Articles: function.
-
Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Circulating Immature Granulocytes With T-Cell Killing Functions Predict Sepsis Deterioration.
Primary objective was to identify leukocyte subsets that could predict the early evolution of sepsis at 48 hours (i.e., deterioration or stability/improvement). Secondary objectives were to evaluate the prognostic value of leukocyte subsets on mortality and immunosuppressive properties of immature granulocytes. ⋯ Circulating immature granulocytes predicted early sepsis deterioration and were enriched in myeloid-derived suppressor cells which could be responsible for immunosuppression through the induction of T-cell lymphopenia.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 2014
Cognitive Outcome after Spinal Anesthesia and Surgery During Infancy.
Observational studies on pediatric anesthesia neurotoxicity have been unable to distinguish long-term effects of general anesthesia (GA) from factors associated with the need for surgery. A recent study on elementary school children who had received a single GA during the first year of life demonstrated an association in otherwise healthy children between the duration of anesthesia and diminished test scores and also revealed a subgroup of children with "very poor academic achievement" (VPAA), scoring below the fifth percentile on standardized testing. Analysis of postoperative cognitive function in a similar cohort of children anesthetized with an alternative to GA may help to begin to separate the effects of anesthesia from other confounders. ⋯ We found no link between duration of surgery with infant SA and scores on academic achievement testing in elementary school. We also found no relationship between infant SA and surgery with VPAA on elementary school testing, although the CIs were wide.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Sep 2014
Case ReportsFentanyl Overdose Caused by Malfunction of SynchroMed II Intrathecal Pump: Two Case Reports.
Intrathecal drug delivery systems (intrathecal pumps) are used to treat patients with chronic refractory pain syndromes and spasticity. The objective of our case report was to demonstrate that intrathecal pump malfunction can lead to intrathecal overdosing of drugs. ⋯ We present 2 cases of intrathecal pump malfunction, which most likely led to overinfusion of fentanyl intrathecally. To reduce the risk of this complication, particular attention should be paid to drug reservoir volume discrepancies and overdose symptoms reported by patients.
-
Preventive medicine · Sep 2014
Is exercise used as medicine? Association of meeting strength training guidelines and functional limitations among older US adults.
To determine the association between meeting strength training guidelines (≥2 times per week) and the presence of functional limitations among older adults. ⋯ Strength training is uncommon among older adults and even less common among those who need it the most. The potential for strength training to improve the public's health is therefore substantial, as those who have the most to gain from strength training participate the least.
-
Observational Study
Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Lung Transplantation Requiring Admission to the Medical Intensive Care Unit.
There are few data on characteristics and outcomes among patients with lung transplantation (LT) requiring admission to the medical ICU (MICU) beyond the perioperative period. ⋯ Acute rejection is an infrequent cause of decompensation among patients with LT requiring MICU admission. For patients admitted to the MICU, 6-month survival is modest. Functional status at the time of discharge is an independent predictor of survival at 6 months.