Plasma Hormones Facilitated the Hypermotility of the Colon in a Chronic Stress Rat Model

Objective: To study the relationship between brain-gut peptides, gastrointestinal hormones and altered motility in a rat model of repetitive water avoidance stress (WAS), which mimics the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: Male Wistar rats were submitted daily to 1-h of water avoidance stress (WAS) or sham WAS (SWAS) for 10 consecutive days. Plasma hormones were determined using Enzyme Immunoassay Kits. Proximal colonic smooth muscle (PCSM) contractions were studied in an organ bath system. PCSM cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and IKv and IBKca were recorded by the patch-clamp technique. Results: The number of fecal pellets during 1 h of acute restraint stress and the plasma hormones levels of substance P (SP), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), motilin (MTL), and cholecystokinin (CCK) in WAS rats were significantly increased compared with SWAS rats, whereas vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) in WAS rats were not significantly changed and peptide YY (PYY) in WAS rats was significantly decreased. Likewise, the amplitudes of spontaneous contractions of PCSM in WAS rats were significantly increased comparing with SWAS rats. The plasma of WAS rats (100 ml) decreased the amplitude of spontaneous contractions of controls. The IKv and IBKCa of PCSMs were significantly decreased in WAS rats compared with SWAS rats and the plasma of WAS rats (100 ml) increased the amplitude of IKv and IBKCa in normal rats

Glycan labeling strategies and their use in identification and quantification

Most methods for the analysis of oligosaccharides from biological sources require a glycan derivatization step: glycans may be derivatized to introduce a chromophore or fluorophore, facilitating detection after chromatographic or electrophoretic separation. Derivatization can also be applied to link charged or hydrophobic groups at the reducing end to enhance glycan separation and mass-spectrometric detection. Moreover, derivatization steps such as permethylation aim at stabilizing sialic acid residues, enhancing mass-spectrometric sensitivity, and supporting detailed structural characterization by (tandem) mass spectrometry. Finally, many glycan labels serve as a linker for oligosaccharide attachment to surfaces or carrier proteins, thereby allowing interaction studies with carbohydrate-binding proteins. In this review, various aspects of glycan labeling, separation, and detection strategies are discussed

New Hemostatic Powd-er (GelitaCel Ca Powder TM ) and Its Application in Cranial Neurosurgery

Abstract Background: Intraoperative hemostasis during intracranial surgery is one of the most important aspects of the surgical procedure. One of the most widely practiced methods to prevent postoperative hemorrhage is to cover the cerebral wound bed with cellulose. Objective: We report on the use of a new powder form of regenerated oxidized cellulose enriched with calcium (GelitaCel Ca Powder™, Gelita Medical, Eberbach, Germany) for hemostasis purposes in intracranial surgery. Methods: In 107 patients operated for intracranial mass lesions, the resection cavity was covered with a small layer of cellulose powder for hemostatic purposes. All patients had a postoperative CT or MRI scanning within 24 hours after surgery to detect any surgical complications and to detect the presence of blood within the surgical cavity. Results: Of the 107 operated patients, 96 (90%) had no or minimal blood in the intracranial resection field on postoperative imaging with CT or MRI. Of those 96, 69 patients had no blood at all and 27 patients had a small trace. In the remaining 11 patients, 8 patients (7.5%) had blood filling the resection cavity. In three patients (2.8%), the blood accumulation resulted in mass effect. All these three patients were re-operated due to neurological deterioration. Conclusion: We suggest that cellulose powder is an easy and safe product for hemostasis and prevention of postoperative hemorrhage in intracranial surgery. The main advantage of the powder form over regular oxidized cellulose is the no-touch technique of application and leaves no excess hemostatic material behind which could possibly cause compression

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric characterisation of tri- and tetrasaccharides in honey

A GC-MS method has been used to characterize tri- and tetrasaccharides in honey after their derivatization into trimethylsilyloxime derivatives. Based on retention data and mass spectra, a total of 25 trisaccharides were characterized; 12 being unequivocally identified using standards and two of them detected for the first time in honey. Erlose and panose were the major trisaccharides in the 12 honeys under analysis, their concentrations ranging 30-1214 mg 100 g-1 of honey and 17-863 mg 100 g-1 of honey, respectively. The GC-MS method also allowed the analysis of tetrasaccharides. Besides nystose, another nine tetrasaccharides were characterized; six of them were sucrose derivatives. Tetrasaccharides were present in concentrations lower than 230 mg 100 g-1 of honey

First-in-human administration of a live-attenuated RSV vaccine lacking the G-protein assessing safety, tolerability, shedding and immunogenicity: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in early infancy and in elderly. A pediatric vaccine against RSV would not only prevent morbidity and mortality amongst infants and young children but could also reduce transmission to elderly. The RSVΔG vaccine consists of a live-attenuated RSV that lacks the G attachment protein. RSVΔG is severely impaired in binding to host cells and exhibits reduced infectivity in preclinical studies. Intranasal immunization of cotton rats with RSVΔG vaccine protected against replication of wildtype RSV, without inducing enhanced disease. METHODS: We performed a first-in-human trial with primary objective to evaluate safety and shedding of RSVΔG (6.5 log10 CCID50) after intranasal administration. Healthy adults aged between 18 and 50, with RSV neutralizing serum titers below 9.6 log2, received a single dose of either vaccine or placebo (n = 48, ratio 3:1). In addition to safety and tolerability, nasal viral load, and systemic and humoral immune responses were assessed at selected time points until 4 weeks after immunization. RESULTS: Intranasal administration of RSVΔG was well tolerated with no findings of clinical concern. No infectious virus was detected in nasal wash samples. Similar to other live-attenuated RSV vaccines, neutralizing antibody response following inoculation was limited in seropositive adults. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of 6.5 log10 CCID50 of RSVΔG was safe and well-tolerated in seropositive healthy adults. RSVΔG was sufficiently attenuated but there were no signs of induction of antibodies. Safety and immunogenicity can now be explored in children and eventually in seronegative infants. Clinical trial register: NTR7173/EudraCT number 2016-002437-30