Chinese Med J Peking
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Chinese Med J Peking · Jan 2013
Early changes of procalcitonin predict bacteremia in patients with intensive care unit-acquired new fever.
Rapid detection of bacteremia is important for critically ill patients. Procalcitonin (PCT) has emerged as a marker of sepsis, but its characterization for predicting bacteremia is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of change of PCT within 6 to 12 hours after new fever in predicting bacteremia. ⋯ The rate of change of PCT is useful for early detection of bacteremia during new fever and superior to the PCT absolute value and other parameters in non-selected ICU patients.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Jan 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEvaluation of the efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide (5 µg) inhaled via Respimat in Chinese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
A pharmacokinetic study in an Asian population showed that tiotropium 5 µg via Respimat leads to the same plasma levels compared to 18 µg via HandiHaler. The objective of the trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of longterm treatment (1 year) with tiotropium bromide (5 µg) via Respimat® with placebo in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Tiotropium significantly improved lung function and quality of life, delayed the time to first exacerbation, reduced the number of exacerbations. Overall, tiotropium was well tolerated.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Jan 2013
Meta AnalysisTelithromycin versus clarithromycin for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
The emergence of bacterial resistance to commonly used antibiotics, such as macrolides, is complicating the management of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Telithromycin, a ketolide antimicrobial structurally related to macrolides, is approved for the treatment of community-acquired RTIs, and shows lower pathogen resistance rates. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of telithromycin with clarithromycin, a macrolide routinely used as therapy for RTIs. ⋯ Our findings indicate that oral telithromycin and clarithromycin have similar treatment efficacy and adverse effect. The advantages of lower antimicrobial resistance rates, once-daily short-duration dosing and reported lower health-care costs make oral telithromycin a useful option for the empiric management of mild-to-moderate RTIs.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Jan 2013
Meta AnalysisEffect of noninvasive, positive pressure ventilation on patients with severe, stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis evaluated the effect of noninvasive, positive pressure ventilation on severe, stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation improves the arterial carbon dioxide tension but does not improve the mortality, pulmonary function, or exercise tolerance and should be cautiously used in severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.