Chinese medical journal
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Chinese medical journal · May 2018
ReviewHalogen Inhalation-Induced Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Exposure to halogens, such as chlorine or bromine, results in environmental and occupational hazard to the lung and other organs. Chlorine is highly toxic by inhalation, leading to dyspnea, hypoxemia, airway obstruction, pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although bromine is less reactive and oxidative than chlorine, inhalation also results in bronchospasm, airway hyperresponsiveness, ARDS, and even death. Both halogens have been shown to damage the systemic circulation and result in cardiac injury as well. There is no specific antidote for these injuries since the mechanisms are largely unknown. ⋯ At present, there is an urgent need for additional research to develop specific therapies that target the basic mechanisms by which halogens damage the lungs and systemic organs.
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Chinese medical journal · May 2018
Effect of Rhubarb on Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Study Based on Propensity Score Matching.
Gastrointestinal dysfunction plays a critical role in the prognosis of critically ill patients. Previous studies showed rhubarb, a traditional Chinese herb, can protect the intestinal barrier function, prevent intestinal bacterial translocation, and promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, but the clinical studies are less. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rhubarb on gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients. ⋯ The rhubarb might significantly improve feeding tolerance and relieve gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients, without serious adverse reactions. It provided proof for the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction with rhubarb during clinical practice.
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Chinese medical journal · May 2018
Antibiotics De-Escalation in the Treatment of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Trauma Patients: A Retrospective Study on Propensity Score Matching Method.
Antimicrobial de-escalation refers to starting the antimicrobial treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, followed by narrowing the drug spectrum according to culture results. The present study evaluated the effect of de-escalation on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in trauma patients. ⋯ De-escalation strategy in the treatment of trauma patients with VAP could reduce the duration of antibiotics treatments and expense of hospitalization, without increasing the 28-day mortality and MDR infection.
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Chinese medical journal · May 2018
Protectin DX Exhibits Protective Effects in Mouse Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury.
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe disease with high mortality and poor prognosis. Protectin DX (PDX), a pro-resolving lipid mediator, exhibits protective effects in ALI. Our experiment aimed to explore the effects and related mechanisms of PDX in mice with ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). ⋯ PDX exerts protective effects in LPS-induced ALI by mitigating pulmonary inflammation and abrogating neutrophil-platelet interactions.
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Chinese medical journal · May 2018
ReviewCurrent Status of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Worldwide, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infection that occurs in older adults, who may have pulmonary comorbidities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although there have been clinical studies on the coexistence of CAP with COPD, there remain some controversial findings. This review presents the current status of COPD in CAP patients, including the disease burden, clinical characteristics, risk factors, microbial etiology, and antibiotic treatment. ⋯ COPD is a common and important predisposing comorbidity in patients who develop CAP. COPD often aggravates the clinical symptoms of patients with CAP, complicating treatment, but generally does not appear to affect prognosis.