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PubMed2005

GABAergic synaptic transmission modulates swimming in the ascidian larva.

To examine the role of the amino acid GABA in the locomotion of basal chordates, we investigated the pharmacology of swimming and the morphology of GABA-immunopositive neurones in tadpole larvae of the ascidians Ciona intestinalis and Ciona savignyi. We verified that electrical recording from the tail reflects alternating muscle activity during swimming by correlating electrical signals with tail beats using high-speed video recording. GABA reversibly reduced swimming periods to single tail twitches, while picrotoxin increased the frequency and duration of electrical activity associated with spontaneous swimming periods. Immunocytochemistry for GABA revealed extensive labelling throughout the larval central nervous system. Two strongly labelled regions on either side of the sensory vesicle were connected by an arc of labelled fibres, from which fibre tracts extended caudally into the visceral ganglion. Fibre tracts extended ventrally from a third, more medial region in the posterior sensory vesicle. Two rows of immunoreactive cell bodies in the visceral ganglion extended neurites into the nerve cord, where varicosities were seen. Thus, presumed GABAergic neurones form a network that could release GABA during swimming that is involved in modulating the time course and frequency of periods of spontaneous swimming. GABAergic and motor neurones in the visceral ganglion could interact at the level of their cell bodies and/or through the presumed GABAergic fibres that enter the nerve cord. The larval swimming network appears to possess some of the properties of spinal networks in vertebrates, while at the same time possibly showing a type of peripheral innervation resembling that in some protostomes.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Experimental and numerical investigations of resonant vibration characteristics for piezoceramic plates.

Electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) is a full field, non-contact technique for measuring the surface displacement of a structure subjected to static loading or, especially, to dynamic vibration. In this article we employ an optical system called the amplitude-fluctuation ESPI with out-of-plane and in-plane measurements to investigate the vibration characteristics of piezoceramic plates. Two different configurations of piezoceramic plates, namely the rectangular and the circular plates, are discussed in detail. As compared with the film recording and optical reconstruction procedures used for holographic interferometry, the interferometric fringes of AF-ESPI are produced instantly by a video recording system. Because the clear fringe patterns will be shown only at resonant frequencies, both the resonant frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes are obtained experimentally at the same time by the proposed AF-ESPI method. Excellent quality of the interferometric fringe patterns for both the in-plane and out-of-plane vibration mode shapes is demonstrated. The resonant frequencies of the piezoceramic plates are also measured by the conventional impedance analysis. From experimental results, we find that the out-of-plane vibration modes (type A) with lower resonant frequencies cannot be measured by the impedance analysis and only the in-plane vibration modes (type B) will be shown. However, both the out-of-plane (bending) and in-plane (extensional) vibration modes of piezoceramic plates are obtained by the AF-ESPI method. Finally, the numerical finite element calculations are also performed, and the results are compared with the experimental measurements. It is shown that the numerical calculations and the experimental results agree fairly well for both the resonant frequencies and the mode shapes.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Apnoea and bradycardia during epileptic seizures: relation to sudden death in epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: To record non-invasively ictal cardiorespiratory variables. METHODS: Techniques employed in polysomnography were used in patients with epilepsy undergoing EEG-video recording at a telemetry unit. RESULTS: Apnoea (> 10, range > 10-63, mean 24 s) was seen in 20 of 47 clinical seizures (three secondary generalised, 16 complex partial, and one tonic) and 10 of 17 patients. Apnoea was central in 10 patients, but obstructive apnoea was also recorded in three of 10. Oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SpO2) dropped to less than 85% in 10 seizures (six patients). An increase in heart rate was common (91% of seizures). Bradycardia/sinus arrest was documented in four patients (mean maximum RR interval 5.36, range 2.8-8.6 s) but always in the context of a change in respiratory pattern. CONCLUSION: Ictal apnoea was often seen. The occurrence of bradycardia in association with apnoea suggests the involvement of cardiorespiratory reflexes. Similar mechanisms may operate in cases of sudden death in epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Distributed motor pattern underlying whole-body shortening in the medicinal leech.

