Identifying barriers to effective user interaction with rehabilitation tools in the home

Part 1: Long and Short PapersInternational audienceThis paper presents the results from a user workshop that was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the nature of current home rehabilitation tools and the motivation to exercise. We also present a method of visual feedback which we hope will be an effective tool for informing users regarding important clinical measures associated with their recovery. Older adults over the age of 60 were involved in the study. The findings from the user workshop suggest that the relatively passive nature of current rehabilitation materials is less than ideal for sustaining motivation to exercise. Furthermore, our results suggest that visual feedback and more interactive methods can play an important role in engaging users in home rehabilitation

Blood pressure and heart rate during tonic immobility in the black tipped reef shark, Carcharhinus melanoptera

Tonic immobility was induced in black tipped reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanoptera) and heart rate and ventral aortic blood pressure recorded. Without branchial irrigation, tonic immobility was correlated with a significant depression in blood pressure and heart rate irrespective of the sharks being in air or in water. Tonic immobility with branchial irrigation resulted in a significant increase in blood pressure in sharks in air, but not in water. Heart rate was unchanged when the gills were irrigated. Intra-arterial injections of atropine abolished the bradycardia and blood pressure rise associated with tonic immobility. We conclude that, during tonic immobility, sharks are able to receive afferent information from the ventilatory system and make appropriate responses via the vagus nerve

Studying the blood-brain barrier on a microfluidic chip

A realistic model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is valuable to perform drug screening experiments and to improve the understanding of the barrier's physiology at normal and pathological conditions. Although the conventional in vitro systems (e.g. Transwell systems) have been used for this, they lack reproducibility and have a static environment. To overcome these disadvantages so called “organs-on-chips” have been developed, which use microfluidics and (human) cells to mimic organ function.\ud \ud An example of the BBB chip is shown in the work of Griep et al., where human cerebral endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) were cultured in a microfluidic device made of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS). Recently we improved this model. Two PDMS parts with microchannels are placed on top of each other, with a porous membrane in between at the intersection serving as scaffold for the cells. hCMEC/D3 cells (kindly provided by INSERM, Paris, France) were cultured in the chip for up to 15 days. With the four integrated electrodes, which did not block view on the intersection, reliable transendothelial electrical resistance measurements were carried out. Additionally, using immunohistochemistry it was shown that the endothelium expressed tight junction proteins, which is an essential characteristic of the BBB.\ud \ud To further improve the physiological relevance of this promising platform, the cells inside the channels will be cultured under fluid flow. As application, this platform will be used to study the transport of nanocarriers with Alzheimer medication through the BBB. In addition, the clearance of Alzheimer-associated proteins (amyloid β) by the BBB can be examined

An expert consortium review of the EC-commissioned report alternative (Non-Animal) methods for cosmetics testing: current status and future prospects - 2010

The European cosmetics legislation foresees a review in 2011 and possible postponement of the 2013 marketing ban to enforce the testing ban for systemic and repeated-dose animal tests. For this purpose, a 119-page report commissioned by the European Commission was published recently. Here, a group of 17 independent experts from the US, Europe, and Japan was brought together to evaluate the report. The expert panel strongly endorsed the report and its conclusions. A number of important options not considered were identified; these do not, however, affect the overall conclusions regarding the current lack of availability of a full replacement, especially for the areas of repeated dose toxicity, carcinogenicity testing, and reproductive toxicity, though a roadmap for change is emerging. However, some of these options may provide adequate data for replacement of some animal studies in the near future pending validation. Various recommendations expand the original report. The reviewers agree with the report that there is greater promise in the short term for the areas of sensitization and toxicokinetics. Additional opportunities lie in more global collaborations and the inclusion of other industry sectors