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Chen R, Liu E, Fang Y, Gao N, Zhang M, Zhang X, Chen W, Liang C, Zhang Y, Huang Y. Naturally sourced amphiphilic peptides as paclitaxel vehicles for breast cancer treatment. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 159:213824. [PMID: 38490019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The marketed paclitaxel (PTX) formulation Taxol relies on the application of Cremophor EL as a solubilizer. The major drawback of Taxol is its hypersensitivity reactions and a pretreatment of anti-allergic drugs is a necessity. Therefore, developing an efficient and safe delivery vehicle is a solution to increase PTX treatment outcomes with minimal adverse effects. In this work, we prepared the amphiphilic peptides (termed AmP) from soybean proteins using a facile two-step method. AmP could efficiently solubilize PTX by self-assembling into mixed micelles with D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), a common pharmaceutical expedient (PTX@TPGS-AmP). The intravenously administrated PTX@TPGS-AmP exhibited a slow clearance (0.24 mL·(min·kg)-1) and an enhanced AUC (41.4 μg.h/mL), manifesting a 3.6-fold increase compared to Taxol. In a murine 4T1 tumor model, PTX@TPGS-AmP displayed a superior antitumor effect over Taxol. Importantly, safety assessment showed a high biocompatibility of AmP and an i.v. dose up to 2500 mg/kg led to no observable abnormalities in the mice. In summary, the AmP presents a new green and easily-prepared amphiphilic biomaterial, with promising potential as a pharmaceutical excipient for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongli Chen
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China
| | - Ergang Liu
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China.
| | - Yuefei Fang
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China
| | - Nan Gao
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Xiaoru Zhang
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China; Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510450, China
| | - Wanying Chen
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510450, China
| | - Chuxin Liang
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Yongzhuo Huang
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Khoury R, Saad J, Jabre V, Ghayad LM, Khalifeh M, Houbeika R, El Ahmad P, Mezher A, El Masri D, Haddad Z, Eid F, Barmo N, Nasrallah P, Sleiman SF, Stephan JS. Autophagy regulates the release of exercise factors and their beneficial effects on spatial memory recall. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14705. [PMID: 37025840 PMCID: PMC10070545 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Exercise promotes learning and memory recall as well as rescues cognitive decline associated with aging. The positive effects of exercise are mediated by circulatory factors that predominantly increase Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) signaling in the hippocampus. Identifying the pathways that regulate the release of the circulatory factors by various tissues during exercise and that mediate hippocampal Mus musculus Bdnf expression will allow us to harness the therapeutic potential of exercise. Here, we report that two weeks of voluntary exercise in male mice activates autophagy in the hippocampus by increasing LC3B protein levels (p = 0.0425) and that autophagy is necessary for exercise-induced spatial learning and memory retention (p < 0.001; exercise + autophagy inhibitor chloroquine CQ versus exercise). We place autophagy downstream of hippocampal BDNF signaling and identify a positive feedback activation between the pathways. We also assess whether the modulation of autophagy outside the nervous system is involved in mediating exercise's effect on learning and memory recall. Indeed, plasma collected from young exercise mice promote spatial learning (p = 0.0446; exercise versus sedentary plasma) and memory retention in aged inactive mice (p = 0.0303; exercise versus sedentary plasma), whereas plasma collected from young exercise mice that received the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine diphosphate failed to do so. We show that the release of exercise factors that reverse the symptoms of aging into the circulation is dependent on the activation of autophagy in young animals. Indeed, we show that the release of the exercise factor, beta-hydroxybutyrate (DBHB), into the circulation, is autophagy-dependent and that DBHB promotes spatial learning and memory formation (p = 0.0005) by inducing hippocampal autophagy (p = 0.0479). These results implicate autophagy in peripheral tissues and in the hippocampus in mediating the effects of exercise on learning and memory recall and identify DBHB as a candidate endogenous exercise factor whose release and positive effects are autophagy-dependent.
