Clinical practice guidelines for improving outcomes in sepsis

Sepsis is a common medical condition resulting from an infectious stimulus with a variable inflammatory response leading to a spectrum of clinical conditions from mild constitutional symptoms to varying degrees of organ dysfunction and death. The understanding of the patho-physiology of sepsis has lead to better treatment modalities and whilst sepsis is an increasingly more common condition world wide, the mortality from sepsis is nevertheless falling. Treatment algorithms have been promulgated over the years and levels of evidence for these have varied. This review will focus on the early management issues recently updated and released by a multi-national panel of experts based on best evidence, aimed at reducing sepsis related mortality by 25%.     

Current diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease

The pointers outlined recommend specific steps for the neurologic examination, assessment instruments for detecting physical and cognitive dysfunction and mood alteration, and relevant laboratory tests. When to use imaging studies is highlighted.     

Medical journals and urgent medical news

The Director of the Office of Health Policy Information in the Harvard School of Public Health, concerned with public anxieties about the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, has urged scientific journals to take various steps to speed scientific information along, both to the news media and to print in the journals themselves. The Annals has for some years used one of these steps, accelerated peer review and revision of accepted papers. This journal also puts no constraints on authors discussing their research with the news media before publication of their papers. The journal, with authors' permissions, sends pre-publication copies of important papers to the Federal agencies with responsibilities related to those papers. The Department of Health and Human Services should consider setting up a clearinghouse that could receive such pre-publication copies and direct them to appropriate agencies. But none of these steps should by-pass peer review.     

Printed medical journals – will they survive?

Abstract. Böttiger LE (Saltsjö-Boo, Sweden). Printed medical journals – will they survive? (Editorial). J Intern Med 1999; 246 : 127–131.     

寄生虫学专业期刊的现状和发展趋势

自从1907年世界上第一种寄生虫学期刊Annalsof Tropical Medicine and Parasitology创刊以来,寄生虫学专业期刊相继出版,如Parasitology(1908)、Journal ofParasitology (1914)、The Florida Entomologist(1920)、Journal of Helminthology(1923)、The Pan-Pacific Ento     

Infective endocarditis: Current guidelines on prophylaxis

Prevention of infective endocarditis is a priority because this disease is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality both during the acute phase of the illness and subsequently, despite modern medical and surgical treatment. The American Heart Association has published recommendations for prevention by antimicrobial prophylaxis since 1955; the most recent revision of these guidelines appeared in 1997. All practicing physicians should know their content and understand their underlying concepts and assumptions.     

Infective endocarditis: Current guidelines on prophylaxis

Prevention of infective endocarditis is a priority because this disease is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality both during the acute phase of the illness and subsequently, despite modern medical and surgical treatment. The American Heart Association has published recommendations for prevention by antimicrobial prophylaxis since 1955; the most recent revision of these guidelines appeared in 1997. All practicing physicians should know their content and understand their underlying concepts and assumptions.