BIOHYBRID – Biohybrid templates for peripheral nerve regeneration

[Excerpt] Peripheral nerve injuries represent a major cause for morbidity and disability in affected patients and cause substantial costs for society in a global perspective. It has been estimated that peripheral nerve injuries affect 2.8% of trauma patients,many of whom acquire life-long disability (Noble et al., 1998). With respect to an incidence of nerve injuries of 13.9/100,000 inhabitants per year (Asplund et al., 2009) and the number of inhabitants in the EU (495,000,000 inhabitants in 2007), the number of peripheral nerve injuries requiring repair and reconstruction, excluding nerve injuries by amputations, may be 70,000 annually only in EU countries. Related to peripheral nerve injuries, the costs for society are substantial and consist of direct (costs for surgery, outpatient visits and rehabilitation) and indirect (lost production) costs. Individual median and ulnar nerve injuries in the forearm have total costs of EUR 51,000 and 31,000, respectively, where around 85% of the costs consist of loss of production (Rosberg et al., 2005), still excluding costs for adjusted quality of life ( Eriksson et al., 2011) . Thus, one may estimate that the annual costs only in the EU may be as high as EUR 2.2 billion, indicating that improved treatment strategies for peripheral nerve injuries may not only improve the situation for patients, but may also significantly reduce costs for society. [...](undefined

Field-induced electronic phase separation in a cuprate high temperature superconductor

We present a combined neutron diffraction (ND) and high-field muon spin rotation ($\mu$SR) study of the magnetic and superconducting phases of the high-temperature superconductor La$_{1.94}$Sr$_{0.06}$CuO$_{4+y}$ ($T_{c} = 38$~K). We observe a linear dependence of the ND signal from the modulated antiferromagnetic order (m-AFM) on the applied field. The magnetic volume fraction measured with $\mu$SR increases linearly from 0\% to $\sim$40\% with applied magnetic field up to 8~T. This allows us to conclude, in contrast to earlier field-dependent neutron diffraction studies, that the long-range m-AFM regions are induced by an applied field, and that their ordered magnetic moment remains constant

Design of a randomized controlled study of a multi-professional and multidimensional intervention targeting frail elderly people

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Frail elderly people need an integrated and coordinated care. The two-armed study "Continuum of care for frail elderly people" is a multi-professional and multidimensional intervention for frail community-dwelling elderly people. It was designed to evaluate whether the intervention programme for frail elderly people can reduce the number of visits to hospital, increase satisfaction with health and social care and maintain functional abilities. The implementation process is explored and analysed along with the intervention. In this paper we present the study design, the intervention and the outcome measures as well as the baseline characteristics of the study participants.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>The study is a randomised two-armed controlled trial with follow ups at 3, 6 and 12 months. The study group includes elderly people who sought care at the emergency ward and discharged to their own homes in the community. Inclusion criteria were 80 years and older <it>or </it>65 to 79 years with at least one chronic disease and dependent in at least one activity of daily living. Exclusion criteria were acute severely illness with an immediate need of the assessment and treatment by a physician, severe cognitive impairment and palliative care. The intention was that the study group should comprise a representative sample of frail elderly people at a high risk of future health care consumption. The intervention includes an early geriatric assessment, early family support, a case manager in the community with a multi-professional team and the involvement of the elderly people and their relatives in the planning process.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The design of the study, the randomisation procedure and the protocol meetings were intended to ensure the quality of the study. The implementation of the intervention programme is followed and analysed throughout the whole study, which enables us to generate knowledge on the process of implementing complex interventions. The intervention contributes to early recognition of both the elderly peoples' needs of information, care and rehabilitation and of informal caregivers' need of support and information. This study is expected to show positive effects on frail elderly peoples' health care consumption, functional abilities and satisfaction with health and social care.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01260493">NCT01260493</a></p

A New Minimal-Stress Freely-Moving Rat Model for Preclinical Studies on Intranasal Administration of CNS Drugs

Purpose. To develop a new minimal-stress model for intranasal administration in freely moving rats and to evaluate in this model the brain distribution of acetaminophen following intranasal versus intravenous administration. Methods. Male Wistar rats received one intranasal cannula, an intra-cerebral microdialysis probe, and two blood cannulas for drug administration and serial blood sampling respectively. To evaluate this novel model, the following experiments were conducted. 1) Evans Blue was administered to verify the selectivity of intranasal exposure. 2) During a 1 min infusion 10, 20, or 40 μl saline was administered intranasally or 250 µl intravenously. Corticosterone plasma concentrations over time were compared as biomarkers for stress. 3) 200 µg of the model drug acetaminophen was given in identical setup and plasma, and brain pharmacokinetics were determined. Results. In 96 % of the rats, only the targeted nasal cavity was deeply colored. Corticosterone plasma concentrations were not influenced, neither by route nor volume of administration. Pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen were identical after intravenous and intranasal administration, although the Cmax in microdialysates was reached a little earlier following intravenous administration. Conclusion. A new minimal-stress model for intranasal administration in freely moving rats has been successfully developed and allows direct comparison with intravenous administration. KEY WORDS: acetaminophen; brain; intranasal infusion; microdialysis; pharmacokinetics

Resistive g-modes in a reversed field pinch plasma

First direct experimental evidence of high frequency, high toroidal mode number (n>20), magnetic fluctuations due to unstable resistive interchange modes (g-modes) resonant in the edge region of a reversed field pinch (RFP) plasma is presented. Experimental characterization of time and space periodicities of the modes is provided by means of highly resolved in-vessel edge and insertable magnetic diagnostics. It is found that the spectral mode properties are in good agreement with the predictions of the theoretical linear resistive magnetohydrodynamic stability analysis. A simple model is proposed for the observed saturation levels of the modes.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter