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Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is responsible for approximately 15% of strokes annually in the United States, with nearly 1 in 3 of these patients dying without ever leaving the hospital. Because this disproportionate mortality risk has been stagnant for nearly 3 decades, a main area of research has been focused on the optimal strategies to reduce mortality and improve functional outcomes. The acute hypertensive response following ICH has been shown to facilitate ICH expansion and is a strong predictor of mortality. Rapidly reducing blood pressure was once thought to induce cerebral ischemia, though has been found to be safe in certain patient populations. Clinicians must work quickly to determine whether specific patient populations may benefit from acute lowering of systolic blood pressure (SBP) following ICH. This review provides nurses with a summary of the available literature on blood pressure control following ICH. It focuses on intravenous and oral antihypertensive medications available in the United States that may be utilized to acutely lower SBP, as well as medications outside of the antihypertensive class used during the acute setting that may reduce SBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The cytokine interleukin (IL)‐6 is a major therapeutic target for the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. While IL‐6 receives considerable attention in studies of innate and adaptive immunity, the IL‐6‐related family member IL‐27 is recognized increasingly for its effects on cellular proliferation, differentiation and leucocyte effector functions. Both cytokines activate responses in myeloid and stromal tissue cells, where they direct the transition from innate to adaptive immunity. However, they are identified frequently as lymphokines that control responses in T cells and B cells. In this regard, IL‐27 often opposes the action of IL‐6. Here, we will review the role of IL‐6 and IL‐27 in inflammation, with a particular focus on inflammatory arthritis, and discuss their importance in the diagnosis, stratification and treatment of autoimmune disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Intracerebral hemorrhage ( ICH) is a devastating cerebrovascular disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Minocycline is a matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9) inhibitor that may attenuate secondary mechanisms of injury in ICH. The feasibility and safety of minocycline in ICH patients were evaluated in a pilot, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Methods Patients with acute onset (<12 h from symptom onset) ICH and small initial hematoma volume (<30 ml) were randomized to high-dose (10 mg/kg) intravenous minocycline or placebo. The outcome events included adverse events, change in serial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score assessments, hematoma volume and MMP-9 measurements, 3-month functional outcome (modified Rankin score) and mortality. Results A total of 20 patients were randomized to minocycline ( n = 10) or placebo ( n = 10). The two groups did not differ in terms of baseline characteristics. No serious adverse events or complications were noted with minocycline infusion. The two groups did not differ in any of the clinical and radiological outcomes. Day 5 serum MMP-9 levels tended to be lower in the minocycline group (372 ± 216 ng/ml vs. 472 ± 235 ng/ml; P = 0.052). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that minocycline was associated with a 217.65 (95% confidence interval −425.21 to −10.10, P = 0.041) decrease in MMP-9 levels between days 1 and 5. Conclusions High-dose intravenous minocycline can be safely administered to patients with ICH. Larger randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of minocycline and MMP-9 inhibition in ICH patients are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and objective Non-adherence to controller asthma medications is an important public health problem. It is estimated to occur in 30-70% of individuals and is a significant risk factor for asthma morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the level of adherence, as indicated by refill rates, to controller asthma medications in a community pharmacy setting. Methods Secondary analyses of a community pharmacy dispensing database in 15 locations throughout Utah. Results and discussion The dispensing records of 2193 patients who received controller medications for asthma in a 12-month period, and had a minimum of 6-month potential coverage (180 days) from the date of their first receipt of a controller medication in that period, were examined. Using standard metrics to gauge adherence, the proportion of days covered ( PDC) and the medication possession ratio ( MPR), the average coverage for controller asthma medications across a 6-month period (180 days) was poor, averaging less than 50% of days' availability. Standard cut-offs (≥80% medication availability) indicated that only 14-16% of patients had 'satisfactory' adherence over their 6-month follow-on period. Females and older patients had significantly greater satisfactory adherence. Medication adherence was significantly greater with inhaled corticosteroid ( ICS)-long-acting β2-agonist ( LABA) combinations than with ICS alone. What is new and conclusion This study confirms the considerable scope of the asthma therapy non-adherence problem. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct survey-based research linked directly to pharmacy-based dispensing data to derive patient behavioural, attitudinal and environmental factors that may contribute to the issue, and then pilot and evaluate interventions for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedation and analgesia are integral aspects in the care of critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit. In recent years, many of the commonly used sedative agents in the United States have experienced manufacturing and sterility issues leading to decreased availability. In addition, current practice has shifted to providing lighter levels of sedation as clinicians have gained a better understanding of the consequences of prolonged deep sedation. Benzodiazepines have fallen out of favor due to findings including increased delirium and duration of mechanical ventilation. Alterations in end-organ function in critically ill patients may also lead to varied responses to commonly used sedatives. With numerous factors impacting choice of sedation in the intensive care unit, fospropofol, ketamine, and remifentanil have been considered potential alternatives to standard therapy. The purpose of this review was to discuss strategies for the safe and effective use of fospropofol, ketamine, and remifentanil for continuous intravenous sedation in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of nephropleural fistula causing empyema and respiratory failure in a 68-year-old gentleman with a long history of urological problems including recurrent nephrolithiasis and urinary tract infections. He was admitted with sepsis, a productive cough, pyuria, and reduced breath sounds over the left hemithorax. Radiological imaging revealed a fistulous connection between a left-sided perinephric abscess and the pleural space. He was commenced on broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics but developed progressive respiratory failure requiring intensive care admission. Urinary and pleural aspirates cultured facultative anaerobic pathogens with identical resistance patterns. Drainage of thoracic and perinephric collections was carried out, allowing him to be extubated after 24 hours and discharged home after 18 days on an extended course of oral antibiotics. Left nephrectomy is now planned after a period of convalescence. Empyema developing in patients with known urolithiasis should alert the treating physician to the possibility that a pathological communication has formed especially if typical urinary tract pathogens are cultured from respiratory sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]