Contemporary analysis of charges and mortality in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A cautionary tale.

Objective: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has increased exponentially. Costs and outcomes, however, vary considerably by indication. We sought to elucidate and quantify these differences.

Effect of angiotensin receptor blockade on central haemodynamics in essential hypertension: results of a randomised trial.

Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to lower central augmentation index (cAI), an index of arterial wave reflection, more than beta-blockers. We tested whether this is also true for long-term treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).

Methods: One-hundred and fifty-six subjects with essential hypertension were randomised to treatment with either irbesartan or atenolol.

Reduction in blood product usage associated with routine use of mini bypass systems in extracorporeal circulation.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the hypothesis that a reduced prime extracorporeal circulation (ECC) system and ensuing reduction in patient hemodilution can affect blood product use.

Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized study from a group of 60 consecutive coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients, comparing blood product usage and postoperative bleeding in 30 mini bypass systems (n = 30) to 30 conventional systems (n = 30). The patient demographics in terms of patient weight, height, age, preoperative hemoglobin, preoperative hematocrit, BSA, ejection fraction, and NYHA were not statistically significant.

Impaired basal NO activity in patients with glomerular disease and the influence of oxidative stress.

Endothelial dysfunction has been found to be linked to and predictive of cardiovascular events. Whether endothelial function of the renal vasculature is impaired in patients with chronic glomerular disease and whether oxidative stress is of importance in this setting has not yet been determined. In this study, endothelial function of the renal vasculature was investigated in 25 patients with chronic glomerular disease and 50 control subjects matched for age and blood pressure.

Additional antiproteinuric effect of ultrahigh dose candesartan: a double-blind, randomized, prospective study.

Proteinuria indicates future renal and cardiovascular morbidity, and, conversely, its reduction is associated with improved outcome. In a randomized, double-blind trial with parallel group design, the antiproteinuric effect of candesartan at high doses was analyzed. Patients with normal or mildly impaired renal function, protein excretion rate of 1 to 10 g/d, and treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker for 3 mo were eligible.