Antibiotic pharmacokinetics in infected pleural effusions.

Pleural infection is usually treated with empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics, but limited data exist on their penetrance into the infected pleural space. We performed a pharmacokinetic study analysing the concentration of five intravenous antibiotics across 146 separate time points in 35 patients (amoxicillin, metronidazole, piperacillin-tazobactam, clindamycin and cotrimoxazole). All antibiotics tested, apart from co-trimoxazole, reach pleural fluid levels equivalent to levels within the blood and well above the relevant minimum inhibitory concentrations. The results demonstrate that concerns about the penetration of commonly used antibiotics, apart from co-trimoxazole, into the infected pleural space are unfounded.

An innovative low-cost breast pump-hire program to enhance breastfeeding rates in a neonatal intensive care unit.

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of a low-cost hospital-grade breast pump hire program for women experiencing financial hardship with infants in neonatal intensive care. DESIGN: A multi-method evaluation including data audits and surveys. METHODS: Twenty-four electric breast pumps were purchased and rented to mothers at a cost of $1/day. To be eligible, mothers needed to have given birth to an infant <32 weeks and/or <1500 g and self-identified as experiencing financial hardship. Data were collected by (1) a retrospective audit to evaluate infant feeding and clinical outcomes at hospital discharge; (2) prospective telephone surveys to evaluate women's satisfaction with the program; and (3) analysis of the breast pump register to determine any loss or damages. RESULTS: Twenty-four mothers of 26 infants participated in the program. More than half of the infants were exclusively breastmilk fed at hospital discharge, and more than three-quarters were fed a combination of breastmilk and formula. Women who intended to formula feed were supported to provide breastmilk to their infants in the first few weeks of life. Most participants were highly satisfied with the program. Women reported that accessibility to a hospital-grade breast pump improved their ability to provide expressed breastmilk to their infants. Most participants were 'extremely satisfied' with the performance of the breast pump. One-quarter of the women reported that they would have exclusively formula-fed if they did not have access to the breast pump hire program. The audit of the equipment register showed no reported technical issues, loss or damages. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that the low-cost breast pump hire program supported equitable care, increasing women's ability to provide expressed breastmilk for their infants. IMPACT: Providing access to low-cost hospital-grade breast pumps to mothers of vulnerable infants is likely to prevent poor infant clinical outcomes and improve women's care satisfaction. PUBLIC OR PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: Nil.

Barriers and enablers to bowel cancer screening participation in remote Tasmania: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework.

OBJECTIVE: Identify barriers and enablers for remote Tasmanians participating in bowel cancer screening through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. SETTING: A small remote Tasmanian community. PARTICIPANTS: Tasmanian remote community members aged 50 years and over. DESIGN: A qualitative study conducted 16 semi-structured interviews. Two researchers conducted in-person and telephone interviews. Questions were directed by an interview guide developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework for behaviour change and Behaviour Change Wheel. Two researchers analysed data using directed content analysis with a flexible inductive approach. RESULTS: Four themes related to barriers and enablers to completing the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program screening kit in remote Tasmania. Themes included the subject of screening, physical screening kit, the process and outcome of the kit. Several barrier and enabler sub-themes overlapped or were linked, as many enablers mitigated barriers. For example, social influences, awareness level, steps in completing screening, and planning and timing to screen. Social support and discussing screening with others were key enablers, whereas lack of these were barriers. For remote communities, taking the kit to the post office was a barrier from often knowing the post officer. A bowel bus providing screening and information support services may reduce the travel burden of follow-up diagnostic tests and support low-literacy individuals to screen. CONCLUSION: Barriers and enablers exist within each stage of the screening process, from what influences an individual decision to screen, through to the outcome. To improve screening rates in rural/remote Tasmania, barriers and enablers to screening must be considered.

Comparison of the Effect of Different Conditioning Media on the Angiogenic Potential of Hypoxia Preconditioned Blood-Derived Secretomes: Towards Engineering Next-Generation Autologous Growth Factor Cocktails.

