Annals of palliative medicine
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Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists for patients with left ventricular thrombus.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in the treatment of patients with left ventricular thrombus (LVT). ⋯ DOACs had similar efficacy and safety to VKAs in the treatment of patients with LVT. Randomized controlled trials should be conducted to verify our findings.
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This study aims to evaluate the ability of stroke volume variation (SVV) and pulse pressure variation (PPV) to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with thoracic kyphosis. ⋯ Both SVV and PPV can be used as effective indictors to monitor volume changes in patients with thoracic kyphosis.
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The herbal pairing of Dangshen (DS) [Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf.] and Huangqi (HQ) [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.] (DHP) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that is frequently used to treat chronic heart failure (CHF) in China. However, the pharmacological mechanism of DHP has not been fully elucidated. This is the first study aimed to reveal the active mechanism of DHP in the treatment of CHF by using network pharmacology methods. ⋯ This study revealed the molecular mechanism that the flavonoids in DHP may alleviate endothelial dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy via regulation of the TNF pathway and its downstream PI3K/Akt or ERK1/2 signaling pathways, or improve excitation-contraction coupling by regulating calcium signaling pathway, thereby improving CHF. These results provide insights for further experimentation on its pharmacological effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of the effect of different volumes ropivacaine on deep serratus anterior plane block in patients undergoing breast surgery: a prospective randomized double-blinded trial.
A larger volume of local anesthetic provides a wider range of blocked sensory but carries a greater risk. The purpose of this trial was to compare the effect of different volumes of ropivacaine injected to deep serratus anterior plane in patients undergoing breast surgery. ⋯ The blocked dermatomes increased with increasing volume when 10, 20 and 30 mL ropivacaine was used for deep serratus anterior plane block. The analgesic effects of 20 and 30 mL were similar to each other and better than 10 mL. Therefore, in breast surgery, volume of 20 mL ropivacaine is considered to be appropriate for deep serratus anterior plane block.
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An increasing number of patients who present to emergency departments are at their end-of-life phase and have significant palliative care needs such as in symptom control for pain and dyspnoea. Evaluating quality of care provided is imperative, yet there is no suitable tool validated in the emergency and Asian settings. We aim to examine the face and construct validity, and reliability of a newly developed questionnaire, Care of the Dying Evaluation - Emergency Medicine, for measuring the quality of end-of-life care in an Asian emergency context. ⋯ The Care of the Dying Evaluation - Emergency Medicine questionnaire may be valid and reliable for use in an Asian emergency setting. Our prospective multicentre study using this evaluation tool may provide more insight on the quality of care rendered to dying patients and identify areas for improvement.