The 'AbdoMAN': an artificial abdominal wall simulator for biomechanical studies on laparotomy closure techniques.

PURPOSE: Incisional hernia remains a frequent complication after abdominal surgery associated with significant morbidity and high costs. Animal and clinical studies have exhibited some limitations. The purpose of this study was to develop an artificial human abdominal wall (AW) simulator in order to enable investigations on closure modalities. We hypothesized that a physical model of the human AW would give new insight into commonly used suture techniques representing a substantial complement or alternative to clinical and animal studies. METHODS: The 'AbdoMAN' was developed to simulate human AW biomechanics. The 'AbdoMAN' capacities include measurement and regulation of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), generation of IAP peaks as a result of muscle contraction and measurements of AW strain patterns analyzed with 3D image stereo correlation software. Intact synthetic samples were used to test repeatability. A laparotomy closure was then performed on five samples to analyze strain patterns. RESULTS: The 'AbdoMAN' was capable of simulating physiological conditions. AbdoMAN lateral muscles contract at 660 N, leading the IAP to increase up to 74.9 mmHg (range 65.3-88.3). Two strain criteria were used to assess test repeatability. A test with laparotomy closure demonstrated closure testing repeatability. CONCLUSIONS: The 'AbdoMAN' reveals as a promising enabling tool for investigating AW surgery-related biomechanics and could become an alternative to animal and clinical studies. 3D image correlation analysis should bring new insights on laparotomy closure research. The next step will consist in evaluating different closure modalities on synthetic, porcine and human AW.

Genetic parameters of juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCC) in French Trotters.

Juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCC) have been defined as lesions resulting from biomechanical influences (compressive, tensional or shear forces) on the developing and growing musculoskeletal system. They include different types of osteochondrosis, osteochondral fragmentation of the articular surface or of the periarticular margins, juvenile subchondral bone cysts, osteochondral collapse, avulsion fractures of epiphyseal (or metaphyseal) ossifying bone and 'physitis'. The aim of this study was to estimate heritability of JOCC in a sample of 2106 French Trotters from four different sources, comprising representative samples of the Trotter population, as well as material from auctions. Horses were aged 6-24months and were either not yet in training or just beginning training. Radiographs were taken of fore and hind feet, including proximal interphalangeal (pastern) joints, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) joints, tarsocrural (hock) joints, carpi and femoropatellar (stifle) joints. The threshold model used included sex, age, region and month of birth, sampling group and sire (n=159) with all inter-sire relationships. The main results were a moderate heritability for findings in the hind fetlock (0.29) and the hock (0.19). There was a weak genetic correlation between findings in fetlocks and hocks (0.26). Higher heritability was found for findings in the hock (0.37 for findings in the distal row and 0.49 for the proximal row of tarsal bones) in that part of the data (699 horses) in which it was possible to integrate the grade, bilateral occurrence or not, and distal or proximal location of the lesions. It is possible to use these genetic parameters in breeding selection with more efficiency when detailed phenotypes are considered.

Impact of the defect size, the mesh overlap and the fixation depth on ventral hernia repairs: a combined experimental and numerical approach.

BACKGROUND: Ventral hernia repairs (VHRs) still exhibit clinical complications in terms of recurrence, pain, and discomfort. Factors such as surgical technique or mesh features are thought to be highly influent. The aim was to evaluate the impact of the defect size, the mesh overlap and the fixation depth on VHR using both physical and numerical models. METHODS: The physical model was developed to mimic a passive abdominal wall. Healthy, damaged, and repaired configurations were evaluated using a spherical plunger. The associated numerical (Finite Elements) model was first loaded by a plunger for validation. A parametric study was then conducted with the numerical model loaded by a uniform pressure. Two defect sizes (3.5 × 5 cm and 8.25 × 12 cm elliptic shape), two overlaps (2 and 5 cm), and two fixation depths (peritoneum or muscle) were investigated for both passive and active abdominal walls. RESULTS: With the physical model, the repaired configuration was 22 % stiffer than the damaged configuration. The statistical analysis of the parametric study showed that the defect size was the most influential parameter regarding the stress in the mesh, the bulging and the pull-out force at the fixation points. The overlap was influential in terms of stress in the mesh. The fixation depth was not influential. These trends increased with the abdominal wall activity. CONCLUSION: Increase of the defect size and decrease of the overlap affected significantly the VHR mechanical performances. Such numerical models could help to better understand the behavior of the repaired abdominal wall and finally to reduce the clinical complications.

