Cost-Effectiveness of Juluca for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Treatment in Virologically Suppressed Adults in Taiwan.

Objectives: Although the efficacy of traditional 3-drug regimens for the treatment of HIV is well established, tolerability and toxicity concerns remain. New 2-drug regimens such as Juluca (dolutegravir [DTG]/rilpivirine [RPV]) offer noninferior efficacy versus 3-drug regimens (SWORD-1 and SWORD-2 studies), while reducing cumulative drug exposure and potentially long-term toxicities and drug-drug interactions. Here, we assess the cost-effectiveness of DTG/RPV for the treatment of HIV-1 for virologically suppressed adults in Taiwan.

Hypothermia treatment preserves mitochondrial integrity and viability of cardiomyocytes after ischaemic reperfusion injury.

Background: Haemorrhagic shock after traumatic injury carries a high mortality. Therapeutic hypothermia has been widely used in critical illness to improve the outcome in haemorrhagic shock by activation of cardiac pro-survival signalling pathways. However, the role played by the mitochondria in the cardioprotective effects of therapeutic hypothermia remains unclear.

Effects of an Al(3+)- and Mg(2+)-containing antacid, ferrous sulfate, and calcium carbonate on the absorption of nemonoxacin (TG-873870) in healthy Chinese volunteers.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of an Al(3+)- and Mg(2+)-containing antacid, ferrous sulfate, and calcium carbonate on the absorption of nemonoxacin in healthy humans.

Methods: Two single-dose, open-label, randomized, crossover studies were conducted in 24 healthy male Chinese volunteers (12 per study). In Study 1, the subjects orally received nemonoxacin (500 mg) alone, or an antacid (containing 318 mg of Al(3+) and 496 mg of Mg(2+)) plus nemonoxacin administered 2 h before, concomitantly or 4 h after the antacid.

Prognostic relevance of plasma heart-type fatty acid binding protein after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objective: Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a tissue-specific protein which is rapidly released into the circulation when cardiomyocyte injury occurs. The aim of the study is to investigate the prognostic relevance of H-FABP for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in the early post-cardiac arrest period.

Design And Methods: This is a prospective cohort study enrolling non-traumatic resuscitated OHCA patients.

Combination of intravenous ascorbic acid administration and hypothermia after resuscitation improves myocardial function and survival in a ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest model in the rat.

Objectives: Intravenous (IV) administration of ascorbic acid during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was reported to facilitate defibrillation and improves survival in ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest. We investigated whether IV administration of ascorbic acid after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) can improve outcomes in VF cardiac arrest in a rat model and its interaction with therapeutic hypothermia.

Methods: Ventricular fibrillation-induced cardiac arrest followed by CPR and defibrillation was performed in male Wistar rats.

Induction of cardiac fibrosis and transforming growth factor-β1 by motorcycle exhaust in rats.

Motorcycle exhaust (ME) is a major source of air pollution and a potential health hazard in urban areas where motorcycles are a popular means of transportation. The main objectives of this study were to determine the ability of ME to cause cardiotoxicity in rats and investigate the possible mechanisms of toxicity. Male rats were exposed to 1:10 diluted ME by inhalation 2 h daily and Monday through Friday for 8 weeks.

The difference in myocardial injuries and mitochondrial damages between asphyxial and ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrests.

Introduction: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) and asphyxia account for most cardiac arrests but differ in cardiac arrest course, neurologic deficit, and myocardial damage. In VF resuscitation, cardiac mitochondria were known to be damaged via excess generation of reactive oxygen species. This study evaluated the difference of cardiac mitochondrial damages between VF and asphyxial cardiac arrests.

Post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction is improved with cyclosporine treatment at onset of resuscitation but not in the reperfusion phase.

Aim Of Study: Significant myocardial dysfunction and high mortality occur after whole-body ischaemia-eperfusion injuries in the post-cardiac arrest status. The inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening during ischaemia-reperfusion can ameliorate injuries in the specific organs. We investigated the effect and therapeutic window of pharmacological inhibition of mPTP opening in cardiac arrest.

Ultrasonographic lung sliding sign in confirming proper endotracheal intubation during emergency intubation.

Aim Of Study: Unrecognized one-lung intubations (also known as main-stem intubation) can lead to hypoventilation, atelectasis, barotrauma, and even patient death. Many traditional methods can be employed to detect one-lung intubation; however, each of these methods has limitations and is not consistently reliable in emergency settings. This study aimed to assess the accuracy and timeliness of ultrasound to confirm proper endotracheal intubation.

Ascorbic acid mitigates the myocardial injury after cardiac arrest and electrical shock.

Purpose: To examine the effects of ascorbic acid (AA) administrated during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the myocardial injury in a rat model of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and electrical shock (ES).

Methods: VF was induced in male Wistar rats and left untreated for 5 min, followed by 1 min of CPR, and then one ES of 5 J. At the start of CPR, animals received either intravenous administration of AA (100 mg/kg) or Tempol (30 mg/kg), two antioxidants, or 0.

