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Journal Scan
October 2011
Prognostic value of lactate measurement in very-low-birth-weight infants
For a number of years point-of-care blood lactate measurement has been used to predict outcome for patients suffering a range of critical illnesses. Now a recently published study suggests that this predictive value of lactate measurement can also be usefully applied to very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates born...
Neonatology
Lactate
Journal Scan
October 2011
Metabolic alkalosis caused by genetic defect - an unusual case history
Metabolic alkalosis is a disturbance of acid-base balance, with many possible causes, characterized by primary increase in blood bicarbonate (HCO3) and pH. Hypoventilation is the normal compensatory respiratory response to metabolic alkalosis. This results in increased pCO2 and, if the metabolic alkalosis is...
Blood gases/acid-base
Journal Scan
October 2011
Arrhythmias in electrolyte disturbances
In health plasma potassium concentration is maintained between 3.5 and 5.2 mmol/L. The most significant clinical effect of both raised plasma potassium (hyperkalemia) and reduced plasma potassium (hypokalemia) is on the myocardium (heart muscle).
This reflects the fact that the resting membrane potential of cardiac...
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
July 2011
Falsely low SpO2 - an educative case study present
Blood gas analysis (BGA) provides the means for the most accurate assessment of patient oxygenation status; the two relevant blood gas parameters being partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (pO2(a)), and % hemoglobin oxygen saturation (sO2(a)).
Pulse oximetry, a technology now ubiquitous in all areas of...
Blood gases/acid-base
Quality assurance
Hemoglobins
Journal Scan
July 2011
No resurgence of kernicterus
Increased serum bilirubin, clinically manifest as jaundice, is very common during the first week of life, affecting around 60 % of full-term babies and 85 % of babies born prematurely. For the vast majority this neonatal jaundice is a mild transitory phenomenon with no long-term consequences. The greatest fear...
Bilirubin
Neonatology
Journal Scan
July 2011
Anemia treatment in CKD
Anemia, which is defined as hemoglobin (Hb) concentration
The kidneys are essential to the regulation of red-cell production and thereby maintenance of normal Hb concentration because the hormone erythropoietin, which regulates red-cell production, is synthesized in the kidneys. The usually normochromic, normocytic...
Hemoglobins
Kidneys/fluids
Journal Scan
April 2011
Hypokalemia and cardiac disease
In health, serum potassium concentration is maintained within the approximate range of 3.5-5.2 mmol/L. Disturbance of potassium homeostasis is a common electrolyte disorder that is clinically manifest through its adverse effect on both skeletal and cardiac muscle cell function.
Although often asymptomatic, both...
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
April 2011
Metformin-associated lactic acidosis
Metformin is an oral hypoglycemic drug that has long been employed in the treatment of type 2 diabetes; it is particularly widely prescribed for those diabetics who are obese. Very rarely, metformin use results in severe lactic acidosis, most often occurring in patients with reduced renal function.
Although a very...
Lactate