Three-dimensional cephalometric evaluation of maxillary growth following in utero repair of cleft lip and alveolar-like defects in the mid-gestational sheep model

Objective: To evaluate maxillary growth following in utero repair of surgically created cleft lip and alveolar (CLA)-like defects by means of three-dimensional (3D) computer tomographic (CT) cephalometric analysis in the mid-gestational sheep model. Methods: In 12 sheep fetuses a unilateral CLA-like defect was created in utero (untreated control group: 4 fetuses). Four different bone grafts were used for the alveolar defect closure. After euthanasia, CT scans of the skulls of the fetuses, 3D re-constructions, and a 3D-CT cephalometric analysis were performed. Results: The comparisons between the operated and nonoperated skull sides as well as of the maxillary asymmetry among the experimental groups revealed no statistically significant differences of the 12 variables used. Conclusions: None of the surgical approaches used for the in utero correction of CLA-like defects seem to affect significantly postsurgical maxillary growth; however, when bone graft healing takes place, a tendency for almost normal maxillary growth can be observed. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Platelet ITAM signaling is critical for vascular integrity in inflammation

Platelets play a critical role in maintaining vascular integrity during inflammation, but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here we report that platelet immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif (ITAM) signaling, but not GPCR signaling, is critical for the prevention of inflammation-induced hemorrhage. To generate mice with partial or complete defects in these signaling pathways, we developed a protocol for adoptive transfer of genetically and/or chemically inhibited platelets into thrombocytopenic (TP) mice. Unexpectedly, platelets with impaired GPCR signaling, a crucial component of platelet plug formation and hemostasis, were indistinguishable from WT platelets in their ability to prevent hemorrhage at sites of inflammation. In contrast, inhibition of GPVI or genetic deletion of Clec2, the only ITAM receptors expressed on mouse platelets, significantly reduced the ability of platelets to prevent inflammation-induced hemorrhage. Moreover, transfusion of platelets without ITAM receptor function or platelets lacking the adapter protein SLP-76 into TP mice had no significant effect on vascular integrity during inflammation. These results indicate that the control of vascular integrity is a major function of immune-type receptors in platelets, highlighting a potential clinical complication of novel antithrombotic agents directed toward the ITAM signaling pathway

EUREC⁴A

The science guiding the EUREC⁴A campaign and its measurements is presented. EUREC⁴A comprised roughly 5 weeks of measurements in the downstream winter trades of the North Atlantic – eastward and southeastward of Barbados. Through its ability to characterize processes operating across a wide range of scales, EUREC⁴A marked a turning point in our ability to observationally study factors influencing clouds in the trades, how they will respond to warming, and their link to other components of the earth system, such as upper-ocean processes or the life cycle of particulate matter. This characterization was made possible by thousands (2500) of sondes distributed to measure circulations on meso- (200 km) and larger (500 km) scales, roughly 400 h of flight time by four heavily instrumented research aircraft; four global-class research vessels; an advanced ground-based cloud observatory; scores of autonomous observing platforms operating in the upper ocean (nearly 10 000 profiles), lower atmosphere (continuous profiling), and along the air–sea interface; a network of water stable isotopologue measurements; targeted tasking of satellite remote sensing; and modeling with a new generation of weather and climate models. In addition to providing an outline of the novel measurements and their composition into a unified and coordinated campaign, the six distinct scientific facets that EUREC⁴A explored – from North Brazil Current rings to turbulence-induced clustering of cloud droplets and its influence on warm-rain formation – are presented along with an overview of EUREC⁴A's outreach activities, environmental impact, and guidelines for scientific practice. Track data for all platforms are standardized and accessible at https://doi.org/10.25326/165 (Stevens, 2021), and a film documenting the campaign is provided as a video supplement

