Background Our overall goal is to improve clinical care for inpatients with chronic heart failure(CHF).A retrospective assessment of CHF patients admitted to our hospital over the past decade(2005 vs.2014)indicated a ...Background Our overall goal is to improve clinical care for inpatients with chronic heart failure(CHF).A retrospective assessment of CHF patients admitted to our hospital over the past decade(2005 vs.2014)indicated a need for better strategies to evaluate clinical treatment,implement best practices and achieve optimal patient outcome.To that purpose,we developed a standardized plan to improve in-hospital treatment of acute decompensated CHF patients.Methods&Results Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to compare three cohorts of CHF patients admitted to the University Hospital of Lund at different time points over a 12-year period:2005(365 patients),2014(172 patients)and 2017-2018(57 patients).Little improvement was seen between 2005 and 2014 with respect to one-year mortality(35%vs.34%)and adequate treatment with recommended medications,e.g.,use of renin-angiotensin system blockers(45%vs.51%).A standardized treatment plan was devised to improve outcomes.A third cohort,treated under the plan(2017-2018),was compared with the 2014 cohort.One-year mortality(18%vs.34%)and 30-day readmission(5%vs.30%)were dramatically decreased,and adherence to medication guidelines was achieved.Key elements of the plan included well-defined treatment procedures,enhanced communication and teamwork,education,adequate time for treatment(5 days)and post-discharge follow-up as necessary.Natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)levels were useful for assessing patient status,prognosis and response to treatment.Conclusion Developmeof a standard plan for clinical management of acute decompensated CHF patients resulted in significant improvements in patient outcome,as reflected in decreased rates of 30-day readmission and one-year mortality.展开更多
Hyponatremia is a severe electrolyte disturbance associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It often poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Accurate assessment of patient fluid-volume status is centra...Hyponatremia is a severe electrolyte disturbance associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It often poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Accurate assessment of patient fluid-volume status is central to effective management. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the Cheetah NICOM bioreactance system and apelin in early differentiation between hypo- and euvolemia in patients with severe hyponatremia. <strong>Methods:</strong> Patients > 50 years of age with a serum sodium ≤ 125 mmol/L were eligible for inclusion after written informed consent. Blood- and urine analyses of cardiovascular load (NT-proBNP), osmotic stress (copeptin, apelin, osmolality, sodium), mineralocorticoid status (aldosterone, renin) and sympathetic activity (methoxycathecholamines) were analysed at baseline and after isotonic sodium chloride infusion. Bedside bioreactance examination was used to visualise parameters, including stroke volume before and after passive leg raise test. Classification of volume status was made retrospectively blinded for biomarker and bioreactance results. <strong>Results:</strong> 8 patients (4 hypovolemic and 4 euvolemic), 79 years old, median plasma sodium 120 mmol/L were included. At the Emergency Department volume status was misclassified in all hypo- and in 2 of 4 euvolemic patients. Apelin was significantly higher in hypovolemic patients ((299 vs. 175 ng/ml), p = 0.021). All hypovolemic, but none of the euvolemic, patients had a level above 250 ng/ml. Copeptin did not differ between groups. All patients in the hypovolemic group increased their stroke volume after passive leg raise. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Apelin seems to be a promising future biomarker in the early management of severe hyponatremia. Bioreactance measurements may offer a supplement to bedside evaluation of volume status.展开更多
Heart failure(HF)is a condition of cardiac dysfunction and fluid overload.Neurohormonal activation via the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system and the sympathetic nervous system are the pathophysiological cornerstones...Heart failure(HF)is a condition of cardiac dysfunction and fluid overload.Neurohormonal activation via the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system and the sympathetic nervous system are the pathophysiological cornerstones.[1]Furthermore,HF is a disorder widely associated with grave adverse outcomes and poor prognosis.[2]A loop diuretic is the fundamental drug used to prevent multiorgan failure and improve symptoms in these patients.[3]展开更多
The objective of this study was to evaluate the main characteristics of adult male offenders convicted of rape or aggravated rape against adult females.We reviewed all convictions(n=21)based on court documents from th...The objective of this study was to evaluate the main characteristics of adult male offenders convicted of rape or aggravated rape against adult females.We reviewed all convictions(n=21)based on court documents from the District Court,the Court of Appeal and information from the Swedish Tax Agency in Malmo,Sweden,between 2013 and 2018.The findings indicated that the most common offender characteristics were a single status,mean age of 33 years and foreign background.The rapes primarily occurred within a private setting while the victims(who were often younger and knew the offender)were unconscious.Although assumptions based on these results should be made with caution,our findings provide a clear image of the typical circumstances under which these rapes occurred.This study should be viewed as a first attempt to create a database of characteristics of convicted rapists.As more data are added,more sophisticated analyses can be performed and stronger generalizations may be made.Information of this kind may also be important for further research,classification of rapists in offender profiling,and case linking.展开更多
Swedish as well as foreign publications have reported a sharp increase in firearm-related violence in Sweden. None of these publications, however, combined official statistics from the Swedish police, the National Cou...Swedish as well as foreign publications have reported a sharp increase in firearm-related violence in Sweden. None of these publications, however, combined official statistics from the Swedish police, the National Council for Crime Prevention (NCCP), and the National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW), to study firearm-related violence in the last 2 years:2016–2017. The results of this study show that firearm-related violence in Sweden has greatly increased compared to other Scandinavian countries, especially in recent years. This is probably the reason for the increase in the rate of deadly violence. Further, the increasing number of gangs and criminal networks, as well as the high inflow of illegal firearms to Sweden, is believed to have contributed to the disturbing increase of firearm-related vio-lence in the country. Although Sweden is one of the most democratic and freest countries in the world, and has some of the world's strictest gun laws, the country still faces signifi-cant firearm-related violence. This study not only reveals the increasing rate of firearm-related violence in Sweden, but also shows that Sweden is in dire need of additional policies to combat the illegal flow of firearms and to curb gang criminality.展开更多
