BACKGROUND Hypodynamic septic shock is associated with a poor prognosis. The present randomized-controlled laboratory experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that the vasodilatory peptide hormone adrenomedullin (ADM) is a useful agent to prevent and reverse the development of hypodynamic circulation in ovine endotoxaemia. METHODS Twenty-four healthy ewes were chronically instrumented f...

Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), the major causative agent of malignant catarrhal fever in ruminant species worldwide, has never been propagated in vitro. Using real-time PCR, a striking, short-lived, peak of viral DNA, ranging from 10(5) to over 10(8) copies/2 microg of DNA, was detected in nasal secretions from over 60.7% of adolescent sheep (n = 56) at some point during the period from 6 to 9 m...

Forty-two ovine pestivirus isolates, collected over a period of 18 years, were compared by phylogenetic analysis. The viruses were mostly field isolates from Britain; two others originated from Sweden and two from New Zealand. RT-PCR products were obtained from two genomic regions, one within the 5'-noncoding (5'-NC) region, and the other encompassing parts of the p20 (Npro) and C coding region...

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease is a notifiable condition in Queensland, Australia. Mycobacterial isolates that require species identification are forwarded to the Queensland Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory, providing a central opportunity to capture statewide data on the epidemiology of NTM disease. We compared isolates obtained in 1999 and 2005 and used data from the Queensland n...

BACKGROUND During cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, family members, in some hospitals, are usually pushed to stay out of the resuscitation room. However, growing literature implies that family presence during resuscitation could be beneficial. Previous literature shows controversial belief whether or not a family member should be present during resuscitation of their relative. Some worldwide asso...

Childhood ARDS is mostly caused by pneumonia. Pulmonary pseudocysts are reported in adults recovering from ARDS, usually in non-dependent lung regions. We present a 1.5-year-old boy, who survived severe pulmonary ARDS with development of pulmonary giant pseudocysts and other structural abnormalities in dependent lung region. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first follow up report of pulm...

INTRODUCTION Aspergillus spp. infections mainly affect patients who are immunocompromised, and are extremely rare in immunocompetent individuals. CASE PRESENTATION Aspergillus post-operative mediastinitis is considered to be a devastating infection, usually affecting patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery with specific predisposing factors. We describe the case of an immunocompetent 68-ye...

Pulmonary leukostasis, as a result of complement activation, has been invoked as a cause of pulmonary dysfunction. To investigate this phenomenon, we studied the pulmonary response to infusion of autologous complement-activated plasma in sheep and rabbits. Complement activation was produced by plasma incubation with zymosan. Leukopenia, with selective loss of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into t...

Although Na-K-ATPase plays an important role in vascular smooth muscle function, it is unknown which isoforms of the enzyme are present in the pulmonary vasculature and whether they possess different affinities for ouabain. Unlike rodents, Na-K-ATPase in sheep and humans displays greater affinity for ouabain. Thus, the present study examined the presence of various isoforms of the enzyme by Wes...

To test the hypothesis that coronary flow and coronary flow reserve are developmentally regulated, we used fluorescent microspheres to investigate the effects of acute (6 hr) pulmonary artery banding on baseline and adenosine enhanced right (RV) and left ventricle (LV) blood flow in two groups of twin ovine fetuses (100 and 128 d gestation, term 145 d; n = 6 for each group). Within each group, ...