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Objective In the traditional laboratory zoology lecture environment,there is less teacher-student interaction,less student interest,and less engagement in learning.To improve the teaching quality of laboratory animal science,this teaching and research department was based on different teaching environments of multimedia and intelligent classrooms,theoretical course teaching of Medical Laboratory Animal Science as the research object,the course lecture format,teaching mode,teaching method,and other aspects of innovation and exploration.Methods This study used questionnaires to understand changes in student engagement in learning and preferences for smart classroom use,and NVivo qualitative analysis software was used to code student classroom behavior.Results The smart teaching environment resulted in higher student interest and more frequent teacher-student interaction in the classroom.Students were significantly more engaged in learning than in traditional teaching with higher correct rates on in-class and post-lesson exercises and a better grasp of concepts related to laboratory animal science.Conclusions A smart teaching environment brings students a better feeling and experience,improves their interest in laboratory animal science,increases classroom learning engagement,and achieves good teaching result.
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Objective To calculate the leakage rate of the automated watering system in Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center, to evaluate the safety of the system, and provide references for selection, maintenance, and management of automated watering systems in animal facilities.MethodsThis study investigated the automated watering system installed in South and North Barriers of Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center (Phase II). Water leakage monitoring was conducted over two periods, one over a period of 3 years and the other over 1.5 years. The occurrence of water leakage events at the two barriers during the monitoring period was statistically analyzed, classifying the causes into four categories: mishandling by personnel, animal behavior, obstruction by foreign objects, and deformation of fittings. The total daily leakage rate due to these causes and the daily leakage rate caused by quality issues, i.e. obstruction by foreign objects and deformation of fittings were calculated. Further analysis and discussion focused on the causes of water leakage and its impact on the facilities. At the same time, the number of caretakers at the end of the monitoring period in the Phase I facility without automated watering system and the Phase II facility with automated watering system were counted. Finally the difference in the number of cages per capita under the two watering systems was calculated.ResultsA total of 52 water leakage incidents occurred in both areas during the monitoring period, with a total daily leakage rate of 0.000 13%. Among them, 31 were caused by personnel mishandling, accounting for approximately 60% of total leakages. Enhanced training, supervision, inspection, and effective reminder measures could reduce leakage caused by personnel mishandling. There were 2 cases of water leakages caused by animal behavior, 0 leakage due to obstruction by foreign objects, and 19 leakages due to system quality issues, with a daily leakage rate of 0.000 07%. According to the operation data of Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center, the average number of cages managed per person in facilities equipped with the automated watering system was 908, compared to 570 cages in facilities without the automated watering system. This represents an approximate 59% increase in the number of cages managed per person with the adoption of the automated watering system.Conclusion The daily leakage rate of the automated watering system in the Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center is significantly lower than the theoretical design rate of 0.003%, which demonstrates the system's safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the adoption of an automated watering system can significantly enhance caretaking efficiency. While initial investments in the system are required, the subsequent increase in efficiency leads to a continuous decrease in labor costs, thereby reducing the total operational expenses of the facility. In the context of modernizing animal facility construction, automated watering systems are becoming an essential consideration in facility design and operation.
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With the rapid development of the biopharmaceutical industry in China, the laboratory animal sector has entered a stage of rapid growth, and the construction of facility operation systems has become increasingly automated and intelligent. Compared to traditional laboratory animal facilities, new facilities require a more specialized technical team for the maintenance of air supply and exhaust systems, air conditioning, automated control, and the entire barrier system. The Lingang Laboratory’s animal facilities accommodate both large and small animals for feeding and experimental purposes. The facility management team has summarized daily maintenance experiences and explored various operational and maintenance modes based on the characteristics of laboratory operation. After analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of three common modes, this paper provides new ideas for the management of these laboratory animal facilities, and offers guidance for peers in choosing the most appropriate professional maintenance mode.
