Beyond lectures and practical courses: Teaching pharmacology using imaginative pedagogical tools.

Pharmacology has broadened its scope considerably in recent decades. Initially, it was of interest to chemists, doctors and pharmacists. In recent years, however, it has been incorporated into the teaching of biologists, molecular biologists, biotechnologists, chemical engineers and many health professionals, among others. Traditional teaching methods, such as lectures or laboratory work, have been superseded by the use of new pedagogical approaches to enable a better conceptualization and understanding of the discipline. In this article, we present several new methods that have been used in Spanish universities. Firstly, we describe a teaching network that has allowed the sharing of pedagogical innovations in Spanish universities. A European experience to improve prescribing safety is described in detail. The use of popular films and medical TV series in biomedical students shows how these audiovisual resources can be helpful in teaching pharmacology. The use of virtual worlds is detailed to introduce this new approach to teaching. The increasingly important area of the social aspects of pharmacology is also considered in two sections, one devoted to social pharmacology and the other to the use of learning based on social services to improve understanding of this important area. Finally, the use of Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation in pharmacology allows to know how this approach can help to better evaluate clinical pharmacology students. In conclusion, this article allows to know new pedagogical methods resources used in some Spanish universities that may help to improve the teaching of pharmacology.

Impact of data augmentation on supervised learning for a moving mid-frequency source.

Two residual networks are implemented to perform regression for the source localization and environment classification using a moving mid-frequency source, recorded during the Seabed Characterization Experiment in 2017. The first model implements only the classification for inferring the seabed type, and the second model uses regression to estimate the source localization parameters. The training is performed using synthetic data generated by the ORCA normal mode model. The architectures are tested on both the measured field and simulated data with variations in the sound speed profile and seabed mismatch. Additionally, nine data augmentation techniques are implemented to study their effect on the network predictions. The metrics used to quantify the network performance are the root mean square error for regression and accuracy for seabed classification. The models report consistent results for the source localization estimation and accuracy above 65% in the worst-case scenario for the seabed classification. From the data augmentation study, the results show that the more complex transformations, such as time warping, time masking, frequency masking, and a combination of these techniques, yield significant improvement of the results using both the simulated and measured data.

PAH Profiles in Suspended Particulate Matter from an Urbanized River Within the Brazilian Amazon.

The distribution, seasonal variation and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Aurá River, a small amazon typical river located in Northern Brazil, were determined. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of SPM revealed a mixture of PAH from different origins and a seasonal variation of PAH primary source for the studied area. Pyrene was the dominant PAH in both studied periods. Total PAH content (ΣPAH) ranged from lower than quantification limit (< LOQ) to 2498.2 ng g-1 dw during the dry season and < LOQ to 2865.8 ng g-1 dw during the wet season. Low molecular weight PAH (LMW) represented 51% of ΣPAH during the dry season and 29% during the wet season. It was noted, by comparing previous data, that the main source of these compounds was altered after the deactivation of an irregular landfill next to the river.

The association of time of emergency surgery - day, evening or night - with postoperative 30-day hospital mortality.

It is unclear whether the time of day for emergency surgery is associated with postoperative mortality. We assessed this association in 9319 patients who had emergency surgery as their first surgery at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada from April 2010 to March 2015. Of the 7362 (80%) patients with complete data, 168 (2.3%) died within 30 postoperative days. There was no significant association of time of day with postoperative mortality, with adjusted OR (95%CI) of 1.61 (0.96-2.72) for night vs. day, p = 0.07; 1.29 (0.78-2.13) for night vs. evening, p = 0.33; and 1.26 (0.89-1.78) for evening vs. day, p = 0.20. Studies of more patients and more factors, with longer follow-up, should be carried out to exclude important associations of time of emergency surgery with postoperative mortality and morbidity.

Early detection of cognitive impairments with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in patients with uncomplicated and complicated mild traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVES: The Montreal Cognitive Assessement (MoCA) is a brief and standardized cognitive screening tool that has been used with several clinical populations. The aim of this study was to screen the early cognitive status of patients following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with the MoCA. METHODS: The MoCA was administered within the first 2 weeks post-injury to 42 patients with uncomplicated mTBI, 92 patients with complicated mTBI and 50 healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients with complicated mTBI had a significantly lower performance (more impairments) on the total score of the MoCA than both the group with uncomplicated mTBI and the control group. Also, the group with uncomplicated mTBI had a significantly lower performance than controls. Moreover, age, education and TBI severity had a significant effect on the MoCA total score where younger, more educated and patients with less severe (higher GCS score) mTBI performed significantly better. CONCLUSIONS: The MoCA may be clinically useful to acutely screen cognition following mTBI.

