Articles: function.
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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare pulmonary vascular disease characterized by progressive pulmonary arterial remodeling, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular dysfunction, and reduced survival. Effective therapies have been developed that target three pathobiologic pathways in PAH: nitric oxide, endothelin-1, and prostacyclin. Approved therapies for PAH include phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, endothelin receptor antagonists, prostacyclin analogs, and prostacyclin receptor agonists. ⋯ Other core pillars of PAH management include supportive and adjunctive treatments including oxygen, diuretics, rehabilitation, and anticoagulation in certain patients. Patients with PAH who progress despite optimal treatment or who are refractory to best medical care should be referred for lung transplantation, if eligible. Despite considerable progress, PAH is often fatal and new therapies that reverse the disease and improve outcomes are desperately needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Pragmatic Randomized Prospective Trial of Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of the Medial Branch Nerves versus Facet Joint Injection of Corticosteroid for the Treatment of Lumbar Facet Syndrome: 12 Month Outcomes.
Lumbar medial branch radiofrequency ablation (LRFA) and intraarticular facet steroid injections (FJI) are commonly performed for recalcitrant facet joint-mediated pain. However, no study has compared clinical outcomes of the two treatments in patients selected using dual medial branch blocks (MBBs) with an 80% relief threshold. ⋯ C-LRFA demonstrated superior success rates compared to FJI across pain and functional outcome domains.
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Few studies have investigated the changes in diaphragmatic function and their association with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in paediatric patients after lung resection. ⋯ ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04400370.
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Current demographic change leads to higher number of elderly patients admitted to an ICU. Among other organs also the kidneys show age-related changes, which are associated with a decline in various aspects of renal function. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of structural and functional changes in elderly and also to specifically address the increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in this population. ⋯ Age-related alterations of the kidneys were found at microscopic and macroscopic levels of the cell. These changes lead to a reduced renal reserve and subsequently to an increased vulnerability of aged kidneys when an additional stressor is added. Age is an independent risk factor for developing AKI. Physicians should take into account the altered renal function in elderly patients and take renal protective measures at an early stage.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2023
Phosphate NIMA-Related Kinase 2-Dependent Epigenetic Pathways in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons Mediates Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathic Pain.
The microtubule-stabilizing drug paclitaxel (PTX) is an important chemotherapeutic agent for cancer treatment and causes peripheral neuropathy as a common side effect that substantially impacts the functional status and quality of life of patients. The mechanistic role for NIMA-related kinase 2 (NEK2) in the progression of PTX-induced neuropathic pain has not been established. ⋯ pRSK2/JMJD3/H3K27me3/TRPV1 signaling in the DRG neurons plays as a key regulator for PTX therapeutic approaches.