Impact of Immune Deficiency on Remodeling of Maternal Resistance Vasculature 4 Weeks Postpartum in Mice.

Pregnancy manifests changes in the vascular and immune systems that persist postpartum (PP), have important implications for future pregnancies, and may modify responses to cardiovascular stress in late life. The association between immune and vascular function and the generation or progression of cardiovascular disease beg the question of whether altered immunity modifies pregnancy-induced changes in the vasculature. Our objective was to compare changes in the function and remodeling of systemic resistance vessels 4 weeks PP in normal C57BL/6 (B6), and immunodeficient mice recombinase 1-deficient/B6 ( Rag1).

The changing epidemiology of mechanical ventilation: a population-based study.

The number of critical care beds in the United States has been increasing considerably, but it is unclear how these additional beds have been used. Mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure almost always demands ICU care and is likely to be a reliable indicator of critical care resource requirements on a population level. The objective of this study was to measure changes in the yearly incidence of mechanical ventilation in a statewide population.

Increase in tracheostomy for prolonged mechanical ventilation in North Carolina, 1993-2002.

Objective: Patients who require tracheostomy for prolonged mechanical ventilation have poor outcomes and high costs of care. However, recent longitudinal trends relevant to these patients and their care have not been described. We aimed to describe trends in the annual incidence and timing of tracheostomy for prolonged mechanical ventilation, as well as prolonged mechanical ventilation patient resource utilization and overall in-hospital mortality.

Trends in the use of feeding tubes in North Carolina hospitals.

Objective: National data describing the placement of feeding tubes demonstrated a rapid increase in use in the early and mid-1990s. In the past several years, substantial concerns have arisen regarding the appropriateness of the procedure in many chronically ill patients. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of feeding tubes has continued to increase through the 1990s despite these widely publicized concerns.