In preclinical research, neuropathic pain models of nerve injury with varied etiology like partial sciatic nerve ligation (PNL), chronic constricted injury (CCI) and spinal nerve ligation (SNL) are employed to screen the analgesic drugs to treat symptoms like allodynia and hyperalgesia. The current study was aimed to validate and compare conventionally used Von Frey monofilaments and automated dynamic plantar aesthesiometer using three different pain models. Methods: PNL, CCI and SNL rats were used to compare and validate the assessment of neuropathic pain using Von Frey monofilaments and automated dynamic plantar aesthesiometer. Results: Mechanical

allodynia was assessed at various time points to mimic drug testing conditions in CBL0137 ic50 neuropathic pain

models and anticipated to observe reliable and reproducible paw withdrawal threshold measurements selleck across these models. Consistent paw withdrawal thresholds were observed in all the three models of neuropathic pain with Von Frey monofilaments, whereas variable paw withdrawal thresholds were noticed in PNL and CCI models but not in SNL model with dynamic plantar aesthesiometer. Discussion: Manually used Von Frey filaments can be used in assessment of mechanical allodynia in all the three models, whereas dynamic plantar aesthesiometer is suitable for assessing mechanical allodynia in SNL but not in PNL and CCI models. The reason for variable paw withdrawal thresholds during assessment ERK inhibitor of mechanical allodynia in PNL and CCI models with dynamic plantar aesthesiometer may be due to the paw deformity and change in foot posture. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“A thin endometrium is one of the most difficult problems encountered in assisted reproduction every day practice. Whether a daily dose of 150 IU HCG for 7 days concomitant with estrogen administration in estrogen replacement cycles

can increase the endometrial thickness and improve pregnancy outcome, was the objective of the current study.

Seventeen infertile patients with successive implantation failures and resisting thin endometrium, being recipients of fresh donor or frozen embryos were recruited. This was a prospective cohort, proof of concept study, NCT01768247. On day-8 or 9 of the estrogen administration, and continuing 8 mg estrogen per day, subcutaneous injections of 150 IU HCG were initiated daily for 7 days. After a week on HCG priming, (day-14 or 15) endometrial thickness was controlled with ultrasound, and progesterone was initiated.

Mean endometrial thickness was increased from 5.2 mm to 6 mm (p = 0.008). 35.3 % of the patients had more than 20 % improvement of their endometrial thickness after HCG priming. 17 % achieved an endometrial thickness more than 7 mm, and 29.4 % did not improve their thickness at all. Interestingly, from the later two became pregnant. Overall, 41 % of them (7/17) finally delivered.