Whole-body shortening was studied in the leech, Hirudo medicinalis, by a combination of videomicroscopy and multielectrode recordings. Video microscopy was used to monitor the animal behavior and muscle contraction. Eight suction pipettes were used to obtain simultaneous electrical recordings from fine roots emerging from ganglia. This vital escape reaction was rather reproducible. The coefficient of variation of the animal contraction during whole-body shortening was between 0.2 and 0.3. The great majority of all leech longitudinal motoneurons were activated during this escape reaction, in particular motoneurons 3, 4, 5, 8, 107, 108, and L. The firing pattern of all these motoneurons was poorly reproducible from trial to trial, and the coefficient of variation of their firing varied between 0.3 and 1.5 for different motoneurons. The electrical activity of pairs of coactivated motoneurons did not show any sign of correlation over a time window of 100 ms. Only the left and right motoneurons L in the same ganglion had a correlated firing pattern, resulting from their strong electrical coupling. As a consequence of the low correlation between coactivated motoneurons, the global electrical activity during whole-body shortening became reproducible with a coefficient of variation below 0.3 during maximal contraction. These results indicate that whole-body shortening is mediated by the coactivation of a large fraction of all leech motoneurons, i.e., it is a distributed process, and that coactivated motoneurons exhibit a significant statistical independence. Probably due to this statistical independence this vital escape reaction is smooth and reproducible.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The reliability and validity of assessment of sagittal plane deviations in children who have spastic diplegia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of a newly described classification of sagittal plane alignment in spastic diplegic gait. DESIGN: Twenty split-screen videos of children with spastic diplegia, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to III, were viewed on 2 occasions, 6 weeks apart, by 5 raters. The sagittal plane alignments of the right and left lower limbs in gait were classified separately as true equinus, jump knee, apparent equinus, or crouch, based on the published classification. A fifth category, nonclassifiable, was used if classification was not possible. We then used sagittal plane kinematic data to confirm the classification for each subject and these were compared with rater classification scores, which used the video information only. SETTING: Tertiary-level children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Three pediatric orthopedic surgeons and 2 pediatric orthopedic residents. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gait classification scores derived from visual observation were compared among and within raters. The gait classification scores derived from visual observation were compared with the scores derived from sagittal plane kinematic data to assess validity. RESULTS: A moderate correlation was found among the 5 raters within each session, with an interrater weighted kappa score of .45 in session 1 and .49 in session 2. The intrarater, weighted kappa scores showed a moderate to substantial level of agreement between sessions, ranging from .50 to .68. The classification scores of individual raters had moderate validity when compared with classifications derived from the sagittal plane kinematic data. However, there was a substantial level of agreement between the consensus opinion and the classification obtained using the kinematic data as well as the video recordings (weighted kappa=0.8). CONCLUSIONS: This classification has only moderate reliability and validity when a single experienced rater views the 2-dimensional gait videos. However, the consensus opinion derived from the scores of 5 raters considerably improves the validity of the assessment.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1990

The cardiac catheterization laboratory--1990.

Over the past several decades, there has been an evolution and proliferation of catheterization laboratories. During the latter half of the 1980s, these changes have resulted from the development of a number of catheter-based therapeutic techniques. In general, it would seem reasonable to predict that the 1990s will continue to show expansion of laboratory services in both traditional hospital and nontraditional settings. In the latter, the free-standing laboratories will probably grow substantially. The types of patients studied in this new era will continue to be largely those with suspected or known coronary artery disease. The most dramatic changes in laboratory configuration will be in the image system. High-definition systems will become the standard. Images will be recorded direct to solid-state memory using fluoroscopic techniques. Resolution will be increased at reduced noise and enhanced contrast. Higher resolution video monitors and video recorders will be the cornerstones of the laboratory. The image information for an entire day's work will be stored first on a digital tape system, probably a rapidly accessed reel system, and by the late 1990s in solid-state memory. Individual case data will then be copied to smaller cassettes for patient reports. An entirely digital system will provide rapid electronic acquisition, processing, storage and transmission of information. In addition, physicians will be able to call up previous studies that have been copied to this format for storage. Storage space will be reduced considerably. Access of information will be relatively rapid compared with cine equipment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac Catheterization↗

