A 3D-printed Apparatus for Imaging Multiple Rats Simultaneously

CT (computerized tomography) is a necessary imaging modality for cancer staging and disease monitoring. Rodent models of cancer are commonly studied prior to human clinical trials, but CT in rodents can be difficult due to their small size and constant movement, which necessitates general anesthesia. Because microCT equipment is not always available, clinical CT may be a viable alternative. Limitations of microCT and clinical CT include biosecurity, anesthesia to limit image distortion due to motion, and cost. To address several of these constraints, we created a 3D-printed apparatus that accommodated simultaneous imaging of as many as 9 rats under gas anesthesia. Rats were anesthetized in series and placed in a 3 × 3 arrangement. To assess differences in attenuation between individual chambers and rows or columns in the device, we first imaged a standardized phantom plug as a control. We hypothesized that attenuation of specific rat organs would not be affected regardless of the location or position in the 3D-printed device. Four organs—liver, kidney, femur, and brain—were evaluated in 9 rats. For both the phantom and kidneys, statistically significant, but clinically negligible, effects on attenuation were noted between rows but not between columns. We attribute this finding to the absence of a top layer of the apparatus, which thus created asymmetric attenuation and beam hardening through the device. This apparatus allowed us to successfully image 9 rats simultaneously in a clinical CT machine, with negligible effects on attenuation. Planned improvements in this apparatus include completely enclosed versions for biosecure imaging.

Electroacupuncture Regulates Inguinal White Adipose Tissue Browning by Promoting Sirtuin-1-Dependent PPARγ Deacetylation and Mitochondrial Biogenesis

BackgroundPrevious studies had suggested that electroacupuncture (EA) can promote white adipose tissue (WAT) browning to counter obesity. But the mechanism was still not very clear.AimIn this study, we aim to study the effect of EA on promoting inguinal WAT (iWAT) browning and its possible mechanism.MethodThree-week-old rats were randomly divided into a normal diet (ND) group and a high-fat diet (HFD) group. After 10 weeks, the HFD rats were grouped into HFD + EA group and HFD control group. Rats in the EA group were electro-acupunctured for 4 weeks on Tianshu (ST25) acupoint under gas anesthesia with isoflurane, while the rats in HFD group were under gas anesthesia only. Body weight and cumulative food intake were monitored, and H&E staining was performed to assess adipocyte area. The effect of EA on WAT was assessed by qPCR, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation and Co-immunoprecipitation. Mitochondria were isolated from IWAT to observe the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM).ResultsThe body weight, WAT/body weight ratio and cumulative food consumption obviously decreased (P < 0.05) in the EA group. The expressions of brown adipose tissue (BAT) markers were increased in the iWAT of EA rats. Nevertheless, the mRNA expressions of WAT genes were suppressed by 4-week EA treatment. Moreover, EA increased the protein expressions of SIRT-1, PPARγ, PGC-1α, UCP1 and PRDM16 which trigger the molecular conversion of iWAT browning. The decrease of PPARγ acetylation was also found in EA group, indicating EA could advance WAT-browning through SIRT-1 dependent PPARγ deacetylation pathway. Besides, we found that EA could activate AMPK to further regulate PGC-1α-TFAM-UCP1 pathway to induce mitochondrial biogenesis.ConclusionIn conclusion, EA can remodel WAT to BAT through inducing SIRT-1 dependent PPARγ deacetylation, and regulating PGC-1α-TFAM-UCP1 pathway to induce mitochondrial biogenesis. This may be one of the mechanisms by which EA affects weight loss.

Abscess removal in a desert horned viper (Cerastes cerastes)

Venomous snakes are widely kept in captive as collections by private reptile keepers. A 7 years old male desert horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) was presented with a lump on the caudal part of the body. Proper physical restraining method using snake hook and transparent tubes was performed for clinical examination and radiography. Two radiography views revealed radiopaque in both lateral and dorsal recumbence. Differential diagnosis was tumor growth and abscess. Surgical intervention was indicated and performed with the viper induced with injectable anesthesia and maintained with gas anesthesia. Surgical correction with manually removing the abscess was performed. The NSAID, broad spectrum antibiotic, topical antibiotic and fluid therapy were performed post-surgery. Six weeks post-surgery the suture material was removed and wound was dry and healed well.

XENON ANESTHESIA IN PEDIATRIC DENTAL INTERVENTIONS

Introduction. Therapeutic dental manipulations in smaller children are usually done under general anesthesia and sedation using inhalation anesthetics due to their high psychoemotional lability. Xenon (inert gas) is of particular interest among inhalation anesthetic agents due to its unique pharmacological properties such as hypnotic and analgesic effect, lack of toxicity, organ protective properties, etc. Purpose is to estimate adequacy, safety and comfort with anesthesia in pediatric dentistry. Materials and methods. 30 children (18 boys and 12 girls) were involved in an open, prospective, randomized study. They obtained dental treatment for caries and pulpitis. Sevoflurane 8% and concentration of 60–70% xenon with О2 was given to induce anesthesia. Anesthesia adequacy, safety and comfort were estimated based on hemodynamics data, BIS index, concentrations of sevoflurane and xenon in the anesthetic gas, recovery time, rate of agitation, nausea and vomiting. Results. The study demonstrated safety of xenon gas anesthesia in pediatric dentistry. The estimated values were within the reference range. Following anesthesia, recovery occurred after 30 minutes, no single case of postanesthesia agitation, nausea and vomiting was noted. Conclusion. Xenon provides for high effectiveness and safety of anesthesia in pediatric dentistry. The results show that further studies are reasonable.