Patient perspectives and self-rated knowledge of nerve transfer surgery for restoring upper limb function in spinal cord injury.

Background: Nerve transfer surgery has the potential to restore upper limb function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI); however, there has been limited exploration of patient perception of nerve transfer.

Objective: To explore the perspectives of patients with chronic SCI (>2 years from injury) on nerve transfer surgery, and to determine if an educational intervention improved participants' perceived knowledge levels about the procedure.

Design: Mixed-methods study including qualitative semi-structured interviews and self-reported rating scales.

In-use microbiological assessment of caffeine citrate 10 mg/mL oral solution.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the microbial contamination of caffeine citrate 10 mg/mL oral solution (CCOS) during a simulated in-use test in a clinical environment.

Methods: A real-time in-use simulation study was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit at a UK National Health Service hospital. Following the simulation, samples of the product were taken and assessed for microbiological contamination.

Chronic hypoxic incubation blunts thermally dependent cholinergic tone on the cardiovascular system in embryonic American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).

Environmental conditions play a major role in shaping reptilian embryonic development, but studies addressing the impact of interactions between chronic and acute environmental stressors on embryonic systems are lacking. In the present study, we investigated thermal dependence of cholinergic and adrenergic cardiovascular tone in embryonic American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and assessed possible phenotypic plasticity in a chronic hypoxic incubation treatment. We compared changes in heart rate (f H) and mean arterial blood pressure (P M) for chronically hypoxic and normoxic-incubated embryos after cholinergic and adrenergic blockade following three different acute temperature treatments: (1) 30 °C (control incubation temperature), (2) acute, progressive decrease 30-24 °C then held at 24 °C, and (3) acute, progressive increase 30-36 °C then held at 36 °C.

The influence of ontogenetic dietary fluctuations on zebrafish size and swimming performance.

Phenotypic flexibility is critical in determining fitness. As conditions change during ontogeny, continued responsiveness is necessary to meet the demands of the environment. Studies have shown that subsequent ontogenetic periods of development can interact with one another and shape developmental outcomes.