PubMed1996

Kinematics of feeding in the lizard Agama stellio

The kinematics of prey capture, intraoral transport and swallowing in lizards of the species Agama stellio (Agamidae) were investigated using cineradiography (50 frames s-1) and high-speed video recordings (500 frames s-1). Small metal markers were inserted into different parts of the upper and lower jaw and the tongue. Video and cineradiographic images were digitized, and displacements of the body, head, upper and lower jaw and the tongue were quantified. Twenty additional variables depicting displacements and timing of events were calculated. A factor analysis performed on the kinematic data separates prey capture and swallowing cycles from intraoral transport bites. However, the intraoral transport stage cannot be separated into chewing (reduction) and transport bites. The effect of prey type and size on the feeding kinematics of intraoral transport and swallowing cycles was investigated. During the intraoral transport stage, distinct aspects (e.g. durations, maximal excursions) of the gape and tongue cycle are modulated in response to both the size and type of the prey item. The results for A. stellio generally agree with a previous model, although it is the entire slow opening phase rather than solely the duration of the second part of this phase that is affected by the size of the prey. The intraoral transport cycles in A. stellio show the two synapomorphic characteristics of tetrapods (tongue-based terrestrial intraoral prey transport and the existence of a long preparatory period of prey compression). However, not all five characters of the feeding cycle previously proposed for amniotes are present in A. stellio. One major difference is that in A. stellio the recovery of the hyolingual apparatus does not take place during the slow opening phase but during the slow closing/powerstroke phase.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

The quality of medical records in teleconsultation.

We collected and examined the medical records from telemedicine cases dealt with by the telemedicine centre of Shanghai Hospital No. 85. This centre handles the second largest number of teleconsultations in the entire network. There were 658 telemedicine cases in total. The medical records included the patient record in 599 cases (91%), transmitted images in 392 cases (60%), the consultant's opinion in 595 cases (90%) and a video-recording of the teleconsultation in 203 cases (31%). The quality of patient records was reviewed and found to be acceptable in 58% of cases. In total, 1794 radiology images (85% of all images) were transmitted via the telemedicine network. The consultant considered 352 of them (20%) to be unreadable on the screen (i.e. 80% of radiology images were considered to be acceptable). For optimum performance of telemedicine, the patient record and associated images should be delivered in advance and the relevant parts of the patient record should be available during a teleconsultation. Three aspects of the management of the medical records for teleconsultations are particularly important: multimedia collection, standardization of patient/record identification and classification, and information management.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

Rehabilitation strategy using enhanced housing environment during neural regeneration.

The influence of an enriched environment on the recovery of nerve function was studied after a sciatic nerve lesion and repair. A sciatic nerve gap of 15 mm was bridged in 12 rats using autologous nerve grafts. The rats were housed either in an enriched environment or in standard cages. In the enhanced housing environment, the rats were forced to move by dissociating food and water sources, including wire for foot gripping instead of flat plastic floors, and wooden play toys. Locomotor behavior was recorded on tape with a digital videorecorder and behavioral data were compared with those of a group of six unoperated rats. The video-recordings were analyzed for the stance factor (SF) as well as several other aspects of the rat's walking pattern. Walking was evaluated between 10 and 21 weeks after the operation. Differences in walking behavior between rats raised in an enriched environment and rats raised in standard cages could not be demonstrated. Differences in walking behavior between male and female rats were not found either. But data differed significantly at all ages with rats of the control group. Automutilation of parts of the denervated foot revealed a significant difference in both experimental groups, occurring less often in the enriched environment group.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1997

Three-dimensional microscopic biopsy of in vivo human skin: a new technique based on a flexible confocal microscope.

A new noninvasive microscopic technique of three-dimensional optical biopsy from in vivo human skin based on real-time confocal microscopy and computer reconstruction is demonstrated. A tandem scanning confocal microscope is a prototype of a mobile, flexible design for the in-depth microscopic exploration of the skin on the human body. The various skin layers were observed in real-time, at the subcellular level down to a depth of 200 microns with a vertical resolution of 2 microns. Rapid video recording of the Z-series through the ventral aspect of the forearm avoided shifts caused by subject movement and blood flow pulsations. Two video frames were averaged, and the average was digitized, providing a stack of 64 optical sections in 1-micron vertical steps. Three-dimensional reconstructions of in vivo human skin were obtained with sets of orthogonal slices, and slices at arbitrary planes through a volume containing the stack of slices. This method clearly shows the spatial relationships between the different cell layers. The use of orthogonal cutting planes is preferred because of its analogy with classical vertical sections of histopathology. Linear structures (surface lines) within the stratum corneum are described and their global orientations were determined by the use of Fourier transform analysis. En face optical sections constitute unusual views of this tissue, since typical pathohistological studies are based on sagittal (vertical) slices. The noninvasive optical microscopic technique provides a three-dimensional optical biopsy of in vivo human skin.

