Neonatal sepsis results in significant morbidity and mortality, but early detection is clinically challenging. In a neonatal rat model of endotoxic shock, we characterised unique infrared thermographic (IRT) profiles in skin temperature that could identify risk of later mortality. Ten-day old rats were placed in a thermally stable isolette and IRT images of cranial (T), scapula (T) and rump (T) skin temperature were obtained continuously for 8 h following an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Spirometry devices, which are components of many anaesthesia machines, are commonly used to assess lung mechanics during anaesthesia. Spirometry calibration usually adheres to manufacturer recommendations without established guidelines. Although more accurate and less variable than inbuilt spirometry in certain General Electric anaesthesia ventilators, near-patient spirometry lacks adequate evaluation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Refugee and migrant communities carry histories wrought with trauma. These traumas and trauma-related responses often contribute to feelings of mistrust towards Western health care systems and can additionally foster negative clinician biases (conscious or unconscious) and attitudes towards these communities. Consequently, clinicians often fail to uncover underlying causes of poor health and distress for their refugee and migrant patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: In clinical practice, evaluating dynamic compliance of the respiratory system (C) could provide valuable insights into respiratory mechanics. Reference values of C based on body weight have been reported, but various factors may affect them and the evidence is scanty. This study aimed to establish a reference interval for C and identify associated variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLike other brain circuits, the brainstem respiratory network is continually modulated by neurotransmitters that activate slow metabotropic receptors. In many cases, activation of these receptors only subtly modulates the respiratory motor pattern. However, activation of some receptor types evokes the arrest of the respiratory motor pattern as can occur following the activation of μ-opioid receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQRS detection within an electrocardiogram (ECG) is the basis of virtually any further processing and any error caused by this detection will propagate to further processing stages. However, standard benchmarking procedures of QRS detectors are seriously flawed because they report almost always close to 100% accuracy for any QRS detection algorithm. This is due to the use of large temporal error margins and noise-free ECG databases which grossly overestimate their performance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting premature infants who require oxygen supplementation and ventilator therapy to support their underdeveloped lungs. Autotaxin (ATX), an enzyme that generates the bioactive phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which acts via G-protein coupled receptors, has been implicated in numerous pulmonary diseases. In this study, we explored the pathophysiological role of the ATX/LPA signaling pathway in BPD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ability of morphine to decrease cysteine transport into neurons by inhibition of excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAA3) may be a key molecular mechanism underlying the acquisition of physical and psychological dependence to morphine. This study examined whether co-administration of the cell-penetrant antioxidant D-thiol ester, D-cysteine ethyl ester (D-CYSee), with morphine, would diminish the development of physical dependence to morphine in male Sprague Dawley rats. Systemic administration of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (NLX), elicited pronounced withdrawal signs (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Microvascular angina is associated with dysregulation of the endothelin system and impairments in myocardial blood flow, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life. The G allele of the noncoding single nucleotide polymorphism enhances expression of the endothelin-1 gene () in human vascular cells, potentially increasing circulating concentrations of Endothelin-1 (ET-1). Whether zibotentan, an oral receptor selective antagonist, is efficacious and safe for the treatment of microvascular angina is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the agreement between measurements of invasive blood pressure (IBP) and oscillometric blood pressure from the tongue (OBPton) using a multiparameter monitor.
Study Design: Unblinded, prospective, experimental study.
Animals: A total of 12 female Large White crossbreed pigs.
