Bosentan-based, treat-to-target therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: results from the COMPASS-3 study.

The phase 4 COMPASS-3 study evaluated whether a singular endpoint produces clinically meaningful outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The relationship between cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI)-derived parameters and right heart catheterization (RHC) measurements was also examined. In COMPASS-3 (ClinicalTrials.

The Voice of Surrogate Decision-Makers. Family Responses to Prognostic Information in Chronic Critical Illness.

Rationale: Information from clinicians about the expected course of the patient's illness is relevant and important for decision-making by surrogates for chronically critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: To observe how surrogates of chronically critically ill patients respond to information about prognosis from palliative care clinicians.

Methods: This was a qualitative analysis of a consecutive sample of audio-recorded meetings from a larger, multisite, randomized trial of structured informational and supportive meetings led by a palliative care physician and nurse practitioner for surrogates of patients in medical intensive care units with chronic critical illness (i.

The 6-Minute-Walk Distance Test as a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Stratification Tool. Insights from the COPD Biomarker Qualification Consortium.

Rationale: The 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD) test predicts mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Whether variability in study type (observational vs. interventional) or region performed limits use of the test as a stratification tool or outcome measure for therapeutic trials is unclear.

2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Adult Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: The American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem, and differentiated thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent. Since the American Thyroid Association's (ATA's) guidelines for the management of these disorders were revised in 2009, significant scientific advances have occurred in the field. The aim of these guidelines is to inform clinicians, patients, researchers, and health policy makers on published evidence relating to the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer.