidance documents in the proposed criteria for both methodological and reporting quality. Some guidance documents address toxicology research directly, whereas others address preclinical research generally or clinical research and therefore may not be fully applicable to the toxicology context without some translation. Another challenge is the degree to which assessments of methodological quality in toxicology should focus on risk of bias - as in clinical medicine and healthcare - or be broadened to include other quality measures, such as confirming the identity of test substances prior to exposure. Our review is intended primarily for those in toxicology and risk assessment seeking an entry point into the extensive and diverse literature on methodological and reporting quality applicable to their work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gbeminiyi O Samuel
- Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | | | - Robert A Wright
- William H. Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 E. Monument St., Suite 1-200, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - Manoj Mathew Lalu
- The Ottawa Hospital, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4E9, Canada.
| | - Grace Patlewicz
- DuPont Haskell Global Centers, 1090 Elkton Rd., Newark, DE 19711, USA.
| | - Richard A Becker
- Science and Research Division, American Chemistry Council, 700 2nd St., NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA.
| | | | - Dean Fergusson
- The Ottawa Hospital, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4E9, Canada.
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - R Jeffrey Lewis
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., 1545 U.S. Highway 22 East, Room LA 350, Annandale, NJ 08801, USA.
| | - Martin L Stephens
- Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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A systematic review and meta-analysis of the ability of analgesic drugs to reduce metastasis in experimental cancer models. Pain 2016; 156:1835-1844. [PMID: 26181303 PMCID: PMC4770345 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Analgesics are commonly used to manage pain in cancer patients. It has been suggested that there might be a relation between analgesics and the outgrowth of metastases. Opioids might increase and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs decrease the risk of metastasis. Robust analysis of all preclinical evidence, however, has so far been lacking. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of treatment with analgesics on metastasis in experimental animal models. One hundred forty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Study characteristics, outcome data on the number, and incidence of metastases were extracted, and methodological quality was assessed. In the meta-analysis, we included 215 (±4000 animals) and 137 (±3000 animals) comparisons between analgesic vs control treatment, respectively, on the number and incidence of metastases. Overall, treatment with analgesics significantly decreases the number and risk of metastasis. This effect appears mainly to be the consequence of the efficacy of NSAIDs. Other factors that modify the efficacy are species, type of NSAIDs administered, timing, and duration of treatment. There is no evidence indicating that treatment with any analgesics increases the occurrence of metastases. Our findings appear robust for the various animal models and designs included in this review, which increases our confidence in the result and translatability to the clinical situation.
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Tractenberg SG, Levandowski ML, de Azeredo LA, Orso R, Roithmann LG, Hoffmann ES, Brenhouse H, Grassi-Oliveira R. An overview of maternal separation effects on behavioural outcomes in mice: Evidence from a four-stage methodological systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 68:489-503. [PMID: 27328784 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) developmental effects have been widely studied by preclinical researchers. Despite the growing body of evidence from ELS models, such as the maternal separation paradigm, the reported results have marked inconsistencies. The maternal separation model has several methodological pitfalls that could influence the reliability of its results. Here, we critically review 94 mice studies that addressed the effects of maternal separation on behavioural outcomes. We also discuss methodological issues related to the heterogeneity of separation protocols and the quality of reporting methods. Our findings indicate a lack of consistency in maternal separation effects: major studies of behavioural and biological phenotypes failed to find significant deleterious effects. Furthermore, we identified several specific variations in separation methodological procedures. These methodological variations could contribute to the inconsistency of maternal separation effects by producing different degrees of stress exposure in maternal separation-reared pups. These methodological problems, together with insufficient reporting, might lead to inaccurate and unreliable effect estimates in maternal separation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saulo G Tractenberg
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), 6681 Ipiranga Avenue, Building 11, Room 928 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mateus L Levandowski
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), 6681 Ipiranga Avenue, Building 11, Room 928 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lucas Araújo de Azeredo
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), 6681 Ipiranga Avenue, Building 11, Room 928 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Orso
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), 6681 Ipiranga Avenue, Building 11, Room 928 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Laura G Roithmann
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), 6681 Ipiranga Avenue, Building 11, Room 928 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Emerson S Hoffmann
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), 6681 Ipiranga Avenue, Building 11, Room 928 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Heather Brenhouse
