Impact of failed mechanical reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty

Percutaneous coronary intervention is not successful in all patients whose acute myocardial infarction is controlled with primary angioplasty, and, after an initial successful procedure, reperfusion is not always sustained due to subacute (stent) thrombosis. In a studied population that had acute myocardial infarction, failed mechanical reperfusion occurred in 108 patients (6.9%). Killip's class >I at admission, a left anterior descending artery as the infarct-related vessel, or a preprocedural Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction grade 0 or 1 flow was an independent predictor of failed reperfusion. Outcome after successful early and sustained mechanical reperfusion is excellent. Failure of the initial procedure and reocclusion of the infarct-related vessel are important determinants of adverse outcome.     

The effect of electronic medical record-based clinical decision support on HIV care in resource-constrained settings: A systematic review

BackgroundIt is estimated that one million people infected with HIV initiate anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in resource-constrained countries annually. This occurs against a background of overburdened health workers with limited skills to handle rapidly changing treatment standards and guidelines hence compromising quality of care. Electronic medical record (EMR)-based clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are considered a solution to improve quality of care. Little evidence, however, exists on the effectiveness of EMR-based CDSS on quality of HIV care and treatment in resource-constrained settings.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to identify original studies on EMR-based CDSS describing process and outcome measures as well as reported barriers to their implementation in resource-constrained settings. We characterized the studies by guideline adherence, data and process, and barriers to CDSS implementation.MethodsTwo reviewers independently assessed original articles from a search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Global Health Library databases until January 2012. The included articles were those that evaluated or described the implementation of EMR-based CDSS that were used in HIV care in low-income countries.ResultsA total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, 10 of which were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa and 2 in the Caribbean. None of the papers described a strong (randomized controlled) evaluation design. Guideline adherence: One study showed that ordering rates for CD4 tests were significantly higher when reminders were used. Data and process: Studies reported reduction in data errors, reduction in missed appointments, reduction in missed CD4 results and reduction in patient waiting time. Two studies showed a significant increase in time spent by clinicians on direct patient care. Barriers to CDSS implementation: Technical infrastructure problems such as unreliable electric power and erratic Internet connectivity, clinicians’ limited computer skills and failure by providers to comply with the reminders are key impediments to the implementation and effective use of CDSS.ConclusionThe limited number of evaluation studies, the basic and heterogeneous study designs, and varied outcome measures make it difficult to meaningfully conclude on the effectiveness of CDSS on quality of HIV care and treatment in resource-limited settings. High quality evaluation studies are needed. Factors specific to implementation of EMR-based CDSS in resource-limited setting should be addressed before such countries can demonstrate its full benefits. More work needs to be done to overcome the barriers to EMR and CDSS implementation in developing countries such as technical infrastructure and care providers’ computer illiteracy. However, simultaneously evaluating and describing CDSS implementation strategies that work can further guide wise investments in their wider rollout.     

An innovative care model coordinated by a physical therapist and nurse practitioner for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee in specialist care: a prospective study

The subject of the study is to investigate whether health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain and function of patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) improves after a specialist care intervention coordinated by a physical therapist and a nurse practitioner (NP) and to assess satisfaction with this care at 12 weeks. This observational study included all consecutive patients with hip or knee OA referred to an outpatient orthopaedics clinic. The intervention consisted of a single, standardized visit (assessment and individually tailored management advice, to be executed in primary care) and a telephone follow-up, coordinated by a physical therapist and a NP, in cooperation with an orthopaedic surgeon. Assessments at baseline and 10 weeks thereafter included the short form-36 (SF-36), EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D), hip or knee disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS or KOOS), the intermittent and constant osteoarthritis pain questionnaire (ICOAP) for hip or knee and a multidimensional satisfaction questionnaire (23 items; 4 point scale). Eighty-seven patients (57 female), mean age 68 years (SD 10.9) were included, with follow-up data available in 63 patients (72 %). Statistically significant improvements were seen regarding the SF-36 physical summary component score, the EQ-5D, the ICOAP scores for hip and knee, the HOOS subscale sports and the KOOS subscales pain, symptoms and activities of daily living. The proportions of patients reporting to be satisfied ranged from 79 to 98 % per item. In patients with hip and knee OA pain, function and HRQoL improved significantly after a single-visit multidisciplinary OA management intervention in specialist care, with high patient satisfaction.     

