Scoping review of the characteristics assessed by vulnerability indices applied to people experiencing homelessness.

Background: The objectives of this scoping review are to investigate the characteristics assessed by existing vulnerability indices and the health outcomes achieved by applying them to people experiencing homelessness. This review forms part of the development and implementation of a novel tool to prioritise people experiencing homelessness for healthcare based on their need and capacity to access healthcare.

Methods: Included papers were primary research, published in the English language, participants were experiencing homelessness and aged over 18 years at the time of the study, a vulnerability index was used in the study, sample size was greater than 30, and the study had a health focus.

Validation of an automated system for detecting ineffective triggering asynchronies during mechanical ventilation: a retrospective study.

We compare the sensitivity and specificity of clinician visual waveform analysis against an automated system's waveform analysis in detecting ineffective triggering in mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients when compared against a reference label set based upon analysis of respiratory muscle activity. Electrical activity of the diaphragm or esophageal/transdiaphragmatic pressure waveforms were available to a single clinician for the generation of a reference label set indicating the ground truth, that is, presence or absence of ineffective triggering, on a breath-by-breath basis. Pressure and flow versus time tracings were made available to (i) a group of three clinicians; and (ii) the automated Syncron-E™ system capable of detecting patient-ventilator asynchrony in real-time, in order to obtain breath-by-breath labels indicating the presence or absence of ineffective triggering.

Replicating human expertise of mechanical ventilation waveform analysis in detecting patient-ventilator cycling asynchrony using machine learning.

Background: - Acute respiratory failure is one of the most common problems encountered in intensive care units (ICU) and mechanical ventilation is the mainstay of supportive therapy for such patients. A mismatch between ventilator delivery and patient demand is referred to as patient-ventilator asynchrony (PVA). An important hurdle in addressing PVA is the lack of a reliable framework for continuously and automatically monitoring the patient and detecting various types of PVA.

Impact of gender on corticotropin-releasing factor and noradrenergic sensitivity in cocaine use disorder.

Responses to stress may be important in understanding gender differences in substance use disorders and may also be a target for development of treatment interventions. A growing body of both preclinical and clinical research supports important underlying gender differences in the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and noradrenergic systems, which may contribute to drug use. Preclinical models have demonstrated increased sensitivity of females to CRF and noradrenergic-induced drug reinstatement compared with males, and, consistent with these findings, human laboratory studies have demonstrated greater sensitivity to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and noradrenergic stimulation in cocaine-dependent women compared with men.

Role of Corticotropin Releasing Factor 1 Signaling in Cocaine Seeking during Early Extinction in Female and Male Rats.

Locus coeruleus norepinephrine (LC-NE) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) neurons are involved in stress responses, including stress's ability to drive drug relapse. Previous animal studies indicate that female rats exhibit greater drug seeking than male rats during initial drug abstinence. Moreover, females are more sensitive to the effect of stress to drive drug seeking than males.

Role of orexin/hypocretin in conditioned sucrose-seeking in female rats.

The orexin/hypocretin system has recently been implicated in reward-seeking, especially for highly salient food and drug rewards. Given that eating disorders affect women more than men, we reasoned that the orexin system may be strongly engaged in female rats, and during periods of food restriction as we recently reported in male rats. Therefore, the present study examined the involvement of the orexin system in operant responding for sucrose, and in cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished sucrose-seeking, in ad libitum fed vs.

Attenuation of saccharin-seeking in rats by orexin/hypocretin receptor 1 antagonist.

Rationale: The orexin (Orx)/hypocretin system has been implicated in reward-seeking, especially for highly salient food and drug rewards. We recently demonstrated that signaling at the OxR1 receptor is involved in sucrose reinforcement and reinstatement of sucrose-seeking elicited by sucrose-paired cues in food-restricted rats. Because sucrose reinforcement has both a hedonic and caloric component, it remains unknown what aspect of this reward drives its reinforcing value.

Prior access to a sweet is more protective against cocaine self-administration in female rats than in male rats.

It is well established that female rats are more sensitive than male rats to the reinforcing effects of cocaine (Lynch, 2008 [42] for review). We hypothesized that greater preference for cocaine would support greater avoidance of a cocaine-paired taste cue in female vs. male rats.

Role of orexin/hypocretin in conditioned sucrose-seeking in rats.

Rationale: The orexin/hypocretin system has recently been implicated in reward-seeking, especially for highly salient food and drug rewards. We reasoned that this system may be strongly engaged during periods of reward restriction, including food restriction.

Objectives: This study examined the involvement of the orexin (Orx) system in responding for sucrose, and in cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished sucrose-seeking, in ad libitum fed versus food-restricted male subjects.

A history of bingeing on fat enhances cocaine seeking and taking.

Binge eating and substance dependence are disorders characterized by a loss of control over consummatory behaviors. Given the common characteristics of these two types of disorders, it is not surprising that the comorbidity between eating disorders and substance abuse disorders is high (20-40%; Conason et al., 2006).

c-Fos induction by a 14 T magnetic field in visceral and vestibular relays of the female rat brainstem is modulated by estradiol.

