To investigate a technique of central venous pressure (CVP) measurement using a newly developed catheter in healthy adult horses. Prospective experimental study. University research facility. Twenty ...healthy adult horses. An equine central venous catheter was inserted into the jugular vein to a length of approximately 80 cm from the mid-cervical region in an attempt to catheterize the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary arterial catheterization was confirmed by echocardiography. Insertion distance and pressure were measured at this location with a disposable manometer. The catheter was then withdrawn until presence in the right atrium was confirmed by echocardiography. Insertion distance and pressure were also measured at this location. The catheter was then withdrawn in 5 cm increments until exiting the jugular insertion site with pressure measured at each location. All pressure measurements were taken with the manometer zero position at the point of the shoulder. Pulmonary artery catheterization was successful in 16 of 20 horses. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 23.8 cm H₂O (17.5 mm Hg) (95% confidence interval CI 20.9-26.7 cm H₂O 15.4-19.6 mm Hg). Mean right atrial pressure was 8.3 cm H₂O (6.1 mm Hg) (95% CI 7.1-9.4 cm H₂O 5.2-6.9 mm Hg). Right atrial pressure was compared with pressures recorded at sequential insertion distances and resulted in a recommendation for catheter insertion of at least 40 cm for CVP measurement in adult horses. Jugular venous pressure measurement was statistically different from CVP measurement. This catheter measurement technique is well tolerated in normal horses. Routine clinical use of this equine central venous catheter may improve our ability to monitor patients and improve patient care and outcomes of ill horses in hospital.
The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system has been used as a somatic mutagen to identify candidate cancer genes. In previous studies, efficient leukemia/lymphoma formation on an otherwise wild-type ...genetic background occurred in mice undergoing whole-body mobilization of transposons, but was accompanied by high levels of embryonic lethality. To explore the utility of SB for large-scale cancer gene discovery projects, we have generated mice that carry combinations of different transposon and transposase transgenes. We have identified a transposon/transposase combination that promotes highly penetrant leukemia/lymphoma formation on an otherwise wild-type genetic background, yet does not cause embryonic lethality. Infiltrating gliomas also occurred at lower penetrance in these mice. SB-induced or accelerated tumors do not harbor large numbers of chromosomal amplifications or deletions, indicating that transposon mobilization likely promotes tumor formation by insertional mutagenesis of cancer genes, and not by promoting wide-scale genomic instability. Cloning of transposon insertions from lymphomas/leukemias identified common insertion sites at known and candidate novel cancer genes. These data indicate that a high mutagenesis rate can be achieved using SB without high levels of embryonic lethality or genomic instability. Furthermore, the SB system could be used to identify new genes involved in lymphomagenesis/leukemogenesis.
The built environment plays an important role in supporting older adults to successfully age in place. The land-use patterns, transportation systems and community design elements that together ...comprise the built environment all directly affect how older adults move and interact within a community. Older adults who live in built environments with physical barriers are less likely to leave their homes and therefore are more at risk of social isolation, reduced physical activity, and increased mobility issues which can affect their ability to successfully age in place. To date, most of the research on the influence of the built environment has focussed primarily on urban settings with little understanding of the application to older adults in rural settings. Our presentation will focus on the adaptation of community audit instruments to assess the built environment in four rural communities with small populations in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. We will present findings from a study where we used three methods to assess the rural built environment: community audits using the Healthy Aging Network (HAN) environmental audit tool, local policy assessments using the Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) tool and focus groups with community dwelling older adults. We will discuss our methods of adapting these instruments for use in small rural communities, will highlight our use of mapping technology to summarize findings and discuss the contribution of these findings to local community governments who are formalizing their age-friendly initiatives.
The LX-2 cell line has characteristics of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are considered pericytes of the hepatic microcirculatory system. Recent studies have suggested that HSCs might have ...mesenchymal origin. We have performed an extensive characterization of the LX-2 cells and have compared their features with those of mesenchymal cells. Our data show that LX-2 cells have a phenotype resembling activated HSCs as well as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Our immunophenotypic analysis showed that LX-2 cells are positive for activated HSC markers (αSMA, GFAP, nestin and CD271) and classical mesenchymal makers (CD105, CD44, CD29, CD13, CD90, HLA class-I, CD73, CD49e, CD166 and CD146) but negative for the endothelial marker CD31 and endothelial progenitor cell marker CD133 as well as hematopoietic markers (CD45 and CD34). LX-2 cells also express the same transcripts found in immortalized and primary BM-MSCs (vimentin, annexin 5, collagen 1A, NG2 and CD140b), although at different levels. We show that LX-2 cells are capable to differentiate into multilineage mesenchymal cells in vitro and can stimulate new blood vessel formation in vivo. LX-2 cells appear not to possess tumorigenic potential. Thus, the LX-2 cell line behaves as a multipotent cell line with similarity to BM-MSCs. This line should be useful for further studies to elucidate liver regeneration mechanisms and be the foundation for development of hepatic cell-based therapies.
The Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay is an automated test for monitoring HIV-1 viral load in plasma samples. The assay uses reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology with ...homogeneous real-time fluorescent detection. Automated sample preparation is performed on the m2000sp instrument where RNA is isolated using magnetic microparticle technology and dispensed to a PCR tray together with the amplification reagents. The PCR tray is then transferred to the Abbott m2000rt instrument for amplification and real-time detection. The assay utilizes two distinct sets of primers and probes for HIV-1 and for internal control (IC). The IC is processed along with each sample to control for sample recovery and inhibition. The HIV-1 primer and probe sequences are targeted to the integrase (IN) region of the polymerase (pol) gene. Due to the selection of a highly conserved target region and a novel, mismatch tolerant probe design, the assay can quantitate HIV-1 group M subtypes A-H, group O, and group N isolates. The assay provides high reproducibility and a wide dynamic range, allowing quantitation from 40 copies to 10 million copies of HIV-1 RNA per milliliter of plasma. HIV-1 RNA concentrations detected with 95% probability were 25copies/mL with 1.0mL of plasma, 39copies/mL with 0.6mL of plasma, 65copies/mL with 0.5mL of plasma, and 119copies/mL with 0.2mL of plasma.
The aim of this work was to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of venlafaxine in overdose and the effects of single‐dose activated charcoal (SDAC) and whole‐bowel irrigation (WBI), alone or in ...combination, as methods of decontamination. The data included 339 concentration–time points from 76 venlafaxine overdose events (median dose 2,625 (150–13,500 mg)); 69 were slow‐release doses. SDAC, WBI, a combination of both, or no decontamination were administered to patients as decided by the treating clinician. The data were modeled using WinBUGS (Windows Bayesian Inference Using Gibbs Sampling). A one‐compartment model with first‐order input and elimination provided an adequate description of the data. SDAC increased clearance (CL) of venlafaxine by 35%, and SDAC and WBI combined reduced the fraction absorbed by 29%. However, the latter produced a greater reduction in maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) for a similar drop in area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC). Both SDAC alone, and a combination of SDAC and WBI, decreased the AUC after venlafaxine overdose, but the combination may be more beneficial because it reduces peak concentrations to a greater extent.
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2009) 86 4, 403–410. doi:10.1038/clpt.2009.114
PDF
