Dysglycaemia in CF – Why are investigating it, what should we measure and how should we treat it?

Erythema nodosum :what should we consider about it?

Pulmonary arterial compliance: How and why should we measure it?

The pulmonary circulation is a high-flow/low-pressure system, coupled with a flow generator chamber-the right ventricle-, which is relatively unable to tolerate increases in afterload. A right heart catheterization, using a fluid-filled, balloon-tipped Swan-Ganz catheter allows the measurement of all hemodynamic parameters characterizing the pulmonary circulation: the inflow pressure, an accept...

Should we treat pyrexia? And how do we do it?

The concept of pyrexia as a protective physiological response to aid in host defence has been challenged with the awareness of the severe metabolic stress induced by pyrexia. The host response to pyrexia varies, however, according to the disease profile and severity and, as such, the management of pyrexia should differ; for example, temperature control is safe and effective in septic shock but ...

Sympathovagal balance: how should we measure it?

There are complex interactions between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system inputs to the sinus node. The concept of "sympathovagal balance" reflects the autonomic state resulting from the sympathetic and parasympathetic influences. Despite widespread usage of a variety of heart rate (HR) variability parameters as indexes of sympathovagal balance, no index has been validated as a ...

Functional measures, Part 1: What is function, what should we measure, and how should we measure it?

O ccupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and physicians all share a common concern with promoting functional independence of their clients. In addition, members of each profession might administer functional assessments or implement interventions intended to enhance the functional independence of their clients. This often makes us uneasy or results i...