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Fish mortality through floodplain pumping stations is a recognised global issue, but few studies have quantified the degree of mortality that occurs during pumping. We investigated the potential of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as a tool to record sounds made by fish and their likely mortality as they passed through pumps during downstream migration. The acoustic properties made by freshly killed eels that were fed through an existing pump station were compared to those made by goldfish (Carassius auratus). Processing and analysis of acoustic data enabled the development of an 'eel-specific' algorithm for detecting eels passing through the pumping station. The duration of sound and filtered intensity were useful characteristics enabling reliable separation of the two fish species. The algorithm was then applied retrospectively to soundscape recordings obtained during a typical eel migration period at the test site. Although the tool is unlikely to be able to differentiate the sound of goldfish from 'other' potential sounds of short duration (e.g. sticks), differentiating eels from other sounds was demonstrated. We conclude that this tool has considerable potential for improving the understanding of the timing of eel migrations and likely mortality through pumping stations. The tool may also be used to inform the development of both remote and manual pump management options for reducing pump-related eel mortality. Fish mortality through floodplain pumping stations is a recognised global issue, but few studies have quantified the impact of such infrastructure. This study aimed to use passive acoustic monitoring to record and identify the sounds generated when fish move through pumping stations. It is envisaged that this tool has application not only in quantifying eel mortality, but also as an early detection tool to illicit and test an appropriate management response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vasodilation after coronary artery bypass surgery is a common complication. Inflammatory mediators influence the expression of alpha1-adrenergic receptors. Do patients requiring high doses of postoperative inotropic support have down-regulated alpha-adrenergic receptors? Is there a characteristic pattern of preoperative inflammatory mediator expression that could predict a complicated course after the operation? Forty-four patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery with extracorporeal circulation were prospectively investigated. Five perioperative blood samples were taken (preoperative, two hours, 12 hours, 36 hours and 72 hours postoperative). The leucocyte mRNA-expression of the three alpha1-adrenergic receptor subtypes (A, B and D) and 11 different pro-inflammatory mediators were investigated with the real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The patients were divided into three groups (No-noradrenaline [No-NA]= 0 microg/min, Low-noradrenaline [Low-NA]=0.1-7 microg/min, High-noradrenaline [High-NA] >7 microg/min), according to their postoperative noradrenaline requirements. Preoperatively, alpha1(A)-receptor expression was 4.9-fold (High-NA) and 18.7-fold (Low-NA) higher than the No-NA group (P=0.005) and plasma noradrenaline levels were higher in the High-NA group (P=0.005). Across all groups at 12 hours after the operation, alpha1(A) -receptor expression decreased to approximately one-fifth of preoperative levels (P=0.01); but with greater duration and magnitude of relative decrease in the High-NA group. Patients in the No-NA group had significant postoperative increases in leucocyte inflammatory mediator expression for IL-1beta, TLR4, TREM, MPO, MMP9 and TNF genes, whereas the changes in the Low-NA and High-NA groups were not significant. Low preoperative levels of noradrenaline and low expression of alpha1(A)-adrenoreceptors in leucocytes was associated with less probability of requiring noradrenaline support after cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between coaches' perception of match performance and movement demands in Australian Football. Movement demands were collected from 21 professional players over 12 matches during one Australian Football League season, with 69 player files collected. Additionally, match events relative to playing time and distance covered, along with player physical characteristics were collected. Based on coaches subjective rating of match performance (out of 20), relatively high calibre (HC) players (≥15/20) were compared with relatively low calibre (LC) players (≤9/20) for all variables. The HC players were older (+17 %, p = 0.011), spent a greater percentage of time performing low-speed running (+2 %, p = 0.039), had more kicks (38 %, p = 0.001) and disposals (35 %, p = 0.001) per min and covered less distance per kick (-50 %, p = 0.001) and disposal (-44 %, p = 0.001) than the LC group, with the effect sizes also supporting this trend. Further, HC players covered less distance (-14 %, p = 0.037), spent less percentage of time (-17 %, p = 0.037) and performed fewer (-9 %, p = 0.026) efforts per min high-speed running than LC players, which was further confirmed by the effect sizes. Movement demands and match events are related to coaches' perception of match performance in professional Australian Football. Further, high levels of involvement with the football appeared to be more important to performance than high exercise speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to determine the pattern of N-Terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) secretion pre and post cardiac surgery and then to investigate the correlation between levels of serum NT-pro BNP and postoperative clinical and biochemical endpoints. This was a prospective