The American journal of the medical sciences
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Characteristics and health perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine users in the United States.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has been increasing and these unconventional therapies do have important adverse effects. We evaluated predictors of CAM use among U.S. adults. ⋯ Many adults in the United States use CAM without informing their doctors. Care providers should inquire about CAM usage from their patients, document them and counsel their patients regarding their use of these less regulated therapies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Activation of the interleukin-34 inflammatory pathway in response to influenza A virus infection.
Interleukin 34 (IL-34) is a newly recognized cytokine that functions similarly to macrophage colony-stimulating factor. This study investigated the mechanism by which IL-34 is produced in response to exogenous pathogen infections in humans. The results showed that the IL-34 levels were higher in the serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 155 influenza A virus (IAV)-infected patients than in those from 145 healthy individuals. ⋯ This result showed that the production of IL-22 and IL-34 is both from the same and different subset of cells, which indicated that the regulatory mechanism of IL-22/IL-34 is through the autocrine or paracrine systems. In conclusion, IL-34 is induced by IL-22 in the inflammatory cascade in response to IAV infection. Therefore, IL-34 is a promising target for the screening of anti-inflammatory medicines.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of pressure support ventilation and T-piece in determining rapid shallow breathing index in spontaneous breathing trials.
The threshold values of rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) were compared in pressure support ventilation (PSV) and T-piece assessments for spontaneous breathing trials (SBT). The ability of ΔRSBI to also predict successful weaning was evaluated. ⋯ The threshold values of RSBI, thus 75 breaths per min/L (PSV) and 100 breaths per min/L (T-piece), for predicting successful weaning were more accurate than other values. Similarly, the change in the RSBI could also predict such successes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Case-oriented self-learning and review in pharmacology teaching.
To cultivate students' ability to use the pharmacology principles in medical practice, case-oriented self-learning and review has partly replaced lecture-based teaching in our pharmacology course. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of an innovative teaching model in pharmacology teaching on the performance of medical undergraduates. ⋯ Case-oriented self-learning and review can improve students' internalization of basic pharmacological principles and provide a greater opportunity for self-study and collaborative study. The examination composition can affect the efficacy of the assessment of problem solving abilities.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of spironolactone on long-term mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure and mild or no symptoms.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term effects of spironolactone, an affordable and widely used aldosterone receptor blocker, in patients with heart failure (HF) and mild or no symptoms. ⋯ Administration of spironolactone reduced the composite of death and cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with NYHA classes I to II HF. These results suggest that spironolactone could be beneficial when administered on top of optimal therapy among patients with HF and mild or no symptoms.