Drivers of Inpatient Hospital Experience Using the HCAHPS Survey in a Canadian Setting

ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with patients’ overall rating of inpatient hospital care.ConclusionsOur results are novel in the Canadian population. Several questions for future research have been generated, in addition to opportunities for quality improvement within our own organization.     

肺应力和应变在肺损伤家猪机械通气中的作用

目的 研究不同平台压参数设置下,急性肺损伤(acute lung injury, ALI)家猪的跨肺压(transpulmonary pressure)等呼吸力学参数,明确平台压30cmH₂O能否全面准确反应ARDS呼吸力学情况。方法 将6只健康家猪麻醉、进行外科手术后,按照以下不同实验状态进行机械通气: A组平台压＜30cmH₂O、B组平台压＞30cmH₂O伴腹内高压(intra-abdominal hypertension, IAH)。观察不同分组通气参数设置下,肺应力、平台压等呼吸力学标。结果呼吸力学: A组肺应力为(15.07±1.47)cmH₂O高于 B组(10.92±1.28)cmH₂O;B组胸壁弹性阻力与呼吸系统弹性阻力之比(Ecw/Ers)为(0.36±0.06)高于A组(0.24±0.05);B组肺顺应性(Cdyn)为(13.38±2.79)ml/cmH₂O,明显高于A组(10.26±1.18)ml/cmH₂O ;差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。B组胸壁顺应性(Ccw)为(43.12±8.00)ml/cmH₂O,低于A组(63.28±36.71)ml/cmH₂O,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论 单纯以平台压30cmH₂O作为机械通气的标准,不能准确地反映ARDS患者肺部的呼吸力学。腹内高压时,需要更高的平台压来改善氧合状况。肺应力和应变是真正反应ARDS肺呼吸力学的指标,将肺应力和应变理论引入临床,有利于为ARDS患者制定更加安全、合理的通气策略。     

Individual Variation in the Motivational and Neurobiological Effects of an Opioid Cue

A discrete cue associated with intravenous injections of cocaine acquires greater control over motivated behavior in some rats (‘sign-trackers'', STs) than others (‘goal-trackers'', GTs). It is not known, however, if such variation generalizes to cues associated with other drugs. We asked, therefore, whether a discrete cue (a light) associated with the intravenous administration of an opioid drug (the short-acting mu receptor agonist, remifentanil) acquires incentive motivational properties differently in STs and GTs, as indicated by tests of Pavlovian conditioned approach and conditioned reinforcement. Consistent with studies using cocaine, STs approached a classically conditioned opioid cue more readily than GTs, and in a test of conditioned reinforcement worked more avidly to get it. Interestingly, STs and GTs did not differ in the acquisition of a conditioned orienting response. In addition, the performance of conditioned approach behavior, but not conditioned orientation, was attenuated by pretreatment with the dopamine receptor antagonist, flupenthixol, into the core of the nucleus accumbens. Lastly, food and opioid cues engaged similar amygdalo–striatal–thalamic circuitry to a much greater extent in STs than GTs, as indicated by Fos expression. Taken together, these data demonstrate that, similar to food and cocaine cues: (1) a discrete opioid cue attains greater incentive motivational value in STs than GTs; (2) the attribution of incentive motivational properties to an opioid cue is dopamine dependent; and (3) an opioid cue engages the so-called ‘motive circuit'' only if it is imbued with incentive salience.     

Can Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators Deliver Benefit Originally Expected from Fish Oil?

Purpose of the Review

Fish oil (FO) supplementation has historically been used by individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory processes. However, a meta-analysis of several large randomized control trials (RCTs) suggested FO conferred no benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk. Skeptics surmised that the lack of benefit was related to FO dose or drug interactions; therefore, the widely accepted practice of FO consumption was brought into question.

Recent Findings

Thereafter, Serhan et al. identified specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) to be one of the bioactive components and mechanisms of action of FO. SPMs are thought to enhance resolution of inflammation, as opposed to classic anti-inflammatory agents which inhibit inflammatory pathways. Numerous diseases, including persistent Inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolic syndrome (PICS), are rooted in a burden of chronic inflammation. SPMs are gaining traction as potential therapeutic agents used to resolve inflammation in cardiovascular disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, pancreatitis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Summary

This narrative reviews the history of FO and the various studies that made the health benefits of FO inconclusive, as well as an overview of SPMs and their use in specific disease states.