Search

During the Late Pleistocene, several possibly endemic cingulate species, known mostly from isolated osteoderms, cara-pace fragments, and caudal tubes, coexisted in the Brazilian Intertropical Region. Here, we describe the osteoderm micro- structure of Pachyarmatherium brasiliense, as well as the glyptodonts Panochthus greslebini, Panochthus jaguaribensis and Glyptotherium sp., in order to provide additional species-diagnostic characters and shed light on their evolutionary relationships. Pachyarmatherium brasiliense lacks several derived features shared by glyptodonts and pampatheres, such as extensive bone remodeling, fibers arranged in large bundles, and relatively poorly developed layers of compact bone, thus supporting its exclusion from glyptodonts as suggested by a recent cladistic study. The osteoderm histology of P. greslebini resembles that of other species of Panochthus (e.g., Panochthus frenzelianus). By contrast, the presence of relatively thick layers of compact bone, the configuration and size of resorption areas, the absence of randomly oriented lateral fiber bundles, and the absence of an intermediary region between the compact and trabecular bone potentially support the exclusion of Panochthus jaguaribensis from the genus. Finally, osteoderms of the Brazilian specimens of Glyptodontinae share histological features with Glyptotherium floridanus, rather than Glyptodon, thus reinforcing their assignment to Glyptotherium. These results highlight the relevance of histological osteoderm characters in cingulate systematics, ands call for further and more comprehensive studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the effects of early versus delayed oxytocin augmentation on the obstetrical and neonatal outcome in nulliparous women with spontaneous but prolonged labour. Design Randomised controlled study. Setting Two delivery units in Sweden. Population Healthy nulliparous women with normal pregnancies, spontaneous onset of active labour, a cervical dilatation of 4–9 cm and no progress in cervical dilatation for 2 hours and for an additional hour if amniotomy was performed due to slow progress. Methods Women ( n = 630) were randomly allocated either to labour augmentation by oxytocin infusion (early oxytocin group) or to postponement of oxytocin augmentation for another 3 hours (expectant group). Main outcome measure Mode of delivery (spontaneous vaginal or instrumental vaginal delivery or caesarean section) and time from randomisation to delivery. Results The caesarean section rate was 29 of 314 (9%) in the early oxytocin group and 34 of 316 (11%) in the expectant group (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5–1.4), and instrumental vaginal delivery 54 of 314 (17%) in the early oxytocin versus 38 of 316 (12%) in the expectant group (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.97–2.4). Early initiation of oxytocin resulted in a mean decrease of 85 minutes in the randomisation to delivery interval. Conclusion Early administration of oxytocin did not change the rate of caesarean section or instrumental vaginal delivery but shortened labour duration significantly in women with a 2-hour arrest in cervical dilatation. No other clear benefits or harms were seen between early and delayed administration of oxytocin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To study whether the mode of delivery alters pain expression.Study Design:Full-term infants born by vaginal delivery or elective caesarean section were observed following high- and low-intensity pain stimuli, with recording of electrocardiogram, facial expression and vocalization.Result:Graded physiological and behavioral responses occurred, with greater responses to higher than lower intensity pain stimuli. Elevation in heart rate following both stimuli increased with time after vaginal delivery. Infants delivered by elective caesarean section showed stronger facial expressions and briefer time in vocalizations response to both interventions.Conclusion:Diminished responses following vaginal delivery suggest that physiological events associated with a normal delivery reduce the physiologic and sympathoadrenal activation by nociceptive mechanisms. Pain and stress reactivity appear to be inhibited during fetal life and sensory inputs during vaginal delivery may reverse this inhibition. To minimize neonatal pain, we recommend that postnatal invasive procedures to be performed shortly after vaginal birth.Journal of Perinatology (2009) 29, 44–50; doi:10.1038/jp.2008.129; published online 4 September 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the influence of morphine therapy and other factors on the attainment of full enteral feeds and on acquired gastrointestinal pathology in preterm infants. Design: Secondary data analysis from a randomised, placebo controlled trial. Setting: 16 neonatal intensive care units in USA, Sweden, France and UK. Patients: 898 infants (treatment group 449, control 