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The diagnosis of Zika virus infection is complicated and includes testing for nucleic acids and IgM and IgG antibodies, depending on the stage of infection. Zika IgG is an important marker of infection after the acute stage; however, IgG assays can lack specificity due to the similarities between Zika and other flaviviruses. In this study, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the Elecsys ® Zika IgG assay were assessed in 496 samples from Zika endemic regions, and specificity only was assessed in 1685 blood screening and diagnostic samples from Zika non-endemic regions. Cross-reactivity was also assessed against a panel of 202 potentially cross-reacting samples. The performance of the Elecsys ® Zika IgG assay was compared with the anti-Zika virus ELISA IgG. In the samples from the Zika endemic regions, the Elecsys ® Zika IgG assay had 92.88% (95% confidence interval 89.42-95.48) sensitivity and 100% specificity and in the samples from Europe the Elecsys ® Zika IgG assay specificity was ≥99.62%. The Elecsys ® Zika IgG assay was highly specific in samples from both prevalent and non-endemic regions.

Unlabelled: Reducing inspiratory flow rate and peak airway pressure may be important to minimize the risk of stomach inflation when ventilating an unprotected airway with positive pressure ventilation. In this study, we assessed the effects of a standard self-inflating bag compared with a new pressure-responsive, inspiratory gas flow-limiting device (SMART BAG) on respiratory mechanics in 60 adult patients undergoing routine induction of anesthesia. Respiratory variables were measured using a pulmonary monitor. The SMART BAG resulted in significantly decreased inspiratory flow rate and peak airway pressure while providing adequate tidal volume delivery., Implications: The SMART BAG, a new pressure-responsive, peak inspiratory gas flow-limiting bag-valve mask device, limits inspiratory gas flow from up to 120 L/min in a standard self-inflating bag to approximately 40 L/min. It is designed for use by all levels of health care professionals and has been proven in a clinical pilot study to effectively ventilate patients in respiratory arrest.

Unlabelled: We assessed the effects of a calcium channel blocker versus saline placebo on ventricular fibrillation mean frequency and hemodynamic variables during prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Before cardiac arrest, 10 animals were randomly assigned to receive either nifedipine (0.64 mg/kg; n = 5) or saline placebo (n = 5) over 10 min. Immediately after drug administration, ventricular fibrillation was induced. After 4 min of cardiac arrest and 18 min of basic life support CPR, defibrillation was attempted. Ninety seconds after the induction of cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation mean frequency was significantly (P < 0.01) increased in nifedipine versus placebo pigs (mean +/- SD: 12.4 +/- 2.1 Hz versus 8 +/- 0.7 Hz). From 2 to 18.5 min after the induction of cardiac arrest, no differences in ventricular fibrillation mean frequency were detected between groups. Before defibrillation, ventricular fibrillation mean frequency was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in nifedipine versus placebo animals (9.7 +/- 1.2 Hz versus 7.1 +/- 1.3 Hz). Coronary perfusion pressure was significantly lower in the nifedipine than in the placebo group from the induction of ventricular fibrillation to 11.5 min of cardiac arrest; no animal had a return of spontaneous circulation after defibrillation. In conclusion, nifedipine, but not saline placebo, prevented a rapid decrease of ventricular fibrillation mean frequency after the induction of cardiac arrest and maintained ventricular fibrillation mean frequency at approximately 10 Hz during prolonged CPR; this was nevertheless associated with no defibrillation success., Implications: This study evaluates the effects of a calcium channel blocker on ventricular fibrillation mean frequency, hemodynamic variables, and resuscitability during prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in pigs. Nifedipine, but not saline placebo, prevented a rapid decrease of ventricular fibrillation mean frequency after the induction of cardiac arrest and maintained ventricular fibrillation mean frequency at approximately 10 Hz during prolonged CPR but did not improve resuscitability.

