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Highlights • Higher impairment is significantly associated with larger NSAID-treatment related positive changes in activity. • Impairment level should be controlled for in clinical trials involving dogs with osteoarthritis. • Using higher impaired dogs may result in greater treatment effects, increasing the power of the study Abstract In veterinary medicine, evaluation of osteoarthritis (OA) treatment efficacy remains challenging. Measurement of activity, utilizing accelerometers, provides a surrogate measure of pain through measuring effects on activity, and the objective data collected can be used to assess the efficacy of treatments. However, little is known about how dog characteristics impact the accelerometry-measured response to treatment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of signalment and initial impairment level on accelerometer-measured changes in activity in osteoarthritic dogs after receiving a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID). Fifty-seven client-owned dogs with OA-associated pain and mobility impairment were administered meloxicam for 2 weeks, following a 2-week baseline, and spontaneous activity was measured using an Actical accelerometer unit. Signalment factors and disease variables were recorded (age, sex, weight, impairment level, forelimb or hindlimb pain). Initial degree of impairment had a significant effect on changes in weekly (P = 0.009), weekday (P = 0.044) activity following NSAID treatment. Greater initial impairment was associated with larger positive changes in activity. Degree of impairment should be taken into consideration during the development of a clinical trial. Appropriate selection of candidates based on initial degree of impairment may permit a greater treatment effect, therefore increasing the power of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of different protocols of low-temperature degradation simulation on the mechanical behavior (structural reliability and flexural strength), the surface topography (roughness), and phase transformation of a Y-TZP ceramic. Disc-shaped specimens (1.2 mm×12 mm, Lava Frame, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) were manufactured according to ISO:6872-2008 and divided ( n =30) according to the aging protocol executed: “Ctrl” – as-sintered – without any treatment; “Dist Water” – stored at distilled water at 37 °C for 365 days; “MC” mechanical cycling into two steps: First – 200 N, 2.2 Hz for 2.000.000 cycles, Second – 450 N, 10 Hz for 1.000.000 cycles; “Aut” – steam autoclave at 134 °C, 2 bar (200 kPa) for 20 h; “Aut+MC”– Aut and MC methods. Roughness analysis (μm) showed, for Ra parameter, higher statistically significant values for Ctrl 0.68 (0.27), while for Rz parameter, the highest values were observed for Ctrl 4.43(1.53) and Aut 2.24 (0.62). Surface topography analysis showed that none aging method promoted surface alterations when compared to control group. Phase transformation analysis showed that all aging methods promoted an increase in m-phase content (Ctrl: 0.94%, Dist Water: 20.73%, MC: 9.47%, Aut: 53.33% and Aut+MC: 61.91%). Weibull Analysis showed higher statistical characteristic strength values for Aut (1033.36 MPa) and Dist Water (1053.76 MPa). No aging method promoted deleterious impact either on the biaxial flexural strengths or on the structural reliabilities (Weibull moduli). Also, none of the aging methods promoted reduction of Y-TZP mechanical properties; thus the development of new methodologies and the association between mechanical stimuli and hydrothermal degradation should be considered to better understand the mechanism of low-temperature degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: The long-term goal of this project is to quantify the aeration of lung parenchyma in 3D CT scans of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This task requires lung delineation, as well as elimination of airways and vessels. The objective of this article was to present and evaluate the method used to segment out the vascular trees. Materials and methods: Vascular trees are segmented by variational region growing. This process is performed within a lung mask, where the airways and bronchial walls were previously eliminated by adaptive multi-scale morphological operations. The region growth starts from seeds defined as the most salient points on a “vesselness” map. The “vesselness” function based on the eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix is also used in the region descriptor that controls variational region growing. The formulation of this descriptor, as well as the method used to eliminate the bronchial walls, are the original contributions of this work. The method was evaluated using the full set of 20 chest scans from the VESSEL12 challenge framework. Results: Overall specificity of 0.938 and sensitivity of 0.772 were achieved. The method successfully differentiated vessels from bronchial walls (specificity, 0.848) but failed to detect the smallest vessels (sensitivity, 0.418). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, similar formulations of variational region growing have never been used to segment pulmonary vascular trees. The method seems to be suitable for the intended application, although its validation on actual images with acute respiratory distress syndrome remains to be done. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Magnetic cooling technology has experienced significant developments over the last five years. Most of the magneto-caloric prototypes use magneto-caloric alloys subject to variable magnetic field and coolant flow synchronized with the magnetisation/demagnetisation cycles. Hydraulic flow regulation has a major impact on the AMRR cycle and on the performance of the magnetic heat pump. This paper discloses a hydraulic solution implemented in a two stage linear prototype, where the volume, the flow rate and the coolant velocity can be controlled. The dynamic sealing of the system is also described, as well as the performance of a two stage prototype integrating this hydraulic distribution solution to this first generation solution. A brief description of a third generation ‘rotative’ architecture is provided, with results obtained just after the last Thermag V conference. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Increased levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), specifically saturated free fatty acids such as palmitate are associated with insulin resistance of muscle, fat and liver. Skeletal muscle, responsible for up to 80% of the glucose disposal from the peripheral circulation, is particularly vulnerable to increased levels of saturated FFAs. Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and its unique dihydrochalcone C-glucoside, aspalathin, shown to reduce hyperglycemia in diabetic rats, could play a role in preventing or ameliorating the development of insulin resistance. This study aims to establish whether rooibos can ameliorate experimentally-induced insulin-resistance in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Palmitate-induced insulin resistant C2C12 cells were treated with an aspalathin-enriched green (unfermented) rooibos extract (GRE), previously shown for its blood glucose lowering effect in vitro and in vivo or an aqueous extract of fermented rooibos (FRE). Glucose uptake and mitochondrial activity were measured using 2-deoxy-[(3)H]-d-glucose, MTT and ATP assays, respectively. Expression of proteins relevant to glucose metabolism was analysed by Western blot. GRE contained higher levels of all compounds, except the enolic phenylpyruvic acid-2-O-glucoside and luteolin-7-O-glucoside. Both rooibos extracts increased glucose uptake, mitochondrial activity and ATP production. Compared to FRE, GRE was more effective at increasing glucose uptake and ATP production. At a mechanistic level both extracts down-regulated PKC activation, which is associated with palmitate-induced insulin resistance. Furthermore, the extracts increased activation of key regulatory proteins (AKT and AMPK) involved in insulin-dependent and non-insulin regulated signalling pathways. Protein levels of the glucose transporter (GLUT4) involved in glucose transport via these two pathways were also increased. This in vitro study therefore confirms that rooibos can ameliorate palmitate-induced insulin resistance in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Inhibition of PKC activation and increased activation of AMPK and AKT offer a plausible mechanistic explanation for this ameliorative effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The osteocyte cell network in bone tissue is thought to orchestrate tissue adaptation and remodeling, thus holding responsibility for tissue quality. Previously, this structure has been studied mainly in 2D and its architecture and functions are not fully elucidated. The assessment of the osteocyte system is prerequisite for deeper understanding of bone remodeling and for advances in management of bone diseases. Our goal is to enable 3D isotropic imaging of bone at cellular level and to develop algorithms for quantitative image analysis of the cell network. We recently demonstrated accurate 3D imaging of this cell structure with synchrotron radiation tomography at submicrometric scale. Due to the limited spatial resolution of the imaging system and the constraints in terms of radiation dose, the images suffer from low signal to noise ratio and the detection of the cell dendrites is challenging. Here we detail a method for enhancement of the osteocyte network in human bone from 3D microtomography images. The approach combines Hessian-based 3D line enhancement and bilateral filtering. Our method enables extraction of the interconnected cells from noisy images, preserving the integrity of the cells and of their slender dendrites. Qualitative and quantitative results are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present paper we consider the problem of optimizing the cooling of a magnetocaloric refrigerator. In this work we first theoretically and then experimentally study the performance of a single material regenerator under different operating conditions. The basic principles of the design and implementation of our magnetic refrigerator prototype are presented as well as a new magnetic assembly of NdFeB permanent magnets. The design of the equipment uses a movement of relative displacement optimized for the phases of activation and inactivation of the magnetic field. Each part of the equipment is implemented in order to be controlled separately and to allow a large variety of the tests: gear pumps with individual control, sequence of programmable magnetocaloric cycle, unit control by programmable controller and application programming interface by color LCD touch screen, real-time processing data acquisition using a National Instruments System implemented on Independent PC, expelled heat using different standard heat exchangers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The radiative and chemical conditions at the surface and in the lower Martian atmosphere are computed at various latitudes and seasons combining a 2D photochemical model and radiation simulations. In most situations, the solar UV B and C radiations reach the surface however, suspended dust and, in polar cases, ozone can constitute an effective UV shield. The daytime and night time concentrations of the sterilizing oxidants: OH, H2O2 and O3 are determined, as well as the concentration of the substances which could influence the metabolism of microorganisms. The possible habitats of a remaining Mar''s life as well as the possibilities of contamination by resistant earth life forms will be described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to investigate relationships of adult horses to humans, we developed a simple evaluation test and scores based on observations. The first reactions of 224 adult horses to the presence of an experimenter