cathyy smith

Beam balance test is commonly used to assess motor coordination and balance in rodents. Our company, as a professional animal behavior testing organization, is committed to providing classical customized testing service solutions to customers worldwide, including beam balance test. The beam balance test we provide can accelerate customers' innovative research projects in brain injury, gene manipulation, and drug therapy.Experimental PrincipleThe beam balance test is used to test the balance ability, muscle strength and motor coordination of mice. The size of the balance beam is usually a round beam with a length of 1 m and a diameter of 17 mm or a square beam with a width of 14 mm. One side of the balance beam was placed in a black square box, and the experimental animals were placed on the other side of the balance beam. The motor coordination and balance ability of the experimental animals were assessed by the time and number of slips through the balance beam into the black square box within 60 S.Experimental FlowThe beam balance test is favored by many researchers because of its simple device, short test period and reliable results. The whole experiment was divided into a training period and a testing period, which lasted for three days.Training periodOn the first day, mice were allowed to enter the black square box through the balance beam, and each mouse was trained at 2-hour intervals for a total of 3 times.Repeat the same steps from the first day.Testing periodExperimental animals through the balance beam to reach the small dark box, record the time to reach the dark box and the number of slippage, If they failed to reach the small wooden box time recorded as 60s.

Our company is a professional organization that provides animal behavior testing services to academic institutions and medical research facilities. We specialize in providing our customers with a wide range of classical motor behavior testing services to help them select the best research models and evaluation tools. We are pleased to apply our specialized testing services to our customers' movement disorder-related research to support their innovative research in related fields.Why Should I Conduct Fatigue Behavior TestsFatigue is often thought to be associated with a decline in physiological function, often leading to a range of problems such as anxiety and depression, cognitive impairment and physical dysfunction, and even to dysbiosis and immune system-related disorders.The pathophysiological mechanisms of fatigue are complex and include energy depletion, fatigue-related metabolite buildup, oxidative stress injury, central transmitter imbalance, endostasis imbalance, altered muscle excitability and activity, and decreased muscle strength.Animal behavioral tests provide a good experimental tool for the study of fatigue-related mechanisms and the study of anti-fatigue drugs and nutraceuticals.The Fatigue Behavior Tests We ProvideTreadmill TestGrip Strength TestLoaned Swimming Test ApplicationsResearch in sports medicine.Research on anti-fatigue drugs, muscle relaxation drugs, and neurological drugs.Studies on the changes of physiological indices in animals at different exercise intensities and the study of drug toxicity on the exercise of experimental animals.

Introduction of The Cerebral CortexThe cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of tissue in the brain that is only a few millimeters thick. The appearance of the folds increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex, which contains between 14 billion and 16 billion neurons, thus allowing it to play an important role in human cognitive function, while controlling somatic movements and interpreting sensations.Injuries Caused by Cortical Function DeclineCerebral Cortex DisordersThe cerebral cortex, the most developed part of the brain, is involved in a variety of higher functional processes such as language, consciousness, memory, emotion, and movement. The cerebral hemisphere can be divided into four different lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital, each responsible for a different function. When the cerebral cortex is damaged, the function of these parts may become impaired.Many of the disorders involve cellular damage or death in different parts of the cerebral cortex, and the most common disorders that result include disuse disorder, in which individuals are characterized by motor deficits, lack of coordination and balance. It is also associated with memory and attention impairment, psychiatric disorders such as depression, etc. Symptoms of Cerebral Cortex InjuryThe symptoms associated with cortical injury are different, depending on the area and degree of damage. The symptoms of damage to different parts of the cerebral cortex are listed below.Frontal lobe injuryThe frontal lobe is critical to an individual's cognitive, memory, attention, and planning abilities. Frontal lobe injury can affect an individual's behavioral patterns, emotions, and language skills. Symptoms include decreased learning and memory, recognition difficulties, language and comprehension difficulties, and selective difficulties.Parietal injuryThe individual's sensory cortex is located in the parietal lobe, and damage to the parietal lobe can lead to impaired sensory function. Individuals may experience poor coordination, difficulty with writing, math, and directionality, numbness, and burning sensations.Temporal lobe injuryThe temporal lobe plays an important role mainly in hearing, but is also involved in other functions such as memory and attention. Temporal lobe damage can affect an individual's ability to remember, hearing impairment, difficulty recognizing objects, and aphasia.Occipital lobe injuryOccipital lobe damage involves different types of blindness and visual distortions, including impaired vision, difficulty tracking moving objects, recognizing colors and visual hallucinations.