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Science and technological advancements drive human progress, with laboratory animals serving as essential resources for developments in life sciences and medicine. However, the waste generated by these animals presents new challenges for urban management. Issues such as classification, recycling, effective utilization, and biohazard elimination must be addressed, necessitating the development of regulations, standards, and norms to keep pace with advancements. The construction of quality management system is the foundation and framework for the management of inspection and testing organizations. It should have strong operability and inspectability, enabling continuous improvement of the management level and enhancing the stability of basic management. However, current quality management systems often lack clarity in managing laboratory animal waste, including undefined disposal processes for non-medical institutions, inaccurate waste classification, and inadequate disposal methods for different waste categories. This paper addresses these challenges by identifying necessary processes to be added or removed in the quality management system of National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, developing effective SOPs, proposing practical measures to strengthen supervision and management, and integrating 6S management principles into our quality management system. In conclusion, effective management of laboratory animal waste should be centered on improving the quality management system, emphasizing waste classification and management at the source, controlling biological hazards, minimizing environmental pollution and promoting conditions for sustainable development.
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Intelligent control systems can effectively assist in the construction and management of laboratory animal facilities, improving operational efficiency, ensuring the reliability of animal experimental results, and significantly saving human resources. The intelligent control system for laboratory animal facilities at Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control was completed in April 2021. It includes an intelligent management platform and an information management system for animal laboratories. The intelligent management platform regulates room environment parameters such as temperature, humidity, and pressure through building equipment management system, controlling devices such as the Venturi valve, electric air valve, electric water valve, and steam humidification valve. At the same time, various environmental parameters are monitored online through the environmental monitoring system. The laboratory’s intelligence is further enhanced by systems such as automatic lighting control, full HD video monitoring, automatic access control and door system, independent ventilation and feeding, automatic cleaning, automatic exhaust gas treatment, centralized gas supply, and real-time instrument parameter monitoring. The information management system for animal laboratories integrates inspection, instrument and equipment, personnel, documents, standard substances, reagents, inspection standards, books, records, scientific research management, relevant applications, quality management, and query statistics. For animal experimentation, a management module has been developed to achieve a comprehensive digitization of animal management. Furthermore, real-time collection and recording of data such as balance calibration, sample quality, and animal weight are facilitated through electronic experimental recording. In summary, the Animal Laboratory of Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control has extensively utilized intelligent systems to achieve real-time online control and monitoring, improve efficiency, ensure high-quality facility operation, and meet standard requirements. Smooth execution of all inspection and research activities has been achieved over the past three years. This paper provides insights into the construction, management, and operation of laboratory animal facilities at Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control, offering guidance for the implementation of intelligent control in similar facilities across China.
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As the intelligence level gradually improves in domestic laboratory animal facilities,a large amount of valuable data have been accumulated.These data have not been fully exploited because of the lack of analytical method.In the context of big data,machine learning has achieved remarkable result in biomedicine,building science,and other fields,and provides a reference for its application in laboratory animal facility management.In this article,the contents,methods and models of machine learning applied to various systems of laboratory animal facilities at home and abroad are reviewed and discussed.
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Based on the development history that the modern medicine and laboratory animal science have long been hindered by animal welfare groups and animal-rights activists in Western countries,and considering the relevant circumstance in China,the author appeals and recommends that the laboratory animal practitioners and biomedical researchers,the scientific community in China should recognize and identify the boundaries of our professional activities.Firstly,do not participate in the activity related to so called"World(Lab)Animal Day"that is said in some Chinese websites,to originate from NAVS,an antivivisection society Ltd.,London.Secondly,do not participate in the activity related to so called"animal memorial stone"that was originated in Japan.These movements have nothing to do with biomedicine and laboratory animal sciences,and fundamentally are antiscientific and are incompatible to traditional Chinese culture.Thirdly,distinguish the standpoints of laboratory animal science from various viewpoints of animal welfare/rights activists,promote scientific management of the institutional animal care and use for better supporting biomedical research in China.
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As the basic carrier and key condition for research in the fields of life science,medicine and pharmacy,laboratory animals have played an extremely important role in the development of modern science.Animal welfare ethics is built on the moral foundation of human civilization and is a product of social and economic development to a certain stage.From a scientific point of view,treating animals well is both a humanitarian need and a need for scientific experiments.This paper elaborates the role and significance of laboratory animal welfare from the aspects of the development of laboratory animal welfare ethics and the content of regulations and policies,whether and how to establish a memorial day and monument for laboratory animals,and calls on experimental personnel to follow the"3R"principle and enhance their sense of responsibility and awareness of norms.
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This review clarifies that laboratory animal welfare and ethics in life science research should be human-centered,positive and responsible through the understanding of the connotation of laboratory animal welfare.
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In the practice of laboratory animal ethics and welfare,3R is the core of contents.As the subject in this process,individuals working in laboratory animal field play a leading role and should take corresponding responsibility.In this article,the author discussed the function,realized route,and significance of subject responsibility in the practice of laboratory animal ethics and welfare by following aspects:proposal of subject responsibility,requirements of responsibility in the implementation of ethics and welfare regulation,in the application of ethics and welfare technique and method,in the development of ethics and welfare products,in the management and monitoring of ethics and welfare application,as well as establishing an anniversary and cenotaphs to embody subject responsibility.
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Objective:To analyze the specific reasons for journal articles being retracted due to biomedical research-related ethical issues after publication and propose corresponding preventive measures.Methods:Journal articles that were retracted between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2023, were retrieved from PubMed, a literature database in the biomedical field. The retraction statements of those articles that were retracted due to ethical-related issues were analyzed with a summarization of detailed reasons and types.Results:A total of 77 and 128 articles were retracted due to ethical issues in 2021 and 2022 respectively, accounting for 3.9% and 5.4% of all retracted articles in the same period. The major ethical issue was the lack of valid ethical approval. Among articles retracted for ethical issues related to human trials, the proportion of articles retracted due to lack of valid ethical approval increased from 45.9% in 2021 to 57.0% in 2022, which also increased from 50.0% in 2021 to 67.3% in 2022 among retracted articles related to animal experiments. Other ethical issues included problems in the informed consent process, delay in obtaining ethical approval, inconsistency between ethical approvals and the content of the article, and violation of the principles of laboratory animal welfare.Conclusions:The ethical review of medical research involving humans and laboratory animal welfare needs to be strengthened. By promoting the construction of an institutional ethical review system, encouraging researchers to study ethics-related knowledge, standardizing ethical applications and approvals, improving the informed consent process, and attaching importance to the welfare of laboratory animals, the retraction due to ethical issues can be prevented.
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The ideological and political content of the laboratory animal science degree course with the basic task of "cultivating morality and cultivating people" is organically integrated into the teaching system of laboratory animal science. It can have a subtle influence on students' thoughts and behaviors. Combined with the curriculum design and professional characteristics of laboratory animal science, this article discussed the ideological and political elements contained in this course, proposed the forms and methods of integrating ideological and political elements into the curriculum design in each chapter. Additionally, the typical cases and characteristic practices of the organic connection of ideological and political education in the teaching system of laboratory animal science were summarized. Practice has proved that integrating the ideological and political elements into the teaching system of laboratory animal science can enhance teacher's awareness and ability of politics, thus effectively improving the compre-hensive quality of students and enhancing the effectiveness of ideological and political education in laboratory animal science.
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As the incidence of male infertility has been increasing during recent years, it is urgent to reveal the pathogenesis of male infertility, as well as to develop the new drugs for treatment of male infertility, in order to solve the declining birth rate and aging problems. The construction and application of male infertile animal models is critical for drug development, which plays an important role in accurately evaluating the efficacy and mechanism of infertility treatment. A suitable infertility model not only can reduce the repeated drug efficacy evaluations, reduce animal usage and the cost of new drug development, but also has important reference value for subsequent clinical trial research. Male infertility laboratory animal models can be constructed through chemical, physical, endocrine, environmental estrogen, gene modification, and immune methods. This article mainly introduces the existing male infertility animal models available for drug development, and briefly introduces the application progress of each model to provide reference for the male infertility drug researchers.
