Validating adverse events in administrative healthcare data in ireland: a retrospective chart review study.

Background: Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers and delirium are adverse events that affect older inpatients. Accurate administrative data are key to improving patient safety and healthcare quality. The aim of the study was to validate Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) data on the occurrence of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers and delirium in older patients discharged from an acute hospital in Ireland through retrospective chart review.

Continuous Spinal Analgesia for Labor and Delivery: An Observational Study with a 23-Gauge Spinal Catheter.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess postdural puncture headache, pain relief, motor blockade, and success rate of conversion to cesarean delivery anesthesia of a 23-gauge spinal catheter (Wiley Spinal®) for labor analgesia.

Methods: After insertion of the spinal catheter, intrathecal bupivacaine 2.5 mg was administered, followed by patient-controlled intrathecal analgesia (basal infusion of 0.

Active Warming during Cesarean Delivery: Should We SCIP It?

Background: The purpose of this open, cluster randomized controlled trial was to evaluate whether use of a fiber optic-regulated warming mattress would decrease the incidence of hypothermia in women undergoing cesarean delivery.

Patients And Methods: A total of 484 women were randomized via the cluster method on a rotating weekly basis allocating participants to either use of the warming mattress or the standard method of warming at Parkland Hospital (heat-retaining caps, warmed intravenous and irrigation fluids, and warmed blankets). The primary outcome of interest was maternal hypothermia.

A randomized control trial of bupivacaine and fentanyl versus fentanyl-only for epidural analgesia during the second stage of labor.

Background: The purpose of this prospective, double-blinded, parallel-arm, randomized trial was to examine the effects of epidural bupivacaine on the length of the second stage of labor in nulliparous women.

Methods: The authors assessed length of second-stage labor, degree of motor blockade, mode of delivery, and visual analog scores in 310 nulliparous women with labor epidurals randomized to receive either: (1) 0.125% bupivacaine and fentanyl 2 μg/ml or (2) fentanyl 10 μg/ml alone via epidural using double blinding.

Acidosis slows electrical conduction through the atrio-ventricular node.

Acidosis affects the mechanical and electrical activity of mammalian hearts but comparatively little is known about its effects on the function of the atrio-ventricular node (AVN). In this study, the electrical activity of the epicardial surface of the left ventricle of isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts was examined using optical methods. Perfusion with hypercapnic Tyrode's solution (20% CO2, pH 6.

cGMP signals modulate cAMP levels in a compartment-specific manner to regulate catecholamine-dependent signaling in cardiac myocytes.

Rationale: cAMP and cGMP are intracellular second messengers involved in heart pathophysiology. cGMP can potentially affect cAMP signals via cGMP-regulated phosphodiesterases (PDEs).

Objective: To study the effect of cGMP signals on the local cAMP response to catecholamines in specific subcellular compartments.

Derivation of endothelial cells from human embryonic stem cells by directed differentiation: analysis of microRNA and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Objective: To develop an embryoid body-free directed differentiation protocol for the rapid generation of functional vascular endothelial cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and to assess the system for microRNA regulation and angiogenesis.

Methods And Results: The production of defined cell lineages from hESCs is a critical requirement for evaluating their potential in regenerative medicine. We developed a feeder- and serum-free protocol.

Dysregulation of cadherins in the intercalated disc of the spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rat.

The structural integrity of cardiac cells is maintained by the Ca(2+)-dependent homophilic cell-cell adhesion of cadherins. N-cadherin is responsible for this adhesion under normal physiological conditions. The role of cadherins in adverse cardiac pathology is less clear.

Onset of experimental severe cardiac fibrosis is mediated by overexpression of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is a recently identified homologue of ACE. There is great interest in the therapeutic benefit for ACE2 overexpression in the heart. However, the role of ACE2 in the regulation of cardiac structure and function, as well as maintenance of systemic blood pressure, remains poorly understood.