Anesthetic Management and Considerations for Electrophysiology Procedures.

The number of electrophysiology (EP) procedures being performed has dramatically increased in recent years. This escalation necessitates a full understanding by the general anesthesiologist as to the risks, specific considerations, and comorbidities that accompany these now common procedures. Procedures reviewed in this article include atrial fibrillation and flutter ablation, supraventricular tachycardia ablation, ventricular tachycardia ablation, electrical cardioversion, pacemaker insertion, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) insertion, and ICD lead extraction.

Effect of Adding Insulin Glargine on Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: We aimed to examine the effects of adding a longer-acting insulin glargine to existing glucose control on reducing blood-glucose fluctuations in an intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A total of 110 patients randomly received adjuvant insulin glargine 15 IU/day (glargine) or placebo (control), in addition to daily infusion of insulin to maintain glucose levels at a target of 140-180 mg/dL. End points were mean and variance of blood glucose and frequency of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ICU stay, and mortality.

Phosphoproteomics of collagen receptor networks reveals SHP-2 phosphorylation downstream of wild-type DDR2 and its lung cancer mutants.

Collagen is an important extracellular matrix component that directs many fundamental cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation and motility. The signalling networks driving these processes are propagated by collagen receptors such as the β1 integrins and the DDRs (discoidin domain receptors). To gain an insight into the molecular mechanisms of collagen receptor signalling, we have performed a quantitative analysis of the phosphorylation networks downstream of collagen activation of integrins and DDR2.

Discoidin domain receptors promote α1β1- and α2β1-integrin mediated cell adhesion to collagen by enhancing integrin activation.

The discoidin domain receptors, DDR1 and DDR2, are receptor tyrosine kinases that bind to and are activated by collagens. Similar to collagen-binding β1 integrins, the DDRs bind to specific motifs within the collagen triple helix. However, these two types of collagen receptors recognize distinct collagen sequences.

Phosphoproteomic analysis identifies insulin enhancement of discoidin domain receptor 2 phosphorylation.

The discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) are collagen binding receptor tyrosine kinases that play important roles in cell migration, invasion and adhesion. Crosstalk between growth factor signaling and components of the extracellular matrix are drivers of cellular function but the integrated signaling networks downstream of such crosstalk events have not been extensively characterized. In this report, we have employed mass spectrometry-based quantitative phosphotyrosine analysis to identify crosstalk between DDR2 and the insulin receptor.

Pharmacological enhancement of ex vivo gene therapy neuroprotection in a rodent model of retinal degeneration.

Aims: We have previously shown the benefits of cell-based delivery of neuroprotection in a rodent model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). In order to maximise the effectiveness of this approach, we hypothesised that this could be augmented by combination with an aminoglycoside known to limit the abnormal RNA translation seen in this model.

Methods: A rhodopsin TgN S334ter-4 rat model of RP underwent daily subcutaneous injection of 12.

Ex vivo gene therapy using intravitreal injection of GDNF-secreting mouse embryonic stem cells in a rat model of retinal degeneration.

Purpose: Safe and prolonged drug delivery to the retina is a key obstacle to overcome in the development of new medicines aimed at treating progressive retinal disease. We took advantage of the ability of embryonic stem cells to survive long-term in foreign tissue and used these cells to deliver neuroprotectant molecules to the retina of the rhodopsin TgN S334ter-4 rat model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Methods: Mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells, derived from the pluripotent embryonic stem cell line E14TG2a, were genetically engineered to oversecrete the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

The unbearable likeness of being digital: the persistence of nonverbal social norms in online virtual environments.

Every day, millions of users interact in real-time via avatars in online environments, such as massively-multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). These online environments could potentially be unique research platforms for the social sciences and clinical therapy, but it is crucial to first establish that social behavior and norms in virtual environments are comparable to those in the physical world. In an observational study of Second Life, a virtual community, we collected data from avatars in order to explore whether social norms of gender, interpersonal distance (IPD), and eye gaze transfer into virtual environments even though the modality of movement is entirely different (i.