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3
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Eckel-Passow JE, Kitange GJ, Decker PA, Kosel ML, Burgenske DM, Oberg AL, Sarkaria JN. Experimental design of preclinical experiments: number of PDX lines vs subsampling within PDX lines. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:2066-2075. [PMID: 34107029 PMCID: PMC8643474 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriately designed preclinical patient-derived xenograft (PDX) experiments are important to accurately inform human clinical trials. There is little experimental design guidance regarding choosing the number of PDX lines to study, and the number of mice within each PDX line. METHODS Retrospective data from IDH-wildtype glioblastoma preclinical experiments evaluating a uniform regimen of fractionated radiation (RT), temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy, and concurrent RT/TMZ across 27 PDX lines were used to evaluate experimental designs and empirically estimate statistical power for ANOVA and Cox regression. RESULTS Increasing the number of PDX lines resulted in more precise and reproducible estimates of effect size. To achieve 80% statistical power using ANOVA, experiments using a single PDX line required subsampling of 6 mice per PDX for each treatment group to detect a difference in survival of 135 days, and 9 mice per PDX to detect a difference of 100 days. Alternatively, a design that used 10 PDX lines had greater than 80% power to detect a difference of 135 days with a single mouse per PDX per treatment group, a difference of 100 days with 2 mice per PDX per treatment, and 35 days with more than 10 mice per PDX per treatment. Power for Cox regression was slightly smaller than ANOVA for very small experiments regardless of effect size and slightly higher than ANOVA for detecting a smaller effect size of 35 days difference in survival for moderate-to-large experiments. CONCLUSIONS Experimental designs using few mice across many PDX lines can provide robust results and account for inter-tumor variability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gaspar J Kitange
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Paul A Decker
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Matthew L Kosel
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Ann L Oberg
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jann N Sarkaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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4
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Nuernberg MAA, Wainwright M, Miessi DMJ, Scalet V, Olivo MB, Ervolino E, Garcia VG, Theodoro LH. Effects of butyl toluidine blue photosensitizer on antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for experimental periodontitis treatment in rats. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2020; 31:101868. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.101868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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5
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Meyerholz DK, Beck AP. Fundamental Concepts for Semiquantitative Tissue Scoring in Translational Research. ILAR J 2019; 59:13-17. [PMID: 30715381 PMCID: PMC6927897 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ily025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure to reproduce results from some scientific studies has raised awareness of the critical need for reproducibility in translational studies. Macroscopic and microscopic examination is a common approach to determine changes in tissues, but text descriptions and visual images have limitations for group comparisons. Semiquantitative scoring is a way of transforming qualitative tissue data into numerical data that allow more robust group comparisons. Semiquantitative scoring has broad uses in preclinical and clinical studies for evaluation of tissue lesions. Reproducibility can be improved by constraining bias through appropriate experimental design, randomization of tissues, effective use of multidisciplinary collaborations, and valid masking procedures. Scoring can be applied to tissue lesions (eg, size, distribution, characteristics) and also to tissues through evaluation of staining distribution and intensity. Semiquantitative scores should be validated to demonstrate relevance to biological data and to demonstrate observer reproducibility. Statistical analysis should make use of appropriate tests to give robust confidence in the results and interpretations. Following key principles of semiquantitative scoring will not only enhance descriptive tissue evaluation but also improve quality, reproducibility, and rigor of tissue studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Meyerholz
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Amanda P Beck
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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6
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Zhang T, Yang J, Bai X, Liu H, Cheng F, Ma Z, Ma B. Endorsement of Animal Research: Incorporation of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) Guidelines/Gold Standard Publication Checklist (GSPC) by Chinese journals: A survey of journals' instructions for authors and editors. Lab Anim 2019; 54:23677219879181. [PMID: 31597543 DOI: 10.1177/0023677219879181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The objective was to determine the rate at which Chinese journals include Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) Guidelines/Gold Standard Publication Checklist (GSPC) in their instructions for authors, and the awareness and recognition of editors. The survey was performed on Chinese journals. The most recent versions each journal's instructions for authors were downloaded, and the information related to the ARRIVE/GSPC was collected. A self-developed questionnaire was used to conduct the survey among the editors. Questionnaires were sent to 238 qualified journals and 198 of them returned them, achieving an 83.2% response rate. The results showed that none of the journals included the ARRIVE/GSPC in their instructions for authors, and the awareness rate was only 13.1% (26/198). The participants who were unaware of the ARRIVE/GSPC were less likely than those who were aware of them to believe it was necessary to include the ARRIVE/GSPC in the instructions for authors (23.3% vs. 61.5%), and less likely to request authors in their manuscript preparation (28.5% vs. 88.5%), editors in the editing and processing (28.5% vs. 84.6%) and reviewers in peer review stage (28.5% vs. 92.3%) to follow the ARRIVE/GSPC. Currently no Chinese journals include the ARRIVE/GSPC in their instructions for authors. The recognition rate of the ARRIVE/GSPC was low among the editors. So, we suggest that Chinese journals should promote inclusion of the ARRIVE/GSPC in journals' instructions for authors. It is also important to educate researchers and editors alike to increase their understanding of the ARRIVE/GSPC, so that the quality of reporting of animal study can be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Yang
- The second school of clinical medicine of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xi Bai
- The second school of clinical medicine of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongyan Liu
- The second school of clinical medicine of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fang Cheng
- The second school of clinical medicine of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhanjun Ma
- The second school of clinical medicine of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bin Ma
