Archives of medical research
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Sepsis definitions help to understand and to better define a group of syndromes secondary to an infectious insult. The hierarchical continuum of inflammatory response leads, in absence of counterregulatory forces, to organ damage and death. ⋯ The definition, natural history, risk factors, diagnoses, and treatment based on emerging evidence will help to improve patient outcomes and mortality. Standardized care seems to improve survival, and validation and further evaluation of this care is necessary to maximize resources and outcomes.
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The aim of this study was to extend and develop knowledge of the clinical parameters of cold injury syndrome (CIS) in hypothermic infants and newborns, so that morbidity, mortality, and neurodevelopmental disturbances associated with the condition can be reduced. ⋯ The severity of hypothermia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia with DIC correlates with prognosis and death rate. Hypothermia in infants and newborns can cause psychological and neurodevelopmental disturbances in survivors.
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Serum concentrations of free-phenytoin (F-PHT) obtained in adult epileptic patients receiving PHT in monotherapy were analyzed to estimate the Michaelis-Menten pharmacokinetic parameters. ⋯ The recommended daily dose in this population to achieve a F-PHT concentration of 1.5 mg/L is 6.1 mg/kg.
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The aim of the study is to analyze retrospectively the effect of low-dose methylprednisolone (MP) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) pulse therapy on anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) serum levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ⋯ Decrease of IgG aCL serum levels as a consequence of the MP-CYC therapy herein reported might help to redefine previous concepts with regard to modulation of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) immune response by immunosuppressive therapy. These findings might also have prognostic and therapeutic implications in SLE, on pregnancy in SLE, and in antiphospholipid syndrome (APL) as well, although prospective studies are required.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of three rating scales for measuring subjective phenomena in clinical research. II. Use of experimentally controlled visual stimuli.
In a previous study of three types of global scales we found that verbal rating scales were particularly reliable for rating auditory stimuli. We now wanted to check the performance of the scales for rating experimentally controlled visual stimuli. ⋯ Three instruments could be hierarchically ranked for their indices of validity and consistency. Being more consistent than VAS and NRS, VRS merits more frequent usage in clinical research.