Anatomy Commons^™

Global Deletion Of Panx3 Produces Multiple Phenotypic Effects In Mouse Humeri And Femora, Deidre Caskenette, Silvia Penuela, Vanessa Lee, Kevin Barr, Frank Beier, Dale W. Laird, Katherine E. Willmore

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

© 2016 Anatomical Society. Pannexins form single-membrane channels that allow passage of small molecules between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. Of the three pannexin family members, Pannexin3 (Panx3) is the least studied but is highly expressed in skeletal tissues and is thought to play a role in the regulation of chondrocyte and osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of our study is to closely examine the in vivo effects of Panx3 ablation on long bone morphology using micro-computed tomography. Using Panx3 knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) adult mice, we measured and compared aspects of phenotypic shape, bone mineral density (BMD), …

Evaluation Of Ct Perfusion Biomarkers Of Tumor Hypoxia, Qi Qi, Timothy Pok Chi Yeung, Ting-Yim Lee, Glenn Bauman, Cathie Crukley, Laura Morrison, Lisa Hoffman, Slav Yartsev

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Background Tumor hypoxia is associated with treatment resistance to cancer therapies. Hypoxia can be investigated by immunohistopathologic methods but such procedure is invasive. A non-invasive method to interrogate tumor hypoxia is an attractive option as such method can provide information before, during, and after treatment for personalized therapies. Our study evaluated the correlations between computed tomography (CT) perfusion parameters and immunohistopathologic measurement of tumor hypoxia. Methods Wistar rats, 18 controls and 19 treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), implanted with the C6 glioma tumor were imaged using CT perfusion on average every five days to monitor tumor growth. A final CT …

Medial Prefrontal And Anterior Insular Connectivity In Early Schizophrenia And Major Depressive Disorder: A Resting Functional Mri Evaluation Of Large-Scale Brain Network Models, Jacob Penner, Kristen A. Ford, Reggie Taylor, Betsy Schaefer, Jean Theberge, Richard W. J. Neufeld, Elizabeth A. Osuch, Ravi S. Menon, Nagalingam Rajakumar, John M. Allman, Peter C. Williamson

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Anomalies in the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior insulae, and large-scale brain networks associated with them have been proposed to underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, we examined the connectivity of the medial prefrontal cortices and anterior insulae in 24 healthy controls, 24 patients with schizophrenia, and 24 patients with MDD early in illness with seed based resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis using Statistical Probability Mapping. As hypothesized, reduced connectivity was found between the medial prefrontal cortex and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and other nodes associated with directed effort in patients …

Motor And Hippocampal Dependent Spatial Learning And Reference Memory Assessment In A Transgenic Rat Model Of Alzheimer's Disease With Stroke, Jennifer L. Au, Nina Weishaupt, Hayley J. Nell, Shawn N. Whitehead, David F. Cechetto

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that results in neurodegeneration and memory loss. While age is a major risk factor for AD, stroke has also been implicated as a risk factor and an exacerbating factor. The co-morbidity of stroke and AD results in worsened stroke-related motor control and AD-related cognitive deficits when compared to each condition alone. To model the combined condition of stroke and AD, a novel transgenic rat model of AD, with a mutated form of amyloid precursor protein (a key protein involved in the development of AD) incorporated into its DNA, is given a small …

Group-Based Exercise And Cognitive-Physical Training In Older Adults With Self-Reported Cognitive Complaints: The Multiple-Modality, Mind-Motor (M4) Study Protocol, Michael A. Gregory, Dawn P. Gill, Erin M. Shellington, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Ryosuke Shigematsu, Guangyong Zou, Kevin Shoemaker, Adrian M. Owen, Vladimir Hachinski, Melanie Stuckey, Robert J. Petrella

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Background: Dementia is associated with cognitive and functional deficits, and poses a significant personal, societal, and economic burden. Directing interventions towards older adults with self-reported cognitive complaints may provide the greatest impact on dementia incidence and prevalence. Risk factors for cognitive and functional deficits are multifactorial in nature; many are cardiovascular disease risk factors and are lifestyle-mediated. Evidence suggests that multiple-modality exercise programs can provide cognitive and functional benefits that extend beyond what can be achieved from cognitive, aerobic, or resistance training alone, and preliminary evidence suggests that novel mind-motor interventions (i.e., Square Stepping Exercise; SSE) can benefit cognition and …

A Study On Mandibular Vascular Canals: The Risk Of Hemorrhage During Implant Surgery, Prabhsimrat Gill

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

Dental implants are commonly used to replace missing teeth in the anterior mandible. This area is vascularized by the sublingual artery, which can be damaged during the implant procedure. This investigation aims to determine the variation in the sublingual artery and its relevant lingual foramina, such that it can be avoided by dental surgeons in the future. Dry mandibles (n=43) were acquired and the distance from the internal superior border of the mandible to the lingual foramen was measured and compared to the total height of the anterior mandible. 67% of foramina were found at a distance greater than 50% …

The Relationship Between The Anterolateral Ligament And The Lateral Meniscus, Gillian Corbo

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

The anterolateral ligament (ALL) has recently been of interest due to the belief that it plays a role in controlling anterolateral rotational laxity. However, the relationship of the ALL andits attachment to the lateral meniscus has yet to be addressed. Firstly this investigation determined the effect that sectioning the ALL and lateral meniscus posterior root (LMPR) in an ACL deficient knee has on internal rotation. Secondly this research determined if differences exist in the mechanical properties of the supra- and infra- meniscal fibers of the ALL. The ALL was found to control internal rotation at higher degrees of knee flexion, …

Variations Of The Subclavian Arterial Branching Pattern And Maximization Of Its, Juwan Ryu

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

The subclavian artery (SCA) is an important vessel with several branches. However, significant pattern variations exist. Characterizing SCA branches and its relationships to landmark structures like the anterior scalene muscle (ASM) is important in surgery. Computed Tomography Angiograms from 55 patients were retrospectively analyzed using Aquarius iNtuition. Measurements were taken of: distance of origin of SCA branches from the aorta and the ASM-VA origin distance. Only 13 SCAs (12.9%) exhibited the highest prevalence in typical branching pattern. VA originated 1st in 80.2% of SCAs, with ITA arising 2nd (41.3%), TCT 3rd (47.3%), CCT 4th (43.6%) and DSA 5th branch (56.9%). …

Declining Incidence Of Stroke And Dementia: Coincidence Or Prevention Opportunity?, Luciano A. Sposato, Moira K. Kapral, Jiming Fang, Sudeep S. Gill, Daniel G. Hackam, Lauren E. Cipriano, Vladimir Hachinski

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

No abstract provided.

The Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 2 (Trpm2) Channel Contributes To Beta-Amyloid Oligomer-Related Neurotoxicity And Memory Impairment, Valeriy G. Ostapchenko, Megan Chen, Monica S. Guzman, Yu-Feng Xie, Natalie Lavine, Jue Fan, Flavio H. Beraldo, Amanda C. Martyn, Jillian C. Belrose, Yasuo Mori, John F. Macdonald, Vania F. Prado, Marco A. M. Prado, Michael F. Jackson

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

In Alzheimer's disease, accumulation of soluble oligomers of beta-amyloid peptide is known to be highly toxic, causing disturbances in synaptic activity and neuronal death. Multiple studies relate these effects to increased oxidative stress and aberrant activity of calcium-permeable cation channels leading to calcium imbalance. The transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel, a Ca2+-permeable nonselective cation channel activated by oxidative stress, has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, and more recently in amyloid-induced toxicity. Here we show that the function of TRPM2 is augmented by treatment of cultured neurons with beta-amyloid oligomers. Aged APP/PS1 Alzheimer's mouse model showed increased levels of …

