scholarly journals The Utility of Grimace Scales for Practical Pain Assessment in Laboratory Animals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Mota-Rojas ◽  
Adriana Olmos-Hernández ◽  
Antonio Verduzco-Mendozab ◽  
Elein Hernández ◽  
Julio Martínez-Burnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Pain ◽  
Animal Medicine ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Barriers To Implementation

Animals’ facial expressions have been widely used as a readout for emotion. Scientific interest in the facial expressions of laboratory animals has centered primarily on negative experiences, such as pain, experienced as a result of scientific research procedures. Recent attempts to standardize evaluation of facial expressions associated with pain in laboratory animals has culminated in the development of “grimace scales”. In the context of laboratory animals, these have been developed and evaluated for mice, rats, rabbits, sheep, and ferrets. The prevention or relief of pain in laboratory animals is a fundamental requirement for in vivo research to satisfy community expectations. However, to date it appears that the grimace scales have not seen widespread implementation as clinical pain assessment techniques in biomedical research. In this review, we discuss some of the barriers to implementation of the scales in clinical laboratory animal medicine, progress made in automation of collection, and suggest avenues for future research.

scholarly journals The Utility of Grimace Scales for Practical Pain Assessment in Laboratory Animals

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Mota-Rojas ◽  
Adriana Olmos-Hernández ◽  
Antonio Verduzco-Mendoza ◽  
Elein Hernández ◽  
Julio Martínez-Burnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Pain ◽  
Animal Medicine ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Barriers To Implementation

Animals’ facial expressions are widely used as a readout for emotion. Scientific interest in the facial expressions of laboratory animals has centered primarily on negative experiences, such as pain, experienced as a result of scientific research procedures. Recent attempts to standardize evaluation of facial expressions associated with pain in laboratory animals has culminated in the development of “grimace scales”. The prevention or relief of pain in laboratory animals is a fundamental requirement for in vivo research to satisfy community expectations. However, to date it appears that the grimace scales have not seen widespread implementation as clinical pain assessment techniques in biomedical research. In this review, we discuss some of the barriers to implementation of the scales in clinical laboratory animal medicine, progress made in automation of collection, and suggest avenues for future research.

scholarly journals In vivo administration of anti-HIV hyper-immune eggs induces anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies against HIV gp120 peptides (fragments 308-331 and 421-438) and against HIV gp41 peptide (fragment 579-601) which have demonstrable protective capacity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Justiz-Vaillant ◽  
Belkis Ferrer-Cosme ◽  
Monica Fisher Smikle ◽  
Oliver Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Egg Yolk ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Protective Capacity ◽  
Antigen Binding Site ◽  
Hiv Antigen ◽  
Gp41 Peptide

AbstractIsolation of antibodies from the egg yolk of chickens is of particular interest as a source of specific antibodies for oral administration to prevent infections and use them as immunodiagnostic reagents. The use of birds in antibody production results in a reduction in the use of laboratory animals. Immunized chickens produce larger quantities of antibodies (2000 mg IgY/month) than rodents (200 mg IgG/month) in the laboratory. According to Jerne’s network theory, it is possible to produce an antibody against the antigen-binding site of another antibody. This study assessed the hypothesis that immunization with viral peptides (immunogens) could provide a potent immune response that could be evaluated in chicken eggs. Human immunodeficiency virus 1(HIV-1) is used as an immunogen. The second hypothesis was that an orally administered antibody stimulates the production of a complementary antibody, the so-called anti-idiotypic antibody, which can potentially be therapeutical. This study reports and analyzes the use of eggs as therapeutic agents. We wanted to test the hypothesis that feeding chicks with hyperimmune eggs stimulates the production of anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies that neutralize the original HIV antigen fragments 308-331 or 421-438 of gp120 or fragment 579-601 of gp41. Future research could entail an anti-idiotype strategy for prophylactic vaccines. It is vital to note that it may need an anti-idiotype response to prime immunity against an HIV viral epitope, which may be used as a secondary element. The use of anti-idiotype immune responses in infected individuals may shift the balance of the immune system, allowing the organism to manage HIV infection. Therefore, it may be an avenue for immunotherapy to improve the fight against HIV infections. However, more studies and clinical trials are required to demonstrate similar human immune responses as observed in birds.