Prevalence of autoimmune disease in patients with prolactinomas and non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

PURPOSE: Prolactin can affect autoimmune response and evidence suggests that hyperprolactinemia can primarily precipitate autoimmunity. We postulate that patients with prolactinomas are more prone to autoimmune disease (AID). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study comparing prevalence of AID in 100 prolactinoma patients (PRL-P, cases) and 100 age- and gender-matched non-functioning pituitary adenoma patients (NFPA-P, controls) assessed at the Neuroendocrine Clinics of the McGill University Health Centre between January 2005 and December 2014. Comparisons were done using a conditional logistic regression (CLR) analysis. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data values. RESULTS: Sixty-eight women and 32 men were in each group. Median age was 37 years for PRL-P and 46 years for NFPA-P. AID was diagnosed in 28/100 cases and 16/100 controls. Autoimmune thyroid disease was the most common AID reported in both groups, representing 70 and 61% of the AID diagnoses respectively. CLR analysis revealed a multiplicative interaction effect between AID prevalence and age (p 0.004). Odds ratios for AID in PRL-P compared to NFPA-P increase with age and become significant at age 43, reaching 4.17 (95% CI 1.26, 13.82) at age 45 and 8.09 (95% CI 1.96, 33.43) at age 50 (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data showed a higher prevalence of AID in both PRL-P and NFPA-P than in a reference population. In both groups, prevalence of AID increased with age, given a multiplicative interaction effect. A significant higher prevalence of autoimmunity in PRL-P compared with NFPA-P occurs after age 43. These associations may have significant implications for the management of prolactinoma patients.

Skin characteristics: normative data for elasticity, erythema, melanin, and thickness at 16 different anatomical locations.

BACKGROUND: The clinical use of non-invasive instrumentation to evaluate skin characteristics for diagnostic purposes and to evaluate treatment outcomes has become more prevalent. The purpose of this study was to generate normative data for skin elasticity, erythema (vascularity), melanin (pigmentation), and thickness across a broad age range at a wide variety of anatomical locations using the Cutometer(®) (6 mm probe), Mexameter(®) , and high-frequency ultrasound in a healthy adult sample. METHODS: We measured skin characteristics of 241 healthy participants who were stratified according to age and gender. Sixteen different anatomical locations were measured using the Cutometer(®) for maximum skin deformation, gross elasticity, and biological elasticity, the Mexameter(®) for erythema and melanin, and high-frequency ultrasound for skin thickness. Standardized measurement procedures were applied for all participants. RESULTS: The means and standard deviations for each measured skin characteristic for females and males across five different age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-85 years old) are presented. As previously described, there were variations in skin characteristics across age groups, anatomical locations, and between females and males highlighting the need to use site specific, age and gender matched data when comparing skin characteristics. CONCLUSION: The reported data provides normative data stratified by anatomical location, age, and gender that can be used by clinicians and researchers to objectively determine whether patients' skin characteristics vary significantly from healthy subjects.

O father where art thou? Paternity analyses in a natural population of the haploid-diploid seaweed Chondrus crispus.

The link between life history traits and mating systems in diploid organisms has been extensively addressed in the literature, whereas the degree of selfing and/or inbreeding in natural populations of haploid-diploid organisms, in which haploid gametophytes alternate with diploid sporophytes, has been rarely measured. Dioecy has often been used as a proxy for the mating system in these organisms. Yet, dioecy does not prevent the fusion of gametes from male and female gametophytes originating from the same sporophyte. This is likely a common occurrence when spores from the same parent are dispersed in clumps and recruit together. This pattern of clumped spore dispersal has been hypothesized to explain significant heterozygote deficiency in the dioecious haploid-diploid seaweed Chondrus crispus. Fronds and cystocarps (structures in which zygotes are mitotically amplified) were sampled in two 25 m(2) plots located within a high and a low intertidal zone and genotyped at 5 polymorphic microsatellite loci in order to explore the mating system directly using paternity analyses. Multiple males sired cystocarps on each female, but only one of the 423 paternal genotypes corresponded to a field-sampled gametophyte. Nevertheless, larger kinship coefficients were detected between males siring cystocarps on the same female in comparison with males in the entire population, confirming restricted spermatial and clumped spore dispersal. Such dispersal mechanisms may be a mode of reproductive assurance due to nonmotile gametes associated with putatively reduced effects of inbreeding depression because of the free-living haploid stage in C. crispus.

