Expression and Prognostic Evaluation of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase MET in Canine Malignant Melanoma.

The overexpression and activation of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase has been identified in many human malignancies, but its role in canine cancer has only been minimally investigated. In this study we evaluated the expression of MET in two canine malignant melanoma (CMM) cell lines as well as in 30 CMM tissue samples that were collected from the clinical service at our institution. We were able to confirm the expression of the MET protein in both melanoma cell lines, and we demonstrated MET activation by its ligand, HGF, through phosphorylation, in Western blot analysis.

Multicentre pilot randomised clinical trial of early in-bed cycle ergometry with ventilated patients.

Introduction: Acute rehabilitation in critically ill patients can improve post-intensive care unit (post-ICU) physical function. In-bed cycling early in a patient's ICU stay is a promising intervention. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of recruitment, intervention delivery and retention in a multi centre randomised clinical trial (RCT) of early in-bed cycling with mechanically ventilated (MV) patients.

Interprofessional Survey of Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Early Mobilization of Critically Ill Patients in Montreal, Canada.

Objective: Early mobilization is safe, feasible, and associated with better outcomes in patients with critical illness. However, barriers to mobilization in clinical practice still exist. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice patterns of intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians, as well as the barriers and facilitators to early mobilization.

TryCYCLE: A Prospective Study of the Safety and Feasibility of Early In-Bed Cycling in Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of in-bed cycling started within the first 4 days of mechanical ventilation (MV) to inform a future randomized clinical trial.

Methods: We conducted a 33-patient prospective cohort study in a 21-bed adult academic medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in Hamilton, ON, Canada. We included adult patients (≥ 18 years) receiving MV who walked independently pre-ICU.

Early mobilization of critically ill adults: a survey of knowledge, perceptions and practices of Canadian physicians and physiotherapists.

Background: The promotion of early mobilization following critical illness is tempered by national reports of patient and institutional barriers to this approach. We carried out a survey to assess current knowledge, perceptions and practices of Canadian physicians and physiotherapists with respect to acquired weakness and early mobilization in adults in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, self-administered postal survey among critical care physicians and physiotherapists in all 46 academic ICUs in Canada in 2011-2012.

Point Prevalence Study of Mobilization Practices for Acute Respiratory Failure Patients in the United States.

Objective: Early mobility in mechanically ventilated patients is safe, feasible, and may improve functional outcomes. We sought to determine the prevalence and character of mobility for ICU patients with acute respiratory failure in U.S.

CYCLE pilot: a protocol for a pilot randomised study of early cycle ergometry versus routine physiotherapy in mechanically ventilated patients.

Introduction: Early exercise with in-bed cycling as part of an intensive care unit (ICU) rehabilitation programme has the potential to improve physical and functional outcomes following critical illness. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of enrolling adults in a multicentre pilot randomised clinical trial (RCT) of early in-bed cycling versus routine physiotherapy to inform a larger RCT.

Methods And Analysis: 60-patient parallel group pilot RCT in 7 Canadian medical-surgical ICUs.

Higher versus lower blood pressure targets for vasopressor therapy in shock: a multicentre pilot randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: In shock, hypotension may contribute to inadequate oxygen delivery, organ failure and death. We conducted the Optimal Vasopressor Titration (OVATION) pilot trial to inform the design of a larger trial examining the effect of lower versus higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) targets for vasopressor therapy in shock.

Methods: We randomly assigned critically ill patients who were presumed to suffer from vasodilatory shock regardless of admission diagnosis to a lower (60-65 mmHg) versus a higher (75-80 mmHg) MAP target.

Corticosteroid use in the intensive care unit: a survey of intensivists.

Objective: The efficacy of systemic corticosteroids in many critical illnesses remains uncertain. Our primary objective was to survey intensivists in North America about their perceived use of corticosteroids in clinical practice.

Design: Self-administered paper survey.

Early mobilization in critically ill children: a survey of Canadian practice.

Objectives: While early mobilization is safe and enhances functional recovery in critically ill adults, rehabilitation practices in critically ill children are not well characterized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and stated practices of early mobilization among physicians and physiotherapists practicing in Canadian pediatric critical care units.

Design And Measurements: A self-administered survey was mailed to 102 physicians and 35 physiotherapists.

Quality of reporting of surveys in critical care journals: a methodologic review.

Objective: Adequate reporting is needed to judge methodologic quality and assess the risk of bias of surveys. The objective of this study is to describe the methodology and quality of reporting of surveys published in five critical care journals.

Data Sources: All issues (1996-2009) of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care, Critical Care Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine, and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

Pulmonary artery catheters: evolving rates and reasons for use.

Objective: Randomized trials have demonstrated risks and failed to establish a clear benefit for the use of the pulmonary artery catheter. We assessed rates of pulmonary artery catheter use in multiple centers over 5 yrs, variables associated with their use, and how these variables changed over time (2002-2006).

Design: A multicenter longitudinal study using the Hamilton Regional Critical Care Database.

Para-aortic arch abscess secondary to Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.

Staphylococcus aureus is a relatively common pathogen causing pneumonia in the community, hospital ward and intensive care unit. Although pneumonia is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly and immunocompromised patients, it is usually uncomplicated and resolves without complications. The case of a woman who developed a para-aortic abscess after a community-acquired S aureus pneumonia infection is presented.

The large Maf factor Traffic Jam controls gonad morphogenesis in Drosophila.

Interactions between somatic and germline cells are critical for the normal development of egg and sperm. Here we show that the gene traffic jam (tj) produces a soma-specific factor that controls gonad morphogenesis and is required for female and male fertility. tj encodes the only large Maf factor in Drosophila melanogaster, an orthologue of the atypical basic Leu zipper transcription factors c-Maf and MafB/Kreisler in vertebrates.