Draft Genome Assembly of Stutzerimonas sp. Strain S1 and Achromobacter spanius Strain S4, Two Syringol-Metabolizing Bacteria Isolated from Compost Soil.

Two bacterial strains able to use syringol as a sole carbon source were isolated from compost. The isolates, named S1 and S4, were sequenced using the Illumina platform. The final assemblies contained 4.2 Mbp, 63% GC, and 3,912 genes for S1 and 6.2 Mbp, 64% GC, and 5,503 genes for S4.

Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor (EDHF) Mediates Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) Vasodilation of Pregnant Rat Mesenteric Arteries.

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) exhibits a broad range of activities, including analgesic, antipyretic, and antiplatelet properties. Recent clinical studies also recommend aspirin prophylaxis in women with a high risk of pre-eclampsia, a major complication of pregnancy characterized by hypertension. We investigated the effect of aspirin on mesenteric resistance arteries and found outdiscovered the molecular mechanism underlying this action. Aspirin (10-12-10-6 M) was tested on pregnant rat mesenteric resistance arteries by a pressurized arteriography. Aspirin was investigated in the presence of several inhibitors of: (a) nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME 2 × 10-4 M); (b) cyclooxygenase (Indomethacin, 10-5 M); (c) Ca2+-activated K+ channels (Kca): small conductance (SKca, Apamin, 10-7 M), intermediate conductance (IKca, TRAM34, 10-5 M), and big conductance (BKca, paxilline, 10-5 M); and (d) endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor (high KCl, 80 mM). Aspirin caused a concentration-dependent vasodilation. Aspirin-vasodilation was abolished by removal of endothelium or by high KCl. Furthermore, preincubation with either apamin plus TRAM-34 or paxillin significantly attenuated aspirin vasodilation (p < 0.05). For the first time, we showed that aspirin induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in mesenteric resistance arteries through the endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) and calcium-activated potassium channels. By activating this molecular mechanism, aspirin may lower peripheral vascular resistance and be beneficial in pregnancies complicated by hypertension.

Comparability of Raman Spectroscopic Configurations: A Large Scale Cross-Laboratory Study.

The variable configuration of Raman spectroscopic platforms is one of the major obstacles in establishing Raman spectroscopy as a valuable physicochemical method within real-world scenarios such as clinical diagnostics. For such real world applications like diagnostic classification, the models should ideally be usable to predict data from different setups. Whether it is done by training a rugged model with data from many setups or by a primary-replica strategy where models are developed on a 'primary' setup and the test data are generated on 'replicate' setups, this is only possible if the Raman spectra from different setups are consistent, reproducible, and comparable. However, Raman spectra can be highly sensitive to the measurement conditions, and they change from setup to setup even if the same samples are measured. Although increasingly recognized as an issue, the dependence of the Raman spectra on the instrumental configuration is far from being fully understood and great effort is needed to address the resulting spectral variations and to correct for them. To make the severity of the situation clear, we present a round robin experiment investigating the comparability of 35 Raman spectroscopic devices with different configurations in 15 institutes within seven European countries from the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) action Raman4clinics. The experiment was developed in a fashion that allows various instrumental configurations ranging from highly confocal setups to fibre-optic based systems with different excitation wavelengths. We illustrate the spectral variations caused by the instrumental configurations from the perspectives of peak shifts, intensity variations, peak widths, and noise levels. We conclude this contribution with recommendations that may help to improve the inter-laboratory studies.

Stability of thromboxane in blood samples.

Introduction: Conventional venous blood collection requires a puncture with a needle through the endothelium of a vessel. The endothelial injury causes activation of circulating platelets and the release of thromboxane A2. The aim of the study was to investigate if platelets continue to form thromboxane A2 in the blood tube after sample collection, but such synthesis would give false information about the actual circulating thromboxane A2 value. Methods: Thromboxane B2 is a biologically inactive but stable metabolite of thromboxane A2 and can be measured in blood samples by a standard enzyme immunoassay. Thromboxane B2 measurements reflect thromboxane A2 concentration. Blood samples were collected in 3.2% sodium citrate vials and EDTA vials from ten individuals and centrifuged and frozen at different time points (0, 30, and 120 minutes). Plasma aliquots were transferred to and frozen in 1.8 mL polypropylene tubes and the citrate samples were also transferred to and frozen in propylene tubes containing indomethacin. Results: Concentrations of thromboxane B2 in plasma samples collected in citrate vials and stored in propylene tubes increased very rapidly as the samples were left for longer after sampling and allowed to stand at room temperature. After 120 minutes, the amount of thromboxane B2 was 400% higher than in the reference sample at time zero. In comparison, thromboxane B2 concentration was about 200% higher in the 120-minute samples compared to the reference in samples collected in citrate vials but stored in indomethacin tubes. In samples collected in EDTA vials, a 10% reduction in thromboxane B2 concentration in the 120-minute samples was observed. Conclusion: Storage conditions, type of sampling vial and time from sampling until sample processing (centrifuging) has a major impact on thromboxane B2 stability.

