Postoperative adhesion prevention using a statin-containing cellulose film in an experimental model
Intraperitoneal adhesions are a common problem in abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Statofilm, a novel antiadhesive film based on cross-linked carboxymethylcellulose and atorvastatin, with that of sodium hyaluronate–carboxymethylcellulose (Seprafilm®) in the prevention of postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions in rats. Overall the data suggest that the newly developed adhesion barrier Statofilm has better results than Seprafilm® in preventing postoperative adhesions in rats. A low-dose atorvastatin-containing film, such as Statofilm, could be evaluated for future clinical application.
Above Which Blood Pressure Level Does the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation Increase?
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, occurs in 1% to 2% of the general population,1 and its incidence is growing. Mostly because of the progressive aging of the population, the prevalence of AF is expected to double over the next 50 years. Hypertension is a well-known modifiable risk factor for AF, although it is unclear above which blood pressure (BP) level the risk of AF definitely increases and, even more important, which target BP level should be pursued to reduce the risk of AF in treated hypertensive patients.
This article showed that in this population based, case-control study of 433 patients with incident AF and 899 controls, the risk of AF doubled in participants with systolic BP ≥150 mm Hg.
Mass. health insurance law: More coverage, more expensive
The state’s landmark health insurance law, passed in 2006, significantly increased the number of residents ages 19 to 64 with coverage -- now at 94.2 percent. A survey released today found that it also is starting to produce results by keeping patient’s healthier and out of emergency rooms and hospitals.Unfortunately, as many probably suspect, it has done little to control costs. “There was a significant increase in premium costs paid by workers, reflecting Massachusetts decision to put off efforts to address lowering health care costs in the 2006 legislation,’’ according Health Affairs, the journal that published an article based on the survey on its website today.
AHRQ finds gains in teamwork, leadership
Hospitals are making progress in a number of areas related to safety culture, including teamwork and leadership, according to a report from HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Released in 2004, AHRQ's 42-item Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture allows employees at participating hospitals to report on their organization's approach to open communication, patient handoffs and other safety topics. The agency released the first comparative report of survey data in 2007, covering 382 hospitals.
Scientists to Pause Research on Deadly Strain of Bird Flu
The scientists who altered a deadly flu virus to make it more contagious have agreed to suspend their research for 60 days to give other international experts time to discuss the work and determine how it can proceed without putting the world at risk of a potentially catastrophic pandemic. Suspensions of biomedical research are almost unheard of; the only other one in the United States was a moratorium from 1974 to 1976 on some types of recombinant DNA research, because of safety concerns.
Florida bill would make doctors, health centers post prices
Restaurants have menus, retailers have pricetags and soon, Florida doctors could have price boards.Legislation in Tallahassee would force doctors and some medical care centers to post signs of about 3-feet-by-5-feet in their waiting rooms showing the prices to be charged a person paying out of pocket. Charges for the insured vary by policy and wouldn't be posted. "The cost of health care is a big mystery. Nobody knows how much health care costs. We need some clarity," said Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Trinity, the sponsor of one of the bills. "When consumers are price-conscious, they shop around, and there's competition. That lowers costs and gives better quality."
Baltimore Deemed U.S. City With Most Top-Ranked Hospitals
Baltimore is the top U.S. city for hospital care, according to a new report that examined patient death and complication rates at nearly 5,000 hospitals across the nation.
The report identified hospitals performing in the top 5 percent for 26 different medical procedures and diagnoses, and then ranked cities according to those with the highest percentage of top-ranked hospitals.
Baltimore had nine top-performing hospitals out of 19 eligible hospitals in the city. The other cities in the top 10 were: Phoenix-Prescott, Ariz.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Richmond, Va.; Cincinnati; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; St. Louis; Hartford-New Haven, Conn.; and Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, Mich.
Followup of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Recurrence of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
An increase in the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with poor prognosis for various cancers, including renal cell carcinoma. However, the clinical implication of a posttreatment change in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with cancer remains unclear. This article showed that the posttreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio change was a significant prognostic factor for recurrence as well as tumor size and pathological tumor stage in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Aortic Event Rate in the Marfan Population
Optimal management, including timing of surgery, remains debated in Marfan syndrome because of a lack of data on aortic risk associated with this disease. This database was used to evaluate aortic risk associated with standardized care.
Overall it was found that the risk of sudden death or aortic dissection remains low in patients with Marfan syndrome and aortic diameter between 45 and 49 mm. Aortic diameter of 50 mm appears to be a reasonable threshold for prophylactic surgery.
