Improving self-care efficacy and quality of life with a self-management program among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A quasi-experimental study.

Self-management helps patients understand their illnesses and learn about disease-related skills so they can better manage their situation. However, published studies on the effectiveness of self-management for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are heterogeneous. Quasi-experimental design was used to investigate the effectiveness of a self-management program in self-care efficacy and quality of life in patients with COPD.

[Early Warning System for Illness Deterioration in Critically Ill Patients].

Monitoring the current and ongoing health status of patients with critical illnesses is an important function in critical care. Science-based assessments permit the early detection of deterioration in patient condition and the early implementation of medical care interventions. In this article, the empirical literature on this topic is reviewed and common early warning systems used currently and previously to detect deterioration in critically ill patients, including the disease severity assessment system, the early warning scoring tool, and the sequential organ failure assessment, are introduced.

The effects of a self-care program on patients with heart failure.

Background: A lack of adequate knowledge and misconceptions by heart failure (HF) patients can lead to the improper use of self-care skills, as well as a lack of confidence in those same self-care skills. The existing literature suggests that care providers using a video-tape or a teaching booklet to educate HF patients, combined with telephone or telemonitoring counseling can effectively promote self-care and reduce readmission rates, and in turn promote overall patient health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of self-care programs in patients with HF.

Comparison of the effect of intensive versus conventional insulinotherapy in patients with cardiac surgery after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Hyperglycemia occurs commonly in clinically ill patients. Insulin therapy and glycemic control have been recommended for patients with septic shock. The present study investigated the effect of intensive (INIT) versus conventional insulinotherapy (COIT) in cardiac surgery patients who received cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

"Inflammatory response to colloids compared to crystalloid priming in cardiac surgery patients with cardiopulmonary bypass".

"Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory response syndrome that may contribute to postoperative morbidity and mortality. We investigated the in-flammatory responses to colloids compared to crystalloid priming in cardiac surgery patients with cardiopulmonary bypass. Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) preparing for CPB were randomized into Ringer's solution (RS), 10% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) or 25% human albumin (HA) group.

Niacinamide mitigated the acute lung injury induced by phorbol myristate acetate in isolated rat's lungs.

Background: Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) is a strong neutrophil activator and has been used to induce acute lung injury (ALI). Niacinamide (NAC) is a compound of B complex. It exerts protective effects on the ALI caused by various challenges.

[Factors related to self-care in heart failure patients].

Effective self-care behaviour is important to help patients and their families learn to live successfully with heart failure. Factors that may affect self-care include patient characteristics, disease condition, mental status, social support, treatment related issues and healthcare system issues. Interventions must be practical enough for an individual to use independent of outside assistance, flexible enough to respond to the specific and differing needs of heart failure patients, and adequately effective in order to impact clinical outcomes positively.

Physiological, psychological and autonomic responses to pre-operative instructions for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Several studies have reported that the experience may induce emotional reactions before and after surgery. Various Studies have demonstrated that effective pre-operative information reduces stress and anxiety levels. However, little is known about the effect of pre-operative instruction on autonomic responses as measured by heart rate variability (HRV) before cardiac surgery.

Comparison of the effect of protocol-directed sedation with propofol vs. midazolam by nurses in intensive care: efficacy, haemodynamic stability and patient satisfaction.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of protocol-directed sedation propofol vs. midazolam by nurses in intensive care on efficacy, haemodynamic stability and patient satisfaction.

Background: Protocols represent one method potentially to reduce treatment delays and ensure that medical care is administered in a standardised manner.

The involvement of nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase and proinflammatory cytokines in the acute lung injury caused by phorbol myristate acetate.

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) causes acute lung injury (ALI). The present study was designed to elucidate the role of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), neutrophil elastase (NE) and other mediators in the ALI caused by PMA. In isolated rat's lungs, PMA at various doses (1, 2 and 4 mug/g lung weight) was added into the lung perfusate.

Insulin attenuates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in conscious rats.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of insulin on the acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide using a conscious rat model.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study.

Setting: University research laboratory.