Effect modification of dosing strategy (AUC or trough) on AKI associated with vancomycin in combination with piperacillin/tazobactam or cefepime and meropenem.

Piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP), cefepime (FEP), or meropenem (MEM) and vancomycin (VAN) are commonly used in combination for sepsis. Studies have shown an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) with TZP and VAN compared to FEP or MEM. VAN guidelines recommend area under the curve (AUC) monitoring over trough (Tr) to minimize the risk of AKI.

Major Publications in the Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Literature: 2021.

Unlabelled: To summarize the most impactful articles relevant to the pharmacotherapy of critically ill adult patients published in 2021.

Data Source: PubMed/MEDLINE.

Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials, prospective studies, or systematic review/meta-analyses of adult critical care patients assessing a pharmacotherapeutic intervention and reporting clinical endpoints published between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021.

Looking for a Silver Lining to the Dark Cloud: A Google Trends Analysis of Contraceptive Interest in the United States Post Roe vs. Wade Verdict.

Background In the wake of the recent Roe vs. Wade judgment, we performed a Google Trends analysis to identify the impact of this decision on the interests regarding contraceptive choices in the United States. Methods A Google Trends search between April 6 and July 5, 2022, with the United States as the area of interest, was performed using the five most popular contraception choices.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow Up of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Consensus Practice from the PERT Consortium.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. There have been many advances in the field of PE in the last few years, requiring a careful assessment of their impact on patient care. However, variations in recommendations by different clinical guidelines, as well as lack of robust clinical trials, make clinical decisions challenging.

The usefulness of brain natriuretic peptide level in diagnosis and prognosis of patients admitted to critical care unit with shortness of breath.

Background: Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a polypeptide secreted by the ventricles as a response to cardio-myocyte stretching. Due to its cardiac origin and correlation with volume overload it has been successfully used for a long time in diagnosing and prognosticating Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, an attempt was made to observe any correlation between admission BNP levels with APACHE II scores and length of ICU stay, in patients admitted with dyspnea to the ICU of a community based hospital.

Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review.

High-level arsenic contamination of drinking water in West Bengal (WB), India is a grave public health concern, with 26 million people remaining affected. Two decades of research has provided detailed information on multiple aspects of exposure assessment and risk characterization. However, policy paralysis due to lack of finances and lack of any administrative coordination between the Central and State Governments has hampered the implementation of long-term solutions.

Patient Taking A Novel Oral Anticoagulant Presents With Major GI Bleeding.

Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) such as Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Apixaban and Edoxaban are becoming increasingly popular choices for anticoagulation in place of oral Vitamin K Antagonists in various clinical settings. However, they are thought to be associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Moreover, no specific antidote is available which can rapidly reverse the anti-coagulant action of NOACs raising concern that gastrointestinal bleeding with NOACs could carry a worse prognosis than that associated with conventional agents.

Hairy Cell Leukemia Presenting with Duodenal Involvement Duodenum: A Case Report.

Context: A rare case of adult hairy cell leukemia (HCL) with duodenal involvement is presented.

Case Report: The patient was a 48-year-old man, who had a history of hairy cell leukemia. Three days after completion of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (CDA) chemotherapy, the patient started experiencing abdominal pain.

Outcomes After Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated with Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs): Insights from a Meta-Analysis.

Background: There are limited data on outcomes following cardioversion in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NOACs in patients with AF undergoing cardioversion.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL databases were searched from January 1, 2001 through to October 30, 2014.

Endovascular therapy for acute ischaemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Aims: Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating possible benefits of endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischaemic stroke has shown conflicting results. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically examine clinical outcomes in RCTs comparing the use of intravenous (IV) fibrinolysis alone to IV fibrinolysis plus EVT, for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods And Results: We selected English language RCTs, comparing EVT plus IV tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) (if eligible) with IV tPA alone in eligible patients for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke.

Continuous intravenous flumazenil infusion in a patient with chlordiazepoxide toxicity and hepatic encephalopathy.

Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, is the drug of choice for the diagnosis and treatment of benzodiazepine overdose. We are presenting a patient with chronic alcoholism and alcoholic liver disease, who came with alcohol withdrawal symptoms and treated chlordiazepoxide. Subsequently he developed a prolonged change in mental status that required treatment for benzodiazepine overdose and hepatic encephalopathy with flumazenil infusion for 28 days.

Chronic lung disease and detection of pulmonary artery dilatation in high resolution computerized tomography of chest in chronic arsenic exposure.

Lung affection in chronic arsenicosis developing from chronic ingestion of arsenic contaminated groundwater has been known but little is known on its effect on pulmonary arterial system. A cross sectional study was carried out at two geographically similar areas and demographically similar populations with or without evidence of chronic arsenic exposure in West Bengal, India. The willing participants in both the groups with chronic respiratory symptoms were evaluated with High Resolution Computerized Tomography (HRCT) of Chest.