USE OF INHALANT ANESTHETICS IN THREE SNAKE SPECIES

Different snake species respond differently to various anesthetic agents. Hence, an anesthetic procedure developed for one species cannot necessarily be safely transferred to another species. The goal of this paper is to summarize our experience using inhalant anesthetics on three snake species, including both procedures that were successful and those we found to be less satisfactory. We found isoflurane delivered with a precision vaporizer to be the best agent to anesthetize black rat snakes (Elaphe o. obsoleta). Sex and mass did not seem to affect induction times in black rat snakes, but larger female rat snakes recovered faster from anesthesia than smaller females. Halothane delivered in the open method provided consistent anesthesia in northern water snakes (Nerodia s. sipedon), although it caused some mortality and should not be used on debilitated patients. Halothane delivered with a precision vaporizer may be used to anesthetize eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus c. catenatus). However, care must be taken to prevent mortality resulting from anesthetic overdose. Sex and mass had no effect on induction and recovery times in the rattlesnakes, but stressed animals require longer induction and recovery times

Comparing the resident populations of private and public long-term care facilities over a fifteen-year period: a study from Quebec, Canada

In the province of Quebec, Canada, long-term residential care is provided by two types of facilities: privately-owned facilities in which care is privately financed and delivered, and publicly-subsidised accredited facilities. There are few comparative data on the residents served by the private and public sectors, and none on whether their respective population has changed over time. Such knowledge would help plan services for older adults who can no longer live at home due to increased disabilities. This study compared 1) the resident populations currently served by private and public facilities and 2) how they have evolved over time. The data come from two cross-sectional studies conducted in 1995-2000 and 2010-2012. In both studies, we randomly selected care settings in which we randomly selected older residents. In total, 451 residents from 145 settings assessed in 1995-2000 were compared to 329 residents from 102 settings assessed in 2010-2012. In both study periods, older adults housed in the private sector had fewer cognitive and functional disabilities than those in public facilities. Between the two study periods, the proportion of residents with severe disabilities decreased in private facilities while it remained over 80% in their public counterparts. Findings indicate that private facilities care today for less-disabled older adults, leaving to public facilities the heavy responsibility of caring for those with more demanding needs. These trends may impact both sectors’ ability to deliver proper residential care

Understanding organizational context and heart failure management in long term care homes in Ontario, Canada

This study examined the prevalence of Control Intervention (CI) use in adult in-patient psychiatric units/hospitals in Ontario and developed a profile of those patients who had CI use during their admission between April 2006 and March 2010. Control intervention types included mechanical/physical, chair prevents rising, acute control medications, and seclusion. The profiles of patients with control intervention use included an examination of sociodemographic, mental health service use, and mental health clinical characteristics.Supported by an unrestricted grant-in-aid from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontari

Interim modelling analysis to validate reported increases in condom use and assess HIV infections averted among female sex workers and clients in southern India following a targeted HIV prevention programme.

OBJECTIVES: This study assesses whether the observed declines in HIV prevalence since the beginning of the 'Avahan' India HIV/AIDS prevention initiative are consistent with self-reported increases in condom use by female sex workers (FSWs) in two districts of southern India, and provides estimates of the fraction of new infections averted among FSWs and clients due to increases in condom use in commercial sex after 2004. METHODS: A deterministic compartmental model of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission incorporating heterogeneous sexual behaviour was developed, parameterised and fitted using data from two districts in Karnataka, India. Three hypotheses of condom use among FSWs were tested: (H(0)), that condom use increased in line with reported FSW survey data prior to the Avahan initiative but remained constant afterwards; (H(1)) that condom use increased following the Avahan initiative, in accordance with survey data; (H(2)) that condom use increased according to estimates derived from condom distribution data. The proportion of fits to HIV/STI prevalence data was examined to determine which hypothesis was most consistent. RESULTS: For Mysore 0/36/82.7 fits were identified per million parameter sets explored under hypothesis H(0)/H(1)/H(2), respectively, while for Belgaum 9.7/8.3/0 fits were identified. The HIV epidemics in Belgaum and Mysore are both declining. In Mysore, increases in condom use during commercial sex between 2004 and 2009 may have averted 31.2% to 47.4% of new HIV infections in FSWs, while in Belgaum it may have averted 24.8% to 43.2%, if there was an increase in condom use. DISCUSSION: Increased condom use following the Avahan intervention is likely to have played a role in curbing the HIV epidemic in Mysore. In Belgaum, given the limitations in available data, this method cannot be used alone to decide if there has been an increase in condom use

