Vestibular dysfunction in the adult CBA/CaJ mouse after lead and cadmium treatment.

Objectives: The vestibular system allows the perception of position and motion and its dysfunction presents as motion impairment, vertigo and balance abnormalities, leading to debilitating psychological discomfort and difficulty performing daily tasks. Although declines and deficits in vestibular function have been noted in rats exposed to lead (Pb) and in humans exposed to Pb and cadmium (Cd), no studies have directly examined the pathological and pathophysiological effects upon the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear.

Methods: Eighteen young adult mice were exposed through their drinking water (3 mM Pb, 300 µM Cd, or a control treatment) for 10 weeks.

Regional evidence-based practice fellowship program: impact on evidence-based practice implementation and barriers.

This quasi-experimental, pre- and posttest study evaluated the impact of a 9-month collaborative regional evidence-based practice (EBP) fellowship program on practice, attitude, knowledge, and perceived barriers associated with implementation of EBP. Three annual cohorts (N=142) of nurses attending a fellowship program from 2008 to 2010 participated in this study. Paired t tests showed statistically significant increases in practice (+.

Multi-institutional study of barriers to research utilisation and evidence-based practice among hospital nurses.

Aims: The study aims were to explore the relationships between perceived barriers to research use and the implementation of evidence-based practice among hospital nurses and to investigate the barriers as predictors of implementation of evidence-based practice.

Background: Evidence-based practice is critical in improving healthcare quality. Although barriers to research use have been extensively studied, little is known about the relationships between the barriers and the implementation of evidence-based practice in nursing.

The antimicrobial effect of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on oral microorganisms in vivo.

Background: The authors compared the in vivo antimicrobial effects on microorganisms from dental plaque, saliva and the tongue in subjects who used a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice and a fluoride dentifrice (control).

Methods: The authors assigned 15 subjects randomly to the control dentifrice or the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice for twice-daily use for one week. They collected samples of plaque, saliva and tongue scrapings six and 12 hours after the final brushing.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in shrimp (Penaeus stylirostris) infected with White spot syndrome virus by cDNA microarrays.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is currently the most important viral pathogen infecting penaeid shrimp worldwide. Although considerable progress has been made in characterizing the WSSV genome and developing detection methods, information pertaining to host genes involved in WSSV pathogenesis is limited. We examined the potential of cDNA microarray analysis to study gene expression in WSSV-infected shrimp.