Histologic Evaluation of Effect of Three Wavelengths of Diode Laser on Human Gingival Margins.

Available evidence suggests that the response of the intervened tissue is directly linked to the effects generated by the cutting instrument used. To determine the histological findings in gingival tissue margins excised through gingivectomies performed using 450 nm, 940 nm, and 980 nm diode lasers. The present study aimed to determine the histological findings in gingival tissue margins excised through gingivectomies performed using 450 nm, 940 nm, and 980 nm diode lasers.

Correction to: Efficiency as a determinant of loyalty among users of a Community of Clinical Practice: a comparative study between the implementation and consolidation phases.

Following publication of the original article [1], in order to comply with the current regulations for the submission of Doctoral Thesis by compendium of articles, the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona Doctoral School asks us to update the affiliation number 3, adding "Departament de Medicina" at the beginning, as follows.

Correction to: Keys to success of a community of clinical practice in primary care: a qualitative evaluation of the ECOPIH project.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors opted to update affiliation 3 in order to comply with the current regulations for the submission of Doctoral Thesis by compendium of articles, the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona Doctoral School asks us to update the affiliation number 3, adding "Departament de Medicina" at the beginning, as follows.

Lack of impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on the outcome of lymphoma patients transferred to the intensive care unit.

The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the outcome of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lymphoma with life-threatening complications requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission is not well known. The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of patients with lymphoma transferred to the ICU according to HIV infection status. The clinical characteristics, reason for ICU admission, and outcome of 48 consecutive critically ill patients with lymphoma admitted to the ICU from January 2000 to March 2010 was retrospectively analyzed, focusing on their HIV serology status.

[Relationship between procalcitonin serum levels and complications and outcome of patients with hematological malignancy admitted to Intensive Care Unit].

Background And Objective: Patients with hematological neoplasms transferred to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a life-threatening complication have a poor outcome. In these patients, it is crucial to identify clinical and biologic parameters with potential prognostic significance. This study prospectively evaluated the usefulness of serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels as a predictor of complications (infectious or not) and outcome in these patients.

Serum concentrations of procalcitonin after cardiac surgery.

Background And Aim: Monitoring of complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery may be difficult because cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can lead to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome because of exposure of blood to nonphysiological surfaces. The purpose of the study was to establish the baseline levels of procalcitonin (PCT) after cardiac surgery in our population in order to analyze a possible induction of the inflammatory response that might interfere with the diagnosis of infection by PCT.

Methods: Serum samples from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or valve replacement were collected at the time of admission to intensive care unit, after surgery as well as in the first and second postoperative days.

Evaluation of procalcitonin, neopterin, C-reactive protein, IL-6 and IL-8 as a diagnostic marker of infection in patients with febrile neutropenia.

Infectious complications in neutropenic patients are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical signs are unspecific and fever can be attributed to other causes. Inflammatory biomarkers have emerged as potentially useful in diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infection.

Midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide as a prognostic marker in pneumonia.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) measurement in the stratification of severity in community-acquired pneumonia.

Methods: The population studied was three hundred patients admitted to Emergency Department of a tertiary university hospital presenting clinical signs of lower respiratory tract infection, a new infiltrate on the chest radiograph and a confirmed pneumonia by clinical evolution. Patients were stratified by the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), by CURB-65 score and by the development of complications.

Procalcitonin and neopterin correlation with aetiology and severity of pneumonia.

Objective: Clinical outcome of pneumonia depends on a multifaceted treatment approach. Not only diagnostic methods but also early indicators of the degree of inflammatory response can aid in therapeutic decisions. The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of procalcitonin and neopterin in distinguishing among aetiologies as well as severity in patients with pneumonia.

Procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and leukocyte count in children with lower respiratory tract infection.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infection is the most common infection leading to unnecessary antibiotic treatment in children. Etiologic diagnosis is not immediately achieved, and the pathogen remains unidentified in a large number of cases. Neither clinical nor laboratory factors allow for a rapid distinction between bacterial and viral etiology.

Elevated serum procalcitonin values correlate with renal scarring in children with urinary tract infection.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) in young children carries the risk of parenchymal damage and sequelae. The location of the infection within the urinary tract influences decisions regarding both therapeutics and follow-up. Because clinical features and laboratory markers of infection at an early age are not specific, it is difficult to make a distinction between lower UTI and acute pyelonephritis.