Moving towards Sustainable Electronic Health Applications

Electronic healthcare applications, both web-based and mobile health (mHealth) provide new modalities for chronic disease. These tools allow patients to track their symptoms and help them manage their condition. The sustainability of these tools is often not considered during their development. To ensure these applications can be adopted and sustainable, where policy differs amongst states and provinces, we must present the benefits of our findings to highlight the justification for its development. For technology to be sustainable it has to utilize infrastructure that is secure, stable and to be agile so that it can be deployed quickly with minimal interruption to patients, family members and healthcare professionals

Dialectique négative et théorie critique : pour une réflexion utopique en science politique

Avant tout, ce travail comptait étudier le concept de théorie critique développé à l'École de Francfort afin d'en exposer la pertinence en science politique. Il nous a d'abord fallu saisir sa première définition, celle élaborée par Max Horkheimer durant les années 1930. En lisant les principaux essais de Horkheimer à ce sujet (dont les traductions françaises n'ont été publiées qu'en 1974 et 1978), et certains textes de ses collaborateurs (surtout ceux de Theodor Adorno), nous avons repéré deux thèmes qui ont eu une influence sur notre définition de la science politique: la méthode dialectique de la Phénoménologie de l'Esprit de Hegel, conçue pour permettre le développement d'une science philosophique, et la résurgence du concept d'utopie qui, par sa critique de la réalité politique et son recours à la négation, intéresse la science politique et lui confère un caractère dialectique, lui permet d'adopter un point de vue différent au sujet de la réalité qu'elle observe. En revendiquant ses origines au sein du même héritage que la philosophie politique, et pour se distinguer de la gestion sociale ou d'une connaissance purement technique de la société, la science politique doit reconnaître qu'elle constitue elle-même une science philosophique, qu'elle doit s'intéresser aux aspirations de l'humanité à une société rationnelle aussi bien qu'à la réalité politique quotidienne. Nous nous sommes donc attardés aux origines de la notion d'utopie, dans L'Utopie de Thomas More, puis à son utilisation, voire son dépassement, dans l'oeuvre de Marx. Nous avons aussi procédé à une relecture de la Phénoménologie hégélienne, en mettant en relief les principaux passages qui influenceront la Théorie critique horkheimerienne. Enfin, nous avons approfondi la définition de la Théorie critique en nous intéressant à des ouvrages plus récents, qui se rapprochent de l'oeuvre de Horkheimer ou de son concept de théorie critique, principalement ceux publiés par Axel Honneth et Michel Freitag. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Dialectique, Phénoménologie hégélienne, École de Francfort, Théorie critique, Utopie

