Patient safety during transfers from critical care: developing and assessing a checklist.

Critically ill patients often need to be transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the imaging department. This can compromise their safety, not only because of the inherent risk of deterioration but also because of the potential for incidents due to the inadequate preparation of medicines, equipment and monitoring. Using a patient transfer checklist can reduce the risk of human factor errors.

Modulation of p75 on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Increases Their Vascular Protection in Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Mouse Model.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising therapy to improve vascular repair, yet their role in ischemic retinopathy is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of modulating the neurotrophin receptor; p75 on the vascular protection of MSCs in an acute model of retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Wild type (WT) and p75 mice were subjected to I/R injury by increasing intra-ocular pressure to 120 mmHg for 45 min, followed by perfusion.

C-MYC Amplification in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is among the most common forms of leukemia diagnosed in the United States. It is associated with a variety of clinically significant genetic abnormalities, including cytogenetic abnormalities that are assessed routinely. Herein, we present a case of CLL for which molecular cytogenetic analysis revealed concomitant deletion of TP53 (17p13.

Development of a replication-competent lentivirus assay for dendritic cell-targeting lentiviral vectors.

It is a current regulatory requirement to demonstrate absence of detectable replication-competent lentivirus (RCL) in lentiviral vector products prior to use in clinical trials. Immune Design previously described an HIV-1-based integration-deficient lentiviral vector for use in cancer immunotherapy (VP02). VP02 is enveloped with E1001, a modified Sindbis virus glycoprotein which targets dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) expressed on dendritic cells in vivo.

Combined evaluation of commonly used techniques, including PCR, for diagnosis of mouse fur mites.

Our study evaluated and compared the false-negative rates (FNR) of a wide array of fur-mite diagnostic tests, including 2 postmortem tests (pelt exam and sticky paper) and 3 antemortem tests (adhesive tape, fur pluck, and PCR). Past publications examining fur-mite diagnostic techniques primarily used paired comparisons, evaluating tests by their level of agreement with only one other test. However, different combinations or pairs of diagnostics are used in the different studies, making the results of these comparisons difficult to interpret across all available diagnostics.

Effects of body orientation on maximum voluntary arm torques.

Introduction: Increased reliance on bulbospinal motor systems has been implicated in individuals with chronic stroke during maximum voluntary arm joint torque generation.

Methods: Maximum isometric single-joint and multi-joint arm strength was observed in two body orientations (sitting and supine) while maintaining identical head/neck/trunk/extremity joint configurations in order to identify bulbospinal contributions to maximum joint torque generation in 11 individuals with stroke and 10 individuals without stroke.

Results: During sitting, shoulder flexion was greater for both groups, whereas shoulder extension and elbow flexion, part of the "flexion synergy," were greater only in individuals with stroke.

The use-dependent, nicotinic antagonist BTMPS reduces the adverse consequences of morphine self-administration in rats in an abstinence model of drug seeking.

In this study, the use-dependent, nicotinic receptor antagonist bis (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) sebacate (BTMPS) was evaluated for its ability to attenuate the adverse consequences associated with morphine in rats in all three phases of an abstinence model of drug seeking: self-administration, acute withdrawal, and delayed test of drug seeking. Rats were allowed to self-administer morphine (FR1 schedule) with an active response lever, on a 24 h basis inside operant chambers, for 14 days. Each rat was subsequently evaluated for stereotypical behaviors associated with spontaneous morphine withdrawal.

Effect of the use-dependent, nicotinic receptor antagonist BTMPS in the forced swim test and elevated plus maze after cocaine discontinuation in rats.

Withdrawal from cocaine use often is associated with anxiety and depressive states. In this study the use-dependent, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) sebacate (BTMPS) was studied for its ability to reduce these symptoms in two rat models of anxiety and depression. Rats were administered saline vehicle, or two escalating doses of cocaine, for a period of 5 days and they were evaluated during the period after cocaine discontinuation in the elevated plus maze (anxiety) and the forced swim test (affect).

Effect of administration of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist BTMPS, during nicotine self-administration, on lever responding induced by context long after withdrawal.

The use-dependent, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) sebacate (BTMPS) was studied for its potential to reduce the self-administration of nicotine in rats, as well as to reduce context-induced recidivistic-like behavior after a six-week period of cessation. Rats were allowed to self-administer nicotine (FR1 schedule) inside an operant chamber with a response lever active on a 24 h basis for 14 days. After the self-administration phase, the rats were returned to standard maintenance cages for a period of six weeks.

Social capital and childhood psychiatric disorders: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this research was to determine whether social capital is associated with either the type or severity of psychiatric disorders of childhood, specifically, disorders of emotion and behaviour. Ninety parents of children between the ages of 4 and 18 years with an emotional disorder or behavioural disorder participated in the study. They completed two questionnaires: the Child Behaviour Checklist (to assess severity of disorder) and a questionnaire measuring social capital.

A rapid flow cytometric technique for the detection of platelet-monocyte complexes, activated platelets and platelet-derived microparticles.

Platelet activation occurs in a variety of clinical situations in which it directly contributes to the pathology. This study reports a simple flow cytometric assay for platelet activation which measures platelet-derived microparticles, activated platelets and platelet-monocyte complexes. Pre- and post analytical conditions were investigated and optimized and a normal range established on 20 healthy controls.

A pilot study to predict success with guided imagery for cancer pain.

Guided imagery, as other nonpharmacologic strategies, has been demonstrated to be useful for some patients. However, no tested method exists to identify which patients are likely to benefit from this pain management strategy. This pilot study tested a model to predict success with guided imagery.

Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in the Presence of Cocoa, Carrageenan, and Sugar in a Milk Medium Incubated With and Without Agitation.

Enhanced growth of Listeria monocytogenes strain V7 in chocolate milk rather than skim milk was further investigated by testing various concentrations of cocoa powder (two types of Dutch-process, designated A and B), cane sugar, and sodium carrageenan in skim milk at 13 and 30°C with and without agitated incubation. Increasing sugar concentrations (0, 6.5, and 12.

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by Cocoa in a Broth Medium and Neutralization of this Effect by Casein.

Dutch-processed cocoa (0.75 to 10.0%, w/v), when added to a broth medium, inhibited/inactivated Listeria monocytogenes strain V7.

Caffeine and Theobromine.

Two components of cocoa powder, caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) and theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine), were evaluated for their effect on growth of L. monocytogenes strain V7. Caffeine (0.