Nosocomial infections with have become an emergent health threat. We sought to define risk factors for a infection (CDI) beyond the widely known ones, such as antibiotic use and prior hospital stay. We therefore focused on a group of patients with diarrhea in order to identify risk factors for infection among this symptomatic cohort.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfter recognition of the diagnosis sepsis early resuscitation of the patient is mandatory. Patients should have a mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥65 mmHg. Patients with hypotension should receive initial fluid challenge with approximately 30 mL/kg of balanced electrolyte solutions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFData suggest a link of aortic stenosis (AS) with calcium and bone metabolism. To further investigate this, the following parameters were analyzed in 38 patients with severe AS and in 38 age- and gender-matched controls, without obstructive coronary artery disease and with preserved renal function: calcium, phosphate, 1,25(OH(2))-vitamin D(3), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and osteoprotegerin. Patients with AS had significantly higher serum levels of calcium (2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a major inhibitor of fibrinolysis, and a single nucleotide insertion/deletion (4G/5G) polymorphism in the promoter region of the PAI-1 gene has been identified. Subjects homozygous for the 4G allele have the highest PAI-levels due to increased PAI-1 gene transcription. Pre-eclampsia, and one of its most severe forms, the HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome, are characterized by increased placental thrombosis based on a procoagulatory state in the mother.
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