American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyComparison of Levofloxacin versus Moxifloxacin for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.
Levofloxacin (LFX) and moxifloxacin (MXF) are the two most frequently recommended fluoroquinolones for treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). However, studies comparing the effectiveness of LFX and MXF among patients with MDR-TB are lacking. ⋯ The choice of LFX or MXF for treatment of patients with MDR-TB may not affect sputum culture conversion at 3 months of treatment. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01055145).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
Mortality among Patients Admitted to Strained Intensive Care Units.
The aging population may strain intensive care unit (ICU) capacity and adversely affect patient outcomes. Existing fluctuations in demand for ICU care offer an opportunity to explore such relationships. ⋯ Several sources of ICU strain are associated with small but potentially important increases in patient mortality, particularly in ICUs employing closed staffing models. Although closed ICUs may promote favorable outcomes under static conditions, they are susceptible to being overwhelmed by patient influxes.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
The Synergistic Effect of Heredity and Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke on Adult-Onset Asthma.
Identification of the subpopulation especially susceptible to the adverse effects of second-hand smoke exposure (SHS) would be useful for preventive actions and interventions. ⋯ This is the first study showing that individuals with asthmatic heredity have a considerably increased risk of adult-onset asthma when exposed to SHS. SHS exposure has dose-dependent synergism with family history of asthma, the joint effect being stronger with higher exposure levels. Avoiding SHS could be an important preventive measure for reducing the risk of adult-onset asthma among those with asthmatic heredity. Asking about family history of asthma is a useful tool for identifying these susceptible individuals in clinical and preventive settings.