Adaptive changes in the motor cortex during and after longterm forelimb immobilization in adult rats.

Experimental and clinical studies have attempted to evaluate the changes in cortical activity seen after immobilization-induced longterm sensorimotor restriction, although results remain controversial. We used intracortical microstimulation (ICMS), which provides topographic movement representations of the motor areas in both hemispheres with optimal spatial characterization, combined with behavioural testing to unravel the effects of limb immobilization on movement representations in the rat primary motor cortex (M1). Unilateral forelimb immobilization in rats was achieved by casting the entire limb and leaving the cast in place for 15 or 30 days. Changes in M1 were bilateral and specific for the forelimb area, but were stronger in the contralateral-to-cast hemisphere. The threshold current required to evoke forelimb movement increased progressively over the period in cast, whereas the forelimb area size decreased and the non-excitable area size increased. Casting resulted in a redistribution of proximal/distal movement representations: proximal forelimb representation increased, whereas distal representation decreased in size. ICMS after cast removal showed a reversal of changes, which remained partial at 15 days. Local application of the GABAA-antagonist bicuculline revealed the impairment of cortical synaptic connectivity in the forelimb area during the period of cast and for up to 15 days after cast removal. Six days of rehabilitation using a rotarod performance protocol after cast removal did not advance map size normalization in the contralateral-to-cast M1 and enabled the cortical output towards the distal forelimb only in sites that had maintained their excitability. These results are relevant to our understanding of adult M1 plasticity during and after sensorimotor deprivation, and to new approaches to conditions that require longterm limb immobilization

Analysis & Improvement of the Volunteer Onboarding Experience at the Australian Red Cross Victoria Emergency Services

Volunteer management is crucial when it comes to the success of a volunteer-led organization. The Australian Red Cross Vic ES faces difficulties with volunteer onboarding and volunteer engagement. We conducted interviews, surveys, and focus groups with staff and volunteers at Vic ES and outside organizations to identify the sources of these difficulties. The project revealed a lack of volunteer engagement throughout the onboarding process, and beyond. Based on these findings, we proposed recommendations and deliverables to help resolve such issues

GluN2A and GluN2B NMDA receptor subunits differentially modulate striatal output pathways and contribute to levodopa-induced abnormal involuntary movements in dyskinetic rats

Dual probe microdialysis was used to investigate whether GluN2A and GluN2B NMDA receptor subunits regulate striatal output pathways under dyskinetic conditions. The preferential GluN2A antagonist NVP-AAM077 perfused in the dopamine-depleted striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine hemilesioned dyskinetic rats reduced GABA and glutamate levels in globus pallidus whereas the selective GluN2B antagonist Ro 25-6981 elevated glutamate without affecting pallidal GABA. Moreover, intrastriatal NVP-AAM077 did not affect GABA but elevated glutamate levels in substantia nigra reticulata whereas Ro 25-6981 elevated GABA and reduced nigral glutamate. To investigate whether GluN2A and GluN2B NMDA receptor subunits are involved in motor pathways underlying dyskinesia expression, systemic NVP-AAM077 and Ro 25-6981 were tested for their ability to attenuate levodopa-induced abnormal involuntary movements. NVP-AAM077 failed to prevent dyskinesia while Ro 25-6981 mildly attenuated it. We conclude that in the dyskinetic striatum, striatal GluN2A subunits tonically stimulate the striato-pallidal pathway whereas striatal GluN2B subunits tonically inhibit striato-nigral projections. Moreover, GluN2A subunits are not involved in dyskinesia expression whereas GluN2B subunits minimally contribute to it. 2013 American Chemical Societ

GluN2A and GluN2B NMDA Receptor Subunits Differentially Modulate Striatal Output Pathways and Contribute to Levodopa- Induced Abnormal Involuntary Movements in Dyskinetic Rats

Dual probe microdialysis was used to investigate whether GluN2A and GluN2B NMDA receptor subunits regulate striatal output pathways under dyskinetic conditions. The preferential GluN2A antagonist NVP-AAM077 perfused in the dopamine-depleted striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine hemilesioned dyskinetic rats reduced GABA and glutamate levels in globus pallidus whereas the selective GluN2B antagonist Ro 25-6981 elevated glutamate without affecting pallidal GABA. Moreover, intrastriatal NVP-AAM077 did not affect GABA but elevated glutamate levels in substantia nigra reticulata whereas Ro 25-6981 elevated GABA and reduced nigral glutamate. To investigate whether GluN2A and GluN2B NMDA receptor subunits are involved in motor pathways underlying dyskinesia expression, systemic NVP-AAM077 and Ro 25-6981 were tested for their ability to attenuate levodopainduced abnormal involuntary movements. NVP-AAM077 failed to prevent dyskinesia while Ro 25-6981 mildly attenuated it. We conclude that in the dyskinetic striatum, striatal GluN2A subunits tonically stimulate the striato-pallidal pathway whereas striatal GluN2B subunits tonically inhibit striato-nigral projections. Moreover, GluN2A subunits are not involved in dyskinesia expression whereas GluN2B subunits minimally contribute to it

