Early administration of umbilical cord blood cells following brief high tidal volume ventilation in preterm sheep: a cautionary tale.

Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are a promising treatment for preterm brain injury. Access to allogeneic sources of UCB cells offer the potential for early administration to optimise their therapeutic capacities. As preterm infants often require ventilatory support, which can contribute to preterm brain injury, we investigated the efficacy of early UCB cell administration following ventilation to reduce white matter inflammation and injury.

Serum potassium changes during hypothermia and rewarming: a case series and hypothesis on the mechanism.

Introduction: Hypokalemia is known to occur in association with therapeutically induced hypothermia and is usually managed by the administration of potassium (K).

Methods: We reviewed data from 74 patients who underwent a therapeutic hypothermia protocol at our medical institution.

Results: In four patients in whom data on serum K and temperature were available, a strong positive correlation between serum K and body temperature was found.

Meta-Analysis of the Use of Head Impulse Test and Head Impulse Test with Direction Changing Nystagmus and Test of Skew Deviation in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Vertigo and Stroke.

Introduction: The head impulse test (HIT) and HIT combined with direction-changing Nystagmus-Test of Skew deviation (HINTS) have been proposed as bedside tests to differentiate between peripheral and central causes of vertigo in the emergency department (ED). We conducted a meta-analysis of the HIT and HINTS tests to diagnose peripheral vertigo (PV) and central vertigo.

Methods: Pubmed, Google Scholar, EmBase, and articles references published in English up to July 2021 were searched for keywords "vertigo" or "acute vestibular syndrome" or "dizziness" and "head impulse" and "stroke.

Initiation of maintenance hemodialysis through central venous catheters: study of patients' perceptions based on a structured questionnaire.

Background: Despite well-publicized suggestions to utilize arteriovenous fistulae and grafts to initiate hemodialysis, too many patients in the United States start dialysis via central venous catheters despite their well-known association with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost.

Methods: To determine the reasons for this high rate of catheter use, and, ultimately, ways to reduce it, we developed a questionnaire designed to determine where in the process of patient care the process to fistula or graft placement was not completed, thus requiring the use of central venous catheters. The questionnaire was reviewed by several nephrologists not involved with the study.

Conventional and sharp safety devices in 6 hospitals in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Reengineered sharp safety devices have been recommended to reduce occupational percutaneous injury risk in health care facilities. We conducted this study just over 1 year after passage of legislation requiring the use of sharp safety medical devices to assess the frequency of safety and conventional sharp device use and whether safety features were being activated to cover sharp points after safety devices were used and before disposal.

Methods: Approximately equal numbers of sharps disposal containers from various wards in 6 nonprofit adult and pediatric British Columbia hospitals were audited by paired research assistants, wearing protective clothing.