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Purpose: To investigate the eradication rate of endometriosis after surgical resection (SR) vs. thermal ablation with aerosol plasma coagulation (AePC) in a rat model., Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded animal study endometriosis was induced on the abdominal wall of 34 female Wistar rats. After 14 days endometriosis was either removed by SR or ablated by AePC. 14 days later the rats were euthanized to evaluate the eradication rate histopathologically. Intervention times were recorded., Results: Eradication rate of endometriosis after 14 days did not significantly differ between AePC and SR (p=0.22). Intervention time per endometrial lesion was 22.1 s for AePC and 51.8 s for SR (p<0.0001)., Conclusions: This study compares the eradication rate of the new aerosol plasma coagulation device versus standard surgical resection of endometriosis in a rat model. Despite being a thermal method, AePC showed equality towards SR regarding eradication rate but with significantly shorter intervention time.

Objective: To investigate peritoneal adhesion formation of monopolar contact coagulation (MCC) versus noncontact argon plasma coagulation (APC) in a rat model., Design: Randomized, controlled, single-blinded animal study., Setting: University laboratory., Animal(s): Sixteen female Wistar rats., Intervention(s): Bilateral lesions were created on the abdominal wall with MCC and APC in a standard fashion. After 10 days, the rats were euthanized to evaluate the peritoneal trauma sites., Main Outcome Measure(s): Adhesion incidence, quantity, and quality were scored 10 days postoperatively and studied histopathologically., Result(s): Average energy intake was 99.5 ± 7.39 J for APC and 95.7 ± 9.62 J for monopolar contact coagulation. Incidence of adhesion formation was 50.0% for noncontact APC and 85.4% for MCC. MCC induced significantly more vascular adhesions. Histological evaluation revealed no significant differences regarding average depth of lesions induced by APC and MCC. Both groups showed almost identical morphology of necrosis and granulation tissue formation., Conclusion(s): This study compares for the first time adhesion formation of MCC versus noncontact APC in a rat model. With a similar energy intake, contact coagulation induced a significantly higher rate of adhesion formation. APC-induced adhesions were significantly less vascularized compared with MCC adhesions. Besides the thermal effects of both coagulation methods, the direct mechanical contact of the MCC electrode with the highly sensitive peritoneum is thus determined to be a pivotal additional stimulus for adhesion formation., (Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Commercially available agents for adhesion prophylaxis are legion but there is a lack of direct comparisons between them. Here we compare four of the most commonly used adhesion barriers against a control group in a clinically relevant rat model., Material and Methods: Standardized lesions were created in Wistar rats using electrocautery and suturing. Subsequently, the experimental lesions were treated with Seprafilm (n = 30), Adept (n = 30), Intercoat (n = 30), Spraygel (n = 30), or no barrier (n = 30). The resulting adhesions were examined 14 d postoperatively., Results: The mean area covered by adhesion was 77% in the control group, 46% in animals treated with Seprafilm, 54% in animals treated with Adept, 55% in animals treated with Intercoat, and 68% in animals treated with Spraygel. The adhesion-free incidence was 20% (n = 6) of lesions treated with Seprafilm, 20% (n = 6) of lesions treated with Intercoat, 3% of lesions treated with Spraygel (n = 1), and 0% of lesions treated with Adept or the control group., Conclusions: There were statistically significant differences between the barriers with regards to the area covered by adhesions and the adhesion-free incidence. In spite of this, a significant adhesion burden remains with all of the tested barriers., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To assess the laparoscopic handling and safety of D,L-polylactide-epsilon-caprolactone-trimethylene carbonate (PCT) copolymer after myomectomy and compare it with icodextrin. In contrast to previously developed solid barriers, the material has rationally designed properties that are advantageous for convenient laparoscopic application., Design: A randomized, single-blinded clinical study (Canadian Task Force Classification I)., Setting: Single-center study in a German University Hospital., Patients: Thirty patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy were enrolled., Interventions: After laparoscopic myomectomy and subsequent reconstruction of the uterus with interrupted sutures, adhesion prophylaxis with either site-specific PCT copolymer or icodextrin occurred as per randomization., Measurements and Main Results: Except in 1 case, complete coverage of the uterine wound was achieved with PCT copolymer, and the mean time taken for application was 6.7 minutes. Mean application time for icodextrin was 1.1 minute. After introduction into the abdomen, PCT copolymer changed into a flexible state that adapted very well to the operative anatomy. The patients were followed up according to the study protocol for 3 months. There were no unforeseen adverse events, possible adhesion-related complications, or nonspecific complications in either study arm. There was no significant difference in pelvic pain scores between PCT copolymer and icodextrin groups 3 months after surgery., Conclusion: In this pilot study, there were no adverse events, and the rationally designed material properties are favorable for laparoscopic application. No differences in postoperative pelvic pain were ascertained between PCT copolymer and icodextrin. Therefore a human phase II trial including second-look laparoscopy should be conducted to further evaluate this new solid adhesion barrier PCT copolymer., (Copyright 2010 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To study a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), an antibody was raised against the C-terminal 16 amino acids of the protein cdc2aMs. The cdc2Ms protein was immunopurified with this antibody and its histone kinase activity was measured. The cdc2Ms kinase is activated at the G1/S transition when phosphate-starved cells from the G0 phase re-enter the cell cycle and remain active as cells transit the S, G2, and M phases, indicating that the same CDK regulates all of these phases in alfalfa. In contrast, when cdc2Ms kinase was purified by binding to p13suc1, it was active only in the G2 and M phases. In immunoblots the C-terminal antibody detected an equal amount of the cdc2Ms protein in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. By indirect immunofluorescence, however, the cytoplasmic form of cdc2Ms could not be found in the S phase of the cells, indicating that the epitope for the cdc2 antibody is not accessible. Binding of putative inhibitor proteins to cdc2 was shown by inactivation of purified plant CDK when cell extracts were added. Furthermore, purified CDK inhibitors, such as the mouse p27kip1 and the yeast p40sic1, blocked the purified plant CDK activity.

Dependence of gluconeogenesis on beta-oxidation and ketogenesis from long-chain fatty acids was examined in isolated sheep hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were incubated with a combination of gluconeogenic precursors (2 mM pyruvate, 20 mM lactate, and 5 mM propionate) plus other fatty acids, in the presence and absence of tetradecylglycidic acid, an inhibitor of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase reaction. Palmitate oxidation to total acid-soluble metabolites or beta-hydroxybutyrate was markedly inhibited by the addition of tetradecylglycidic acid. In general, oxidation of palmitate to carbon dioxide was not altered by tetradecylglycidic acid. Glucose production was inhibited 28 to 50% in the presence of tetradecylglycidic acid. Addition of acetate and butyrate inhibited gluconeogenesis, but octanoate addition had a slight stimulatory effect. In the presence of tetradecylglycidic acid, butyrate, but not acetate, addition further reduced gluconeogenesis. In contrast, addition of octanoate in the presence of tetradecylglycidic acid restored gluconeogenic rates to control values. The results are consistent with observations in several nonruminant species and suggest that, as in those species, ruminant gluconeogenesis requires at least a basal rate of beta-oxidation and ketogenesis from long-chain fatty acids to support maximum gluconeogenic rates.