Tinzaparin reduces health care resource use for anticoagulation in hemodialysis

Anticoagulation is required during hemodialysis to prevent thrombus formation within the extracorporeal circuit. The low-molecular-weight heparin tinzaparin is more expensive than unfractionated heparin (UFH) in Canada but more convenient to administer. We conducted a time-and-motion study to test the hypothesis that tinzaparin may reduce nursing time and total health care costs compared with UFH. Data on health care resource use associated with anticoagulation during hemodialysis for chronic renal failure were collected at an academic hospital in Quebec. Nursing time was recorded for 8 nurses performing 16 dialysis sessions for 4 patients receiving tinzaparin and 4 receiving UFH (2 dialysis sessions per patient). Nurses had ≥ 1 year of experience supervising hemodialysis. We estimated total annual costs of nursing time and health care resources (anticoagulants, medical supplies, and laboratory testing) associated with anticoagulation. In sensitivity analyses, drug costs were varied ± 30% of their base-case values. Estimated annual nursing times per patient were 0.8 vs. 11.5 hours in the first year and 0.6 vs. 10.2 hours in subsequent years for tinzaparin vs. UFH, respectively. Annual drug costs per patient were CAD 898.56 for tinzaparin and 546.75 for UFH. Estimated total annual costs were CAD 1061.03 vs. 1012.71 in the first year and CAD 917.75 vs. 895.23 in subsequent years for tinzaparin vs. UFH, respectively. Use of tinzaparin was cost saving relative to UFH if tinzaparin price was reduced 30%. Most of the price differential between tinzaparin and UFH is offset by substantial time savings to nephrology nurses.     

The Effects of a Beef‐Based Meal Compared to a Calorie Matched Bean‐Based Meal on Appetite and Food Intake

Protein and fiber have strong satiety‐inducing potential. Beef is a high quality, protein‐rich food. Beans contain moderate levels of protein as well as fiber. To determine the effects of a high protein meal (beef) compared to a moderate protein, high fiber meal (beans) on subjective appetite and energy intake at a subsequent meal twenty‐eight adults, 14 men (ages 24 ± 5 y, BMI 23 ± 2 kg/m²) and 14 women (ages 25 ± 5 y, BMI 22 ± 2 kg/m²) consumed 2 test lunches containing a “meatloaf” made from either beef or beans. The beef meal provided 26 g of protein and 3 g of fiber while the bean meal provided 17 g of protein and 12 g of fiber. An ad libitum snack was given 3 h after the test meal. Visual analogue scales were used to assess hunger, satiety, fullness, and prospective food intake. Gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance was assessed over 24 h. No difference between the beef and bean was observed for appetite ratings over 3 h, food intake at the subsequent meal (632 ± 75 kcal compared with 611 ± 75 kcal, respectively), or sum of GI score (2.2 ± 0.5 compared with 2.9 ± 0.5, respectively). Gas and bloating were reported more often after the bean meal than the beef meal (2.0 ± 0.4 compared with 1.3 ± 0.4, P value 0.057). A beef‐based meal with high protein and a bean‐based meal with moderate protein and high fiber produced similar satiety, while the bean‐based meal resulting in higher, yet moderate, gas and bloating.     

Reflection confocal imaging of type I and type III isozymes of hexokinase in PC12 cells

Reflection confocal microscopy was used to determine the intracellular distribution of Type-I and III isozymes of hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) in PC12 cells; detection was by staining with diaminobenzidine as a substrate for horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antimouse immunoglobulins bound to isozyme-specific monoclonal antibodies. With both isozymes, detection of the staining pattern was significantly enhanced by reflection confocal imaging compared with viewing with transmitted brightfield optics. For Type I, prominent staining of cytoplasmic organelles having a distribution consistent with that of mitochondria was noted. For Type III, intense staining at the nuclear periphery was observed. A distinct punctate pattern along the nuclear surface implied a nonuniform distribution of the Type III hexokinase and may represent preferential association with nuclear pore structures. A study of technical factors involved in optimizing the reflection image was conducted. We demonstrate that both the choice of objective and the thickness of the mounting medium are critical to successful imaging, and we describe a simple test for assessing the suitability of objectives in any system.     

