Gender impact on the outcomes of critically ill patients with nosocomial infections*:

Recently published papers: Novel therapies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac chemicals and intensive care outcomes

The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on intensive care is heavy, but newer modalities of treatment are now available to improve outcomes. Cardiac-based research continues to generate new drugs and tests to better outcome and aid in early diagnosis. And how do various intensive care interventions compare in improving clinical and functional outcomes?

Toward protein-energy goal-oriented therapy?

Protein calorie malnutrition is a concern in critically ill patients. Prospective studies to define the ideal calorie/protein intake to administer not only to meet requirements but also to change outcome are lacking. Strack van Schijndel and colleagues have observed an improvement in survival when patients reach the calorie target according to indirect calorimetry and a protein intake of greater than 1.2 g/kg per day. Their prospective observational study sheds new light on this field.

[An immunohistochemical study of various breast tissues using CA15-3 (MAb 115D8 and MAb DF3)]

A CA15-3 RIA KIT, composed with two different monoclonal antibodies (115D 8 and DF 3), has been seen to react with the sera of breast cancer patients. Although the subclass of both antibodies is different, the antigen that reacted with them seems to be same, with a range from 300-450 kd. To reveal the reacting pattern of both antibodies, an immunohistochemical study was performed involving various breast tissues. In general, normal and benign breast tumors exhibited an apical stain by 115D8 and an apical and focal cytosol stain by DF 3. Breast carcinomas displayed not only an apical stain but a strong cytosol stain. However, the staining patterns showed little difference.