BackgroundIt is often suggested that mate choice enhances offspring immune resistance to infectious diseases. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a study with wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus musculus) in which females were experimentally mated either with their preferred or non-preferred male, and their offspring were infected with a mouse pathogen, Salmonella enterica (serovar Typhimurium).ResultsWe found that offspring sired by preferred males were significantly more likely to survive the experimental infection compared to those sired by non-preferred males. We found no significant differences in the pathogen clearance or infection dynamics between the infected mice, suggesting that offspring from preferred males were better able to cope with infection and had improved tolerance rather than immune resistance.ConclusionOur results provide the first direct experimental evidence within a single study that partner preferences enhance offspring resistance to infectious diseases.

Two self-adhering hemostatic patches, based on either PEG-coated collagen (PCC) or PEG-coated oxidized cellulose (PCOC), are compared regarding to maximum burst pressure, mechanical stability, and swelling. In addition, the induction of tissue adhesions by the materials was assessed in a rabbit liver abrasion model. Both materials showed comparable sealing efficacy in a burst pressure test (37 ± 16 vs. 35 ± 8 mmHg, P = 0.730). After incubation in human plasma, PCC retained its mechanical properties over the test period of 8 h, while PCOC showed faster degradation after the 2 h time-point. The degradation led to a significantly decreased force at break (minimum force at break 0.55 N during 8 h for PCC, 0.27 N for PCOC; p < 0.001). Further, PCC allowed significantly higher deformation before break (52% after 4 h and 50% after 8 h for PCC, 18% after 4 h and 23% after 8 h for PCOC; p = 0.003 and p < 0.001 for 4 h and 8 h, respectively) and showed less swelling in human plasma (maximum increase in thickness: ~20% PCC, ~100% PCOC). Faster degradation of PCOC was visible macroscopically and histologically in vivo after 14 days. PCC showed visible structural residues with little cellular infiltration while strong infiltration with no remaining structural material was seen with PCOC. In vivo, a higher incidence of adhesion formation after PCOC application was detected. In conclusion, PCC has more reliable mechanical properties, reduced swelling, and less adhesion formation than PCOC. PCC may offer greater clinical benefit for surgeons in procedures that have potential risk for body fluid leakage or that require prolonged mechanical stability.

Photobiomodulation, showing positive effects on wound healing processes, has been performed mainly with lasers in the red/infrared spectrum. Light of shorter wavelengths can significantly influence biological systems. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of pulsed LED light of different wavelengths on wound healing in a diabetic (db/db) mouse excision wound model. LED therapy by Repuls was applied at either 470 nm (blue), 540 nm (green) or 635 nm (red), at 40 mW/cm2 each. Wound size and wound perfusion were assessed and correlated to wound temperature and light absorption in the tissue. Red and trend-wise green light positively stimulated wound healing, while blue light was ineffective. Light absorption was wavelength-dependent and was associated with significantly increased wound perfusion as measured by laser Doppler imaging. Shorter wavelengths ranging from green to blue significantly increased wound surface temperature, while red light, which penetrates deeper into tissue, led to a significant increase in core body temperature. In summary, wound treatment with pulsed red or green light resulted in improved wound healing in diabetic mice. Since impeded wound healing in diabetic patients poses an ever-increasing socio-economic problem, LED therapy may be an effective, easily applied and cost-efficient supportive treatment for diabetic wound therapy.