Hypoxia Preconditioned Plasma (HPP) and Serum (HPS) are regenerative blood-derived growth factor compositions that have been extensively examined for their angiogenic and lymphangiogenic activity towards wound healing and tissue repair. Optimization of these secretomes' growth factor profile, through adjustments of the conditioning parameters, is a key step towards clinical application. In this study, the autologous liquid components (plasma/serum) of HPP and HPS were replaced with various conditioning media (NaCl, PBS, Glucose 5%, AIM V medium) and were analyzed in terms of key pro- (VEGF-A, EGF) and anti-angiogenic (TSP-1, PF-4) protein factors, as well as their ability to promote microvessel formation in vitro. We found that media substitution resulted in changes in the concentration of the aforementioned growth factors, and also influenced their ability to induce angiogenesis. While NaCl and PBS led to a lower concentration of all growth factors examined, and consequently an inferior tube formation response, replacement with Glucose 5% resulted in increased growth factor concentrations in anticoagulated blood-derived secretomes, likely due to stimulation of platelet factor release. Medium substitution with Glucose 5% and specialized peripheral blood cell-culture AIM V medium generated comparable tube formation to HPP and HPS controls. Altogether, our data suggest that medium replacement of plasma and serum may significantly influence the growth factor profile of hypoxia-preconditioned blood-derived secretomes and, therefore, their potential application as tools for promoting therapeutic angiogenesis.

Health promotion programs for middle-aged adults that promote physical activity or healthy eating and involve local governments and health services: A rapid review.

BACKGROUND: Noncommunicable diseases can be prevented or delayed through health promotion programs. Little is known about programs delivered by partnership organisations that address lifestyle behaviours. The study's purpose was to review the literature on physical activity or healthy eating health promotion programs, delivered in partnership by the local government and local health services, to describe characteristics of programs and their impact on physical activity, healthy eating or related health outcomes among middle-aged adults. METHODS: This rapid review was conducted from November 2021 to June 2022, informed by the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods guidance for conducting rapid reviews. Articles published in English since 2000 were identified in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, AgeLine and Scopus databases. A narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS: Ten articles involving 19 802 participants were identified from a total of 4847 articles identified from the search. The primary role of the partnership was providing funds. Other roles were facilitating stakeholder involvement, program development, delivery and recruitment. Positive outcomes were likely if programs were developed by collaborative stakeholder partnerships, informed by previous research or a behaviour change framework. The heterogeneity of study designs and reported outcomes did not permit meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: This review highlights the lack of evidence of local government-health service partnerships delivering physical activity or healthy eating health promotion programs for middle-aged adults. Programs designed collaboratively with an evidence base or a theory base are recommended and can guide future work investigating strategies for partnership development. SO WHAT?: Physical activity or healthy eating health promotion programs need early stakeholder collaborative input designed with a theory/evidence base. This can guide future work for investigating strategies for partnership development.

The U.S. Armed Services Blood Program support to U.S. Central Command 2014-2021: Transformation of combat trauma resuscitation through blood product innovation and expansion of blood availability far forward.

BACKGROUND: The United States Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) faced complex blood supply challenges during two decades of military operations in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and through an adaptive, responsive, and agile system, gained valuable insights on blood product usage in combat casualty care. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective review of blood product introduction and utilization trends was compiled from ASBP data collected during CENTCOM operations from 2014 through 2021. RESULTS: During the study period, several blood products were introduced to the CENTCOM area of operations including Low Titer O Whole Blood (LTOWB), Cold-Stored Platelets (CSP), Liquid Plasma (LP), and French Freeze Dried Plasma (FDP) manufactured from U.S. sourced donor plasma, all while expanding Walking Blood Bank capabilities. There was a gradual substitution of component therapy for whole blood; blood utilization peaked in 2017. Transfusion of Fresh Whole Blood (FWB) from Walking Blood Banks decreased as fully pre-tested LTOWB was supplied by the ASBP. LTOWB was initially supplied in citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) anticoagulant (21-day shelf life) but was largely replaced with LTOWB in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) anticoagulant (35-day shelf life) by 2019. Implementation of prehospital transfusion and expansion of surgical and resuscitation teams led to an increase in the number of sites receiving blood. DISCUSSION: ASBP introduced new products to its inventory in order to meet changing blood product demands driven by changes in the Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines and operational demands. These products were adopted into clinical practice with a resultant evolution in transfusion strategies.

Treatment of Hip Instability in Children With Down Syndrome: Keys to Managing a Challenging Problem.