were observed and scored. All these horses belonged to the same riding school, had the same general housing conditions and were all geldings. The evaluation was based on the horse’s posture. Individual differences that could be related to some extent to the breed but also to human factors emerged clearly. French saddlebreds showed more often friendly behaviour than Angloarabs, whereas thoroughbreds were more indifferent. Clear variations occurred between groups of horses that depended on different caretakers. In this school, one caretaker is responsible for the whole daily management of a group of horses and is probably a very important factor in their well-being. The effects of this daily relation to a human seemed to be involved in the reactions to a strange person. Further studies are required to investigate what, in practice, may be determinant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• This masked, placebo-controlled pilot study investigated an eggshell membrane-based oral supplement in dogs. • The supplement was well tolerated over the 12-week trial period by dogs with osteoarthritis-associated pain. • Compared to a placebo, the supplement was associated with a small reduction in serum inflammatory cytokine IL-2. • There were variable responses in owner questionnaires measuring pain and function. • Results of this pilot study support further evaluation of this supplement. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease in dogs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat OA; however, many dogs do not obtain adequate pain relief with an NSAID alone. This pilot study evaluated the systemic anti-inflammatory and mobility enhancing effects of an eggshell membrane-based nutritional supplement in dogs with OA-associated pain and mobility impairment. Twenty-seven dogs with OA-associated pain were enrolled into a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, proof of principle pilot study and received either placebo or an eggshell membrane-based nutritional supplement over a 12-week period. Inflammatory biomarkers (IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein, S100A12, and N-methylhistamine) were measured at Day 0 and Day 84. Owner questionnaires (CBPI and LOAD) were completed at Day 0, Day 42, and Day 84. Differences between groups over time were calculated. Twenty-two dogs completed the pilot study. Inflammatory biomarker IL-2 decreased in the supplement group, compared to the placebo group. Although small, the difference was statistically significant at an alpha of 0.1 (P = 0.069). LOAD scores were numerically lower in the supplement group, but not significantly different from the placebo group at Day 0. Day 84 LOAD scores were significantly lower in the supplement group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.034). CBPI results did not show the same pattern. The changes in biomarkers and LOAD scores were small, and do not provide definitive evidence of positive effects. However, these pilot results provide a rationale for performing a larger placebo-controlled study of the potential effects of the eggshell membrane-based nutritional supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectif: La lobectomie radicale ou la segmentectomie dans le traitement des MAKPs limitées à un seul lobe est débattue. Le but de cette étude est de répondre à cette question. Patients et Méthode: Étude rétrospective, monocentrique, toutes les MAKPs limitées à un seul lobe traitées par lobectomie à l’Hôpital Robert Debré entre 2007 et 2009. Les scanners préopératoires ont été relus en simple aveugle et confrontés aux pièces d’anatomopathologie également revues en simple aveugle séparément. Résultats: 12 patients étaient porteurs d’une MAKP localisée à un seul lobe. L’âge médian à la chirurgie était de 12 mois (2 mois -15 ans). Après relecture du scanner préopératoire et des pièces opératoires, un seul avait des lésions adjacentes à la lésion principale de MAKP au scanner, 5 à l’analyse anatomopathologique. La sensibilité du scanner était basse (20%), avec une haute spécificité (100%) et une valeur prédictive négative (VPN) faible de 63%. Conclusion: Le scanner pré opératoire dans les MAKP localisées à un seul lobe ne permet pas toujours de détecter des lésions adjacentes dans le même lobe. De ce fait, la lobectomie totale au lieu d’une segmentectomie est justifiée. Une étude prospective avec un plus grand nombre de patients est nécessaire pour confirmer ces résultats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectifs: Analyser 10 années consécutives de pyéloplastie sous rétropéritonéoscopie. Matériels et Méthodes: 109 enfants ont eu une pyéloplastie sous laparoscopie entre 1998 et 2009. 18 opérés par voie transpéritonéale sont exclus (rein en fer à cheval n = 7, reprise de pyéloplastie n = 5, rein ectopique n = 4, néphrostomie ou greffon rénal n = 1). 91 malades ont été opérés par voie rétropéritonéale. L’âge moyen est de 6,3 ans (5 mois–15 ans). L’intervention est réalisée en décubitus latéral avec 3 trocars (5-3-3mm). Une JJ était laissée en place chez 69 et une pyélostomie trans-anastomotique chez 20 malades. Résultats: La durée opératoire moyenne était de 200 min (120-360). 14 ont été opérés en moins de 150 min. L’indication avant un an est : hydronéphrose géante et uretère rétrocave (n = 3). Trois malades ont été convertis en début d’expérience. La durée d’hospitalisation moyenne était de 2,2 jours (1-8). Deux ont nécessité un drainage prolongé par une JJ et un malade a été repris. La médiane de suivie est de 1 an (6 mois-7 ans). Conlusion: Malgré une longue durée opératoire, la pyéloplastie par rétropéritonéoscopie est une intervention fiable : 1 % de reprise. L’approche rétro ou transpéritonéale est notre choix en cas d’anomalie de fusion ou de position et chez l’enfant après l’âge de la marche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to editor is presented in response to article "Aging: a theory based on free radical and radiation chemistry" by Denham Harman in issue 1956.