Reducing inspiratory flow rate and peak airway pressure may be important in order to minimise the risk of stomach inflation when ventilating an unprotected airway with positive pressure ventilation. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a newly developed bag-valve-mask device (SMART BAG), O-Two Systems International, Ont., Canada) that limits peak inspiratory flow. A bench model simulating a patient with an unintubated airway was used consisting of a face mask, manikin head, training lung (lung compliance, 100 ml/cm H(2)O, airway resistance 4 cm H(2)O/l/s, lower oesophageal sphincter pressure 20 cm H(2)O and simulated stomach). Twenty nurses were randomised to each ventilate the manikin using a standard single person technique for 1 min (respiratory rate, 12/min) with either a standard adult self-inflating bag, or the SMART BAG. The volunteers were blinded to the experimental design of the model until completion of the experimental protocol. The SMART BAG vs. standard self-inflating bag resulted in significantly (P<0.05) lower mean+/-S.D. peak inspiratory flow rates (32+/-2 vs. 61+/-13 l/min), peak inspiratory pressure (12+/-2 vs. 17+/-2 cm H(2)O), lung tidal volumes (525+/-111 vs. 680+/-154 ml) and stomach tidal volumes (0+/-0 vs. 17+/-36 ml), longer inspiratory times (1.9+/-0.3 vs. 1.5+/-0.3 s), but significantly higher mask leakage (26+/-13 vs. 14+/-8%); mask tidal volumes (700+/-104 vs. 785+/-172 ml) were comparable. The mask leakage observed is not an uncommon factor in bag-valve-mask ventilation with leakage fractions of 25-40% having been previously reported. The differences observed between the standard BVM and the SMART BAG are due more to the anatomical design of the mask and the non-anatomical shape of the manikin face than the function of the device. Future studies should remove the mask to manikin interface and should introduce a standardized mask leakage fraction. The use of a two-person technique may have removed the problem of mask leakage. In conclusion, using the SMART BAG during simulated ventilation of an unintubated patient in respiratory arrest significantly decreased inspiratory flow rate, peak inspiratory pressure, stomach tidal volume, and resulted in a significantly longer inspiratory time when compared to a standard self-inflating bag.

When ventilating an unintubated patient with a self-inflating bag, high peak inspiratory flow rates may result in high peak airway pressure with subsequent stomach inflation; this may occur frequently when rescuers without daily experience in bag-valve-mask ventilation need to perform advanced airway management. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a newly developed self-inflating bag (mouth-to-bag resuscitator; Ambu, Glostrup, Denmark) that limits peak inspiratory flow. A bench model simulating a patient with an unintubated airway was used, consisting of a face mask, manikin head, training lung (lung compliance, 100 ml/0.098 kPa (100 ml/cm H(2)O)); airway resistance, 0.39 kPa/l per second (4 cm H(2)O/l/s), oesophagus (LESP, 1.96 kPa (20 cm H(2)O)) and simulated stomach. Twenty nurses were randomised to ventilate the manikin for 1 min (respiratory rate: 12 per minute) with either a standard self-inflating bag or the mouth-to-bag resuscitator, which requires the rescuer to blow up a single-use balloon inside the self-inflating bag, which in turns displaces air towards the patient. When supplemental oxygen is added, ventilation with up to 100% oxygen may be obtained, since expired air is only used as the driving gas. The mouth-to-bag resuscitator therefore allows two instead of one hand sealing the mask on the patient's face. The volunteers were blinded to the experimental design of the model until completion of the experimental protocol. The mouth-to-bag resuscitator versus standard self-inflating bag resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher mean+/-S.D. mask tidal volumes (1048+/-161 vs. 785+/-174 ml) and lung tidal volumes (911+/-148 vs. 678+/-157 ml), longer inspiratory times (1.7+/-0.4 vs. 1.4+/-0.4 s), but significantly lower peak inspiratory flow rates (50+/-9 vs. 62+/-13 l/min) and mask leakage (10+/-4 vs. 15+/-9%); peak inspiratory pressure (17+/-2 vs. 17+/-2 cm H(2)O) and stomach tidal volumes (16+/-30 vs. 18+/-35 ml) were comparable. In conclusion, employing the mouth-to-bag resuscitator during simulated ventilation of an unintubated patient in respiratory arrest significantly decreased inspiratory flow rate and improved lung tidal volumes, while decreasing mask leakage.

