Experimental evaluation of the performance of large bore aspiration catheters.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mechanical thrombectomy using an aspiration catheter (AC) is widely performed in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. AC diameter directly impacts aspiration performance, which has led device companies to develop large bore ACs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro performance of several commercially available large bore ACs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conceived an experimental set up to assess tracking force, aspiration flow rate, and distal end tensile force pre- and post-thrombectomy of ACs including Sofia 6 (Microvention Inc., California, USA), React 71 (Medtronic Neurovascular, Irvine, California, USA), Jet 7 (Penumbra Inc, Alameda, California, USA), Catalyst 7 (Stryker Neurovascular, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA) and Embovac 071 (Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd, UK). RESULTS: React 71 and Sofia 6 had significantly lower trackability force compared to the other ACs tested. Distal AC segment tensile force was highest for React 71 and lowest for Jet 7. Jet 7 had the highest internal diameter and the highest aspiration flow rate. CONCLUSION: The data from this comparative analysis may assist clinicians in selecting the appropriate AC and highlights the need for key performance criteria during the development of next-generation large-bore ACs for optimal AC performance.

New species and records of Cloeodes Traver, 1938 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from Costa Rica.

The nymph of Cloeodes danta sp. nov. is described from male and female nymphs collected from highland streams in the Caribbean Slope of the Costa Rica Central Volcanic Mountain Range. Adults are unknown. In addition, C. excogitatus and C. redactus are recorded for the first time in the country. Cloeodes danta sp. nov. can be differentiated from all described species by the predominantly brownish coloration on females and a similar coloration on males but with segments VII-IX light yellow and light brown, with no conspicuous marks or patterns; abundant scale-bases throughout most parts of the body; hindwings pads absent; the presence of three spines in the corners of the posterior margin of sternum III, and the posterior margin of tergum III with 28-30 spines on each side of the middle line (spine with a base width up to 0.5× spine length).

Mapping Opportunities for Transportation Electrification to Address Social Marginalization and Air Pollution Challenges in Greater Mexico City.

Amid climate change and public health concerns, world economies are seeking to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution from transportation. Population growth in cities worldwide will further increase demand for clean and affordable transportation. We propose a city-specific environmental justice mapping index, inspired by a similar index used in California, that highlights promising areas for clean transportation interventions in Greater Mexico City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local pollution. This novel approach leverages highly spatially resolved population, pollution, and transportation data. The proposed index score is designed as an open source, updateable point of orientation for decisionmakers as they consider investment in transportation electrification from the standpoint of overlapping atmospheric pollution and social vulnerability.

Generalidades de colgajos y su importancia en la relación con la reparación del daño corporal / General flap and its importance in relation to repair bodily harm

El daño corporal es tema de gran discusión en el marco médico legal. Las repercusiones funcionales y estéticas constituyen una secuela de gran importancia para los pacientes. Es mediante técnicas quirúrgicas como los colgajos, que se ha logrado prevenir cicatrices retráctiles y marcas indelebles en el rostro. Siendo estos últimos bloques vascularizados de tejido que se movilizan a partir de un sitio donador y se clasifican según su composición, vascularización y el método de diseño y transferencia. Dichos puntos, se discutirán a continuación.

Bodily harm is the subject of much discussion in the forensic context. The functional and aesthetic impact constitute a sequel of great importance for patients. It is through surgical techniques such as flaps, which has been successful in preventing retractile scars and indelible facial mark. Latter being vascularized tissue blocks that move from a donor site and are classified according to their composition, vascularization and the design method and transfer. This subjects, are discussed below.

Estenosis hipertrófica pilórica infantil / Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis child

La estenosis hipertrófica infantil representa la condición más común que requiere resolución quirúrgica en la infancia temprana. La función y motilidad del píloro está guiada por distintos sistemas que involucran sistema nervioso entérico, hormonas gastrointestinales y las células intersticiales de Cajal, es así como distintos factores que afecten dichos componentes se ven involucrados en las distintas hipótesis de la fisiopatogenia de la enfermedad. El diagnóstico se basa clásicamente en historia clínica, examen físico y estudios de imágenes. El manejo ha sido clásicamente quirúrgico, mediante la piloromiotomía de Ramstedt, sin embargo se ha planteado manejo farmacológico mediante sulfato de atropina.

