Wireless Video Capsule Enteroscopy in Preclinical Studies: Methodical Design of Its Applicability in Experimental Pigs

The aim of this project was to develop a methodology to introduce wireless video capsule endoscopy in preclinical research. Five mature female pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) were selected for the study. Capsule endoscopes (the EndoCapsule system; Olympus) were introduced into the duodenum endoscopically in each of the animals. The life span of batteries (i.e., total time of endoscopy recording) was 487–540 min (median 492 min). The capsule endoscope reached the cecum during enteroscopy once (after 7 h 57 min), in the remaining cases, endoscopy recordings terminated in the distal or terminal ileum. All capsule enteroscopies found a normal pattern of the small intestine. The intestinal lumen is narrower, transverse folds are sparse or even absent, villi are wider but less prominent in pigs compared to humans. Capsule endoscopy in experimental pigs will be helpful for future trials on injury of different drugs and xenobiotics to the small bowel

HPC For DRM - Operational Flood Management In Urban Environment

A regional flood warning system based on a combination of data processing, modelling and communication tools is proposed. The system is founded on a common framework MIKE CUSTOMISED, giving great flexibility in tailoring solutions as needed. Where more conventional flood warning systems focus mainly on discharge predictions in the main rivers the proposed system considers the whole catchment area – flood plain, as well as tributaries. Local floods on smaller streams and tributaries may cause high damages, particular in urban areas. Such cases require timely reasonably accurate forecasts for proper decision making. The MIKE SHE modelling system is used to ensure simulation of flood danger map. It also provides runoff hydrographs for the detailed hydrodynamic models of the river channel network and flood plains based on 1D / 2D approximations (MIKE FLOOD). Generated flood maps are post processed and ported to the required forms and delivered via communication channels to users. Dissemination of results is done through web pages automatically maintained by the system. Whole forecast simulation should be run in frequency of tens of minutes, which is computational power and transmission capacity demanding. Adaptation of whole system to High Performance Computer solutions (HPC) is on-going issue. This allows also parallel variant computation and real-time probabilistic assessment. IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Centre is a research institute at the VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava. This centre provides perfect platform for applications of HPC for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and its new dynamic development for real life applications, utilised for life protection and damage minimizing. The paper contributes both to the theory of application of HPC for standard hydrodynamic modelling but also to a real life application. A pilot operational Flood Risk Mapping project is developed for the capitol city of the Czech Republic

Whipple’s Disease: Our Own Experience and Review of the Literature

Whipple’s disease is a chronic infectious systemic disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. Nondeforming arthritis is frequently an initial complaint. Gastrointestinal and general symptoms include marked diarrhoea (with serious malabsorption), abdominal pain, prominent weight loss, and low-grade fever. Possible neurologic symptoms (up to 20%) might be associated with worse prognosis. Diagnosis is based on the clinical picture and small intestinal histology revealing foamy macrophages containing periodic-acid-Schiff- (PAS-) positive material. Long-term (up to one year) antibiotic therapy provides a favourable outcome in the vast majority of cases. This paper provides review of the literature and an analysis of our 5 patients recorded within a 20-year period at a tertiary gastroenterology centre. Patients were treated using i.v. penicillin G or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid + i.v. gentamicin for two weeks, followed by p.o. doxycycline (100 mg per day) plus p.o. salazopyrine (3 g per day) for 1 year. Full remission was achieved in all our patients

Preclinical electrogastrography in experimental pigs

Surface electrogastrography (EGG) is a non-invasive means of recording gastric myoelectric activity or slow waves from cutaneous leads placed over the stomach. This paper provides a comprehensive review of preclinical EGG. Our group recently set up and worked out the methods for EGG in experimental pigs. We gained our initial experience in the use of EGG in assessment of porcine gastric myoelectric activity after volume challenge and after intragastric administration of itopride and erythromycin. The mean dominant frequency in pigs is comparable with that found in humans. EGG in experimental pigs is feasible. Experimental EGG is an important basis for further preclinical projects in pharmacology and toxicology