Matrix Metalloprotease-1 and Elastase Are Novel Uterotonic Agents Acting Through Protease-Activated Receptor 1.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and neutrophil elastase are proteolytic enzymes involved in tissue remodeling, but a role for them as uterotonic agents has not been considered. However, both these proteases activate protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) that mediates thrombin-induced contractions. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 and elastase are products of neutrophils that infiltrate intrauterine tissues at the time of labor, so we tested the hypothesis that these proteases might be novel uterotonic agents acting via PAR-1.

Learning from errors: analysis of medication order voiding in CPOE systems.

Objective: Medication order voiding allows clinicians to indicate that an existing order was placed in error. We explored whether the order voiding function could be used to record and study medication ordering errors.

Materials And Methods: We examined medication orders from an academic medical center for a 6-year period (2006-2011; n  = 5 804 150).