Potential wrist ligament injury in rescuers performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Wrist pain in rescuers performing chest compressions as part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation has been reported anecdotally and recently in the literature. Studies have indicated that rescuers apply as much as 644 N of force to the victim's chest with each compression, while standards require one hundred compressions per minute. Recent research suggests that forces transmitted through the rescuers' wrists of less than 10% of those seen during the performance of chest compressions significantly strain the scapholunate ligament. Biomechanical research should be performed to further evaluate this possible correlation. Compensation for worker injury maybe involved.

Silver(I) complexes of 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid and imidazoles: synthesis, structure and antimicrobial activity.

[Ag(2)(9-aca)(2)] (1) (9-acaH = 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid) reacts with a series of imidazoles to give [Ag(imidH)(2.3)(CH(3)CN)(0.7)](9-aca) (3), [Ag(6)(imidH)(4)(9-aca)(6)(MeOH)(2)] (4), {[Ag(1-Me-imid)(2)](2)[Ag(4)(9-aca)(6)]} (5), {[Ag(1-Bu-imid)(2)](2)[Ag(4)(9-aca)(6)]} (6) and [Ag(apim)](9-aca)·H(2)O (7) (imidH = imidazole; 1-Me-imid = 1-methylimidazole; 1-Bu-imid = 1-butylimidazole; apim = 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole). The mononuclear complex 3, hexanuclear 4-6, and polymeric 7, were all characterised using X-ray crystallography. While many of the complexes possess excellent in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activities they are, unanimously, more effective against fungal cells. The insect, Galleria mellonella, can survive high doses of the Ag(i) complexes administered in vivo, and a number of the complexes offer significant protection to larvae infected with a lethal dose of pathogenic Candida albicans cells.

The effect of rigid cervical collars on internal jugular vein dimensions.

OBJECTIVES: Prior research has demonstrated that rigid cervical collars cause an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP). The mechanism for this effect is unclear and one proposed mechanism involves obstruction of venous outflow in the neck. Ultrasound (US) allows assessment of internal jugular vein dimensions and may yield information regarding the mechanism for the increase in ICP seen with rigid collar application. METHODS: Forty-two healthy volunteers underwent US examination of the internal jugular vein before and after cervical collar application. Internal jugular vein cross-sectional areas were compared with and without the cervical collar in place. RESULTS: The cross-sectional area of the internal jugular vein increased significantly (p < 0.0001) after application of the cervical collar. The mean percentage increase in cross-sectional area was 37% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 20% to 53%). CONCLUSIONS: Internal jugular vein cross-sectional area increases after application of a rigid cervical collar. This supports the hypothesis that venous obstruction in the neck may contribute to the increase in ICP seen after rigid collar application.

Quality assurance of animal watering systems.

Contaminants in the water supplied to laboratory animals pose a serious threat to both the health and welfare of the animals and the reliability of experimental data. The authors assess various systems for water purification, and suggest strategies for matching water quality assurance to the needs of the facility and its users.