European journal of medical research
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Despite a number of important differences in the pathogenesis, course and prognosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), these two entities also have common features with airway inflammation being one of them. Airway remodeling is a characteristic feature of asthma, but data on the bronchial wall thickening in COPD patients are still scarce. ⋯ In mild-to-moderate asthma and COPD the airway diameter and thickness are similar. In asthmatics, the airway diameter might be associated with eosinophil count in BAL fluid.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Echinacea/sage or chlorhexidine/lidocaine for treating acute sore throats: a randomized double-blind trial.
The aim of this trial was to assess the relative efficacy of a sage/echinacea spray and a chlorhexidine/lidocaine spray in the treatment of acute sore throats. ⋯ An echinacea/sage preparation is as efficacious and well tolerated as a chlorhexidine/lidocaine spray in the treatment of acute sore throats.
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In IRCU it is uncertain whether variation of urinary protein, especially non-albumin protein (N-Alb-P), is due to the presence of stones or reflects alteration of oxidative metabolism. ⋯ In IRCU 1) not renal stones in situ, but disturbed oxidative metabolism apparently modulates nephron functionality, ending up in higher renal N-Alb-P release, urinary volume, sodium and pH of fasting urine; 2) etiologically unknown decline of uricemia may represent antioxidant deficiency and cause a risk of hydroxyapatite crystallization and stone formation in a weakly acidic or alkaline inhibitor-deficient and N-Alb-P-rich milieu; 3) several observations, linking oxidative and systemic metabolism, are compatible with Ca stone initiation beyond tubules.
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Blood loss during radical prostatectomy has been a long term issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the training level of the first assistant regarding blood loss in open retropubic radical prostatectomy at an educational hospital. ⋯ For an experienced surgeon the impact of the assistant regarding blood loss seems negligible. The training level of the assistant was not significantly correlated to a rise or decrease of perioperative blood loss. In our data radical prostatectomy could be safely performed at an educational hospital independent of the training level of the first assistant.
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Multiple severe trauma frequently leads to massive dysbalances of the human immune system. This phenomenon is known as "Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)". SIRS is connected to multiple organ failure and thereby entails higher morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as Il-6, Il-8 and Il-10 seem to play a superior role in the development of SIRS. Several studies support the hypothesis that the very early cytokine release pattern determines the patients' subsequent clinical course. Most data about interleukins in trauma patients however refer to serum concentrations assessed sometime in the first 24h, but there is only little information about release dynamics in a small-meshed time frame in the very initial post-trauma period. ⋯ The current study presents an image of the serum Il-6, 8 and 10 releases in multiple trauma patients in the very early post-trauma period. We could thereby demonstrate that interleukin levels can clearly differentiate the presence of hemorrhagic shock and subsequent massive blood product substitution, the development of multiple organ failure and clinical outcome. No significant connection to age, gender and brain injury could be detected. Most importantly, changes in interleukin levels can be observed in the very early posttraumatic phase, at the earliest 90 minutes after trauma.