Reduced enhancement of high-frequency component in the cross spectrum of ECG and nostril airflow signals in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic airway disease with increased airway resistance. This study investigated the common characteristics of electrocardiographic (ECG) and nostril airflow signals in COPD patients using cross-spectral analysis. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures and cross-spectral (cs) measures of ECG and nostril airflow were compared in COPD patients and normal subjects, and correlated with their clinical characteristics.

Intensive care unit-acquired bacteremia in mechanically ventilated patients: clinical features and outcomes.

Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired bacteremia (IAB) is associated with high medical expenditure and mortality. Mechanically ventilated patients represent one third of all patients admitted to ICU, but the clinical features and outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients who develop IAB remain unknown. We conducted a 3-year retrospective observational cohort study, and 1,453 patients who received mechanical ventilation on ICU admission were enrolled.

High expression of high-mobility group box 1 in the blood and lungs is associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in smokers.

Background And Objective: High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important mediator in multiple pathological conditions, but the expression of HMGB1 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not yet been completely investigated. We aimed to analyze the relationship between HMGB1 expression in blood and lung tissue and the development of COPD.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients admitted for single pulmonary surgical intervention were enrolled.

Impact and predictors of prolonged chest tube duration in mechanically ventilated patients with acquired pneumothorax.

Background: Prolonged chest tube duration is less well studied in patients who are supported by mechanical ventilation and have acquired pneumothorax. We investigated the impact of prolonged chest tube duration on patient outcomes and the risk factors associated with prolonged chest tube duration.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 106 ventilated subjects who had been treated with thoracostomy for pneumothorax between May 2004 and December 2011.

Synergistic impact of low serum albumin on intensive care unit admission and high blood urea nitrogen during intensive care unit stay on post-intensive care unit mortality in critically ill elderly patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Aims: To identify intensive care unit (ICU) risk factors for post-ICU 6-month (PI6M) mortality in critically ill elderly patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV).

Methods: The present study was a retrospective observational study carried out in a respiratory ICU from December 2008 to December 2009. Medical records of patients aged ≥70 years and receiving MV were reviewed.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunctive treatment for sternal infection and osteomyelitis after sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery.

Purpose: A retrospective study to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy on sternal infection and osteomyelitis following median sternotomy.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who received sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery which developed sternal infection and osteomyelitis between 2002 and 2009. Twelve patients who received debridement and antibiotic treatment were selected, and six of them received additional HBO2 therapy.

Acute kidney injury on ventilator initiation day independently predicts prolonged mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the predictors for prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) of more than 21 days among intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Material And Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a respiratory ICU from December 2008 to November 2009. The outcome measurement was the occurrence of PMV.

Assessment of myocardial injury in the emergency department independently predicts the short-term poor outcome in patients with severe carbon monoxide poisoning receiving mechanical ventilation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Objectives: Patients with severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are often prone to unconsciousness and respiratory distress and as a result will receive mechanical ventilation and hyperbaric oxygen (MV-HBO) therapy. Factors associated with poor outcome at discharge are less defined in this patient population. This study was conducted to identify the prognostic predictors of short-term poor outcome in severely CO-poisoned patients receiving MV-HBO therapy.

Characteristic features and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome found in severe acute respiratory syndrome intensive care unit patients.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to identify characteristic clinical features and outcomes of critically ill patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study enrolled all patients admitted to a 12-bed SARS intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary care medical center in Taipei between May 15 and July 17, 2003. Patients with positive results of either reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or antibody to SARS coronavirus were defined as SARS cases and others with negative results as control cases.

Open reading frame 8a of the human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus not only promotes viral replication but also induces apoptosis.

Background: A unique genomic difference between human and civet severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs) is that the former has a deletion of 29 nucleotides from open reading frame (orf) 8a' that results in the generation of orf8a and orf8b. The objectives of the present study were to analyze antibody reactivity to ORF8a in patients with SARS and to elucidate the function of ORF8a.

Methods: Western-blot and immunofluorescent antibody assays were used to detect anti-ORF8a antibody.

Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and psychological adaptation of the nurses in a structured SARS caring unit during outbreak: a prospective and periodic assessment study in Taiwan.

To assess the rapidly changing psychological status of nurses during the acute phase of the 2003 SARS outbreak, we conducted a prospective and periodic evaluation of psychiatric morbidity and psychological adaptation among nurses in SARS units and non-SARS units. Nurse participants were from two SARS units (regular SARS [N=44] and SARS ICU [N=26]) and two non-SARS units (Neurology [N=15] and CCU [N=17]). Participants periodically self-evaluated their depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, sleep disturbance, attitude towards SARS and family support.

Pneumothorax and mortality in the mechanically ventilated SARS patients: a prospective clinical study.

Introduction: Pneumothorax often complicates the management of mechanically ventilated severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in the isolation intensive care unit (ICU). We sought to determine whether pneumothoraces are induced by high ventilatory pressure or volume and if they are associated with mortality in mechanically ventilated SARS patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, clinical study.