A video that demonstrates the correct procedure for inserting an in-dwelling urinary catheter into a female patient
More than 90 000 of the UK adult population are estimated to have a urinary catheter, with 24% likely to develop symptoms of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). The consequences of having a CAUTI are reduced quality of life, risk of hospitalisation and increased mortality. The authors undertook a literature review of primary research studies to identify how nurses could support patients to maintain effective catheter care to reduce the risk of CAUTI. Four themes emerged: education, knowledge, empowerment and communication. The authors therefore conclude that consistent knowledge, clear communication and treating patients as partners in the decision-making process can help build trust and allow empower patients. This will enable patients to make safe and healthy decisions about their catheter, particularly with regard to personal hygiene and optimal fluid intake, to reducing the risk of CAUTI.
…male and female pony foals. After catheterisation at 2-3 years of age, basal arterial blood pressures (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured together with the responses to phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). These data were used to assess cardiac baroreflex sensitivity. Neonatal cortisol overexposure reduced both the pressor and bradycardic responses to PE in the young adult males, but not females. It also enhanced the initial hypotensive response to SNP, slowed recovery of BP after infusion and reduced the gain of the cardiac baroreflex in the females, but not males. Basal diastolic pressure and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity also differed with sex, irrespective of neonatal treatment. The results show that there is a window of susceptibility for glucocorticoid programming during the immediate neonatal period that alters cardiovascular function in young adult horses in a sex-linked manner.
Widespread expression of leptin and its receptor in developing cartilage and bone suggests that leptin may regulate bone growth and development in the fetus. Using micro-computed tomography, this study investigated the effects of exogenous leptin and leptin receptor antagonism on aspects of bone structure in the sheep fetus during late gestation. From 125-130 days of gestation (term ~145 days), chronically-catheterised singleton sheep fetuses were infused intravenously for five days with either saline (0.9% saline, n=13), recombinant ovine leptin at two doses (0.6 mg/kg/day LEP1, n=10 or 1.4 mg/kg/day LEP2, n=7) or recombinant super-active ovine leptin receptor antagonist (4.6 mg/kg/day SOLA, n=6). No significant differences in plasma insulin-like growth factor-I, osteocalcin, calcium, inorganic phosphate or alkaline phosphatase were observed between treatment groups. Total femur midshaft diameter and metatarsal lumen diameter were narrower in male fetuses treated with exogenous leptin. In a fixed length of f…