Maternal Effects of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection during Pregnancy.

Given the illness and deaths caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection during the first year of life, preventing infant RSV infections through maternal vaccination is intriguing. However, little is known about the extent and maternal effects of RSV infection during pregnancy. We describe 3 cases of maternal RSV infection diagnosed at a US center during winter 2014. Case-patient 1 (26 years old, week 33 of gestation) received a diagnosis of RSV infection and required mechanical ventilation. Case-patient 2 (27 years old, week 34 of gestation) received a diagnosis of infection with influenza A(H1N1) virus and RSV and required mechanical ventilation. Case-patient 3 (21 years old, week 32 of gestation) received a diagnosis of group A streptococcus pharyngitis and RSV infection and was monitored as an outpatient. Clarifying the effects of maternal RSV infection could yield valuable insights into potential maternal and fetal benefits of an effective RSV vaccination program.

Muscle Logic: New Knowledge Resource for Anatomy Enables Comprehensive Searches of the Literature on the Feeding Muscles of Mammals.

BACKGROUND: In recent years large bibliographic databases have made much of the published literature of biology available for searches. However, the capabilities of the search engines integrated into these databases for text-based bibliographic searches are limited. To enable searches that deliver the results expected by comparative anatomists, an underlying logical structure known as an ontology is required. DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE ONTOLOGY: Here we present the Mammalian Feeding Muscle Ontology (MFMO), a multi-species ontology focused on anatomical structures that participate in feeding and other oral/pharyngeal behaviors. A unique feature of the MFMO is that a simple, computable, definition of each muscle, which includes its attachments and innervation, is true across mammals. This construction mirrors the logical foundation of comparative anatomy and permits searches using language familiar to biologists. Further, it provides a template for muscles that will be useful in extending any anatomy ontology. The MFMO is developed to support the Feeding Experiments End-User Database Project (FEED, https://feedexp.org/), a publicly-available, online repository for physiological data collected from in vivo studies of feeding (e.g., mastication, biting, swallowing) in mammals. Currently the MFMO is integrated into FEED and also into two literature-specific implementations of Textpresso, a text-mining system that facilitates powerful searches of a corpus of scientific publications. We evaluate the MFMO by asking questions that test the ability of the ontology to return appropriate answers (competency questions). We compare the results of queries of the MFMO to results from similar searches in PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Our tests demonstrate that the MFMO is competent to answer queries formed in the common language of comparative anatomy, but PubMed and Google Scholar are not. Overall, our results show that by incorporating anatomical ontologies into searches, an expanded and anatomically comprehensive set of results can be obtained. The broader scientific and publishing communities should consider taking up the challenge of semantically enabled search capabilities.

Diminishment of respiratory sinus arrhythmia foreshadows doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The development of a microcomputer-based device permits quick, simple, and noninvasive quantification of the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during quiet breathing. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively and serially measured the radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction and the RSA amplitude in 34 cancer patients receiving up to nine monthly bolus treatments with doxorubicin hydrochloride (60 mg/m2). Of the eight patients who ultimately developed symptomatic doxorubicin-induced congestive heart failure, seven (87.5%) demonstrated a significant decline in RSA amplitude; five of 26 subjects without clinical symptoms of cardiotoxicity (19.2%) showed a similar RSA amplitude decline. On average, significant RSA amplitude decline occurred 3 months before the last planned doxorubicin dose in patients destined to develop clinical congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: Overall, RSA amplitude abnormality proved to be a more specific predictor of clinically significant congestive heart failure than did serial resting radionuclide ejection fractions.

The art of auscultation: evaluating a patient's respiratory pathology

This article considers national policy drivers promoting the development of advanced assessment skills and practical procedures for the safe and effective use of the stethoscope in the clinical area. The evidence base underpinning effective use of the stethoscope in clinical practice is explored, including the preparation of the patient and the environment, applying infection control policies, and placing an emphasis on privacy and dignity. This is followed by a practical guide to auscultation technique of the respiratory system for nurses developing advanced practice skills.

Respiratory auscultation: how to use a stethoscope

This article outlines the correct procedure for respiratory assessments using a stethoscope, how to use a stethoscope and how to interpret your findings.

Early growth and adult respiratory function in men and women followed from the fetal period to adulthood

While some studies suggest that poor fetal growth rate, as indicated by lower birth weight, is associated with poor respiratory function in childhood, findings among adults remain inconsistent. A study was undertaken to determine the association between early growth and adult respiratory function.

Aerobic Metabolism Octopine Production And Phosphoarginine As Sources Of Energy In The Phasic And Catch Adductor Muscles Of The Giant Scallop Placopecten-Magellanicus During Swimming And The Subsequent Recovery Period

1. The energy contributions of aerobic metabolism, phosphoarginine, ATP and octopine in the adductor muscles of P. magellanicus were examined during swimming and recovery. 2. A linear relationship was observed between the size of the phosphoarginine pool and the number of valve snaps. A linear increase in arginine occurred during the same period. 3. 3. Octopine was formed during the first few hours of recovery, particularly in the phasic muscle. 4. The restoration of the phosphoarginine pool appeared to be by aerobic metabolism. 5. It is concluded that the role of octopine formation is to supply energy when the tissues are anoxic and to operate at such a rate as to maintain the basal rate of energy production.