Deep inspiration breath hold in the prone position retracts the heart from the breast and internal mammary lymph node region

Deep inspiration breath hold in the prone position causes a caudal shift of the heart away from the nearly unmodified breast and internal mammary lymph node region, suggesting better heart protection for left-sided whole breast irradiation with or without regional nodal radiotherapy.

The recombinant bifunctional protein αCD133-GPVI promotes repair of the infarcted myocardium in mice

BACKGROUND

Bone-marrow-derived progenitor cells are important in myocardial repair mechanisms following prolonged ischemia. Cell-based therapy of diseased myocardium is limited by a low level of tissue engraftment.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was the development of the bifunctional protein αCD133-glycoprotein (GP)VI as an effective treatment for supporting vascular and myocardial repair mechanisms.

RESULTS

We have generated and characterized a bifunctional molecule (αCD133-GPVI) that binds both to the subendothelium of the injured microvasculature and to CD133(+) progenitor cells with high affinity. αCD133-GPVI enhances progenitor cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins and differentiation into mature endothelial cells. In vivo studies showed that αCD133-GPVI favors adhesion of circulating progenitor cells to the injured vessel wall (intravital microscopy). Also, treatment of mice undergoing experimental myocardial infarction with αCD133-GPVI-labeled progenitor cells reduces infarction size and preserves myocardial function.

CONCLUSIONS

The bifunctional trapping protein αCD133-GPVI represents a novel and promising therapeutic option for limiting heart failure of the ischemic myocardium.

[Animal welfare requirements for the raising and breeding of pheasants]

The different husbandry systems for raising pheasants are introduced and discussed. In particular, size and shaping of aviaries are described. Some remarks are made on the critical points, e.g. individual space, stocking density, planting of aviaries, and feeding of animals. Special emphasis is put on the problem of feather picking, which may lead to a struggle for existence of the owner. Existing methods for prevention of feather picking are introduced and assessed. Finally, an assessment with respect to animal welfare is made, revealing that, in general, raising of pheasants is not in conflict with animal welfare regulations. Nevertheless, in some aspects improvements are recommended, and some of the husbandry systems and manipulations can not be tolerated from the animal welfare point of view. Further research is needed to ensure a species specific raising of pheasants on a scientific base.

[Animal experiments with 99mTc-diethyl-HIDA in acute complete bile duct occlusion (author's transl)]

In order to establish whether a complete obstructive jaundice can abolish the accumulation of diethyl-HIDA (EHIDA) in the liver parenchyma, the common bile duct was ligated in 14 mongrel dogs. Before as well as at regular intervals after ligature of the common bile duct, a sequence scintigraphy was performed with 2 mCi 99mTc-EHIDA. For evaluation, time-activity curves (Tmax, T1/2), and analogue scintigrams as well as laboratory parameters were used for assessment. Up to seven weeks after ligation of the common bile duct, there was a marked accumulation of EHIDA in the liver parenchyma. The relative liver uptake (liver/background ratio) fell from 8.9 to 2.7, whereas conversely the cholestasis indicators aP and bilirubine rose markedly. Tmax did not show any significant alterations, whereas T1/2 was prolonged from about one week after ligation. Because of the duct ligation, there was no excretion of activity into the intestines. Immediately after ligation of the common bile duct, the gallbladder was shown up as a "hot" area in which the majority of the applied activity appeared from about one hour p.i. Begining with the fifth to the seventh day after ligation, the gallbladder was seen as a "cold" area in the liver paraenchyma. Bilirubine and aP were raised by about 50 times the initial value. With longer lasting cholestasis, the scintigram no longer altered whereas bilirubine and aP rose further. Histological examination after ligation for more than five weeks showed slight alterations as a whole. Gamma-GT and in particular GPT were likewise slightly raised compared to bilirubine and aP. The conclusion was drawn from this that the good accumulation of EHIDA in the liver parenchyma which is to be observed without exception even in cholestasis lasting for several weeks could be explained by a relatively slight hepatocellular damage. Only when there is a consecutive parenchymal damage in extrahepatic jaundice, accumulation of EHIDA in the liver can be abolished.

Tierexperimentelle Untersuchungen mit 99mTc-Diäthyl-HIDA bei akutem komplettem Gallengangsverschluß

Bei tierexperimentellem, akutem und komplettem Gallengangsverschluß kommt es bis 7 Wochen nach Ligatur des Ductus choledochus zu einer deutlichen EHIDA-Anreicherung im Leberparenchym, ohne daß ein Aktivitätsübertritt in den Darm erfolgt. Unmittelbar nach der Choledochusunterbindung stellt sich die Gallenblase als "heißer" Bezirk dar, während ab 1 Woche postoperativ die Gallenblasenregion als Aussparungsfigur im Leberparenchym erscheint. Aufgrund laborchemischer Ergebnisse und histologischer Befunde wird gefolgert, daß die auch bei mehrwöchiger Cholostase ausnahmslos zu beobachtende gute Leberparenchymanreicherung des EHIDA mit der geringen hepatozellulären Schädigung erklärt werden kann. Erst wenn es bei extrahepatischer Cholostase zu einem sekundären Parenchymschaden kommt, kann die EHIDA-Leberanreicherung praktisch aufgehoben sein.