Double-plating of ovine critical sized defects of the tibia: a low morbidity model enabling continuous in vivo monitoring of bone healing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies using sheep critical sized defect models to test tissue engineered products report high morbidity and complications rates. This study evaluates a large bone defect model in the sheep tibia, stabilized with two, a novel Carbon fibre Poly-ether-ether-ketone (CF-PEEK) and a locking compression plate (LCP) which could sustain duration for up to 6 month with an acceptable low complication rate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A large bone defect of 3 cm was performed in the mid diaphysis of the right tibia in 33 sheep. The defect was stabilised with the CF - PEEK plate and an LCP. All sheep were supported with slings for 8 weeks after surgery. The study was carried out for 3 months in 6 and for 6 months in 27 animals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The surgical procedure could easily be performed in all sheep and continuous in vivo radiographic evaluation of the defect was possible. This long bone critical sized defect model shows with 6.1% a low rate of complications compared with numbers mentioned in the literature.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This experimental animal model could serve as a standard model in comparative research. A well defined standard model would reduce the number of experimental animals needed in future studies and would therefore add to ethical considerations.</p

Development and evaluation of robust molecular markers linked to disease resistance in tomato for distinctness, uniformity and stability testing

Molecular markers linked to phenotypically important traits are of great interest especially when traits are difficult and/or costly to be observed. In tomato where a strong focus on resistance breeding has led to the introgression of several resistance genes, resistance traits have become important characteristics in distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) testing for Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) applications. Evaluation of disease traits in biological assays is not always straightforward because assays are often influenced by environmental factors, and difficulties in scoring exist. In this study, we describe the development and/or evaluation of molecular marker assays for the Verticillium genes Ve1 and Ve2, the tomato mosaic virusTm1 (linked marker), the tomato mosaic virus Tm2 and Tm22 genes, the Meloidogyne incognita Mi1-2 gene, the Fusarium I (linked marker) and I2 loci, which are obligatory traits in PBR testing. The marker assays were evaluated for their robustness in a ring test and then evaluated in a set of varieties. Although in general, results between biological assays and marker assays gave highly correlated results, marker assays showed an advantage over biological tests in that the results were clearer, i.e., homozygote/heterozygote presence of the resistance gene can be detected and heterogeneity in seed lots can be identified readily. Within the UPOV framework for granting of PBR, the markers have the potential to fulfil the requirements needed for implementation in DUS testing of candidate varieties and could complement or may be an alternative to the pathogenesis tests that are carried out at present

A genome-wide genetic map of NB-LRR disease resistance loci in potato

Like all plants, potato has evolved a surveillance system consisting of a large array of genes encoding for immune receptors that confer resistance to pathogens and pests. The majority of these so-called resistance or R proteins belong to the super-family that harbour a nucleotide binding and a leucine-rich-repeat domain (NB-LRR). Here, sequence information of the conserved NB domain was used to investigate the genome-wide genetic distribution of the NB-LRR resistance gene loci in potato. We analysed the sequences of 288 unique BAC clones selected using filter hybridisation screening of a BAC library of the diploid potato clone RH89-039-16 (S. tuberosum ssp. tuberosum) and a physical map of this BAC library. This resulted in the identification of 738 partial and full-length NB-LRR sequences. Based on homology of these sequences with known resistance genes, 280 and 448 sequences were classified as TIR-NB-LRR (TNL) and CC-NB-LRR (CNL) sequences, respectively. Genetic mapping revealed the presence of 15 TNL and 32 CNL loci. Thirty-six are novel, while three TNL loci and eight CNL loci are syntenic with previously identified functional resistance genes. The genetic map was complemented with 68 universal CAPS markers and 82 disease resistance trait loci described in literature, providing an excellent template for genetic studies and applied research in potato

Erste Ergebnisse sonografischer Untersuchungen des Zungengrundes bei Patienten mit OSAS unter nächtlicher elektrischer Stimulationstherapie des Nervus hypoglossus

Einleitung: Die nächtliche elektrische Stimulationstherapie des N. hypoglossus von Patienten mit obstruktivem Schlafapnoesyndrom (OSAS) ist eine vergleichsweise neue Therapieform. Bislang wurde weltweit eine überschaubare Anzahl von Patienten mit Stimulationsgeräten versorgt. Langfristige umfangreiche Daten zu Effekten und Nebeneffekten liegen noch nicht vor. Insbesondere fehlen Daten zu möglichen langfristigen Veränderungen der Zungengrundmorphologie. Wir berichten über sonographische Befunde im Bereich der Zunge und des Zungengrundes von Patienten vor und nach Implantation. Patienten und Methoden: Bei 7 Patienten mit OSAS (m=5, w=2, 60,14±12,5 J, Zeit unter Stimulationstherapie 296,43±92,04 Tage) wurde vor und 12 Monate nach Implantation eines einseitigen Stimulationssystems des N. hypoglossus (ImThera Aura 6000(TM)) mittels Ultraschall (GE Vivid S6, 4 MHz) die Zunge und der Zungengrund untersucht. In zwei Schnittebenen wurden anhand definierter Landmarken zweidimensional Distanzen vermessen. Ergebnisse: 12 Monate nach Implantation hatte sich die Distanz zwischen beiden Aa. linguales an Ihrer Eintrittsstelle in den Zungengrund signifikant verringert (MW vor Implantation 3,844±0,397 cm; MW nach 12 Monaten 3,591±0,302 cm; p=0,037). Alle anderen Parameter wiesen keine signifikante Veränderung auf. Diskussion: Aufgrund der muskulären Struktur der Zunge ist eine reliable ultraschallgestützte Vermessung der gesamte Zunge und des Zungengrundes kaum möglich. Der Eintritt der Aa. linguales in den Zungengrundes stellt allerdings eine intraindividuell konstante anatomische Landmarke dar. Die klinische Bedeutung der beobachteten Messwerte ist noch unklar. Möglicherweise handelt es sich um eine Abnahme des Zungengrunddurchmessers als langfristigen Effekt der elektrischen Stimulation.Unterstützt durch: Studiensponsor: ImThera MedicalDer Erstautor weist auf folgenden Interessenkonflikt hin: Studiensponsor: ImThera Medica