Jacketed telemetry in rats: a novel non-invasive method for cardiorespiratory phenotyping during treadmill exercise.

The development of alternative methods for monitoring cardiorespiratory function without restraint or surgical implantation is attracting growing interest for both ethical and scientific reasons. For this purpose, a new non-invasive jacketed telemetry tool consisting in a radio device maintained in a jacket worn by the animal was previously developed to improve cardiorespiratory monitoring. It allows simultaneous monitoring of cardiac activity by surface electrocardiagram, respiratory function by respiratory inductive plethysmography, and locomotor activity by accelerometry.

Molecular Hydrogen for Outpatients with COVID-19 (Hydro-COVID): A Phase 3 Randomised, Triple-Blinded, Pragmatic, Placebo-Controlled, Multicentre Trial.

. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and anti-fatigue properties, molecular hydrogen (H) is potentially a novel therapeutic nutrient for patients with coronavirus acute disease 2019 (COVID-19). We determined the efficacy and safety profile of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) to reduce the risk of COVID-19 progression.

An ethically guided preclinical device for phenotyping H production in laboratory rodents.

Background: Dihydrogen (H) is produced endogenously by the intestinal microbiota through the fermentation of diet carbohydrates. Over the past few years, numerous studies have demonstrated the significant therapeutic potential of H in various pathophysiological contexts, making the characterization of its production in laboratory species of major preclinical importance.

Methods: This study proposes an innovative solution to accurately monitor H production in free-moving rodents while respecting animal welfare standards.

Hydrogen inhalation: in vivo rat genotoxicity tests.

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that molecular hydrogen (H) has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. Safety data are available in the literature and acute toxicity has been tested in isolated cells and laboratory animals. We have evaluates the genotoxicity of H in vivo in rats after 72 h exposure, following the International Council for Harmonization guidelines ICH S2 (R1).

Factors associated with intention for revaccination among patients with adverse events following immunization.

Objectives: Individuals and healthcare providers may be uncertain about the safety of revaccination after an adverse event following immunization (AEFI). We identified factors associated with physician recommendation for revaccination and participant intention to be revaccinated among patients with adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) assessed in the Canadian Special Immunization Clinic (SIC) Network from 2013 to 2019.

Methods: This prospective observational study included patients assessed in the Canadian Special Immunization Clinic Network from 2013 to 2019 for an AEFI who required additional doses of the vaccine temporally associated with their AEFI.

Revaccination and Adverse Event Recurrence in Patients with Adverse Events following Immunization.

Objectives: To estimate the risk of recurrence of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) upon revaccination and to determine among patients with suspected vaccine allergy whether allergy skin test positivity was associated with AEFI recurrence.

Study Design: This prospective observational study included patients assessed in the Canadian Special Immunization Clinic Network from 2013 to 2019 with AEFIs who required revaccination with the vaccine temporally associated with their AEFI. Participants underwent standardized assessment and data collection.

Analysis of Cardiac Vibration Signals Acquired From a Novel Implant Placed on the Gastric Fundus.

The analysis of cardiac vibration signals has been shown as an interesting tool for the follow-up of chronic pathologies involving the cardiovascular system, such as heart failure (HF). However, methods to obtain high-quality, real-world and longitudinal data, that do not require the involvement of the patient to correctly and regularly acquire these signals, remain to be developed. Implantable systems may be a solution to this observability challenge.

Preclinical and clinical evaluation of a new method to assess cardiac insulin resistance using nuclear imaging.

Background: Myocardial insulin resistance (IR) could be a predictive factor of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to introduce a new method using I-6-deoxy-6-iodo-D-glucose (6DIG), a pure tracer of glucose transport, for the assessment of IR using cardiac dynamic nuclear imaging.

Methods: The protocol evaluated first in rat-models consisted in two 6DIG injections and one of insulin associated with planar imaging and blood sampling.

Effectiveness of palivizumab immunoprophylaxis to prevent respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations in healthy full-term <6-month-old infants from the circumpolar region of Nunavik, Quebec, Canada.

In Quebec, Canada, eligibility for palivizumab (PVZ) immunoprophylaxis was expanded in fall 2016 to include healthy-full-term (HFT) infants residing in the circumpolar region of Nunavik and aged <3 months at the start of the RSV season or born during the season. This study assessed the effectiveness of PVZ to prevent RSV hospitalizations in these infants during the 3 seasons following its implementation. Medical and laboratory records of <1-year-old infants (375 average annual birth cohort) admitted to regional and tertiary hospitals with respiratory infection during 6 years were reviewed.

The biocompatibility of biofuel cells operating inside the body.

In 1968 Wolfson et al. published the concept for producing energy inside the body using catalytic electrodes exposed to the body fluid as an electrolyte and utilising naturally occurring fuels such as glucose. Since then, the technology has advanced to enhance the levels of power using enzymes immobilised within three-dimensional bioelectrodes that are nanostructured.

Hospitalizations for lower respiratory tract infections in children in relation to the sequential use of three pneumococcal vaccines in Quebec.

Objectives: In Quebec, three pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) were used sequentially starting in December 2004. The objective of the study was to investigate the association between exposure to different PCV regimens and hospitalizations for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Methods: Records with a main diagnosis of LRTI in children born in 2000-2012 and observed up to their second birthday were extracted from the provincial hospital administrative database.

From in vitro evaluation to human postmortem pre-validation of a radiopaque and resorbable internal biliary stent for liver transplantation applications.