Hyperactivity And Attention Deficits In Mice With Decreased Levels Of Stress-Inducible Phosphoprotein 1 (Stip1), Flavio H. Beraldo, Anu Thomas, Benjamin Kolisnyk, Pedro H. Hirata, Xavier De Jaeger, Amanda C. Martyn, Jue Fan, Daniela F. Goncalves, Matthew F. Cowan, Talal Masood, Vilma R.. Martins, Robert Gros, Vania F. Prado, Marco A. M. Prado

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Stress-inducible phosphoprotein I (STIP1, STI1 or HOP) is a cochaperone intermediating Hsp70/Hsp90 exchange of client proteins, but it can also be secreted to trigger prion protein-mediated neuronal signaling. Some mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present antibodies against certain brain proteins, including antibodies against STIP1. Maternal antibodies can cross the fetus blood-brain barrier during pregnancy, suggesting the possibility that they can interfere with STIP1 levels and, presumably, functions. However, it is currently unknown whether abnormal levels of STIP1 have any impact in ASD-related behavior. Here, we used mice with reduced (50%) or increased STIP1 levels (fivefold) to test …

Expert And Crowd-Sourced Validation Of An Individualized Sleep Spindle Detection Method Employing Complex Demodulation And Individualized Normalization, Laura B. Ray, Stephane Sockeel, Melissa Soon, Arnaud Bore, Ayako Myhr, Bobby Stojanoski, Rhodri Cusack, Adrian M. Owen, Julien Doyon, Stuart M. Fogel

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

A spindle detection method was developed that: (1) extracts the signal of interest (i.e., spindle-related phasic changes in sigma) relative to ongoing "background" sigma activity using complex demodulation, (2) accounts for variations of spindle characteristics across the night, scalp derivations and between individuals, and (3) employs a minimum number of sometimes arbitrary, user-defined parameters. Complex demodulation was used to extract instantaneous power in the spindle band. To account for intra- and inter individual differences, the signal was z-score transformed using a 60 s sliding window, per channel, over the course of the recording. Spindle events were detected with a z-score …

Deletion Of Panx3 Prevents The Development Of Surgically Induced Osteoarthritis, Paxton M. Moon, Silvia Penuela, Kevin Barr, Sami Khan, Christopher L. Pin, Ian Welch, Mukundan Attur, Steven B. Abramson, Dale W. Laird, Frank Beier

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

© 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent, disabling joint disease with no existing therapies to slow or halt its progression. Cartilage degeneration hallmarks OA pathogenesis, and pannexin 3 (Panx3), a member of a novel family of channel proteins, is upregulated during this process. The function of Panx3 remains poorly understood, but we consistently observed a strong increase in Panx3 immunostaining in OA lesions in both mice and humans. Here, we developed and characterized the first global and conditional Panx3 knockout mice to investigate the role of Panx3 in OA. Interestingly, global Panx3 deletion produced no …

Beclin-1 Expression Is Retained In High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Yet Is Not Essential For Autophagy Induction In Vitro, Rohann J.M. Correa, Yudith R. Valdes, Trevor G. Shepherd, Gabriel E. Dimattia

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Background: Autophagy is a conserved cellular self-digestion mechanism that can either suppress or promote cancer in a context-dependent manner. In ovarian cancer, prevalent mono-allelic deletion of BECN1 (a canonical autophagy-inducer) suggests that autophagy is impaired to promote carcinogenesis and that Beclin-1 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor. Nonetheless, autophagy is known to be readily inducible in ovarian cancer cells. We sought to clarify whether Beclin-1 expression is in fact disrupted in ovarian cancer and whether this impacts autophagy regulation.