Antiplatelet effect of new lipophilic hydroxytyrosol alkyl ether derivatives in human blood.

PURPOSE: To investigate the in vitro antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory effects of five alkyl hydroxytyrosol (HT) ether derivatives in human whole blood and compare these effects with those of HT. METHODS: Blood samples from healthy volunteers were incubated with HT and HT alkyl ether derivatives (ethyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl and dodecyl). Maximum intensity of platelet aggregation was induced with collagen, arachidonic acid or ADP. Calcium-induced thromboxane B(2) and nitric oxide production, LPS-induced prostaglandin E(2) and nitric oxide production and LPS-induced interleukin 1ß production were measured. RESULTS: All compounds inhibited platelet aggregation, thromboxane B(2) and inflammatory mediators in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentrations of each compound that inhibited the corresponding variable by 50 % compared to control samples (IC(50)) were in the range of 10(-7)-10(-6) M for HT hexyl ether; for the other compounds, these values were in the range of 10(-5) M. The IC(50) for thromboxane B(2) production was in the range of 10(-4) M. The effects of HT alkyl ether derivatives were greater than those of HT. These compounds increased nitric oxide production. There was no direct relationship between the effects of these compounds and alkyl chain length. Maximum effects were observed in the C4-C6 range. CONCLUSIONS: Alkyl ether derivatives of HT exert antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory effects that are greater than those of HT.

Effects of terutroban, a thromboxane/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor antagonist, on retinal vascularity in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of terutroban, a selective antagonist of the thromboxane/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor, in preventing retinal ischaemia in a model of diabetes in rats. METHODS: Experimental diabetes was induced with streptozotocin. Rats were distributed into five groups (n = 20): (1) non-diabetic rats, (2) rats with diabetes (DR) treated with vehicle, (3) DR treated with aspirin (2 mg/kg/day p.o.), (4) DR treated with terutroban (5 mg/kg/day p.o.), (5) DR treated with terutroban (30 mg/kg/day p.o.). The follow-up period was 3 months. The main assessment was the percentage of retinal surface covered with vessels permeable to peroxidase. Platelet aggregation, aortic prostacyclin and nitric oxide production, plasma levels of lipid peroxides (thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances) and 3-nitrotyrosine and serum levels of IL-6 were evaluated. RESULTS: Diabetes induced a reduction in retinal vascularity (76.9%), aortic prostacyclin (37.8%) and nitric oxide production (35.0%), and increased platelet aggregation, lipid peroxides, 3-nitrotyrosine. When compared with vehicle-treated DR, terutroban increased the percentage of retinal surface covered by PVPP (38% for terutroban-5 and 61% for terutroban-30), aortic prostacyclin (188% for terutroban-5 and 146% for terutroban-30) and nitric oxide production (320% for terutroban-5 and 390% for terutroban-30). Moreover, terutroban reduced platelet reactivity (27.8­95.1%, according to the inducer), lipid peroxides (60.7% for terutroban-5 and 50.0% for terutroban-30), 3-nitrotyrosine (43.8% for terutroban-5 and 36.8% for terutroban-30) and IL-6 concentration (18.0% for terutroban-30). The effect of terutroban in retinal, nitrosative and aortic parameters was significantly higher than that of aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: Terutroban significantly protected retinal vascularity from ischaemia in experimental diabetes, and this result could be attributed not only to its antiplatelet/antithrombotic activities but also to its vascular properties.

Space Weathering: Processing Velocities in Organic Materials as a Function of Electron Beam Energies-Solar Electron Erosion Rate Application.

Samples of α-glycine (α-GLY; 230-350 nm) were irradiated in laboratory as a function of electron beam energies (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 keV) at room temperature (293-295 K). The evolution of α-glycine irradiation process was monitored in real time by infrared spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared - FTIR), through specific spectral bands: 2610, 2124, 1410, and 1333 cm-1. A phenomenological model is proposed to describe the column density decay when thick organic samples are processed by ionizing beams. The α-glycine radiolysis has exhibited transient and stationary modes in such thickness films. The first stage is mainly described by one exponential decay, whereas the latter foremost decays linearly; compaction processes have been neglected; glycine dissociation and sputtering processes are assumed to be responsible for the damage caused by the electron beam impact through the solid film. The second (stationary) stage is due to equilibrium between a partially shielded bulk radiolysis and sputtering of protective layers. The decay rates are measured for the transient and stationary modes and allow determining the processing velocity of the samples as a function of the electron beam energy. Finally, the model is applied to space weathering to find out the typical sputtering rate of organic compounds on the surface of astrophysical analogs with no protection layers attacked by solar wind (SW) electrons at ≈1 AU. Although the velocity of processing materials in SW has natural competing effects, such as regolith overturn by impacts of micro- and macrometeorites and downslope motion of material that is unstable due to changes in the geopotential of the airless bodies (e.g., asteroid 101955 Bennu), these competing processes are not included in the simulations presented here.

Differences in the in vitro antiplatelet effect of dexibuprofen, ibuprofen, and flurbiprofen in human blood.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we compared the in vitro pharmacodynamic profile of dexibuprofen, ibuprofen, and flurbiprofen to identify possible differences in antiplatelet activity. METHODS: In whole blood samples from healthy volunteers, we measured platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate, collagen and arachidonic acid, platelet thromboxane B(2) (TxB(2)), lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E(2), leukocyte 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1α) (PGF(1α)), and nitric oxide induced by both constitutive and inducible pathways before and after incubation with increasing concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid, dexibuprofen, ibuprofen, or flurbiprofen. The concentration that inhibited (IC(50)) or increased each variable by 50% was calculated. RESULTS: All 3 drugs inhibited platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner, TxB(2), prostaglandin E(2), and 6-keto-PGF(1α), and increased calcium-induced nitric oxide production. Dexibuprofen showed greater antiplatelet potency than ibuprofen and flurbiprofen, and its profile was similar to that of aspirin. For example, IC(50) values for arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation were 0.85 ± 0.06 µM for dexibuprofen, 14.76 ± 1.22 µM for ibuprofen, 6.39 ± 0.51 µM for flurbiprofen, and 0.38 ± 0.03 µM for aspirin. All drugs inhibited both thromboxane and prostacyclin synthesis, but the IC(50) anti-TxB(2)/IC(50) anti-6-keto-PGF(1α) ratio was 0.21 ± 0.03 for dexibuprofen, 1.05 ± 0.08 for ibuprofen, 0.79 ± 0.11 for flurbiprofen, and 0.46 ± 0.06 for aspirin. All drugs increased calcium-dependent nitric oxide production. CONCLUSIONS: The aryl propionic acid derivative dexibuprofen was the most potent antiplatelet drug, and its pharmacodynamic profile is similar to aspirin.

Novel polymerase chain reaction primers for the specific detection of bacterial copper P-type ATPases gene sequences in environmental isolates and metagenomic DNA.

AIMS: In the last decades, the worldwide increase in copper wastes release by industrial activities like mining has driven environmental metal contents to toxic levels. For this reason, the study of the biological copper-resistance mechanisms in natural environments is important. Therefore, an appropriate molecular tool for the detection and tracking of copper-resistance genes was developed. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this work, we designed a PCR primer pair to specifically detect copper P-type ATPases gene sequences. These PCR primers were tested in bacterial isolates and metagenomic DNA from intertidal marine environments impacted by copper pollution. As well, T-RFLP fingerprinting of these gene sequences was used to compare the genetic composition of such genes in microbial communities, in normal and copper-polluted coastal environments. New copper P-type ATPases gene sequences were found, and a high degree of change in the genetic composition because of copper exposure was also determined. CONCLUSIONS: This PCR based method is useful to track bacterial copper-resistance gene sequences in the environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first to report the design and use of a PCR primer pair as a molecular marker to track bacterial copper-resistance determinants, providing an excellent tool for long-term analysis of environmental communities exposed to metal pollution.

