Hepatorenal Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; therapeutic use

Hepatorenal Syndrome ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; therapeutic use

Dopamine ; therapeutic use ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; blood ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of low dose pituitrin in children with septic shock.

METHODSA total of 48 pediatric cases with septic shock, in whom 6 hours, conventional treatment could not reverse shock from January 2008 to December 2010, were selected for this study. The patients were divided into two groups randomly (completely random design) (control group 24, remedial group 24). The conventional treatment included antibiotics/fluid resuscitation/correcting acid-base imbalance, glucocorticoid, organ (heart/lung) support, dopamine 1 - 15 µg/(kg·min) and norepinephrine 0.5 - 2 µg/(kg·min) pumped in continuously in the control group. In initial 6 hours the same treatment was given to the remedial group, while low dose pituitrin (0.01 - 0.03 U/min) was pumped additionally during the rest of time. The therapeutic effect on correcting shock was evaluated in both groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 76.2% in the remedial group and 40.0% in the control group; the mortality was 33.3% and 60% respectively. The difference between both groups was significant (P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONLow dose pituitrin could improve the clinical effect significantly in children with septic shock in whom 6 hours conventional treatment failed to correct shock, shorten the total periods of treatment, and decrease mortality.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Norepinephrine ; therapeutic use ; Pituitary Hormones, Posterior ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Shock, Septic ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDInconsistencies in the use of the vasoactive agent therapy to treat shock are found in previous studies. A descriptive study was proposed to investigate current use of vasoactive agents for patients with shock in Chinese intensive care settings.

METHODSA nationwide survey of physicians was conducted from August 17 to December 30, 2012. Physicians were asked to complete a questionnaire which focused on the selection of vasoactive agents, management in the use of vasopressor/inotropic therapy, monitoring protocols when using these agents, and demographic characteristics.

RESULTSThe response rate was 65.1% with physicians returning 586 valid questionnaires. Norepinephrine was the first choice of a vasopressor used to treat septic shock by 70.8% of respondents; 73.4% of respondents favored dopamine for hypovolemic shock; and 68.3% of respondents preferred dopamine for cardiogenic shock. Dobutamine was selected by 84.1%, 64.5%, and 60.6% of respondents for septic, hypovolemic, and cardiogenic shock, respectively. Vasodilator agents were prescribed by physicians in the management of cardiogenic shock (67.1%) rather than for septic (32.3%) and hypovolemic shock (6.5%). A significant number of physicians working in teaching hospitals were using vasoactive agents in an appropriate manner when compared to physicians in nonteaching hospitals.

CONCLUSIONSVasoactive agent use for treatment of shock is inconsistent according to self-report by Chinese intensive care physicians; however, the variation in use depends upon the form of shock being treated and the type of hospital; thus, corresponding educational programs about vasoactive agent use for shock management should be considered.

Data Collection ; Dobutamine ; therapeutic use ; Dopamine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; statistics & numerical data ; Norepinephrine ; therapeutic use ; Shock ; drug therapy ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; drug therapy ; Shock, Septic ; drug therapy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; therapeutic use ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the predictive value of baseline plasma midregional fragment of pro-adrenomedullin level (MR-proADM) on long-term survival of postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) children treated with midodrine hydrochloride.

METHODSFifty-three children (male 26, mean age (14.5 ± 4.5) years old) with POTS were included in this study, and all of them were diagnosed as POTS in our department from December 2007 to January 2010. Fifty-three children with POTS were divided into two groups according to the baseline plasma content of MR-proADM. Group I consisted of 35 POTS children with plasma content of MR-proADM > 61.5 ng/L, and the group II consisted of 18 POTS children with plasma content of MR-proADM ≤ 61.5 ng/L. The mean follow-up time was (67 ± 7) months. The orthostatic intolerance symptom score and the symptom free survival were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTSAt the 60 months follow-up, the symptom score of children in group I was significantly lower than that in group II (χ(2) = 4.985, P < 0.05). At 72 months follow up, the symptom score was similar between the 2 groups (χ(2) = 0.004, P > 0.05) while the symptom free survival of group I was significantly higher than that in group II (χ(2) = 4.566, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe baseline plasma MR-proADM level is value in predicting the long-term survival of POTS children treated with midodrine hydrochloride.

