Paediatric exhaled CO detector causes leaks.

Objective: To assess leakage caused by the Pedi-Cap.

Methods: Bench test I: Pedi-Caps were connected between the Neopuff and a test lung and placed underwater to detect the leak. Bench test II: the disposable Avea VarFlex Flow Transducer measured the leak.

Physiologically based cord clamping improves cardiopulmonary haemodynamics in lambs with a diaphragmatic hernia.

Objective: Lung hypoplasia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) results in respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary hypertension after birth. We have investigated whether aerating the lung before removing placental support (physiologically based cord clamping (PBCC)), improves the cardiopulmonary transition in lambs with a CDH.

Methods: At ≈138 days of gestational age, 17 lambs with surgically induced left-sided diaphragmatic hernia (≈d80) were delivered via caesarean section.

Effect of spontaneous breathing on umbilical venous blood flow and placental transfusion during delayed cord clamping in preterm lambs.

Introduction: During delayed umbilical cord clamping, the factors underpinning placental transfusion remain unknown. We hypothesised that reductions in thoracic pressure during inspiration would enhance placental transfusion in spontaneously breathing preterm lambs.

Objective: Investigate the effect of spontaneous breathing on umbilical venous flow and body weight in preterm lambs.

Altered downstream target gene expression of the placental Vitamin D receptor in human idiopathic fetal growth restriction.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects up to 5% of pregnancies and is associated with significant perinatal complications. Maternal deficiency of vitamin D, a secosteroid hormone, is common in FGR-affected pregnancies. We recently demonstrated that decreased expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in idiopathic FGR placentae could impair trophoblast growth.

The role of canonical and non-canonical Hedgehog signaling in tumor progression in a mouse model of small cell lung cancer.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling regulates cell fate and self-renewal in development and cancer. Canonical Hh signaling is mediated by Hh ligand binding to the receptor Patched (Ptch), which in turn activates Gli-mediated transcription through Smoothened (Smo), the molecular target of the Hh pathway inhibitors used as cancer therapeutics. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a common, aggressive malignancy with universally poor prognosis.

Effect of body position and ventilation on umbilical artery and venous blood flows during delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm lambs.

Objective: While delayed umbilical cord clamping (UCC) is thought to facilitate placental to infant blood transfusion, the physiological factors regulating flow in the umbilical arteries and veins during delayed UCC is unknown. We investigated the effects of gravity, by changing fetal height relative to the placenta, and ventilation on umbilical blood flows and the cardiovascular transition during delayed UCC at birth.

Methods: Catheters and flow probes were implanted into preterm lambs (128 days) prior to delivery to measure pulmonary, carotid, umbilical artery (UaBF) and umbilical venous (UvBF) blood flows.

Bacterial membrane vesicles: Biogenesis, immune regulation and pathogenesis.

Outer membrane vesicles were first described approximately 50 years ago and for many years were considered to be an artifact of bacterial growth. Since that initial discovery, it has become evident that outer membrane vesicles are produced by almost all Gram-negative bacteria as part of their normal growth in addition to driving pathogenesis within the host. More recently, the identification of membrane vesicle (MV) production by some Gram-positive bacteria, parasites, fungi, mycobacteria and infected host cells has significantly broadened the field of MV research and emphasized their importance to pathogenesis.