Development of a Novel Intraperitoneal Icodextrin/Dextrose Solution for Enhanced Sodium Removal.

Rationale & Objective: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions provide both clearance of uremic toxins and sodium and water. An intraperitoneal (IP) solution of icodextrin and glucose designed without the requirement for uremic toxin clearance could provide substantially greater sodium and water removal than PD solutions.

Study Design: We examined varying concentrations of icodextrin and dextrose IP solutions in rats.

Contrasting topologies of synchronous and asynchronous functional brain networks.

We generated asynchronous functional networks (aFNs) using a novel method called optimal causation entropy and compared aFN topology with the correlation-based synchronous functional networks (sFNs), which are commonly used in network neuroscience studies. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time series from 212 participants of the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence study were used to generate aFNs and sFNs. As a demonstration of how aFNs and sFNs can be used in tandem, we used multivariate mixed effects models to determine whether age interacted with node efficiency to influence connection probabilities in the two networks.

Optogenetic inhibition of the locus coeruleus blocks vagus nerve stimulation-induced enhancement of extinction of conditioned fear in rats.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a therapeutic intervention previously shown to enhance fear extinction in rats. VNS is approved for use in humans for the treatment of epilepsy, depression, and stroke, and it is currently under investigation as an adjuvant to exposure therapy in the treatment of PTSD. However, the mechanisms by which VNS enhances extinction of conditioned fear remain unresolved.

Characteristics of the practice of New Zealand osteopaths who manage patients with chronic pain.

Background: Chronic pain management is challenging. Those with chronic pain present to health professionals, including osteopaths.

Methods: Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey of the Osteopathy Research Connect - New Zealand (ORC-NZ), a practice-based research network (PBRN).