Methods: BECN1 expression levels were assessed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets from 398 ovarian high-grade serous cystadenocarcinomas (HGSC) and protein …

Whole-Retina Reduced Electrophysiological Activity In Mice Bearing Retina-Specific Deletion Of Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter, Jake Bedore, Amanda C. Martyn, Anson K. C. Li, Eric A. Dolinar, Ian S. Mcdonald, Stuart G. Coupland, Vania F. Prado, Marco A. Prado, Kathleen A. Hill

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Background: Despite rigorous characterization of the role of acetylcholine in retinal development, long-term effects of its absence as a neurotransmitter are unknown. One of the unanswered questions is how acetylcholine contributes to the functional capacity of mature retinal circuits. The current study investigates the effects of disrupting cholinergic signalling in mice, through deletion of vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) in the developing retina, pigmented epithelium, optic nerve and optic stalk, on electrophysiology and structure of the mature retina. Methods & Results A combination of electroretinography, optical coherence tomography imaging and histological evaluation assessed retinal integrity in mice bearing retina-targeted (embryonic day …

Increased Expression Of Simple Ganglioside Species Gm2 And Gm3 Detected By Maldi Imaging Mass Spectrometry In A Combined Rat Model Of A Beta Toxicity And Stroke, Sarah Caughlin, Jeffrey D. Hepburn, Dae Hee Park, Kristina Jurcic, Ken K. -C. Yeung, David F. Cechetto, Shawn N. Whitehead

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

The aging brain is often characterized by the presence of multiple comorbidities resulting in synergistic damaging effects in the brain as demonstrated through the interaction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and stroke. Gangliosides, a family of membrane lipids enriched in the central nervous system, may have a mechanistic role in mediating the brain's response to injury as their expression is altered in a number of disease and injury states. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS) was used to study the expression of A-series ganglioside species GD1a, GM1, GM2, and GM3 to determine alteration of their expression profiles in …

Intact Lkb1 Activity Is Required For Survival Of Dormant Ovarian Cancer Spheroids, Teresa M. Peart, Yudith R. Valdes, Rohann J.M. Correa, Elena Fazio, Monique Bertrand, Jacob Mcgee, Michel Prefontaine, Akira Sugimoto, Gabriel E. Dimattia, Trevor G. Shepherd

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells can form multicellular spheroids while in suspension and disperse directly throughout the peritoneum to seed secondary lesions. There is growing evidence that EOC spheroids are key mediators of metastasis, and they use specific intracellular signalling pathways to control cancer cell growth and metabolism for increased survival. Our laboratory discovered that AKT signalling is reduced during spheroid formation leading to cellular quiescence and autophagy, and these may be defining features of tumour cell dormancy. To further define the phenotype of EOC spheroids, we have initiated studies of the Liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) …

Increased Airway Reactivity And Hyperinsulinemia In Obese Mice Are Linked By Erk Signaling In Brain Stem Cholinergic Neurons, Luiz O. S. Leiria, Fernanda M. Arantes-Costa, Marina C. Calixto, Eduardo C. Alexandre, Rodrigo F. Moura, Franco Folli, Carla M. Prado, Marco Antonio Prado, Vania F. Prado, Licio A. Velloso, Jose Donato Jr., Edson Antunes, Milton A. Martins, Mario J. A. Saad

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Obesity is a major risk factor for asthma, which is characterized by airway hyperreactivity (AHR). In obesity-associated asthma, AHR may be regulated by non-T(H)2 mechanisms. We hypothesized that airway reactivity is regulated by insulin in the CNS, and that the high levels of insulin associated with obesity contribute to AHR. We found that intracerebroventricular (ICV)-injected insulin increases airway reactivity in wild-type, but not in vesicle acetylcholine transporter knockdown (VAChT KDHOM-/-), mice. Either neutralization of central insulin or inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) normalized airway reactivity in hyperinsulinemic obese mice. These effects were mediated by insulin in cholinergic nerves located …

Phenotypic Analysis Of Long Bones In Pannexin 3 Knockout Mice, Deidre Caskenette

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

Pannexin 3 (Panx3) is a channel forming glycoprotein that is highly expressed in skeletal tissues. Panx3 is induced at the growth plate of long bones where it regulates cell proliferation and differentiation, a key role in bone formation.