Adolescent ; Adrenomedullin ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Midodrine ; therapeutic use ; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; ROC Curve ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; therapeutic use

Current understanding of the pathophysiology of portal hypertension has resulted in therapeutic approaches aimed at correcting the increased splanchnic blood flow and some of which have been already used in clinical practice. Recently new perspectives opened and erstwhile paradigm has been changed to focus on increased resistance to portal blood flow and the formation of portosystemic collateralization. Several studies revealed the clear-cut mechanisms of hepatic endothelial dysfunction and abnormal angiogenesis contributing to the development of portal hypertension. Thus the modulations of hyperdynamic circulation or angiogenesis seem to be valuable therapeutic targets. In the current review update, we discuss the multidisciplinary management of modulating hepatic vascular resistance and abnormal angiogenesis associated with portal hypertension. However, these new pharmacological approaches are still under investigation and widescale clinical application are needed to develop effective strategies.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Hypertension, Portal/*therapy ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/therapeutic use

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is defined as the presence of symptoms thought to originate in the gastroduodenal area, in the absence of any organic, systemic, or metabolic disease that is likely to explain the symptoms. Based on the available evidence and consensus opinion, thirteen consensus statements for the treatment of FD were developed using the modified Delphi approach. Proton pump inhibitor, prokinetics, and histamine 2 receptor antagonists are effective for the treatment of FD. Mucosal protecting agents, fundus relaxant, and drugs for visceral hypersensitivity can improve symptoms in FD. Antacids and antidepressants may help improving symptoms in FD. Comparing endoscopy with 'test and treat' of Helicobacter pylori, endoscopy may be more effective initial strategy for managing patients with FD in Korea given high incidence of gastric cancer and low cost of endoscopy. Helicobacter pylori eradication can be one of the therapeutic options for patients with FD. Psychotherapy is effective for those who have severe symptoms and refractoriness. Further studies are strongly needed to develop better treatment strategies for Korean patients with FD.
Antacids/therapeutic use ; Anti-Ulcer Agents/therapeutic use ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia/diet therapy/*therapy ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Histamine H2 Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Psychotherapy ; Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/therapeutic use

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Terlipressin and octreotide had been used to control acute variceal bleeding and to prevent early rebleeding after endoscopic hemostasis. We compared the efficacy and safety of terlipressin and octreotide combined with endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) for the treatment of acute esophageal variceal bleeding and we evaluated their clinical significance as related to rebleeding. METHODS: The eighty eight cirrhotic patients were randomized to the terlipressin group (n=43; 2 mg i.v. initially and 1 mg i.v. at every 4 hours for 3 days) or the octreotide group (n=45; continuous infusion of 25 microgram/h for 5 days) combined with EVL for the treatment of acute esophageal variceal bleeding. RESULTS: The initial hemostasis rates were 98% (42/43 cases) in the terlipressin group and 96% (43/45 cases) in the octreotide group. The 5-day and 42-day rebleeding rates were 12% (5/43 cases) and 28% (12/43 cases), respectively, in the terlipressin group and 9% (4/45 cases) and 24% (11/45 cases), respectively, in the octreotide group. No significant difference was demonstrated between the terlipressin and octreotide groups. The mortality at 42 days was similar in both group, but a high mortality rate (48%) was shown to be related to 42-day rebleeding. The risk factors related to 42-day rebleeding were Child-Pugh class C (aOR=30.2, 95% CI=7.7-117.9), ascites above grade II (aOR=6.6, 95% CI=2.2-19.2) and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aOR=4.6, 95% CI=1.1-18.9). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing terlipressin and octreotide combined with EVL showed them to be equally safe and effective therapeutic agents in patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding. The high risk factors related to early rebleeding were poor liver function and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/drug therapy/surgery/*therapy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/drug therapy/surgery/*therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy/surgery/*therapy ; Lysine Vasopressin/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Octreotide/*therapeutic use ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/*therapeutic use

Tendon surgery is unique because it should ensure tendon gliding after surgery. Tendon surgery now can be performed under local anesthesia without tourniquet, by injecting epinephrine mixed with lidocaine, to achieve vasoconstriction in the area of surgery. This method allows the tendon to move actively during surgery to test tendon function intraoperatively and to ensure the tendon is properly repaired before leaving the operating table. I applied this method to primary flexor tendon repair in zone 1 or 2, tenolysis, and tendon transfer, and found this approach makes tendon surgery easier and more reliable. This article describes the method that I have used for tendon surgery.
Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Epinephrine/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Suture Techniques ; *Tendon Injuries/rehabilitation/surgery ; Tendon Transfer/*methods ; Tendons/*surgery ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/administration & dosage/therapeutic use