EUREC⁴A

The science guiding the EUREC⁴A campaign and its measurements is presented. EUREC⁴A comprised roughly 5 weeks of measurements in the downstream winter trades of the North Atlantic – eastward and southeastward of Barbados. Through its ability to characterize processes operating across a wide range of scales, EUREC⁴A marked a turning point in our ability to observationally study factors influencing clouds in the trades, how they will respond to warming, and their link to other components of the earth system, such as upper-ocean processes or the life cycle of particulate matter. This characterization was made possible by thousands (2500) of sondes distributed to measure circulations on meso- (200 km) and larger (500 km) scales, roughly 400 h of flight time by four heavily instrumented research aircraft; four global-class research vessels; an advanced ground-based cloud observatory; scores of autonomous observing platforms operating in the upper ocean (nearly 10 000 profiles), lower atmosphere (continuous profiling), and along the air–sea interface; a network of water stable isotopologue measurements; targeted tasking of satellite remote sensing; and modeling with a new generation of weather and climate models. In addition to providing an outline of the novel measurements and their composition into a unified and coordinated campaign, the six distinct scientific facets that EUREC⁴A explored – from North Brazil Current rings to turbulence-induced clustering of cloud droplets and its influence on warm-rain formation – are presented along with an overview of EUREC⁴A's outreach activities, environmental impact, and guidelines for scientific practice. Track data for all platforms are standardized and accessible at https://doi.org/10.25326/165 (Stevens, 2021), and a film documenting the campaign is provided as a video supplement

The effect of semen extender, seminal plasma and raw semen on uterine and ovarian blood flow in mares

Transrectal color Doppler sonography was used to evaluate the effect of intrauterine infusion of skim milk semen extender, seminal plasma and raw semen on the endometrium and blood flow in the uterine and ovarian arteries in mares. Six Trotter mares (mean age: 12 years) were examined during estrus in three cycles. Each mare received an intrauterine infusion of 20 ml of skim milk semen extender, seminal plasma or raw semen during estrus in one of three cycles. Blood flow measurements in both uterine and ovarian arteries and the determination of intrauterine fluid via sonography were performed before each infusion and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after infusion. Forty-eight hours later, the intrauterine infusion and measurements were repeated using the same time intervals. Changes in blood flow were detected using transrectal color Doppler sonography and were evaluated using the mean time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV) of the blood flow. Cytological and bacteriological examination of uterine swabs performed 48 h after the second infusion revealed less inflammation and bacterial growth in mares infused with skim milk semen extender than in those infused with seminal plasma or raw semen. There was an increase in intrauterine fluid as early as 1 h after infusion of any of the substances. The infusion of skim milk semen extender had no effect on uterine blood flow. Within 1 h after infusion of seminal plasma or raw semen, there was an increase in the TAMV values of both uterine arteries (P<0.05). In contrast, ovarian blood flow increased only in the artery ipsilateral to the preovulatory follicle and only after the infusion of raw semen (P<0.05). In conclusion, the changes in uterine perfusion observed after intrauterine infusion may be associated with endometrial inflammation and vasodilatory components in the seminal plasma, whereas the changes seen in ovarian blood flow are possibly attributable to the interaction between sperm and oviduct

İneklerde follikül, corpus luteum, ovaryum kistleri olgularında renkli doppler ultrasonografi aracılığıyla vaskülarizasyon değişikliklerinin incelenmesi

Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, mit Hilfe der transrektalen Farbdopplersonographie (Toshiba SSH 140A, 7.0 MHz, Mikrokonvexsonde) die physiologischen Änderungen in der Durchblutung des Follikels und des Corpus luteum zu untersuchen. Außerdem wurde diese Technik eingesetzt um die Durchblutungsveränderungen in den Luteal-Zysten vor und nach der Behandlung mit PGF2α festzustellen. Die GRAAFschen Follikel wurden an fünf Kühen während zwei aufeinanderfolgender Zyklen im Östrus (Tag 0) und die Corpora lutea an den Tagen 5, 7, 9, 11 und 13 untersucht. Zusätzlich erfolgten Studien an zwei Kühen, bei denen Follikel-Luteinzysten festgestellt worden waren. Die Follikel, Corpora lutea und Follikel-Luteinzysten wurden im Color- Angio Mode dargestellt, während die uterine Durchblutung mit Hilfe der von der A. uterina im PW-Modus aufgezeichneten Dopplerwellen quantifiziert wurde. Bei allen Corpora lutea war der Blutfluss in den peripher gelegenen Kapselgefäßen darstellbar. Während der frühen Lutealphase stieg die Gelbkörperdurchblutung an und die höchste Intensität der Durchblutung konnte am 9. Tag des Zyklus festgestellt werden. Am 13. Tag des Zyklus war die Intensität der Durchblutung im Gelbkörper wieder abgefallen. Am Tag der ersten Feststellung des Graaf-Follikels konnte die Durchblutung in der äußeren Follikelwand besser als kurz vor der Ovulation dargestellt werden. Je näher die Entwicklung des Follikels zur Ovulation kam, desto schwieriger bzw. unmöglich war die Feststellung der Durchblutung. Kurz vor der Ovulation war nur kein oder nur noch ein schwacher follikulärer Blutfluss darstellbar. Nach Applikation von PGF2α (0.75 mg Tiaprost) bei den Follikelluteinzysten (n=2) konnte ein deutlicher Abfall im deren Blutfluss festgestellt werden. Die vorliegende Studie zeigt, dass die transrektale Farbdopplersonographie eine geeignete nichtinvasive Methode zur Bestimmung der Durchblutung von Funktionsgebilden am Ovar darstellt. Außerdem können mit Hilfe dieser Methode therapeuthische Maßnahmen am Genitale anhand der Veränderungen in der Blutversorgung beurteilt werden

Examination of embryonic death in mares using colour Doppler and B-mode sonography

Embryonic death in mares was studied using colour Doppler sonography and B-mode sonography. The aim of this study was to characterize clinical symptoms for an impending embryonic death. In 6 Trotter mares, who have repeatedly been pregnant, the pregnancies were interrupted with a PGF2α analogue (Tiaprost) at Days 15, 25, 30 and 40. Three gestations were studied in each group (Day 30 with 4 gestations). After the PGF2α administration these mares were examined every 8 hours until the conceptuses were removed completely. Control groups, each made up of 3 pregnant mares, were examined daily. The size of the conceptus and the embryo/fetus, the thickness of the uterine wall, the embryonic heart rate and the Resistance Index (RI) of the A. uterina were recorded. The embryonic heart rate could be detected in some cases at Day 18 and in all cases at Day 20 with colour Doppler sonography. It increased from 97-111 beats/min at the first detection to about 167 beats/min at the end of the first month of pregnancy. Thereafter it reached a plateau for nearly a month and increased slightly to 176 beats/min at the end of the second month of pregnancy. The embryos of the treated mares (7 of 10) showed a bradycardia (64–130 beats/min) before death; 1 had a tachycardia (209 beats/min) and 2 had normal heart rates. Beginning on Day 15, the RI values of the ipsilateral (pregnant side) uterine artery were lower than those of the contralateral. In the course of early pregnancy the RI values of uterine arteries decreased further (P < 0.01). In the mares treated at Day 15 this phenomenon was not observed. In the mares treated at Day 25, 30 and 40, the difference between the ipsilateral and the contralateral uterine arteries, which was significant at the beginning, disappeared 24–48 hours before embryonic death. From PGF2α administration to embryonic death the treated mares had significantly higher RI values on the ipsilateral uterine artery than the untreated mares (P < 0.05). Sonographic characteristics of an impending embryonic death were as follows: the form of the conceptus became irregular and the thickness of the uterine wall was the same all around the embryonic vesicle. The endometrium became heterogen and estrous-like. A reduced volume of conceptual fluids, a strongly increased echogenity of the conceptual fluids and a disorganization of the conceptual membranes were the most important criteria after embryonic death.This study shows that colour Doppler sonography is a useful method to diagnose and predict embryonic mortality in mares. Compared to B-mode sonography, embryonic mortality can be detected earlier and more reliable with the colour Doppler technique