Genetic dissection of fruit quality traits in the octoploid cultivated strawberry highlights the role of homoeo-QTL in their control.

Fruit quality traits are major breeding targets in the Rosaceae. Several of the major Rosaceae species are current or ancient polyploids. To dissect the inheritance of fruit quality traits in polyploid fleshy fruit species, we used a cultivated strawberry segregating population comprising a 213 full-sibling F1 progeny from a cross between the variety 'Capitola' and the genotype 'CF1116'. We previously developed the most comprehensive strawberry linkage map, which displays seven homoeology groups (HG), including each four homoeology linkage groups (Genetics 179:2045-2060, 2008). The map was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for 19 fruit traits related to fruit development, texture, colour, anthocyanin, sugar and organic acid contents. Analyses were carried out over two or three successive years on field-grown plants. QTL were detected for all the analysed traits. Because strawberry is an octopolyploid species, QTL controlling a given trait and located at orthologous positions on different homoeologous linkage groups within one HG are considered as homoeo-QTL. We found that, for various traits, about one-fourth of QTL were putative homoeo-QTL and were localised on two linkage groups. Several homoeo-QTL could be detected the same year, suggesting that several copies of the gene underlying the QTL are functional. The detection of some other homoeo-QTL was year-dependent. Therefore, changes in allelic expression could take place in response to environmental changes. We believe that, in strawberry as in other polyploid fruit species, the mechanisms unravelled in the present study may play a crucial role in the variations of fruit quality.

A GYS1 gene mutation is highly associated with polysaccharide storage myopathy in Cob Normand draught horses.

Glycogen storage diseases or glycogenoses are inherited diseases caused by abnormalities of enzymes that regulate the synthesis or degradation of glycogen. Deleterious mutations in many genes of the glyco(geno)lytic or the glycogenesis pathways can potentially cause a glycogenosis, and currently mutations in fourteen different genes are known to cause animal or human glycogenoses, resulting in myopathies and/or hepatic disorders. The genetic bases of two forms of glycogenosis are currently known in horses. A fatal neonatal polysystemic type IV glycogenosis, inherited recessively in affected Quarter Horse foals, is due to a mutation in the glycogen branching enzyme gene (GBE1). A second type of glycogenosis, termed polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), is observed in adult Quarter Horses and other breeds. A severe form of PSSM also occurs in draught horses. A mutation in the skeletal muscle glycogen synthase gene (GYS1) was recently reported to be highly associated with PSSM in Quarter Horses and Belgian draught horses. This GYS1 point mutation appears to cause a gain-of-function of the enzyme and to result in the accumulation of a glycogen-like, less-branched polysaccharide in skeletal muscle. It is inherited as a dominant trait. The aim of this work was to test for possible associations between genetic polymorphisms in four candidate genes of the glycogen pathway or the GYS1 mutation in Cob Normand draught horses diagnosed with PSSM by muscle biopsy.

Polysaccharide storage myopathy in Cob Normand draft horses.

Gluteus medius muscle was sampled from 53 Cob Normand horses for histologic evaluation. Twenty horses (38%) exhibited amylase-resistant material in myocytes consistent with polysaccharide storage myopathy. Diameter of affected type II fibers was increased (67.7 +/- 21.4 microm) compared with normal ones (57.3 +/- 19.7 microm). Two groups were distinguished by quantitative study. The first group (n = 14; 26%) was characterized by a low percentage of fibers (m = 0.98%) containing aggregates occurring singly or in perifascicular clusters without myopathic changes. The second group (n = 6; 11%) was characterized by a high percentage (m = 18.1%) of fibers containing aggregates scattered in biopsy with chronic myopathic changes. Re-biopsy of 4 horses showed an increase with time in the number of aggregate-containing fibers for horses of the first group only. In 1 necropsied horse, aggregates were observed in a wide range of muscles including smooth muscles. Ultrastructurally, granular material was found interspersed among arrays of filamentous material.

