Is a loading and maintenance dose of prasugrel superior to clopidogrel in preventing death from cardiovascular causes? Journal of the American College of Cardiology
The Acute Kidney Injury Network definition of acute kidney injury predicts hospital mortality, need for renal replacement therapy, and prolonged hospital stay in critically ill patients. Critical Care Medicine
Reduction in plasma melatonin levels and loss of circadian rhythm observed in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation may contribute to this irregular sleep-wake pattern. Critical Care
New techniques that allow imaging of "default networks" in the brain are helping to differentiate minimally conscious states from coma or persistent vegetative states, new research shows. In a separate report, the same group interviewed locked-in-syndrome patients about their quality of life -- with surprising results. Medscape Medical News
Do critically ill patients admitted to ICUs really benefit from more intensive healthcare delivery from nurses, physicians, and other providers? Medscape Critical Care
A 48-year-old man suffered a direct blow to his perineum and penis. No damage was initially noted; however, when urinating later, the patient experienced severe pain in his penis and noted a large amount of hematuria. What is the diagnosis? eMedicine Case Presentations
Determining resistance phenotypes or genes and their effect on clinical outcomes may help in devising strategies to modify the effect of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter species on healthcare delivery systems. Medscape Medical News
Should you medical and surgical patients be checked for secondary IAH in the ICU? This study was ranked "recommended" and can change clinical practice. Faculty of 1000 Medicine
A positive fluid balance is associated with a worse outcome in ICU patients with acute renal failure, according to observational data from the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely Ill Patients (SOAP) study. Reuters Health Information
