Ventilation, Gas Exchange, and Aerobic Scope in a Small Monitor Lizard, Varanus gilleni

Standard rates of 02 consumption (Vo2) in the dark of Varanus gi/leni (mean mass = 30 g) were measured at 25, 31, 34, and 37 C. At 37 C, the mean value (195 ml 02 STPD kg-1 h-1) was 22% lower than that predicted by a regression equation for lizards as a group (Bennett and Dawson 1976). Despite appearing to be asleep, three- to fourfold elevations in standard Vo2 were seen in lizards with lightweight, transparent respiratory masks. Vo2 was also measured during treadmill exercise at speeds from 5 to 15 m min-1 and during bouts of maximal exercise. Varanus gilleni has the highest factorial aerobic scope (27.5) of any lizard examined to date. The cost of transport in V.gi/leni is relatively high and may relate to short limb length. Pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange (VE, Vo2, Vco2) were simultaneously measured at 25 C, during warming from 25 to 35 C, and again after several hours at 35 C. Air-convection requirements for C02 and 02 were independent of temperature. The patterns of lung ventilation suggest that arterial Pco2 and pH are constant with rising temperature, behavior that is common to that in large varanids and in contrast to that in other reptiles

Early treatment with intranasal neostigmine reduces mortality in a mouse model of Naja naja (Indian Cobra) envenomation

Objective. Most snakebite deaths occur prior to hospital arrival; yet inexpensive, effective, and easy to administer out-of-hospital treatments do not exist. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can be therapeutic in neurotoxic envenomations when administered intravenously, but nasally delivered drugs could facilitate prehospital therapy for these patients. We tested the feasibility of this idea in experimentally envenomed mice. Methods. Mice received intraperitoneal injections of Naja naja venom 2.5 to 10 times the estimated LD50 and then received

Early Treatment with Intranasal Neostigmine Reduces Mortality in a Mouse Model of Naja naja (Indian Cobra) Envenomation

Objective. Most snakebite deaths occur prior to hospital arrival; yet inexpensive, effective, and easy to administer out-of-hospital treatments do not exist. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can be therapeutic in neurotoxic envenomations when administered intravenously, but nasally delivered drugs could facilitate prehospital therapy for these patients. We tested the feasibility of this idea in experimentally envenomed mice. Methods. Mice received intraperitoneal injections of Naja naja venom 2.5 to 10 times the estimated LD50 and then received 5 L neostigmine (0.5 mg/mL) or 5 L normal saline by nasal administration. Animals were observed up to 12 hours and survivors were euthanized. Results. 100% of control mice died. Untreated mice injected with 2.5× LD50 Naja naja died at average 193 minutes after injection, while 10 of 15 (67%) of treated mice survived and were behaviorally normal by 6 hours ( < 0.02). In the 5× LD50 group, survival was prolonged from 45 minutes to 196 minutes ( = 0.01) and for 10× LD50 mice, survival increased from 30 to 175 minutes ( < 0.02). Conclusion. This pilot suggests that intranasal drugs can improve survival and is the first direct demonstration that such an approach is plausible, suggesting means by which treatment could be initiated before reaching the hospital. Further investigation of this approach to neurotoxic and other types of envenomation is warranted

Delayed oral LY333013 rescues mice from highly neurotoxic, lethal doses of Papuan Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) venom

There is an unmet need for economical snakebite therapies with long shelf lives that are effective even with delays in treatment. The orally bioavailable, heat-stable, secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) inhibitor, LY333013, demonstrates antidotal characteristics for severe snakebite envenoming in both field and hospital use. A murine model of lethal envenoming by a Papuan taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) demonstrates that LY333013, even with delayed oral administration, improves the chances of survival. Furthermore, LY333013 improves the performance of antivenom even after it no longer reverses neurotoxic signs. Our study is the first demonstration that neurotoxicity from presynaptic venom sPLA2S can be treated successfully, even after the window of therapeutic antivenom has closed. These results suggest that sPLA2 inhibitors have the potential to reduce death and disability and should be considered for the initial and adjunct treatment of snakebite envenoming. The scope and capacity of the sPLA2 inhibitors ability to achieve these endpoints requires further investigation and development effortsUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiologí

Development of a Unifying Target and Consensus Indicators for Global Surgical Systems Strengthening: Proposed by the Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care (The G4 Alliance)

After decades on the margins of primary health care, surgical and anaesthesia care is gaining increasing priority within the global development arena. The 2015 publications of the Disease Control Priorities third edition on Essential Surgery and the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery created a compelling evidenced-based argument for the fundamental role of surgery and anaesthesia within cost-effective health systems strengthening global strategy. The launch of the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care in 2015 has further coordinated efforts to build priority for surgical care and anaesthesia. These combined efforts culminated in the approval of a World Health Assembly resolution recognizing the role of surgical care and anaesthesia as part of universal health coverage. Momentum gained from these milestones highlights the need to identify consensus goals, targets and indicators to guide policy implementation and track progress at the national level. Through an open consultative process that incorporated input from stakeholders from around the globe, a global target calling for safe surgical and anaesthesia care for 80% of the world by 2030 was proposed. In order to achieve this target, we also propose 15 consensus indicators that build on existing surgical systems metrics and expand the ability to prioritize surgical systems strengthening around the world

Ventilation, Gas Exchange, and Aerobic Scope in a Small Monitor Lizard, Varanus gilleni

Standard rates of 02 consumption (Vo2) in the dark of Varanus gi/leni (mean mass = 30 g) were measured at 25, 31, 34, and 37 C. At 37 C, the mean value (195 ml 02 STPD kg-1 h-1) was 22% lower than that predicted by a regression equation for lizards as a group (Bennett and Dawson 1976). Despite appearing to be asleep, three- to fourfold elevations in standard Vo2 were seen in lizards with lightweight, transparent respiratory masks. Vo2 was also measured during treadmill exercise at speeds from 5 to 15 m min-1 and during bouts of maximal exercise. Varanus gilleni has the highest factorial aerobic scope (27.5) of any lizard examined to date. The cost of transport in V.gi/leni is relatively high and may relate to short limb length. Pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange (VE, Vo2, Vco2) were simultaneously measured at 25 C, during warming from 25 to 35 C, and again after several hours at 35 C. Air-convection requirements for C02 and 02 were independent of temperature. The patterns of lung ventilation suggest that arterial Pco2 and pH are constant with rising temperature, behavior that is common to that in large varanids and in contrast to that in other reptiles