Articles: chronic.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2014
Multicenter StudyLow-Dose Corticosteroid Treatment in Septic Shock: A Propensity-Matching Study.
Given conflicting data and current guidelines, low-dose corticosteroids are often used in the treatment of septic shock. To evaluate the therapeutic benefit of early low-dose corticosteroid in patients with septic shock. ⋯ Early administration of low-dose corticosteroid is not associated with decreased mortality when it is administered to unselected patients with septic shock. A beneficial effect of low-dose corticosteroid on mortality may exist in patients with the highest severity of illness. Future trials of low-dose corticosteroid in septic shock should consider restricting the study population to this cohort.
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Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases. This study was designed to determine the possible interactions of these growth factors in the development of COPD. ⋯ Upregulated HGF probably compensated for the reduced levels of VEGF and preserved the pulmonary function in smokers without COPD. By contrast, both HGF and VEGF levels were decreased in smokers with COPD, which likely led to the development of COPD. Thus, the level of HGF relative to that of VEGF may be a reliable indicator of the risk for COPD.
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Multicenter Study
The First Postoperative Day: Prospective Evaluation of Pain in Adult Otorhinolaryngologic Surgery.
The aim of the study was to assess postoperative pain within the first 24 hours after otorhinolaryngologic surgery and to identify factors influencing postoperative pain. ⋯ Analgesia and perioperative pain management in otorhinolaryngologic surgery seems to be highly variable. After otorhinolaryngologic surgery many patients seem to receive less analgesia than needed or ineffective analgesic drug regimes.