Exposure to fluoroquinolone was substantially associated with AA/AD. This risk was modified by the duration of fluoroquinolone use and the length of the hazard period.

Of the three potentially useful markers, PCT had the best positive likelihood ratio and can be used to confirm the diagnosis of bacterial infections in patients with FN. Due to unacceptably high negative likelihood ratio, medical decision for stopping antibiotics based on PCT alone in this high-risk population may not be possible.

ObjectiveTo examine the diagnostic value of serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in acute Kawasaki disease (KD).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesA systematic literature search strategy was designed and carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library from inception to December 2013. We also performed manual screening of the bibliographies of primary studies and review articles, and contacted authors for additional data.Study eligibility criteriaWe included all BNP and NT-pro (N-terminal prohormone) BNP assay studies that compared paediatric patients with KD to patients with febrile illness unrelated to KD. We excluded case reports, case series, review articles, editorials, congress abstracts, clinical guidelines and all studies that compared healthy controls.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe performance characteristics of BNP were summarised using forest plots, hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and bivariate random effects models.ResultsWe found six eligible studies including 279 cases of patients with KD and 203 febrile controls. Six studies examined NT-proBNP and one examined BNP. In general, NT-proBNP is a specific and moderately sensitive test for identifying KD. The pooled sensitivity was 0.89 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.95) and the pooled specificity was 0.72 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.82). The area under the summary ROC curve was 0.87 (95% CI 0.83 to 0.89). The positive likelihood ratio (LR+ 3.20, 95% CI 2.10 to 4.80) was sufficiently high to be qualified as a rule-in diagnostic tool in the context of high pre-test probability and compatible clinical symptoms. A high degree of heterogeneity was found using the Cochran Q statistic.ConclusionsCurrent evidence suggests that NT-proBNP may be used as a diagnostic tool for KD. NT-proBNP has high diagnostic value for identifying KD in patients with protracted undifferentiated febrile illness. Prospective large cohort studies are needed to help determine best cut-off values and further clarify the role of NT-proBNP in the diagnosis process of KD.

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We found that statin therapy was associated with a decreased risk of active TB, and the length of statin therapy affected the TB protection. Given the observational nature of this study, the protective effect against active TB must be confirmed in future randomised trials.

In this national cohort study, preadmission calcium channel blocker therapy before sepsis development was associated with a 6% reduction in mortality when compared with patients who have never received calcium channel blockers.

AimThe aim of this study is to compare the effect of lactated ringer (LR), vasopressin (Vaso) or terlipressin (Terli) on uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock (UHS) in rats.Methods48 rats were divided into four treatment groups for UHS study. Vaso group was given bolus vasopressin (0.8 U/kg); the Terli group was given bolus terlipressin (15 mcg/kg); LR group was given LR and the sham group was not given anything. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum lactate level, plasma cytokine levels, lung injury and mortality are investigated for these different treatment groups.ResultsCompared with LR group, vasopressin and terlipressin-treated groups were associated with higher MAP, lowered mortality rates, less lung injury, lowered serum lactate level, less proinflammatory and more anti-inflammatory cytokine production at certain time points. Comparing between vasopressin and terlipressin treated groups, there is no statistical difference in mortality rates, lung injury, serum lactate level and cytokine level. However, there is a difference in the length of time in maintaining a restored level of MAP (80 to 110 mmHg). The terlipressin treated rats can maintain this restored level of MAP for 45 minutes, but the vasopressin treated rats can only maintain this restored level of MAP for 5 minutes before decreasing gradually to the MAP observed in LR group (40 mmHg).ConclusionEarly optimization of hemodynamics with terlipressin or vasopressin in an animal model of UHS was associated with improved hemodynamics and inflammatory cytokine profile than the LR control. Compared with vasopressin, terlipressin has the advantage of ease of use and sustained effects.

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