Critical Care News and Research

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Wireless Vital Signs Monitor for trauma victims enters clinical trial phase

A collaboration among a medical device innovator, the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (ISR), the nonprofit National Trauma Institute and the State of Texas enters its final phase as the FDA-approved Wireless Vital Signs Monitor (WVSM) begins clinical trials this month in the Memorial Hermann Medical Center emergency department and on Houston Life Flight.

1 Oct 2011

U-M receives $2.2M FDA grant for 40 ongoing pediatric device projects

Adapting adult medical devices to be used for children is a common but often problematic practice across U.S. hospitals. At the University of Michigan and U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, pediatricians and researchers who care for children have been leading the charge to change this. They work to create, engineer and test medical devices and curb problems that come from using tools, implants, gadgets and procedures designed for adults.

26 Sep 2011

Research highlights health care disparities in patients with spinal cord injury

Several studies in the current issue of Topics of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation put a needed spotlight on the health and health care disparities experienced by individuals with spinal cord injury. This research highlights the disparities in access for patients and lack of awareness about SCI by health care providers.

26 Sep 2011

Scientists identify genetic variants associated with lung health

Scientists have for the first time discovered sixteen new sections of the genetic code that relate to lung health -- opening up the possibility for better prevention as well as treatment for lung diseases.

26 Sep 2011

Levosimendan may effectively improve muscle function in patients with respiratory failure

Treatment with the calcium-sensitizing drug levosimendan may be effective in improving muscle function in patients with respiratory muscle weakness, which often accompanies chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure, according to researchers in the Netherlands, who studied the effects of the drug on healthy volunteers.

23 Sep 2011

Low levels of vitamin D associated with poorer lung function in children with STRA

Children with severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA) may have poorer lung function and worse symptoms compared to children with moderate asthma, due to lower levels of vitamin D in their blood, according to researchers in London.

23 Sep 2011

Methylphenidate drug may induce arousal from general anesthesia

Administration of the commonly used stimulant drug methylphenidate (Ritalin) was able to speed recovery from general anesthesia in an animal study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital.

22 Sep 2011

OptiScan's new bedside glucose monitoring system receives European CE Mark

OptiScan Biomedical Corporation, a developer of innovative continuous glucose monitoring systems for use in intensive care units (ICU), today announced that the company's OptiScanner Automatic Bedside Glucose Monitoring System has received CE Mark certification for use in the European Union.

19 Sep 2011

Estrogen therapy can reverse progression of pulmonary hypertension

UCLA researchers have found that the hormone estrogen may help reverse advanced pulmonary hypertension, a rare and serious condition that affects 2 to 3 million individuals in the U.S., mostly women, and can lead to heart failure.

16 Sep 2011

New Johns Hopkins building with healing environment can improve patients' state of mind

Most HGTV fans will agree that good design can improve one's state of mind. Designers at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore also believe it can help patients heal, which is why its new 1.6 million square-foot patient care building, scheduled to open in April 2012, features an elegant design with peace and quiet for patients as a priority.

15 Sep 2011

Consensus panel calls for specialized nutrition therapy to manage obesity

A newly published consensus report prepared by a panel of clinical experts, with sponsorship from Nestle Health Science, reveals that there are opportunities to do more to manage the impact of obesity on the delivery of critical care, particularly in the area of nutrition therapy.

15 Sep 2011

Scientist granted over $138,000 to explore Vitamin C therapy in sepsis

Sepsis kills more people than breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers combined. Outside of coronary care units, it is the leading cause of mortality in intensive care units. Every year 18 million people worldwide develop this potentially fatal disease. Thanks to a generous grant of $138,238.65 from the Jesse and Julie Rasch Foundation, Lawson Health Research Institute's Dr. Michael Sharpe is exploring a new sepsis therapy using Vitamin C.

15 Sep 2011

More pediatric subspecialists entering private practice could mean fewer at academic centers

An increasing number of pediatric subspecialists are entering private practice, a trend that could mean a smaller proportion working at academic centers, conducting research, teaching or advancing specialty care, a University of Michigan study finds.

13 Sep 2011

Study identifies genes never before linked to antibiotic resistance in enterococci

An analysis of the genome of a superbug has yielded crucial, novel information that could aid efforts to counteract the bacterium's resistance to an antibiotic of last resort.

9 Sep 2011

ATS issues guidelines on use of FENO in different clinical settings

The American Thoracic Society has issued the first-ever guidelines on the use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) that address when to use FENO and how to interpret FENO levels in different clinical settings.

3 Sep 2011

ConversePoint plans to develop, commercialize next generation clinician communications

ConversePoint, a privately owned company based in Chicago, has announced its plans to develop and commercialize a communications platform for the healthcare industry that will significantly save clinicians time, hospitals millions in productivity costs and improve accountability measurements for critical events per the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals along with the license of key Qualcomm technology.

29 Aug 2011

Azithromycin can help reduce wheezing, other acute symptoms of COPD

A common antibiotic can help reduce the severe wheezing and other acute symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a large, multicenter clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and conducted at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

29 Aug 2011

Babies, toddlers with congenital heart disease more likely to have harmful toxins after surgery

Babies and toddlers with congenital heart disease are at an increased risk of having harmful toxins in their blood, particularly following surgery, according to research by a team at Imperial College London.

26 Aug 2011

Study: Temporary ER staff more likely to be involved in medication errors

Temporary staff members working in a hospital's fast-paced emergency department are twice as likely as permanent employees to be involved in medication errors that harm patients, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

26 Aug 2011

Longer looks: Who is influencing health care?; Planned Parenthood's battle in the states; Oregon's new experiment

Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh once vowed to flee to Costa Rica if President Barack Obama's health care reforms took effect. Limbaugh might have overlooked a couple of critical details: Costa Rica's respected universal healthcare system is highly socialized. It's also on the verge of going broke. ... Costa Rica's broad coverage ranked better than most of the Americas, including the United States, in a 2000 World Health Organization index.

26 Aug 2011

Critical Care News and Research

Wireless Vital Signs Monitor for trauma victims enters clinical trial phase

U-M receives $2.2M FDA grant for 40 ongoing pediatric device projects

Research highlights health care disparities in patients with spinal cord injury

Scientists identify genetic variants associated with lung health

Levosimendan may effectively improve muscle function in patients with respiratory failure

Low levels of vitamin D associated with poorer lung function in children with STRA

Methylphenidate drug may induce arousal from general anesthesia

OptiScan's new bedside glucose monitoring system receives European CE Mark

Estrogen therapy can reverse progression of pulmonary hypertension

New Johns Hopkins building with healing environment can improve patients' state of mind

Consensus panel calls for specialized nutrition therapy to manage obesity

Scientist granted over $138,000 to explore Vitamin C therapy in sepsis

More pediatric subspecialists entering private practice could mean fewer at academic centers

Study identifies genes never before linked to antibiotic resistance in enterococci

ATS issues guidelines on use of FENO in different clinical settings

ConversePoint plans to develop, commercialize next generation clinician communications

Azithromycin can help reduce wheezing, other acute symptoms of COPD

Babies, toddlers with congenital heart disease more likely to have harmful toxins after surgery

Study: Temporary ER staff more likely to be involved in medication errors

Longer looks: Who is influencing health care?; Planned Parenthood's battle in the states; Oregon's new experiment

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