Crit Care Resusc
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Using geotagged Twitter data in Victoria, we created a mobility index and studied the changes during the staged restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We describe preliminary evidence that geotagged Twitter data may be used to provide real-time population mobility data and information on the impact of restrictions on such mobility.
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To quantify aerosol generation from respiratory interventions and the effectiveness of their removal by a personal ventilation hood. ⋯ In this human volunteer study, the administration of O2 15 L/min by face mask and 60 L/min nasal therapy did not increase aerosol generation beyond low levels. Non-invasive ventilation caused moderate aerosol generation and nebulisation therapy very high aerosol generation. The personal ventilation hood reduced the aerosol counts by at least 98%.
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Observational Study
Successful implementation of a short message service (SMS) as intensive care to family communication tool.
Regularly informing families of the condition of their relative can be difficult. Text messaging via mobile telephones may achieve such communication effectively. ⋯ We successfully instituted real-time SMS updates. All surveyed participants agreed that these messages were reassuring, informative and easy to follow and that they would recommend the SMS service to other families.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Sodium bicarbonate therapy for metabolic acidosis in critically ill patients: a survey of Australian and New Zealand intensive care clinicians.
To help shape the design of a future double blind placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial of bicarbonate therapy for metabolic acidosis, based on opinions of intensive care clinicians in Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ This survey offers important insights into the preferences of Australian and New Zealand clinicians in regards to any future randomised controlled trial of bicarbonate therapy for metabolic acidosis in the critically ill.
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Albumin is the most abundant and perhaps most important protein in human blood. Research has identified many of albumin's possible roles in modulating acid-base balance, modifying inflammation, maintaining vascular endothelial integrity, and binding endogenous and exogenous compounds. Albumin plays a key role in the homeostasis of vascular endothelium, offering protection from inflammation and damage to the glycocalyx. ⋯ It transports, delivers and clears drugs, plus it helps with uptake, storage and disposal of potentially harmful biological products. The biological effects of albumin in critical illness are incompletely understood, but may enhance its clinical role beyond use as an intravenous fluid. In this article, we summarise the evidence surrounding albumin's biological and physiological effects beyond its use for plasma volume expansion, and explore potential mechanistic effects of albumin as a disease modifier in patients with critical illness.