Stress hormones kinetics in ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest and resuscitation: Translational and therapeutic implications.

Background: Knowing the kinetics of endogenous stress hormones during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CRP) will help to optimize personalized physiology-guided treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the dynamic changes in stress hormones in a swine model of ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest.

Methods: Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 10 healthy Landrace/Large White piglets, which were subsequently left untreated for 8 min.

Effect of Erythropoietin on Postresuscitation Renal Function in a Swine Model of Ventricular Fibrillation.

. To investigate the effect of EPO administration on postresuscitation renal function. .

Effects of Erythropoietin Administration on Adrenal Glands of Landrace/Large White Pigs after Ventricular Fibrillation.

Aim. To evaluate the effects of erythropoietin administration on the adrenal glands in a swine model of ventricular fibrillation and resuscitation. Methods.

Quality of life in adults with cystic fibrosis: the Greek experience.

Introduction: Recent developments in treatment have steadily raised the median predicted age of survival for people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). We report the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in CF adult patients and correlate our findings with the patients' demographic characteristics.

Material And Methods: The Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life (CFQoL) questionnaire was answered by 77 CF adult patients.

Theoretical knowledge and skill retention 4 months after a European Paediatric Life Support course.

Objective: The European Paediatric Life Support (EPLS) provider course aims at training doctors and nurses in the efficient and prompt management of cardiopulmonary arrest in children. EPLS is a 2-day European Resuscitation Council course, involving the teaching of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The aim of the study was to evaluate the retention of theoretical knowledge and certain skills of EPLS providers 4 months after the course.

Erythropoietin administration facilitates return of spontaneous circulation and improves survival in a pig model of cardiac arrest.

Background: In addition to its role in the endogenous control of erythropoiesis, recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO) has been shown to exert tissue protective properties in various experimental models. However, its role in the cardiac arrest (CA) setting has not yet been adequately investigated.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of rh-EPO in a pig model of ventricular fibrillation (VF)-induced CA.

Research in human resuscitation: what we learn from animals.

Aim: It was not until the 18th century that scientists throughout Europe established humane societies to develop resuscitation techniques and to keep registries of successful and unsuccessful cases. Since then, the science and art of cardiopulmonary resuscitation have flourished, multiple international organizations were found, and guidelines are proposed every 5 years in an everlasting attempt to improve the outcome of cardiac arrest victims. The aim of this article is to present the role of animal models in resuscitation research.

Cardiologists' knowledge of the 2005 American Heart Association Resuscitation Guidelines: The Athens Study.

Objective: The study objective was to determine cardiologists' theoretic knowledge of the 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) resuscitation guidelines.

Methods: The questionnaire consisted of demographic questions, resuscitation experience questions, a question regarding confidence in resuscitation skills, and 20 theoretic knowledge questions.

Results: For the theoretic knowledge questions, the participants' overall mean score was 9.

Factors influencing arrival of patients with acute myocardial infarction at emergency departments: implications for community nursing interventions.

Aim: This paper identifies the characteristics of Greek patients with acute myocardial infarction who have long prehospital delays and identifies the factors that are specifically associated with these delays.

Background: The time between the first appearance of symptoms until the hospitalization of the patient with myocardial infarction correlates statistically significantly with in-hospital and long-term mortality.

Methods: The study took place in two Greek coronary care units from 1 June 2007 to 31 July 2008.

Distribution of pre-course BLS/AED manuals does not influence skill acquisition and retention in lay rescuers: a randomised study.

Aim: The present study aims to investigate whether the distribution of the Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation (BLS/AED) manual, 4 weeks prior to the course, has an effect on skill acquisition, theoretical knowledge and skill retention, compared with courses where manuals were not distributed.

Methods: A total of 303 laypeople were included in the present study. The courses were randomised with sealed envelopes in 12 courses, where manuals were distributed to participants (group A) and in 12 courses, where manuals were not distributed to participants (group B).

Nurses are more efficient than doctors in teaching basic life support and automated external defibrillator in nurses.

Background: Cardiac arrest (CA) is a leading cause of death worldwide. The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) has developed basic life support/automated external defibrillation (BLS/AED) courses for uniform training in out-of-hospital CA.

Objective: The present study compares the resuscitation skills of two groups of nursing staff, one taught by newly trained ERC nurse-instructors and the other by newly trained doctor-instructors.