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Biomedical applications such as cell screening or cell–cell interaction studies require placement and adhesion of cells on surfaces with controlled numbers and location. In particular, single-cell arraying and positioning has come into focus as a basis of such applications. An ideal substrate would combine biocompatibility with favorable attributes such as pattern stability and easy processing. Here, we present a simple yet effective approach to single-cell arraying based on a graphene oxide (GO) surface carrying protein (fibronectin) microarrays to define cell adhesion points. These capture NIH-3T3 cells, resulting in cell arrays, which are benchmarked against analogous arrays on silanized glass samples. We reveal significant improvement in cell-capture performance by the GO coating with regards to overall cell adhesion and single-cell feature occupancy. This overall improvement of cell-arraying combined with retained transparency of substrate for microscopy and good biocompatibility makes this graphene-based approach attractive for single-cell experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin cancer is strongly associated with photodamaged skin, but body sites are often referred to as 'exposed' or 'unexposed' to sun without recognizing extent of site‐specific variation. Objectives: To assess whole‐body patterns of photodamage in an Australian population. Methods: A random sample of adult residents of Queensland underwent imaging across 10 body sites. Photodamage was graded from images using an ordinal photonumeric scale. We used cluster analysis to identify whole‐body photodamage patterns and prevalence proportion ratios (PPRs) to assess associated factors. Results: Of 190 adults (median age 52; 58% males), 58% showed severe or moderate‐to‐severe photodamage on most body sites. A higher proportion of woman had severe photodamage on the arms (upper: P = 0.002, lower: P = 0.034). A higher proportion of men had moderate or severe photodamage on the lower back (P = 0.004). We identified four photodamage patterns: 'severe general' (n = 24, 13%), 'moderate‐severe general' (n = 86, 45%), 'moderate‐severe v‐neck' (n = 40, 21%) and 'mild‐moderate upper body' (n = 12, 6%). All participants with 'severe‐general' photodamage were >50 years and more likely to have past skin cancer (PPR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.44–4.49) than those with 'moderate‐severe v‐neck' photodamage. Those with 'moderate‐severe general' photodamage showed similar associations and were more likely female (PPR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.04–1.69). Past or current smoking was associated with having higher levels of photodamage, with no smokers in those with 'mild‐moderate upper body' photodamage. Conclusions: Moderate‐to‐severe photodamage across much of the body is common in Queensland adults and associated with age, sex, past skin cancer and smoking. Assuming a universal pattern of site‐specific sun exposure could lead to spurious correlations, while accurate and objective assessment of site‐specific photodamage can add to understanding of the development of sun‐associated skin cancers, in particular site‐specific skin carcinogenesis. Additionally, degree of site‐specific photodamage has the potential to assist skin cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Tracheostomies are a common adjunct to therapy for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study sought to identify the incidence of, and demographic, clinical and care process factors related to, tracheostomy-related skin injuries (TRSI) in ICU patients. Methods Conducted in a 36-bed ICU of an Australian metropolitan tertiary referral acute care health facility, this study employed a retrospective review of patient records between February 2015 and December 2016 for patients who had a tracheostomy inserted during an ICU admission. Records were reviewed for the patient's admission or a 20-day observation period, whichever was shorter. Results Of the 102 patients included, 66 were male (64.7%) and their mean age was 50 years (SD=18.3). Of these patients, 23 (22.5%) developed a TRSI. No association was found between patient characteristics, tracheostomy insertion method and the development of a TRSI; however, the use of non-adjustable flange tubes was associated with the development of TRSI (p=0.023). Omissions in nursing documentation of care processes for tracheostomies were observed. Conclusion This study addressed a specific medical device, the tracheostomy tube, providing evidence of TRSI occurrence in the ICU setting. Although no common demographic, clinical nor care process factors were associated with TRSI development, findings from this study highlight a deficiency in nursing documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have evaluated the efficacy of propidium monoazide quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PMA-qPCR) to differentiate between viable and non-viable Ancylostoma caninum ova. The newly developed method was validated using raw wastewater seeded with known numbers of A. caninum ova. Results of this study confirmed that PMA-qPCR has resulted in average of 88 % reduction ( P < 0.05) in gene copy numbers for 50 % viable +50 % non-viable when compared with 100 % viable ova. A reduction of 100 % in gene copies was observed for 100 % non-viable ova when compared with 100 % viable ova. Similar reductions (79-80 %) in gene copies were observed for A. caninum ova-seeded raw wastewater samples ( n = 18) collected from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) A and B. The newly developed PMA-qPCR method was applied to determine the viable ova of different helminths ( A. caninum, A. duodenale, Necator americanus and Ascaris lumbricoides) in raw wastewater, human fecal and soil samples. None of the unseeded wastewater samples were positive for the above-mentioned helminths. N. americanus and A. lumbricoides ova were found in unseeded human fecal and soil samples. For the unseeded human fecal samples (1 g), an average gene copy concentration obtained from qPCR and PMA-qPCR was found to be similar (6.8 × 10 ± 6.4 × 10 and 6.3 × 10 ± 4.7 × 10) indicating the presence of viable N. americanus ova. Among the 24 unseeded soil samples tested, only one was positive for A. lumbricoides. The mean gene copy concentration in the positively identified soil sample was 1.0 × 10 ± 1.5 × 10 (determined by qPCR) compared to 4.9 × 10 ± 3.7 × 10 (determined by PMA-qPCR). The newly developed PMA-qPCR methods were able to detect viable helminth ova from wastewater and soil samples and could be adapted for health risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the case of a 58 year old woman presented with a 4-month history of shortness of breath, cough and haemoptysis. A computed tomography scan and positron emission tomography scan showed a mass in the bronchus intermedius that obstructed the right lower lobe bronchus without regional nodal disease. Right pneumonectomy was done through a posterolateral thoracotomy and hilar structures were identified and divided outside the pericardium and haemostasis was achieved.

