Articles: function.
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was responsible for 1.2 million deaths globally in 2016. Despite the large and growing burden of CKD, treatment options are limited and generally only preserve kidney function. Characterizing molecular precursors to incident and progressive CKD could point to critically needed prevention and treatment strategies. ⋯ Recent work suggests larger associations of CHIP with kidney disease progression in CKD patients, but further investigations in this area are needed. In addition, the accumulating literature has identified some heterogeneity in associations between CHIP and kidney endpoints across study populations, but reasons for these differences remain unclear. The current review provides an in-depth exploration into this nascent area of research, develops a conceptual framework linking CHIP to CKD, and discusses the clinical and public health implications of this work.
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The purpose of this article is to systematically review and critically assess the existing data regarding the use of transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD), by providing a detailed description of technical aspects of TPTD techniques, appraising the use of TPTD-derived parameters in specific clinical settings, and exploring the limits of this technique. ⋯ The TPTD is an invasive but well tolerated, multiparametric, advanced cardiopulmonary monitoring technique, allowing a comprehensive assessment of cardiopulmonary condition. Beyond the CO estimation, TPTD provides several indices that help answering questions that clinicians ask themselves during hemodynamic management. TPTD-guided algorithm obtained by pulse contour analysis may be useful to optimize fluid resuscitation by titrating fluid therapy according to functional hemodynamic monitoring and to define safety criteria to avoid fluid overload by following the changes in the extravascular lung water (EVLW) and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI).
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Seizures are among the most common clinical signs in people with glioblastoma. Advances over the past 5 years, including new clinical trial data, have increased the understanding of why some individuals with glioblastoma are susceptible to seizures, how seizures manifest clinically, and what implications seizures have for patient management. The pathophysiology of epilepsy in people with glioblastoma relates to a combination of intrinsic epileptogenicity of tumour tissue, alterations in the tumour and peritumoural microenvironment, and the physical and functional disturbance of adjacent brain structures. ⋯ Advances in novel therapies provide some promise for people with glioblastoma; however, the effects of these therapies on seizures are yet to be fully determined. Looking forward, insights into electrical activity as a driver of tumour cell growth and the intrinsic hyperexcitability of tumour tissue might represent useful targets for treatment and disease modification. There is a pressing need for large randomised clinical trials in this field.
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Learning from errors has been the main objective of patient safety initiatives for the last decades. The different tools have played a role in the evolution of the safety culture to a nonpunitive system-centered one. The model has shown its limits, and resilience and learning from success have been advocated as the key strategies to deal with healthcare complexity. We intend to review the recent experiences in applying these to learn about patient safety. ⋯ As part of the evolution in patient safety science, learning from errors has its function to open the mindset for the next step: implementing learning strategies beyond the error. The tools for it are ready to be adopted.
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Male infertility is attributed to multiple factors including high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). Conventional semen analysis continues to be the gold standard for diagnosis of male factor infertility around the world. However, the limitations of basic semen analysis have prompted the search for complementary assessments of sperm function and integrity. ⋯ While a controlled degree of DNA nicking is required for appropriate DNA compaction, excessive fragmentation of sperm DNA is linked to impaired male fertility potential, decreased fertilization, poor embryo quality, recurrent pregnancy loss, and failure of assisted reproductive technology procedures. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding whether or not to employ SDF as a routine test for male infertility. This review compiles up-to-date information regarding the pathophysiology of SDF, the currently available SDF tests, and the role of SDF tests in natural and assisted conception conditions.