Dorsal raphe serotonin neurotransmission is required for the expression of nursing behavior and for pup survival.

Proper maternal care is an essential factor of reproductive success in mammals, involving a repertoire of behaviors oriented toward the feeding and care of the offspring. Among the neurotransmitters involved in the initiation of these behaviors, serotonin (5-HT) seems to play an important role. Here we compared pup-oriented maternal behaviors in mice with constitutive 5-HT depletion, the tryptophan hydroxylase 2-knock-out (Tph2-KO) and the Pet1-KO mice.

Beyond Gene Inactivation: Evolution of Tools for Analysis of Serotonergic Circuitry.

In the brain, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) controls a multitude of physiological and behavioral functions. Serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei give rise to a complex and extensive network of axonal projections throughout the whole brain. A major challenge in the analysis of these circuits is to understand how the serotonergic networks are linked to the numerous functions of this neurotransmitter.

[In-hospital emergencies at a surgical university hospital].

Background: Emergency treatment and resuscitation within hospitals are managed by so-called medical emergency teams (MET). The present study examined the circumstances, number, initial treatment and further hospital course of in-hospital emergency cases at a level 1 university hospital.

Methods: A retrospective study of in-hospital emergencies on the surgical wards of a university hospital including all non-intensive care areas from January 2007 to June 2010 was carried out.

Is a 4 days transoesophageal training course sufficient to diagnose shock related pathologies?

Introduction: Echocardiography is a useful tool in patients suffering from shock of unknown origin to evaluate cardiac function and volume status in order to decide on further treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate how well participants could identify function, preload and regional wall motion abnormalities after attending a 4-day transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) seminar.

Methods: In this prospective educational trial, participants of six TOE seminars from 2005 to 2006 were evaluated.

Left ventricular end-diastolic area is a measure of cardiac preload in patients with early septic shock.

Background And Objective: Central venous pressure, intrathoracic blood volume, and left ventricular end-diastolic area are reliable measures of cardiac preload under stable clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare different preload parameters over 24 h under conditions of multiple, frequently changing treatments in early septic shock.

Methods: In 28 mechanically ventilated patients within 6 h of the onset of septic shock, left ventricular end-diastolic area was measured using transoesophageal echocardiography.