Refinement of animal use-assessment and alleviation of pain and distress

1994 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Flecknell
Keyword(s):  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
Experimental Techniques ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Clinical Pain ◽  
Clinical Scoring ◽  
Animal Use ◽  
Reliable Methods

The refinement of experimental techniques represents an important opportunity to improve the welfare of laboratory animals. Objective methods for the assessment of pain and distress in animals are needed before procedures that are claimed to be refinements can be evaluated. The methods currently used for assessment of pain and distress are unsatisfactory, and are often based on uncritical anthropomorphic assumptions. Future developments may enable the establishment of well validated clinical scoring systems, or identification of biochemical or physiological indices of pain or distress. If reliable methods of pain assessment can be developed, then a critical evaluation of the methods available for the alleviation of pain and distress can be undertaken. This article reviews methods of clinical pain assessment in animals, with reference to the techniques used in man. Techniques for pain alleviation are briefly reviewed.

The Pattern of Ventricular Remodeling Influences the Level of Oxidative Stress in Heart Failure Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1506-1511
Author(s):  
Cerasela Mihaela Goidescu ◽  
Anca Daniela Farcas ◽  
Florin Petru Anton ◽  
Luminita Animarie Vida Simiti
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Ventricular Remodeling ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Lv Mass ◽  
Few Data

Oxidative stress (OS) is increased in chronic diseases, including cardiovascular (CV), but there are few data on its effects on the heart and vessels. The isoprostanes (IsoP) are bioactive compounds, with 8-iso-PGF25a being the most representative in vivo marker of OS. They correlate with the severity of heart failure (HF), but because data regarding OS levels in different types of HF are scarce, our study was aimed to evaluate it by assessing the urinary levels of 8-iso-PGF2aand its correlations with various biomarkers and parameters. Our prospective study included 53 consecutive patients with HF secondary to ischemic heart disease or dilative cardiomyopathy, divided according to the type of HF (acute, chronic decompensated or chronic compensated HF). The control group included 13 hypertensive patients, effectively treated. They underwent clinical, laboratory - serum NT-proBNP, creatinine, uric acid, lipids, C reactive protein (CRP) and urinary 8-iso-PGF2a and echocardiographic assessment. HF patients, regardless the type of HF, had higher 8-iso-PGF2a than controls (267.32pg/�mol vs. 19.82pg/�mol, p[0.001). The IsoP level was directly correlated with ejection fraction (EF) (r=-0.31, p=0.01) and NT-proBNP level (r=0.29, p=0.019). The relative wall thickness (RWT) was negatively correlated with IsoP (r=-0.55, p[0.001). Also 8-iso-PGF25a was higher by 213.59pg/�mol in the eccentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy subgroup comparing with the concentric subgroup (p=0.014), and the subgroups with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and moderate/severe pulmonary hypertension (PAH) had the highest 8-iso-PGF2a levels. Male sex, severe MR, moderate/severe PAH, high LV mass and low RWT values were predictive for high OS level in HF patients.Eccentric cardiac remodeling, MR severity and PAH severity are independent predictors of OS in HF patients.

Neurotoxicity of Pesticides: The Roadmap for the Cubic Mode of Action

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Bumbăcilă ◽  
Mihai V. Putz
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Wiener Index ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Covalent Bonds ◽  
Organophosphate Compounds ◽  
Sar Studies ◽  
Structure Activity ◽  
Cubic Structure

