Articles: function.
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No study has determined whether the risk of mortality predicted by the GAP (gender, age, and physiologic variables) model matches the observed mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in non-Western populations. We evaluated the clinical course of IPF and validated the GAP model in Korean patients with IPF. ⋯ The GAP model showed similar discrimination power compared with the original cohort but did not predict the 3-year risk of death accurately. Further multinational validation studies are needed.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2015
Case ReportsRole of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in detecting masked mitral regurgitation during left atrial myxoma surgery.
Myxomas are the most common type of cardiac tumor. Mobile or large left atrial (LA) myxomas frequently cause functional mitral stenosis, and can lead to mitral regurgitation (MR). ⋯ Repeated careful observations on TEE led to a confident diagnosis of MR and the selection of an additional appropriate procedure. This case study highlighted the importance of intraoperative TEE in supporting clinical decision-making for optimal mitral valve procedures during LA myxoma surgery.
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Routine lung function and respiratory muscle testing are recommended in children with neuromuscular disease (NMD), but these tests are based on noninvasive volitional maneuvers, such as the measurement of lung volumes and maximal static pressures, that young children may not always be able to perform. The realization of simple natural maneuvers such as a sniff or a cough, and the measurement of esophageal and gastric pressures during spontaneous breathing can add valuable information about the strength and endurance of the respiratory muscles in young children. Monitoring respiratory muscles in children with NMD may improve understanding of the natural history of NMD and the evaluation of disease severity. It may assist and guide clinical management and it may help the identification and selection of optimal end points, as well as the most informative parameters and patients for clinical trials.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring during spine surgery with total intravenous anesthesia or balanced anesthesia with 3 % desflurane.
Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and opioids is frequently utilized for spinal surgery when somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs) are monitored. Many anesthesiologists would prefer to utilize low dose halogenated anesthetics (e.g. 1/2 MAC). We examined our recent experience using 3% desflurane or TIVA during spine surgery to determine the impact on propofol usage and on the evoked potential responses. ⋯ The data from these cases indicates that 1/2 MAC (3%) desflurane can be used in conjunction with SSEP and tcMEP monitoring for some adult patients undergoing spine surgery. Further studies are needed to confirm the relative benefits versus negative effects of the use of desflurane and other halogenated agents for anesthesia during procedures on neurophysiological monitoring involving tcMEPs. Further studies are also needed to characterize which patients may or may not be candidates for supplementation such as those with neural dysfunction or who are opioid tolerant from chronic use.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Feb 2015
Osteopontin induces soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor production and release.
Osteopontin (OPN) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) have been proposed as markers of disease severity and risk-stratification in infection and inflammation. In breast cancer, OPN and the membrane bound form of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) are functionally related, as OPN-induced cell migration depends on uPAR triggering by urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the kinetic of OPN and suPAR blood levels in patients developing septic shock (SS) compared to those not developing SS, and to investigate the relationships between these two biomarkers in immune cells in vitro. ⋯ These data suggest that OPN is partly responsible for the increased plasma levels of suPAR and might be a valuable tool to predict the occurrence of septic shock.