European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Oct 2005
Silent and humming nasal NO measurements in adults aged 18-70 years.
The concentration of nitric oxide (NO) measured from the nose is much higher than in the lower airways and increases during humming. We assessed nasal NO (nNO) normal values during breath hold and during humming in healthy adults. ⋯ We present normal values for nNO in adults, which can be used to assess the value of nNO in respiratory illnesses. The peak nNO values during humming are variable, and their clinical relevance remains to be shown.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jul 2005
Pulse pressure vs. total arterial compliance as a marker of arterial health.
Brachial pulse pressure (BPP) is a predictor of outcome in epidemiologic studies, but brachial and aortic pulse pressure (AoPP) may not correspond and both are influenced by multiple parameters including arterial properties and cardiac output. We sought to what extent pulse pressure (PP) measurements reflected direct measurement of arterial properties, assessed as total arterial compliance (TAC). ⋯ BPP correlates with TAC in men with normal cardiac function. However, in women, in patients at the low and high extremes of function, and in patients with preclinical and overt cardiovascular disease, there appears to be incremental value in measuring TAC.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jun 2005
Early and late failure of noninvasive ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute exacerbation.
Despite recent encouraging results, the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the management of acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), complicated by acute respiratory failure (ARF), is not always successful. Failure of NIV may require an immediate intubation after a few hours (usually 1-3) of ventilation ('early failure') or may result in clinical deterioration (one or more days later) after an initial improvement of blood gas tension and general conditions ('late failure'). ⋯ Our study confirms that NIV may be useful to avoid intubation in approximately 80% of patients with COPD complicated by moderate-severe hypercapnic respiratory failure.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jun 2005
WNK4 regulates airway Na+ transport: study of familial hyperkalaemia and hypertension.
WNK [With No K (lysine)] kinases are essential for regulation of blood pressure and potassium homeostasis. WNK4 expression was recently found not only in the distal nephron but also in chloride-transporting epithelia. To establish a physiological role for this distribution we studied patients with familial hyperkalaemia and hypertension (FHH), [pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHAII)], which is caused by mutations in WNK4. ⋯ Mutant WNK4 increases Na+ transport in airways, and therefore it is regulated by wild-type WNK4. This may be caused by a regulation of ENaC or a K+ channel.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · May 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialInternational multicentre trial protocol to assess the efficacy and safety of tenecteplase during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Thrombolysis in Cardiac Arrest (TROICA) Study.
Prehospital cardiac arrest has been associated with a very poor prognosis. Acute myocardial infarction and massive pulmonary embolism are the underlying causes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 50-70% of patients. Although fibrinolysis is an effective treatment strategy for both myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism, clinical experience for this therapy performed during resuscitation has been limited owing to the anticipated risk of severe bleeding complications. ⋯ Primary endpoint of the study is the 30-day survival rate, and the coprimary endpoint is hospital admission. Secondary endpoints are the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival after 24 h, survival to hospital discharge, and neurological performance. Safety endpoints include major bleeding complications and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage.