Antimicrobial Activity of Bark from Four North American Tree Species.

Introduction: Although many backcountry first aid kits contain antibiotic ointment, the supply can be quickly exhausted if a patient has extensive wounds or if there are multiple patients.

Methods: We assessed the antibacterial properties of bark extract from four North American woody plant species known to native Missourians as medicinal plants (, , and ). We tested their antimicrobial properties, with the disc diffusion technique, against four common pathogenic bacterial species: , , , and (now known as )

Results: We report evidence of antibacterial activity of bark extract from all four plant species.

Mammalian maxilloturbinal evolution does not reflect thermal biology.

The evolution of endothermy in vertebrates is a major research topic in recent decades that has been tackled by a myriad of research disciplines including paleontology, anatomy, physiology, evolutionary and developmental biology. The ability of most mammals to maintain a relatively constant and high body temperature is considered a key adaptation, enabling them to successfully colonize new habitats and harsh environments. It has been proposed that in mammals the anterior nasal cavity, which houses the maxilloturbinal, plays a pivotal role in body temperature maintenance, via a bony system supporting an epithelium involved in heat and moisture conservation.

Multiple complications of advanced IPF in an individual patient presentation.

We report a patient with advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), who in a single presentation experienced three complications of the disease: an acute exacerbation, spontaneous pneumomediastinum, and platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome. Despite there being no definitive evidence-based treatment for an acute exacerbation, we report a marked improvement with high-dose steroids. This case also highlights the importance in IPF patients of considering pneumomediastinum as a cause of non-cardiac chest pain, as well as platypnoea-orthodeoxia in those with positional dyspnoea.

The oncoprotective fever hypothesis: Have antibiotics, antimalarials and antipyrectics contributed to the global rise in cancer over the past century?

The adaptive and therapeutic nature of fever has been recognized for centuries and both local and systemic thermotherapy are now used to enhance the effectiveness of both chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer. We propose that the success of antiseptic, antibiotic, antipyretic and antimalarial strategies and medications over the past century and a half may have had the unintended effect of releasing precancerous growths and neoplastic foci from the inhibitory effects of intermittent fever. This may be a previously unrecognized factor in the overall rise in cancer rates in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Alternative Animal Models of Aging Research.

Most research on mechanisms of aging is being conducted in a very limited number of classical model species, i.e., laboratory mouse (), rat (), the common fruit fly () and roundworm ().

Surprisingly long survival of premature conclusions about naked mole-rat biology.

Naked mole-rats express many unusual traits for such a small rodent. Their morphology, social behaviour, physiology, and ageing have been well studied over the past half-century. Many early findings and speculations about this subterranean species persist in the literature, although some have been repeatedly questioned or refuted.

The vitamin D positive feedback hypothesis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

While it appears that there are a variety of factors that exacerbate IBD, it is frustrating that symptoms can persist and worsen even when environmental insults are removed. We suggest that there may be a positive feedback loop which perpetuates the inflammatory response in IBD patients. The loop is triggered by vitamin D deficiency which reduces calcium uptake.

Monitoring health and reproductive status of olms (Proteus anguinus) by ultrasound.

The olm (Proteus anguinus) is a troglomorphic, neotenous amphibian with extraordinary life expectancy and unique adaptations that deserve further investigation. A low reproductive rate and habitat decline render it threatened by extinction. Establishing captive populations for maintenance and artificial breeding may one day become crucial to the species.

Challenging the inbreeding hypothesis in a eusocial mammal: population genetics of the naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber.

The role of genetic relatedness in the evolution of eusociality has been the topic of much debate, especially when contrasting eusocial insects with vertebrates displaying reproductive altruism. The naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber, was the first described eusocial mammal. Although this discovery was based on an ecological constraints model of eusocial evolution, early genetic studies reported high levels of relatedness in naked mole-rats, providing a compelling argument that low dispersal rates and consanguineous mating (inbreeding as a mating system) are the driving forces for the evolution of this eusocial species.

Changes in serum phosphate during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis: predictive significance of severity of acidosis on presentation.

Changes in serum phosphate during diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) treatment are not well characterised, although it is known that serum phosphate falls with treatment. We sought to define the nature of these changes and whether the severity of acidosis on admission influenced the severity of subsequent hypophosphataemia. We retrospectively reviewed data on all patients with confirmed DKA presenting to our unit between 2007 and 2010 inclusive.

Severe refractory hypoxaemia in submassive pulmonary embolism: a surrogate marker of severe right ventricular dysfunction and indication for thrombolysis.

The role of thrombolysis in pulmonary thromboembolism is controversial. We describe a case of life-threatening acute pulmonary embolism where thrombolysis was successfully administered because of extreme refractory hypoxaemia. We suggest that profound refractory hypoxaemia in this clinical setting was due to the combination of severe right ventricular dysfunction and shunting from pulmonary infarction.

Post-hyperventilation hypoxaemia is due to alteration of ventilation and perfusion matching.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of post-hyperventilation hypoxia.

Methodology: Seven healthy male volunteers, aged 29.1 +/- 1.

Persistent, progressive hypophosphataemia after voluntary hyperventilation.

Hyperventilation (HV) and respiratory alkalosis are associated with hypophosphataemia, although the extent and duration of HV required to produce changes in serum phosphate levels are not known. We sought to characterize the effects of HV, with or without dextrose loading, on serum phosphate levels and other biochemical parameters. HV was monitored by controlling the end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO(2)).

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm--outcome in a community teaching hospital intensive care unit.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) is a surgical emergency associated with a high mortality often requiring postoperative intensive care. Our objectives were to assess the outcome of RAAA management in a nontertiary community hospital intensive care unit (ICU) and to compare this with historical data from tertiary hospitals. We also sought to identify variables related to outcome and evaluate the potential of an organ failure score to identify patients at increased risk of death.

Tumour microembolism presenting as "primary pulmonary hypertension".

Pulmonary tumour microembolism is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension. A case of rapidly progressive pulmonary hypertension in a patient with a past history of breast carcinoma is presented. Despite active consideration and investigation for malignancy as a cause, correct diagnosis was only made at necropsy.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in a community hospital ICU.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in an Australian urban community, and to describe the pattern of disease and outcomes in a community hospital intensive care unit (ICU).

Setting: An eight-bed general ICU in a community hospital.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Pulmonary endothelial permeability in patients with severe lung injury. Clinical correlates and natural history.

Study Objective: To establish the natural history of lung injury in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in terms of increased pulmonary vascular permeability. Secondly, to relate such changes to the number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and a clinical score of the severity of lung injury.

Design: Prospective, open.

Massive macroglossia as a presenting feature of hypothyroid-associated pericardial effusion.

An 81-year-old woman presented with massive macroglossia and signs of both hypothyroidism and pericardial tamponade. Drainage of the pericardial effusion produced dramatic resolution of the macroglossia. Marked elevation of central venous pressure may result in macroglossia, possibly because of anomalous venous drainage of the tongue.