In contrast to previously published results, our data click here do not support the hypothesis of genetic variants in AKT1 confering protection against Parkinson’s disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: Despite metallic and silicone stents being effective in treating various airway lesions, many concerns still remain. A bioresorbable stent

that scaffolds the airway lumen and dissolves after the remodeling process is completed has advantages over metallic and silicone stents. We designed and fabricated a new mesh-type bioresorbable stent with a backbone of polycaprolactone (PCL), and evaluated its safety and biocompatibility in a rabbit trachea model.

Methods: The PCL stent was fabricated by a laboratory-made microinjection molding machine. In vitro mechanical strength of the PCL stents was tested and compared to that of commercial silicone stents. The bioresorbable

stents were surgically implanted into the cervical trachea of New Zealand white rabbits (n = 6). Animals received bronchoscopic examination at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. Histological examination was completed to evaluate check details the biocompatibility of the stents.

Results: No animals died during the period of study. Distal stent migration was noted in 1 rabbit. In-stent secretion accumulation was found in 2 rabbits. Histological examination showed intact ciliated epithelium

and marked leukocyte infiltration in the submucosa of the stented area at 10 and 28 weeks. Stent degradation was minimal, and the mechanical strength was well preserved at the end of 33 weeks.

Conclusions: These preliminary findings showed good safety and biocompatibility selleckchem of the new PCL stent when used in the airway remodeling. PCL could be a promising bioresorbable material for stent design if prolonged degradation time is required. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011;141:463-8)”
“Tactile direction discrimination (TDD), the ability to determine the direction of an object’s movement across the skin, is used clinically to detect and quantify tactile dysfunction. We have previously identified a cortical network for TDD based on skin stretch information that includes the second somatosensory, anterior insular and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. In the present study we investigated cortical processing of TDD based on spatiotemporal cues. Sixteen healthy subjects (8 females; mean age, 25.5 years; range, 23-32 years) were stimulated with a low-friction, spatiotemporal rolling wheel on the right thigh during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The subjects were instructed to indicate the distal or proximal rolling direction of the stimulus.