Silica-based vectors are attractive as gene transfer vehicles due to their high stability, safety, and ease of structural and surface modification. A variety of silica-based vectors for gene delivery have been reported, including silica nanotubes (SNT), silica sheets, and silica NPs (solid (non-porous) silica NPs and porous silica NPs). Among these, silica NPs have been extensively investigated by researchers as carriers with many useful and attractive properties.Several reports have been published on the use of silica NPs in nucleic acid delivery. Typically, nucleic acid molecules are loaded into silica NPs through weak non-covalent interactions. The size of the pores and the degree of surface functionalization play a crucial role in the loading and nucleic acid release rate. The addition of different types of cationic macromolecules, including PEIs, dendrimers, and lipids, has been used to modify the surface of silica NPs for the adsorption and delivery of nucleic acids.

In the field of scientific research, understanding and studying emotion-related behaviors in animals plays a crucial role in advancing the knowledge of the human brain and mental health. Animal models can help researchers better comprehend animal behaviors, and rodent models in particular have become important objects for understanding the mechanisms of emotional behaviors and exploring new treatments for emotion-related disorders including anxiety, depression, and stress. With their remarkable similarities to humans in terms of brain structure and emotional responses, rodents provide a valuable platform for exploring intricate emotional processes that lie within all living creatures. Unraveling the emotional world of rodentsOne might question the validity of studying animal emotions, as rodents lack the capacity for complex emotional experiences. However, recent studies have challenged this notion, providing evidence that suggests rodents exhibit a wide range of emotions, including fear, joy, stress, and social bonding. Similar to humans, rodents possess regions in their brains associated with emotional processing, making them suitable models for behavior analysis. How Animal Testing in Rodents WorksAnimal testing for emotion-related behavior in rodents often involves subjecting them to different environmental stimuli, tasks, and social scenarios to evaluate their emotional responses. Scientists design experiments that elicit emotional reactions in animals, including fear, anxiety, and pleasure, to measure the corresponding behavioral changes. By analyzing their behavior, researchers gain insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying emotions. Examples of Rodent Emotion Studies1. Fear and AnxietyIn this type of study, researchers expose rodents to a potential threat, such as a predator odor or a simulated predator, to observe their fear response. Using behavioral tasks like the elevated plus maze or the open-field test, scientists measure parameters like freezing behavior, avoidance, or elevated stress hormone levels. 2. DepressionResearchers observe depression-like behaviors through forced swimming tests, tail suspension tests, learned helplessness tests, and more. By modeling aspects of human depression in rodent animals, researchers can gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of the condition and test potential treatments. 3. StressStress-response agonist model is a widely used technical tool in the medical field for the study of stress-related diseases (such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other psychiatric and behavioral disorders). Researchers measure various types of stressors, including footshock, hypothermia, forced swim, restraint, elevated pedestal, or oscillation stress, or combinations thereof, to classify and characterize the stress resistance of rodents. ConclusionAnimal tests for emotion-related behavior in rodents have become an essential tool for studying emotional states and understanding the underlying mechanisms in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. These experiments involve subjecting rodents to various behavioral paradigms designed to elicit emotional responses, such as fear, anxiety, depression, and social interaction. By observing and analyzing their behavior, researchers can gain insights into the emotional experiences of rodents and evaluate the efficacy of potential therapeutic interventions.

The diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases have long been a daunting challenge due to their complex and often undefined nature. However, with recent advancements in technology, specifically in the realm of genomics, whole genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as a powerful tool that has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of rare diseases. This groundbreaking technique offers hope to countless individuals and their families who have suffered from the uncertainties and lack of answers associated with these conditions. What are rare diseases? Rare diseases are a diverse group of disorders that affect a small percentage of the population, often occurring as a result of genetic mutations. With over 7,000 rare diseases identified worldwide, their rarity makes them particularly challenging to diagnose accurately. Traditional diagnostic methods often involve time-consuming and costly procedures, such as multiple invasive tests, leading to delayed or missed diagnoses. Advances in genetic sequencing in molecular diagnostic techniques have greatly improved scientists' ability to understand rare diseases. Whole genome sequencing for rare diseasesWhole genome sequencing, or the comprehensive analysis of an individual's complete set of genes, has emerged as a game-changer in diagnosing rare diseases. WGS allows the analysis of unknown etiological variants in the coding and noncoding regions of rare disease genomes, and the use of WGS can play a synergistic role in diagnosis and etiological discovery in routine healthcare. The application of existing WGS technologies to rare disease cases has proven to be useful in identifying the cause of disease by detecting multiple and comprehensive mutations at the whole-genome level, providing invaluable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of various rare diseases and opening up new possibilities for personalized medicine. Whole genome sequencing offers several advantages over traditional genetic testing methods. For starters, it allows researchers and scientists to examine not just a handful, but all of an individual's genes. This comprehensive analysis helps in identifying rare genetic variations that might have been missed by targeted genetic tests. Moreover, by analyzing the entire genome, researchers can study the interactions between different genes and understand how different mutations work together to cause a disease. The power of whole genome sequencing lies in its ability to provide precise and accurate diagnoses. In some cases, these diagnoses can even lead to the development of targeted therapies tailored specifically to the individual's unique genetic makeup. Beyond diagnosis, whole genome sequencing also plays a crucial role in advancing the understanding of rare diseases. By studying the genetic variations found in patients, researchers can gain insights into the underlying biological processes and pathways involved in these diseases. This knowledge not only helps in developing novel treatment strategies but can also aid in identifying potential biomarkers for early detection or monitoring disease progression.Key whole genome sequencing methodsThe key whole-genome sequencing methods include human whole-genome sequencing and Phased sequencing. Human whole-genome sequencing offers the most detailed view of the human genetic code and valuable information for the study of rare diseases and phased sequencing distinguishes between alleles on homologous chromosomes to produce genome-wide haplotypes, which are often important for the study of genetically rare diseases. With these whole genome sequencing methods, researchers can achieve:l Identification of structural variants in rare disease research, including deletions, insertions, inversions, duplications, copy-number variants, and translocations.l Detection of small variants in challenging regions of the genome.l Capture the full length and sequence of repeat expansions.l Phasing rare disease variants across alleles. In conclusion, WGS provides great convenience for research and diagnosis of genetic rare diseases.