INTRODUCTION: Management of hip instability in children with Down syndrome is a challenging task to undertake for even the most experienced surgeons. As life expectancy of these patients increases, the importance of preserving functional mobility and hip joint stability in order to minimize late hip degeneration and pain has become a priority. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of children with Down syndrome and hip instability who underwent surgical reconstruction with femoral and/or acetabular procedures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all children with Down syndrome age 18 years and younger, who underwent surgical intervention to address hip instability between 2003 and 2017. Data was recorded detailing the patient's demographics, preoperative and postoperative functional status and surgical details. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic analysis was performed as well as 3-dimensional computed tomography scan evaluation, when available. All major and minor complications were recorded and classified using the Severin radiographic classification and the Clavien-Dindo-Sink clinical classification. RESULTS: We studied 28 hips in 19 children that were followed for an average of 4.4 years postsurgical intervention for hip instability. The majority of patients improved in all radiographic parameters. A total of 14 hips (50%) had complications and 9 hips (32%) required a secondary surgery. Of those complications, 2 hips (7%) developed avascular necrosis and 4 hips (14%) developed recurrent instability after the index procedure. Two of these hips had a subsequent anteverting periacetabular osteotomy that produced a stable hip at final follow up. DISCUSSION: Surgical management of hip instability in children with Down syndrome remains challenging. The treating surgeon must have a thorough understanding of the pathoanatomy and design the surgical treatment to meet all of the underlying sources of instability. Combined femoral and acetabular osteotomies plus capsulorrhaphy are often required along with postoperative hip spica immobilization. Although complication and revision surgery rates are high, hip stability and good functional outcomes can be achieved.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Infiltration After Median Sternotomy in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The present study retrospectively ascertained whether liposomal bupivacaine (LB) injected subcutaneously after median sternotomy incisions in pediatric cardiac surgery patients is as efficacious as the ON-Q PainBuster pump (ON-Q) (Avonas Medical, Alpharetta, GA). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort comparison. SETTING: Pediatric hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Cardiac surgery patients who were treated with LB for elective cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received 4 mg/kg of LB admixed with 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.9% normal saline. These patients were compared with an age- and procedure-matched control group of similar size treated with the ON-Q pump (continuous infusion 0.25% bupivacaine via subcutaneous catheter). Total analgesics used and route, other analgesics or sedatives, and pain scores (first 24 hours and cumulative) were tracked for 96 hours after surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 222 patients were equally divided between the two groups. Overall, the median (interquartile range) age was 6.5 (3.8-12.7) years. Unadjusted analysis suggested that patients in the LB group were administered a significantly higher dose of intravenous acetaminophen (77.4 v 60.0 mg/kg; p < 0.05). Extubation in the operating room was significantly higher in the LB patients (p < 0.05). Narcotic (morphine) administration was significantly higher in the ON-Q group (100.0% v 95.5%; p < 0.05). Although the median pain score within the first 24 hours was higher in LB patients (27.0 v 17.0; p < 0.05), there was a significantly greater difference observed in the Numeric Rating Scale area under the curve for the ON-Q group. CONCLUSIONS: LB is at least as effective as the ON-Q is for providing analgesia after median sternotomy incision in children.

Radiographic Coronal Imbalance and Shoulder Asymmetry Continue to Improve Between 2 and 5 Years Following Surgery of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Managing patients with coronal imbalance (CI) and shoulder height asymmetry following scoliosis surgery can be challenging. Little is known about the course of findings over time and whether they improve or persist. The aim was to report the rate of suboptimal radiographic CI or shoulder asymmetry (SA) at 5 years in patients who were already reported to have CI or SA 2 years after surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: An AIS database was reviewed for patients with both 2- and 5-year follow-up after surgery. From this cohort, patients with CI>2 cm or SA>2 cm at their 2-year follow-up were identified and reevaluated, using the same parameters, at 5-year follow-up. RESULTS: Of 916 patients, 157 (17%) patients had CI and 69 (8%) patients had SA at 2-year follow-up. At 5 years this improved to 53 (6%) and 11 patients (1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Having coronal or shoulder imbalance 2 years after surgery for AIS does not guarantee continued imbalance 5 years after surgery. Most patients demonstrate some improvement in these measures of clinical deformity. Anticipating the potential course following a postoperative coronal balance and shoulder height differences can help surgeons manage and counsel their patients appropriately. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level II-therapeutic.