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, 125 Nightingale Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCNL), Post-Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), 6681 Ipiranga Avenue, Building 11, Room 928 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Pediatrics and Children Healths, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Fiorito G, Affuso A, Basil J, Cole A, de Girolamo P, D'Angelo L, Dickel L, Gestal C, Grasso F, Kuba M, Mark F, Melillo D, Osorio D, Perkins K, Ponte G, Shashar N, Smith D, Smith J, Andrews PLR. Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research -A consensus based on an initiative by CephRes, FELASA and the Boyd Group. Lab Anim 2016; 49:1-90. [PMID: 26354955 DOI: 10.1177/0023677215580006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper is the result of an international initiative and is a first attempt to develop guidelines for the care and welfare of cephalopods (i.e. nautilus, cuttlefish, squid and octopus) following the inclusion of this Class of ∼700 known living invertebrate species in Directive 2010/63/EU. It aims to provide information for investigators, animal care committees, facility managers and animal care staff which will assist in improving both the care given to cephalopods, and the manner in which experimental procedures are carried out. Topics covered include: implications of the Directive for cephalopod research; project application requirements and the authorisation process; the application of the 3Rs principles; the need for harm-benefit assessment and severity classification. Guidelines and species-specific requirements are provided on: i. supply, capture and transport; ii. environmental characteristics and design of facilities (e.g. water quality control, lighting requirements, vibration/noise sensitivity); iii. accommodation and care (including tank design), animal handling, feeding and environmental enrichment; iv. assessment of health and welfare (e.g. monitoring biomarkers, physical and behavioural signs); v. approaches to severity assessment; vi. disease (causes, prevention and treatment); vii. scientific procedures, general anaesthesia and analgesia, methods of humane killing and confirmation of death. Sections covering risk assessment for operators and education and training requirements for carers, researchers and veterinarians are also included. Detailed aspects of care and welfare requirements for the main laboratory species currently used are summarised in Appendices. Knowledge gaps are highlighted to prompt research to enhance the evidence base for future revision of these guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziano Fiorito
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Napoli, Italy Association for Cephalopod Research 'CephRes', Italy
| | - Andrea Affuso
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Napoli, Italy Animal Model Facility - BIOGEM S.C.A.R.L., Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - Jennifer Basil
- Biology Department, Brooklyn College - CUNY Graduate Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Alison Cole
- Association for Cephalopod Research 'CephRes', Italy
| | - Paolo de Girolamo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions - University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy AISAL - Associazione Italiana per le Scienze degli Animali da Laboratorio, Milano, Italy
| | - Livia D'Angelo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions - University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy AISAL - Associazione Italiana per le Scienze degli Animali da Laboratorio, Milano, Italy
| | - Ludovic Dickel
- Groupe mémoire et Plasticité comportementale, University of Caen Basse-Normandy, Caen, France
| | - Camino Gestal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM-CSIC), Vigo, Spain
| | - Frank Grasso
- BioMimetic and Cognitive Robotics, Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College - CUNY, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Michael Kuba
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Felix Mark
- Integrative Ecophysiology, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Daniela Melillo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniel Osorio
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | - Kerry Perkins
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | | | - Nadav Shashar
- Department of Life Sciences, Eilat Campus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer, Sheva, Israel
| | - David Smith
- FELASA, Federation for Laboratory Animal Science Associations
| | | | - Paul L R Andrews
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, St George's University of London, London, UK Association for Cephalopod Research 'CephRes', Italy
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128
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Actual Usage and Quality of Experimental Colitis Models in Preclinical Efficacy Testing: A Scoping Review. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2016; 22:1296-305. [PMID: 27104821 DOI: 10.1097/mib.0000000000000758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no standardized validated experimental model used to predict human drug response, and the choice of model is not based on systematic evidence. Therefore, we decided to systematically investigate which models are currently used by selecting studies from literature that use prescribed inflammatory bowel disease medication as a positive control. METHODS A search of PubMed was performed using terms describing experimental colitis models and the drugs used in corresponding clinical practice followed by the application of an animal filter. Each article was read and scored using a predesigned form describing the characteristics of the study (17 items), a quality assessment (10 items) completed by a meta-analysis. RESULTS One hundred ninety-four unique articles were included that met the selection criteria. A large heterogeneity was found regarding the characteristics of the animals used, induction methods, treatment protocol, and reporting quality. If categorized by colitis model only a small number of studies used a chronic model (10/194). Almost all use acute chemical models that investigate a response to epithelial damage, rather than chronic colitis. Fifty-six percent used a TNBS model and 20% used a dextran sodium sulfate model. In these models, an ameliorating effect of 5-ASA and corticosteroids was demonstrated and also a difference in outcome when male or female animals are used. CONCLUSIONS This scope describes a huge heterogeneity in study designs for preclinical drug efficacy. In addition, more than three-quarters of the studies used an acute model irrelevant for testing new treatment options for inflammatory bowel disease.
