Borchbradford2117

EC18 (10μM) decreased neuronal network bursting in mouse cortical cultures. Importantly, EC18 was not protective against proconvulsant-mediated seizures in the conditional HCN4 channel knockout mouse and did not reduce bursting behaviour in AAV-HCN4 shRNA infected mouse cortical cultures. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data suggest the HCN4 channel as a potential pharmacologically relevant target for anti-seizure drugs that is likely to have a low side-effect liability in the central nervous system. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Fresh blood product transfusion requires patient education for fully informed consent, and written consumer information is frequently used. Few studies have examined consumer preferences regarding written and verbal transfusion information provided. As a qualitative study, this research was designed to explore participant understanding and by analysing and integrating themes, generate a model to understand how transfusion information should be developed and used in practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare consumers of transfusion information from various hospital clinical departments. Transcripts were coded to qualitatively compare nature/extent of content and opinions regarding transfusion information through thematic analysis. RESULTS Analysis identified themes relating to healthcare engagement, purpose of information, mode of delivery and content delivered. Differences were identified between perceived purpose of information provided to consumers between 13 transfusion prescribers and consumers. Prescribers viewed information as a tool for obtaining informed consent, whereas consumers desired reassurance and knowledge. Consumers described both the specialized nature and volume of information as limiting their ability to question professionals on whom they were dependent. Information provided should be tailored to consumers and utilize simple, succinct explanations. CONCLUSION Both groups were satisfied with written information adjunctive to verbal information. These findings will be used to redesign transfusion information and may be employed at the bedside when discussing transfusion. They may have implications for consumer information in other settings. © 2020 International Society of Blood Transfusion.Administrators and providers worry about an overwhelming shortage in critical life-saving ventilators for adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attention has focused on developing algorithms for ventilator allocation using several factors, including pre-existing illness, likelihood to return to baseline health, and length of ventilation (a negative factor in adults) (1). learn more These factors, however, do not easily translate to pediatric medicine nor does ventilator allocation represent an urgent crisis for pediatric medicine. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Lead (Pb) is an environmental toxicant reported to impair male reproductive system. Betaine is a natural product which has promising beneficial effects against oxidative stress. In this experimental study, we evaluated the ameliorative effect of betaine on sperm quality and oxidative stress induced by lead (Pb) in the testis of adult male mice. Sixty male Kunming mice were divided equally into four groups control group, betaine group (1% in drinking water), lead group (100 mg kg-1  bw-1  day-1 ) and betaine + lead group. In the last group, mice were supplemented with betaine for two weeks prior to the initiation of lead treatment and concurrently during lead treatment for 3 weeks until sacrificed. Our results indicated that in the lead-administrated group, body weights together with sperm count were significantly decreased (p  less then  .05). The numbers of abnormal sperms were found to be higher in lead-treated mice. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (Cat) were significantly reduced, while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased in the testis tissue following lead treatment. The mRNA levels of antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, GPX1 and CAT) were significantly decreased in the lead group. Betaine enhanced these parameters in betaine + lead group. In testis histology span, Johnson score was decreased (p  less then  .05) in lead group and co-treatment with betaine increased Johnson score significantly in betaine + lead group. These results indicate that betaine improves sperm quality and ameliorate oxidative damage in testis of mice exposed to lead. © 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chemical treatment with glutamic acid to avoid the calcification of biological cardiac valves. The bovine pericardium (BP) tissues were fixed with 0.5% glutaraldehyde (BP/GA), followed by treatment with glutamic acid (BP/GA+Glu) for neutralization of the free aldehydes groups. Microscopic analysis showed that the wavy structure of collagen fibrils was preserved, but changes in elastin's integrity occurred. However, the treatment did not promote undesirable changes in the thermal and mechanical properties of the modified BPs. These samples were systematically studied in rat subcutaneous tissue control (BP/GA) and anticalcificant (BP/GA+Glu). After 60 days, both groups induced similar inflammatory reactions. In terms of calcification, BP/GA+Glu remained more stable with a lower index (3.1 ± 0.2 μg Ca2+ /mg dry tissue), whereas for BP/GA it was 5.7 ± 1.3 μg Ca2+ /mg dry tissue. Bioprostheses made from BP/GA+Glu were implanted in the pulmonary position in sheep and in vivo echocardiographic analyzes revealed maintenance of valvar function after 180 days, with low gradients and minimal valve insufficiency. The explanted tissues of the BP/GA+Glu group had a lower average calcium content 3.8 ± 3.0 μg Ca2+ /mg dry tissue. The results indicated high anticalcification efficiency of BP/GA+Glu in both subcutaneous implant in rats and in the experimental study in ovine, which is an advantage that should encourage the industrial application of these materials for the manufacture of bioprostheses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.