Chest
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Physicians may encounter medical emergencies outside a hospital or clinical setting, such as on an airplane or at a sporting event. Physicians, particularly critical care physicians, should feel a call of duty to assist in a medical emergency and may do so without complete knowledge of existing laws for protection. The intent of this article is to encourage physicians to have a detailed awareness of Good Samaritan laws in the United States. ⋯ All states except Kentucky have statutory language providing immunity to physicians licensed in any other state as well. Some states have interesting statutes relative to other aspects of medical emergency care. A physician entrusted to practice medicine by society and law should be willing to provide appropriate medical care wherever needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A placebo-controlled, randomized trial of mesenchymal stem cells in COPD.
COPD is a devastating disease affecting millions worldwide. As disease pathogenesis includes both chronic pulmonary and systemic inflammation, antiinflammatory effects of systemically administered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may decrease inflammation, resulting in improved lung function and quality of life. The goal of this study was to assess safety and to perform an initial evaluation of the potential efficacy of systemic MSC administration to patients with moderate to severe COPD. ⋯ Systemic MSC administration appears to be safe in patients with moderate to severe COPD and provides a basis for subsequent cell therapy investigations.
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Although COPD affects large sections of the population, its effects on postoperative outcomes have not been rigorously studied. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of COPD in patients undergoing surgery and to analyze the associations between COPD and postoperative morbidity, mortality, and hospital length of stay. ⋯ COPD is common among patients undergoing surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and length of stay.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Whole blood lactate kinetics in patients undergoing quantitative resuscitation for severe sepsis and septic shock.
We sought to compare the association of whole-blood lactate kinetics with survival in patients with septic shock undergoing early quantitative resuscitation. ⋯ In patients in the ED with a sepsis diagnosis, early lactate normalization during the first 6 h of resuscitation was the strongest independent predictor of survival and was superior to other measures of lactate kinetics.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Sildenafil preserves exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and right-sided ventricular dysfunction.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with pulmonary vasculopathy. ⋯ Sildenafil treatment in IPF with RVSD results in better preservation of exercise capacity as compared with placebo. Sildenafil also improves quality of life in subjects with RVH and RVSD.