Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 25 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Study shows “major reduction” of NKT cells in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia

DG Alerts A study published in Clinical Immunology finds high percentages of NK CD57+ cells and CD56dim NK cells and low percentages of CD56bright and NKT cells among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared to healthy donors. Moreover, the study shows that severe COVID-19 pneumonia and NKT cell reduction were independently associated. “NK cells seem to […]

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Uncategorized Published - 24 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Acute Postoperative Pain Is Associated With Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery

AUTHORS: Turan, Alparslan MD et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: September 2020 – Volume 131 – Issue 3 – p 822-829 BACKGROUND:  Uncontrolled pain after noncardiac surgery activates the sympathetic nervous system, which causes tachycardia, hypertension, and increased cardiac contractility—all of which may increase myocardial oxygen demand. We therefore determined whether time-weighted average pain scores over […]

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Uncategorized Published - 24 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Physicians Prescribe More Opioid Than Needed to Treat Pain in Children After Outpatient Urological Procedures

AUTHORS: Hunsberger, Joann B. MD, MS et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: September 2020 – Volume 131 – Issue 3 – p 866-875 BACKGROUND:  The epidemic of nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NMUPOs) has been fueled in part by the availability of leftover, legitimately prescribed opioids. In children, outpatient urological procedures are among the most common […]

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Uncategorized Published - 24 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Molecular Interaction Between Butorphanol and κ-Opioid Receptor

AUTHORS: i, Jiafu MD et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: September 2020 – Volume 131 – Issue 3 – p 935-942 BACKGROUND:  The misuse of opioids stems, in part, from inadequate knowledge of molecular interactions between opioids and opioid receptors. It is still unclear why some opioids are far more addictive than others. The κ-opioid receptor […]

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Uncategorized Published - 24 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Thyroid dysfunction in relation to clinical features of patients with COVID-19

DG Alert A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism shows a 13.1% rate of thyroid dysfunction among patients with predominantly mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). “There may be a direct effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on thyroid function, potentially leading to exacerbation of pre-existing autoimmune thyroid disease. Low free […]

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Uncategorized Published - 24 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Baricitinib linked to reduced mortality in COVID-19 patients: Study

DG Alerts A study published in Science Advances reports on the ability of baricitinib, a JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor, to inhibit viral entry and reduce inflammatory markers in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, reducing mortality risk by 71% among patients with moderate-severe COVID-19 pneumonia. In addition, the study shows that baricitinib prevents the type-1 interferon (IFN) mediated increase […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Blood Utilization and Clinical Outcomes in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients

AUTHORS: Qin, Caroline X. BS et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: September 2020 – Volume 131 – Issue 3 – p 901-908 BACKGROUND:  Patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support are critically ill and have substantial transfusion requirements, which convey both risks and benefits. A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess the association between blood component […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Effect of Midazolam in Addition to Propofol and Opiate Sedation on the Quality of Recovery After Colonoscopy

AUTHORS: Gurunathan, Usha MBBS, MD, M Epi, FANZCA et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: September 2020 – Volume 131 – Issue 3 – p 741-750 BACKGROUND:  There is a concern that midazolam, when used as a component of sedation for colonoscopy, may impair cognition and prolong recovery. We aimed to identify whether midazolam produced short- and […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Does Weight Matter? Outcomes in Adult Patients on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation When Stratified by Obesity Class

AUTHORS: Galvagno, Samuel M. Jr DO, PhD, FCCM et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: September 2020 – Volume 131 – Issue 3 – p 754-761 BACKGROUND:  Many believe obesity is associated with higher rates of mortality in the critically ill. The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to evaluate the association between body mass index […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 November, 2020    By - Dr Clemens
Smartphones, Texts, and HIPAA: Strategies to Protect Patient Privacy

Author: Kim Hathaway, MSN, CPHRM The Doctors Company Physicians have embraced smartphone technology, with the vast majority using phones to communicate via text messages and access medical information. The attraction is obvious: Smartphone applications place libraries full of information at users’ fingertips—including drug alerts (such as PDR.net) that are literally a click away. Texting via […]

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