Pesticides are used today on a planetary-wide scale. The rising need for substances with this biological activity due to an increasing consumption of agricultural and animal products and to the development of urban areas makes the chemical industry to constantly investigate new molecules or to improve the physicochemical characteristics, increase the biological activities and improve the toxicity profiles of the already known ones. Molecular databases are increasingly accessible for in vitro and in vivo bioavailability studies. In this context, structure-activity studies, by their in silico - in cerebro methods, are used to precede in vitro and in vivo studies in plants and experimental animals because they can indicate trends by statistical methods or biological activity models expressed as mathematical equations or graphical correlations, so a direction of study can be developed or another can be abandoned, saving financial resources, time and laboratory animals. Following this line of research the present paper reviews the Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies and proposes a correlation between a topological connectivity index and the biological activity or toxicity made as a result of a study performed on 11 molecules of organophosphate compounds, randomly chosen, with a basic structure including a Phosphorus atom double bounded to an Oxygen atom or to a Sulfur one and having three other simple covalent bonds with two alkoxy (-methoxy or -ethoxy) groups and to another functional group different from the alkoxy groups. The molecules were packed on a cubic structure consisting of three adjacent cubes, respecting a principle of topological efficiency, that of occupying a minimal space in that cubic structure, a method that was called the Clef Method. The central topological index selected for correlation was the Wiener index, since it was possible this way to discuss different adjacencies between the nodes in the graphs corresponding to the organophosphate compounds molecules packed on the cubic structure; accordingly, "three dimensional" variants of these connectivity indices could be considered and further used for studying the qualitative-quantitative relationships for the specific molecule-enzyme interaction complexes, including correlation between the Wiener weights (nodal specific contributions to the total Wiener index of the molecular graph) and the biochemical reactivity of some of the atoms. Finally, when passing from SAR to Q(uantitative)-SAR studies, especially by the present advanced method of the cubic molecule (Clef Method) and its good assessment of the (neuro)toxicity of the studied molecules and of their inhibitory effect on the target enzyme - acetylcholinesterase, it can be seen that a predictability of the toxicity and activity of different analogue compounds can be ensured, facilitating the in vivo experiments or improving the usage of pesticides.

Metabolism and Distribution of Novel Tumor Targeting Drugs In Vivo

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 996-1008
Author(s):  
Mengli Wang ◽  
Qiuzheng Du ◽  
Lihua Zuo ◽  
Peng Xue ◽  
Chao Lan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Tumor Therapy ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Targeted Drugs

Background: As a new tumor therapy, targeted therapy is becoming a hot topic due to its high efficiency and low toxicity. Drug effects of targeted tumor drugs are closely related to pharmacokinetics, so it is important to understand their distribution and metabolism in vivo. Methods: A systematic review of the literature on the metabolism and distribution of targeted drugs over the past 20 years was conducted, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of approved targeted drugs were summarized in combination with the FDA's drug instructions. Targeting drugs are divided into two categories: small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. Novel targeting drugs and their mechanisms of action, which have been developed in recent years, are summarized. The distribution and metabolic processes of each drug in the human body are reviewed. Results: In this review, we found that the distribution and metabolism of small molecule kinase inhibitors (TKI) and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) showed different characteristics based on the differences of action mechanism and molecular characteristics. TKI absorbed rapidly (Tmax ≈ 1-4 h) and distributed in large amounts (Vd > 100 L). It was mainly oxidized and reduced by cytochrome P450 CYP3A4. However, due to the large molecular diameter, mAb was distributed to tissues slowly, and the volume of distribution was usually very low (Vd < 10 L). It was mainly hydrolyzed and metabolized into peptides and amino acids by protease hydrolysis. In addition, some of the latest drugs are still in clinical trials, and the in vivo process still needs further study. Conclusion: According to the summary of the research progress of the existing targeting drugs, it is found that they have high specificity, but there are still deficiencies in drug resistance and safety. Therefore, the development of safer and more effective targeted drugs is the future research direction. Meanwhile, this study also provides a theoretical basis for clinical accurate drug delivery.

scholarly journals Effect of Processing on Fish Protein Antigenicity and Allergenicity

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 969
Author(s):  
Xingyi Jiang ◽  
Qinchun Rao
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Protein Denaturation ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Protein Solubility ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Food Protein ◽  
In Vivo Evaluation ◽  
Fish Allergy

Fish allergy is a life-long food allergy whose prevalence is affected by many demographic factors. Currently, there is no cure for fish allergy, which can only be managed by strict avoidance of fish in the diet. According to the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee, 12 fish proteins are recognized as allergens. Different processing (thermal and non-thermal) techniques are applied to fish and fishery products to reduce microorganisms, extend shelf life, and alter organoleptic/nutritional properties. In this concise review, the development of a consistent terminology for studying food protein immunogenicity, antigenicity, and allergenicity is proposed. It also summarizes that food processing may lead to a decrease, no change, or even increase in fish antigenicity and allergenicity due to the change of protein solubility, protein denaturation, and the modification of linear or conformational epitopes. Recent studies investigated the effect of processing on fish antigenicity/allergenicity and were mainly conducted on commonly consumed fish species and major fish allergens using in vitro methods. Future research areas such as novel fish species/allergens and ex vivo/in vivo evaluation methods would convey a comprehensive view of the relationship between processing and fish allergy.

