Improving Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual,Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Content in a Radiation Therapy Undergraduate Curriculum

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit plus (LGBTQ2S+) people have distinct healthcare needs that may be unaddressed in many undergraduate healthcare curricula. The Radiation Therapy Program (RADTH) at the University of Alberta underwent a review of the three-year didactic curriculum using an online survey. The survey sought to ascertain if, where and how topics related to LGBTQ2S + healthcare are taught. Results indicated that out of 10 RADTH program faculty respondents, three teach related topics. The total time dedicated within the three-year curriculum was approximately three and a half hours. Other findings showed that faculty are interested in receiving more education in this area and would favour discussions about how to incorporate these themes into appropriate courses. This preliminary investigation demonstrated that there has been some initial work in this area, but there is more to be done.     

An analysis of astrocytic cell lines with different abilities to promote axon growth

The adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) lacks the capacity to support axonal regeneration. There is increasing evidence to suggest that astrocytes, the major glial population in the CNS, may possess both axon-growth promoting and axon-growth inhibitory properties and the latter may contribute to the poor regenerative capacity of the CNS. In order to examine the molecular differences between axon-growth permissive and axon-growth inhibitory astrocytes, a panel of astrocyte cell lines exhibiting a range of axon-growth promoting properties was generated and analysed. No clear correlation was found between the axon-growth promoting properties of these astrocyte cell lines with: (i) the expression of known neurite-outgrowth promoting molecules such as laminin, fibronectin andN-cadherin; (ii) the expression of known inhibitory molecules such tenascin and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan; (iii) plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity; and (iv) growth cone collapsing activity. EM studies on aggregates formed from astrocyte cell lines, however, revealed the presence of an abundance of extracellular matrix material associated with the more inhibitory astrocyte cell lines. When matrix deposited by astrocyte cell lines was assessed for axon-growth promoting activity, matrix from permissive lines was found to be a good substrate, whereas matrix from the inhibitory astrocyte lines was a poor substrate for neuritic growth. Our findings, taken together, suggest that the functional differences between the permissive and the inhibitory astrocyte cell lines reside largely with the ECM.     

Contact angles of substances used for internal tamponade in retinal detachment surgery

In order to ascertain the tamponade effect of air and silicone oil we examined the contact angles subtended by ex vivo human retina, Teflon and Perspex to find a suitable experimental material which would mimic the surface properties of the retina at a three-phase interface. Using the captive bubble technique to measure the contact angle, it was found that air subtended a larger contact angle (38.8°) with the retina than did silicone oil (18.2°). On coating the Perspex surface with protein (PCP), it was observed that the surface properties were modified such that PCP subtended contact angles with air (43.0°) and silicone oil (16.4°) similar to those subtended by ex vivo human retina. Using PCP as an experimental material that mimics ex vivo human retina, spherical chambers were employed in order to examine qualitatively and to quantify the arc of contact obtained with air and silicone oil. It was found that air gave a greater arc of contact for the same percentage fill than silicone oil.     

Vesicular pityriasis rosea: response to erythromycin treatment

Pityriasis rosea (PR) is a relatively common disease although its aetiology has not yet been identified. It occurs worldwide and there is no racial susceptibility factor. It usually affects teenagers and young adults between 10 and 35 years of age. Typical PR is much easier to diagnose than the rare atypical forms. We report a rare case of vesicular PR in a black woman who had vesicular lesions limited to her palms and soles in addition to regular typical lesions. We devised an efficient oral erythromycin treatment for this patient.     

Glutamergic Action on Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Release from the Rat Hypothalamus

Release of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) synthesized in the hypothalamus is regulated by monoaminergic neuronal systems. An endogenous dopaminergic system inhibits α-MSH release (1, 2) whilst serotoninergic systems exert a biphasic effect on peptide release (3). The toxic effects of neonatal peripheral administration of monosodium glutamate on hypothalamic neurons containing proopiomelanocortin- (POMC-) derived peptides (4, 5) suggest additionally the presence of glutamate receptors on or indirectly influencing the POMC neuron. By comparison of the effect of the excitatory amino-acid agonists N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), quisqualate and kainate on the release of α-MSH from superfused slices of rat hypothalamus, we have demonstrated a stimulatory glutamergic action on α-MSH release mediated through NMDA-type receptors.     

Conceptual models and nursing practice: the reciprocal relationship.

There is a reciprocal relationship between conceptual models of nursing and nursing practice. Conceptual models influence clinical nursing practice by specifying standards for and purposes of practice; identifying relevant clinical problems, settings for practice, legitimate recipients of nursing care, and the content for the nursing process; suggesting methods for delivery of nursing services; and by providing frameworks for clinical information systems, patient classifications systems and quality assurance programmes. Nursing practice, in turn, provides data that can be used to determine the credibility of the conceptual models. Sources of data from clinical practice for credibility determination include evaluations of nursing interventions, the recipient's perspective of nursing care and quality assurance reviews.     

Interactions between meningeal cells and astrocytes in vivo and in vitro.

At the interface between the meninges and the central nervous system there is a characteristic structure known as the glia limitans, consisting of many fine interdigitating astrocyte processes which contain both GFAP and vimentin, and a basal lamina. A similar structure is set up after brain injury where meningeal cells invade the lesion. We have experimentally put astrocytes and meningeal cells in contact with one another, both in vivo and in vitro, to see whether this results in the formation of a glia limitans. Cultured meningeal cells were injected into the hippocampus of adult rats, and from 1 to 12 weeks later brains were stained were stained for GFAP and vimentin. One week after injection there was a widespread astrocytic reaction stretching up to 2 mm from the injection, the cells being stained intensely for both GFAP and vimentin. Over the next 4-6 weeks this widespread reaction subsided, the only remaining vimentin stained astrocytes, apart from those at the normal glia limitans, being in contact with the injected meningeal cells, or with meningeal cells which had migrated into the injection needle track. In vitro a structure reminiscent of the glia limitans formed where patches of astrocytes abutted meningeal cells; the astrocytes formed a layer of fine interdigitating processes all running parallel to the interface between the two cell types, and there was heavy staining for laminin and fibronectin. We conclude that a glia limitans forms wherever astrocytes and meningeal cells come into contact.     

Nutritional support in patients with low volume chylous fistula following radical neck dissection.

One of the well known complications of radical neck dissection is a chylous fistula, which results from injury to the thoracic duct as it enters the left subclavian vein. Such fistulae may cause considerable increased morbidity to a patient who is already debilitated by malignancy and by the increased catabolic response to surgery. Further surgery may be appropriate for those with a high fistula output but conservative therapy is normally advocated for the remainder. Nutritional and electrolyte support for these patients is essential and poses potential problems in management. We present three such patients. One was fed parenterally and two enterally and in all cases the fistulae closed spontaneously. We examine the known physiological stimuli to chyle production and conclude that the enteral feedings of these patients with fat or an isomolar enteral feed does not, contrary to current belief, increase chyle flow or delay the healing of these fistulae.