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
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7
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Magdaleno F, Blajszczak CC, Charles-Niño CL, Guadrón-Llanos AM, Vázquez-Álvarez AO, Miranda-Díaz AG, Nieto N, Islas-Carbajal MC, Rincón-Sánchez AR. Aminoguanidine reduces diabetes-associated cardiac fibrosis. Exp Ther Med 2019; 18:3125-3138. [PMID: 31572553 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoguanidine (AG) inhibits advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) accumulated as a result of excessive oxidative stress in diabetes. However, the molecular mechanism by which AG reduces AGE-associated damage in diabetes is not well understood. Thus, we investigated whether AG supplementation mitigates oxidative-associated cardiac fibrosis in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Forty-five male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Control, T2DM and T2DM+AG. Rats were fed with a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet (HFCD) for 2 weeks and rendered diabetic using low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) (20 mg/kg), and one group was treated with AG (20 mg/kg) up to 25 weeks. In vitro experiments were performed in primary rat myofibroblasts to confirm the antioxidant and antifibrotic effects of AG and to determine if blocking the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) prevents the fibrogenic response in myofibroblasts. Diabetic rats exhibited an increase in cardiac fibrosis resulting from HFCD and STZ injections. By contrast, AG treatment significantly reduced cardiac fibrosis, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and oxidative-associated Nox4 and Nos2 mRNA expression. In vitro challenge of myofibroblasts with AG under T2DM conditions reduced intra- and extracellular collagen type I expression and Pdgfb, Tgfβ1 and Col1a1 mRNAs, albeit with similar expression of Tnfα and Il6 mRNAs. This was accompanied by reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and SMAD2/3 but not of AKT1/2/3 and STAT pathways. RAGE blockade further attenuated collagen type I expression in AG-treated myofibroblasts. Thus, AG reduces oxidative stress-associated cardiac fibrosis by reducing pERK1/2, pSMAD2/3 and collagen type I expression via AGE/RAGE signaling in T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Magdaleno
- Department of Physiology, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | | | - Claudia Lisette Charles-Niño
- Department of Physiology, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico.,Department of Microbiology and Pathology, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico
| | - Alma Marlene Guadrón-Llanos
- Department of Physiology, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico
| | - Alan Omar Vázquez-Álvarez
- Department of Physiology, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico
| | - Alejandra Guillermina Miranda-Díaz
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico
| | - Natalia Nieto
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - María Cristina Islas-Carbajal
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico
| | - Ana Rosa Rincón-Sánchez
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, Guadalajara University, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico
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8
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Combes RD. The Mouse Bioassay for Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning: A Gross Misuse of Laboratory Animals and of Scientific Methodology. Altern Lab Anim 2019; 31:595-610. [PMID: 15560749 DOI: 10.1177/026119290303100608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The UK shellfish industry has recently been affected by the statutory closure of several cockle beds, following the detection of samples causing rapid and severe reactions in the regulatory approved test for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins, the mouse bioassay (MBA). It is contended that these so-called atypical results are due to procedural artefacts of the MBA; so far, several studies have failed to identify their cause. This paper critically assesses the development, regulatory use and methodological deficiencies of the MBA. It also discusses how testing for DSP toxins could and should have been improved and made more humane by applying the Three Rs concept of Reduction, Refinement and Replacement, and by the proper validation of the test method used. It is concluded that the MBA should not have been developed for the routine screening of shellfish samples, as it has a substantially severe endpoint and is not used as part of a tiered-testing strategy with non-animal methods. Moreover, during the UK monitoring programme for DSP toxins, the assay has been used without an optimised and universal protocol, and apparently without due regard to the principles of basic scientific methodology. In view of this, the atypical results obtained for cockle samples cannot be relied on as evidence of a human health hazard. It is recommended that the use of the MBA should be discontinued as soon as possible, in favour of other methods, especially those involving non-animal techniques. In the short-term, these methods should be based on analytical chemical detection systems and the essential availability of the relevant pure toxin standards. The lack of any known toxins in samples should be taken as evidence of lack of contamination. The suitability of the existing non-animal methods needs to be assessed as a matter of urgency. It is crucial that all new methods should be properly validated, and that their acceptability for their stated purposes should be endorsed by recognised criteria and validation centres, before being recommended to, or required by, regulatory agencies. In this way, the possibility that scientifically unsuitable methods will once again be used for monitoring for the contamination of shellfish with toxins can be avoided. This gross misuse of laboratory animals and ill-judged application of science should never be allowed to occur again.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Combes
- The Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experimentrs (FRAME), Russell and Burch House, 96-98 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham NG1 4EE, UK
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9
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Heracleous P, Even J, Sugaya F, Hashimoto M, Yoneyama A. Exploiting alternative acoustic sensors for improved noise robustness in speech communication. Pattern Recognit Lett 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.patrec.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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10
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Principles and approaches for reproducible scoring of tissue stains in research. J Transl Med 2018; 98:844-855. [PMID: 29849125 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-018-0057-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of tissues is a common and important aspect of translational research studies. Labeling techniques such as immunohistochemistry can stain cells/tissues to enhance identification of specific cell types, cellular activation states, and protein expression. While qualitative evaluation of labeled tissues has merit, use of semiquantitative and quantitative scoring approaches can greatly enhance the rigor of the tissue data. Adhering to key principles for reproducible scoring can enhance the quality and reproducibility of the tissue data so as to maximize its biological relevance and scientific impact.