A comparison of faculty led, mentorship program and peer mentoring on nursing students wound dressing clinical skills

Background: The promotion of clinical nursing education requires using modern educational methods to develop students' knowledge and skills. There are however many different models by which education can be delivered with a wealth of literature supporting varying approaches. This is of particular relevance to clinical education where to date no singular approach has been identified as being the most appropriate. Objectives: This study aimed to compare and investigate the effect of a peer education method, a mentor-led education method versus a traditional faculty-led method for instruction regarding surgical wound care skills among nursing students. Design: This study used an experimental three-group pre- and post-test design. Settings: The research was conducted within two surgical wards of a university-affiliated hospital in the west of Iran. Participants: A total of 102 nursing students (first and second year) were assigned to three groups; peer-led learning group (n = 34), mentorship-led group (n = 34) or a faculty-led control group (n = 34). Methods: To ascertain performance in surgical dressing skill, data was collected in each group before and after the respective educational intervention. Data was collected using a surgical dressing skills checklist made by the research team which was piloted prior to the study. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results: Based on findings, after the intervention, the mean (SD) scores of surgical dressing and wound care skills were 28.24 (4.63), 31.76 (4.89), and 29.12 (5.33) for the peer-led, mentor-led and faculty-led groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between mentor group and faculty group or between peer group and faculty group (P > 0.05). However, the findings did demonstrate statistical difference in performance in surgical dressings and wound care techniques in the mentorship group method compared to the peer method (P = 0.006). Conclusions: Although participants in the mentor group performed best of all groups, our findings demonstrate that those in the peer method group performed as well as those in the faculty-led group in surgical dressing performance. Therefore, it is recommended that peer and mentor learning methods are given consideration by curriculum planners in for use in the development of student nurse clinical skill and competence in surgical wound care

Acute and chronic antiparkinsonian effects of the novel nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor antagonist NiK-21273 in comparison with SB-612111

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) receptor antagonists have been proposed as a novel therapeutic approach to Parkinson's disease. Main limitations of previous studies were the use of structurally similar compounds and the evaluation of their acute effects only. We report here on the acute and long-term antiparkinsonian effects of the novel compound 2-[3-[4-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-phenyl)-piperidin-1-ylmethyl]-2-(morpholine-4-carbonyl)-indol-1-yl]-acetamide (NiK-21273) in comparison with the potent and selective NOP receptor antagonist SB-612111. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Basic pharmacological properties of NiK-21273 were studied in cell lines and isolated tissues (mouse and rat vas deferens). Antiparkinsonian effects were studied in reserpinized mice and 6-hydroxydopamine hemilesioned rats under both acute and chronic administration protocols. KEY RESULTS: In vitro, NiK-21273 behaved as a potent (pA(2) 7.7) and selective NOP receptor antagonist. In vivo, it reduced hypokinesia in reserpinized mice at 0.1 and 1 but not 10 mg·kg(-1), whereas SB-612111 (0.01-1 mg·kg(-1)) provided a dose-dependent antiparkinsonian effect. NiK-21273 ameliorated motor performance in 6-hydroxydopamine hemilesioned rats at 0.5 and 5 but not 15 mg·kg(-1). SB-612111 replicated these effects in the 0.01-1 mg·kg(-1) range without loss of efficacy. Both antagonists synergized with L-DOPA at subthreshold doses. Chronic administration of NiK-21273 provided delayed improvement in baseline activity at 0.5 and 1.5 mg·kg(-1), although tolerance to the higher dose was observed. Conversely, SB-612111 (1 mg·kg(-1)) maintained its effects over time without modifying baseline activity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: NOP receptor antagonists provide motor benefit in parkinsonism models although the 'therapeutic' window and long-term effects may vary between compounds

Observational cross-sectional study of nasal staphylococcal species of medical students of diverse geographical origin, prior to healthcare exposure: prevalence of SCC

