Administration of Endocannabinoids Prevents a Referred Hyperalgesia Associated with Inflammation of the Urinary Bladder

Background: Referred hyperalgesia to a somatopically appropriate superficial site is a cardinal symptom of visceral inflammatory pain and has been demonstrated after turpentine-induced urinary bladder inflammation in the rat. The authors examined the effect of the endocannabinoids anandamide and palmitoylethanolamide on the referred hyperalgesia associated with this model.

Methods: After measurement of baseline limb withdrawal latencies to a noxious heat stimulus, the bladders of 50 female Wistar rats were inflamed by intravesical administration of 0.5 ml 50% turpentine. Ten or 25 mg/kg of anandamide or palmitoylethanolamide or vehicle were administered immediately before introduction of turpentine. Antagonists to both the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors were coadministered with the higher dose of endocannabinoids. Latencies were recorded 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 h after removal of turpentine. The difference between forelimb and hind limb withdrawal latencies was plotted against time, and areas under these curves were compared.

Results: Inflammation of the urinary bladder was associated with a relative thermal hyperalgesia referred to the hind limb. Anandamide and palmitoylethanolamide attenuated this referred hyperalgesia at doses of 10 and 25 mg/kg. The CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A reduced the antihyperalgesic effect of anandamide, but the CB2 antagonist SR144528 did not. Coadministration of SR141716A with palmitoylethanolamide did not affect the antihyperalgesic effect but was reduced by SR144528.     

ICD Lead Implantation Following Sharp Cannulation of a Blocked Superior Vena Cava

Blocked superior vena cava (SVC) presents a well‐recognized problem for the implantation of device leads. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads pose a greater challenge than the pacing leads by requiring an adequate shock vector for successful defibrillation. We present here a novel technique of opening the blocked SVC to facilitate ICD lead implantation through the upper venous system. (PACE 2011; 34:e82–e84)     

Developmental validation of the PowerPlex(®) ESI 16 and PowerPlex(®) ESI 17 Systems: STR multiplexes for the new European standard

In response to the ENFSI and EDNAP groups’ call for new STR multiplexes for Europe, Promega^® developed a suite of four new DNA profiling kits. This paper describes the developmental validation study performed on the PowerPlex^® ESI 16 (European Standard Investigator 16) and the PowerPlex^® ESI 17 Systems. The PowerPlex^® ESI 16 System combines the 11 loci compatible with the UK National DNA Database^®, contained within the AmpFlSTR^® SGM Plus^® PCR Amplification Kit, with five additional loci: D2S441, D10S1248, D22S1045, D1S1656 and D12S391. The multiplex was designed to reduce the amplicon size of the loci found in the AmpFlSTR^® SGM Plus^® kit. This design facilitates increased robustness and amplification success for the loci used in the national DNA databases created in many countries, when analyzing degraded DNA samples. The PowerPlex^® ESI 17 System amplifies the same loci as the PowerPlex^® ESI 16 System, but with the addition of a primer pair for the SE33 locus. Tests were designed to address the developmental validation guidelines issued by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), and those of the DNA Advisory Board (DAB). Samples processed include DNA mixtures, PCR reactions spiked with inhibitors, a sensitivity series, and 306 United Kingdom donor samples to determine concordance with data generated with the AmpFlSTR^® SGM Plus^® kit. Allele frequencies from 242 white Caucasian samples collected in the United Kingdom are also presented. The PowerPlex^® ESI 16 and ESI 17 Systems are robust and sensitive tools, suitable for the analysis of forensic DNA samples. Full profiles were routinely observed with 62.5 pg of a fully heterozygous single source DNA template. This high level of sensitivity was found to impact on mixture analyses, where 54–86% of unique minor contributor alleles were routinely observed in a 1:19 mixture ratio. Improved sensitivity combined with the robustness afforded by smaller amplicons has substantially improved the quantity of data obtained from degraded samples, and the improved chemistry confers exceptional tolerance to high levels of laboratory prepared inhibitors.     

New and improved orthopedic hardware for the 21st century: part 1, upper extremity

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to provide a survey of new orthopedic products for use in the upper extremity. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the physiologic purpose, orthopedic trends, imaging findings, and complications is important in assessing new orthopedic devices.     

Dense display of HIV-1 envelope spikes on the lambda phage scaffold does not result in the generation of improved antibody responses to HIV-1 Env

The generation of strong, virus-neutralizing antibody responses to the HIV-1 envelope spike (Env) is a major goal in HIV-1 vaccine research. To try to enhance the Env-specific response, we displayed oligomeric gp140 on a virus-like scaffold provided by the lambda phage capsid. To do this, an in vitro complementation system was used to “decorate” phage particles with glycosylated, mammalian cell-derived envelope oligomers. We compared the immune response to lambda phage particles displaying HIV-1 Env to that elicited by soluble oligomeric gp140 in rabbits. Env-binding antibody titers were higher in animals that received oligomeric gp140 as compared to Env decorated phage particles, as were virus neutralizing antibody responses. The Env decorated phage particles were, however, able to efficiently boost a protein-primed humoral response to levels equivalent to those elicited by high-dose adjuvanted Env oligomers. These results show that display of HIV-1 envelope spikes on the bacteriophage lambda capsid does not result in an improved, Env-specific humoral immune response.