Immunotherapy Assessment: Using a Survey Instrument to Examine Oncology Nurses' Confidence Levels With Administration and Management.

Immuno-oncology is a complex treatment paradigm for many malignancies. As a result, nurses need to increase their knowledge awareness regarding safe, evidence-based care of patients who receive oncologic immunotherapy with their treatment regimen. This pilot study looks at nurse confidence levels specific to the challenges associated with this complex treatment.

Nonexocytotic noradrenaline release and ventricular fibrillation in ischemic rat hearts.

In myocardial ischemia, nonexocytotic noradrenaline release has been identified as underlying mechanism of ischemia-evoked noradrenaline release. Nonexocytotic noradrenaline release can be suppressed by inhibitors of the neuronal noradrenaline carrier (uptake), such as desipramine. Utilizing this pharmacological intervention the role of local noradrenaline release in the genesis of ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmias was studied.

Effects of inhibitors of enzymatic and cellular pH-regulating systems on central sympathetic chemosensitivity.

Previous studies in cats using isolated NaCl-CO2 perfusion of the lower brainstem demonstrated an intrinsic chemosensitivity of sympathoexcitatory bulbospinal neurones within the rostroventrolateral medulla (RVLM). In the present experiments, the effects of inhibitors of enzymatic and cellular systems, known to be involved in pH regulation, were investigated. Isolated perfusion of the lower brainstem with CO2-enriched solutions was performed and preganglionic sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) was recorded.

Physical training in patients with stable chronic heart failure: effects on cardiorespiratory fitness and ultrastructural abnormalities of leg muscles.

Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of an ambulatory training program on ultrastructural morphology and the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle and its relation to central and peripheral hemodynamic variables in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Clinical evidence supports the hypothesis that exercise intolerance in patients with chronic heart failure is not only a consequence of low cardiac output, but is also a result of alterations in oxidative metabolism of skeletal muscle.

Methods: Twenty-two patients were prospectively randomized either to a training group (mean [+/-SD] ejection fraction 26 +/- 9%, n = 12) participating in an ambulatory training program or to a physically inactive control group (ejection fraction 27 +/- 10%, n = 10).

Effect of an acute beta-adrenergic blockade on the relationship between ventilatory and plasma lactate threshold.

The present study assesses interobserver variability and day-to-day reproducibility of ventilatory threshold T(ven) and lactate threshold T(lac) in healthy young men. The data were obtained before and after acute beta-adrenergic blockade with metoprolol (100 mg/d p.o.

Changes in medullary extracellular pH, sympathetic and phrenic nerve activity during brainstem perfusion with CO2 enriched solutions.

Measurements are presented of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), phrenic nerve activity (PNA), and local extracellular pH (ECF pH) within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in response to perfusions of the RVLM with CO2-enriched saline. Experiments were performed on cats anaesthetized with chloralose. The ventrolateral medullary surface was exposed, and a catheter was placed in the left vertebral artery from the axilla to allow perfusion of the RVLM.

Somato-sympathetic reflex transmission in the ventrolateral medulla oblongata: spatial organization and receptor types.

Tonic sympathetic activity in vivo is continuously modulated by inhibitory and excitatory reflex mechanisms. We studied the properties of somato-sympathetic excitatory reflex transmission in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of baroreceptor-denervated and vagotomized chloralose-anesthetized cats. Electrical stimulation of the left intercostal nerve of the 4th thoracic segment (IC-T4) elicited an early spinal and a late supraspinal reflex in the ipsilateral white ramus T3 from which recordings were made.

Different effects of respiratory and metabolic acidosis on preganglionic sympathetic nerve activity.

We studied sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) responses, recorded in multifiber preparations of left third thoracic white ramus, to respiratory or isocapnic metabolic acidosis or to CO2 enhancement at constant pH in chloralose-anesthetized paralyzed artificially ventilated cats. Cardiopulmonary, baro-, and peripheral chemoreceptors were denervated by bilaterally cutting vagus and carotid sinus nerves. Acidosis was induced by either decreasing artificial ventilation or infusing HCl (0.

Circus movement atrial flutter in the canine sterile pericarditis model. Relation of characteristics of the surface electrocardiogram and conduction properties of the reentrant pathway.

Objectives: This study was designed to elucidate the basis for the electrocardiographic (ECG) appearance of atrial flutter in the canine sterile pericarditis model.

Background: During atrial flutter, the surface ECG may show typical F waves or isolated P waves of any polarity.

Methods: Electrocardiographic leads II, III and aVF and epicardial atrial activation maps constructed from 127 simultaneously recorded bipolar electrograms were compared in 20 dogs with sterile pericarditis and inducible atrial flutter.

In-hospital experience with multiprogrammable implantable antitachycardia/antifibrillation devices.

Multiprogrammable, automatic internal defibrillators with (n = 45) and without (n = 15) antitachycardia pacing features were implanted in 60 consecutive patients with refractory, malignant ventricular tachycardia (VT) (n = 42) or fibrillation (VF) (n = 18). Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was reduced to 39% +/- 12% as a result of structural heart disease in 56 patients. The complexity of the systems caused no additional risks to the surgical procedure or postoperative management.

Characteristics of sympathetic reflexes evoked by electrical stimulation of phrenic nerve afferents.

In chloralose-anaesthetized cats, sympathetic reflex responses were recorded in left cardiac and renal nerve during stimulation of afferent fibres in the ipsilateral phrenic nerve. In cardiac nerve, a late reflex potential with a mean onset latency of 75.6 +/- 13.

[Combined anti-bradycardia/anti-tachycardia pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillator systems in patients with recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias].

In 41 patients with recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation an integrated pacemaker-defibrillator-system (PCD, Medtronic, model 7216 A or 7217 B) was implanted. In 21 out of 24 (88%) patients a new transvenous implantation technique in combination with a subcutaneous patch electrode was used. The implanted devices comprise antibradycardiac pacemaker functions, two different forms of antitachycardiac pacemaker functions (ramp and burst pacing), and internal cardioversion or defibrillation capabilities.