Articles: function.
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Observational Study
Filter lifespan in critically ill adults receiving continuous renal replacement therapy: the effect of patient and treatmentrelated variables.
To examine the effects of patient and treatment-related variables on filter lifespan in critically ill adults receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). ⋯ Our study found that an increased CRRT filter lifespan is associated with higher blood flow rates and lower platelet count. Vascular catheter design may also be a factor.
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Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common and intriguing condition, manifest by chronic pain and fatigue. Although the pathogenesis of FMS is not yet completely understood, predicting the future development of FMS and chronic pain is a major challenge with great potential advantages, both from an individual as well as an epidemiological standpoint. Current knowledge indicates a genetic underpinning for FMS, and as increasing data are accumulated regarding the genetics involved, the prospect of utilizing these data for prediction becomes ever more attractive. ⋯ Functional neuroimaging may help to elucidate the neural processes involved in central sensitization, and may ultimately also evolve into markers of predictive value. Last but not least, obesity and disturbed sleep are clinical (inter-related) features relevant for this spectrum. Future efforts will aim at integrating genetic, clinical and physiological data in the prediction of FMS and chronic pain.
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Inhibition of Src-family protein tyrosine kinases (SFKs) in spinal dorsal horn has been established as an effective strategy for the alleviation of chronic pathological pain. As one of the important SFKs members, Fyn kinase is critical for synaptic plasticity and many pathophysiological processes. However, whether Fyn is involved in spinal sensitization is far from being elucidated. ⋯ Fyn played a key role in the sustained sensitization of nociceptive behaviours by up-regulating the functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors in spinal dorsal horn.
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Various experimental studies in animals have shown that general anaesthetics are potentially toxic to the developing brain. By inducing apoptosis or interfering with neurogenesis, anaesthetic exposure during a critical period of neuronal development can have significant impact on neurocognitive function later in life. It remains controversial whether these experimental results can be transferred to human beings and this is under intensive scientific evaluation. ⋯ Anaesthesia is not an end in itself, but necessary to facilitate surgical procedures. There is evidence that maintaining physiological conditions is important for the overall outcome following anaesthesia and surgery. Until proven otherwise, it can be recommended to keep anaesthesia and surgery as short as possible, to use short-acting drugs and/or a combination of general anaesthesia and multimodal pain therapy including systemic analgesics, and local or regional anaesthesia, to reduce the overall drug dosage.