Biopsy↗

PubMed2002

Adaptive changes in locomotor activity following botulinum toxin injection in ankle extensor muscles of cats.

The present study investigated the adaptations made in motor behavior following a temporary reduction in ankle extensor activity in the walking cat. Temporary muscle weakness was induced by injecting botulinum toxin into the lateral gastrocnemius (LG), plantaris (PL), and soleus (SOL) muscles, or SOL alone. The medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle was not injected. Adaptations in the level of muscle activity were recorded using chronically implanted electromyographic (EMG) electrodes. Serial recordings were made prior to botulinum toxin injections and for several days following the injections. Kinematic analysis of ankle joint movements was made from video records to assess the impact of the botulinum toxin injections on the function of the ankle joint during walking. Following injection of the LG, PL, and SOL muscles with botulinum toxin, the amplitude of the MG burst increased over a period of a few days to a week. This increase was similar to the previously reported changes produced in MG following transection of the nerves serving LG, PL, and SOL. Following the weakening of the ankle extensor muscles, there was a temporary deficit in ankle function during walking as evidenced by a marked increase in the amount of ankle flexion that occurred at stance onset. This functional deficit recovered relatively quickly and was not associated with a return of the EMG pattern to the preinjection pattern. After recovery from the initial injections, a second injection of botulinum toxin into SOL alone was performed. No functional deficits were observed in the ankle movements during walking following this second injection. However, weakening SOL produced increases in the burst amplitudes of the MG, LG, and PL muscles over a period of a few days. This suggests that normal movements at the ankle during walking can be generated with more than one pattern of ankle extensor activity and that there is flexibility in how the necessary torque is produced. A final procedure, transection of the nerves serving LG, PL, and SOL, failed to produce any functional deficits in ankle movements. The implication is that adaptations to the neural control of ankle extensor activity that were induced by the initial procedure persisted after the recovery of the injected muscles and were sufficient to compensate for the subsequent challenges.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1993

Comparison of snoring measured at home and during polysomnographic studies.

Snoring characteristics depend on several factors (sleep position, sleep architecture, breathing route) that can be influenced by changes in sleep habits and by the presence of the different probes and electrodes during polysomnographic studies. Our objective in this study was to compare the characteristics of snoring in the home environment with those of the sleep laboratory where most conventional studies are carried out. Fourteen nonapneic snorers were subjected to three night recording sessions within a two-week period, two at home and one in the sleep laboratory. To eliminate any sleep interference by the apparatus, breathing sounds were recorded with two microphones symmetrically placed on either side of the bed, the signal being preamplified and stored on a VHS hi-fi video recorder. The recorded signal was analyzed by using a spectrum analyzer (real time analyzer) and an equalizer to correct for acoustic resonances of the bedrooms. A snoring event was defined as a breathing sound with a sound pressure level (SPL) greater than 60 dB SPL. The snoring index (number/sleep hour) and the sound intensity of each event were automatically determined. The total sleep time (TST) was similar for the two home recordings (6.8 +/- 0.2 and 7.0 +/- 0.2 h, respectively, mean +/- SEM), but it was significantly shorter during the hospital study (6.0 +/- 0.3 h). The snoring indices obtained at home were 141.4 +/- 33.3 and 144.1 +/- 41.2/h and not statistically different from those obtained during the hospital recording (209.1 +/- 41.5/h). The percentage of TST spent above 60 dB SPL was significantly greater during the polysomnographic study (4.3 +/- 1.2 percent) than during the home recordings (2.5 +/- 0.7 and 2.9 +/- 1.0 percent, respectively). We conclude that the severity of snoring may be overestimated during polysomnographic recordings.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Inspecting the cochlear scala tympanic with flexible and semi-flexible micro-endoscope].