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11
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Joyeux L, Deprez M, Khatoun A, Van Kuyck K, Pelsmaekers K, Engels AC, Wang H, Monteiro Carvalho Mori da Cunha MG, De Vleeschauwer S, Mc Laughlin M, Deprest J. Quantitative analysis of motor evoked potentials in the neonatal lamb. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16095. [PMID: 29170524 PMCID: PMC5701025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Evoking motor potentials are an objective assessment method for neuromotor function, yet this was to our knowledge never done in neonatal lambs. There is neither a method for standardized quantification of motor evoked potentials (MEPs). We first aimed to evaluate the feasibility of MEP recording in neonatal lambs and test its validity. Second we aimed to develop an algorithm for its quantification and test its reliability since manual input is required. We recorded myogenic MEPs after transcranial motor cortex stimulation in 6 lambs aged 1–2 days. MEPs were also measured in one lamb undergoing Neuro-Muscular Blockade (NMB) and another undergoing lumbar spinal cord (SC) transection, both serving as controls. We computed 5 parameters using a custom-made algorithm: motor threshold, latency, area-under-the-curve, peak-to-peak amplitude and duration. Intra- and inter-observer reliability was analyzed. MEPs could be easily recorded, disappearing after NMB and SC transection. The algorithm allowed for analysis, hence physiologic readings of the parameters in all 4 limbs of all lambs were obtained. Our method was shown to have high intra- and inter-observer ( ≥70%) reliability for latency, area-under-the-curve and peak-to-peak amplitude. These results suggest that standardized MEP recording and analysis in neonatal lambs is feasible, and can reliably assess neuromotor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc Joyeux
- Academic Department Development and Regeneration, Cluster Organ Systems, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. .,Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Marjolijn Deprez
- Research group Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ahmad Khatoun
- Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Van Kuyck
- Research group Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kelly Pelsmaekers
- Research group Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alexander C Engels
- Academic Department Development and Regeneration, Cluster Organ Systems, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division Woman and Child, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Gasthuisberg UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hongmei Wang
- Academic Department Development and Regeneration, Cluster Organ Systems, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial University Hospital, Jinan, China
| | | | | | - Myles Mc Laughlin
- Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Deprest
- Academic Department Development and Regeneration, Cluster Organ Systems, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division Woman and Child, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Gasthuisberg UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Institute of Women's Health, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
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Zeiss CJ, Allore HG, Beck AP. Established patterns of animal study design undermine translation of disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson's disease. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171790. [PMID: 28182759 PMCID: PMC5300282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation of disease-modifying therapies in neurodegenerative disease has been disappointing. Parkinson's disease (PD) was used to compare patterns of preclinical study design for symptomatic and potentially disease-modifying interventions. We examined the relationship of model, intervention type and timing, outcomes and outcome measures in 543 animal and human studies (1973-2015) across a contemporary cohort of animal and human interventional studies (n = 445), animal studies for approved interventions (n = 28), animal and human studies for those that failed to translate (n = 70). Detailed study design data were collected for 216 studies in non-human primate (NHP) and rodent toxin-induced models. Species-specific patterns of study design prevailed regardless of whether interventions were symptomatic or potentially disease-modifying. In humans and NHPs, interventions were typically given to both sexes well after the PD phenotype was established, and clinical outcome measures were collected at single (symptomatic) or multiple (disease-modifying) time-points. In rodents, interventions often preceded induction of the model, acute toxic protocols were common, usually given to young males, clinical outcome measures were used less commonly, and outcomes were less commonly assessed at multiple time points. These patterns were more prevalent in mice than rats. In contrast, study design factors such as randomization and blinding did not differ appreciably across symptomatic and disease-modifying intervention categories. The translational gap for potentially disease-modifying interventions in PD in part results from study designs, particularly in mice, that fail to model the progressive nature and relatively late intervention characteristic of PD, or that anchor mechanistic and neuropathologic data to longitudinal clinical outcomes. Even if measures to improve reproducibility are broadly adopted, perpetuation of these norms will continue to impede effective translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Zeiss
- Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Heather G. Allore
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Amanda P. Beck
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
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13
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Experimental Design and Data Analysis of In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging Studies. Methods Mol Biol 2016. [PMID: 27283428 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3721-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The objective of this chapter is to provide researchers who conduct in vivo fluorescence imaging studies with guidance in statistical aspects in the experimental design and data analysis of such studies. In the first half of this chapter, we introduce the key statistical components for designing a sound in vivo experiment. Particular emphasis is placed on the issues and designs that pertain to fluorescence imaging studies. Examples representing several popular types of fluorescence imaging experiments are provided as case studies to demonstrate how to appropriately design such studies. In the second half of this chapter, we explain the fundamental statistical concepts and methods used in the data analysis of typical in vivo experiments. We also provide specific examples in in vivo imaging studies to illustrate the key steps of analysis procedure.
