Short-acting β2-agonists (SABA) are widely used in the emergency department (ED) to treat patients with decompensated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We sought to model the effectiveness of nebulized SABA (terbutaline) on clinically relevant parameters associated with a reduction in work of breathing or respiratory muscle fatigue in decompensated COPD patients admitted to the ED.F...

Radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer has a toxic effect on mucosa, the soft tissue in and around the mouth. Hence mucositis is a serious common side effect and is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation of the surface of the mucosa. Although the mucosa recovers during breaks of and following the radiotherapy course, the recovery will depend on the type of tissue in...

BACKGROUND Despite the dose-dependent response rate of sarcomas to doxorubicin, clinicians limit its cumulative dose due to cardiotoxicity. This study evaluates early evidence of cardiotoxicity in patients treated with high-dose doxorubicin given as a continuous infusion. METHODS Data was collected on patients who received 90 mg/m2 doxorubicin as a continuous infusion and 10 gm/m2 ifosfamide ...

CONTEXT Computed tomography (CT) exams are increasingly common and account for a significant portion of individuals' mounting exposure to medical radiation. OBJECTIVE To explore issues surrounding patient radiation dose, including techniques for minimizing dose and the feasibility of tracking lifetime exposure to medical radiation from CT and other imaging exams. METHODS The authors conduct...