We examined whether co-injections of the cell-permeant D-cysteine analogues, D-cysteine ethyl ester (D-CYSee) and D-cysteine ethyl amide (D-CYSea), prevent acquisition of physical dependence induced by twice-daily injections of fentanyl, and reverse acquired dependence to these injections in freely-moving male Sprague Dawley rats. Injection of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone HCl (NLX, 1.5 mg/kg, IV), elicited a series of withdrawal phenomena that included cardiorespiratory and behavioral responses, and falls in body weight and body temperature, in rats that received 5 or 10 injections of fentanyl (125 μg/kg, IV), and the same number of vehicle co-injections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFN-acetyl-L-cysteine (L-NAC) is a proposed therapeutic for opioid use disorder. This study determined whether co-injections of L-NAC (500 μmol/kg, IV) or its highly cell-penetrant analogue, L-NAC methyl ester (L-NACme, 500 μmol/kg, IV), prevent acquisition of acute physical dependence induced by twice-daily injections of fentanyl (125 μg/kg, IV), and overcome acquired dependence to these injections in freely-moving male Sprague Dawley rats. The injection of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone HCl (NLX; 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Hyaluronan (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix. Increased pulmonary HA concentrations are associated with several respiratory disorders and is a pathophysiological feature of lung disease. We investigated whether elevated urine HA is a biomarker of an unfavorable 40-week respiratory outcome in preterm infants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Length of hospitalization varies widely in preterm infants and can be affected by multiple maternal and neonatal factors including respiratory instability. Therefore, we aimed to determine the association between postnatal intermittent hypoxemia (IH) and prolonged hospitalization.
Methods: This prospective single-center cohort study followed infants born at <31 weeks of gestational age through 2 years corrected age with detailed oxygen saturation data captured from days 7 to 30 of age.
Background: The associations between deprivation and illness trajectory after hospitalisation for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) are uncertain.
Methods: A prospective, multicentre cohort study was conducted on post-COVID-19 patients, enrolled either in-hospital or shortly post-discharge. Two evaluations were carried out: an initial assessment and a follow-up at 28-60 days post-discharge.
Background: Ventricular arrhythmia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) relates to adverse structural change and genetic status. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-guided electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) noninvasively maps cardiac structural and electrophysiological (EP) properties.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to establish whether in subclinical HCM (genotype [G]+ left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH]-), ECGI detects early EP abnormality, and in overt HCM, whether the EP substrate relates to genetic status (G+/G-LVH+) and structural phenotype.
The molecular mechanisms underlying the acquisition of addiction/dependence on morphine may result from the ability of the opioid to diminish the transport of L-cysteine into neurons via inhibition of excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAA3). The objective of this study was to determine whether the co-administration of the cell-penetrant L-thiol ester, L-cysteine ethyl ester (L-CYSee), would reduce physical dependence on morphine in male Sprague Dawley rats. Injection of the opioid-receptor antagonist, naloxone HCl (NLX; 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVet Anaesth Analg
November 2023
Objective: To evaluate the accuracy with which veterinary anaesthetists and nurses of different experience draw up small volumes of liquid.
Study Design: Prospective blinded randomized study.
Methods: A group of seven European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA) diplomates, six ECVAA residents and six anaesthesia nurses participated in the study.
Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation training is a fundamental component of medical education across disciplines. However, the skill of interpreting ECGs is not universal among medical graduates, and numerous barriers and challenges exist in medical training and clinical practice. An evidence-based and widely accessible learning solution is needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), myocyte disarray and microvascular disease (MVD) have been implicated in adverse events, and recent evidence suggests that these may occur early. As novel therapy provides promise for disease modification, detection of phenotype development is an emerging priority. To evaluate their utility as early and disease-specific biomarkers, we measured myocardial microstructure and MVD in 3 HCM groups-overt, either genotype-positive (G+LVH+) or genotype-negative (G-LVH+), and subclinical (G+LVH-) HCM-exploring relationships with electrical changes and genetic substrate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFECG interpretation is essential in modern medicine, yet achieving and maintaining competency can be challenging for healthcare professionals. Quantifying proficiency gaps can inform educational interventions for addressing these challenges. Medical professionals from diverse disciplines and training levels interpreted 30 12-lead ECGs with common urgent and nonurgent findings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Intermittent hypoxemia (IH) events are common in preterm neonates and are associated with adverse outcomes. Animal IH models can induce oxidative stress. We hypothesized that an association exists between IH and elevated peroxidation products in preterm neonates.
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