Endocrine
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To quantify adrenocorticotropin and cortisol secretion after epidural glucocorticoid injection. ⋯ Epidural triamcinolone suppresses unstimulated and CRH-stimulated ACTH and cortisol secretion for 1-4 weeks but urinary free cortisol ≥12 weeks. Suppression of ACTH and cortisol after glucocorticoid treatment is thus complex.
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To investigate the characteristics of difficult intubation and identify novel efficient predictors in patients with acromegaly. ⋯ In patients with acromegaly, neck movement is confined, the time of tracheal intubation is prolonged, and the neck circumference is enlarged, and these patients suffer from an increased incidence of difficult intubation (62.5%) during anesthesia induction. The apnea/hypoxia index and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels are both increased in acromegalic patients with difficult intubation, and elevated insulin-like growth factor 1 levels are an independent risk factor of difficult intubation in acromegalic patients.
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Investigate the association of calcium levels on admission and change in levels during hospitalization with hospitalization outcomes. ⋯ Abnormal calcium on admission is associated with increased short-term and long-term mortality. The excess mortality risk is higher with hypercalcemia than hypocalcemia. Calcium normalization before discharge had no effect on mortality.