Articles: function.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Observational Study
Characterization of First-Time Hospitalizations in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the REVEAL Registry.
Hospitalization is an important outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), shown previously to correlate with survival. Using the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL Registry), we sought to characterize first-time hospitalizations and their effect on subsequent hospitalization and survival in patients with newly diagnosed disease. ⋯ In the REVEAL Registry, PAH-related hospitalization was associated with relatively more rehospitalizations and worse survival at 3 years.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2014
Multicenter Study Observational StudyVital Signs After Cardiac Arrest Following Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Therapy: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.
Controversies regarding the process and timing of the determination of death for controlled organ donation after circulatory death persist. This study assessed the feasibility of conducting a prospective, observational study of continuous monitoring of vital signs for 30 minutes after the clinical determination of death in five Canadian ICUs. Waveform data were analyzed. ⋯ This is the first observational study to prospectively collect waveform data for 30 minutes after the declaration of death. A future larger study may support initial data suggesting that circulatory function does not resume after more than 89 seconds of absence. Furthermore, persistence of cardiac electrical activity with the documented absence of circulation may not be relevant to declaration of death.
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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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Randomized Controlled Trial
Lack of Nephrotoxicity by 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 during Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is commonly used as plasma expander during surgery but may be nephrotoxic as seen in studies in patients with sepsis. The authors hypothesized that the possible nephrotoxicity of 6% HES 130/0.4 could be revealed by measurements of urinary excretion of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (u-NGAL) in patients with normal renal function during hip arthroplasty. ⋯ The study showed no evidence of a harmful effect of intraoperative infusion of 6% HES 130/0.4 on renal function in patients during hip arthroplasty.