文摘Background Our overall goal is to improve clinical care for inpatients with chronic heart failure(CHF).A retrospective assessment of CHF patients admitted to our hospital over the past decade(2005 vs.2014)indicated a need for better strategies to evaluate clinical treatment,implement best practices and achieve optimal patient outcome.To that purpose,we developed a standardized plan to improve in-hospital treatment of acute decompensated CHF patients.Methods&Results Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to compare three cohorts of CHF patients admitted to the University Hospital of Lund at different time points over a 12-year period:2005(365 patients),2014(172 patients)and 2017-2018(57 patients).Little improvement was seen between 2005 and 2014 with respect to one-year mortality(35%vs.34%)and adequate treatment with recommended medications,e.g.,use of renin-angiotensin system blockers(45%vs.51%).A standardized treatment plan was devised to improve outcomes.A third cohort,treated under the plan(2017-2018),was compared with the 2014 cohort.One-year mortality(18%vs.34%)and 30-day readmission(5%vs.30%)were dramatically decreased,and adherence to medication guidelines was achieved.Key elements of the plan included well-defined treatment procedures,enhanced communication and teamwork,education,adequate time for treatment(5 days)and post-discharge follow-up as necessary.Natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)levels were useful for assessing patient status,prognosis and response to treatment.Conclusion Developmeof a standard plan for clinical management of acute decompensated CHF patients resulted in significant improvements in patient outcome,as reflected in decreased rates of 30-day readmission and one-year mortality.
文摘Hyponatremia is a severe electrolyte disturbance associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It often poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Accurate assessment of patient fluid-volume status is central to effective management. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the Cheetah NICOM bioreactance system and apelin in early differentiation between hypo- and euvolemia in patients with severe hyponatremia. <strong>Methods:</strong> Patients > 50 years of age with a serum sodium ≤ 125 mmol/L were eligible for inclusion after written informed consent. Blood- and urine analyses of cardiovascular load (NT-proBNP), osmotic stress (copeptin, apelin, osmolality, sodium), mineralocorticoid status (aldosterone, renin) and sympathetic activity (methoxycathecholamines) were analysed at baseline and after isotonic sodium chloride infusion. Bedside bioreactance examination was used to visualise parameters, including stroke volume before and after passive leg raise test. Classification of volume status was made retrospectively blinded for biomarker and bioreactance results. <strong>Results:</strong> 8 patients (4 hypovolemic and 4 euvolemic), 79 years old, median plasma sodium 120 mmol/L were included. At the Emergency Department volume status was misclassified in all hypo- and in 2 of 4 euvolemic patients. Apelin was significantly higher in hypovolemic patients ((299 vs. 175 ng/ml), p = 0.021). All hypovolemic, but none of the euvolemic, patients had a level above 250 ng/ml. Copeptin did not differ between groups. All patients in the hypovolemic group increased their stroke volume after passive leg raise. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Apelin seems to be a promising future biomarker in the early management of severe hyponatremia. Bioreactance measurements may offer a supplement to bedside evaluation of volume status.
基金the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and the Swedish SUS Funds。
文摘Heart failure(HF)is a condition of cardiac dysfunction and fluid overload.Neurohormonal activation via the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system and the sympathetic nervous system are the pathophysiological cornerstones.[1]Furthermore,HF is a disorder widely associated with grave adverse outcomes and poor prognosis.[2]A loop diuretic is the fundamental drug used to prevent multiorgan failure and improve symptoms in these patients.[3]
文摘The objective of this study was to evaluate the main characteristics of adult male offenders convicted of rape or aggravated rape against adult females.We reviewed all convictions(n=21)based on court documents from the District Court,the Court of Appeal and information from the Swedish Tax Agency in Malmo,Sweden,between 2013 and 2018.The findings indicated that the most common offender characteristics were a single status,mean age of 33 years and foreign background.The rapes primarily occurred within a private setting while the victims(who were often younger and knew the offender)were unconscious.Although assumptions based on these results should be made with caution,our findings provide a clear image of the typical circumstances under which these rapes occurred.This study should be viewed as a first attempt to create a database of characteristics of convicted rapists.As more data are added,more sophisticated analyses can be performed and stronger generalizations may be made.Information of this kind may also be important for further research,classification of rapists in offender profiling,and case linking.
文摘Swedish as well as foreign publications have reported a sharp increase in firearm-related violence in Sweden. None of these publications, however, combined official statistics from the Swedish police, the National Council for Crime Prevention (NCCP), and the National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW), to study firearm-related violence in the last 2 years:2016–2017. The results of this study show that firearm-related violence in Sweden has greatly increased compared to other Scandinavian countries, especially in recent years. This is probably the reason for the increase in the rate of deadly violence. Further, the increasing number of gangs and criminal networks, as well as the high inflow of illegal firearms to Sweden, is believed to have contributed to the disturbing increase of firearm-related vio-lence in the country. Although Sweden is one of the most democratic and freest countries in the world, and has some of the world's strictest gun laws, the country still faces signifi-cant firearm-related violence. This study not only reveals the increasing rate of firearm-related violence in Sweden, but also shows that Sweden is in dire need of additional policies to combat the illegal flow of firearms and to curb gang criminality.