observational study performed at a tertiary centre in New Zealand, examining 118 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Interventions included blood samples for NT-pro BNP and troponin-T taken 48 hours prior to operation and 12, 36 and 72 hours postoperatively. The plasma NT-pro BNP levels increased fourfold postoperatively, to plateau at 36 to 72 hours. Preoperative NT-pro BNP levels correlated with ventilation time (r = 0.46), length of stay in intensive care unit (r = 0.59), total perioperative noradrenaline dose (r = 0.55), but not with postoperative atrial fibrillation or mortality. Using multivariate analysis, serum NT-pro BNP levels at 36 hours were associated with increased noradrenaline dose (P = 0.001), decreased preoperative ejection fraction (EF) Group (P = 0.013) and elevated preoperative NT-pro BNP (P < 0.001). Factors not associated with NT-pro BNP levels at 36 hours include the operation type, bypass and cross-clamp times, use of milrinone and troponin-T We conclude that NT-pro BNP levels increased markedly after cardiac surgery and that high preoperative NT-pro BNP levels are associated with a slow postoperative recovery, but do not predict the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation or mortality. Myocardial ischaemia is an unlikely cause of the NT-pro BNP elevation, because no correlation existed between troponin-T and NT-pro BNP levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A primary epithelial cell line, DK1, established from renal tissue of a spontaneously aborted female Atlantic bottlenose dolphin was transfected with linearized pSV3.neo, an SV40 virus-derived plasmid encoding large tumor antigen (Tag). Transfected cells were grown in cetacean culture medium supplemented with 400 μg/ml geneticin (G418), and individual clones were selected using cloning rings. DKN1 was the first clone to be evaluated for future research use, and has been continuously cultured for 8 years. Intracellular cytokeratin and the expression of Tag were determined in DKN1, and cell growth was evaluated under different concentrations of l-glutamine, glutathione, and N-acetylcysteine. DKN1 cells did not require high levels of l-glutamine as previously reported for cetacean cells, and addition of antioxidants at the concentrations used in this study (2.0 mM) decreased the rate of cell division. These data suggest strongly that these immortalized bottlenose dolphin epithelial cells have different levels of, and requirements for, glutathione than would be considered normal for terrestrial mammalian cells, do not require high levels of l-glutamine as previously suggested for dolphin cells, and exhibit decreased levels of cell growth and viability in high levels of the antioxidant GSH and its precursor, NAC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although estimates of anesthesia-related deaths today are as low as 1 in 200,000 to 300,000 cases, questions remain about surgical patients' safety related to types of anesthesia providers. We studied the effect of type of anesthesia provider on mortality rates of Medicare patients undergoing 8 different surgical procedures. Risk-adjusted mortality rates were analyzed for 404,194 inpatients undergoing surgery and having complete, unambiguous Medicare bills for anesthesia. Mortality was compared for anesthesiologists working alone, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) working alone, and anesthesia care teams. Procedure-specific risk-adjustment models were derived using stepwise logistic regression. Predictions were adjusted for institutional and geographic factors. Mortality rates for conditions studied ranged from 0.11% to 1.20%. Observed and predicted values by type of provider were not statistically significantly different. Hospitals without anesthesiologists had results similar to hospitals where anesthesiologists provided or directed anesthesia care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To confirm the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique (versus blood cultures) and to gain a better understanding of the incidence of true- and false-positive results when using this technique.Design: Observational study.Setting: Fourteen-bed, level 3 intensive care unit.Patients: Hundred twenty-six critically ill adult patients. Hundred ninety-seven blood culture and PCR samples taken as clinically indicated for suspected sepsis, according to routine ICU protocol.Measurements and Results: The PCR product (16SrDNA: 341F-1195R) was sequenced and compared with a database of known species (Genebank) to identify the bacterial nucleic acid. The PCR or blood culture result was classified as a true-positive if there was other microbiological or clinical supporting evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present-on-admission modifiers for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes are rapidly becoming a standard coding requirement. Inaccurate coding of these modifiers can distort analyses of risk-adjusted outcomes and determinations of hospital reimbursement. A set of 12 screens for the plausibility of present-on-admission designations was developed and tested using New York State claims data for 2003, 2004, and 2005. Application of these screens uncovered numerous potential problems in coding with 39 percent of hospitals achieving a composite score higher than 90 percent and 36 percent of hospitals scoring 80 percent or less. Whether data quality control personnel adopt the screens employed in this study or develop similar sets of their own, the analytic approach used in this study provides a cost-effective method of assessing the quality of coding and the integrity of clinical performance reports based on enhanced claims data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]