Infantile hypertrophic stenosis is the most common condition requiring surgical intervention in early childhood. The function and motility of the pylorus is guided by different systems involving enteric nervous system, gastrointestinal hormones and the interstitial cells of Cajal, is how different factors affecting these components are involved in the different hypotheses of pathogenesis of the disease. The diagnosis is typically based on clinical history, physical examination and imaging studies. The surgical management has been classically by Ramstedt pyloromyotomy, however pharmacological management has been raised by atropine sulfate.

Effects of the antiandrogen flutamide on the expression of protein kinase C isoenzymes in LNCaP and PC3 human prostate cancer cells.

Flutamide is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen that is frequently used for total androgen blockage in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. We investigated the effect of this antiandrogen on the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes (alpha, beta1, epsilon, zeta) that are involved in cell growth, apoptosis and neoplastic transformation. Androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and independent (PC3) human prostate cancer cells were cultured in a medium that contained fetal bovine serum (FBS) or charcoal-stripped serum (CSS) and treated with 10 microM flutamide. The expression of PKC isoenzymes and the androgen receptor (AR) were analyzed by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Serum steroids differentially regulate the expression of PKC isoenzymes in LNCaP and PC3 cells. Flutamide up-regulated the expression of alpha, beta1 and zeta, but not epsilon, PKC isoenzymes in CSS-LNCaP cells. These results were not homogeneously reproduced in the presence of androgens. We observed an opposite effect of flutamide, compared to CSS, on PKCbeta1 isoform expression in CSS-LNCaP suggesting that this antiandrogen exerts an agonistic effect. In PC3 cells flutamide potentiated the expression of the four PKC isoenzymes in almost all conditions tested (FBS- and CSS-cultured cells). Such effect of flutamide in PC3 cells is independent of AR since no expression of AR was detected. These results provide new evidence on antagonistic/agonistic responses of prostate cancer cells to antiandrogen drugs that are widely used in therapy and show that flutamide can elicit responses in prostate cancer cells that do not express AR.

VIP and PACAP are autocrine factors that protect the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3 from apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal.

1. In the present study, we describe the expression of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) as well as their receptors in PC-3 cells, a human prostate cancer cell line. In addition, we have investigated their role in apoptosis induced by serum starvation. 2. By RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry assays, we have demonstrated the production of VIP and PACAP in PC-3 cells. 3. We have demonstrated by RT-PCR and binding assays the expression of common PACAP/VIP (VPAC(1) and VPAC(2)) receptors, but not PACAP-specific (PAC(1)) receptors. The pharmacological profile of [(125)I]-VIP binding assays was as follows: VPAC(1) antagonist=VPAC(1) agonist>VIP>VPAC(2) agonist (IC(50)=1.2, 1.5, 2.3 and 30 nM, respectively). In addition, both receptor subtypes are functional since VIP, PACAP-27 or VPAC(1) and VPAC(2) agonists all increased the intracellular levels of cAMP. 4. The expression of both peptides and their receptors is similar in serum-cultured and serum-deprived PC-3 cells. The treatment of serum-deprived PC-3 cells with exogenous VIP or PACAP-27 increases cell number and viability in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by cellular counting and MTT assays. The increased cell survival is exerted through the VPAC(1) receptor, since a VPAC(1), but not VPAC(2), receptor agonist, mimics the effects and a VPAC(1) receptor antagonist blocks it. Moreover, VIP and PACAP-27 inhibit genomic DNA fragmentation in PC-3 cells triggered by serum starvation, and increase the immunoreactivity of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. 5. Our results suggest that VIP and PACAP are autocrine/paracrine factors that protect PC-3 cells from apoptosis through VPAC1 receptors.