Characterization of mixed disomic and polysomic inheritance in the octoploid strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) using AFLP mapping.

A two-way pseudo-testcross strategy, combined with Single Dose Restriction Fragment (SDRF) marker analysis, was used for genetic mapping in the octoploid cultivated strawberry Fragaria x ananassa (2n = 8 x = 56). Based on a 113 full-sib progeny from a cross between the variety Capitola and the clone CF1116, we generated two parental maps using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Ninety two percent of the markers (727 out of 789) showed ratios corresponding to simplex markers (the majority being SDRF markers), and 8% (62 out of 789) fitted a multiplex ratio. Linkage maps were first established using SDRF markers in coupling phase. The female map comprised 235 markers distributed among 43 co-segregation groups, giving a map size of 1,604 cM. On the male map, 280 markers were assigned to 43 co-segregation groups, yielding a map size of 1,496 cM. Once the co-segregation groups were established, their association was tested using repulsion-phase markers. In total, taking into account associations representing the same linkage groups, 30 linkage groups were detected on the female side and 28 on the male side. On the female map, 68.3% of the pairwise marker linkages were in coupling versus 31.7% in repulsion phase, and the corresponding figures on the male map were 72.2% and 27.8%, respectively. In addition, both groups linked only in the coupling phase and groups linked in the repulsion phase were characterized. The observations suggest that the meiotic behavior of the F. x ananassa genome is neither fully disomic nor fully polysomic, but rather mixed. The genome may not be as completely diploidized as previously assumed.

A synteny map of the horse genome comprised of 240 microsatellite and RAPD markers.

To generate a domestic horse genome map we integrated synteny information for markers screened on a somatic cell hybrid (SCH) panel with published information for markers physically assigned to chromosomes. The mouse-horse SCH panel was established by fusing pSV2neo transformed primary horse fibroblasts to either RAG or LMTk mouse cells, followed by G418 antibiotic selection. For each of the 108 cell lines of the panel, we defined the presence or absence of 240 genetic markers by PCR, including 58 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and 182 microsatellites. Thirty-three syntenic groups were defined, comprised of two to 26 markers with correlation coefficient (r) values ranging from 0.70 to 1.0. Based on significant correlation values with physically mapped microsatellite (type II) or gene (type I) markers, 22 syntenic groups were assigned to horse chromosomes (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 30, X and Y). The other 11 syntenic groups were provisionally assigned to the remaining chromosomes based on information provided by heterologous species painting probes and work in progress with type I markers.

Characterization of the goat lactoferrin cDNA: assignment of the relevant locus to bovine U12 synteny group.

Lactoferrin (LTF), which is the major iron-binding protein in milk and physiological fluids, belongs to the transferrin family. We report here the sequence of a caprine LTF cDNA, 2411 bp in length, encoding the pre-protein (709 amino acid residues). Sequence comparisons reveal that structural features, including iron-binding sites, cysteine residues involved in disulphide bonds are remarkably conserved between LTF proteins from various species. Of the 5 potential glycosylation sites identified, only one site appears to be conserved between artiodactyls, rodents and humans. Using a somatic cell hybrid panel, the LTF locus was assigned to the bovine U12 syntenic group. This assignment and the localization of the LTF gene on bovine chromosome 22 (BTA 22) by Schwerin et al. (1) using fluorescent in situ hybridization achieves an additional analogy between a synteny group and a chromosome in cattle. Since serum transferrin (STF) had been previously mapped on BTA 1, in cattle LTF and STF loci are not localized on the same chromosome, conversely to the situation observed in humans (HSA 3) and mice (MMU 9).

Sheep gene mapping: additional DNA markers included (CASB, CASK, LALBA, IGF-1 and AMH).