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14
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Moja L, Pecoraro V, Ciccolallo L, Dall'Olmo L, Virgili G, Garattini S. Flaws in animal studies exploring statins and impact on meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Invest 2014; 44:597-612. [PMID: 24665945 DOI: 10.1111/eci.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal experiments should be appropriately designed, correctly analysed and transparently reported to increase their scientific validity and maximise the knowledge gained from each experiment. This systematic review of animal experiments investigating statins evaluates their quality of reporting and methodological aspects as well as their implications for the conduction of meta-analyses. METHODS We searched medline and embase for studies reporting research on statins in mice, rats and rabbits. We collected detailed information about the characteristics of studies, animals and experimental methods. RESULTS We retrieved 161 studies. A little over half did not report randomisation (55%) and most did not describe blinding (88%). All studies reported details on the experimental procedure, although many omitted information about animal gender, age or weight. Four percent did not report the number of animals used. None reported the sample size. Fixed- and random-effects models gave different results (ratio of effect size increased by five folds). Heterogeneity was consistently substantial within animal models, for which accounting for covariates had minimal impact. Publication bias is highly suspected across studies. CONCLUSIONS Although statins showed efficacy in animal models, preclinical studies highlighted fundamental problems in the way in which such research is conducted and reported. Results were often difficult to interpret and reproduce. Different meta-analytic approaches were highly inconsistent: a reliable approach to estimate the true parameter was imperceptible. Policies that address these issues are required from investigators, editors and institutions that care about the quality standards and ethics of animal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Moja
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS Orthopedic Institute Galeazzi, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Roura S, Gálvez-Montón C, Bayes-Genis A. Bioluminescence imaging: a shining future for cardiac regeneration. J Cell Mol Med 2013; 17:693-703. [PMID: 23402217 PMCID: PMC3823173 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in bioanalytical techniques have become crucial for both basic research and medical practice. One example, bioluminescence imaging (BLI), is based on the application of natural reactants with light-emitting capabilities (photoproteins and luciferases) isolated from a widespread group of organisms. The main challenges in cardiac regeneration remain unresolved, but a vast number of studies have harnessed BLI with the discovery of aequorin and green fluorescent proteins. First described in the luminous hydromedusan Aequorea victoria in the early 1960s, bioluminescent proteins have greatly contributed to the design and initiation of ongoing cell-based clinical trials on cardiovascular diseases. In conjunction with advances in reporter gene technology, BLI provides valuable information about the location and functional status of regenerative cells implanted into numerous animal models of disease. The purpose of this review was to present the great potential of BLI, among other existing imaging modalities, to refine effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of cardiac cell therapy. We recount the first discovery of natural primary compounds with light-emitting capabilities, and follow their applications to bioanalysis. We also illustrate insights and perspectives on BLI to illuminate current efforts in cardiac regeneration, where the future is bright.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Roura
- ICREC Research Program, Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
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Hooijmans C, de Vries R, Leenaars M, Ritskes-Hoitinga M. The Gold Standard Publication Checklist (GSPC) for improved design, reporting and scientific quality of animal studies GSPC versus ARRIVE guidelines. Lab Anim 2010; 45:61. [PMID: 21088032 PMCID: PMC3104814 DOI: 10.1258/la.2010.010130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Hooijmans CR, Leenaars M, Ritskes-Hoitinga M. A gold standard publication checklist to improve the quality of animal studies, to fully integrate the Three Rs, and to make systematic reviews more feasible. Altern Lab Anim 2010; 38:167-82. [PMID: 20507187 DOI: 10.1177/026119291003800208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Systematic reviews are generally regarded by professionals in the field of evidence-based medicine as the highest level of medical evidence, and they are already standard practice for clinical studies. However, they are not yet widely used nor undertaken in the field of animal experimentation, even though there is a lot to be gained from the process. Therefore, a gold standard publication checklist (GSPC) for animal studies is presented in this paper. The items on the checklist have been selected on the basis of a literature analysis and the resulting scientific evidence that these factors are decisive in determining the outcome of animal studies. In order to make future systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal studies possible, to allow others to replicate and build on work previously published, diminish the number of animals needed in animal experimentation (reduction), improve animal welfare (refinement) and, above all, improve the quality of scientific papers on animal experimentation, this publication checklist needs to be used and followed. We have discussed and optimised this GSPC through feedback from interviews with experts in the field of animal experimentation. From these interviews, it became clear that scientists will adopt this GSPC when journals demand it. The GSPC was compared with the current instructions for authors from nine different journals, selected on the basis that they featured a high number of publications on animal studies. In general, the journals' demands for the description of the animal studies are so limited that it is not possible to repeat the studies, let alone carry out a systematic review. By using the GSPC for animal studies, the quality of scientific papers will be improved. The use of the GSPC and the concomitant improvement in the quality of scientific papers will also contribute to decreased variation and increased standardisation and, as a consequence, a reduction in the numbers of animals used and a more reliable outcome of animal studies. It is of major importance that journal editors become convinced of and adopt these recommendations, because only then will scientists follow these guidelines to the full extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlijn R Hooijmans
- Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Central Animal Laboratory and 3R Research Centre, Geert Grooteplein Noord 29, route 231, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Voipio HM, Kasanen IHE, Leskinen H, Mäkinen T, Nevalainen T. The effects of intra-cage aspen tube on cardiac morphology and gene expression. Lab Anim 2010; 44:184-91. [DOI: 10.1258/la.2009.009103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
According to the European recommendations rodents should be provided with a nest box if there is insufficient nesting material to build a complete, covered nest. Rats are generally poor nest builders; hence an additional structure is needed. Optimally, housing refinement may be combined with better science; at least it should not detract from the scientific integrity. In order to evaluate these options, there is a need to assess the items used in individual research projects. Studies investigating molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure are typically long-lasting studies; therefore, refinement of the housing of rats in these studies is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate in rats whether a wooden tube has any impact on cardiac morphology or on basal gene expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP); known markers of cardiac overload, hypertrophy and heart failure. The experimental protocol simulated cardiovascular studies, but without any surgical operations. A total of 42 male Hsd:SD rats were used in an eight-week experiment. After weaning, the experimental group was provided with a rectangular aspen tube and nesting material, and the control group with only nesting material. ANP and BNP gene expression were measured from the left ventricles with Northern blot analysis postmortem along with the absolute weights of the whole heart, left and right atria and left and right chambers. The weights of the whole heart and left chamber were also analysed in relation to body weight. No statistically significant differences were observed in any of these variables. The inter-individual variation was also unchanged by the cage item. In conclusion, the aspen tube does not disrupt research results or alter the number of animals needed and can therefore be recommended for enrichment purposes in cardiovascular studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- H-M Voipio
- Laboratory Animal Centre, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - I H E Kasanen
- National Laboratory Animal Center, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
| | - H Leskinen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
| | - T Mäkinen
- Laboratory Animal Centre, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - T Nevalainen
- National Laboratory Animal Center, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
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Workman P, Aboagye EO, Balkwill F, Balmain A, Bruder G, Chaplin DJ, Double JA, Everitt J, Farningham DAH, Glennie MJ, Kelland LR, Robinson V, Stratford IJ, Tozer GM, Watson S, Wedge SR, Eccles SA. Guidelines for the welfare and use of animals in cancer research. Br J Cancer 2010; 102:1555-77. [PMID: 20502460 PMCID: PMC2883160 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1057] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal experiments remain essential to understand the fundamental mechanisms underpinning malignancy and to discover improved methods to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Excellent standards of animal care are fully consistent with the conduct of high quality cancer research. Here we provide updated guidelines on the welfare and use of animals in cancer research. All experiments should incorporate the 3Rs: replacement, reduction and refinement. Focusing on animal welfare, we present recommendations on all aspects of cancer research, including: study design, statistics and pilot studies; choice of tumour models (e.g., genetically engineered, orthotopic and metastatic); therapy (including drugs and radiation); imaging (covering techniques, anaesthesia and restraint); humane endpoints (including tumour burden and site); and publication of best practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Workman
- Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Cotswold Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, UK.
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20
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Festing MFW. Improving the design and analysis of animal experiments: a personal odyssey. Altern Lab Anim 2010; 37 Suppl 2:75-81. [PMID: 20105017 DOI: 10.1177/026119290903702s06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Everybody's career depends on many chance factors: the people one meets, the opportunities which are available, or the state of a scientific discipline. Mine is no exception. I started out in agriculture, obtained a PhD in quantitative genetics, and spent most of my career concerned with the use of animals in biomedical research. Soon after I joined the Medical Research Council Laboratory Animals Centre in 1966, as their geneticist in charge of many species and strains of laboratory animals, I was introduced to Russell and Burch's book, The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. It had a significant effect on my future, which has encompassed two related themes: the need for better experimental design, and the conviction that, in most research, inbred strains of rats and mice should normally be used in preference to genetically undefined outbred stocks. The establishment of the FRAME Reduction Committee has helped me to pursue both of these, although toxicologists continue to ignore basic design principles, by using outbred stocks.
