Functional status and quality of life 12 months after discharge from a medical ICU in healthy elderly patients: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Long-term outcomes of elderly patients after medical ICU care are little known. The aim of the study was to evaluate functional status and quality of life of elderly patients 12 months after discharge from a medical ICU.

Methods: We prospectively studied 112/230 healthy elderly patients (≥ 65 years surviving at least 12 months after ICU discharge) with full functional autonomy without cognitive impairment prior to ICU entry.

Mortality in healthy elderly patients after ICU admission.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess mortality in healthy elderly patients after non-elective medical ICU admission and to identify predictive factors of mortality in these patients.

Methods: Patients >or=65 years living at home and with full-autonomy (Barthel index, BI > 60), without cognitive impairment, and non-electively admitted to a medical ICU were prospectively recruited. A full comprehensive geriatric assessment was made with validated scales.

Detection of fibrin deposits in horse tissues by immunohistochemistry.

Background: Histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques have been used to detect fibrin deposits in different tissues in humans and experimental animal models with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Fibrin deposits also have been observed in horses with severe ischemic and inflammatory disorders by histochemical stainings (phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin [PTAH]).

Hypothesis: Immunohistochemical (IHC) methods can be used to accurately detect fibrin deposits in horses at risk of DIC.

Detection of fibrin deposits in tissues from horses with severe gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: In humans and experimental animals, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) causes fibrin deposition in several organs, which eventually leads to ischemia and multiorgan failure.

Hypothesis: Horses who died or were euthanized for severe gastrointestinal disorders could have fibrin deposits in different tissues.

Animals: Tissue-organ samples collected during postmortem examinations on 66 colic horses with poor prognoses (eg, severe intestinal ischemia, enteritis, peritonitis), from 11 colic horses with good prognoses (eg, large-colon obstruction or displacement), and from 16 slaughter horses.

A comparison of traditional and quantitative analysis of acid-base and electrolyte imbalances in horses with gastrointestinal disorders.

The purpose of this study was to compare traditional and quantitative approaches in analysis of the acid-base and electrolyte imbalances in horses with acute gastrointestinal disorders. Venous blood samples were collected from 115 colic horses, and from 45 control animals. Horses with colic were grouped according to the clinical diagnosis into 4 categories: obstructive, ischemic, inflammatory, and diarrheic problems.