Läkartidningen
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To evaluate the efficacy of intracranial pressure (ICP)-targeted treatment, compared to standard intensive care, in adults with community acquired acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) and severely impaired consciousness, a prospectively designed intervention-control comparison study was performed. Included were patients with confirmed ABM and severely impaired mental status on admission. Fifty-two patients, given ICP-targeted treatment at a neuro-intensive care unit, and 53 control cases, treated with conventional intensive care, were included. ⋯ The mortality was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to controls, 5/52 (10%) versus 16/53 (30%). Furthermore, only 17 patients (32%) in the control group fully recovered, compared to 28 (54%) in the intervention group. Early neuro-intensive care using ICP-targeted therapy reduces mortality and improves the overall outcome in adult patients with ABM and severely impaired mental status on admission.
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Review Case Reports
["Spice"--synthetic cannabinoids with dangerous effects].
Synthetic cannabinoids are a large group of chemicals functionally related to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in Cannabis sativa. These compounds are full agonists on cannabinoid receptors, therefore more potent than THC. Products marketed over the Internet intended for abuse usually consist of dried inert plant material sprayed with different kinds of cannabinoids. ⋯ Other reported serious effects of this group of substances are acute psychosis, unconsciousness, cardiac ischemia, seizures and stroke. The vendors are very aware of the legal situation in each country and adjust their supply according to current narcotics classifications. New, previously unknown cannabinoids are constantly appearing on the market.