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Zurlo J. The Institute for Laboratory Animal Research — An International Resource for Promoting the Three Rs. Altern Lab Anim 2009; 37 Suppl 2:69-73. [DOI: 10.1177/026119290903702s22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Zurlo
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
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22
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Grimholt U, Johansen R, Smith AJ. A review of the need and possible uses for genetically standardized Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in research. Lab Anim 2009; 43:121-6. [DOI: 10.1258/la.2008.008013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Large numbers of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) are used as research animals in basic research and to solve challenges related to the fish-farming industry. Most of this research is performed on farmed animals provided by local breeders or national breeding companies. The genetic constitution of these animals is usually unknown and highly variable. As a result, large numbers of fish are often needed to produce significant results, and results from one study are often impossible to reproduce in another facility. The production of standardized salmon could in many cases reduce the number of animals used in research and at the same time provide more reproducible results. This paper provides an overview of the methods available for the production of standardized Atlantic salmon, and discusses the pros and cons of each technique. The use of zebrafish and other well-defined laboratory fish species as a model for salmon is also discussed. Access to genetically defined fish would greatly benefit the scientific community, in the same way as genetically defined lines of rodents have revolutionized mammalian research.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Grimholt
- Department of Biology, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - R Johansen
- Laboratory Animal Unit, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway
| | - A J Smith
- Norecopa, National Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
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23
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Téllez-Meneses J, Mejía-Jaramillo AM, Triana-Chávez O. Biological characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi stocks from domestic and sylvatic vectors in Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, Colombia. Acta Trop 2008; 108:26-34. [PMID: 18804443 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2007] [Revised: 08/12/2008] [Accepted: 08/21/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta is one of the most endemic regions of Chagas disease in Colombia. In this study, we compared the biological behavior and genetic features of Trypanosoma cruzi stocks that were isolated from domestic and sylvatic insects in this area. Rhodnius prolixus (from domestic environments) and Triatoma dimidiata (from sylvatic, peridomestic and domestic environments) are the most important vectors in this region. Genetic characterization showed that all stocks corresponded to T. cruzi I, but LSSP-PCR analyses indicated that some genotypes were present in both environments. Biological characterization in vitro showed a low growth rate in sylvatic T. cruzi stocks and in some domestic T. cruzi stocks, possibly indicating the presence of stocks with similar behavior in both transmission cycles. In parallel, in vivo behavioral analysis also indicated that T. cruzi stocks are variable and this species did not show a correlation between the environments where they were isolated. In addition, all stocks demonstrated a low mortality rate and histopathological lesions in heart, skeletal muscle and colon tissue. Moreover, our data indicated that experimentally infected chagasic mice displayed a relation between their myocardial inflammation intensity, parasitism tissue and parasite load using the qPCR. In conclusion, our results indicate that the T. cruzi stocks present in SNSM have similar biological behavior and do not show a correlation with the different transmission cycles. This could be explained by the complex transmission dynamics of T. cruzi in Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, where hosts, vectors (e.g., T. dimidiata) and reservoirs circulate in both environments due to the close contact between the two transmission cycles, favoring environment overlapping. This knowledge is an important key to understanding the epidemiology and pathology of Chagas disease in this Colombian region. Furthermore, our findings could be of significant use in the design of control strategies restricted to a specified endemic region.
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Rodríguez-Cuesta J, Vidal-Vanaclocha F, Mendoza L, Valcárcel M, Gallot N, de Tejada GM. Effect of asymptomatic natural infections due to common mouse pathogens on the metastatic progression of B16 murine melanoma in C57BL/6 mice. Clin Exp Metastasis 2006; 22:549-58. [PMID: 16475025 PMCID: PMC7088291 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-005-5261-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2005] [Accepted: 11/17/2005] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
To investigate whether the presence of infections in C57BL/6 mice influences the metastatic ability of B16 melanoma (B16M) cells, we compared the susceptibility to metastasis development of pathogen-free mice with that of mice from a colony endemically infected with several mouse pathogens. We found that, compared to seronegative controls, mice that were seropositive at least to Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV) and Mycoplasma pulmonis: (i) exhibited a higher interindividual variability in all the parameters quantifying metastatic progression; (ii) had elevated serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines both before and at the end of the experiment; (iii) were more susceptible to hepatic metastasis. Interestingly, final levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-18 correlated with the extent of hepatic colonization by the melanoma cells. To confirm the metastasis-enhancing effect of MHV and M. pulmonis we measured the ability of B16M cells to metastasize in pathogen-free animals housed for increasing time-intervals in the vicinity of MHV+ animals. Notably, susceptibility to metastasis was lower in animals seronegative to MHV than in MHV+ mice, whereas the latter were less susceptible to metastasis than MHV+M. pulmonis+ mice. Seropositive animals had increased levels of TNF-α and IL-18 suggesting that MHV and M. pulmonis enhance the metastatic ability of melanoma cells by inducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines. While our results highlight the importance of using pathogen-free animals in metastasis studies, they emphasize the need for a comprehensive health monitoring of the mice used in such studies, particularly in case of using facilities lacking appropriate containment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Rodríguez-Cuesta
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Present Address: Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biociencias (CIC bioGUNE), Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Fernando Vidal-Vanaclocha
