Nan Smith-Blair

Diet-induced obesity alters anabolic signalling in mice at the onset of skeletal muscle regeneration

Obesity is classified as a metabolic disorder that is associated with delayed muscle regeneration following damage. For optimal skeletal muscle regeneration, inflammation along with extracellular matrix remodelling and muscle growth must be tightly regulated. Moreover, the regenerative process is dependent on the activation of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) for myoblast proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to determine how obesity alters inflammatory and protein synthetic signalling and MRF expression at the onset of muscle regeneration in mice.

Mechanisms of diaphragm fatigue.

The importance of respiratory muscle fatigue, particularly of the diaphragm, has become well recognized in the last decade. If the diaphragm muscle fails, so does effective ventilation and tissue respiration. Balance between energy supply and demand determines diaphragmatic endurance. An imbalance between energy supply and demand leads to the development of diaphragmatic fatigue. It has become clear that the process of fatigue is a complex phenomenon with multiple mechanisms accounting for changes in muscle performance. The various mechanisms involved are probably interdependent, synergistic, and integrative in nature. This article focuses on the concept of diaphragm fatigue and explores the mechanisms occurring with diaphragm fatigue including sodium-potassium derangements, which cause a decrease in velocity of propagation of muscle action; inhibition of calcium release from the sacroplasmic reticulum; and increased oxygen free radical formation related to cellular energetics. Additionally, review of therapeutic approaches to the treatment of diaphragm fatigue are presented.

Treatment and prevention of diaphragm fatigue using low-dose dopamine.

There is increasing evidence that diaphragm fatigue is a major cause of failure in weaning patients frommechanical ventilation. Patients in intensive care units are often administered dopamine to improve renal blood flow without regard to its effect on diaphragmblood flow. The aimof this study was to investigate if intravenous low-dose dopamine, equivalent to the dose used in intensive care units, can treat and prevent diaphragmfatigue. Diaphragmfatigue was produced in anesthetized rats by inspiratory resistance loading (IRL). The effect on diaphragmshortening, diaphragmblood flow, and aortic blood flow was determined. When diaphragm fatigue was attained, group I was given saline for 30 min while maintaining IRL. At the time of diaphragm fatigue, group II was given low-dose dopamine (2 μg/kg/min) for 30 min while maintaining IRL. In group III, dopamine administration was started before and continued throughout the period of IRL. Administering dopamine after the development of diaphragm fatigue (group II) increased diaphragm performance as measured by increased diaphragmshortening and was accompanied by an increased diaphragmblood flow. Administering dopamine prior to and throughout IRL (group III) prevented diaphragmfatigue. Low-dose dopamine can prevent and/or reverse diaphragmfatigue in rats without a significant change in aortic blood flow. This effect of dopamine may be due to increased oxygen delivery associated with the increased diaphragm blood flow, resulting in less free radical formation and thus less muscle damage.

President's Message: Establishing partnerships to foster nursing research

The National Institutes of Health received a

Together We Can Do Much: Message from the President

2 billion increase in fiscal year 2016 (FY16), after many years of essentially flat or declining support. While this increased fueled a robust growth rate in overall federal medical and health research and development, the outlook under the future federal budget remains highly uncertain. It is important that we increase our efforts and develop strategies to draw on the power of public sectorand private sector-driven research funding to continue to foster nursing research. The SouthernNursing Research Society (SNRS) aims to help fill the funding gap experienced by researchers in the Southern region. We have stepped up our work to broaden research support through development strategies that draw on the power of the public and private sectors through the establishment of partnerships to foster nursing research. SNRS annually awards funds through its grants program for nurse scientists to conduct studies that contribute toward the advancement of nursing science and enhancement of patient care. The organization currently offers a

Our Community of Practice—Advancing Nursing Research: Message from the President

5000 dissertation grant to support doctoral students who are enrolled in research-focused programs in the Southern region, to help them initiate programs of nursing research. SNRS has also partnered with the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS) to award an additional

Research Interest Groups are Augmenting the Mission of SNRS: Message From the President

5000 dissertation grant. In a new grant established last year, SNRS partners with the National League of Nursing (NLN) to provide a

Effects of pressure support ventilation and continuous positive airway pressure on diaphragm performance

5000 dissertation grant to advance the science of nursing education. These three grants provide needed financial support to emerging scientists as they establish their research agendas. SNRS has also targeted funding strategies to support research efforts of mid-career scientists. The

The effect of dobutamine infusion on fractional diaphragm thickening and diaphragm blood flow during fatigue

7500 SNRS research grant was designed to support and promote investigators in initiating or building programs of research. SNRS also partnered with Sigma Theta Tau International to establish a

Effects of volume control, pressure control, and pressure-regulated volume control on cardiopulmonary parameters in a normal rat lung

5000 grant to encourage the advancement of nursing through research. These grants assist nurse scientists to conduct necessary pilot projects and small research studies that will help propel their research agendas and enable grant submissions to national institutions for funding. Scientists have experienced many years of essentially flat or declining federal support for research and future federal budgets remain highly uncertain. Diminished funding not only affects the sustainability of immediate projects, but will also have a long-term impact on the number of nurse scientists entering the field. Researchers must look outside the federal funding mechanism to foundations and private agency awards to sustain their research efforts. The key to thriving in uncertain times is diversification. SNRS has stepped up its work to increase the research foundation through our development efforts to help fill the funding gap experienced by researchers in the Southern region. It is important we increase development strategies to draw on the power of public and private sector research funding and establish partnerships to continue to foster nursing research. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.