Chest
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Adult studies have demonstrated that ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) may be a precursor to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). No published data on VAT in pediatric ICUs (PICUs) were found. The purposes of this retrospective, descriptive study are to describe the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of patients at risk for VAT and formalize a process of VAT surveillance in the PICU population. ⋯ VAT occurred less frequently in our PICU than reported in adult studies, and no cases of VAT progressed to VAP in our population. Our results suggest that VAT is a clinically significant health-care-associated infection in the PICU population.
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Cognitive impairment is one of the least well-studied COPD comorbidities. It is known to occur in hypoxemic patients, but its presence during acute exacerbation is not established. ⋯ In patients hospitalized with an acute COPD exacerbation, impaired cognitive function is associated with worse health status and longer hospital length of stay. A significant proportion of patients are discharged home with unrecognized mild to severe cognitive impairment, which may not improve with recovery.
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Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) are effective in the palliation of malignant airway obstruction. Tumor ingrowth, however, frequently occurs because of a shortage of effective local therapy. Additionally, SEMSs are frequently associated with problems of fracture, migration, and difficult removals. Our goal was to develop a novel bioabsorbable stent with cisplatin elution to circumvent such problems. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that the biodegradable stents provided physical properties comparable to the properties of SEMSs and a sustained release of cisplatin for >5 weeks, which showed great potential in the treatment of malignant airway obstruction.
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This report updates surveillance results for COPD in the United States. For 1999 to 2011, data from national data systems for adults aged≥25 years were analyzed. In 2011, 6.5% of adults (approximately 13.7 million) reported having been diagnosed with COPD. ⋯ Death rates (1999-2010) increased among adults aged 45 to 54 years (P<.001) and among American Indian/Alaska Natives (P=.008) but declined among those aged 55 to 64 years (P=.002) and 65 to 74 years (P<.001), Hispanics (P=.038), Asian/Pacific Islanders (P<.001), and men (P=.001). Geographic clustering of prevalence, Medicare hospitalizations, and deaths were observed. Declines in the age-adjusted prevalence, death rate in men, and hospitalizations for COPD since 1999 suggest progress in the prevention of COPD in the United States.