In an era of ever increasing emphasis on cost-effectiveness of health care, and with the introduction of the internal market, there is now an urgent need for information on the costs and quality of palliative care. This paper highlights the complexities involved in acquiring and measuring such information and discusses methods which were tried out in an exploratory study. The study took the form of in-depth case studies in two hospices, one in the voluntary sector and one in the NHS. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Negative energy balance (NEB) during early lactation in dairy cows leads to an altered metabolic state that has major effects on the production of IGF family members. Low IGF-I concentrations are associated with poor fertility and therefore we aimed to determine whether NEB exerts a direct effect on IGF expression in the postpartum oviduct. Multiparous Holstein cows were allocated to two treatments (each n=6) designed using differential feeding and milking regimes to produce either mild NEB (MNEB) or severe NEB (SNEB). Animals were slaughtered in week 2 of lactation when divergent metabolic profiles were evident. Oviducts were collected for RNA analysis by real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridisation. Quantitative measures in oviduct gene expression were obtained for all members of the IGF family (IGF-I/II, IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) 1 6 and receptors for IGF types 1 and 2), insulin A/B, GH, glucocorticoid and oestrogen α/². Expression of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-6 (both of which have a high affinity for IGF-II) was decreased in SNEB relative to MNEB (P<0.05). No other gene was altered by NEB, but IGF-II, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5 and IGFBP-6 all showed differential expression in different regions of the oviduct. These results indicate that, in addition to low circulating IGF-I after calving, NEB may also influence IGF availability in the oviduct indirectly through changes in specific IGFBP expression. It is possible that the predicted increased signalling by IGF-II may perturb embryo development, contributing to the high rates of embryonic mortality in dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post partum negative energy balance (NEB) in dairy cattle is associated with a delayed return to ovarian cyclicity and reduced fertility. This study compared the IGF system of pre-recruitment ovarian follicles between cows in mild (n = 6) or severe (n = 6) NEB during early lactation. Ovaries were collected in the second week post partum, when circulating concentrations of IGF-I and glucose were lower (P < 0.01) in severe NEB cows. mRNA expression for IGF-II, type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP)-1 to IGFBP-6 was determined by in situ hybridisation in individual follicles using radiolabelled oligonucleotide probes. Follicles were classified as very small (1-2.5 mm) or small (2.5-5 mm) and healthy or atretic. Relative mRNA concentrations were measured as optical density (OD) units using image analysis. Thecal IGF-II mRNA expression was highest in very small, healthy follicles (P < 0.05). Granulosa cell IGFBP-2 was the only component to change with EB status, with higher mRNA expression in mild compared with severe NEB cows (P < 0.05). IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 mRNA expression were undetectable. IGF-1R, IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 mRNA expression were not significantly altered by follicle size or health, but IGFBP-5 tended to increase in atretic follicles. The pattern of IGFBP-6 mRNA expression in theca paralleled that of IGF-II mRNA, with higher (P < 0.05) levels in healthy, very small follicles. In conclusion, the reduced expression of IGFBP-2 mRNA in severe NEB cows may alter the bioavailability of circulating IGF-I and locally produced IGF-II to modulate the pre-recruitment stages of follicles required to maintain normal post partum ovarian cyclicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]