We have developed a rapid microfluidic method for antibiotic susceptibility testing in a stress-based environment. Fluid is passed at high speeds over bacteria immobilized on the bottom of a microfluidic channel. In the presence of stress and antibiotic, susceptible strains of bacteria die rapidly. However, resistant bacteria survive these stressful conditions. The hypothesis behind this method...

With regard to the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement, art. 231 of the Council Directive 86/609/EEC on the Protection of Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes, is of utmost importance. This article states that "The Commission and Member States. would take steps. to encourage research into the development and validation of alternative techniques.". In order...

Background and Purpose. This study investigated the cardiopulmonary response and safety of exercise testing at peak effort in people during the chronic stage of stroke recovery. Methods. This retrospective study examined data from 62 individuals with chronic stroke (males: 32; mean (SD); age: (12.0) yr) participating in an exercise test. Results. Both males and females had low cardiorespiratory...

Broth microdilution tests and antimicrobial interaction (synergy) studies using various combinations of cefoperazone and sulbactam were performed in an effort to determine the most appropriate in vitro dilution test system. The test results with cefoperazone and sulbactam were categorized as synergistic (complete or partial) for nearly 80% of the strains isolated from clinical trial patients. T...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a molecular line probe assay, GenoType® MTBDRplus, for rapid detection of rifampicin and isoniazid resistance in the Mongolian situation. The sensitivity and specificity of GenoType® MTBDRplus to detect rifampicin and isoniazid resistance-associated mutations in culture specimens and directly in smear-positive clinical specimens w...

OBJECTIVE To compare serum, salivary and fecal IgA responses in infants and adults following rotavirus vaccination. STUDY DESIGN Laboratory testing of samples from clinical trials. SETTING Medical College Hospital. PARTICIPANTS 13 healthy adult volunteers not given vaccine, 20 healthy adult volunteers given one dose of bovine rotavirus tetravalent vaccine (Shantha Biotechnics), and 88 inf...

Current trends and issues in the development of alternatives to the use of animals in biomedical experimentation are discussed in this position paper. Eight topics are considered and include refinement of acute toxicity assays; eye corrosion/irritation alternatives; skin corrosion/irritation alternatives; contact sensitization alternatives; developmental/reproductive testing alternatives; genet...

ALTEX 35(1), 2018 126 and Refinement of animal testing), their beginnings, impact and development over the years as well as the introduction of additional Rs such as Responsibility, Rehabilitation or Remember. Topics and strategies such as the use of “lower” animals, fewer animals, maximizing study outcome, animal sharing and welfare were discussed. Prof. Schneider closed his talk leading over ...