This study analyzes the phenotype of long bones in a novel Panx3 knockout (KO) mouse to assess the role of Panx3 in bone formation.

Ten KO and 10 wild-type (WT) adult mice were scanned using in vivo micro-CT. Right femora / humeri were digitized using homologous landmarks. Geometric morphometric analysis (multivariate statistical methods) allowed for quantitative comparison of shape, size and variation …

3d Visualization Of The Glomerulus Within Kidney Tissue Made Transparent Through Passive Optical Clearing, Tristan Conciatori

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of User Performance In Simulation-Based Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography Training, Oleksiy Zaika

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

Simulation of anatomically complex procedures, such as angiography, is becoming more practical, however, computer-based modules require extensive research to assess their effectiveness. We organized two training schemas – alternating cases and consistent cases – and hypothesized that the alternating practice cases would be beneficial to test performance. Eight residents (4 radiology/4 neurosurgery) and 8 anatomy graduate students were trained on the Simbionix™ simulator in order to assess skill acquisition in diagnostic cerebral angiography over 8 sessions. We found that participants improve on total procedure time and total fluoroscopy time (p<0.05), but not on contrast injected or roadmaps created. There were no significant differences between alternating and consistent training types. Additional work needs to be done with higher sample numbers and visuospatial scores as criteria.

Establishing Anatomical Proximity Between The Coronary Circumflex Artery And Mitral Valve Annulus: Implications For Mitral Valve Surgery, Eliot Winkler

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

The circumflex artery (CX) lies in the left atrioventricular groove, running intimately parallel to the mitral annulus. Thus, unintentional damage to the CX can occur during mitral valve surgery, typically reported in hearts with a left dominant circulation. This study aims to elucidate the anatomical CX-annulus relationship with respect to dominance, and evaluate unintentional CX damage following three surgical repairs. Using cadaveric hearts (n=27), coronary circulation was dissected and dominance assigned. Following a left atriotomy, a clock face was overlaid on the mitral valve (12:00 positioned at A2 leaflet midline) and the CX-annulus distance was measured at each hour. The …

Mapping Cortical Plasticity Induced By Noise Exposure Using C-Fos Immunoreactivity, Paul Sirek

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

Using in vivo electrophysiological recordings in rats, our lab has recently observed that high-intensity noise exposure causes an increase in the number of neurons in the auditory and multisensory cortices that are responsive to visual stimuli (i.e., cortical crossmodal plasticity). To extend this work, the present study evaluated our hypothesis that this noise-induced crossmodal plasticity can also be assessed by mapping the expression of the activity marker, c-Fos, across multiple cortical areas in response to visual stimuli. Adult male rats were exposed to a 120dB noise (0.8-20kHz) for two hours, and the level of hearing loss was assessed with an …

Comparative Assessment Of Hard Palate Thickness Using Micro - Ct And Gross Cadaveric Measurements: Implications For The Safe Placement Of Orthodontic Miniscrews, Jillian Phillips

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

The hard palate is a preferred area for orthodontic miniscrew (OMS) insertion due to easy surgical access and favorable anatomical configuration. However, accurate measurement of palatal bone thickness (BT) is crucial for choosing appropriate OMS lengths and insertion sites. The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for assessing palatal BT, such that we can determine if it is an objective standard for use in research, to which clinical measurements of BT can be compared. Ten cadaveric maxillae (54 -98 yrs.) were cleaned of soft tissue and imaged using micro-CT imaging. Bone thickness was …

A Histological Examination Of The Lumbar Sympathetic Trunk, Noah Mintz

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

Current anatomical and histological descriptions of the lumbar sympathetic trunk suggest that its neuronal cell bodies are located in discrete ganglia linked to each other by nerve fibres. Despite well-documented variations in the morphology of the lumbar sympathetic trunk (e.g., number and placement of ganglia), a detailed histological examination of the arrangement of neuronal cell bodies within the trunk is lacking. Thus, the present study aims to examine the microscopic organization of the lumbar sympathetic trunk using standard histological techniques (n=1). A 95mm length of the sympathetic trunk (from L3-L5) was serially-sectioned (5μm thick) in the longitudinal plane and stained …

