Spectra Optia granulocyte apheresis collections result in higher collection efficiency of viable, functional neutrophils in a randomized, crossover, multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte transfusion from healthy donors is used in the treatment of patients with granulocyte function defects, or transient neutropenia and severe bacterial or fungal infections resistant to maximal antimicrobial treatment. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study evaluated the performance and safety of the newly developed granulocyte collection protocol of the Spectra Optia in a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized, paired crossover trial compared with the COBE Spectra apheresis system in a population of 32 evaluable healthy subjects. All subjects received granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor and dexamethasone before collection. RESULTS: Granulocyte procedures from Spectra Optia apheresis procedures had an approximately 23% higher polymorphonuclear (PMN) collection efficiency (CE) than the COBE Spectra collections (mean, 53.7% vs. 43.2%; p < 0.01), while the platelet CE (10.9% vs. 10.8%, respectively) and hematocrit (7.4% vs. 7.4%) were comparable between collections on both devices. Spectra Optia collections generated a higher total PMN yield per liter of blood processed than those produced by the COBE Spectra (with means of 8.6 × 10(10) vs. 6.8 × 10(10) , respectively). Granulocyte viability was more than 99% with both devices, and chemotaxic and bacterial killing activities of circulating versus collected granulocytes were similarly preserved. Fewer operator adjustments were required with Spectra Optia and there was no significant difference in the number or intensity of adverse events between instruments. CONCLUSION: CE of the granulocyte collection procedure with the Spectra Optia was approximately 10 percentage points higher than with the COBE Spectra, required less operator involvement, and is safe for clinical implementation.

Co-curricular Immersion as a Public-Private Capacity Building Activity.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already increasing challenge of establishing immersive, co-curricular activities for engineering students, particularly for biomedical-related activities. In the current work, we outline a strategy for co-curricular learning that leverages a private-public partnership in which methods for capacity-building have enabled mutually beneficial outcomes for both organizations. A contemporary issue for many non-profits is identifying effective ways to build capacity for consistent service delivery while at the same time embracing the volunteer activities of students; a challenge is that the lifecycle of a university student is often not aligned (much shorter) with the needs of the non-profit. The public-private partnership simultaneously meets the service motivation of students with the needs of the host. This paper includes two case studies that illustrate the implementation of the methods for capacity-building and related outcomes.

Community-Academic Partnership to Improve the Oral Health of Underserved Schoolchildren in Rural North Carolina.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is the most common chronic illness for children. Caries can reduce the quality of life, cause missed classroom hours, and decrease cognition. Strategies to improve children's oral health must be evidence-based, developed, and implemented in consultation with communities. METHODS: A community-academic partnership was formed between East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine and the Bertie County Public School District to develop and implement a school-based oral health prevention program using the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model. RESULTS: The PRECEDE component involved social, epidemiological, environmental, educational, ecological, administrative, and policy factors that informed the development of the oral health program. The PROCEED component consisted of implementation and evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: School-based oral health programs can increase access to care for vulnerable children and improve learning. The application of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model proved to be a valuable method for developing, implementing, and evaluating a school-based oral health program.

Distinct mouse coronary anatomy and myocardial infarction consequent to ligation.

UNLABELLED: This study describes the coronary anatomy of C57BL/6 mice and the functional impact of that anatomy on myocardial infarctions induced by ligation of the left coronary artery. In contrast to humans, a distinct septal coronary artery was observed in all mice arising either from a separate ostium from the right sinus of Valsalva or as a branch of the right coronary artery. Ligation of the left coronary artery at the site of its emergence from under the left atrium resulted in reproducible large myocardial infarctions involving the anterolateral, posterior, and apical regions of the heart as evidenced by histology and echocardiography. Interestingly, the septum was spared from infarction as predicted by the presence of the distinct septal branch found in mice. Thus, the distinct mouse coronary artery anatomy results in different regionality of infarction compared with man and large laboratory animals, and this may affect on the associated pathological remodeling of the heart. BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe the coronary anatomy of C57BL/6 mice and determine the functional impact of that anatomy on myocardial infarctions induced by ligation of the left coronary artery. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were used to visualize mouse coronary anatomy and to generate myocardial infarction. Mouse coronary artery visualization was performed on isolated hearts using injection of Silastic sealant into the aortic arch. After left thoracotomy myocardial infarction was produced by ligating the left coronary artery at the site of the vessels' emergence past the tip of the left atrium. Echocardiography was performed to analyze heart function, and histology was performed to delineate myocardial infarction. RESULTS: The different septal coronary artery was observed in all mice arising either from a separate ostium from the right sinus of Valsalva or as a branch of the right coronary artery. The mouse left coronary artery passed obliquely across the left ventricular free wall similar to the ramus intermedius coronary artery variant in man. Ligation of the left coronary artery as it emerged from under the left atrium resulted in reproducible large infarctions involving the anterolateral, posterior, and apical regions of the heart as demonstrated by histology and echocardiography. Notably, the septum was spared from infarction as predicted by the presence of the distinct septal coronary artery found in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Mouse coronary anatomy is distinct compared to man or large laboratory animals, and myocardial infarctions resulting from ligation of the mouse left coronary artery spare the septum, which may affect the pathological remodeling of the heart.

Depletion of T-tubules and specific subcellular changes in sarcolemmal proteins in tachycardia-induced heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: The T-tubule membrane network is integrally involved in excitation-contraction coupling in ventricular myocytes. Ventricular myocytes from canine hearts with tachycardia-induced dilated cardiomyopathy exhibit a decrease in accessible T-tubules to the membrane-impermeant dye, di8-ANNEPs. The present study investigated the mechanism of loss of T-tubule staining and examined for changes in the subcellular distribution of membrane proteins essential for excitation-contraction coupling. METHODS: Isolated ventricular myocytes from canine hearts with and without tachycardia-induced heart failure were studied using fluorescence confocal microscopy and membrane fractionation techniques using a variety of markers specific for sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins. RESULTS: Probes for surface glycoproteins, Na/K ATPase, Na/Ca exchanger and Ca(v)1.2 demonstrated a prominent but heterogeneous reduction in T-tubule labeling in both intact and permeabilised failing myocytes, indicating a true depletion of T-tubules and associated membrane proteins. Membrane fractionation studies showed reductions in L-type Ca(2+) channels and beta-adrenergic receptors but increased levels of Na/Ca exchanger protein in both surface sarcolemma and T-tubular sarcolemma-enriched fractions; however, the membrane fraction enriched in junctional complexes of sarcolemma and junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum demonstrated no significant changes in the density of any sarcolemmal protein or sarcoplasmic reticulum protein assayed. CONCLUSION: Failing canine ventricular myocytes exhibit prominent depletion of T-tubules and changes in the density of a variety of proteins in both surface and T-tubular sarcolemma but with preservation of the protein composition of junctional complexes. This subcellular remodeling contributes to abnormal excitation-contraction coupling in heart failure.

A new resorbable tack fixation technique for endoscopic brow lifts.

The endoscopic brow lift is now widely accepted in aesthetic plastic surgery, and various fixation techniques have been described in the literature. New developments and technology have expanded the use of resorbable devices in different surgical specialties, including plastic surgery. The authors present a technique that offers simple, fast, and reliable forehead fixation for endoscopic brow lifts using resorbable tacks. Successful facial rejuvenation was obtained in the majority of the patients without complications, need for follow-up visits to tighten the flap fixation system, or secondary procedures to extract the fixation system.