But de l’étude Comparer la chirurgie de l’aorte sous thoracoscopie à ceux de la thoracotomie à court terme. Patients et méthode Etude rétrospective de 1995 à 2013 des patients opérés pour canal artériel (CA) et double arc aortique (DAA). Etait comparé les patients opérés sous thoracoscopie, par un même opérateur, à une série historique de patients opérés par thoracotomie (les patients appareillés pour le poids et l’âge au moment de la chirurgie). Etait noté : poids et âge à la chirurgie, temps opératoire, traitement antalgique post-opératoire, ventilation post opératoire, paralysie récurrentielle, chylothorax et durée d’hospitalisation. Résultats Sous thoracoscopie 12 CA (moyenne, 29 jours et 1758 g) et 9 DAA (7,8 mois et 6534 g) étaient inclus. Il n’était pas retrouvé de différence significative entre les 2 groupes pour les principales données. La seule différence significative retrouvée en faveur du groupe opéré sous thoracoscopie concernait le traitement antalgique post opératoire. Conclusion Les résultats à court terme de la chirurgie de l’aorte type CA et DAA sous thoracoscopie sont comparables à la chirurgie sous thoracotomie en terme de morbidité post opératoire, avec un avantage en terme d’analgésie post-opératoire en faveur de la thoracoscopie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

But de L’étude Rapporter le suivi à moyen terme des enfants porteurs de Maladie de Hirschsprung (MH) colique étendue ou pancolique Patients et Méthodes étude rétrospective des patients pris en charge de 1991 à 2013. Tous avaient un abaissement laparoscopique selon Duhamel. Age et poids, sexe, longueur d’aganglionose, comorbidités, suites post opératoires, fonction digestive et croissance à moyen terme, données de l’endoscopie réalisée pour entérocolite répétée étaient notés. Résultats 26 patients étaient opérés : 10 coliques étendues et 16 iléales (moyenne = 14 cm). Le suivi médian était de 10 ans (1-19 ans). La mortalité était nulle et la morbidité de 20%. 53% avaient une fonction digestive satisfaisante. La courbe de croissance staturo-pondérale était <1 DS chez 50% des patients. Des entérocolites tardives (délai moyen 3.7 ans (1-8 ans)) survenaient chez 27%. Des lésions Crohn-like étaient retrouvées dans 100% des cas à l’endoscopie. Ces lésions étaient traitées par corticoïdes, immunosuppresseurs ou anti-TNF. Une iléostomie était nécessaire pour 3. Conclusion L’évolution à moyen terme des formes longues de MH peut être marquée par la fréquence d’épisodes d’entérocolite, décrites en endoscopie comme des lésions Crohn-like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Evaluer la valeur pronostic fonctionnelle d’une variation du marquage à la calrétinine après ATA selon Swenson pour MH recto sigmoïdienne. Matériels et Méthodes Etude rétrospective de 2008 à 2012 de tous les patients opérés d’un ATA selon Swenson pour MH recto sigmoidienne. L’analyse du marquage par la calrétinine distinguait 2 groupes : un groupe (P-) avec une absence totale de marquage et un groupe variant (P+) avec une positivité de la sous-muqueuse. Les 2 groupes étaient comparés sur les suites post opératoires à court terme. Résultats 33 patients étaient inclus. Le recul moyen était de 4,1 ans (1–6 ans). Le groupe variant P+ incluait 17 patients (51.5%). Les deux groupes étaient comparables en terme d’âge gestationnel ou poids à la naissance, de comorbidités, de présentation clinique initiale ou de type de chirurgie. Il n’était pas retrouvé de différence statistiquement significative en terme de pronostic fonctionnel digestif entre ces 2 groupes Conclusion Un variant anatomopathologique de marquage à la calrétinine était identifié dans 51.5% des formes recto sigmoidiennes de MH mais ne semble pas être un facteur pronostic. Ceci est une étape supplémentaire dans la recherche de corrélation clinico-pathologique dans la MH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bronchogenic cysts are benign congenital malformations usually. A retroperitoneal location is extremely uncommon. We reported a case of bronchogenic cyst occurred in the retroperitoneum in a 60-year-old patient. An abdominal CT for a prostatic adenocarcinoma staging has reported this incidental lesion. Biological, radiological and histological assessment confirmed the bronchogenic cyst diagnosis. The treatment of choice for most authors is surgical excision. However, because of a low malignant transformation risk, we have chosen a follow-up with abdominal computerized tomography every 6 months. During 3 years, biological and radiological assessments have shown a stable lesion. Therefore, it seems reasonable to propose a simple radiological monitoring for bronchogenic cysts in selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]