Right on track? Performance of satellite telemetry in terrestrial wildlife research.

Satellite telemetry is an increasingly utilized technology in wildlife research, and current devices can track individual animal movements at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions. However, as we enter the golden age of satellite telemetry, we need an in-depth understanding of the main technological, species-specific and environmental factors that determine the success and failure of satellite tracking devices across species and habitats. Here, we assess the relative influence of such factors on the ability of satellite telemetry units to provide the expected amount and quality of data by analyzing data from over 3,000 devices deployed on 62 terrestrial species in 167 projects worldwide. We evaluate the success rate in obtaining GPS fixes as well as in transferring these fixes to the user and we evaluate failure rates. Average fix success and data transfer rates were high and were generally better predicted by species and unit characteristics, while environmental characteristics influenced the variability of performance. However, 48% of the unit deployments ended prematurely, half of them due to technical failure. Nonetheless, this study shows that the performance of satellite telemetry applications has shown improvements over time, and based on our findings, we provide further recommendations for both users and manufacturers.

[Accidental cetirizine poisoning in a four-year-old boy]. / Accidentel cetirizinforgiftning hos en fireårig dreng.

Cetirizine is a commonly used non-sedating antihistamine for the symptomatic relief of allergic reactions. Few reports exist on the result of overdose in children. We would like to report the result of a 12 fold overdose of cetirizine in a four-year-old-boy (weight 20 kg) who accidentally ingested 60 mg. Vomiting was induced 1 1/2 hour after ingestion in the out-patient clinic at the local hospital because of severe drowsiness. Due to continued lethargy he was transferred to the referral paediatric department for further observation. He was fully recovered after five to six hours without any treatment. Electrocardiographic monitoring was normal. Five incidents of cetirizine overdose in children have been reported previously. Drowsiness and sedation were observed, but no other side effects. The risk of cardiac events related to an overdose of cetirizine is extremely small. A certain degree of sedation is to be expected.

ASA monitoring standards and magnetic resonance imaging.

Some patients, often because of age or altered mental state, require general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care and sedation if adequate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is to be accomplished. This study evaluated whether patients can be monitored during MRI with 1.5-tesla scanners in a manner which complies with ASA monitoring standards without causing degradation of image quality. Ten volunteers were scanned in the MRI without sedation. Monitors meeting ASA standards were placed and electronic artifact produced by the magnetic resonance (MR) scanner was evaluated, after which two scans of the head and two of the chest were performed. One of each pair of scans was obtained with the monitors functioning and one with them turned off. Four radiologists, blinded as to whether the monitors were turned on or off, independently evaluated the 20 pairs of scans. Differences in diagnostic quality and image degradation between the scans were evaluated and scores assigned. All monitors functioned appropriately during the scans, with the exception of the electrocardiogram (ECG) which was grossly distorted to the extent that only ventricular rate could be evaluated. None of the head or body scans was nondiagnostic; however, images with the monitors off were of better quality overall than with them on. Two types of noise were generated and are described. During the head scans, three of seven monitoring combinations caused degradation of the images, while four were judged clinically adequate. During the body scans, two of six monitoring combinations created noticeable noise, while four introduced no significant noise. Ungated cardiac scans were nondiagnostic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intravenous droperidol decreases nausea and vomiting after alfentanil anesthesia without increasing recovery time.

The frequency rate of nausea and vomiting after an alfentanil-based anesthetic is high, with reported frequencies of 38% to 68%. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose and moderate-dose droperidol in decreasing the frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting and to evaluate whether droperidol has any effect on slowing recovery after a standard alfentanil-based anesthetic. Sixty normal adults who were scheduled to undergo short surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia were assigned randomly in a double-blind manner to one of three groups of 20: (1) control--normal saline; (2) droperidol 10 micrograms/kg; or (3) droperidol 20 micrograms/kg. A standard alfentanil-based anesthetic was used, and the study drug was given immediately after induction of anesthesia. In the post-anesthesia recovery room, all patients were evaluated according to the Aldrete score, noting the time to achieve a score of 10. Presence or absence and severity of nausea and vomiting were noted. To assess psychomotor recovery, a Trieger dot test was performed by every patient preoperatively, at the time of an Aldrete score of 10, and upon discharge from the recovery room. There was no statistical difference between the groups in age, sex, type of procedure, weight, total dose of alfentanil, or duration of anesthetic. The frequency of nausea and vomiting was significantly less (p less than 0.05) for the 20 micrograms/kg group (5%) than for the 10 micrograms/kg group (25%) or the control group (40%). A dose-response relationship was evident for the antiemetic effect of droperidol. An analog scale for severity of nausea and vomiting also demonstrated a dose response effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aspiration pneumonitis. Prevention and treatment.

Recognizing the factors that predispose patients to aspiration and identifying the patients who are susceptible to aspiration are the first steps in preventing aspiration pneumonitis. These steps should be followed by pharmacologic and physiologic management. Mechanical ventilatory support, bronchoscopy when indicated, and aggressive fluid management are essential when aspiration does occur.

Serological classification of conjugative plasmids by indirect haemagglutination.

The indirect haemagglutination reaction was evaluated in the classification of conjugative plasmids. A simple and sensitive method was worked out using pili and in some cases whole bacteria as antigens. Antibodies were prepared against pili coded for by plasmids from incompatibility groups IncFI, IncFII, IncI alpha and IncN. The antisera were tested against pili from 35 strains harbouring plasmids. The test differentiated clearly between plasmids from unrelated incompatibility groups, whereas cross-reaction occurred with closely related groups such as FI and FII. Minor antigenic variation could be seen within the IncFII group.

An IncN plasmid exhibiting a high frequency of transfer in broth media.

A mutant of the IncN plasmid N3T was isolated. This mutant (pNJ101) exhibits equal transfer frequencies in broth and on agar. IncN plasmids have rigid pili and do generally transfer at much lower frequencies in broth than on agar, hypothetically explained as the vulnerability of the pili towards convection forces in liquid. Strains with the mutant do have rigid pili, so other mechanisms regulating IncN plasmid transfer must be sought.

A possible association between CFA (I) fimbriae and K99 fimbriae on Escherichia coli and bacterial adherence to human lymphocytes.

We have explored a possible association between Escherichia coli binding to human lymphocytes and plasmid coded fimbriae on the bacterial surface. E. coli with or without the plasmid coded membrane CFA(I), K99 and K88 were mixed with freshly-drawn human peripheral blood lymphocytes. When the lymphocytes were mixed with E. coli possessing the CFA(I) fimbriae, 59% of the lymphocytes bound bacteria onto the surface, whereas only 22% of the lymphocytes bound the CFA(I)- derivative. The lymphocytes bound 53% and 56% of two K9+ strains, whereas 22% and 8% of the lymphocytes adhered the same strains without the K99 fimbriae. Twelve per cent and 7% of lymphocytes bound bacteria when the strain was K88+ or K88-, respectively. Likewise a low (8%) adherence to lymphocytes was found when the E. coli did not possess fimbriae or flagella.