Lung protection in cardio-pulmonary bypass

Since the invention of the heart-lung machine paediatric cardiac surgery developed rapidly. For correction of complex cardiac malformations the application of a cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) has become indispensable but possible negative effects of this technique should not be neglected. Especially, both bypassed organs i.e. heart and lung are not perfused during the procedure and therefore are threatened by ischemia and reperfusion injury. Additionally, CPB was developed with a non-pulsatile flow but there are clinical observations that pulsatile flow might be superior with improved patient outcomes. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of CPB on lung structure and to assess whether different flow modalities (pulsatile vs. non-pulsatile flow) or application of the antibiotic minocycline might be advantageous. Thirty five piglets of four weeks age were examined and divided into five experimental groups: control (no CPB) without or with minocycline, CPB (non-pulsatile flow) without or with minocycline and CPB with pulsatile flow. CPB was performed for 90 min followed by a 120 min reperfusion and recovery phase. Thereafter, adenosine triphosphate-content of lung biopsies and histology was carried out. We found that CPB was associated with a significant thickening of alveolar wall accompanied by an infiltration of neutrophil leucocytes. Moreover, markers for hypoxia, apoptosis, nitrosative stress, inflammation and DNA damage were significantly elevated after CPB. These cellular damages could be partially inhibited by minocycline or pulsatile flow. Both, minocycline and pulsatile flow attenuate lung damage after CPB

Task Force Veterinäranatomie: Zusammenarbeit der fünf deutschen Standorte zur Sicherung der Lehre während der COVID-19-Pandemie

At the start of the COVID-pandemic in March 2020, the Institutes of Veterinary Anatomy of the five German educational institutions were confronted with the challenge of digitalising all lectures for the second and fourth semesters of veterinary students. After an online kick-off event and a preliminary status quo meeting, available digital teaching material was exchanged for students to stream from learning platforms. Lectures were either synchronized or made available as audio recordings and connotated slides on the learning platforms. Fortunately, digital microscopic slides had already been in use, which made it easy for students to access them. Dissection exercises mostly consisted of self-study, using instructive videos and interactive exercises. In the second half of the semester, four of the educational institutions were able to offer a restricted number of in-person gross anatomy classes under reinforced conditions. Success monitoring took place online through different formats, and partially on a voluntary basis, via the learning platforms. Although the past two semesters had to almost exclusively take place online due to the unprecedented circumstances, and joint efforts of the five veterinary institutions, there is a general consensus that the practical education in anatomy, histology and embryology is essential to veterinary students. In fact, it is the only way they can obtain the necessary skills to successfully complete the rest of their degree.Die Veterinäranatomischen Institute der fünf deutschen Bildungsstätten standen zu Beginn der Coronapandemie im März 2020 vor der Herausforderung, die gesamte Lehre für die Studierenden des zweiten und vierten Fachsemesters in digitaler Form durchzuführen. Nach einem Kickoff-Onlinemeeting und einer ersten Bestandsaufnahme wurden vorhandene digitale Lehrmedien zum Streamen auf den Lernplattformen ausgetauscht. Vorlesungen wurden synchron gehalten oder asynchron als vertonte bzw. annotierte Dateien auf den Lernplattformen hochgeladen. Die mikroskopischen Präparate konnten den Studierenden dank schon bestehender Anwendungen zur virtuellen Mikroskopie komplikationslos zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Die Präparierübungen wurden überwiegend zum Selbststudium anhand von Lehrvideos und interaktiven Übungsaufgaben angeboten. In der zweiten Semesterhälfte wurden in der makroskopischen Anatomie an vier Standorten einige wenige Präsenztermine für die Studierenden unter verschärften Hygienebedingungen angeboten. Erfolgskontrollen wurden ausschließlich online über die Lernplattformen in verschiedenen Formaten und zum Teil fakultativ durchgeführt. Auch wenn die vergangenen beiden Semester in Zusammenarbeit aller Standorte den Umständen geschuldet fast ausschließlich digital stattfinden musste, besteht der allgemeine Konsens, dass die praktische Ausbildung in den Fächern Anatomie, Histologie und Embryologie essentiell für die Studierenden der Veterinärmedizin ist. Nur so können sie die notwendigen Kenntnisse und Fertigkeiten für ihr weiteres erfolgreiches Studium erlangen

Kommunikation als Lehrinhalt des tiermedizinischen Studiums - ein gemeinsames Positionspapier aus der DVG-Fachgruppe "Kommunikation und Didaktik" und dem GMA-Ausschuss "Tiermedizin"

