Does Low FEV1 in Addition to Fixed Ratio and/or Lower Limit of Normal of FEV1/FVC Improve Prediction of Mortality in COPD? The NHANES-III-linked-mortality Cohort.

Purpose: There is presently an ongoing debate on the relative merits of suggested criteria for spirometric airway obstruction. This study tests the null hypothesis that no superiority exists with the use of fixed ratio (FR) of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.7 versus less than lower limit predicted (LLN) criteria with or without FEV1 <80% predicted in regards to future mortality.

Anoxic Brain Injury Presenting as Pseudosubarachnoid Hemorrhage in the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Anoxic encephalopathy is frequently encountered in the medical intensive care unit (ICU). Cerebral edema as a result of anoxic brain injury can result in increased attenuation in the basal cisterns and subarachnoid spaces on computerized tomography (CT) scans of the head. These findings can mimic those seen in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and are referred to as pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage (pseudo-SAH).

Body Mass Index and Intensive Care Unit Outcomes in African American Patients.

Purpose: We sought to determine whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with worse intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes among Black patients.

Methods: Patients admitted to the medical ICU during 2012 were categorized into six BMI groups based on the World Health Organization criteria. ICU mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), need for and duration of mechanical ventilation and organ failure rate were assessed.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of New Onset Supraventricular Arrhythmias in African American Patients with Severe Sepsis.

Purpose: New onset supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA) are commonly reported in mixed intensive care settings. We sought to determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of new onset SVA in African American (AA) patients with severe sepsis admitted to medical intensive care unit (MICU).

Methods: Patients admitted to MICU between January 2012 through December 2012 were studied.

Amphetamine Abuse Related Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Amphetamine abuse is a global problem. The cardiotoxic manifestations like acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, or arrhythmia related to misuse of amphetamine and its synthetic derivatives have been documented but are rather rare. Amphetamine-related AMI is even rarer.