Search

Tachykinins have been implicated as important mediators of asthma. This study used neurokinin A (NKA) and substance P (SP) to evaluate the effect of tachykinins on airway mechanics in cynomolgus monkeys. NK1-(CP 99,994) and NK2-(SR 48968) receptor antagonists were used to evaluate the role of NK1and NK2receptors on responses to NKA and SP. Lung resistance (RL) and dynamic lung compliance (CDyn) were measured in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated cynomolgus monkeys following aerosol or intravenous challenge with NKA, SP or the standard bronchoconstrictor, histamine. Inhaled NKA or SP had variable effects on RLand CDynwhereas aerosolized histamine (0.01–1 mg/ml) dose-dependently increased RLand decreased CDyn. Intravenous NKA (1–100 μg/kg), SP (1–30 μg/kg) or histamine (1–100 μg/kg) increased RLand decreased CDyn. Pretreatment with SR 48968 (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, iv) blocked bronchoconstrictor responses to iv NKA, whereas CP 99,994 (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, iv) was without effect. Bronchoconstrictor responses to iv SP were partially blocked by SR 48968 and CP 99,994. In conclusion, both NKA and SP produce bronchonconstriction in cynomolgus monkeys and this effect is more pronounced when they are given by the iv route. Furthermore, both NK1and NK2receptors are involved in the bronchonconstrictor response to exogenously administered tachykinins in cynomolgus monkeys.

Cynomolgus monkeys were anaesthetized with either intramuscular ketamine (10 mg/kg or intramuscular ketamine 2 mg/kg and medetomidine 50 μg/kg. Various physiological measurements were made once the animals were safe to handle and again 10 min later. Cardiovascular and respiratory function were well maintained with both regimens but the heart rate was lower and arterial-alveolar carbon dioxide gradient was higher in the animals that received medetomidine. In those animals that received medetomidine, atipamezole was given to reverse the medetomidine but there was no difference in recovery times between the two regimens. Anaesthesia was not entirely reliable with medetomidine/ketamine and we recommend caution when using this mixture.

Runt pigs grow more slowly and never reach the same body weight as age-matched littermates. We hypothesized that IGF-I would be reduced in the runts and that postnatal nutrition would alter IGF-I concentration and tissue expression. Runt and control littermates were removed from 20 crossbred sows 20 to 28 h after birth. Tissues were collected from a baseline group (n = 4). The remaining pigs were fed porcine milk replacer at either 70 or 120 g/kg BW for 14 d (n = 8). Feed intake and body weight were measured daily, with plasma samples collected by jugular venipuncture throughout the experiment. Expression of IGF-I mRNA was measured in the liver and gastrocnemius with an RNase protection assay. At d 0, runts were significantly smaller than controls in all measurements, except brain weight. During the 14 d, the relative rate of growth was significantly faster and more efficient in runts than in controls; however, runts never attained the same absolute body weight as controls. Circulating IGF-I was significantly reduced at d 0 but was similar to that in controls by d 2 of feeding. The IGF-I mRNA expression in liver or gastrocnemius muscle was not different between control and runts at d 0 or 14 and was not affected by dietary intake. This study has shown that runt pigs grow in a compensatory manner for at least the first 2 wk of life. However, this growth response does not seem to be mediated by IGF-I.

Lab4Dive project aims to design, develop, and validate an innovative, marketable and competitive product for supporting underwater archaeologists in surveying, documenting and preserving the underwater cultural heritage. These activities could be improved considerably with the introduction of new technological devices and tools, helping underwater archaeologists to collect data from the marine environment. The project will provide a solution by equipping divers with portable, low cost and relatively small sized data-gathering systems (i.e. environmental sensors, acoustic localization system, HD cameras, etc.), so they can significantly improve both the amount of data collected in a single mission and the management of time and human resources at disposal. In this paper, the preliminary developments and the tests of the Lab4Dive system will be presented, which is mainly based on two modules: Cloud Server Module and the Underwater Module. The latter is based on two systems: an underwater tablet, that supports the diver during the immersion providing an augmented navigation interface that guides the diver along the selected targets; and a Docking Station, to acquire and exchange data coming from different environmental sensors, a high-resolution camera and an acoustic localization system, physically connected to it.