Scientific reports
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Inhaled milrinone in cardiac surgical patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial of jet vs. mesh nebulization.
Inhaled milrinone administered before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) reduces the severity of pulmonary hypertension during cardiac surgery. However, milrinone pharmacokinetics has not been determined for this route of administration. The objective of this study was to investigate inhaled milrinone dosing in vitro and early plasma concentrations in vivo after jet and mesh nebulization. ⋯ Consistent with this, the early plasma concentrations in vivo were also 2-3 fold higher after mesh nebulization (P = 0.002-0.005). After inhalation (jet or mesh nebulization), milrinone early plasma concentrations remained within the therapeutic range. No systemic hypotension was reported in our patients.
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Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors provide a survival advantage over conventional therapies for treatment of advanced or metastatic cancer. However, the factors determining which patients benefit the most from anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are unknown, making treatment-related decisions difficult. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of acquired data to assess the efficacy and toxicity of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in advanced and metastatic cancer. ⋯ The main estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and PFS were 0.76 (0.71-0.82) and 0.81 (0.73-0.89) in a random-effects model. The anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor group had a significantly high risk for all-grade immune-related adverse events. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors were identified as a preferable treatment option for advanced or metastatic cancer patients who are male, aged < 65 years, current or former smokers, had no CNS or liver metastasis, had not EGFR mutation, and had high PD-L1 expression.
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Observational Study
Applicability of Anatomical Landmarks for Chest Compression Depth in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Children.
We evaluated the applicability of the neck and sternal notch (SN) as anatomical landmarks for paediatric chest compression (CC) depth using chest computed tomography. The external anteroposterior diameter (EAPD) of the neck and chest at the SN level, mid-point between two landmarks (mid-landmark), and EAPD of the chest at the lower half of the sternum (EDLH) were measured. To estimate the depths of the landmarks from a virtual point at the same height as the position for CC, we calculated the differences between the EAPDs of the neck, SN, mid-landmark, and EDLH. ⋯ The mean one-third EDLH was 46.8 ± 7.0 mm. The means of the differences between the depths of the neck and one-third EDLH, depths of the SN and one-third EDLH, and depths of the mid-landmark and one-third EDLH were 9.0, -6.9, and 1.0 mm, respectively. The SN and neck are inappropriate landmarks to guide compression depth in paediatric CPR.
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Pregnant patients undergoing minimally-invasive foetoscopic surgery for foetal spina bifida have a need to be subjected to advanced haemodynamic monitoring. This observational study compares cardiac output as measured by transpulmonary thermodilution monitoring with the results of non-invasive estimated continuous cardiac output monitoring. Transpulmonary thermodilution-based pulse contour analysis was performed for usual anaesthetic care, while non-invasive estimated continuous cardiac output monitoring data were additionally recorded. ⋯ Furthermore, neither stroke volume nor stroke volume index correlated with the corresponding thermodilution-based data. Even though non-invasive estimated continuous cardiac output monitoring consistently underestimated the corresponding thermodilution parameters, no trend analysis was achievable. Summarizing, we cannot suggest the use of non-invasive estimated continuous cardiac output monitoring as an alternative to transpulmonary thermodilution for cardiac output monitoring in pregnant patients undergoing minimally-invasive foetoscopic surgery for spina bifida.
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The underlying anatomical mechanism of the ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment (FIC) block for anaesthesia and analgesia in the lower limb has not been illuminated and numerous variations were attempted to achieve an optimal needle placement. This study aimed to define the fibrous configuration of the FIC. ⋯ The FIC contained only the femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves and communicated with the extraperitoneal space and femoral triangle adipose space via its superior and inferior opening, respectively.