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Hooijmans CR, Geessink FJ, Ritskes-Hoitinga M, Scheffer GJ. A Systematic Review of the Modifying Effect of Anaesthetic Drugs on Metastasis in Animal Models for Cancer. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156152. [PMID: 27227779 PMCID: PMC4882001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Distant metastasis or local recurrence after primary tumour resection remain a major clinical problem. The anaesthetic technique used during oncologic surgery is suggested to influence the metastatic process. While awaiting the results of ongoing randomised controlled trials (RCTs), we have analyzed the evidence regarding the influence of anaesthetic drugs on experimental tumour metastasis in animal studies. Methods PubMed and Embase were searched until April 21st, 2015. Studies were included in the systematic review when they 1) assessed the effect of an anaesthetic drug used in clinical practice on the number or incidence of metastasis in animal models with experimental cancer, 2) included an appropriate control group, and 3) presented unique data. Results 20 studies met the inclusion criteria (published between 1958–2010). Data on number of metastases could be retrieved from 17 studies. These studies described 41 independent comparisons, 33 of which could be included in the meta-analysis (MA). The incidence of metastases was studied in 3 unique papers. From these 3 papers, data on 7 independent comparisons could be extracted and included in the MA. Locally administered local anaesthetics appear to decrease the number of metastases (SMD -6.15 [-8.42; -3.88]), whereas general anaesthetics (RD: 0.136 [0.045, 0.226]), and more specifically volatile anaesthetics (SMD 0.54 [0.24; 0.84]), appear to increase the number and risk of metastases in animal models for cancer. Conclusions Anaesthetics influence the number and incidence of metastases in experimental cancer models. Although more high quality experimental research is necessary, based on the currently available evidence from animal studies, there is no indication to suggest that locally administered local anaesthetics are harmful during surgery in cancer patients. Volatile anaesthetics, however, might increase metastasis in animal models and clinical trials investigating this possibly harmful effect should receive priority. The results of our systematic review in animal studies are broadly consistent with clinical reports that anaesthetic technique does seem to affect the tumour metastasis process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlijn R. Hooijmans
- Department of SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE), Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Florentine J. Geessink
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga
- Department of SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE), Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Gert Jan Scheffer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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130
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Liu Y, Zhao X, Mai Y, Li X, Wang J, Chen L, Mu J, Jin G, Gou H, Sun W, Feng Y. Adherence to ARRIVE Guidelines in Chinese Journal Reports on Neoplasms in Animals. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154657. [PMID: 27182788 PMCID: PMC4868299 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Animals in Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines were published in 2010 with the aim of improving the quality of studies involving animals. However, how well Chinese studies involving animal neoplasms adhere to these guidelines has not been assessed. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the reporting quality of such experiments published between 2010 and 2012 in Chinese journals with support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. METHODS We searched the Chinese Science Citation and Chinese Journal Full-Text Databases for articles published between 2010 and 2012 involving neoplasms in animals. The data were extracted into pre-prepared forms. Reporting quality was assessed using the ARRIVE checklist-39 items plus information on blinding. RESULTS Three hundred and ninety-six animal studies were included in the analysis: 127 studies published in 2010, 140 studies published in 2011, and 129 studies published in 2012. The range of ARRIVE score is from 12 to 27 with a maximum possible score of 40. Studies published in 2012 (P = 0.012), 2011 (P = 0.015), 2010, July~Dec (P<0.017) had a significantly larger ARRIVE checklist score than those published in Jan.~June, 2010, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Experiments involving neoplasms in animals published in Chinese journals generally have not comprehensively reported the information recommended by the ARRIVE guidelines. We strongly recommend that researchers conducting such studies report this information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Liu
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Dongzhimen, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Xingxing Zhao
- Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yuefen Mai
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jin Wang
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lili Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jing Mu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Gengxue Jin
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongping Gou
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wanting Sun
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuchen Feng
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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131
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Carbone L, Austin J. Pain and Laboratory Animals: Publication Practices for Better Data Reproducibility and Better Animal Welfare. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155001. [PMID: 27171143 PMCID: PMC4865140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientists who perform major survival surgery on laboratory animals face a dual welfare and methodological challenge: how to choose surgical anesthetics and post-operative analgesics that will best control animal suffering, knowing that both pain and the drugs that manage pain can all affect research outcomes. Scientists who publish full descriptions of animal procedures allow critical and systematic reviews of data, demonstrate their adherence to animal welfare norms, and guide other scientists on how to conduct their own studies in the field. We investigated what information on animal pain management a reasonably diligent scientist might find in planning for a successful experiment. To explore how scientists in a range of fields describe their management of this ethical and methodological concern, we scored 400 scientific articles that included major animal survival surgeries as part of their experimental methods, for the completeness of information on anesthesia and analgesia. The 400 articles (250 accepted for publication pre-2011, and 150 in 2014–15, along with 174 articles they reference) included thoracotomies, craniotomies, gonadectomies, organ transplants, peripheral nerve injuries, spinal laminectomies and orthopedic procedures in dogs, primates, swine, mice, rats and other rodents. We scored articles for Publication Completeness (PC), which was any mention of use of anesthetics or analgesics; Analgesia Use (AU) which was any use of post-surgical analgesics, and Analgesia Completeness (a composite score comprising intra-operative analgesia, extended post-surgical analgesia, and use of multimodal analgesia). 338 of 400 articles were PC. 98 of these 338 were AU, with some mention of analgesia, while 240 of 338 mentioned anesthesia only but not post-surgical analgesia. Journals’ caliber, as measured by their 2013 Impact Factor, had no effect on PC or AU. We found no effect of whether a journal instructs authors to consult the ARRIVE publishing guidelines published in 2010 on PC or AC for the 150 mouse and rat articles in our 2014–15 dataset. None of the 302 articles that were silent about analgesic use included an explicit statement that analgesics were withheld, or a discussion of how pain management or untreated pain might affect results. We conclude that current scientific literature cannot be trusted to present full detail on use of animal anesthetics and analgesics. We report that publication guidelines focus more on other potential sources of bias in experimental results, under-appreciate the potential for pain and pain drugs to skew data, and thus mostly treat pain management as solely an animal welfare concern, in the jurisdiction of animal care and use committees. At the same time, animal welfare regulations do not include guidance on publishing animal data, even though publication is an integral part of the cycle of research and can affect the welfare of animals in studies building on published work, leaving it to journals and authors to voluntarily decide what details of animal use to publish. We suggest that journals, scientists and animal welfare regulators should revise current guidelines and regulations, on treatment of pain and on transparent reporting of treatment of pain, to improve this dual welfare and data-quality deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry Carbone
