Further Development of a Robotic-Assisted Transfer Device.

The task of performing transfers, such as from a wheelchair to a bed, has a high risk of injury to both the caregiver and the person being transferred. Although mechanical transfer devices can reduce these risks, these devices are not meant for use in the community and they still place strain on the caregiver when used. The aim of this study is to describe feedback gathered from focus groups of potential users of the Robotic-Assisted Transfer Device (RATD) and describe design changes aimed at preparing the device for the next step in the development process.

Analysis of the clinical variables associated with recrudescence after malignant hyperthermia reactions.

Background: Some patients develop recrudescence after a malignant hyperthermia (MH) reaction, but it is not clear which patients are at risk. The authors analyzed clinical variables associated with recrudescence after a clinical MH episode.

Methods: Data were obtained from Adverse Metabolic Reaction to Anesthesia reports in the North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry.

Uniform scale-independent gene transfer to striated muscle after transvenular extravasation of vector.

Background: The muscular dystrophies exemplify a class of systemic disorders for which widespread protein replacement in situ is essential for treatment of the underlying genetic disorder. Somatic gene therapy will require efficient, scale-independent transport of DNA-containing macromolecular complexes too large to cross the continuous endothelia under physiological conditions. Previous studies in large-animal models have revealed a trade-off between the efficiency of gene transfer and the inherent safety of the required surgical and pharmacological interventions to achieve this.

Myosin heavy chain and physiological adaptation of the rat diaphragm in elastase-induced emphysema.

Background: Several physiological adaptations occur in the respiratory muscles in rodent models of elastase-induced emphysema. Although the contractile properties of the diaphragm are altered in a way that suggests expression of slower isoforms of myosin heavy chain (MHC), it has been difficult to demonstrate a shift in MHCs in an animal model that corresponds to the shift toward slower MHCs seen in human emphysema.

Methods: We sought to identify MHC and corresponding physiological changes in the diaphragms of rats with elastase-induced emphysema.

Global cardiac-specific transgene expression using cardiopulmonary bypass with cardiac isolation.

Background: The available techniques for intravascular gene delivery to the heart are inefficient and not organ-specific. Yet, effective treatment of heart failure will likely require transgene expression by the majority of cardiac myocytes. To address this problem, we developed a novel cannulation technique that achieves efficient isolation of the heart in situ using separate cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits for the heart and body in dogs.