Recent advances in point-of-care testing for natriuretic peptides: potential impact on heart failure diagnosis and management.

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The presenting symptoms of heart failure are often nonspecific. The diagnosis of heart failure has traditionally relied heavily upon clinical exam findings, which are often subjective and have low sensitivity.

New Targets in the Drug Treatment of Heart Failure.

Heart failure is a complex syndrome that has been a major contributor to readmissions into hospitals in the USA. Currently, a large number of medications are being used to treat the symptoms of the disease-digoxin, diuretics, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, β-blockers, and vasodilators. There is no doubt that the given pharmaceutical therapy has been effective in lowering hospital readmission rates and prolonging life in individual chronic heart failure patients.

Participation in unprofessional behaviors among hospitalists: a multicenter study.

Background: Unprofessional behaviors undermine the hospital learning environment and quality of patient care.

Objective: To quantify perceptions of, and participation in, unprofessional behaviors among hospitalists.

Design: Observational survey study.