449(. Gestation (median (range)): 27 (23—32( weeks; birth weight (median (range((: 985 (420—2440) g. Interventions: Morphine (M( or placebo (Pl) given preemptively by intravenous loading dose (100 μg/kg of morphine) and infusion (10—30 μg/kg/h depending on gestation) while infants were ventilated, for up to 14 days. "Open-label" morphine (A) could be given if clinically indicated. Main outcome measures: Age at full enteral feeds and major acquired gastrointestinal pathology. Results: The group randomised to morphine was later in attaining full feeds (median days (quartiles): M 20 (13—29(, Pl 17 (12—26(; p = 0.003(, and in starting feeds (median days (quartiles): M 5 (3—8), Pl 4 (2—7)(. In a linear regression model, age at full feeds was independently associated with birth weight, a score of neonatal morbidities, neonatal dexamethasone use and cumulative morphine dose. There was no relationship between morphine use and acquired gastrointestinal pathology (M 9/449, Pl 8/449; χ2 p = 0.81). Conclusions: Morphine delays the attainment of full enteral feeds, partly by delaying the start of feeding, but does not discernibly increase gastrointestinal complications. The attainment of full feeds is influenced by morphine dose, but other factors seem to be important, including birth weight and neonatal morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate whether professional training and/or clinical experience affect the ability of caregiver to assess clinical signs of pre-emptive morphine analgesia. Methods: In the Neurological Outcomes & Pre-emptive Analgesia In Neonates trial preterm infants undergoing mechanical ventilation were randomized to receive continuous infusion, either of morphine or placebo blinded. Staff from centres in Sweden (Stockholm and Örebro) completed an assessment form. Results: A total of 360 assessment forms were collected from 52 neonates. In 59% of the cases, caregivers correctly identified patients group. Comparable proportion of answers were correct between physicians, nurses and assistant nurses (63, 60 and 54%, respectively, p = 0.60). Staff with Neonatal intensive care unit experience <1 year identified 63%, as compared to 65% for working 1–5 year, and 55% that has been working >5 years (p = 0.28). Staff's ability to correctly identify group assignment was reduced by amount of additional morphine (p < 0.01) and severity of illness (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Clinical medical staffs, including neonatologists, have great difficulties in assessing the presence and severity of pain. Further studies should focus on the methods for assessment of prolonged pain in preterm neonates, define the effects of adequate analgesia, and investigate the clinical factors that may alter neonatal responses to acute and prolonged pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the three most relevant magnetic properties (magnetic moment critical temperature, and interlayer exchange coupling) of metallic multilayers can be reproduced with good accuracy by first principles theory, provided that the picture of atomically sharp interfaces is abandoned and one allows instead for both interface alloying and interface roughness. The interface of a metallic multilayer (exemplified by the F/V System) is demonstrated to, at best, have interdiffusion essentially Over two to three atomic layers on each side Of the interface. Our conclusions are the result of combining experimental work with theoretical modeling, and we argue that this approach is the best avenue to obtain accurate information about the interface quality of metallic multilayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a method for isolated perfusion of the liver using radiological methods.Methods: Twenty-one pigs, weighing about 20 kg, were divided into three groups. By transjugular and transfemoral approaches two occlusion balloons were placed in the inferior vena cava cranial and caudal, respectively, to the origin of the hepatic veins. One occlusion balloon was placed transfemorally in the common hepatic artery. Another occlusion balloon was inserted in the main branch of the portal vein via the transjugular-transhepatic approach in 11 pigs (groups 1 and 2), and in 10 pigs (group 3) by a percutaneous transhepatic route. After inflation of the balloons, patency of the isolated liver circulation was evaluated by recirculation of 99Tcm-labelled human albumin during 30 min. Blood tests were obtained after 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min to evaluate leakage from the liver to the systemic circulation.Results: Increasing leakage to the systemic circulation from the isolated liver circulation was observed in groups 1 and 2. In the third group the leakage was less than 10%.Conclusion: In an experimental animal model, isolated perfusion of the liver with minor leakage to the systemic circulation may be achieved using radiological methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]