Lessons from isavuconazole therapeutic drug monitoring at a United Kingdom Reference Center.

We determined isavuconazole serum concentrations for 150 UK patients receiving standard isavuconazole dosing regimens, including serial therapeutic drug monitoring for several patients on prolonged therapy. Mean trough isavuconazole concentrations in these patients were virtually identical to those reported previously from clinical trials, although greater variability was seen in patients below 18 years of age. Serial monitoring in patients receiving prolonged therapy suggested gradual, near-linear accumulation of the drug over many weeks.

The potential of the solitary parasitoid Microctonus brassicae for the biological control of the adult cabbage stem flea beetle, Psylliodes chrysocephala.

The cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), Psylliodes chrysocephala L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a major pest of oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae), within the UK and continental Europe. Following the withdrawal of many broad-spectrum pesticides, most importantly neonicotinoids, and with increased incidence of pyrethroid resistance, few chemical control options remain, resulting in the need for alternative pest management strategies. We identified the parasitoid wasp Microctonus brassicae (Haeselbarth) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) within CSFB collected from three independent sites in Norfolk, UK. Parasitism of adult CSFB was confirmed, and wasp oviposition behaviour was described. Moreover, we show that within captive colonies parasitism rates are sufficient to generate significant biological control of CSFB populations. A sequence of the M. brassicae mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (MT-CO1) gene was generated for rapid future identification. Moroccan specimens of Microctonus aethiopoides (Loan), possessing 90% sequence similarity, were the closest identified sequenced species. This study represents the first description published in English of this parasitoid of the adult cabbage stem flea beetle.

Medial Epicondyle Fractures: Biomechanical Evaluation and Clinical Comparison of 3 Fixation Methods Used in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Screw fixation is the most commonly employed fixation strategy for displaced medial epicondyle fractures, but in younger patients with minimal ossification, the fracture fragment may not accommodate a screw. In these situations, Kirschner-wires (K-wire) or suture anchors may be utilized as alternatives. The purposes of this study were to examine the biomechanical properties of medial epicondyle fractures fixed with a screw, K-wires, or suture anchors, to evaluate clinical outcomes and complications of patients 10 years of age or younger treated with these approaches, and to perform a cost-analysis. METHODS: Biomechanical assessment: Immature pig forelimbs underwent an osteotomy through the medial epicondyle apophysis, simulating a fracture. These were then fixed with a screw, K-wires or suture anchors. Cyclic elongation (mm), displacement (mm), load to failure (N), and stiffness (N/mm) were assessed. Clinical assessment: a retrospective review was performed of patients 10 years of age or younger with a medial epicondyle fracture fixed with these strategies. Radiographic outcomes, postoperative data and complications were compared. These data were used to perform a cost-analysis of each treatment approach. RESULTS: Biomechanically, screws were stronger (P=0.047) and stiffer (P=0.01) than the other constructs. Clinically, 51 patients met inclusion criteria (screw=27, wires=11, anchor=13). Patients treated with K-wires were younger (P<0.05) and patients treated with screw fixation had a shorter casting duration (P=0.008). Irrespective of treatment strategy, all fractures healed (100%) and only 1 patient in the screw group lost reduction. Clinical outcomes and complications were similar between groups, but the suture anchor group was less likely to require a second surgery for implant removal (P<0.05). This lower reoperation rate led to a cost-saving of 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Biomechanically, all 3 approaches provided initial fixation exceeding the forces observed across the elbow joint with routine motion. The screw construct was the strongest and stiffest. Clinically, all 3 strategies were acceptable, with screw fixation offering a shorter casting duration, but greater implant removal need with higher associated costs.