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus, San Francisco, California 94143-0564, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jamie Austin
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus, San Francisco, California 94143-0564, United States of America
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Xue JD, Gao J, Fu Q, Feng C, Xie H. Seeding cell approach for tissue-engineered urethral reconstruction in animal study: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 241:1416-28. [PMID: 27022134 DOI: 10.1177/1535370216640148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We systematically reviewed published preclinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness of cell-seeded tissue engineering approach for urethral reconstruction in an animal model. The outcomes were summarized by success factors in the animal experiments, which evaluate the possibility and feasibility of a clinical application in the future. Preclinical studies of tissue engineering approaches for urethral reconstruction were identified through a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and Biosis Previews (web of science SP) databases for studies published from 1 January 1980 to 23 November 2014. Primary studies were included if urethral reconstruction was performed using a tissue-engineered biomaterial in any animal species (with the experiment group being a cell-seeded scaffold and the control group being a cell-free scaffold) with histology and urethrography as the outcome measure. A total of 15 preclinical studies were included in our meta-analysis. The histology and urethrography outcome between the experimental and control groups were considered to be the most clinically relevant. Through this systematic approach, our outcomes suggested that applying the cell-seeded biomaterial in creating a neo-urethra was stable and effective. And multi-type cells including epithelial cells as well as smooth muscle cells or fibroblasts seemed to be a better strategy. Stem cells, especially after epithelial differentiation, could be a promising choice for future researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Dong Xue
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Chao Feng
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Hong Xie
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China
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Simonsen AL, Danborg PB, Gøtzsche PC. Persistent sexual dysfunction after early exposure to SSRIs: Systematic review of animal studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RISK & SAFETY IN MEDICINE 2016; 28:1-12. [DOI: 10.3233/jrs-160668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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134
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Abstract
This report aims to facilitate the implementation of the Three Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) in the use of animal models or procedures involving sepsis and septic shock, an area where there is the potential of high levels of suffering for animals. The emphasis is on refinement because this has the greatest potential for immediate implementation. Specific welfare issues are identified and discussed, and practical measures are proposed to reduce animal use and suffering as well as reducing experimental variability and increasing translatability. The report is based on discussions and submissions from a nonregulatory expert working group consisting of veterinarians, animal technologists, and scientists with expert knowledge relevant to the field.
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135
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Jarvis MF, Williams M. Irreproducibility in Preclinical Biomedical Research: Perceptions, Uncertainties, and Knowledge Gaps. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2016; 37:290-302. [PMID: 26776451 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Concerns regarding the reliability of biomedical research outcomes were precipitated by two independent reports from the pharmaceutical industry that documented a lack of reproducibility in preclinical research in the areas of oncology, endocrinology, and hematology. Given their potential impact on public health, these concerns have been extensively covered in the media. Assessing the magnitude and scope of irreproducibility is limited by the anecdotal nature of the initial reports and a lack of quantitative data on specific failures to reproduce published research. Nevertheless, remediation activities have focused on needed enhancements in transparency and consistency in the reporting of experimental methodologies and results. While such initiatives can effectively bridge knowledge gaps and facilitate best practices across established and emerging research disciplines and therapeutic areas, concerns remain on how these improve on the historical process of independent replication in validating research findings and their potential to inhibit scientific innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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136
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Potential variables affecting the quality of animal studies regarding pathophysiology of traumatic spinal cord injuries. Spinal Cord 2015; 54:579-83. [DOI: 10.1038/sc.2015.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
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137
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Raavé R, de Vries RBM, Massuger LF, van Kuppevelt TH, Daamen WF. Drug delivery systems for ovarian cancer treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1489. [PMID: 26713240 PMCID: PMC4690347 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Current ovarian cancer treatment involves chemotherapy that has serious limitations, such as rapid clearance, unfavorable biodistribution and severe side effects. To overcome these limitations, drug delivery systems (DDS) have been developed to encapsulate chemotherapeutics for delivery to tumor cells. However, no systematic assessment of the efficacy of chemotherapy by DDS compared to free chemotherapy (not in a DDS) has been performed for animal studies. Here, we assess the efficacy of chemotherapy in DDS on survival and tumor growth inhibition in animal studies. We searched PubMed and EMBASE (via OvidSP) to systematically identify studies evaluating chemotherapeutics encapsulated in DDS for ovarian cancer treatment in animal studies. Studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias. Study characteristics were collected and outcome data (survival/hazard ratio or tumor growth inhibition) were extracted and used for meta-analyses. Meta-analysis was performed to identify and explore which characteristics of DDS influenced treatment efficacy. A total of 44 studies were included after thorough literature screening (2,735 studies found after initial search). The risk of bias was difficult to assess, mainly because of incomplete reporting. A total of 17 studies (377 animals) and 16 studies (259 animals) could be included in the meta-analysis for survival and tumor growth inhibition, respectively. In the majority of the included studies chemotherapeutics entrapped in a DDS significantly improved efficacy over free chemotherapeutics regarding both survival and tumor growth inhibition. Subgroup analyses, however, revealed that cisplatin entrapped in a DDS did not result in additional tumor growth inhibition compared to free cisplatin, although it did result in improved survival. Micelles did not show a significant tumor growth inhibition compared to free chemotherapeutics, which indicates that micelles may not be a suitable DDS for ovarian cancer treatment. Other subgroup analyses, such as targeted versus non-targeted DDS or IV versus IP administration route, did not identify specific characteristics of DDS that affected treatment efficacy. This systematic review shows the potential, but also the limitations of chemotherapy by drug delivery systems for ovarian cancer treatment. For future animal research, we emphasize that data need to be reported with ample attention to detailed reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Raavé
