The American journal of the medical sciences
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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.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Inhaled sevoflurane may promote progression of amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a prospective, randomized parallel-group study.
Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is thought to be a transitional stage between normal aging and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have suggested that the inhalational anesthetic isoflurane can induce caspase activation and apoptosis, increase aggregates of β-amyloid (Aβ) levels, and enhance Aβ aggregation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether previous exposure to different anesthetics induced progression of aMCI. ⋯ Inhaled sevoflurane accelerated the progression of aMCI to progressive MCI in this selected Chinese population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Preoperative probiotics decrease postoperative infectious complications of colorectal cancer.
The objective is to elucidate the effects of oral bifid triple viable probiotics among patients with colorectal cancer. ⋯ The preoperative oral bifid triple viable probiotics minimize the postoperative occurrence of infectious complications, with possible mechanisms attributed to the maintenance of the intestinal flora and restriction of bacterial translocation from the intestine. It was representative of the enhancement of systemic/localized immunity and concurrent attenuation of systemic stress response.