DNA extracted from 25 hamster-sheep hybrid cell lines was subjected, after Southern blotting, to hybridization with CASB, CASK, LALBA, IGF-1 and AMH cDNA probes. CASB and CASK segregated together and IGF-1 and LALBA were found syntenic with the LDHB-PEPB-TPI-GAPD-SHMT-KRTB group. No other synteny was observed with any of the previously described groups using the same hybrid cell panel. Gene nomenclature: ACO 1: aconitase 1 (soluble); ADA: adenosine deaminase; AMH: antiMüllerian hormone; ARA 1: murine sarcoma 3611 viral (v-raf) oncogene homologue 1; CASB: beta-casein; CASK: kappa-casein; ENO 1: enolase 1 (alpha); G6PD: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; GALA (or GLA): glactosidase (alpha); GAPD: glyceraldehyde -3- phosphate dehydrogenase; GPI: glucose phosphate isomerase; GSR: glutathione reductase; HBG: haemoglobin gamma; HPRT: hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase; IDH 1: isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (soluble); IGF-1: insulin growth factor 1; ITPA: inosine triphosphatase; KRTA: keratin (acid); KRTB: keratin (basic); LALBA: alpha-lactalbumin; LDHA: lactate dehydrogenase A; LDHB: lactate dehydrogenase B; MDH 2: malate dehydrogenase NAD (soluble); ME 1: malic enzyme (soluble); MPI: mannose phosphate isomerase; NP: nucleoside phosphorylase; OLA: ovine leucocyte antigen; OTC: ornitine carbamoyltransferase; PAIS: phosphoribosyl amino imidazole synthetase; PEPA, PEPB, PEPC: peptidase A, B, C; PGD: phospho gluconate dehydrogenase; PGK: phosphoglycerate kinase; PGM 3: phospho glucomutase 3; PKM 2: pyruvate kinase (muscle); PLP: proteolipid protein; PRGS: phosphoribosyl glycinamide synthetase; RCP: red cone pigment; SHMT: serine hydroxymethyl transferase; SOD 1: superoxide dismutase 1 (soluble); SYN 1: synapsin 1; TPI l: triose phosphate isomerase 1.

Geometric austin osteotomy.

Hallux valgus correction utilizing first metatarsal osteotomies is briefly reviewed by the author. A modification of the Austin "V" procedure is presented, using basic geometric principles. Five patients are reported with successful results.

[The "hitch-hiking" effect of a selected gene and gamete combination (linkage disequilibrium): the example of 2 closely linked loci in the swine, Hal (halothane sensitivity) and PHI (phosphohexose isomerase)]. / Effet d'entraînement d'un gène sélectionné et association gamétique (déséquilibre de "linkage"): l'example de deux locus étroitement liés chez le Porc, Hal (sensibilité à l'halothane) et PHI (phosphohexose isomérase).

The observation of two lines of pigs selected differently for four generations confirms a recent theoretical work (Thomson, 1977) showing that a possible source of linkage disequilibrium may be the hitch-hiking effect of a selected locus (Hal) on another closely linked neutral locus (PHI).

[Preparation and partial physico-chemical characterization of sheep-serum transferrin]. / Préparation et caractérisation physico-chimique partielle de la transferrine sérique ovine

Sheep-serum transferrin shows marked polymorphism and more than 20 alleles have been identified although only 4 or 5 of these have a frequency higher than 1%. Each of the alleles has two bands in starch-gel electrophoresis, corresponding to a major and a minor fraciton. This paper describes the isolation and partial characterisation of the two fractions from the transferrin of sheep homozygous for Tf B. The purification consisted of: (a) precipitation by ammonium sulphate, (b) chromatography on CM-cellulose and, finally (c) chromatography on DEAE-Dephadex. The purification procedure had no effect on the electrophoretic mobility of the two fractions and they appeared homogeneous by starch-gel and polyamide-gel electrophoresis and by immuno-electrophoresis. The amino-acid compositions of both fractions were very similar and the sequences of the first eight amino-acid residues: Ser-Pro-Glu-Lys-Thr-Val-Arg-Trp- were identical for both bands. These results, and the fact that the two fractions are found in all genetic variants and always have the same relative mobility strongly suggest that the differences do not lie in the polypeptide chain. From the results of hydrolysis by neuraminidase and assay of sialic acid, the major and minor fractions most probably contain two and three sialic acid residues (exclusively N-acetyleuraminic acid) respectively, thus explaining the different electrophoretic mobilities. The sialic-acid content has been calculated on the basis of a molecular weight of 77500 as determined both by low-speed equilibrium ultracentrifugation and by Archibald's method...