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Rob B M de Vries
- Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation, Central Animal Facility, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Leon F Massuger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Toin H van Kuppevelt
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Willeke F Daamen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands
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Determinants of the Efficacy of Cardiac Ischemic Preconditioning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142021. [PMID: 26580958 PMCID: PMC4651366 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) of the heart is a protective strategy in which a brief ischemic stimulus immediately before a lethal ischemic episode potently limits infarct size. Although very promising in animal models of myocardial infarction, IPC has not yet been successfully translated to benefit for patients. Objective To appraise all preclinical evidence on IPC for myocardial infarction and identify factors hampering translation. Methods and results Using systematic review and meta-analysis, we identified 503 animal studies reporting infarct size data from 785 comparisons between IPC-treated and control animals. Overall, IPC reduced myocardial infarction by 24.6% [95%CI 23.5, 25.6]. Subgroup analysis showed that IPC efficacy was reduced in comorbid animals and non-rodents. Efficacy was highest in studies using 2–3 IPC cycles applied <45 minutes before myocardial infarction. Local and remote IPC were equally effective. Reporting of study quality indicators was low: randomization, blinding and a sample size calculation were reported in 49%, 11% and 2% of publications, respectively. Conclusions Translation of IPC to the clinical setting may be hampered by the observed differences between the animals used in preclinical IPC studies and the patient population, regarding comorbidity, sex and age. Furthermore, the IPC protocols currently used in clinical trials could be optimized in terms of timing and the number of ischemic cycles applied. In order to inform future clinical trials successfully, future preclinical studies on IPC should aim to maximize both internal and external validity, since poor methodological quality may limit the value of the preclinical evidence.
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Cho K, Clementi E, Levi-Schaffer F, Smalley KS, Radice S, Watts SW. Introducing a checklist for manuscript submission to Pharmacological Research. Pharmacol Res 2015; 102:319-21. [PMID: 26523875 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kei Cho
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Emilio Clementi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council-Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University Hospital "Luigi Sacco", Università di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Levi-Schaffer
- Unit of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 12065, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Keiran S Smalley
- The Comprehensive Melanoma Research Center, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Sonia Radice
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital "Luigi Sacco", 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Stephanie W Watts
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA
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140
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Gulin JEN, Rocco DM, García-Bournissen F. Quality of Reporting and Adherence to ARRIVE Guidelines in Animal Studies for Chagas Disease Preclinical Drug Research: A Systematic Review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004194. [PMID: 26587586 PMCID: PMC4654562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Publication of accurate and detailed descriptions of methods in research articles involving animals is essential for health scientists to accurately interpret published data, evaluate results and replicate findings. Inadequate reporting of key aspects of experimental design may reduce the impact of studies and could act as a barrier to translation of research findings. Reporting of animal use must be as comprehensive as possible in order to take advantage of every study and every animal used. Animal models are essential to understanding and assessing new chemotherapy candidates for Chagas disease pathology, a widespread parasitic disease with few treatment options currently available. A systematic review was carried out to compare ARRIVE guidelines recommendations with information provided in publications of preclinical studies for new anti-Trypanosoma cruzi compounds. A total of 83 publications were reviewed. Before ARRIVE guidelines, 69% of publications failed to report any macroenvironment information, compared to 57% after ARRIVE publication. Similar proportions were observed when evaluating reporting of microenvironmental information (56% vs. 61%). Also, before ARRIVE guidelines publication, only 13% of papers described animal gender, only 18% specified microbiological status and 13% reported randomized treatment assignment, among other essential information missing or incomplete. Unfortunately, publication of ARRIVE guidelines did not seem to enhance reporting quality, compared to papers appeared before ARRIVE publication. Our results suggest that there is a strong need for the scientific community to improve animal use description, animal models employed, transparent reporting and experiment design to facilitate its transfer and application to the affected human population. Full compliance with ARRIVE guidelines, or similar animal research reporting guidelines, would be an excellent start in this direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Ernesto Nicolás Gulin
- Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Marisa Rocco
- Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Facundo García-Bournissen
- Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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141
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Abstract
If the scientist needs to contact the animal facility after any study to inquire about husbandry details, this represents a lost opportunity, which can ultimately interfere with the study results and their interpretation. There is a clear tendency for authors to describe methodological procedures down to the smallest detail, but at the same time to provide minimal information on animals and their husbandry. Controlling all major variables as far as possible is the key issue when establishing an experimental design. The other common mechanism affecting study results is a change in the variation. Factors causing bias or variation changes are also detectable within husbandry. Our lives and the lives of animals are governed by cycles: the seasons, the reproductive cycle, the weekend-working days, the cage change/room sanitation cycle, and the diurnal rhythm. Some of these may be attributable to routine husbandry, and the rest are cycles, which may be affected by husbandry procedures. Other issues to be considered are consequences of in-house transport, restrictions caused by caging, randomization of cage location, the physical environment inside the cage, the acoustic environment audible to animals, olfactory environment, materials in the cage, cage complexity, feeding regimens, kinship, and humans. Laboratory animal husbandry issues are an integral but underappreciated part of investigators' experimental design, which if ignored can cause major interference with the results. All researchers should familiarize themselves with the current routine animal care of the facility serving them, including their capabilities for the monitoring of biological and physicochemical environment.
