Effects of sensory and motor functioning on adult intellectual performance

This study examined longitudinal health and intelligence data to determine whether sensory or motor deficits account for some of the age-related intellectual changes that are commonly seen from midlife onward. Although sensory and motor functioning did not account for the age-related decrements in performance on speeded, visual perceptual tasks found for this sample in previous work, we did find that hearing deficits added error variance to performance estimates on two verbal subtests of the Wechsler scales.     

A novel access method for endovascular procedures in the porcine model

Objective To evaluate the use of the saphenous artery as an alternative access for endovascular procedures in the porcine model. Methods Fourteen adult pigs (25-35kg) were used in this study, 3 pigs from an acute study and 11 from chronic studies. A 2-3 cm incision was made and a saphenous artery cutdown was performed in 24 sides. Micropunc ture sets (Boston Scientific) or 18 G puncture needles were used to access the artery. Different sizes of introducers (4-7F) were used to establish endovascular access. Angiographic catheters were then used to confirm if the access was usable. Four saphenous arteries were explanted in the pigs from a chronic study 4 to 28 days after surgical procedure. Results The saphenous artery was very easy to expose and 4-5 F introducer sheaths were able to be inserted to establish access for endovascular procedures in the pigs. The saphenous artery was unable to accomodate an introducer with a size larger than 6 F. Four saphenous arteries were injured when 5 and 6 F introducers were used, but angiographic procedures could still be performed. Morphologic evaluation of the explanted arteries demonstrated occlusion of the saphenous arteries without injury or disruption of the adjacent femoral arteries. Conclusion The saphenous artery can be used as an access site in pigs for angiographic and interventional procedures if the catheter size is less than 6 F. This vessel is easier to access and can preserve the femoral artery for repeat procedures in the future.     

Does listening to the sound of yourself chewing increase your enjoyment of food?

Background  

The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between physical anhedonia and psychopathological parameters, pharmacological parameters or motor side-effects in a sample of inpatients with schizophrenia in an acute episode of their illness.     

A REPRODUCIBLE MODEL OF CHRONIC REJECTION IN RAT RENAL ALLOGRAFTS

A reproducible animal model is essential for the study of the pathogenesis of chronic rejection. This study investigates: (i) the optimal pre-transplant blood transfusion conditions to induce tolerance in a strongly rejecting rat kidney allograft model (Dark Agouti to Albino-Surgery) and avoiding post-transplant immunosuppression; (ii) the functional and histological changes that occur in long-term surviving kidneys and their similarity to chronic rejection; and (iii) the maintenance of tolerance. Prolonged survival occurred after administration of at least two donor blood transfusions with concomitant cyclosporin A (5 mg/kg per day). The time-span between transfusions appeared to be critical: 4 days was more effective than 2 or 7 days. Ineffective treatment led to death within the first 2 weeks post-transplant with histological evidence of acute graft rejection. Seventy-five per cent of long-term survivors experienced impaired renal function in the first week which improved spontaneously and remained stable in 93% of the surviving animals after 100 days and in 668 after 200 days. The morphology of long-term allografts was extremely variable from minor to extensive tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, glomerular hypertrophy, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and vascular changes. Glomerular hypertrophy occurred in uninephrectomized controls and probably denoted a response to uninephrectomy. Glomerulosclerosis increased with time and was absent in controls. Although chronic damage was evident, the rats remained tolerant to fresh donor skin. Replacement of the original kidney allograft with a fresh donor kidney resulted in 70% survival. These second grafts showed less severe renal dysfunction and morphological damage than the original allografts in the long-term follow up.