Study Connects Maternal Response to Infection During Pregnancy with Increased Autism Risk
A new study adds to a growing body of research aimed at understanding how a mother’s body’s response to infection influences a growing fetus. In research published this week in mSphere, researchers at Columbia University... read more
Predicting HCAHPS scores from hospitals' social media pages
Social media is an important communication channel that can help hospitals and consumers obtain feedback about quality of care. However, despite the potential value of insight from consumers who post comments about hospital... read more
A Primer on the Perils of Intravenous Fluids – Part 2
Critically-ill patients all likely have endothelial dysfunction to some degree. resuscitationThis perturbation in microvascular physiology may be underpinned by abnormal glycocalyx structure and function. Sepsis, trauma,... read more
A Primer on the Perils of Intravenous Fluids – Part 1
The provision of intravenous fluids is no trivial intervention. Indeed, one eminent nephrologist has called for medical students to receive, not a 'white coat ceremony' at the outset of their education, but instead... read more
Prophylactic hydration to protect renal function from intravascular iodinated contrast material in patients at high risk of contrast-induced nephropathy
Between June 17, 2014, and July 17, 2016, 660 consecutive patients were randomly assigned to receive no prophylaxis (n=332) or intravenous hydration (n=328). 2–6 day serum creatinine was available for 307 (92%) of 332 patients... read more
Electronic Dura Mater Meddling in the Central Nervous System
This review of preclinical applications assesses the potential of the electronic dura mater to deliver electrical and chemical stimulation to targeted areas of the central nervous system for extended periods. Soft neural... read more
GERD Treatment May Reduce Healthcare Visits for Acute Respiratory Infections
Treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may help decrease healthcare visits for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These are the findings of a new study published... read more
Pain Assessment in INTensive care (PAINT)
Pain is a common and distressing symptom experienced by intensive care patients. Assessing pain in this environment is challenging, and published guidelines have been inconsistently implemented. The Pain Assessment in INTensive... read more
Major publications in the critical care pharmacotherapy literature
The Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Literature Update (CCPLU) Group is composed of over 50 experienced critical care pharmacists who evaluate 31 peer-reviewed journals monthly to identify literature pertaining to pharmacotherapy... read more
Transfusion in Critical Care – UK Regional Audit of Current Practice
A consistent message within critical care publications has been that a restrictive transfusion strategy is non-inferior, and possibly superior, to a liberal strategy for stable, non-bleeding critically ill patients. Translation... read more
This Handheld Ultrasound Scanner Could Be the Next Stethoscope
Clarius co-founder and CEO Laurent Pelissier believes the affordable, wireless device could revolutionize health care. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Clarius ultrasound scanner for use in December 2016,... read more
Association of β-Blockers With Functional Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction
This cohort study uses Minimum Data Set and Medicare claims data to assess the association of β-blocker use after acute myocardial infarction with functional decline, mortality, and rehospitalization among long-stay nursing... read more
Use of Lab Tests in Detecting Kidney Disease
This systematic review summarizes evidence supporting the use of laboratory tests for glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria to detect and stage kidney disease in adults. Detection and staging of acute and chronic kidney... read more
AAP: Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care
The 2017 Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care (Periodicity Schedule) have been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and represents a consensus of AAP and the Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule... read more
Contrast-Induced Nephropathy: Confounding Causation
Comparing the methodological rigor of more recent CIN studies to those in the past, it seems clear that earlier studies purporting a causal relationship between AKI and contrast administration were only identifying an association... read more
High Levels of Nosocomial Infection Found in Pediatric ICUs
One in six children in pediatric intensive care units (pICU), and one in ten babies in neonatal intensive care units (nICU) develop a hospital-acquired infection (HAI), according to a new study. Researchers at the European... read more
Delirium: Thinking Clearly About a Foggy Issue
Benzodiazepines are one of the leading causes of delirium. These drugs are already falling out of favor in critical care settings for other reasons; they are not easily titratable, and research suggests they can prolong a... read more
Assessing Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Noncardiothoracic Surgery
In this multicenter study in 1202 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 3 patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery requiring 2 hours or more of general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation, at least... read more
Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections
Vitamin D supplementation was safe and it protected against acute respiratory tract infection overall. Patients who were very vitamin D deficient and those not receiving bolus doses experienced the most benefit. 25 eligible... read more
Guidelines for Family-Centered Care in the Neonatal, Pediatric, and Adult ICU
The primary goal of these guidelines is to identify best practices for family-centered care in the ICU based on existing evidence. These guidelines were developed using a rigorous, objective, and transparent assessment of... read more
Fecal microbiota transplantation a decolonization treatment option
The use of fecal microbiota transplantation is an option to eradicate highly drug-resistant enteric bacteria carriage, according to results from a small pilot study conducted by French investigators. A prospective study of... read more
Rude Surgeons Likely to Make Mistakes
A new study finds surgeons with a history of patient complaints about their personalities or attitude are more likely to make mistakes in the operating room. Researchers compared surgical outcomes with patient reports of... read more