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142
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Laukens D, Brinkman BM, Raes J, De Vos M, Vandenabeele P. Heterogeneity of the gut microbiome in mice: guidelines for optimizing experimental design. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2015; 40:117-32. [PMID: 26323480 PMCID: PMC4703068 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuv036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted manipulation of the gut flora is increasingly being recognized as a means to improve human health. Yet, the temporal dynamics and intra- and interindividual heterogeneity of the microbiome represent experimental limitations, especially in human cross-sectional studies. Therefore, rodent models represent an invaluable tool to study the host–microbiota interface. Progress in technical and computational tools to investigate the composition and function of the microbiome has opened a new era of research and we gradually begin to understand the parameters that influence variation of host-associated microbial communities. To isolate true effects from confounding factors, it is essential to include such parameters in model intervention studies. Also, explicit journal instructions to include essential information on animal experiments are mandatory. The purpose of this review is to summarize the factors that influence microbiota composition in mice and to provide guidelines to improve the reproducibility of animal experiments. Given the unmet need for standardizing the experimental work flow related to gut microbial research in animals, guidelines are required to isolate true effects from confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debby Laukens
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Brigitta M Brinkman
- Inflammation Research Center, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Raes
- Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium Department Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martine De Vos
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandenabeele
- Inflammation Research Center, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium Methusalem Program, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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143
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Rongen JJ, Hannink G, van Tienen TG, van Luijk J, Hooijmans CR. The protective effect of meniscus allograft transplantation on articular cartilage: a systematic review of animal studies. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2015; 23:1242-53. [PMID: 25960117 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2015.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite widespread reporting on clinical results, the effect of meniscus allograft transplantation on the development of osteoarthritis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to systematically review all studies on the effect of meniscus allograft transplantation on articular cartilage in animals. Pubmed and Embase were searched for original articles concerning the effect of meniscus allograft transplantation on articular cartilage compared with both its positive (meniscectomy) and negative (either sham or non-operated) control in healthy animals. Outcome measures related to assessment of damage to articular cartilage were divided in five principal outcome categories. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated and pooled to obtain an overall SMD and 95% confidence interval. 17 articles were identified, representing 14 original animal cohorts with an average timing of data collection of 24 weeks [range 4 weeks; 30 months]. Compared to a negative control, meniscus allograft transplantation caused gross macroscopic (1.45 [0.95; 1.95]), histological (3.43 [2.25; 4.61]) damage to articular cartilage, and osteoarthritic changes on radiographs (3.12 [1.42; 4.82]). Moreover, results on histomorphometrics and cartilage biomechanics are supportive of this detrimental effect on cartilage. On the other hand, meniscus allograft transplantation caused significantly less gross macroscopic (-1.19 [-1.84; -0.54]) and histological (-1.70 [-2.67; -0.74]) damage to articular cartilage when compared to meniscectomy. However, there was no difference in osteoarthritic changes on plain radiographs (0.04 [-0.48; 0.57]), and results on histomorphometrics and biomechanics did neither show a difference in effect between meniscus allograft transplantation and meniscectomy. In conclusion, although meniscus allograft transplantation does not protect articular cartilage from damage, it reduces the extent of it when compared with meniscectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Rongen
- Radboud University Medical Center, Orthopaedic Research Lab, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - G Hannink
- Radboud University Medical Center, Orthopaedic Research Lab, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - T G van Tienen
- Radboud University Medical Center, Orthopaedic Research Lab, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Kliniek Viasana, Mill, The Netherlands.
| | - J van Luijk
- SYRCLE at Central Animal Laboratory, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - C R Hooijmans
- SYRCLE at Central Animal Laboratory, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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144
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Mullane K, Enna SJ, Piette J, Williams M. Guidelines for manuscript submission in the peer-reviewed pharmacological literature. Biochem Pharmacol 2015. [PMID: 26208784 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent reports have highlighted studies in biomedical research that cannot be reproduced, tending to undermine the credibility, relevance and sustainability of the research process. To address this issue, a number of factors can be monitored to improve the overall probability of reproducibility. These include: (i) shortcomings in experimental design and execution that involve hypothesis conceptualization, statistical analysis, and data reporting; (ii) investigator bias and error; (iii) validation of reagents including cells and antibodies; and (iv) fraud. Historically, research data that have undergone peer review and are subsequently published are then subject to independent replication via the process of self-correction. This often leads to refutation of the original findings and retraction of the paper by which time considerable resources have been wasted in follow-on studies. New NIH guidelines focused on experimental conduct and manuscript submission are being widely adopted in the peer-reviewed literature. These, in their various iterations, are intended to improve the transparency and accuracy of data reporting via the use of checklists that are often accompanied by "best practice" guidelines that aid in validating the methodologies and reagents used in data generation. The present Editorial provides background and context to a newly developed checklist for submissions to Biochemical Pharmacology that is intended to be clear, logical, useful and unambiguous in assisting authors in preparing manuscripts and in facilitating the peer review process. While currently optional, development of this checklist based on user feedback will result in it being mandatory within the next 12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Mullane
- Profectus Pharma Consulting Inc., San Jose, CA, United States
| | - S J Enna
- Departments of Physiology and of Pharmacology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Jacques Piette
- GIGA (Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliquée), University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Michael Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.