The impact of computerized physician medication order entry in hospitalized patients--a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To identify all published studies evaluating computerized physician order entry (CPOE) in the inpatient setting and uniformly classify these studies on outcome measure and study design. DATA SOURCES: All studies that evaluated the effect of CPOE on outcomes pertaining to the medication process in inpatients were electronically searched in MEDLINE (1966 to August 2006), EMBASE (1980 to August 2006) and the Cochrane library. In addition, the bibliographies of retrieved articles were manually searched. Articles were selected if one of their main objectives was CPOE evaluation in an inpatient setting. REVIEW METHOD: Identified titles and abstracts were independently screened by three reviewers to determine eligibility for further review. RESULTS: We found 67 articles, which included articles on CPOE evaluation on some outcome at the time of ordering. Most papers evaluated multiple outcome measures. The outcome measures were clustered in the following categories: adherence (n=22); alerts and appropriateness of alerts (n=7); safety (n=21); time (n=7); costs and (organizational) efficiency (n=23); and satisfaction, usage and usability (n=10). Most studies used a before-after design (n=35) followed by observational studies (n=24) and randomized controlled trials (n=8). CONCLUSION: The impact of CPOE systems was especially positive in the category adherence to guidelines, but also to some extent in alerts and appropriateness of alerts; costs and organizational efficiency; and satisfaction and usability. Although on average, there seems to be a positive effect of CPOE on safety, studies tended to be non-randomized and were focused on medication error rates, not powered to detect a difference in adverse drug event rates. Some recent studies suggested that errors, adverse drug events (ADEs) and even mortality increased after CPOE implementation. Only in the category time the impact has been shown to be negative, but this only refers to the physician's time, not the net time. Except for safety, on the whole spectrum of outcomes, results of RCT studies were in line with non-RCT study results.     

Mineralocorticoid receptor is involved in rat and human ocular chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a vision-threatening eye disease with no validated treatment and unknown pathogeny. In CSCR, dilation and leakage of choroid vessels underneath the retina cause subretinal fluid accumulation and retinal detachment. Because glucocorticoids induce and aggravate CSCR and are known to bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), CSCR may be related to inappropriate MR activation. Our aim was to assess the effect of MR activation on rat choroidal vasculature and translate the results to CSCR patients. Intravitreous injection of the glucocorticoid corticosterone in rat eyes induced choroidal enlargement. Aldosterone, a specific MR activator, elicited the same effect, producing choroid vessel dilation -and leakage. We identified an underlying mechanism of this effect: aldosterone upregulated the endothelial vasodilatory K channel KCa2.3. Its blockade prevented aldosterone-induced thickening. To translate these findings, we treated 2 patients with chronic nonresolved CSCR with oral eplerenone, a specific MR antagonist, for 5 weeks, and observed impressive and rapid resolution of retinal detachment and choroidal vasodilation as well as improved visual acuity. The benefit was maintained 5 months after eplerenone withdrawal. Our results identify MR signaling as a pathway controlling choroidal vascular bed relaxation and provide a pathogenic link with human CSCR, which suggests that blockade of MR could be used therapeutically to reverse choroid vasculopathy.     

Caffeine ingestion, affect and perceived exertion during prolonged cycling

Caffeine's metabolic and performance effects have been widely reported. However, caffeine's effects on affective states during prolonged exercise are unknown. Therefore, this was examined in the present study. Following an overnight fast and in a randomised, double-blind, counterbalanced design, twelve endurance trained male cyclists performed 90 min of exercise at 70% VO_{2 max} 1 h after ingesting 6 mg kg⁻¹BM of caffeine (CAF) or placebo (PLA). Dimensions of affect and perceived exertion were assessed at regular intervals. During exercise, pleasure ratings were better maintained (F_(3,38) = 4.99, P < 0.05) in the CAF trial compared to the PLA trial with significantly higher ratings at 15, 30 and 75 min (all P < 0.05). Perceived exertion increased (F_(3,28) = 19.86, P < 0.01) throughout exercise and values, overall, were significantly lower (F_(1,11) = 9.26, P < 0.05) in the CAF trial compared to the PLA trial. Perceived arousal was elevated during exercise but did not differ between trials. Overall, the results suggest that a moderate dose of CAF ingested 1 h prior to exercise maintains a more positive subjective experience during prolonged cycling. This observation may partially explain caffeine's ergogenic effects.     

Malabsorption and nutritional balance in the ICU: fecal weight as a biomarker: a prospective observational pilot study

Introduction  

Malabsorption, which is frequently underdiagnosed in critically ill patients, is clinically relevant with regard to nutritional balance and nutritional management. We aimed to validate the diagnostic accuracy of fecal weight as a biomarker for fecal loss and additionally to assess fecal macronutrient contents and intestinal absorption capacity in ICU patients.