Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized trial on the effects of high-dose zopiclone on OSA severity, upper airway physiology and alertness.
Studies indicate that standard doses of hypnotics reduce or do not change the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) or pharyngeal muscle activity. A 1-month trial of nightly zopiclone (7.5 mg) modestly reduced the AHI vs baseline without changing other sleep parameters or next-day sleepiness. ⋯ A single night of treatment with high-dose zopiclone does not systematically reduce the AHI or increase the arousal threshold in selected people with OSA. The mechanisms for these unexpected findings require further investigation.
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Despite the wide-ranging benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation, conflicting results remain regarding whether people with COPD can improve their peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak) with aerobic training. ⋯ PROSPERO; No.: CRD42018099300; URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
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Isolated PE is associated with a higher burden of atherosclerotic disease than other manifestations of VTE. ⋯ NCT02156401.
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Case-control studies are one of the major observational study designs for performing clinical research. The advantages of these study designs over other study designs are that they are relatively quick to perform, economical, and easy to design and implement. ⋯ Study design considerations are reviewed, including sample size, power, and measures associated with risk factors for clinical outcomes. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of case-control studies and provide a checklist for authors and a framework of considerations to guide reviewers' comments.
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Case Reports
Treatment with convalescent plasma for critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
As of March 24, 2020, novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for 379,661 infection cases with 16,428 deaths globally, and the number is still increasing rapidly. Herein, we present four critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who received supportive care and convalescent plasma. Although all four patients (including a pregnant woman) recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection eventually, randomized trials are needed to eliminate the effect of other treatments and investigate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy.