American journal of therapeutics
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Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) is produced in the degradation of heme by heme oxygenase. Studies have shown that hypoxia induces heme oxygenase production of CO in vascular tissue. Because elevated plasma lactate levels are associated with tissue hypoxia, we determined if there was any correlation between lactate and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in a group of critically ill patients with a high likelihood of hypoxia. ⋯ Levels of endogenous CO do not increase in situations in which lactate production is increased. It is possible that changes in endogenous production of CO may not significantly affect the circulating level of COHb. Although readily available, COHb levels do not seem to be clinically useful as markers of critical illness.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
The hemodynamic effects of long-term ACE inhibition with fosinopril in patients with heart failure. Fosinopril Hemodynamics Study Group.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and clinical effects of fosinopril in patients with heart failure. This was a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study. Patients 18 to 80 years of age who were receiving diuretics with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or = 90 mm Hg, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 40%, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) > or = 18 mm Hg, and a cardiac index (CI) < or = 2.6 L/min/m(2) were eligible. ⋯ Sustained decreases in PCWP, MABP, SVR, and heart rate and increases in CI and stroke volume index were observed after 10 weeks of treatment with fosinopril at 20 and 40 mg once daily (P < or = .05 v 1 mg group for PCWP and MABP at most time points and P < or = .05 v baseline for other parameters at most time points). Dose-related trends toward reduced supplemental diuretic use (P = .027) and reduced symptoms of dyspnea (P = .008) were observed with the 20-mg and 40-mg fosinopril dose groups. Once daily administration of fosinopril at 20 and 40 mg was safe and well tolerated, provided a sustained beneficial hemodynamic effect, improved left ventricular performance, and reduced symptoms of dyspnea, resulting in a reduced need for supplemental diuretic therapy.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Clinical experience with transdermal clonidine in African-American and Hispanic-American patients with hypertension: evaluation from a 12-week prospective, open-label clinical trial in community-based clinics.
The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of transdermal clonidine in inner-city African-American and Hispanic-American patients with essential hypertension. A multiclinic open-label, prospective trial for 12 weeks was used. Dose titration was based on office blood pressure (BP) measurements of > 140/90 mm Hg. ⋯ Transdermal clonidine, alone or in combination with other antihypertensive therapies, significantly lowered BP and heart rate in inner-city hypertensive patients. The drug was generally well tolerated, with 89% of the patients remaining in the trial. Patient acceptability was high with the once-weekly treatment, which is an important feature for this particular hypertensive population.
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The current study investigated the concentration of sevoflurane that could be achieved when sevoflurane was administered using standard agent-specific halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane vaporizers. An artificial lung analog model was made by attaching the 3-L reservoir bag to the 15-mm end of the anesthesia circle system. The lung analog was attached and ventilated with oxygen and air at flow rates of 2 L/min each (total gas flow = 4 L/min), a tidal volume of 800 mL, a rate of 10 breaths/min, and an inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio of 1:2. ⋯ The sevoflurane concentration decreased significantly when using any of the three vaporizers at all concentrations when the gas flow was increased from 4 to 8 L/min. The current study demonstrates that clinically useful concentrations of sevoflurane can be achieved with the administration of sevoflurane through an enflurane vaporizer. Although this is not routinely recommended, in specific circumstances it may allow the use of sevoflurane in third-world countries if sevoflurane vaporizers are not available and the use of sevoflurane is clinically necessary.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Subcutaneous infiltrates induced by injection of mistletoe extracts (Iscador).
Iscador, an aqueous extract of Viscum album L., has been widely used as an anti-cancer drug for several decades. Mistletoe lectins have the capacity to activate nonspecific defense mechanisms, and lectin-carbohydrate interactions may be involved in clinically applicable immunomodulation. During treatment with whole-plant mistletoe extract, an inflammatory reaction usually occurs at the site of the injection, early in therapy. ⋯ The dermal and subcutaneous regions contained a dense perivascular lymphocyte infiltrate and increased monocytes. We could not document any increase of plasma cells, eosinophils, mast cells, neutrophils, or granulocytes, as would be the case for a granulomatous infiltrate. In the blood, we observed a significant increase in neutrophils and monocytes 24 hours after administration of 2.5 mg of Iscador.