Clinics in laboratory medicine
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Review Comparative Study
Prothrombin complex concentrates as reversal agents for new oral anticoagulants: lessons from preclinical studies with Beriplex.
Although new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) represent an advance in anticoagulant therapy over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), they nevertheless have a low, but significant risk for bleeding complications. Reversal agents for VKAs, such as prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs), are currently being evaluated in preclinical studies for NOAC reversal. This article reviews the preclinical data for the most extensively studied PCC for NOAC reversal, Beriplex, a 4-factor PCC. The results from the Beriplex studies are also compared with those obtained with other reversal agents, including different nonactivated PCCs, activated PCCs, and recombinant activated factor VII.
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Nosocomial respiratory infections are the most common acquired infections in patients with severe underlying conditions and are responsible for high morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens are associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This article describes the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of HAP and VAP associated with antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens.
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Diagnosis of invasive fungal pneumonias by conventional culture methods is difficult to assess and often delayed. Nonmolecular fungal markers have emerged as an important adjunctive tool to support their diagnosis in combination with other clinical, radiologic, and microbiological criteria of invasive fungal diseases. ⋯ None can identify the emerging and particularly deadly fungal pathogens responsible for mucormycosis. The role of nonmolecular fungal markers should be better defined in combination with other microbiological and radiologic tools in preemptive antifungal strategies.
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Survival has improved in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), in part because of aggressive antimicrobial management. Two multidrug-resistant environmental bacteria, the Burkholderia cepacia group and nontuberculous mycobacteria, have emerged. ⋯ Anaerobic bacteria and Streptococcus angionsus group organisms may play a role in chronic CF lung infections. The diversity of organisms declines perhaps as a result of aggressive antimicrobial therapy, and an apex predator, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, may emerge in many patients with CF.
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Measurement of circulating cardiac troponins I and T has become integral to the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. This article discusses the structure and function of the troponin complex and the release of cardiac troponin molecules from the injured cardiomyocyte into the circulation. ⋯ The diagnostic criteria, role, and usefulness of cardiac troponin for myocardial infarction are discussed. In addition, several examples are given of the usefulness of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays for short-term and long-term prediction of adverse events.