There is increasing evidence that high magnetic fields interact with the vestibular system of humans and rodents. In rats, exposure to high magnetic fields of 7 T or above induces locomotor circling and leads to a conditioned taste aversion if paired with a novel taste. Sex differences in the behavioral responses to magnetic field exposure have been found, such that female rats show more locomotor circling and enhanced conditioned taste aversion compared to male rats.

Role of orexin/hypocretin in reward-seeking and addiction: implications for obesity.

Orexins (also named hypocretins) are recently discovered neuropeptides made exclusively in the hypothalamus. Recent studies have shown that orexin cells located specifically in lateral hypothalamus (LH) are involved in motivated behavior for drugs of abuse as well as natural rewards. Administration of orexin has been shown to stimulate food consumption, and orexin signaling in VTA has been implicated in intake of high-fat food.

Labyrinthectomy abolishes the behavioral and neural response of rats to a high-strength static magnetic field.

Vertigo is a commonly-reported side effect of exposure to the high magnetic fields found in magnetic resonance imaging machines. Although it has been hypothesized that high magnetic fields interact with the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear, there has been no direct evidence establishing its role in magnet-induced vertigo. Our laboratory has shown that following exposure to high magnetic fields, rats walk in circles, acquire a conditioned taste aversion (CTA), and express c-Fos in vestibular and visceral relays of the brainstem, consistent with vestibular stimulation and vertigo or motion sickness.

Evidence for a cephalic site of action of high magnetic fields on the behavioral responses of rats.

Static high magnetic fields (MFs) from 7 T to 9 T can elicit behavioral responses in rodents such as suppression of rearing, locomotor circling, and acquisition of a conditioned taste aversion (CTA). MF exposure also induces c-Fos expression in the visceral and vestibular nuclei of the brainstem, suggesting the stimulation of some sensory pathways. It is not clear, however, if the effects of the MF are caused by exposure to the uniform maximal field at the center of the magnet, or by exposure to the steep field gradients along the bore of the magnet during the rat's placement.

Inhibition of NaCl appetite when DOCA-treated rats drink saline.

Marked increases in the consumption of concentrated NaCl solution were elicited in rats by daily injection of the synthetic mineralocorticoid, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA). DOCA-treated rats drank different volumes of NaCl solution depending on its concentration (between 0.15 M and 0.

Sex and estrous cycle differences in the behavioral effects of high-strength static magnetic fields: role of ovarian steroids.

Advances in magnetic resonance imaging are driving the development of higher-resolution machines equipped with high-strength static magnetic fields (MFs). The behavioral effects of high-strength MFs are largely uncharacterized, although in male rats, exposure to 7 T or above induces locomotor circling and leads to a conditioned taste avoidance (CTA) if paired with a novel taste. Here, the effects of MFs on male and female rats were compared to determine whether there are sex differences in behavioral responses and whether these can be explained by ovarian steroid status.

XLMR in MRX families 29, 32, 33 and 38 results from the dup24 mutation in the ARX (Aristaless related homeobox) gene.

Background: X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) is the leading cause of mental retardation in males. Mutations in the ARX gene in Xp22.1 have been found in numerous families with both nonsyndromic and syndromic XLMR.

X-linked spermine synthase gene (SMS) defect: the first polyamine deficiency syndrome.

Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) are ubiquitous, simple molecules that interact with a variety of other molecules in the cell, including nucleic acids, phospholipids and proteins. Various studies indicate that polyamines are essential for normal cell growth and differentiation. Furthermore, these molecules, especially spermine, have been shown to modulate ion channel activities of certain cells.

Estrous changes in vaginal nociception in a rat model of endometriosis.

A rat model of endometriosis, in which pieces of uterine horn (versus fat in controls) are autotransplanted into the abdomen where they form cysts, reduces fecundity and produces vaginal hyperalgesia. The cysts gradually enlarge over a 2-month period postsurgically and then plateau. Cysts regress with low estrogen levels and reappear when they rise.

Pain and uterine contractions during breast feeding in the immediate post-partum period increase with parity.

Previous research has shown that post-partum abdominal pain is greater in multiparous than primiparous women (Murray and Holdcroft, 1989). Although breast feeding in the immediate post-partum period induces uterine contractions and abdominal pain, it is unknown how parity influences the contractions. Here, a structured questionnaire that included the McGill Pain Questionnaire (total pain intensity index, TPI) and visual analog scales (VAS) was used to evaluate the intensity, location, referred tenderness (hyperalgesia), descriptor, and temporal characteristics of pain during breast feeding up to three days after uncomplicated vaginal delivery.

Vaginal hyperalgesia in a rat model of endometriosis.

This study examined whether a rat model of surgically-induced endometriosis that reduces fertility also evokes vaginal hyperalgesia along with changes in vaginal compliance. In nine rats trained to escape vaginal distention, percent escape responses to different volumes of vaginal distention were measured for 2.5 months before and after endometriosis or sham surgery.