If the airway of a cardiac arrest patient is unprotected, basic life support with low rather than high inspiratory flow rates may reduce stomach inflation. Further, if the inspiratory flow rate is fixed such as with a resuscitator performance may improve; especially when used by less experienced rescuers. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of limited flow ventilation on respiratory variables, and lung and stomach volumes, when compared with a bag valve device. After institutional review board approval, and written informed consent was obtained, 20 critical care unit registered nurses volunteered to ventilate a bench model simulating a cardiac arrest patient with an unprotected airway consisting of a face mask, manikin head, training lung [with lung compliance, 50 ml/0.098 kPa (50 ml/cmH(2)O); airway resistance, 0.39 kPa/l/s (4 cmH(2)O/l/s)] oesophagus [lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, 0.49 kPa (5 cmH(2)O)] and simulated stomach. Each volunteer ventilated the model with a self-inflating bag (Ambu, Glostrup, Denmark; max. volume, 1500 ml), and a resuscitator providing limited fixed flow (Oxylator EM 100, CPR Medical devices Inc., Toronto, Canada) for 2 min; study endpoints were measured with 2 pneumotachometers. The self-inflating bag vs. resuscitator resulted in comparable mean +/- SD mask tidal volumes (945 +/- 104 vs. 921 +/- 250 ml), significantly (P < 0.05) higher peak inspiratory flow rates (111 +/- 27 vs. 45 +/- 21 l/min), and peak inspiratory pressure (1.2 +/- 0.47 vs. 78 +/- 0.07 kPa), but significantly shorter inspiratory times (1.1 +/- 0.29 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.35 s). Lung tidal volumes were comparable (337 +/- 120 vs. 309 +/- 61 ml), but stomach tidal volumes were significantly (P < 0.05) higher (200 +/- 95 vs. 140 +/- 51 ml) with the self-inflating bag. In conclusion, simulated ventilation of an unintubated cardiac arrest patient using a resuscitator resulted in decreased peak flow rates and therefore, in decreased peak airway pressures when compared with a self-inflating bag. Limited flow ventilation using the resuscitator decreased stomach inflation, although lung tidal volumes were comparable between groups.

Objective: Intravenous administration of vasopressin during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may be more effective than optimal doses of epinephrine. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether intraosseous vasopressin achieves serum drug levels comparable with intravenous doses during CPR and, additionally, to evaluate the effects of intraosseous vasopressin during CPR., Design: Prospective, randomized laboratory investigation using an established porcine model with instrumentation for measurement of hemodynamic variables, blood gases, and return of spontaneous circulation., Setting: University hospital laboratory., Subjects: Twelve domestic pigs., Interventions: After 4 mins of untreated ventricular fibrillation and 3 mins of CPR, 12 pigs were randomized to be treated with intravenous administration of vasopressin (0.8 unit/kg vasopressin; n = 6) or intraosseous vasopressin (0.8 unit/kg vasopressin; n = 6). Defibrillation was performed 5 mins after drug administration to attempt the return of spontaneous circulation., Measurements and Main Results: At both 90 secs and 5 mins after drug administration, intravenous and intraosseous administration of vasopressin resulted in comparable mean (+/-SEM) coronary perfusion pressure (43+/-4 vs. 44+/-3 and 30+/-2 vs. 37+/-2 mm Hg, respectively) and vasopressin plasma concentrations (13,706+/-1,857 vs. 16,166+/-3,114 pg/mL and 10,372+/-883 vs. 8246+/-2211 pg/mL, respectively). All animals in both groups were successfully resuscitated; pigs that received intraosseous vasopressin had a significantly higher (p < .05) mean arterial (92+/-6 vs. 129+/-12 mm Hg) and coronary perfusion pressure (84+/-11 vs. 119+/-11 mm Hg) at 5 mins of return of spontaneous circulation., Conclusions: Intraosseous vasopressin resulted in comparable vasopressin plasma levels, hemodynamic variables, and return of spontaneous circulation rates as did intravenous vasopressin. Intraosseous vasopressin may be an alternative for vasopressor administration during CPR, when intravenous access is delayed or not available.

Solid-phase RT-PCR applications with Dynabeads Oligo (dT)25 allow the reproducible isolation and detection of low-abundance cDNA sequences from small cell and tissue samples. The reusable properties of the beads reduce reagent cost and provide large amounts of target cDNAs for downstream applications. Magnetic separation of pure target mRNA/cDNA sequences eliminates labor-intensive precipitation and extraction steps and provides mRNA/cDNA sequences absent of contamination.