Selective modulation of monocyte and neutrophil responses with activated protein C in preterm infants.

Background: Inflammation is associated with many disorders of preterm infants including periventricular leukomalacia, chronic lung disease, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Activated protein c (APC) has shown positive immunomodulatory effects.

Objectives: We aimed to study neutrophil and monocyte function in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and APC stimulation in preterm infants <32 weeks gestation over the first week of life compared to neonatal and adult controls.

An Educational Intervention Optimizes the Use of Arterial Blood Gas Determinations Across ICUs From Different Specialties: A Quality-Improvement Study.

Background: Overuse of arterial blood gas (ABG) determinations leads to increased costs, inefficient use of staff work hours, and patient discomfort and blood loss. We developed guidelines to optimize ABG use in the ICU.

Methods: ABG use guidelines were implemented in all adult ICUs in our institution: three medical, two trauma-surgery, one cardiovascular, and one neurosurgical ICU.

Evaluation of the uptake of the Australian standardized terminology and definitions for texture modified foods and fluids.

This paper discusses the uptake of standardized terminology and definitions for texture modified foods and fluids. The Australian dietetic and speech-language pathology associations endorsed national standards in 2007. This project sought to determine the barriers and enablers for use of the national standards in clinical practice.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy-a simple method for the characterization of polymer inclusion membranes containing aliquat 336.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been used to estimate the non-frequency dependent (static) dielectric constants of base polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), cellulose triacetate (CTA) and polystyrene (PS). Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing different amounts of PVC or CTA, along with the room temperature ionic liquid Aliquat 336 and plasticizers such as trisbutoxyethyl phosphate (TBEP), dioctyl sebecate (DOS) and 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE) have been investigated. In this study, the complex and abstract method of EIS has been applied in a simple and easy to use way, so as to make the method accessible to membrane scientists and engineers who may not possess the detailed knowledge of electrochemistry and interfacial science needed for a rigorous interpretation of EIS results.