Dataset of operating conditions to Isolate Cellulose Nanocrystalline from Sugarcane Bagasse and Pinewood Sawdust as Possible Material to Fabricate Polymer Electrolyte Membranes.

The data shown in this document provides all the experimental data that complement the article published in Carbohydrate Polymers entitled "Influence of operating conditions on Proton Conductivity of Nanocellulose films using two Agroindustrial Wastes: Sugarcane Bagasse and Pinewood Sawdust" [1]. The data of this paper are the result of a large series of experiments to optimize the extraction of cellulose nanocrystalline (CNC) from these two agro-industrial wastes: sugarcane Bagasse (SCB) and pinewood sawdust (PSW). The conditions of pretreatment (5 wt.% or 10 wt.% of NaOH) and hydrolysis temperature (60, 75 and 90°C) in an aqueous solution of 45 wt.% of H2SO4 were analyzed exhaustively. The data includes the characterization by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry/Thermogravimetric Analysis (DSC/TGA), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) micrographs with their corresponding SAED patterns and nanoindentation tests. Additionally, photographs during the isolation of cellulose nanocrystalline in dependence of the syntheses parameters. It is also included the data that complement the molecular dynamic simulation generated by GLYCAM carbohydrate builder based on the coordinates for alpha and beta cellulose considering a microfibril of 5, 10 and 20 glucosyl residues (degree of polymerization, DP). Overall data have not been previously published and are available contributing to a better understanding of the CNCs isolation through different pretreatment concentrations and temperatures of processing.

Influence of operating conditions on proton conductivity of nanocellulose films using two agroindustrial wastes: Sugarcane bagasse and pinewood sawdust.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were isolated from two-agroindustrial wastes: sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and pinewood sawdust (PWS), to analyze their chemical, structural, morphological, and proton conduction properties in dependence of the synthesis parameters. In both sources, the isolated CNCs correspond to the monoclinic phase of cellulose type I and II. For SCB, the smallest CNCs were isolated, in a range of 3-10 nm, with 5 wt.% of NaOH and 60 °C of acid hydrolysis. PWS displayed the smallest sizes at 75 °C and 10 wt.% NaOH (40-110 nm). Membrane characterization suggests that isolated CNCs, between 75 and 90 °C of acid hydrolysis and 10 wt.% NaOH from both SCB and PWS sources, displayed an important increase in the proton conductivity, 1.23(±0.61)×10-5 and 9.26 (±0.24)×10-5 S-m-1, respectively. Thus, with proper synthesis conditions, CNCs can be potentially used as based element to obtain other proton conductor materials to fabricate PEMs.

Compaction and Destruction Cross-Sections for α-Glycine from Radiolysis Process via 1.0 keV Electron Beam as a Function of Temperature.

Glycine is an amino acid that has already been detected in space. It is relevant to estimate its resistance under cosmic radiation. In this way, a sublimate of glycine in α-form on KBr substrate was exposed in the laboratory to a 1.0 keV electron beam. The radiolysis study was performed at 40 K, 80 K, and 300 K sample temperatures. These temperatures were chosen to cover characteristics of the outer space environment. The evolution of glycine compaction and degradation was monitored in real time by infrared spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared) by investigation in the spectral ranges of 3500-2100, 1650-1200, and 950-750 cm-1. The compaction cross-section increases as the glycine temperature decreases. The glycine film thickness layer of ∼160 nm was depleted completely after ∼15 min at 300 K under irradiation with ∼1.4 µA beam current on the target, whereas the glycine depletion at 40 K and 80 K occurred after about 4 h under similar conditions. The destruction cross-section at room temperature is found to be (13.8 ± 0.2) × 10-17 cm2, that is, about 20 times higher than the values for glycine depletion at lower temperatures (<80 K). Emerging and vanishing peak absorbance related to OCN- and CO bands was observed in 2230-2100 cm-1 during the radiolysis at 40 K and 80 K. The same new IR bands appear in the range of 1600-1500, 1480-1370, and 1350-1200 cm-1 after total glycine depletion for all temperature configurations. A strong N-H deformation band growing at 1510 cm-1 was observed only at 300 K. Finally, the destruction cross-section associated to tholin decay at room temperature is estimated to be (1.30 ± 0.05) × 10-17 cm2. In addition, a correlation between the formation cross-sections for daughter and granddaughter molecules at 300 K is also obtained from the experimental data.

