Is the standardized antibiotic administration ratio (SAAR) ready for prime time?

vertical gastric plication: is it ready for prime-time?

FGF23: is it ready for prime time?

Since the identification of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) more than a decade ago, interest in this hormone has grown dramatically among both nephrologists and endocrinologists. FGF23, initially identified in patients with rare forms of hypophosphatemia, is also increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A handful of studies have suggested that increased circulating concentra...

Ginger: is it ready for prime time?

On the basis of substantial preclinical data showing the preventive efficacy of ginger and its constituents in vitro and in animal models, as well as a phase I pilot trial indicating that ginger extract is well tolerated in humans, Citronberg and colleagues conducted a pilot trial of ginger extract (2 g/day for 28 days) on biomarkers of cell proliferation [human telomerase reverse transcriptase...

Is pocket ultrasound ready for prime time?

e recent trial by Biais and colleagues adds to a growing body of literature supporting point-of-care ultrasound in the critical care setting [1]. Th e authors demonstrate that, in the hands of two expert users, a newer pocket-sized device was comparable with conventional ultrasound machines for several key echocardiographic parameters. Clearly in the right hands, the VscanTM (GE Healthcare, Wau...

Ready for Prime Time

Opening of the voltage-dependent Ca 2 channels permits influx of Ca across the plasma membrane, triggering diverse physiological processes. These channels are widely distributed in the cardiovascular system, constituting the main route for Ca entry essential for excitation and contraction. Ten unique 1 subunits, grouped in 3 families (CaV1, CaV2, and CaV3), that encode the low-voltage– activate...