Original Investigation  May 21, 2023 Airway-Occluding Mucus Plugs and Mortality in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Alejandro A. Diaz, José L. Orejas, Scott Grumley, et al JAMA. Published online May 21, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.2065 Key Points Question  Are mucus plugs that occlude airways identified on computed tomography scans in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with in...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 23 - Issue 1, 2023 Biomarkers in Sepsis This article describes the application of existing and emerging biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of sepsis and pneumonia. Introduction: The Need for Biomarkers in Sepsis Sepsis is defined as a dysregulated host response to infection that results in life threatening organ dysfunction. It carries an estimated 30-day mortality rate of 24.4% and increases to ...

Research Women and non-white people among Lasker Award recipients from 1946 to 2022: cross sectional study Jeremy W Jacobs, Lorin A Bibb, Elizabeth S Allen, et al BMJ 2023; 381 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-074968 (Published 17 May 2023)Cite this as: BMJ 2023;381:e074968 Abstract Objective To determine whether gender and racial inequities exist among Lasker Award recipients. Design Observational, cross sectional analysis. Setting&nbs...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Single-Dose Rifapentine in Household Contacts of Patients with Leprosy Le Wang, Hongsheng Wang, Liangbin Yan, et al N Engl J Med 2023; 388:1843-1852DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2205487 Abstract BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested that a single dose of rifampin has protective effects against leprosy in close contacts of patients with the disease. Rifapentine was shown to have greater bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium leprae than ri...

Editorial  May 9, 2023 The Future of Clinical Trials in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Anna J. Podolanczuk, Luca Richeldi, Fernando J. Martinez JAMA. 2023;329(18):1554-1555. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.23955 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) currently affects about 100 000 individuals in the US, and millions globally. Patients living with IPF experience disabling symptoms and progressive loss of lung function.1 The 2 treatments approved by th...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Randomized Trial of Early Detection and Treatment of Postpartum Hemorrhage Ioannis Gallos, Adam Devall, James Martin, et al N Engl J Med May 9, 2023DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2303966 Abstract BACKGROUND Delays in the detection or treatment of postpartum hemorrhage can result in complications or death. A blood-collection drape can help provide objective, accurate, and early diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage, and delayed or inconsistent use of ef...

Editorial  May 25, 2023 Disentangling the Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: E Unibus Pluram (From One, Many) Robert Gross, Vincent Lo Re III JAMA. Published online May 25, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.8961 Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, patients and clinicians reported the persistence of initial symptoms and the onset of new symptoms after the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, collectively referred to as postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE A Phase 2 Trial of Peresolimab for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis Jay Tuttle, Edit Drescher, Jesus Abraham Simón-Campos, et al N Engl J Med 2023; 388:1853-1862DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2209856 Abstract BACKGROUND Peresolimab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody designed to stimulate the endogenous programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitory pathway. Stimulation of this pathway would be a novel approach to the treatment of patients wi...

Editorial  April 20, 2023 Informing a Rational Approach to Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Open Pancreatoduodenectomy Anthony Charles, Preeti N. Malani JAMA. 2023;329(18):1556-1557. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.6275 Despite numerous advances in perioperative care, surgical site infection (SSI) remains a frequent complication after major abdominal surgery, with gastrointestinal procedures among the highest risk for infection.1Besides the increased length of stay ...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 23 - Issue 1, 2023 Tachycardia in Sepsis: Friend or Foe? An overview of tachycardia in sepsis, the importance of rate control and the beneficial effects of beta-blockers. Sepsis and Tachycardia – Aetiologic Factors During sepsis, the sympathetic nervous system plays a key role in maintaining cardiac output and blood pressure. This is achieved through changes in heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone. The proper ...