Data supporting the production of dietary fibers from sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane tops using microwave - assisted alkaline treatments.

The treatment of agroindustrial residues is an alternative to waste management and obtain products with added value. In this article, we describe the confocal microscopy images, the microbiological data, policosanol content and color measurement linked to the paper "production of dietary fibers from sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane tops using microwave - assisted alkaline treatments". The data contain photographs after elaboration of noodles-type pasta and chapatti-type fermented bread; the confocal laser scanning micrographs, before and after including sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane tops fibers in foods. Microbiological analyses of total coliforms, molds and yeasts, and aerobic mesophiles were also presented according to Mexican Standard NOM- 247-SSA1-2008 which confirmed that the food is safe for human consumption. The data provided in this article have not been previously published and are available to enable critical or extended analyses.

Effects of propofol on the leukocyte nitric oxide pathway: in vitro and ex vivo studies in surgical patients.

This study was designed to evaluate the mechanism by which propofol modifies leukocyte production of nitric oxide (NO) in humans. In vitro experiments used whole blood from healthy volunteers (n = 10 samples/experiment). Ex vivo experiments studied the effects of an intravenous dose of 2.5 mg propofol per kilogram body weight followed by intravenous infusion of 4 mg kg(-1) h(-1) in surgical patients in ASA class I or II (n = 20). In whole blood, neutrophils and plasma, we measured NO production and the activities of the enzymes nitric oxide synthase [inducible (iNOS) and constitutive (cNOS)] and cyclooxygenase [constitutive (COX-1) and inducible (COX-2)]. Concentrations of interleukins (IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) were measured in plasma. In blood from healthy donors, propofol increased NO production and cNOS activity. The concentration of propofol that increased NO production by 50% (EC(50)) was 23.5 microM, and the EC(50) of propofol for cNOS was 18.6 microM. In blood from surgical patients, propofol increased NO production by 52% and cNOS activity by 57%. Propofol inhibited iNOS activity in vitro; the concentration that reduced activity by 50% (IC(50)) was 19.9 microM. In surgical patients propofol inhibited iNOS activity by 53%. COX-1 and COX-2 activities were inhibited in vitro (IC(50) 32.6 and 187 microM, respectively) and in surgical patients (53 and 81% inhibition, respectively). Plasma concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNFalpha were significantly reduced in surgical patients (32, 23, and 21% inhibition, respectively). None of these parameters were modified in a group of patients (n = 10) anesthetized with sevoflurane. We conclude that propofol stimulated constitutive NO production and inhibited inducible NO production, possibly by curtailing the stimulation of iNOS by inflammatory mediators in surgical patients.

The effect of protective headgear on head injuries and concussions in adolescent football (soccer) players.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of protective headgear in adolescent football (soccer) players. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Oakville Soccer Club, Oakville, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Football players aged 12-17 years. INTERVENTION: A questionnaire examining the 2006 football season using self-reported symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of concussions experienced during the current football season, the duration of symptoms, injuries to the head and face and any associated risk factors for these injuries. RESULTS: In the population studied, 47.8% had experienced symptoms of a concussion during the current football year. 26.9% of athletes who wore headgear (HG) and 52.8% of those who did not wear headgear (No-HG) had concussions. Approximately 4 out of 5 athletes in each group did not realize they had suffered a concussion. More than one concussion was experienced by 50.0% of the concussed HG athletes and 69.3% of the concussed No-HG group. 23.9% of all concussed players experienced symptoms for at least 1 day or longer. Variables that increased the risk of suffering a concussion during the 2006 football year included being female and not wearing headgear. Being female and not wearing football headgear increased the risk of suffering an abrasion, laceration or contusion on areas of the head covered by football headgear. CONCLUSION: Adolescent football players experience a significant number of concussions. Being female may increase the risk of suffering a concussion and injuries on the head and face, while the use of football headgear may decrease the risk of sustaining these injuries.