Publications by authors named "Tammy Lowe"

A dysregulated host response to infection resulting in life-threatening organ dysfunction defines the onset of sepsis. Unfortunately, sepsis is common, costly, and deadly. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign publishes regularly updated, evidence-informed, detection, and treatment guidelines culminating in time-sensitive care "bundles.

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Introduction Nursing-performed point-of-care ultrasound (NP-POCUS) studies have been performed on applications such as ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous line placement and assessing bladder volume. However, research on the use of NP-POCUS in the management of septic patients remains limited. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to investigate how NP-POCUS could impact fluid treatment decisions affecting septic patients in the emergency department (ED) using a focused IVC and lung ultrasound protocol.

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Background: Sepsis mortality has remained unchanged for greater than a decade, and early recognition continues to be the most important factor in mortality outcome. Plasma resistin concentration is increased in sepsis, but its mechanism and clinical relevance is unclear. As one function, resistin interacts with toll-like receptor 4 in competition with lipopolysaccharide, a main component of the gram-negative bacterial cell wall.

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The A118G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the mu-opioid receptor gene (Oprm1) has been implicated in mediating the rewarding effects of alcohol. Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that the G allele may confer a genetic vulnerability to alcohol dependence, though it remains unknown whether these effects are sex-specific. We used male and female mice homozygous for the "humanized" 118AA or 118GG alleles to determine whether the A118G SNP potentiates ethanol consumption in a sex-specific manner in both the two-bottle choice and drinking-in-the-dark (DID) paradigms.

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The rewarding and antinociceptive effects of opioids are mediated through the mu-opioid receptor. The A118G single nucleotide polymorphism in this receptor has been implicated in drug addiction and differences in pain response. Clinical and preclinical studies have found that the G allele is associated with increased heroin reward and self-administration, elevated post-operative pain, and reduced analgesic responsiveness to opioids.

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