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Elevated troponin i is a nonspecific finding, but suggests a poor prognosis regardless of its cause.
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Institution of a daily pharmacist-enforced intervention designed to improve adherence to sedation guidelines decreased the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay.
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In this review of patients admitted to the ICU with acute respiratory failure secondary to COPD exacerbation or cardiogenic pulmonary edema, nearly two-thirds of patients who apparently met criteria for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) were intubated without a trial of NIV.
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Randomized studies of neuroprotective agents for ischemic stroke have resulted in a series of failures, as multiple agents, promising in animal models, have failed when applied to human subjects. By contrast, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been somewhat a "neglected stepsister" when compared to ischemic stroke; it has been studied minimally, despite its high morbidity and mortality.
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It has long been taught that lipid levels measured during hospitalization for an acute illness will be artificially low because of an acute-phase metabolic reaction. Consequently, many physicians wait weeks after hospitalization to measure lipids when they have returned to baseline levels and then start appropriate lipid lowering therapy. On the other hand, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) studies have suggested that the early administration of statins may improve outcomes in ACS.
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Guillain-Barré syndrome remains a common and serious cause of acute neuropathy in the elderly.
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Epidural blood patch is an effective treatment for post dural puncture headache.
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In this examination of blood C-reactive protein levels and clinical data in 570 patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, initial CRP levels < 100 mg/L were associated with fewer complications, less use of mechanical ventilation and/or inotropes, and lower 30-day mortality. Whether these findings provide useful information beyond what is apparent on routine clinical assessment remains to be seen.
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Three recent reports yield different conclusions on the effectiveness of MRSA surveillance on the incidence of healthcare associated MRSA infection.
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Pioglitazone and heart disease; ARBs manufacturers spend millions to show the non-inferiority of their products compared to less expensive, generic ACE inhibitors; some athletes turn to growth hormone because it is difficult to detect; FDA Actions