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Objective Conduct routine microbiological monitoring of laboratory rats and mice from vendors to provide an important basis for the scientific management of laboratory animal facility and ensure the reliability of relevant experimental data obtained from laboratory animals.Methods Taking the Department of Laboratory Animal Science of Fudan University as an example, between April 2021 and April 2023, rats and mice purchased from 7 vendors were sampled for microbiological quality according to the principle of simple random sampling on the arrival days of animal delivery. Then, surveillance tests were conducted to examine the microbiological contaminations according to the national standards of SPF laboratory animals.Results The total qualified rate was 80.36%, with 52.63% in SD rat, 82.76% in inbred mice, 86.67% in outbred mice and 86.36% in immunodeficient mice in details. The most frequent bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsilla pneumoniae and Rodentibacter heylii, and their detection rates were 10.76%, 3.16%, 2.53% and 0.63%, respectively. Serological assays demonstrated the highest prevalence for virus was Sendai virus, and the detection rate was 2.53%. In addition to the pathogens those must be excluded from SPF rodents, Entamoeba muris and Enterobacter spp. were also detected in inbred mice, and Klebsiella oxytoca was detected in immunodeficient mice, with the detection rates of 1.15%, 2.30% and 4.55%, respectively.Conclusion There are certain incidences of pathogen infections in laboratory rats and mice from vendors, and an efficient microbiological monitoring of laboratory animals should be implemented in animal facilities, in order to eliminate pathogen infections in laboratory animals, which is required for improving the accuracy of research results and protecting the occupational health of laboratory animal practitioners as well.
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ObjectiveFocused on the laboratory animal domestication and breeding of domestic cats, to explore the feeding management methods and breeding techniques of experimental cats. MethodsSeven Chinese garden cats from three litters were introduced from the rural suburbs of Guangzhou, and a breeding seed colony was established. The cats were domesticated in captivity, bred, closed breeding and transmission according to the feeding and management methods of laboratory animal. The population reproduction, the number of pregnancies per year, the litter season, the birth and weaning quality of the cats, and the survival rate of weaning were statistically collected. ResultsThe young breeding cats were able to adapt to the cage feeding management. In the transmission breeding and the expanded breeding colony, the number of female cats pregnant with one, two or three litters a year accounted for 63.2%, 26.3% and 10.5%, respectively. The proportions of litters born from the 1st to the 4th quarters were 20.7%, 20.7%, 27.6%, and 31.0%. A total of 29 pregnancies and 101 kittens were got from 19 female cats, with an average of (3.5±1.33) kittens per litter. The birth weights of female and male cats were (89.31±13.69) g and (93.47±15.12) g, respectively. Sixty-seven kittens survived from weaning. The average survival rate was 60.86%, and the weaning weights of female and male cats were (361.62±82.77) g and (376.0±91.71) g, respectively. ConclusionDomestic Chinese garden cats can adapt to laboratory animal feeding and breeding rules, and have strong fertility. They can normally pregnant and breeding throughout the year. The kittens grow to 5-6 months of age can meet the weight requirements for the examination of pharmaceutical hypotensive substances, and can be used as experimental cats for pharmaceutical examination with clear origin.