Circulating cell-free DNA levels correlate with postresuscitation survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Early prediction of prognosis is helpful in cardiac arrest patients. Plasma cell-free DNA, which increases rapidly after cell death, is a novel biomarker for the prognosis of critical ill patients. Changes in the plasma cell-free DNA level and its role for the early prognosis of cardiac arrest patients remain unclear.

Tracheal rapid ultrasound exam (T.R.U.E.) for confirming endotracheal tube placement during emergency intubation.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy and timeliness of using tracheal ultrasound to examine endotracheal tube placement during emergency intubation.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study, conducted at the emergency department of a national university teaching hospital. Patients received emergency intubation because of impending respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or severe trauma.

Acute cardiac dysfunction after short-term diesel exhaust particles exposure.

Epidemiological studies show an association between particulate matter exposure and acute heart failure. However, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated acute cardiac hemodynamic effects and related mechanisms after 1 day exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs).

Antiapoptotic cardioprotective effect of hypothermia treatment against oxidative stress injuries.

Objectives: The effect of hypothermia on cardiomyocyte injury induced by oxidative stress remains unclear. The authors investigated the effects of hypothermia on apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes exposed to oxidative stress.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes (H9c2) derived from embryonic rat heart cell culture were exposed to either normothermic (37 degrees C) or hypothermic (31 degrees C) environments before undergoing oxidative stress via treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)).

Who survives cardiac arrest in the intensive care units?

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors related to outcome regarding in-intensive care unit (ICU) cardiac arrest (IICA) in a university hospital.

Patients And Methods: Adult nontraumatic ICU patients who sustained IICA were prospectively enrolled. Several patient and event-related variables, as well as outcomes, were recorded and summarized based on the revised Utstein-style template.

Cardioprotective effect of therapeutic hypothermia for postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction.

Mild-to-moderate therapeutic hypothermia after resuscitation from cardiac arrest is neuroprotective, but its effect on postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction is not clear. We hypothesized that therapeutic hypothermia is cardioprotective in postresuscitation. Male adult Wistar rats underwent asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and manual resuscitation with epinephrine.

Cardioprotective effects of erythropoietin on postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction in appropriate therapeutic windows.

Objective: Erythropoietin has been noted for its cardioprotective effects. The objective of the study is to investigate its effects on postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and therapeutic windows.

Design: Randomized animal study.

How much would you be willing to pay for preventing a new dangerous infectious disease: a willingness-to-pay study in medical personnel working in the emergency department.

Background: The risk of developing nosocomial infectious diseases among medical personnel in the emergency department (ED) can result in tremendous psychologic stress. The objective of this study was to estimate the median amount of money ED personnel would be willing to pay for preventing nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods: A contingent valuation approach with close-ended format was used.

Erythropoietin improves the postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and survival in the asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest model.

To investigate the effect of erythropoietin for the management of postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction following asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest. Male adult Wistar rats were used for the prospective controlled animal study. Asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest was performed by turning-off the ventilator and clamping the endotracheal tube.

Postresuscitation accelerated idioventricular rhythm: a potential prognostic factor for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors.

Objective: Data are lacking on the relationship between postresuscitation ECG and outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We examined the prognostic information that postresuscitation ECG rhythm can provide for predicting outcome in OHCA survivors.

Methods: The retrospective observational study enrolled 56 successfully resuscitated nontraumatic adult OHCA patients.

The effect of hydrocortisone on the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients: a pilot study.

Objective: Several studies have disclosed the importance of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in resuscitation. The objective of this study was to observe the effect of hydrocortisone on the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients.

Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, open-labeled clinical trial.

Delayed fluid resuscitation in hemorrhagic shock induces proinflammatory cytokine response.

Study Objective: This study is designed to determine the effects of delayed fluid resuscitation on the hemodynamic changes and cytokine responses in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Wistar male rats (n=40; 8/group) were subjected to a volume-controlled hemorrhagic shock for 30 minutes and received lactated Ringer's solution resuscitation as follows: (1) immediate resuscitation, (2) delayed resuscitation begun 30 minutes after hemorrhage (delayed resuscitation 30), (3) delayed resuscitation begun 45 minutes after hemorrhage (delayed resuscitation 45), (4) delayed resuscitation begun 60 minutes after hemorrhage (delayed resuscitation 60), or (5) unresuscitated group, induction of hemorrhagic shock without resuscitation. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded and blood samples were collected at 0 minutes and at 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes after hemorrhage for plasma levels of interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).

Ultrasonography in diagnosing colorectal cancers in patients presenting with abdominal distension.

Objective: To determine the usefulness of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients presenting with abdominal distension.

Design, Setting And Participants: A prospective case series of consecutive adult patients with abdominal distension admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2001 and July 2004. All participants were examined by abdominal ultrasonography.