Prospective cohort study of ototoxicity in persons with cystic fibrosis following a single course of intravenous tobramycin.

Introduction: Aminoglycoside (AG) antibiotics, such as tobramycin, are known to be ototoxic but important clinically due to their bactericidal efficacy. Persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at risk for AG-induced ototoxicity due to the repeated use of intravenous (IV) tobramycin for the treatment of pulmonary exacerbations. While it is well-established that ototoxic hearing loss is highly prevalent in this clinical population, the progression of hearing loss over time remains unclear.

Negative hearing effects of a single course of IV aminoglycoside therapy in cystic fibrosis patients.

Objective: Identify hearing effects of a single course of intravenous (IV) aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGs) therapy in adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Determine whether the change is large enough to enable a proof-of-concept study of a new drug preventing AG-associated hearing loss.

Design: Retrospective case review of CF patients with sequential audiograms ± an intervening course of IV AG therapy.

Progressive Hearing Loss among Patients with Cystic Fibrosis and Parenteral Aminoglycoside Treatment.

Objective: Hearing loss is a significant and growing problem as patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) live longer and experience frequent courses of intravenous aminoglycoside antibiotics (hereafter, "IVs"). This study seeks to document that risk in a large adult population with CF, accounting for age and aminoglycoside exposure.

Study Design: Retrospective case review of patients with CF who had multiple audiograms over years.

Modified gloves: A chance for the prevention of nosocomial infections.

Background: Non-sterile gloves primarily serve as a barrier protection for health care workers (HCWs). However, pathogens may often contaminate the skin of HCWs during glove removal; therefore, pathogens may be further transmitted and cause nosocomial infections.

Methods: A field study was conducted comparing contamination rates when using standard gloves or a new modified product equipped with an additional flap (doffing aid) for easier removal.

[Is it Possible to Improve Results in the Conservative Treatment Strategy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome?].

Almost 60% of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without ST segment elevation are not subjected to revascularization procedures. This review analyzes the reasons for the choice of the conservative tactics of patients with ACS. The possibilities of improving outcomes by using modern medicines.

[Effect of L-Carnitine on QT Dispersion in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome].

to evaluate the impact of L-carnitine on the dispersion of the interval QT (AQTc) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 58 patients with ACS who have not had surgery (29 in group receiving L-carnitine, and 29 in the placebo group). L-carnitine was administered intravenously during the first 3 days to 2 g, 2 times a day, with 4 on the 15th day (or until discharge, if it occurred earlier)--for 1 g of 2 times per day.

[Clinical and Economic Efficacy of Ivabradine in Patients Suffered Myocardial Infarction].

Objective: to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the addition to the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction (MI) If current blocker ivabradine.

Material And Methods: as a basis for pharmacoeconomic research results of the program are taken battleships, in which 1226 patients with MI less than 12 months ago, for 16 weeks received ivabradine in addition to standard therapy. When conducting pharmacoeconomic calculations take into account the direct medical and non-medical costs of treating patients with drugs; the call ambulance crews (CAC); on the patients stay in the hospital at admission.

Value of a long-term clinical database.

To study the value of historical clinical information, which we defined as data more than one year old, we measured the frequency and patterns of use of historical laboratory data among 87 providers in a multispecialty group practice delivering ambulatory care. During a one-month observation period, 38% of the providers requested historical data for use in clinical decision making. The requests were made for 19% of the patients, and represent 4% of the provider-initiated transactions on the computing system (328 per month).

The Seattle evaluation of computerized drug profiles: effects on prescribing practices and resource use.

Since 1979, all outpatient pharmacy transactions at the US Public Health Service Hospital in Seattle have been captured in a computer system which generates a profile of each patient's active and previously used drugs. We conducted a controlled trial in which patients were allocated to profile or no-profile groups while the computer continued to collect data on everyone. In all, 41,572 clinic visits made by 6,186 patients were studied.

The Seattle evaluation of computerized drug profiles: effect on provider activities.

We studied whether furnishing care providers with computer-generated summaries of patients' current and past medications would reduce the time they spent on various drug-related tasks during patient visits. An observer used time-sampling methods to measure the amount of provider time spent on each of 10 activities during 166 clinic visits, some with profiles and some without them. Additional data were taken from the medical record on factors that might affect the time spent on various tasks.

Effects of altering O2 delivery on VO2 of isolated, working muscle.

Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and muscle blood flow (Q max) were measured in an isolated gracilis muscle preparation before and after alteration in perfusion pressure (BP), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and hemoglobin concentration (Hb). Q varied directly with BP and inversely with Hb (viscosity) but was unaffected by changes in arterial SaO2. VO2 max varied directly with oxygen delivery under all conditions.