Effectiveness of rapid response teams on rates of in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In 2004, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 100,000 Lives Campaign recommended that hospitals implement rapid response teams (RRTs) charged with identifying non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients at risk for rapid deterioration. Although RRTs are now in widespread use, there have been conflicting results regarding the impact of RRTs on hospital mortality and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of RRTs on reducing hospital mortality and non-ICU cardiopulmonary arrest rates.

Reversal of ethanol toxicity in embryonic neurons with growth factors and estrogen.

Prenatal exposure to ethanol is the cause of fetal alcohol syndrome, which is characterized by brain abnormalities and decreased mental capacity. In the current study, cultured neurons from embryonic rat cortices were used to study the reversal of ethanol toxicity on neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. Ethanol treatment followed by treatment with estrogen and certain growth factors were used to assess the potential of these growth factors and estrogen to reverse the effects of ethanol damage.