The Last Mile: Translational Research to Improve CKD Outcomes

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases–supported Kidney Research National Dialogue asked the scientific community to formulate and prioritize research objectives that would enhance understanding of kidney function and disease and improve clinical outcomes. An engaged and growing group of investigators working in type 2 translation (from clinical evidence to implementation in the community) identified barriers to improving patient care in CKD and suggested research priorities to test translational strategies that have been effective for other chronic diseases.     

Infrared LED light therapy influences the expression of fibronectin and tenascin in skin wounds of malnourished rats—A preliminary study

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of infrared (λ 846 ± 20 nm) LED irradiation on the expression profile of the extracellular matrix protein components, tenascin and fibronectin on skin wounds induced in well nourished and malnourished rats. Eighteen albino rats (21 days old) were randomly divided into a well-nourished group (standard diet) and a malnourished group (regional basic diet). After receiving the diet for 70 days, skin wounds were created and the animals were subdivided into three groups: well-nourished control (n = 6), malnourished control (n = 6), and malnourished + LED irradiated (λ 846 ± 20 nm, 100 mW, 4 J/cm²) (n = 6). The animals were sacrificed 3 and 7 days after injury and histological sections were immunostained for both proteins. They were examined for the presence, intensity, distribution and pattern of immunolabeling. At 3 days, the distribution of tenascin was shown to be greater in the wound bed of malnourished animals compared to the well-nourished group. The intensity and distribution of tenascin was shown to be lower in the malnourished LED irradiated group compared to the malnourished control. There was a significant difference regarding the presence of fibronectin in the malnourished and well-nourished groups after 7 days (p = 0.03). The intensity of fibronectin was slight (100%) in the irradiated group and moderate to intense in the malnourished control group. The results of the present study indicate that infrared LED irradiation modulates positively the expression of tenascin and particularly fibronectin.     

Ruthenium Red Colorimetric and Birefringent Staining of Amyloid-β Aggregates in Vitro and in Tg2576 Mice

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Micro-mechanical bond strength tests for the assessment of the adhesion of GIC to dentine

Abstract Background. The aim of this study is to critically evaluate the bond strength (BS) of Glass-Ionomer Cements (GIC) to dentine with microtensile (μTBS) and microshear (μSBS) BS tests by assessing their rankings and failure patterns. Methods. Samples were made on flat dentine surfaces and submitted to μTBS and μSBS. The materials used were: high viscosity GIC (Ketac(?) Molar Aplicap-KM), resin-modified GIC (Fuji II-FII), nano-filled resin-modified GIC (Ketac(?) N100-N100) and an etch-and-rinse adhesive system with a composite resin (Adper(?) Single Bond 2 and Z100(?)-Z100). All tests were performed with a Universal Testing Machine (24 h water storage, crosshead speed of 1 mm/min). Debonded surfaces were examined with a stereomicroscope (×40) to identify the failure mode. The data was analyzed with two-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) and LSD test. Results. Means were statistically different regarding the tests and materials, indicating that values for BS obtained for each material depend on the test performed. Failure analysis revealed that failures produced by μTBS were mainly cohesive for KM and FII. μSBS failures were mainly adhesive or mixed for all materials. For the μTBS, the rank was Z100 > FII > KM = N100, whereas for the μSBS it was Z100 = FII = KM > N100. Conclusion: It may be concluded that distinct micro-mechanical tests present different failure patterns and rankings depending on the material to be considered.     

The efficacy of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy,fluoxetine and their combination in the outpatient treatment of depression

Abstract

Objective: There are few randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (LTPP) in depression treatment. LTPP was compared with fluoxetine treatment and their combination; Methods: 272 depressed patients (aged 26–34, 72% with a first episode of depression) were randomized to receive LTPP (one session/week), fluoxetine treatment (20–60 mg/day) or their combination for 24 months. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was the outcome measure. The psychotherapy was not manualized and the treatment took place under real-life conditions in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses indicated that all the treatments were associated with significant reductions in the BDI scores (mean reduction of 18.88 BDI points). Furthermore, LTPP and combination therapy were more effective in reducing BDI scores than fluoxetine alone (22.08 and 22.04 vs. 12.53 BDI points). Conclusions: LTPP, pharmacological treatment with fluoxetine and their combination are effective in reducing symptoms of patients with moderate depression. LTPP and combined treatment were more effective compared to fluoxetine alone. These findings have implications for patients with depression who may benefit from long-term psychotherapy or combined treatment, or for depressed patients who do not wish to take medications such as fluoxetine.     

Late brain alterations in sepsis‐survivor rats

Central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction secondary to sepsis is characterized by long‐term cognitive impairment. It was observed that oxidative damage, energetic metabolism impairment, and cytokine level alteration seen in early times in an animal model of sepsis may persist for up to 10 days and might be associated with cognitive damage. In order to understand these mechanisms, at least in part, we evaluated the effects of sepsis on cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), oxidative parameters, and energetic metabolism in the brain of rats at both 30 and 60 days after sepsis induction by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). To this aim, male Wistar rats underwent CLP with “basic support” or were sham‐operated. Both 30 and 60 days after surgery, the CSF was collected and the animals were killed by decapitation. Then, the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex were collected. Thirty days after surgery, an increase of IL‐6 level in the CSF; an increase in the thiobarbituric acid‐reactive species (TBARS) in prefrontal cortex and a decrease in hippocampus, striatum, and cortex; a decrease of carbonyl protein formation only in prefrontal cortex and an increase in striatum; and an increase in the complex IV activity only in hippocampus were observed. Sixty days after sepsis, an increase of TNF‐α level in the CSF; a decrease of TBARS only in hippocampus; an increase of carbonyl protein formation in striatum; and a decrease of complex I activity in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum were observed. These findings may contribute to understanding the role of late cognitive impairment. Further studies may address how these findings interact during sepsis development and contribute to CNS dysfunction. Synapse 67:786–793, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.