Placental protein 13 (PP13) stimulates rat uterine vessels after slow subcutaneous administration.

INTRODUCTION: Reduced concentrations of placental protein 13 (PP13) during the first trimester of human pregnancy are associated with elevated risk for the subsequent development of preeclampsia, which is one of the deadliest obstetrical complications of pregnancy. Previous studies by our group have shown that PP13 lowers blood pressure in pregnant rats, increases the size and weight of pups and placentas, and induces vasodilation of resistance arteries through endothelial signaling pathways involving endothelial nitric oxid synthase and prostaglandin. METHODS: In the present study, the effect of PP13 was investigated in nonpregnant female Sprague Dawley rats (n=27). Osmotic pumps were surgically implanted subcutaneously that released a constant dose of PP13 or saline over 7 days. Most animals were sacrificed 6 days after the end of PP13 release (on day 13), while some were sacrificed immediately at the end of day 7 (the last PP13 release day), to compare the short- and long-term impact of PP13 on vessels' growth and size. RESULTS: The uterine vessels were significantly expanded in the group exposed to recombinant PP13 (rPP13) compared to the control (saline) group. Both veins and arteries were significantly expanded by rPP13 with a more pronounced effect after 13 days compared to the corresponding vessels after 7 days. Furthermore, the long-term effect of treatment by rPP13 was more pronounced in the veins compared to the corresponding arteries. The effect of a PP13 variant with a histidine-tag (His-PP13) remained the same between 7 and 13 days. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PP13 might play a key role in the expansive remodeling of the uterine vessels, reflecting what would happen if the rat was pregnant, preparing the uterine vascu-lature for the increase in uteroplacental blood flow, which is necessary for normal pregnancy. We suggest that PP13 could act by NO signaling pathways, a hypothesis that requires future study.

Aspirin causes endothelium-dependent vasodilation of resistance arteries from non-gravid and gravid rats.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to understand the effect of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) on resistance arteries from mesentery and uterus. During pregnancy, the uterine vasculature undergoes consistent growth to provide sufficient uteroplacental blood flow, a process whose failure is associated with pregnancy complications characterized by high uterine vascular resistance. METHODS: Uterine arcuate (UA) and mesenteric arteries (MA; diameter <300 µm) isolated from non-gravid, mid-gravid (day 14), and late-gravid rats (day 20) were exposed to aspirin (10-12 to 10-5 M). Further, in UA from late-gravid rats, aspirin was evaluated in presence of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases, cyclooxygenase, cyclic nucleotides (cAMP, cGMP) and BK channels, and also on endothelium-denuded vessels. RESULTS: Aspirin dilated both UA and MA in a dose dependent manner. Pregnancy increased aspirin vasodilation in MA and UA from mid-gravid rats, an effect that was reduced in vessels from late gravid animals at concentrations >10-7 M. Further, uterine vasodilation was significantly reduced when the endothelium was removed (p < 0.001), and by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (p < 0.001), cyclooxygenase synthase (p < 0.05), cyclic nucleotides cGMP/cAMP and BK channels. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show a direct vasodilatory effect of aspirin on rat uterine artery that is mediated by a combination of cellular - primarily endothelial - mechanisms. Our results in UA suggest that the use of aspirin may be effective in enhancing uteroplacental blood flow, while its vasodilation effect on MA may lower peripheral resistance.

A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of educating parents about distraction to decrease postoperative pain in children at home after tonsillectomy.

