Bratisl Med J
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Comparative Study
Consumption of three strong opioids (morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl) in seven European countries during seven years (2003-2009).
The aim was to analyse the consumption of selected strong opioid analgesics during a seven-year period of 2003-2009 in order to compare Slovak consumption with that in six other European countries and to determine our position. ⋯ Our analysis confirmed a clear shift from oral to transdermal therapy as well as usage of newer drugs. Drug consumption data are a relatively new source of information for health research. Our analysis showed increasing trends in fentanyl (patch opioid) consumption in all compared countries as well as an increasing consumption of oxycodone and decreasing consumption of morphine (Fig. 3, Ref. 17).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effects of nitrous oxide on vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels in methyltetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation.
We aimed to investigate the effects of nitrous oxide on plasma total homocysteine and vitamin B12 levels in patients with or without methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHRF) gene mutation. ⋯ We conclude that MTHRF gene polymorphism had no significant effects on postoperative plasma total homocysteine levels. However, we found that homocysteine levels might rise in patients who received general anesthesia with nitrous oxide for longer than 3 hours (Tab. 7, Ref. 26).
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Comparative Study
Impact of intracranial pressure measurement on survival in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
The aim of the study was to assess (i) a group of patients with established intracranial pressure (ICP) sensor in severe brain injuries scoring 3 points of Glasgow Coma Scale, (ii) mortality and survival of the patients within periods of 7, 30, 180 and 270 days; and (iii) predictive value of intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure for short and long-term survival of patients with traumatic brain injury. ⋯ The survival of trauma brain injury patients depends on the speed and quality of pre-hospital care and adequate follow-up treatment at specialized intensive care units. High levels of intracranial pressure and low cerebral perfusion pressure values in the early period after brain injury are closely related to mortality of patients within 30 days. Intracranial pressure monitoring may help to avoid problems and allow intervention before they become life-threatening (Tab. 4, Fig. 4, Ref. 23). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.
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Review
Prediction of coronary vessel involvement on the basis of atherosclerosis risk factor analysis.
The prediction of coronary vessel involvement by means of noninvasive tests is one of the fundamental objectives of preventive cardiology. This review describes the current possibilities of coronary vessel involvement prediction by means of ultrasonographic examination of carotid arteries, analysis of polymorphisms in the genes encoding enzymes responsible for production of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide and assessment of levels of certain proinflammatory cytokines. In the presented work these noninvasive markers are correlated with the extent of coronary vessel involvement as assessed by coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound and virtual histology (Fig. 5, Ref. 40).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of propofol-dexmedetomidine, tiopental-dexmedetomidine and etomidate-dexmedetomidine combinations' effects on the tracheal intubation conditions without using muscle relaxants.
In our study, we aimed to compare the endotracheal intubation conditions without muscle relaxants during induction with the combinations of dexmedotimidine-propofol, dexmedotimidine-thiopenthal and dexmedetomidine-etomidate. ⋯ In conclusion, we determined that best intubation conditions without muscle relaxants were achieved with propofol-dexmedetomidine combination. None of the patients receiving etomidate -dexmedetomidine combination could be intubated without muscle relaxants (Tab. 6, Ref. 29).