The evaluation of eye gaze using an eye tracking system in simulation training of real-time ultrasound-guided venipuncture.

Purpose: Real-time ultrasound (RTUS)-guided central venipuncture using the short-axis approach is complicated and likely to result in losing sight of the needle tip. Therefore, we focused on the eye gaze in our evaluation of the differences in eye gaze between medical students and experienced participants using an eye tracking system.

Methods: Ten medical students (MS group), five residents (R group) and six pediatric surgeon fellows (F group) performed short-axis RTUS-guided venipuncture simulation using a modified vessel training system.

BCG vaccination in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency: complications, risks, and vaccination policies.

Background: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a syndrome characterized by profound T-cell deficiency. BCG vaccine is contraindicated in patients with SCID. Because most countries encourage BCG vaccination at birth, a high percentage of patients with SCID are vaccinated before their immune defect is detected.

Different effects of cyclic AMP and butyrate on eosinophilic differentiation, apoptosis and bcl-2 expression of a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-1.

A human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-1, stopped proliferating at the G1 phase, differentiated into eosinophilic granule-containing cells, and died by apoptosis when stimulated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). To clarify the effects of dbcAMP, the effects of butyrate and cAMP-increasing reagents, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and forskolin, on EoL-1 cellular differentiation and apoptosis were examined and compared. PGE2 and forskolin but not butyrate induced differentiation to eosinophilic granule-containing cells, suggesting that cAMP played a primary role in eosinophilic differentiation of EoL-1 cells.