Veterinarians have to face many communicative challenges in their professional capacity. Successful professional communication increases satisfaction among pet owners, staff members and colleagues, and ultimately also the veterinarians' own satisfaction. On the other hand, unsuccessful communication can easily lead to rejection, distrust and dissatisfaction.However, communicative skills are not explicitly taught as part of the compulsory courses in veterinary medicine in Germany.The position paper of the GMA Veterinary Medicine Committee and the DVG work group Didactics and Communication Competence describes the importance of successful communication for working veterinarians as well as the training situation in Germany and addresses topics that are often discussed in connection with the implementation. The authors come to the conclusion that there is both a necessity and a possibility for the introduction of communicative training content and provide recommendations that are intended to support the sustainable introduction of courses and exams to develop the communicative skills of veterinary students.Tierärzt*innen müssen sich in der Ausübung ihres Berufes vielen kommunikativen Herausforderungen stellen. Gelungene professionelle Kommunikation führt dabei zur Förderung der Zufriedenheit bei Patientenbesitzer*innen, Mitarbeiter*innen, Kolleg*innen, sowie letztlich auch zur Steigerung der eigenen Zufriedenheit. Misslungene Kommunikation kann im Gegenteil leicht zu Ablehnung, Misstrauen und Unzufriedenheit führen.In den Pflichtveranstaltungen im Studium der Tiermedizin in Deutschland findet jedoch keine explizite Vermittlung kommunikativer Fertigkeiten.Das Positionspapier des GMA-Ausschusses "Tiermedizin" und des DVG-Arbeitskreises "Didaktik und Kommunikationskompetenz" beschreibt die Bedeutung gelungener Kommunikation für das Berufsleben von Tierärzt*innen sowie die Ausbildungssituation in Deutschland und greift Themen auf, die im Zusammenhang mit der Implementierung oftmals diskutiert werden. Die Autor*innen kommen zu dem Schluss, dass sowohl die Notwendigkeit als auch die Möglichkeit für die Einführung von Ausbildungsinhalten aus dem Bereich der Kommunikation gegeben sind und stellen Empfehlungen zur Verfügung, die eine nachhaltige Einführung von Lehrveranstaltungen und Prüfungen zur Entwicklung der kommunikativen Fertigkeiten der Tiermedizinstudierenden unterstützen sollen

In vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activity of Tamarix stricta Boiss.: Role of autophagy

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complicated metabolic disorder with no definite treatment. Different species of the genus Tamarix (tamarisk) are used by local people to treat DM. Tamarix stricta Boiss. is an endemic species to Iran with several traditional therapeutic uses in Persian Medicine. This study aimed to assess the antidiabetic activity of T. stricta. Materials and methods: Hydroethanolic extract of the plant was prepared and analyzed by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The protective effect of the extract was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced toxicity and markers of autophagy in pancreatic RIN-5F cells. The effect of intragastric 10 or 20 mg/kg of the extract was compared with negative control (water) or positive control (metformin) treatment during four weeks of administration in high-fat diet + STZ-induced DM in Balb/c mice. Results: Results showed the presence of 8.436 mg of gallic acid in each gram of the extract. A significant cytoprotective effect was observed by T. stricta in STZ-induced toxicity in RIN-5F cells, partially due to the modulation of autophagy. Also, animals treated with the extract showed a significant improvement in glycemic and lipid profiles, liver function, and histopathologic features of pancreas and liver compared with the negative control. Conclusion: T. stricta demonstrated beneficial effects in animal model of DM; though, further studies are recommended to confirm the clinical use of this plant in DM. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Polyphenol nanoformulations for cancer therapy: experimental evidence and clinical perspective