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate co-located nasal Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (mainly Staphylococcus epidermidis), recovered from healthy medical students in their preclinical year, prior to exposure to the healthcare environment, for the carriage of genes and genetic elements common to both species and that may contribute to S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) evolution. DESIGN: Prospective observational cross-sectional study. Carriage of antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated genes in the absence of significant antibiotic selective pressure was investigated among healthy medical students from geographically diverse origins who were nasally co-colonised with S. aureus and CoNS. Clonal lineages of S. aureus isolates were determined. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Dublin-based international undergraduate medical students. RESULTS: Nasal S. aureus carriage was identified in 137/444 (30.8%) students of whom nine (6.6%) carried MRSA (ST59-MRSA-IV (6/9), CC1-MRSA-V-SCCfus (3/9)). The genes mecA, fusB, ileS2, qacA/qacC and the arginine catabolic mobile element-arc were detected among colonising nasal staphylococci and had a significantly greater association with CoNS than S. aureus. The rate of co-carriage of any of these genes in S. aureus/CoNS pairs recovered from the same individual was CONCLUSIONS: The relatively high prevalence of these genes among CoNS of the healthy human flora in the absence of significant antibiotic selective pressure is of interest. Further research is required to determine what factors are involved and whether these are modifiable to help prevent the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance among staphylococci.</p

Molecular characterization and clonal diversity of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in milk of cows with mastitis in Brazil

Mastitis is an important disease for the dairy industry worldwide, causing economic losses and reducing milk quality and production. Staphylococcus aureus is a worldwide agent of this intramammary infection, which also causes foodborne diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates in milk of mastitis cows in Brazil and to analyze the genetic lineages and the content of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors among these isolates. Fifty-six MSSA isolates were recovered from 1,484 milk samples (positive for the California mastitis test) of 518 cows from 11 different farms in Brazil (representing 51% of total Staph. aureus obtained), and they were further characterized. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 3.7% of California mastitis test-positive tested milk samples and from 6.2% of tested mastitic cows. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolates were characterized by spa typing, agr typing, and multilocus sequence typing, and resistance and virulence traits were investigated by PCR. Seven spa types were identified among MSSA (% of isolates): t127 (44.6), t605 (37.5), t002, t1784, t2066 (1.8), and 2 new ones: t10856 (10.7) and t10852 (1.8). Five distinct sequence types (ST) were detected (% of isolates): ST1 (46.4), ST126 (37.5), ST133 (10.7), ST5 (3.6), and a novel ST registered as ST2493 (1.8). Resistances were detected for streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline. One strain contained the chloramphenicol resistance gene (fexA; included within transposon Tn558) and 3 strains contained the tetracycline resistance gene [tet(K)]. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains were susceptible to most of the antibiotics studied and lacked the virulence genes of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (lukF/S-PV), toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tst), exfoliative toxin A (eta), and exfoliative toxin B (etb), as well as the genes of the immune evasion cluster. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolates were detected in a relatively low proportion of cows with mastitis (6.2%) and recovered isolates presented high diversity of genetic lineages, with CC1 and CC126 the predominant clonal complexes, and CC133 also being detected. Larger epidemiological studies with molecular characterization of isolates are required to deepen the knowledge on the circulating genetic lineages among the cow population with mastitis. © 2013 American Dairy Science Association

Effect of essential oils of Syzygium aromaticum and Cinnamomum zeylanicum and their major components on biofilm production in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from milk of cows with mastitis

Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands of cows and causes significant economic losses in dairy cattle. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the microorganisms most commonly isolated. Novel agents are required in agricultural industries to prevent the development of mastitis. The production of biofilm by Staph. aureus facilitates the adhesion of bacteria to solid surfaces and contributes to the transmission and maintenance of these bacteria. The effect of the essential oils of Syzygium aromaticum (clove; EOSA) and Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon; EOCZ) and their major components, eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, on Staph. aureus biofilm formation on different surfaces was investigated. The results showed a significant inhibition of biofilm production by EOSA on polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces (69.4 and 63.6%, respectively). However, its major component, eugenol, was less effective on polystyrene and stainless steel (52.8 and 19.6%, respectively). Both EOCZ and its major component, cinnamaldehyde, significantly reduced biofilm formation on polystyrene (74.7 and 69.6%, respectively) and on stainless steel surfaces (45.3 and 44.9%, respectively). These findings suggest that EOSA, EOCZ, and cinnamaldehyde may be considered for applications such as sanitization in the food industry