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The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a blind technique for sciatic and femoral nerve block in rabbit cadavers by evaluating the spread of 1% methylene blue at two different volumes. Nine recently euthanized rabbits weighing 2.5(0.3kg were used. The sciatic (SN) and femoral (FN) nerves of each limb were randomly assigned for injection with 1% methylene blue at 0.2mL/kg (G0.2) or 0.3mL/kg (G0.3). Nerves were dissected and measured for depth and extension of staining (cm). Mean comparisons were performed using paired t test. The relation between volume and nerve staining ( 2cm was assessed using chi-square test. The mean depth of SN was 1.9±0.2 and 1.6±0.3cm and staining 1.9±1.4 and 2.0±1.2cm, respectively in G0.2 and G0.3. No relation was found between depth and dye spread and there was no association between nerve staining ( 2.0cm and volume of solution. The FN failed to be stained in all subjects. In conclusion, SN injection can be successfully performed without guidance in rabbits. The lower volume (0.2mL/kg) is recommended to avoid systemic toxicity.(AU)
O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de uma técnica para bloqueio às cegas dos nervos isquiático e femoral em cadáveres de coelhos, por meio da avaliação da dispersão de azul de metileno 1% em dois volumes distintos. Nove coelhos recém-eutanasiados, com peso 2,5(0,3kg, foram utilizados. Os nervos isquiático (NI) e femoral (NF) de cada membro foram aleatoriamente designados para injeção com azul de metileno 1% a 0,2mL/kg (G0,2) ou 0,3mL/kg (G0,3). Em seguida, foram dissecados e mensurados em relação à sua profundidade e extensão corada (cm). As médias foram comparadas por meio de teste t pareado. A relação entre volume e extensão corada ( 2cm foi avaliada utilizando-se teste de qui-quadrado. A profundidade média do NI foi 1,9±0,2 e 1,6±0,3cm, e a extensão corada 1,9±1,4 e 2,0±1,2cm, respectivamente, no G0,2 e no G0,3. Não houve relação entre a profundidade e a extensão corada ou entre a extensão corada ( 2,0cm e o volume de solução. Não foi observada coloração do NF em nenhum cadáver. Concluiu-se que a injeção do NI pode ser realizada com sucesso sem auxílio de tecnologias em coelhos. O menor volume (0,2mL/kg) é recomendado para evitar toxicidade sistêmica.(AU)
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Animals , Rabbits , Peripheral Nerves , Sciatic Nerve , Methylene Blue/administration & dosage , Nerve Block/methodsABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The use of correctly designed animal models is a fundamental step prior to clinical trials in humans. Although rats are easy to house and handle, and have molars that resemble those of humans, very few researchers use them as a model for root canal treatment, probably due to their small size and the lack of relevant data necessary to reproduce the model. Our aims were to describe the anatomic and histologic characteristics of the mandibular first molar of the Wistar rat and present a standardised model for its experimental endodontic treatment. Twenty female rats were used. The characteristics of the mesial and distal roots were described histologically and the quality of the results achieved following the treatment protocol presented herein was assessed by means of digital radiographs, micro-CT and histological sections. The age of 55 days was found to be the most adequate for performing this technique, but we consider the interval of 50 to 60 days to be suitable. Both canals are oval, although in opposite planes, and the furcating-facing walls present the minimum dentine thickness. It was essential to become familiar with these aspects in order to decide upon the most appropriate instrumentation and obturation techniques that would enable replication of this model in basic science research.
RESUMEN El uso de modelos animales correctamente diseñados es un paso fundamental previo al desarrollo de ensayos clínicos en humanos. A pesar de resultar fáciles de criar y manipular y de poseer molares que se asemejan a los humanos, muy pocos grupos utilizan a la rata como modelo experimental para el tratamiento endodóntico probablemente debido a su pequeño tamaño y a la escasa información disponible para poder aplicar los modelos existentes. Nuestros objetivos fueron describir las características anatómicas e histológicas del primer molar inferior de la rata Wistar y presentar un modelo estandarizado para el tratamiento endodóntico experimental de esta pieza. Se utilizaron 20 ratas hembra. Las características de las raíces mesial y distal fueron descritas histológicamente y los resultados obtenidos fueron evaluados mediante radiografías digitales, microCTy cortes histológicos. La edad de 55 días demostró ser la más adecuada para ejecutar la técnica, pero consideramos que el intervalo de 50 a 60 días puede resultar apropiado. Se observó que ambos canales presentan una morfología oval, aunque en direcciones opuestas, y que las paredes furcales resultaron ser las que presentan el menor espesor de dentina. Familiarizarse con estos aspectos de la anatomía e histología del molar de la rata resultó fundamental para decidir sobre las técnicas de preparación y obturación más apropiadas que permitieran la replicación de este modelo en el campo de las ciencias básicas.
