Resp Care
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We report a very rare case of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1, and discuss the pathology, pathogenesis, current pulmonary hypertension classification system, and outcomes of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.
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Editorial Comment
Noninvasive ventilation failure: the answer is blowing in the leaks.
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The profession of respiratory therapy (RT) continues to grow both in number, due to population growth and an ever-increasing aging population, and scope of practice, due to both new and expanded roles and responsibilities in divergent areas of clinical practice. Instructional technology, including distance learning, will probably play a key role in training, educating, and assessing RT students to meet the increasing demand for practitioners. ⋯ Our results indicate that, while distance education plays an important supportive role in RT education, there is still a preference for face-to-face instruction and Internet-facilitated courses among program directors. Program directors continue to view the laboratory and clinical settings as hands-on environments that require instructor supervision in order for students to demonstrate proficiency and critical thinking skills. When used appropriately, distance learning may be an efficient and effective approach to address the many barriers to education faced by the health workforce in general, including budget constraints, overloaded schedules, the need for on-the-job learning opportunities, and lack of access.
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Comparative Study
Endotracheal tube extubation force: adhesive tape versus endotracheal tube holder.
Adhesive tape is commonly used to secure the endotracheal tube (ETT) in anesthesia and intensive-care settings. ⋯ With tape strips of sufficient length and width, a conventional tape method was superior to the 2 tested commercial ETT holders in holding the ETT in place in the manikin.
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The sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome is associated with elevated oxidative stress, which is associated with reduced levels and functional impairment of progenitor cells. ⋯ CD45-, CD34+, KDR+, and CD133+ cell levels rose significantly and reached values close to those in the control group after one month of CPAP. This change was accompanied by a significant decrease in oxidative stress, and no change in anthropometric or metabolic variables, including insulin resistance, weight, blood pressure, or lipid levels; consequently, the increase in progenitor-cell levels might be attributable to reduced oxidative stress.