The implantation of an internal biliary stent (IBS) during liver transplantation has recently been shown to reduce biliary complications. To avoid a potentially morbid ablation procedure, we developed a resorbable and radiopaque internal biliary stent (RIBS). We studied the mechanical and radiological properties of RIBS upon in vivo implantation in rats and we evaluated RIBS implantability in human anatomical specimens.

A novel bimodal stethoscope for gastric collection of heart sounds: preliminary results.

Heart sound analysis is commonly used by physicians during auscultations to evaluate cardiac activity as a first line. These sounds originate from heartbeats and the resulting blood flow, and can provide important information about heart function and hemodynamics. The monitoring of heart sounds in patients suffering from chronic cardiac pathologies can be useful to detect or prevent cardiac events.

Promoting vaccination in maternity wards ─ motivational interview technique reduces hesitancy and enhances intention to vaccinate, results from a multicentre non-controlled pre- and post-intervention RCT-nested study, Quebec, March 2014 to February 2015.

BackgroundMany countries are grappling with growing numbers of parents who delay or refuse recommended vaccinations for their children. This has created a need for strategies to address vaccine hesitancy (VH) and better support parental decision-making regarding vaccination.AimTo assess vaccination intention (VI) and VH among parents who received an individual motivational-interview (MI) based intervention on infant immunisation during post-partum stay at a maternity ward between March 2014 and February 2015.

Nephrotic syndrome following four-component meningococcal B vaccination: Epidemiologic investigation of a surveillance signal.

Background: In May 2014, a mass vaccination campaign with four-component meningococcal serogroup B (4CMenB) vaccine was launched in a localized region of Quebec, Canada experiencing high invasive meningococcal B disease endemicity. Active post-marketing surveillance identified several cases of nephrotic syndrome (NS) among ∼49,000 vaccinated individuals aged 2 months to 20 years. We report the epidemiologic investigation of this potential vaccine safety signal.

Respiratory syncytial virus contributes to more severe respiratory morbidity than influenza in children < 2 years during seasonal influenza peaks.

Purpose: To compare the frequency and the severity of influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) infections among children < 24 months hospitalized with respiratory symptoms.

Methods: Data from a prospective study conducted during the peak of five influenza seasons in the Province of Quebec, Canada were used.

Results: We detected higher frequency of RSV compared to influenza viruses (55.

Promoting vaccination in the province of Québec: the PromoVaQ randomized controlled trial protocol.

Background: Vaccination has a huge public health impact. Maintaining vaccine coverage is key to avoid the devastating consequences of resurgence. In the Province of Québec, vaccine coverage in young children are sub-optimal, mostly due to ambivalence toward vaccine safety and efficacy.

Overview of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, vaccine hesitancy and vaccine acceptance among mothers of infants in Quebec, Canada.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is a growing problem. The first step in addressing VH is to have an understanding of who are the hesitant individuals and what are their specific concerns. The aim of this survey was to assess mothers' level of vaccine hesitancy and vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs.

Challenges for successful implantation of biofuel cells.

There is a growing interest in the design and engineering of operational biofuel cells that can be implanted. This review highlights the recent progress in the electrochemistry of biofuel cell technologies, but with a particular emphasis on the medical and physiological aspects that impact the biocompatibility of biofuel cells operating inside a living body. We discuss the challenge of supplying power to implantable medical devices, with regard to the limitations of lithium battery technology and why implantable biofuel cells can be a promising alternative to provide the levels of power required for medical devices.

Moving the debate forward: interculturalism's contribution to multiculturalism.

In this article, we compare Ricard Zappata-Barrero's interculturalism with Tariq Modood's multiculturalism. We will discuss the relation between distinct elements that compose both positions. We examine how recent discussions on interculturalism have the potential to contribute to theories of multiculturalism without undermining their core principles.

Building capacity for medical education research in family medicine: the Program for Innovation in Medical Education (PIME).

Background: Despite the apparent benefits to teaching, many faculty members are reluctant to participate in medical education research (MER) for a variety of reasons. In addition to the further demand on their time, physicians often lack the confidence to initiate MER projects and require more support in the form of funding, structure and guidance. These obstacles have contributed to a decline in physician participation in MER as well as to a perceived decay in its quality.

Non-invasive cardiac output monitoring in pharmacology: A plethysmographie solution in rats.

Cardiovascular monitoring is of great importance in pharmacology but there is a lack of convenient non-invasive alternatives. Hence, we aim to evaluate the relevance of inductive plethysmography (IP) in preclinical cardiac studies. An IP system was specifically designed for rat.

Analysis and experimental simulation of blood pressure signal distortions observed on intensive care patients monitored by a catheter in radial artery.

The follow-up of patients with hemodynamic instability in intensive care units most often requires blood pressure measurement using a fluid-filled catheter in the radial artery and a fluid-filled tubing connected to a pressure transducer. However, in this usual setup major distortions frequently occur that may alter the pressure signal. Underdamping and overdamping have been well described whereas other types of distortions, including attenuations and varied envelopes of pulse pressure, have been less studied.

Thalidomide in Refractory Tuberculomas and Pseudoabscesses.

Paradoxical immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is a well-described entity even in immunocompetent children, principally in association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. Central nervous system involvement is a potential life-threatening form, sometimes refractory to standard treatment. We report the case of an HIV-negative refugee teenager, who presented with brain tuberculomas and pseudoabscesses responsive only to thalidomide.