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Animals , Female , Humans , Rats , Tooth Root/diagnostic imaging , Dental Pulp Cavity , X-Ray Microtomography/methods , Molar/diagnostic imaging , Rats, Wistar , MandibleABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the histological structure of the deciduous teeth and the tooth germs of Tibetan miniature pigs for studies of dental tissue diseases and tooth regeneration.@*METHODS@#The structure of the deciduous teeth of Tibetan miniature pigs was observed by X-ray. The ultrastructure of the enamel and dentin of deciduous teeth was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The jaws and teeth were three-dimensionally reconstructed using Mimics software based on Micro-CT scanning of the deciduous teeth. Image J software was used to calculate the gray value and the mineralization density of the deciduous teeth. Hisotological structure of the tooth germ and the pulp tissue of Tibetan miniature pigs was observed using HE staining.@*RESULTS@#The deciduous teeth of Tibetan miniature pigs were composed of enamel, dentin and medullary pulp tissue. The permanent tooth germ were formed during the deciduous dentition. The enamel and dentin ultrastructure of deciduous teeth were consistent with that of human deciduous teeth. The enamel and dentin mineralization densities were 2.47±0.09 g/cm and 1.72±0.07 g/cm, respectively. The pathological structures of tooth germ and pulp tissue were similar to those of human teeth, and the pulp tissue of the deciduous teeth was in an undifferentiated state.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The deciduous teeth of Tibetan miniature pig have similar anatomy, ultrastructure and histopathological structure to human teeth and can serve as a good animal model for studying human dental tissue diseases and the mechanisms of tooth regeneration.
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Animals , Dental Enamel , Dental Pulp , Dentin , Swine , Swine, Miniature , Tibet , Tooth Germ , Tooth, DeciduousABSTRACT
Reproductive and developmental toxicology has focused on the need to approach the effects of organism exposure to various drugs during pregnancy after the mid-50's, when the thalidomide tragedy stroke humanity. In recent decades, this area of study has developed a lot due to animal testing, raising awareness on the need to improve the quality of life of such animals. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate how the science of animal welfare can improve scientific research as a whole, including the reproductive and developmental toxicology fields, by emphasizing environmental enrichment in animal facilities. To do so, we conducted an integrative literature review on several quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches that are applicable to toxicology studies. Here, we present evidence that environmental enrichment improves animal welfare and prevents or reduces the negative effects of captive housing, which must be a principle of toxicological research for ethical, legal and scientific reasons.(AU)
Na toxicologia da reprodução e do desenvolvimento, a atenção necessária foi dada aos efeitos da exposição do organismo às inúmeras drogas durante o período gestacional somente após a metade dos anos 50, quando a tragédia da talidomida atingiu a humanidade. Assim, esta área alcançou desenvolvimento científico com a contribuição da experimentação animal nas últimas décadas. O uso de animais de laboratórios para a pesquisa científica expôs a necessidade de melhorar a qualidade de vida destas espécies. Portanto, este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar como a ciência do bem-estar animal pode melhorar a pesquisa científica como um todo, incluindo na área de toxicologia da reprodução e de desenvolvimento, enfatizando o enriquecimento ambiental em biotérios. Uma revisão integrativa de literatura foi realizada, incluindo abordagens quantitativas e qualitativas, quais podem ser aplicadas para estudos de toxicologia. Aqui, são mostradas evidências de que o enriquecimento ambiental melhora o bem-estar animal e previne ou reduz os efeitos negativos do cativeiro, qual deve um princípio da pesquisa toxicológica por razões éticas, argumentos legais e garantias científicas.(AU)
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Animals , Toxicology/classification , Animal Welfare , Animal ExperimentationABSTRACT
The Surgery foundation is a course that emphasizes both theory and practice. It is an important part of surgical study and a compulsory basic course for medical students. The teaching quality of this course is directly related to the future level of clinical operation of medical students, and the good teaching methods and means are one of the key factors to determine the quality of the course. In this paper, the reform of teaching means and methods of this course are discussed, so as to further improve the teaching quality and summarize the experience and advice.