OBJECTIVE: Flexible and semi-flexible micro-endoscopes were used in cochlear scala tympani inspection , to explore their application in inner ear examination. METHOD: Fifteen profound hearing loss patients preparing for cochlear implant were included in this study. During the operation, micro-endoscopy was performed after opening the cochlear scala tympani. And 1 mm diameter semi-flexible micro-endoscope could go as deep as 9 mm into the cochlear scala tympani, while 0. 5 mm diameter flexible micro-endoscope could go as deep as 25 mm. The inspecting results were compared with video recording. RESULT: Using 0.5 mm flexible micro-endoscope, we canould check cochlear scala tympani with depth range of 15-25 mm, but the video imaging was not clear enough to examine the microstructure in the cochlear. With 1 mm diameter semi-flexible micro-endoscope, we could reach 9 mm deep into the cochlear. During the examination, we found 3 cases with calcification deposit in osseous spiral lamina, l case with granulation tissue in the lateral wall of scala tympani, no abnormal findings in the other 11 cases. CONCLUSION: Inspecting the cochlear scala tympani with 0.5 mm flexible micro-endoscope, even though we can reach the second circuit of the cochlear, it is difficult to find the pathology in the cochlear because of the poor video imaging. With 1 mm semi-flexible micro-endoscope, we can identify the microstructure of the cochlear clearly and find the pathologic changes, but the inserting depth was limited to 9 mm with limitation to examine the whole cochlear.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Decreased ultrafiltration coefficient of glomeruli isolated from volume-depleted rats.

Decreased glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf or LpA) has been demonstrated in micropuncture studies of rats subjected to dietary sodium restriction and diuretics. To define the alterations in glomerular filtration characteristics in isolation from systemic hemodynamic influences, we studied filtration of isolated rat glomeruli in vitro. Control rats were maintained on standard laboratory chow and tap water until sacrifice. Experimental rats in groups I, II, and III were maintained on a sodium-deficient diet for 3 to 7 weeks. Further volume depletion was induced in groups II and III as follows: Group II rats were given furosemide, 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally for 3 consecutive days prior to sacrifice; group III rats were given furosemide, 240 mg/kg, and killed (a) after about 4 hr when diuresis had resulted in 8% to 10% weight loss, (b) after 18 hr during which sodium restriction was continued, or (c) after 18 hr during which they were permitted to drink NaCl solution (0.9 gm/dl). Group IV rats were fed standard laboratory Chow and were subjected to hemorrhage of about 3% body weight and sacrificed after 18 hr of fasting. Plasma protein, serum creatinine and electrolytes, and FENa were measured in each rat prior to sacrifice. Filtration was induced in isolated glomeruli by applying a transcapillary oncotic gradient of about 12 mm Hg. A video recording of individual glomeruli was made during filtration, and glomerular diameter, volume, filtering surface area, Kf, and Lp were estimated from measurements of the video image. Kf was decreased during volume depletion induced by sodium restriction and furosemide or by hemorrhage. Kf averaged 4.0 +/- 0.2 nl/min . mm Hg in control rats (n = 10), 3.4 +/- 0.2 nl/min . mm Hg in group I (n = 8), 3.3 +/- 0.1 nl/min . mm Hg in group II (n = 12), 2.2 +/- 0.1 nl/min . mm Hg in group IIIa (n = 4), 2.6 +/- 0.3 nl/min . mm Hg in group IIIb (n = 4), and 2.3 +/- 0.2 nl/min . mm Hg in group IV (n = 3). Kf returned to control values after volume repletion with orally administered NaCl solution and averaged 4.3 +/- 0.3 nl/min . mm Hg in group IIIc (n = 4). We conclude that Kf falls in a graded and reversible fashion during volume depletion. Modulation of Kf, as well as previously described alterations in renal cortical perfusion, may contribute to decreased GFR in volume depletion.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Comparison of video- and EMG-based evaluations of the magnitude of children's emotion-modulated startle response.

