Amato [1] on our recent study [2], in which we proposed that ventilation inhomogeneity should be regarded as an additional prospective index along with blood gases, lung mechanics and hemodynamics in a multifactorial method to optimize positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at the bedside. We agree with Costa and Amato that some ventilation heterogeneity may be good [1]. Especially in patients...

is is an interesting monograph pulling together into one volume disparate pulmonary diseases that have in common only that they are primarily pulmonary and may present with acute exacerbations. Th e chapters cover the primary diseases chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pulmonary fi brosis, bronchiectasis, idiopathic pulmonary fi brosis, sarcoidosis, hypersensi-tivity pneumoni...

Y ou know you're a geek when going to the coffee shop gets you thinking about interaction patterns between loosely coupled systems. This happened to me on a recent trip to Japan. One of the more familiar sights in Tokyo is the numerous Starbucks coffee shops, especially around Shinjuku and Roppongi. While waiting for my " Hotto Cocoa, " I started thinking about how a coffee shop processes custo...

Management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) lial permeability [13]), altered membrane lipid trafficking (14), and increased activity of stress-responsive genes (15) has improved in recent years, resulting in a decrease in mortality (1, 2), although precise reasons for this are still debated. that may participate in the genesis of VILI. Severe alterations (cell lysis, basement membr...

were the carotid chemoreceptors also excluded from the circulation of the remainder of the body? Dr. Levine: In the head perfused animal preparation (Ic third preparation), both the carotid chemoreceptors and the brain were excluded from the circulation to the remainder of the body. the effect of acute cord transection on blood pressure? Dr. Levine: My dogs were anesthetized with chioralose (no...

Giovanni, 63 anni e Marco, 36. Uno con la barba incanutita e l’altro con testa rasata e orecchino siedono davanti a un piatto di minestra. Un sorriso apre il viso del più vecchio. Mangiano in silenzio. Non hanno voglia di parlare dei motivi che li hanno portati qui, nella mensa per poveri di via Principe Tommaso. Siamo nel cuore di San Salvario, e i nuovi locali del refettorio sono aperti da ap...

Social Security benefits are the most important component of the income of a large fraction of older Americans. A significant fraction of persons approach the end of life with few financial assets and no home equity, relying almost entirely on Social Security benefits for support. Whether persons reach late-life with positive non-annuity wealth depends importantly on health, which is quite pers...