The Left Atrial Appendage (Laa): Proximity Of The Circumflex Artery And Evaluation Of A Novel Method Of Closure, Bayan Malakouti-Nejad

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is an area of interest because of its thrombogenic potential in patients with atrial fibrillation. The current standard for LAA removal is epicardial excision, which may leave residual volume thereby undermining its effectiveness. Also, LAA surgery may injure the nearby circumflex artery. This investigation aims to measure the proximity of the circumflex artery to the LAA at various points, and evaluate pericardial patch exclusion as a novel method of LAA closure in a cadaveric model. After performing both procedures in all (n=27) hearts, epicardial excision left 24% of the original volume while pericardial patch exclusion …

Development Of An Online Tool For Periodontal Disease Education, Sari Johnston

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

Worldwide research has indicated that 50-90% of the population suffers from gingivitis, a mild form of periodontal disease (Armitage, 2000). Recently it has become hypothesized that not only is gum disease, or periodontal disease, detrimental to one’s oral health but may also have systemic consequences (Watt & Petersen, 2012). According to Bedgley (1994), when patients see, hear and participate in patient learning the retention of knowledge increases up to 80%. Computer based learning is now commonplace and has the potential to reach the masses. Thus, computer-based patient education could be highly effective in decreasing periodontal disease rates. Therefore, creation of …

Leg Bone Geometry In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Helen Honig

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

The objective was to investigage the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on tibial cortical and medullary cross-sectional areas (CSA) using magnetic resonance imaging. Sequential 1mm-thick slice images were acquired of the right leg from the tibial plateau to the talus in 8 individuals with T2DM and 9 age- and sex-matched (32 to 79 y) controls. The CSA (cm 2) was measured at 3 sites, 20%, 50%, and 80% of tibial length, by a blinded analyzer. At the 20% site, medullary CSA in T2DM was significanltly greater than controls (mean ± SD: 5.9 ± 1.2 vs. 4.8 ± 0.7). …

The Effect Of Noise Exposure On Inhibitory Neurotransmission In The Auditory, Visual And Multisensory Cortices In Rats, Sarah Fitzpatrick

Masters of Clinical Anatomy Projects

It is well established that high-intensity noise exposure can induce structural and physiological changes in the primary auditory cortex, such as impaired GABA neurotransmission, which leads to a reduced level of GABA-synthesizing enzymes (i.e., GAD65/67). At present, however, it remains unknown how partial hearing loss affects GABA neurotransmission in areas of the cortex that process sound as well as other sensory modalities (e.g., visual stimuli). In the present study, we are using a rat model to investigate our working hypothesis that noise-induced hearing loss causes a differential effect on GAD67 levels in the various cortical areas capable of sound processing, …

Human Severe Sepsis Cytokine Mixture Increases Beta 2-Integrin-Dependent Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Adhesion To Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cells In Vitro, Chris Blom, Brittany L. Deller, Douglas D. Fraser, Eric K. Patterson, Claudio M. Martin, Bryan Young, Patricia C. Liaw, Payam Yazdan-Ashoori, Angelica Oritz, Brian Webb, Greg Kilmer, David E. Carter, Gediminas Cepinskas

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Introduction: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a state of acute brain dysfunction in response to a systemic infection. We propose that systemic inflammation during sepsis causes increased adhesion of leukocytes to the brain microvasculature, resulting in blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Thus, our objectives were to measure inflammatory analytes in plasma of severe sepsis patients to create an experimental cytokine mixture (CM), and to use this CM to investigate the activation and interactions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and human cerebrovascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) in vitro. Methods: The concentrations of 41 inflammatory analytes were quantified in plasma obtained from 20 severe sepsis patients and …