We investigated the reliability and validity of a video-based method of measuring the magnitude of children's emotion-modulated startle response when electromyographic (EMG) measurement is not feasible. Thirty-one children between the ages of 4 and 7 years were videotaped while watching short video clips designed to elicit happiness or fear. Embedded in the audio track of the video clips were acoustic startle probes. A coding system was developed to quantify from the video record the strength of the eye-blink startle response to the probes. EMG measurement of the eye blink was obtained simultaneously. Intercoder reliability for the video coding was high (Cohen's kappa = .90). The average within-subjects probe-by-probe correlation between the EMG- and video-based methods was .84. Group-level correlations between the methods were also strong, and there was some evidence of emotion modulation of the startle response with both the EMG- and the video-derived data. Although the video method cannot be used to assess the latency, probability, or duration of startle blinks, the findings indicate that it can serve as a valid proxy of EMG in the assessment of the magnitude of emotion-modulated startle in studies of children conducted outside of a laboratory setting, where traditional psychophysiological methods are not feasible.

Child↗

PubMed2004

A model for cardiopulmonary bypass redesign.

INTRODUCTION: A portion of patients undergoing cardiac surgery may develop focal and/or subtle brain injuries secondary to cardiac surgery. There is evidence that, in some cases, these injuries may be related to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Embolism and hypoperfusion are the dominant mechanisms for focal neurologic injuries among coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients. Recent studies suggest that these mechanisms may also produce the more prevalent subtle neurological deficits. The aim of our current work is to obtain a thorough understanding of the processes of care associated with the production of embolic activity, cerebral hypoperfusion, and hemodynamic aberrations that often occur during CPB. METHODS: We developed a system for simultaneous recording of physiologic parameters, embolic activity in the CPB circuit and in the cerebral arteries, and near infrared regional cerebral oxyhemoglobin saturation (NIRS) during cardiac surgery. All data were synchronized with a video recording of the surgical procedure. Periods of embolic activity and NIRS were subsequently related to surgical and CPB processes of care through a systematic review of the patient's surgical case video. RESULTS: To date, we have enrolled 47 patients undergoing coronary and/or valvular procedures. We have observed wide variation across patients in detected cerebral embolic counts, NIRS and physiologic parameters. We have identified increased embolic counts in the CPB circuit related to specific processes and events such as the method of venous drainage, the entrainment of air in the venous line, the injection of medications into the CPB circuit and blood sampling from the CPB circuit. A portion of detected changes in NIRS were related to periods of hypotension and positioning of the heart during the construction of distal coronary artery grafts on the posterior coronary artery vessels. SUMMARY: Use of this model provides the surgical team with detailed information regarding the contribution of CPB to the creation of precursors of neurological injury. This system provides meaningful data to guide the surgical team in the redesign of the CPB system and associated techniques.

Brain Injuries↗

PubMed1995

Video laryngoscopy.

New techniques for visualing the upper and part of the lower airway provide for efficient assessment of airway dysfunction. Equipment is available for video recording during the assessment, which can be done either in the caregiver's office/clinic or during stress testing in an exercise facility. Case reports that illustrate the diagnostic use of video laryngoscopy as well as adjunct to therapy are presented in this article.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

A novel acoustic evaluation system of scratching in mouse dermatitis: rapid and specific detection of invisibly rapid scratch in an atopic dermatitis model mouse.

Scratching is an essential and a skin specific behavior induced by itching, which is a common symptom of atopic dermatitis (AD) and other types of dermatitis. Itching sensation and scratching are closely associated and thus scratching times are currently used for evaluating itching in animal models. However, objective measuring systems of scratching to assess the grade of dermatitis and the effectiveness of anti-pruritic drugs in animal dermatitis models are lacking. To investigate a quantitative evaluation system for itching, we have developed a novel acoustic scratching counting system and compared its accuracy with time-consuming slow-motion video recording system. We have also objectively evaluated the efficacy of an antihistamine using this novel system. Scratching behavior of an AD model mouse (K14 driven IL-18 transgenic mouse) was recorded visually and acoustically. Specific scratching sound produced by mice was recorded and counted using a software we have developed, and the results obtained using our acoustic system were not statistically different from data obtained using slow motion video system. Surprisingly, mice scratched more than 10 times/second, which was invisibly rapid motion and revealed inaccuracy of conventional hand counting system. Results were identical to that of measured by 10 times time costing slow-motion video analysis. The antihistamine is clearly effective for suppression of scratching as demonstrated using this objective and accurate method. This novel motion analysis system will open a window for physiological and pathological analysis for animal models and development of anti-pruritic drugs.

Animals↗