[Ultrasonographic findings of the stomach in warmblood horses at different filling states]. / Die sonografische Darstellung des Magens beim Warmblutpferd bei unterschiedlichen Füllungszuständen.

SUBJECT AND AIM: The aim of the study was to clarify to what extent the sonographic representation of the stomach changes depending on its filling state. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective controlled study, warmblood horses presented for gastroscopy were assessed sonographically. The examinations took place when the horses were fed normally (measurement 1), after 12 hours of food deprivation (measurement 2), after insufflation of air during gastroscopy (measurement 3) and after removal of air from the stomach at the end of the gastroscopy (measurement 4). The following objective parameters were recorded: Number of intercostal spaces (craniocaudal extension) and determination in which intercostal spaces the stomach could be visualized sonographically, maximum dorsal extension of the stomach, distance between skin and stomach wall. RESULTS: The median number of intercostal spaces in which the stomach could be visualized sonographically was 7.5 (IQR 3.75), 1.0 (IQR 1.0), 7.0 (IQR 2.0) and 2.0 (IQR 1.0) for measurements 1, 2, 3 (n=32) and 4 (n=15), respectively. The differences were significant between measurements 1 and 2 and between measurements 2 and 3. There was no significant difference between measurements 1 and 3. After 12 hours of food deprivation, the stomach size measured by the number of intercostal spaces visualizing the stomach was reduced by 75%. The maximum dorsal expansion of the stomach for measurements 1, 2, 3 (n=32) and 4 (n=15) was a median of 38 cm (IQR 15.25), 13 cm (IQR 6.75), 43 cm (IQR 7.00) and 21 cm (IQR 8.00), respectively. The differences were significant between measurements 1 and 2 and between 2 and 3. Concerning the distance between skin and stomach wall, the following medians were determined for measurements 1, 2, 3 (n=32) and 4 (n=15): 5.8 cm (IQR 2.27), 4.05 cm (IQR 3.05), 4.8 cm (IQR 1.48) and 5.9 cm (IQR 2.90). The only statistically significant difference was observed between measurements 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The sonographic appearance of the stomach changes according to the state of filling. Parameters that are readily determined sonographically are the craniocaudal and maximum dorsal extension as well as the distance between the skin and the stomach wall.

Epidemiology, risk factors, and prognosis of capillary leak syndrome in pediatric recipients of stem cell transplants: a retrospective single-center cohort study.

CLS involves sudden loss of intravascular fluids into the interstitial spaces. CLS was described as a possible complication after SCT. Few studies report the incidence of CLS in pediatric populations. We aimed to assess CLS incidence, its risk factors, and impact on the survival. The clinical charts of patients <18 years of age transplanted at our institution between 2002 and 2012 were reviewed. CLS was defined by weight gain >3% in 24 hours and positive intake balance despite furosemide administration. In total, 234 patients underwent 275 allogeneic SCT procedures in the analyzed time frame. Fifteen patients developed CLS (5.4%). The probability of developing CLS was significantly increased in patients suffering from sepsis (14.3% vs 0.6%, P<.001). Patients with CLS exhibited an increased risk of acute GvHD in the first 30 days after SCT (10.8% vs 1.8%, P=.002). Ten of the patients with CLS required intensive care. CLS strongly impacts OS at day +100 after SCT and is a predictive factor of TRM at the same date (42.9% vs 5%, P<.0001). The biological relation among sepsis, GvHD, and CLS development in terms of cytokine release and endothelial damage warrants further studies.

Single-cell juxtacellular transfection and recording technique.

Genetic modifications and pharmacological studies enable the analysis of protein function in living cells. While many of these studies investigate the effect of proteins by bulk administration or withdrawal of the protein in complex cellular networks, understanding the more subtle mechanisms of protein function requires fine-tuned changes on a single-cell level without affecting the balance of the system. In order to analyse the consequences of protein modification at the single-cell level, we have developed a single-cell transfection method in the loose patch configuration, which allows juxtacellular recordings of neuronal cells prior to juxtacellular transfection. CA1 pyramidal neurons were selected based on morphological and electrophysiological criteria. Using a patch clamp amplifier which allows sensitive recordings of action currents in the loose seal mode as well as electroporation with high-voltage electrical stimulation the identified neurons were transfected with a combination of specific nucleotides, e.g. siRNA and a plasmid coding for GFP for later cell retrieval. Two days after transfection, whole-cell patch clamp recordings of transfected cells were performed to analyse electrophysiological properties. Action potential firing and synaptic transmission of single electroporated CA1 pyramidal cells were comparable to untransfected cells. Our study presents a method which enables identification of neurons by juxtacellular recording prior to single-cell juxtacellular transfection, allowing subsequent analysis of morphological and electrophysiological parameters several days after the genetic modification.