Short-term enhancement and long-term suppression of denitrification in estuarine sediments receiving primary- and secondary-treated paper and pulp mill discharge

To determine the role of sediment denitrification in removing inputs of primary- (PE) and secondary-treated effluent (SE) from a pulp and paper mill (PPM), organic matter (OM) associated with PE (residual wood fiber) and SE (activated sludge biomass and phytoplankton) was added to estuarine intertidal sediments and denitrification rates were measured over 27 days. Labile sludge biomass and phytoplankton initially stimulated denitrification, including for pre-existing sediment N. After 2.5 d, however, denitrification was suppressed apparently due to microbial competition for N to process the refractory (high C:N) material remaining. Wood fiber suppressed denitrification throughout the experiment due to competition for N to process the refractory OM. Ultimate long-term denitrification suppression by phytoplankton is offset by initial enhanced denitrification rates. Although nutrient release during degradation of sludge biomass and wood fiber may stimulate phytoplankton production, N equivalent to 127% of the expected daily phytoplankton load was denitrified within 24 h, allowing for permanent removal of PPM-derived N. Compared to primary treatment, secondary treatment of PPM effluent has greater potential for N removal.     

Innovative lane detection method to increase the accuracy of lane departure warning system

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Lane departure warning is one important feature in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which aims to improve overall safety on the road. However,...     

Rapid continuous 3D printing of customizable peripheral nerve guidance conduits

Engineered nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) have been demonstrated for repairing peripheral nerve injuries. However, there remains a need for an advanced biofabrication system to build NGCs with complex architectures, tunable material properties, and customizable geometrical control. Here, a rapid continuous 3D-printing platform was developed to print customizable NGCs with unprecedented resolution, speed, flexibility, and scalability. A variety of NGC designs varying in complexity and size were created including a life-size biomimetic branched human facial NGC. In vivo implantation of NGCs with microchannels into complete sciatic nerve transections of mouse models demonstrated the effective directional guidance of regenerating sciatic nerves via branching into the microchannels and extending toward the distal end of the injury site. Histological staining and immunostaining further confirmed the progressive directional nerve regeneration and branching behavior across the entire NGC length. Observational and functional tests, including the von Frey threshold test and thermal test, showed promising recovery of motor function and sensation in the ipsilateral limbs grafted with the 3D-printed NGCs.     

Solubilities of methyl oleate,oleic acid,oleyl glycerols,and oleyl glycerol mixtures in supercritical carbon dioxide

Solubility isotherms for oleic acid and methyl oleate as well as mono-, di-, and trioleylglycerol (MO, DO, and TO) in supercritical fluid CO₂ at 50 and 60°C are reported. Partition coefficients for quaternary (MO-DO-TO-CO₂) mixtures were obtained at 60°C at pressures ranging from 172 to 309 bar. Data indicate that diolein, and especially monoolein, exhibit positive deviation from ideal behavior, possibly due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Supercritical fluid CO₂ appears to be a good media for removal of mono- and diacylglycerol by-products from synthetic triglyceride reaction mixtures at moderate temperatures.     

Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 in beef and sheep abattoirs in Ireland and characterisation of isolates by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis and Multi-Locus Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Analysis

This study aimed to investigate verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 in the largest beef and sheep slaughter plants in Ireland over a one-year period. Samples consisted of pooled rectal swabs (n = 407) and pooled carcass swabs (n = 407) from 5 animals belonging to the same herd or flock and minced meat (n = 91) from the same sampling date. E. coli O157 isolates were characterised using PCR for a range of genes, i.e. 16S, rfbE, fliC, vtx1, vtx2, eaeA and confirmed VTEC O157 isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and typed using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multi-Locus Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA). VTEC O157 was isolated from 7.6% and 3.9% of bovine rectal and carcass swab samples and from 5.8% and 2.9% of ovine rectal and carcass swab samples respectively. None of the bovine minced meat samples (n = 77) and only one of the 14 ovine minced meat samples was positive for VTEC O157. Following PFGE and MLVA, cross contamination from faeces to carcasses was identified. While PFGE and MLVA identified the same clusters for highly related strains, MLVA discriminated better than PFGE in addition to being more rapid and less labour intensive. Results showed that cattle and sheep presented for slaughter in Ireland harbour VTEC O157, and although the levels entering the food chain are low, this should not be overlooked as possible sources of zoonotic infection; molecular typing was able to demonstrate relationships among strains and could be used to elucidate the sources of human infection.