Statin-treated rats showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in locomotion at week 4 post-SCI compared to vehicle-treated animals. Explaining this outcome, caspase-3 activity decreased by 50% (p<0.05), and the histological TUNEL AZD0156 in vivo method revealed a decrease of approximately 20% in apoptotic cells at the injury site (p < 0.01) at 4 h post-SCI in atorvastatin-treated rats in comparison to vehicle-treated controls. These data demonstrate that atorvastatin is effective after experimental spinal cord contusion injury in preventing early apoptosis at the injury site
within 2 h post-administration. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: Subtherapeutic international normalized ratios are frequently encountered in clinical practice, and patients with mechanical heart valves with inadequate anticoagulation may be exposed to an increased risk of thromboembolic
events. There are no data on thromboembolic event risk for these patients.
Methods: We assessed the current practice patterns in the management of patients with mechanical heart valves with subtherapeutic international normalized ratios and assessed the risk of thromboembolic complications in this setting. The charts of patients with mechanical heart valves followed up in two anticoagulation clinics were reviewed. Patients with a history of stable, therapeutic anticoagulation but with a subtherapeutic international Baf-A1 normalized ratio were included. Patients who Progesterone underwent invasive procedures requiring temporary suspension of antithrombotic therapy were excluded. Data on use and dose of low-molecular weight heparin bridging therapy were collected.
Results: The incidence of objectively confirmed thromboembolic events within 90 days after obtaining the index international normalized ratio was assessed. Two hundred ninety-four patients with mechanical heart valves were included (mean age 63.3 years, 47.3% male). Low-molecular weight heparin was prescribed in 14 cases (4.8%). At 90
days, 1 patient had a thromboembolic complication (0.3%, 95% confidence interval 0%-1.9%).
Conclusion: Patients with previously stable, therapeutic anticoagulation with a subtherapeutic international normalized ratio have a low risk of thromboembolic events. Withholding low-molecular weight heparin bridging therapy is a reasonable therapeutic option in these cases.”
“Background
The optimal target range for blood glucose in critically ill patients remains unclear.
Methods
Within 24 hours after admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), adults who were expected to require treatment in the ICU on 3 or more consecutive days were randomly assigned to undergo either intensive glucose control, with a target blood glucose range of 81 to 108 mg per deciliter (4.5 to 6.0 mmol per liter), or conventional glucose control, with a target of 180 mg or less per deciliter (10.0 mmol or less per liter).