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145
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Prueitt RL, Lynch HN, Zu K, Sax SN, Venditti FJ, Goodman JE. Weight-of-evidence evaluation of long-term ozone exposure and cardiovascular effects. Crit Rev Toxicol 2015; 44:791-822. [PMID: 25257962 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2014.937855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We conducted a weight-of-evidence (WoE) analysis to assess whether the current body of research supports a causal relationship between long-term ozone exposure (defined by EPA as at least 30 days in duration) at ambient levels and cardiovascular (CV) effects. We used a novel WoE framework based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Ambient Air Quality Standards causal framework for this analysis. Specifically, we critically evaluated and integrated the relevant epidemiology and experimental animal data and classified a causal determination based on categories proposed by the Institute of Medicine's 2008 report, Improving the Presumptive Disability Decision-making Process for Veterans. We found that the risks of CV effects are largely null across human and experimental animal studies. The few positive associations reported in studies of CV morbidity and mortality are very small in magnitude, mainly reported in single-pollutant models, and likely attributable to bias, chance, or confounding. The few positive effects in experimental animal studies were observed mainly in ex vivo studies at high exposures, and even the in vivo findings are not likely relevant to humans. The available data also do not support a biologically plausible mechanism for the effects of ozone on the CV system. Overall, the current WoE provides no convincing case for a causal relationship between long-term exposure to ambient ozone and adverse effects on the CV system in humans, but the limitations of the available studies preclude definitive conclusions regarding a lack of causation; thus, we categorize the strength of evidence for a causal relationship between long-term exposure to ozone and CV effects as "below equipoise."
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146
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Goodman JE, Prueitt RL, Sax SN, Lynch HN, Zu K, Lemay JC, King JM, Venditti FJ. Weight-of-evidence evaluation of short-term ozone exposure and cardiovascular effects. Crit Rev Toxicol 2015; 44:725-90. [PMID: 25257961 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2014.937854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
There is a relatively large body of research on the potential cardiovascular (CV) effects associated with short-term ozone exposure (defined by EPA as less than 30 days in duration). We conducted a weight-of-evidence (WoE) analysis to assess whether it supports a causal relationship using a novel WoE framework adapted from the US EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards causality framework. Specifically, we synthesized and critically evaluated the relevant epidemiology, controlled human exposure, and experimental animal data and made a causal determination using the same categories proposed by the Institute of Medicine report Improving the Presumptive Disability Decision-making Process for Veterans ( IOM 2008). We found that the totality of the data indicates that the results for CV effects are largely null across human and experimental animal studies. The few statistically significant associations reported in epidemiology studies of CV morbidity and mortality are very small in magnitude and likely attributable to confounding, bias, or chance. In experimental animal studies, the reported statistically significant effects at high exposures are not observed at lower exposures and thus not likely relevant to current ambient ozone exposures in humans. The available data also do not support a biologically plausible mechanism for CV effects of ozone. Overall, the current WoE provides no convincing case for a causal relationship between short-term exposure to ambient ozone and adverse effects on the CV system in humans, but the limitations of the available studies preclude definitive conclusions regarding a lack of causation. Thus, we categorize the strength of evidence for a causal relationship between short-term exposure to ozone and CV effects as "below equipoise."
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147
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Koens MJW, Krasznai AG, Hanssen AEJ, Hendriks T, Praster R, Daamen WF, van der Vliet JA, van Kuppevelt TH. Vascular replacement using a layered elastin-collagen vascular graft in a porcine model: one week patency versus one month occlusion. Organogenesis 2015; 11:105-21. [PMID: 26060888 DOI: 10.1080/15476278.2015.1038448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A persistent clinical demand exists for a suitable arterial prosthesis. In this study, a vascular conduit mimicking the native 3-layered artery, and constructed from the extracellular matrix proteins type I collagen and elastin, was evaluated for its performance as a blood vessel equivalent. A tubular 3-layered graft (elastin-collagen-collagen) was prepared using highly purified type I collagen fibrils and elastin fibers, resembling the 3-layered native blood vessel architecture. The vascular graft was crosslinked and heparinised (37 ± 4 μg heparin/mg graft), and evaluated as a vascular graft using a porcine bilateral iliac artery model. An intra-animal comparison with clinically-used heparinised ePTFE (Propaten®) was made. Analyses included biochemical characterization, duplex scanning, (immuno)histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy. The tubular graft was easy to handle with adequate suturability. Implantation resulted in pulsating grafts without leakage. One week after implantation, both ePTFE and the natural acellular graft had 100% patencies on duplex scanning. Grafts were partially endothelialised (Von Willebrand-positive endothelium with a laminin-positive basal membrane layer). After one month, layered thrombi were found in the natural (4/4) and ePTFE graft (1/4), resulting in occlusion which in case of the natural graft is likely due to the porosity of the inner elastin layer. In vivo application of a molecularly-defined tubular graft, based on nature's matrix proteins, for vascular surgery is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J W Koens
- a Department of Biochemistry ; NCMLS; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands.,b Department of Urology ; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
| | - A G Krasznai
- c Department of Surgery ; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
| | - A E J Hanssen
- d Central Animal Laboratory; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
| | - T Hendriks
- c Department of Surgery ; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
| | - R Praster
- c Department of Surgery ; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
| | - W F Daamen
- a Department of Biochemistry ; NCMLS; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
| | - J A van der Vliet
- c Department of Surgery ; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
