Clarifying the Liability Risk of Shipping in the Canadian Arctic

In the coming years the Arctic Ocean will become navigable for significant periods of time. Now is the time to consider the legal regime that will govern the arctic region, and the recent Polar Code is a major international step in that direction. Among the areas that need further attention before the Arctic becomes a major commercial highway is shipping liability. In particular, Canadian law may hold cargo owners liable for ship owners’ mistakes, errors, and omissions leading to oil spills in the Canadian Arctic. This peculiar cargo owner liability may be an uninsurable risk, and is therefore potentially destabilizing to firms that may not even appreciate their risk. Rather than getting rid of this protection entirely, however, this article proposes a solution to bring this facet of Canadian law into harmony with the Polar Code, preserving the additional protection afforded by cargo owner liability, while tempering it with principles from the Polar Code itself

The Role of Pkd1 in Mouse Inner Ear Hair Cells

The polycystic kidney disease-1 (Pkd1) gene encodes a large transmembrane protein (polycystin-1 or PC-1) that is reported to function as a fluid flow-sensor in the kidney. As a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family, PC-1 has also been hypothesized to play a role in the elusive mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) channel in inner ear hair cells based on PC-1 role of fluid flow sensing and calcium uptake into renal epithelial cells. However, two independent mouse lines with PC-1 mutations exhibit normal MET channel function despite hearing loss and ultra-structural abnormalities of stereocilia that remain properly polarized at adult ages. These findings indicate that PC-1 plays an essential role in stereocilia structure and maintenance, but not directly in MET channel function and planar cell polarity. We also demonstrate that PC-1 is co-localized with F-actin in hair cell stereocilia as well as with the actin based microvilli in a renal epithelia cell line. These results not only provide a unique hair cell stereocilia phenotype, but also ultimately may lead to a further understanding of the mechanisms behind polycystic kidney disease

Comparison of AlloDerm and AlloMax tissue incorporation in rats.

BackgroundHuman acellular dermal matrices (HADMs) are used in a variety of settings. AlloMax is a new HADM currently being used for breast reconstruction and hernia repair. We compared the in vivo tissue integration of AlloMax to AlloDerm, a well-studied HADM, in rats.MethodsWe implanted AlloDerm and AlloMax patches into subcutaneous pockets on the backs of 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were killed after either 4 or 8 weeks, and the patches were recovered and stained for histopathologic analyses. Microscopic end points included patch thickness, vascularization, tissue in-growth, fibroblast proliferation, and inflammation.ResultsAll animals completed the study without complications or infection. There were no significant differences in graft thicknesses at 4 and 8 weeks. Microscopically, at 4 weeks, AlloDerm sections had significantly more microvessels than AlloMax (P = 0.02). This disparity increased by 8 weeks (P < 0.01). Similarly, we found greater tissue in-growth and fibroblast proliferation in AlloDerm than AlloMax sections at 4 (P < 0.01) and at 8 (P < 0.01) weeks. Inflammatory infiltrates consisted of lymphocytes, histiocytes, eosinophils, and plasma cells. Deep graft infiltration by predominately lymphocytic inflammatory cells was significantly higher in AlloDerm than AlloMax grafts at 4 (P = 0.01) and 8 (P = 0.02) weeks. Graft necrosis was uncommon, but marginal fibrosis was similar in both.ConclusionsAlloDerm grafts had greater neovascularization, tissue infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, and inflammatory reaction than AlloMax grafts when placed subcutaneously in rats. AlloDerm may be better incorporated than AlloMax when placed in vivo

Effects on heart pumping function when using foam and gauze for negative pressure wound therapy of sternotomy wounds

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has remarkable effects on the healing of poststernotomy mediastinitis. Foam is presently the material of choice for NPWT in this indication. There is now increasing interest in using gauze, as this has proven successful in the treatment of peripheral wounds. It is important to determine the effects of NPWT using gauze on heart pumping function before it can be used for deep sternotomy wounds. The aim was to examine the effects of NPWT when using gauze and foam on the heart pumping function during the treatment of a sternotomy wound.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight pigs underwent median sternotomy followed by NPWT at -40, -70, -120 and -160 mmHg, using foam or gauze. The heart frequency, cardiac output, mean systemic arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, central venous pressure and left atrial pressure were recorded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cardiac output was not affected by NPWT using gauze or foam. Heart frequency decreased during NPWT when using foam, but not gauze. Treatment with foam also lowered the central venous pressure and the left atrial pressure, while gauze had no such effects. Mean systemic arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure and systemic vascular resistance were not affected by NPWT. Similar haemodynamic effects were observed at all levels of negative pressure studied.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>NPWT using foam results in decreased heart frequency and lower right and left atrial filling pressures. The use of gauze in NPWT did not affect the haemodynamic parameters studied. Gauze may thus provide an alternative to foam for NPWT of sternotomy wounds.</p

Religion, Relationships and Mental Health in Midlife Women Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Little is known about coping in women following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In midlife, women have worse outcomes than men following AMI. Innovative interventions need to be developed that respond to these women\u27s unique recovery needs. In this correlational, descriptive study, 59 women aged 35-64 who had experienced AMI reported low satisfaction with life and decreased mental health; 49% were experiencing depression. However, they also reported that religion, family, and friends provided strength and comfort at the time of their AMI. Greater activation of simple, family-oriented, coping resources during recovery may be key. It is recommended that mental health nurses be essential members of the recovery planning team