Magnetic resonance imaging predictors of shoulder instability in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Managing recurrent shoulder instability in an athlete of any age is challenging. The pediatric literature regarding recurrence of instability is difficult to interpret because of the variable treatment protocols and varying ages. The adult literature suggests that bone loss on the humerus, glenoid or both, as detected by CT, has high rates of recurrence following surgical intervention. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors for recurrence following arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy in adolescent athletes using preoperative MR arthrograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed a retrospective shoulder instability database for adolescents (age ≤18 years), who underwent an isolated arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy from 2006 to 2011. We recorded preoperative MRI measurements regarding the dimensions of the glenohumeral joint, as well as glenoid, humeral and labral pathologies. We performed statistical analysis to determine MRI findings that might have predicted recurrence of shoulder instability following capsulorrhaphy. RESULTS: We reviewed a total of 50 patients (13-18 years) and found 22 patients (44%) to have recurrent instability following capsulorrhaphy. Presence of glenoid bone loss or a bipolar bone lesion (defined as bone loss on both the glenoid and humerus) significantly predicted recurrence of shoulder instability (both P=0.03). There was not a threshold size of glenoid bone loss or bipolar lesion that predicted recurrence. All remaining glenohumeral dimensions or presence or size of an isolated Hill-Sachs did not significantly predict recurrence of instability. CONCLUSION: Athletes ≤18 years old have a high rate of failure following arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy in the presence of glenoid bone loss or a bipolar lesion on MRI. Surgeons should consider addressing these lesions in adolescent athletes with shoulder instability. Additionally, MRI is a valid imaging tool to diagnose and measure osseous lesions of the shoulder.

The Effects of a Couples-Based Health Behavior Intervention During Pregnancy on Latino Couples' Dyadic Satisfaction Postpartum.

Many couples tend to report steadily decreasing relationship quality following the birth of a child. However, little is known about the postpartum period for Latino couples, a rapidly growing ethnic group who are notably underserved by mental and physical health caregivers in the United States. Thus, this study investigated whether a brief couples' intervention focused on helping couples support each other while increasing healthy behaviors might improve dyadic functioning postpartum. This study presents secondary analyses of data regarding couple functioning from a larger randomized controlled trial with 348 Latino couples to promote smoking cessation. Portions of the intervention taught the couple communication and problem-solving skills to increase healthy behavior. Couples participated in four face-to-face assessments across 1 year starting at the end of the first trimester. Latent growth curve analyses revealed that the treatment group reported an increase in relationship satisfaction and constructive communication after the intervention, which diminished by 1-year follow-up, returning couples to their baseline levels of satisfaction. Results suggest that incorporating a brief couple intervention as part of a larger health intervention for Latinos may prevent postpartum decreases in relationship satisfaction.

Dexmedetomidine use in patients undergoing electrophysiological study for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist with sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties. Dexmedetomidine has not been approved for use in pediatrics. Dexmedetomidine has been reported to depress sinus node and atrioventricular nodal function in pediatric patients; it has been suggested that the use of dexmedetomidine may not be desirable during electrophysiological studies. AIM: We hypothesize that the use of dexmedetomidine does not inhibit the induction of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVT) during electrophysiological studies and does not inhibit the ablation of such arrhythmias. METHODS: In this retrospective, observational cohort study, we reviewed all cases presenting to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for diagnosis or treatment of SVT since 2007. All cases were performed by the same electrophysiologist. The anesthesia was provided by one of the three cardiac anesthesiologists. One cardiac anesthesiologist did not use dexmedetomidine during electrophysiological studies. A second used dexmedetomidine, but only with an infusion. The third used dexmedetomidine with a primary bolus and an infusion. Thus, the patients were stratified into three different groups: Group 1 patients did not receive any dexmedetomidine. Group 2 patients received a dexmedetomidine infusion of 0.5-1 µg·kg-1 ·h-1 . Group 3 patients received a dexmedetomidine infusion of 0.5-1 µg·kg-1 ·h-1 and a dexmedetomidine bolus prior to the infusion of 0.5-1 µg·kg-1 . We then compared those patients for the following variables: demographic data including age, sex, height, weight; anesthetic data such as, mask vs intravenous induction, identity of induction agent, amount of sevoflurane and propofol used; amount of dexmedetomidine used; presence of congenital heart disease and other comorbidities; the need for isoproterenol and dose, the need for adenosine and dose, and the need for any other medications to affect rhythm both before and after radiofrequency ablation; the ability to induce the arrhythmia, the type of arrhythmia, the presence of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, the presence of an accessory pathway, the ablation rate, and the recurrence rate. RESULTS: There was no difference in the anesthetic agents, except there was a lesser amount of propofol used in the dexmedetomidine groups (χ2(2) = 48.2, P < 0.001). There was no difference in the electrophysiological parameters among groups, except the Group 1 patients did require the use of isoproterenol in the preablation period less often compared to the dexmedetomidine groups (χ2(2) = 15.2, P < 0.01). However, with the greater use of isoproterenol, there was no difference in the ability to induce the arrhythmia. Moreover, the percentage of patients ablated, and the recurrence rate among groups was the same. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that dexmedetomidine does not interfere with the conduct of electrophysiological studies for SVT and the successful ablation of such arrhythmias. However, dexmedetomidine use did result in a greater need for isoproterenol.