Today, parents are more involved with postoperative pain management, because children are discharged as early as possible after surgery. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effectiveness of educating parents to provide distraction in addition to pharmacologic pain management in decreasing postoperative pain at home for children ages 3 to 7 years. Ninety-three children aged 3-7 years having tonsillectomy at Landspitali, The National University Hospital of Iceland, and their parents were randomized to one of two intervention groups. The interventions were pharmacologic pain management education (control group) and pharmacologic pain management education with distraction (experimental group). Pain was measured by parent's report of pain behavior during the evening on postoperative days 1 and 2 and child's report of pain intensity on eight time points on postoperative days 1 and 2. Sixty-nine children had complete data. The results from RM-ANCOVA showed that when adjusting for pain intensity in the morning on postoperative day 1 that educating parents about distraction in addition to educating them about pain medication management decreases mean pain behavior scores (p < .001). There was no difference in pain intensity between the groups using RM-ANCOVA. However, there was association between pain intensity in the morning on postoperative day 1 and follow-up pain intensity (p < .001). The results from this study support the importance of educating parents of children having tonsillectomy about distraction in addition to educating them about pain medication management.

Family dynamics in the United States, Finland and Iceland.

Understanding the dynamics of contemporary, postmodern families and how these relate to health is critically important to nurses and other health care providers throughout the world. Much can be learned by studying not only one's own culture but also other countries. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare family dynamics of families in the United States, Finland and Iceland. To date relatively little has been published related to families in these Nordic countries. Six family dimensions in Barnhill's Family Health Cycle served as the theoretical framework. Adult respondents (n = 567) purposively selected from varied community groups, completed the Family Dynamics Measure II (FDM II) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Main findings from the three countries were positive family dynamics, with mutuality contributing the strongest factor to partially confirm the theoretical propositions in Barnhill's Family Health Cycle. Respondents from all countries reported (1) clear communication and flexibility that contribute to mutuality; (2) younger age of respondents and increased education that were associated with more positive family dynamics; and (3) larger families associated with more negative dynamics. Mixed reports occurred according to gender, with Nordic men tending to perceive some negative dimensions. Marriage was important for more positive family dynamics only in the United States. Families in the United States and in Iceland had in common more negative family dynamics during illnesses. Problems and changes affected mostly families in the United States. In general, families in Finland and Iceland had greater strengths than in the United States. This benchmark study offers information for health practitioners to assist families, as well as contribute to the improvement of family social policies, especially in the United States.

Parents' knowledge and choice of paracetamol dosing forms in 3- to 6-year-old children.

Paracetamol is one of the most common medicines administered to children and is available in suppositories, mixtures, drops and tablets. Orally administered paracetamol is more rapidly and completely absorbed and is, in general, more acceptable to children. In Iceland, the most common route of paracetamol administration is per rectum. The purpose of the study was to explore parents' knowledge and usage of paracetamol for 3- to 6-year-old children. Parents (n = 103) of children in four playschools in Reykjavík participated in this survey research. Paracetamol was most commonly administered via suppository. Some parents were unaware of oral forms of paracetamol and had been advised by doctors, nurses or pharmacy staff to use suppositories. This study provides basic information needed to design appropriate parental education in pain and fever management.

Patterns of pain and analgesic use in 3- to 7-year-old children after tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure usually associated with moderate to severe pain. Although self-report is the gold standard for pain assessment, researchers have not studied young children at home with self-report measures. The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns of self-reported pain intensity and analgesic administration in 3- to 7-year-old children undergoing tonsillectomy during the operative day in the hospital and the first 2 postoperative days at home in Iceland. As part of a larger study, 68 children undergoing tonsillectomy were taught to use the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Pain intensity scores and data about administration of analgesics were collected from children, the medical record, and the parents over a 3-day period. Children received primarily acetaminophen or acetaminophen with codeine in the hospital. At home, 99% of doses administered were acetaminophen only. Most doses were administered rectally. Forty percent of children received 24-hour therapeutic doses in the hospital. Only 10% received a 24-hour therapeutic dose at home despite significant pain scores of 4 or 5 persisting through the second postoperative day. Younger children were less likely to receive acetaminophen with codeine. In the hospital, children with pain intensity scores of 4 or 5 received prescribed morphine only 13% of the time. Children experienced clinically significant pain through the second postoperative day and will probably require a change in protocol to provide more aggressive pain management earlier. This study extends to younger children the research evidence that current pain protocols are inadequate.

Temperament and pain in 3 to 7-year-old children undergoing tonsillectomy.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among temperament, self-reported pain, parent's report of children's pain behavior and pain intensity, amount of pain medication received, and parents' attitudes toward use of analgesics in 3- to 7-year-old children undergoing tonsillectomy. Sixty-eight child/parent dyads participated in the study. Correlations were found between some temperamental factors and child's self-reported pain intensity in the hospital and at home as well as parents' report of pain behavior at home. There was a significant positive relationship between the child's self-reported pain intensity and analgesic administration in the hospital and at home.