- Department of Cellular Biology and Histology, Basque Country University School of Medicine and Dentistry, Leioa, Bizkaia 48940 Spain
- Pharmakine Ltd., Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Bizkaia 48160 Spain
| | - Lorea Mendoza
- Pharmakine Ltd., Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Bizkaia 48160 Spain
| | - María Valcárcel
- Pharmakine Ltd., Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Bizkaia 48160 Spain
| | - Natalia Gallot
- Pharmakine Ltd., Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Bizkaia 48160 Spain
| | - Guillermo Martínez de Tejada
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Apartado 177, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
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Vaughan S. Concluding Note: Activities and Resources that Focus on Reduction. Altern Lab Anim 2004; 32 Suppl 2:95-8. [PMID: 15601233 DOI: 10.1177/026119290403202s17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Vaughan
- FRAME, Russell & Burch House, 96-98 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham NG1 4EE, UK
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Robert R, Rioufol G, Finet G, Cottin Y, Tabib A, Zeller M, Wolf JE, Lievre M, Bricca G. Experimental assessment of new stent technologies: validation of a comparative paired rabbit iliac artery study model. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2004; 70:303-10. [PMID: 15264313 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.30040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Preventing coronary in-stent restenosis is a major challenge for physicians and industry. To assess new stent technologies, a comparative paired iliac artery model in rabbits is proposed. One tubular stent was implanted in each external iliac artery in 12 rabbits (i.e., 24 stents). An artery overdilatation level of 20% was strictly observed. Restenosis was examined at 30 days by angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) examination, and histomorphometry. On quantitative angiography, the mean loss of angiographic diameter was 9.8 +/- 4.4% in the right as compared to 9.3 +/- 55% in the left artery (p = 0.75). On IVUS, the volume of intrastent neointimal proliferation was 26.6 +/- 4.9 mm(3) in the right and 25.8 +/- 3.5 mm(3) in the left artery (p = 0.58). In histomorphometry, the neointimal proliferation area was 0.78 +/- 17 mm(2) in the right and 0.76 +/- 0.17 mm(2) in the left artery (p = 0.87). Intrastent neointimal proliferation was comparable between the left and right arteries of all rabbits. The model has three main advantages: (1) arterial dilatation and thus arterial wall aggression are controlled, (2) pairing makes each animal its own control subject, and (3) the statistical power for comparative testing is maximized. The model enables the effect of a new drug-delivery device to be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Robert
- Department of Hemodynamics, Hospices Civils de Lyon and Claude Bernard University, Lyon, and CREATIS, Research Unit associated with CNRS (UMR 5515) and with INSERM, Lyon, France
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Abstract
The history of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) begins, as does all of laboratory animal science, with the ancient philosophers, anatomists, and physiologists whose work presaged the use of animals in biomedical research and the institutions that arose due to this use. Modern laboratory animal science and medicine began in the late 1940s and early 1950s as five Chicago-area institutions hired veterinarians to manage their animal facilities. Each of these men became instrumental in the founding of the organizations that collectively make up the laboratory animal science and medicine organizations. Nathan Brewer, one of the "Chicago five," was particularly influential in the founding of ILAR. His boss at the University of Chicago, Dr. Paul Weiss, a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), asked him to help establish a committee with the stated purpose of preparing recommendations to the NAS to develop an office to obtain information on sources of supply for research animals. This office became ILAR, and Brewer was chairman of its first report on the diseases of laboratory animals. He was also a founding diplomat and first president of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. This history recognizes the thoughtful and energetic contributions of scientists and veterinarians to ILAR. It provides a 50-year overview of the programs and reports of ILAR and highlights examples where these reports have been adopted by scientists and federal agencies and incorporated into national laws and policies governing the use of animals in research both in the United States and in other countries.
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King LA. Behavioral evaluation of the psychological welfare and environmental requirements of agricultural research animals: theory, measurement, ethics, and practical implications. ILAR J 2003; 44:211-21. [PMID: 12789022 DOI: 10.1093/ilar.44.3.211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The welfare of agricultural research animals relies not only on measures of good health but also on the presence of positive emotional states and the absence of aversive or unpleasant subjective states such as fear, frustration, or association with pain. Although subjective states are not inherently observable, their interaction with motivational states can be measured through assessment of motivated behavior, which indicates the priority animals place on obtaining or avoiding specific environmental stimuli and thus allows conclusions regarding the impact of housing, husbandry, and experimental procedures on animal welfare. Preference tests and consumer demand models demonstrate that animal choices are particularly valuable when integrated with other behavioral and physiological measurements. Although descriptive assessments of apparently abnormal behavior such as stereotypies and "vacuum behaviors" provide indications of potentially impoverished environments, they should be used with some caution in drawing welfare conclusions. The development of stereotypies may in some cases be linked to psychiatric dysfunction and reflect underlying neurophysiological impairments, which have implications for the ability to perform flexible behavior and thus the quality of research data provided by this kind of behavioral measurement (e.g., in pharmaceutical research). Environmental modifications, commonly termed "enrichment," can have diverse consequences for cognitive function, physiological responses, health, psychological welfare, and research data. Simple practical modifications of housing, husbandry, and experimental design are suggested to improve the psychological welfare of agricultural research animals in accordance with the principles of refining, reducing, and replacing (the "3Rs"), which underlie US Public Health Service Policy, and prevailing public ethics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley A King
- Department of Animal Research Issues at The Humane Society of the United States, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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