Yasamin Davatgaran-Taghipour,1,2 Salar Masoomzadeh,3 Mohammad Hosein Farzaei,4,5 Roodabeh Bahramsoltani,6 Zahra Karimi-Soureh,7 Roja Rahimi,6,8 Mohammad Abdollahi9,10 1Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2PhytoPharmacology Interest Group (PPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; 3Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; 4Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 5Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 6Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 7School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 8Evidence-Based Medicine Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 9Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 10Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Abstract: Cancer is defined as the abnormal cell growth that can cause life-threatening malignancies with high financial costs for patients as well as the health care system. Natural polyphenols have long been used for the prevention and treatment of several disorders due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antineoplastic, and immunomodulatory effects discussed in the literature; thus, these phytochemicals are potentially able to act as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents in different types of cancer. One of the problems regarding the use of polyphenolic compounds is their low bioavailability. Different types of formulations have been designed for the improvement of bioavailability of these compounds, nanonization being one of the most notable approaches among them. This study aimed to review current data on the nanoformulations of natural polyphenols as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents and to discuss their molecular anticancer mechanisms of action. Nanoformulations of natural polyphenols as bioactive agents, including resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, chrysin, baicalein, luteolin, honokiol, silibinin, and coumarin derivatives, in a dose-dependent manner, result in better efficacy for the prevention and treatment of cancer. The impact of nanoformulation methods for these natural agents on tumor cells has gained wider attention due to improvement in targeted therapy and bioavailability, as well as enhancement of stability. Today, several nanoformulations are designed for delivery of polyphenolic compounds, including nanosuspensions, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, gold nanoparticles, and polymeric nanoparticles, which have resulted in better antineoplastic activity, higher intracellular concentration of polyphenols, slow and sustained release of the drugs, and improvement of proapoptotic activity against tumor cells. To conclude, natural polyphenols demonstrate remarkable anticancer potential in pharmacotherapy; however, the obstacles in terms of their bioavailability in and toxicity to normal cells, as well as targeted drug delivery to malignant cells, can be overcome using nanoformulation-based technologies, which optimize the bioefficacy of these natural drugs. Keywords: natural products, flavonoid, anthocyanin, tumor, malignanc

Phytochemical and toxicological evaluation of Tamarix stricta Boiss

The genus Tamarix includes several plant species well-known for their medicinal properties since ancient times. Tamarix stricta Boiss is a plant native to Iran which has not been previously investigated regarding its phytochemical and biological properties. This study assessed phytochemical and toxicological aspects of T. stricta. The plant was collected from Kerman province of Iran and after authentication by botanist, it was extracted with 70% ethanol. Total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and antioxidant properties were measured using spectrophometric methods. Quercetin content of the extract was measured after complete acid hydrolysis with high-performance liquid chromatography. The phytochemical profile of the extract was provided using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Acute toxicity study with a single intragastric dose of 5000 mg/kg of the extract and sub-chronic toxicity using 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg of the extract was assessed in Wistar rats. Phytochemical analysis showed that polyphenols constitute the major components of the extract. Also, the extract contained 1.552 ± 0.35 mg/g of quercetin. Biochemical, hematological, and histological evaluations showed no sign of toxicity in animals. Our experiment showed that T. stricta is a rich source of polyphenols and can be a safe medicinal plant. Further pharmacological evaluations are recommended to assess the therapeutic properties of this plant

Einbindung und Potenziale der Kommunikationslehre im Studium der Veterinärmedizin in Deutschland

Goal: Presentation of the current range of courses regarding communication at the five German educational institutions for veterinary medicine. In addition to learning objectives and individual solutions, possible potential for future developments are presented. Methods: Interviews with communication educators at the five German education institutions and subsequent synopsis. Results: To date, there are no binding education guidelines regarding communication in veterinary medicine. Nevertheless, communication education has been introduced at all five education institutions, albeit depth and formats vary considerably. The learning objectives are largely consistent and based on the recommendations for day-one-skills made by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education. Communication is not recognized as a fully-fledged subject in the curricula of any of the education institutions. All education institutions clearly fall short of teaching the recommended 150 lecture hours. Conclusion: To ensure communication skills in veterinary medicine graduates, binding education guidelines should be agreed upon. Communication education should be integrated into all veterinary curricula as a fully-fledged subject with longitudinally increasing depth.Zielsetzung: Darstellung des aktuellen Lehrangebots im Bereich Kommunikation an den fünf deutschen veterinärmedizinischen Bildungsstätten. Neben Lernzielen und individuellen Lösungswegen wird auch das mögliche Entwicklungspotential gezeigt.Methodik: Befragung der Kommunikationslehrenden an den fünf deutschen Bildungsstätten und anschließende Zusammenfassung.Ergebnisse: Bisher gibt es keine rechtlich bindenden Ausbildungsvorgaben für Kommunikation in der Veterinärmedizin. Trotzdem erfolgt Kommunikationslehre mittlerweile an allen fünf Bildungsstätten, wobei sich Umfang und Formate deutlich voneinander unterscheiden. Die Lernziele sind überwiegend deckungsgleich und orientieren sich an den Empfehlungen für Day-One-Skills der European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education. Kommunikation ist an keiner der Bildungsstätten als vollwertiges Fach im Curriculum integriert. Der empfohlene Umfang von 150 Stunden wird an allen Bildungsstätten deutlich unterschritten. Schlussfolgerung: Zur Sicherung der Kommunikationskompetenz veterinärmedizinischer Absolvent*innen sollten bindende Vorgaben für die Ausbildung beschlossen werden. Die Kommunikationslehre sollte als vollwertiges Fach in alle Curricula integriert werden und außerdem longitudinal steigernd konzipiert sein