Audiological outcomes of the Cochlear Osia 2 bone conduction system implanted under expanded indications in a pediatric population.

Objective: Evaluate the audiological outcomes of the Cochlear Osia 2 Bone Conduction System implanted in children ages 5-11 years old.

Design: A pivotal, prospective, open-label, multicentre clinical trial to expand access to the Osia 2 system to children ages 5-11 years old.

Study Sample: Children aged 5-11 years old who presented with either (1) a conductive or mixed hearing loss where the pure tone average bone conduction threshold (measured at 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz) was ≤ 55 dB HL or (2) single-sided deafness where the ear to be implanted had a profound sensorineural hearing loss and the pure tone average air conduction threshold (measured at 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz) in the contralateral ear was ≤ 20 dB HL.

Analgesia in the Perioperative Period.

Untreated or undermanaged perioperative pain has systemic effects that may negatively impact a patient's welfare and return to function. A consistent analgesic plan that assesses a patient's pain and comfort at regular intervals during the perioperative period should be incorporated into practice. Validated pain assessment tools are available for use in dogs and cats.

The uncounted workforce.

The number of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) working in stoma care, continence and urology has increased, according to recent data. However wide variation in the quantity and quality of responses to a survey of all 160 NHS acute trusts in England shows that record-keeping in the specialty needs improvement.

Staff are an employer's best asset.

Meaningful workforce engagement helps employers ensure patients receive the best care, says Stephanie Jones Berry.

The effect of experimentally induced hypothyroidism on the isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration in dogs.

Objective: To determine the effect of experimentally induced hypothyroidism on isoflurane (ISO) minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in dogs.

Study Design: Prospective experimental study.

Animals: Eighteen adult female mongrel dogs, age 2-4 years and weighing 8.

Interactions of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers with Survanta lung surfactant: the importance of lipid domains.

The interaction of generation 5 (G5) and 7 (G7) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers with mica-supported Survanta bilayers is studied with atomic force microscopy (AFM). In these experiments, Survanta forms distinct gel and fluid domains with differing lipid composition. Nanoscale defects are induced by the PAMAM dendrimers.

Wide varieties of cationic nanoparticles induce defects in supported lipid bilayers.

Nanoparticles with widely varying physical properties and origins (spherical versus irregular, synthetic versus biological, organic versus inorganic, flexible versus rigid, small versus large) have been previously noted to translocate across the cell plasma membrane. We have employed atomic force microscopy to determine if the physical disruption of lipid membranes, formation of holes and/or thinned regions, is a common mechanism of interaction between these nanoparticles and lipids. It was found that a wide variety of nanoparticles, including a cell penetrating peptide (MSI-78), a protein (TAT), polycationic polymers (PAMAM dendrimers, pentanol-core PAMAM dendrons, polyethyleneimine, and diethylaminoethyl-dextran), and two inorganic particles (Au-NH2, SiO2-NH2), can induce disruption, including the formation of holes, membrane thinning, and/or membrane erosion, in supported lipid bilayers.

Leaf δC in Pinus resinosa trees and understory plants: variation associated with light and CO gradients.

 Our objective was to evaluate the relative importance of gradients in light intensity and the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO for variation in leaf carbon isotope ratios within a Pinus resinosa forest. In addition, we measured photosynthetic gas exchange and leaf carbon isotope ratios on four understory species (Dryopteris carthusiana, Epipactus helleborine, Hieracium floribundum, Rhamnus frangula), in order to estimate the consequence of the variation in the understory light microclimate for carbon gain in these plants. During midday, CO concentration was relatively constant at vertical positions ranging from 15 m to 3 m above ground.