What is cystic fibrosis?Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the lungs, digestive system, and other organs. It is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a protein that regulates chloride ions transport across cell membranes. These mutations cause the CFTR protein to be either absent or not function properly, leading to the buildup of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Treatment of Cystic FibrosisCF is a chronic and progressive disease with no known cure, but there are several treatments available that can help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life for people with the disease. These treatments include antibiotics to treat lung infections, airway clearance techniques to clear mucus from the lungs, nutritional support, and medications that target specific mutations in the CFTR gene. Multiple clinical trials are currently underway to test new therapies for CF, including gene therapy and drugs targeting specific mutations in the CFTR gene. In addition, researchers are exploring new methods, such as CRISPR genome editing, to treat CF at the gene level. As research continues, people hope that new treatment methods will continue to improve the lives of CF patients and ultimately cure this devastating disease. Cystic Fibrosis Genetic TherapiesSince the discovery of the CFTR gene in 1989, scientists have been working on correcting CF mutations. Gene therapy is a process where a new, correct version of the CFTR gene is placed into a person's cells. The presence of the correct copies allows cells to produce normal CFTR proteins. Advances in gene therapy in the past decade have accelerated progress toward CF cure. Two types of gene therapy have the potential to treat CF, including non-integrated and integrated gene therapy. In non-integrated gene therapy, a single DNA fragment containing the correct copy of the CFTR gene is delivered to human cells, but it is not permanently integrated into the genome. Non-viral vectors have been developed for delivering the CFTR gene. A major advantage of these non-integrated gene delivery methods is that it does not disrupt the rest of the genome. However, because it is not permanent, gene therapy effects may last only a few weeks or months. In integrative gene therapy, a piece of DNA containing the correct CFTR gene is delivered to a human cell and becomes a permanent part of the genome. One approach to integrative gene therapy is to use viral vectors, such as retroviruses, adenovirus (Ad), adeno-associated viruses (AAV), and helper-dependent adenoviruses (Hd-Ad), to deliver the corrected CFTR gene. While this approach has shown promise in preclinical studies, permanent gene modification raises concerns about long-term effects. Current Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Cystic FibrosisThere are currently several ongoing clinical trials testing different gene therapy approaches for CF. One of the most promising gene therapies in development is KB407. This is a replication-defective, non-integrated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-derived vector engineered to deliver functional full-length human CFTR to CF patients' airways via nebulization. Currently, the FDA has approved Krystal Biotech's new drug research application, allowing the company to initiate phase I clinical trials of KB407 in CF patients. Another promising gene therapy in development is 4D-710, an experimental aerosol gene therapy developed by 4D Molecular Therapeutics (4DMT). 4D-710 is designed to deliver an artificial version of the CFTR gene through the 4D-A101 AAV vector, providing instructions for making a working version of the CFTR protein. By delivering the gene to lung cells, the therapy is designed to increase CFTR protein function, normalize mucus production, and alleviate CF symptoms. 4DMT is in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial testing 4D-710 in approximately 21 CF patients. In addition, nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA delivery techniques are becoming more advanced and have rapidly expanded gene therapy. A phase 1/2 clinical trial is currently underway to test the delivery of an mRNA encoding the full-length CFTR to the lungs of CF patients using lipid nanoparticles. This drug (MRT5005) could potentially enable in vivo lung gene editing. Currently, large-animal CF models are used to validate novel therapies and identify pathophysiologically relevant target cell types for effective CF gene therapy. The success of gene therapy will hopefully define a path for other complex rare diseases. Reference1. Allan, K. M.; et al. Treatment of cystic fibrosis: from gene-to cell-based therapies. Frontiers in pharmacology, 2021, 12: 639475.