| | - T H van Kuppevelt
- a Department of Biochemistry ; NCMLS; Radboud University Medical Centre ; Nijmegen , HB , The Netherlands
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148
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Goodman JE, Petito Boyce C, Sax SN, Beyer LA, Prueitt RL. Rethinking Meta-Analysis: Applications for Air Pollution Data and Beyond. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2015; 35:1017-39. [PMID: 25969128 PMCID: PMC4690509 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Meta-analyses offer a rigorous and transparent systematic framework for synthesizing data that can be used for a wide range of research areas, study designs, and data types. Both the outcome of meta-analyses and the meta-analysis process itself can yield useful insights for answering scientific questions and making policy decisions. Development of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards illustrates many potential applications of meta-analysis. These applications demonstrate the strengths and limitations of meta-analysis, issues that arise in various data realms, how meta-analysis design choices can influence interpretation of results, and how meta-analysis can be used to address bias and heterogeneity. Reviewing available data from a meta-analysis perspective can provide a useful framework and impetus for identifying and refining strategies for future research. Moreover, increased pervasiveness of a meta-analysis mindset-focusing on how the pieces of the research puzzle fit together-would benefit scientific research and data syntheses regardless of whether or not a quantitative meta-analysis is undertaken. While an individual meta-analysis can only synthesize studies addressing the same research question, the results of separate meta-analyses can be combined to address a question encompassing multiple data types. This observation applies to any scientific or policy area where information from a variety of disciplines must be considered to address a broader research question.
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149
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Khatib MN, Shankar A, Kirubakaran R, Agho K, Simkhada P, Gaidhane S, Saxena D, B U, Gode D, Gaidhane A, Zahiruddin SQ. Effect of ghrelin on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in experimental rat and mice models of heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126697. [PMID: 26016489 PMCID: PMC4446297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) continues to be a challenging condition in terms of prevention and management of the disease. Studies have demonstrated various cardio-protective effects of Ghrelin. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of Ghrelin on mortality and cardiac function in experimental rats/mice models of HF. METHODS Data sources: PUBMED, Scopus. We searched the Digital Dissertations and conference proceedings on Web of Science. Search methods: We systematically searched for all controlled trials (upto November 2014) which assessed the effects of Ghrelin (irrespective of dose, form, frequency, duration and route of administration) on mortality and cardiac function in rats/ mice models of HF. Ghrelin administration irrespective of dose, form, frequency, duration and route of administration. Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently assessed each abstract for eligibility and extracted data on characteristics of the experimental model used, intervention and outcome measures. We assessed the methodological quality by SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for all studies and the quality of evidence by GRADEpro. We performed meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3. RESULTS A total of 325 animals (rats and mice) were analyzed across seven studies. The meta-analysis revealed that the mortality in Ghrelin group was 31.1% and in control group was 40% (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.47) i.e Ghrelin group had 68 fewer deaths per 1000 (from 216 fewer to 188 more) as compared to the control group. The meta-analysis reveals that the heart rate in rats/mice on Ghrelin was higher (MD 13.11, 95% CI 1.14 to 25.08, P=0.66) while the mean arterial blood pressure (MD -1.38, 95% CI -5.16 to 2.41, P=0.48) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (MD -2.45, 95% CI -4.46 to -0.43, P=0.02) were lower as compared to the those on placebo. There were insignificant changes in cardiac output (SMD 0.28, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.80, P=0.29) and left ventricular end systolic pressure (MD 1.48, 95% CI -3.86 to 6.82, P=0.59). CONCLUSIONS The existing data provides evidence to suggest that Ghrelin may lower the risk of mortality and improve cardiovascular outcomes. However; the quality of evidence as assessed by GRADEpro is low to very low. Clinical judgments to administer Ghrelin to patients with HF must be made on better designed animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib
- Department of Physiology, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra State, India
| | - Anuraj Shankar
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Kingsley Agho
- Department Biostatistics, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Padam Simkhada
- Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Shilpa Gaidhane
- Department of Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra State, India
| | - Deepak Saxena
- Indian Institute of Public Health-Gandhinagar, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Unnikrishnan B
- Department of Community Medicine, Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - Dilip Gode
- Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra State, India
| | - Abhay Gaidhane
- Department of Community Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra State, India
| | - Syed Quazi Zahiruddin
- Department of Community Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra State, India
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150
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Abstract
The Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines were developed to address the lack of reproducibility in biomedical animal studies and improve the communication of research findings. While intended to guide the preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts, the principles of transparent reporting are also fundamental for in vivo databases. Here, we describe the benefits and challenges of applying the guidelines for the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC), whose goal is to produce and phenotype 20,000 knockout mouse strains in a reproducible manner across ten research centres. In addition to ensuring the transparency and reproducibility of the IMPC, the solutions to the challenges of applying the ARRIVE guidelines in the context of IMPC will provide a resource to help guide similar initiatives in the future. Transparent reporting is key to ensuring reproducibility of animal research. This article examines the challenges of applying the ARRIVE guidelines to a large-scale, collaborative, in vivo research initiative—the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium.
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