The pesticidal Cry6Aa toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis is structurally similar to HlyE-family alpha pore-forming toxins.

BACKGROUND: The Cry6 family of proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis represents a group of powerful toxins with great potential for use in the control of coleopteran insects and of nematode parasites of importance to agriculture. These proteins are unrelated to other insecticidal toxins at the level of their primary sequences and the structure and function of these proteins has been poorly studied to date. This has inhibited our understanding of these toxins and their mode of action, along with our ability to manipulate the proteins to alter their activity to our advantage. To increase our understanding of their mode of action and to facilitate further development of these proteins we have determined the structure of Cry6Aa in protoxin and trypsin-activated forms and demonstrated a pore-forming mechanism of action. RESULTS: The two forms of the toxin were resolved to 2.7 Å and 2.0 Å respectively and showed very similar structures. Cry6Aa shows structural homology to a known class of pore-forming toxins including hemolysin E from Escherichia coli and two Bacillus cereus proteins: the hemolytic toxin HblB and the NheA component of the non-hemolytic toxin (pfam05791). Cry6Aa also shows atypical features compared to other members of this family, including internal repeat sequences and small loop regions within major alpha helices. Trypsin processing was found to result in the loss of some internal sequences while the C-terminal region remains disulfide-linked to the main core of the toxin. Based on the structural similarity of Cry6Aa to other toxins, the mechanism of action of the toxin was probed and its ability to form pores in vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans was demonstrated. A non-toxic mutant was also produced, consistent with the proposed pore-forming mode of action. CONCLUSIONS: Cry6 proteins are members of the alpha helical pore-forming toxins - a structural class not previously recognized among the Cry toxins of B. thuringiensis and representing a new paradigm for nematocidal and insecticidal proteins. Elucidation of both the structure and the pore-forming mechanism of action of Cry6Aa now opens the way to more detailed analysis of toxin specificity and the development of new toxin variants with novel activities.

The association between benzodiazepine use and sleep quality in residential aged care facilities: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) for their sedative and anxiolytic effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between benzodiazepine use and sleep quality in residents of RACFs. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 383 participants was conducted in six Australian RACFs. Night-time sleep quality, day-time drowsiness and day-time napping behavior were assessed using a validated questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between benzodiazepine use and sleep quality. Covariates included pain, dementia severity, depression, insomnia and other sedative use. RESULTS: Of the 383 residents (mean age 87.5 years, 77.5% female), 96(25.1%) used a benzodiazepine on a regular basis. Residents who used long-acting benzodiazepines on a regular basis had higher night-time sleep quality than non-users (AOR = 4.00, 95%CI 1.06 - 15.15). Residents who used short-acting benzodiazepines on a PRN only basis had longer daytime napping times than non-users (AOR = 1.77, 95%CI 1.01 - 3.08). No benzodiazepine category was associated with day-time drowsiness. CONCLUSIONS: The association between benzodiazepine use and sleep quality is dependent on the half-life and prescribing pattern of the benzodiazepine. Short-acting PRN benzodiazepines were associated with lower night time sleep quality and longer day-time napping compared to long-acting regular benzodiazepines. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether these findings reflect channeling of short-acting agents to residents at higher risk of sleep disorders.

Characterisation of sphingolipids in the human lens by thin layer chromatography-desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry.

The lipidome of the human lens is unique in that cholesterol and dihydrosphingomyelin are the dominant classes. Moreover, the lens lipidome is not static with dramatic changes in several sphingolipid classes associated with both aging and cataract. Accordingly, there is a clear need to expand knowledge of the molecular species that constitute the human lens sphingolipidome. In this study, human lens lipids have been extracted and separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Direct analysis of the TLC plates by desorption electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) allowed the detection over 30 species from 11 classes of sphingolipids. Significantly, novel classes of lens lipids including sulfatides, dihydrosulfatides, lactosylceramide sulfates and dihydrolactosylceramide sulfates were identified.