Potential interference by hydroxocobalamin on cooximetry hemoglobin measurements during cyanide and smoke inhalation treatments.

Study Objective: Concentrated aqueous solutions of hydroxocobalamin (OHCob) are administered intravenously for cyanide poisoning victims, many of whom also have concurrent smoke inhalation. Because of its intense light absorbance in visible wavelengths (absorption peak at 532 nm), we investigate potential interference effects of OHCob on total hemoglobin concentration (tHb), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), methemoglobin (MetHb), and oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O2) cooximetry measurement values in blood.

Methods: In vivo cooximetry measurements were conducted with 3 specific pathogen-free white New Zealand rabbits (3.

Distinct patterns of striatal medium spiny neuron activity during the natural sleep-wake cycle.

Striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) integrate and convey information from the cerebral cortex to the output nuclei of the basal ganglia. Intracellular recordings from anesthetized animals show that MSNs undergo spontaneous transitions between hyperpolarized and depolarized states. State transitions, regarded as necessary for eliciting action potential firing in MSNs, are thought to control basal ganglia function by shaping striatal output.

Cervical cancer: what should we tell women about screening?

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide, with significantly higher rates in developing areas, especially in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America (Parkin, Bray, Ferlay, & Pisani, 2005). In contrast, incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer in the United States have declined significantly among women of all ethnic and racial groups; it is not among the top 10 leading causes of new cancer cases in women (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2006b; Edwards et al.,2005).

Reading a research article part III: the data collection instrument.

Parts I through III of this series of articles gave an introduction to some of the issues requiring attention when performing clinical studies and summarizing the results statistically as well as clinically. Statistical methods have been described for the identification of statistically significant differences and associations between an experimental group and a control group or over the course of time after an intervention. The next article will address the methods used for the determination of the strength or magnitude of these identified statistically significant differences.

Educating women regarding the early detection of endometrial cancer--what is the evidence?

Endometrial cancer, cancer of the lining of the uterus, is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States, with an estimated 40,880 new cases diagnosed in 2005 (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2005a). Fortunately, mortality rates for endometrial cancer are relatively low, with 96% of women living five years or longer after being diagnosed with localized disease. Most women (72%) are diagnosed with localized disease (Ries et al.

What are the chances? Risk in the real world.

Increased survival from cancer has been a result of improved treatment and the earlier detection of cancer. This column will provide a focus on wellness for patients with cancer, their caretakers, and health professionals. This inaugural column provides a review of a basic epidemiologic principle--risk assessment, which is central to wellness.

Tertiary prevention: implications for improving the quality of life of long-term survivors of cancer.

Objective: To provide an overview of the incidence, epidemiology, and appropriate screening for second primary malignancies, as well as the nursing implications of tertiary cancer prevention.

Data Sources: Published review articles, book chapters, research reports, and the clinical experience of the author.

Conclusion: Many persons successfully treated for malignancy are at risk for a second malignancy.

Reading a research article part II: parametric and nonparametric statistics.

Researchers often try to use a randomization technique in an attempt to reduce bias and ensure that treatment and control groups are as similar as possible. This article has provided an overview of how researchers might use parametric and nonparametric statistics when analyzing data and looking for differences between groups. Researchers must consider the types of data and choose the tests that are appropriate for the variable types to draw appropriate conclusions.

Bistability of cerebellar Purkinje cells modulated by sensory stimulation.

A persistent change in neuronal activity after brief stimuli is a common feature of many neuronal microcircuits. This persistent activity can be sustained by ongoing reverberant network activity or by the intrinsic biophysical properties of individual cells. Here we demonstrate that rat and guinea pig cerebellar Purkinje cells in vivo show bistability of membrane potential and spike output on the time scale of seconds.

Common hereditary cancer syndromes.

Objectives: To review cancer risk assessment and counseling, hereditary cancer syndrome risk factors, indicators for cancer predisposition testing, and interpretation of genetic test results.

Data Sources: Research studies, review articles, and authors' experience.

Conclusion: Approximately 10% of those with a diagnosis of cancer may have a hereditary predisposition.

Anaesthetic management of caesarean section in a patient with a permanent pacemaker and severe bilateral ventricular dilatation.

A 33-year-old primigravida presented at 32 weeks gestation with increasing shortness of breath related to left ventricular failure. She had severe bilateral ventricular dilatation of unknown aetiology. An urgent caesarean section was required when she failed to improve on medical therapy, and for this she requested general anaesthesia.