Expanding Paramedicine in the Community (EPIC): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The incidence of chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM), heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is on the rise. The existing health care system must evolve to meet the growing needs of patients with these chronic diseases and reduce the strain on both acute care and hospital-based health care resources. Paramedics are an allied health care resource consisting of highly-trained practitioners who are comfortable working independently and in collaboration with other resources in the out-of-hospital setting.

The effects of GPX-1 knockout on membrane transport and intracellular homeostasis in the lens.

Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-1) is an enzyme that protects the lens against H2O2-mediated oxidative damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of GPX-1 knockout (KO) on lens transport and intracellular homeostasis. To investigate these lenses we used (1) whole lens impedance studies to measure membrane conductance, resting voltage and fiber cell gap junction coupling conductance; (2) osmotic swelling of fiber cell membrane vesicles to determine water permeability; and (3) injection of Fura2 and Na+-binding benzofuran isophthalate (SBFI) into fiber cells to measure [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i, respectively, in intact lenses.

Functional cardiac cell constructs on cellulose-based scaffolding.

Cellulose and its derivatives have been successfully employed as biomaterials in various applications, including dialysis membranes, diffusion-limiting membranes in biosensors, in vitro hollow fibers perfusion systems, surfaces for cell expansion, etc. In this study, we tested the potential of cellulose acetate (CA) and regenerated cellulose (RC) scaffolds for growing functional cardiac cell constructs in culture. Specifically, we demonstrate that CA and RC surfaces are promoting cardiac cell growth, enhancing cell connectivity (gap junctions) and electrical functionality.