scholarly journals How Lack of Knowledge and Tools Hinders the Eco-Design of Buildings—A Systematic Review

Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Kikki Lambrecht Ipsen ◽  
Massimo Pizzol ◽  
Morten Birkved ◽  
Ben Amor
Keyword(s):  
Building Design ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Material Consumption ◽  
Building Sector ◽  
Environmental Consideration ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
Environmental Considerations ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

The building sector is responsible for extensive resource consumption and waste generation, resulting in high pressure on the environment. A way to potentially mitigate this is by including environmental considerations during building design through the concept known as eco-design. Despite the multiple available approaches of eco-design, the latter is not easily achieved in the building sector. The objective of this paper is to identify and discuss what barriers are currently hindering the implementation of eco-design in the building sector and by which measures building designers can include environmental considerations in their design process. Through a systematic literature review, several barriers to implementation were identified, the main ones being lack of suitable legislation, lack of knowledge amongst building designers, and lack of suitable tools for designers to use. Furthermore, two specific tools were identified that allow the inclusion of environmental consideration in building design, along with nine design strategies providing qualitative guidance on how to potentially minimize energy and material consumption, as well as waste generation. This paper contributes a holistic overview of the major barriers to and existing tools and method for the eco-design of buildings, and provides guidance for both future research and practice.

scholarly journals Gender and Sex Are Key Determinants in Osteoarthritis Not Only Confounding Variables. A Systematic Review of Clinical Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3178
Author(s):  
Matilde Tschon ◽  
Deyanira Contartese ◽  
Stefania Pagani ◽  
Veronica Borsari ◽  
Milena Fini
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Cartilage Volume ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Clinical Pain

Many risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA) have been noted, while gender/sex differences have been understated. The work aimed to systematically review literature investigating as primary aim the relationship between gender/sex related discriminants and OA. The search was performed in PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Knowledge in the last 10 years. Inclusion criteria were limited to clinical studies of patients affected by OA in any joints, analyzing as primary aim gender/sex differences. Exclusion criteria were review articles, in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies, case series studies and papers in which gender/sex differences were adjusted as confounding variable. Of the 120 records screened, 42 studies were included. Different clinical outcomes were analyzed: morphometric differences, followed by kinematics, pain, functional outcomes after arthroplasty and health care needs of patients. Women appear to use more health care, have higher OA prevalence, clinical pain and inflammation, decreased cartilage volume, physical difficulty, and smaller joint parameters and dimensions, as compared to men. No in-depth studies or mechanistic studies analyzing biomarker differential expressions, molecular pathways and omic profiles were found that might drive preclinical and clinical research towards sex-/gender-oriented protocols.

scholarly journals The Genus Lagochilus (Lamiaceae): A Review of Its Diversity, Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Nilufar Z. Mamadalieva ◽  
Davlat Kh. Akramov ◽  
Ludger A. Wessjohann ◽  
Hidayat Hussain ◽  
Chunlin Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Iridoid Glycosides ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Future Research ◽  
South Central ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Central South

The genus Lagochilus (Lamiaceae) is native to Central, South-Central, and Eastern Asia. It comprises 44 species, which have been commonly used as herbal medicines for the treatments of various ailments for thousands of years, especially in Asian countries. This review aims to summarize the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of species from the genus Lagochilus to unveil opportunities for future research. In addition, we provide some information about their traditional uses, botany, and diversity. More than 150 secondary metabolites have been reported from Lagochilus, including diterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, iridoid glycosides, lignans, steroids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, volatile, non-volatile and aromatic compounds, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and other secondary metabolites. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on the crude extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from Lagochilus species showed hemostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, cytotoxic, enzyme inhibitory, antispasmodic, hypotensive, sedative, psychoactive, and other activities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document