OBJECTIVE Oxygen delivery, underpinned by vascular tone, is the principle limiting factor in the study of skeletal muscle physiology, particularly during muscle contraction. The aim of this study was to develop an autologous perfused rat hind limb preparation for the study of skeletal muscle contractile function. METHODS Adult Wistar rats were surgically prepared using a by-pass system for pu...

We have assessed whether a referred somatic hyperalgesia to thermal stimulation of the hind limb of rats occurs after inflammation of the urinary bladder. Furthermore, we evaluated whether any such viscero-somatic hyperalgesia (VSH) is dependent on the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF). Limb withdrawal thresholds from thermal stimulation of both fore and hind limbs were assessed simultaneo...

The impact of an exotic species in natural systems may be dependent not only on invader attributes but also on characteristics of the invaded community. We examined impacts of the invader bitou bush, Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata , in fore and hind dune communities of coastal New South Wales, Australia. We compared invader impacts on vegetation structure, richness of both native an...

In underwater diving, decompression schedules are based on compartmental models of nitrogen and helium tissue kinetics. However, these models are not based on direct measurements of nitrogen and helium kinetics. In isoflurane-anesthetized sheep, nitrogen and helium kinetics in the hind limb (n = 5) and brain (n = 5) were determined during helium-oxygen breathing and after return to nitrogen-oxy...

BACKGROUND Calpain, a calcium-dependent cysteine protease, has been demonstrated to regulate osteoclastogenesis, which is considered one of the major reasons for cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP). In the present study, calpain inhibitor was applied in a rat CIBP model to determine whether it could reduce CIBP through regulation of osteoclastogenesis activity. METHODS A rat CIBP model was establ...

HLA-DR3- and HLA-DRw52-associated functional polymorphism was investigated with selected tetanus toxoid (TT)-specific T cell clones. We have shown earlier that HLA-DR antigens are encoded by two distinct loci, DR beta I and DR beta III. The alloantigenic determinant(s) defined by the serological HLA-DR3 specificity map to the former, while the supratypic HLA-DRw52 determinants map to DR beta II...

A new genus and species, Mirimordella gracilicruralis gen. et sp. nov., in the subfamily Praemordellinae of Mordellidae, is described and illustrated based on a nearly complete fossil specimen. It is from the Yixian Formation of western Liaoning Province, NE China. The diagnosis of the subfamily Praemordellinae is emended based on this new species. Characters such as simple and linear maxillary...

Congenital talipes equino varus (CTEV) is a three dimensional deformity and is one of the most common congenital abnormalities affecting the lower limb and can be challenging to manage. Hind-foot deformity is considered the most difficult to treat. Unfortunately, the calcaneus is often small and thus difficult to control during casting after surgical release in severe or relapsed cases. We used...

My previous experiments with salamanders {Triton cristatus; ten Cate, 1927) and tortoises (Testudo graeca; ten Cate, 1937) have shown that, after transection of the spinal cord in the thoracic region, locomotor movements of the hind limbs can be observed under favourable conditions while the front limbs remain motionless. These alternating movements are well co-ordinated but last only a short t...