L’habitation communautaire au Québec : défis et perspectives de développement

Compte rendu du symposium du CAP Habitat de l'ARUC-ÉS tenu le 11 novembre 2009. Sous la direction de Marie J. Bouchard et Vincent van Schendel.Le 11 novembre 2009, le CAP Habitat communautaire de l’ARUC-ÉS tenait, à l’Université du Québec à Montréal, un symposium au sujet des défis et perspectives de développement de l’habitation communautaire au Québec et réunissait différents acteurs du milieu. Les participants au symposium ont reçu un document de discussion en préparation de l’événement. Ce document, préparé par Magali Plante, Marie J. Bouchard et Marcellin Hudon est présenté en annexe du présent compte rendu. La journée de symposium, organisée autour de trois panels suivis de discussions entre les participants, a débuté par un mot de bienvenue de l’animatrice, Constance Ramacière. Marcellin Hudon, codirecteur du CAP, a ensuite énoncé les objectifs de la journée, puis Vincent van Schendel, coordonnateur à l’ARUC, a présenté brièvement l’ARUC-ÉS et le CAP Habitat. Marie J. Bouchard, codirectrice du CAP, a poursuivi avec la présentation de l’ARUC-ÉS, les grandes lignes de l’ouvrage Se loger autrement au Québec et les objectifs du symposium. Le premier panel, portant sur les populations visées et rejointes par l’habitation communautaire, était composé d’André Archambault, ancien directeur général de l’Auberge communautaire du Sud-Ouest et Yves Hurtubise, professeur associé à l’Université Laval. Le deuxième panel portait sur le parc immobilier et regroupait les présentations de deux consultants en habitation communautaire : Allan Gaudreault et Jean-Guy Laguë. Le dernier panel, au sujet du partenariat, de la gouvernance et de l’autonomie, était constitué d’André Fortin, de la Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins et de Winnie Frohn, professeure au Département d’études urbaines de l’UQAM

Influenza D virus M2 protein exhibits ion channel activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes

A new type of influenza virus, known as type D, has recently been identified in cattle and pigs. Influenza D virus infection in cattle is typically asymptomatic; however, its infection in swine can result in clinical disease. Swine can also be infected with all other types of influenza viruses, namely A, B, and C. Consequently, swine can serve as a mixing vessel for highly pathogenic influenza viruses, including those with zoonotic potential. Currently, the only antiviral drug available targets influenza M2 protein ion channel is not completely effective. Thus, it is necessary to develop an M2 ion channel blocker capable of suppressing the induction of resistance to the genetic shift. To provide a basis for developing novel ion channel- blocking compounds, we investigated the properties of influenza D virus M2 protein (DM2) as a drug target

Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Psychological Distress and Telomere Length in Childhood

Telomere length (TL) is a biological marker of cellular aging, and shorter TL in adulthood is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk. It is likely that these differences in TL are established long before adulthood, and there is growing evidence that TL can reflect prenatal experiences. Although maternal prenatal distress predicts newborn TL, it is unknown whether the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress and child TL persists through childhood. The purpose of the current longitudinal, prospective study is to examine the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress (perceived stress, depressive symptoms, pregnancy-related anxiety) and TL in childhood. Participants included 102 children (54 girls) and their mothers. Mothers’ distress was assessed five times during pregnancy, at 12 weeks postpartum, and at the time of child telomere measurement between 6 and 16 years of age. Maternal distress during pregnancy predicted shorter offspring TL in childhood, even after accounting for postnatal exposure to maternal distress and other covariates. These findings indicate that maternal mental health predicts offspring TL biology later in childhood than previously observed. This study bolsters claims that telomere biology is subject to fetal programming and highlights the importance of supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy

Barriers to the management of Heart Failure in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes: an Interprofessional Care perspective

Background: With population aging, the prevalence of heart failure (HF) is risingin long-term care (LTC) homes. Given this burden, there is an urgent need to establish effective HF management programs.Methods and Findings: To understand what barriers would need to be addressed to develop such a program, we conducted a series of consultations among various LTC staff, as well as residents and their family caregivers. This article uses data obtained from the consultations to describe the interprofessional (IP) barriers that exist among the various LTC staff roles. Consultation methods included a Delphi survey followed by focus group interviews of LTC staff, and then personal interviews with LTC residents with HF and their family caregivers. Data were interpreted using an IP care framework in which interpersonal relationships among LTC staff provide the most direct influence on collaborative resident-centred practice, within the broader context of conditions within the LTC home, which in turn are housed in the broader context of systemic determinants.Conclusion: Across all data sets, the most consistently mentioned determinant was communication between the resident and the healthcare team, between different healthcare providers, between shifts, between medical specialists, and between the long-term care home and the hospital