4 research outputs found
Prognostic Value of Bone Formation and Resorption Proteins in Heterotopic Ossification in Critically-Ill Patients. A Single-Centre Study
Introduction: A potential complication in critically ill patients is the
formation of bone in soft tissues, termed heterotopic ossification. The
exact pathogenetic mechanisms are still undetermined. Bone morphogenetic
proteins induce bone formation, while signalling through the receptor
activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL),
regulates osteoclast formation, activation, and survival in normal bone
modelling and remodelling. Osteoprotegerin protects bone from excessive
bone loss by blocking RANKL from binding to RANK. Aim: The study aimed
to investigate these molecules as potential prognostic biomarkers of
heterotopic ossification development in critically ill patients.
Materials and Methods: In this prospective observational study, BMP-2,
RANKL, and osteoprotegerin were measured by ELISA in twenty-eight
critically-ill, initially non-septic patients, on admission to an ICU,
seven days post-admission, and thirty days after ICU discharge. Results:
In the critically-ill cohort, nine of the twenty-eight patients
developed heterotopic ossification up to the 30-day follow-up
time-point. The patients who developed heterotopic ossification
exhibited significantly reduced BMP-2 and RANKL levels on ICU admission,
compared to patients who did not; Osteoprotegerin readings were similar
in both groups. Conclusions: Critically-ill patients who will
subsequently develop heterotopic ossification, have significantly lower
BMP-2 and RANKL levels at the time of ICU admission, suggesting that
these proteins may be useful as prognostic markers for this debilitating
condition
Facing internet fake-medicine and web para-pharmacy in the total absence of official recommendations from medical societies
Purpose: Internet fake information, parapharmacy and counterfeit drugs are a market of hundreds of billion dollars. Misleading internet data decrease patients' compliance to medical care, promote use of questionable and detrimental practices, and jeopardize patient outcome. This is particularly harmful among cancer patients, especially when pain and nutritional aspects are considered. Provision of Web recommendations for the general audience (patients, relatives, general population) from official medical-providers might be useful to outweigh the detrimental internet information produced by non-medical providers. Methods: 370 oncology and anesthesiology related societies were analyzed. Our objective was to evaluate the magnitude of web-recommendation for cancer cachexia and cancer pain for the general audience provided by official medical organizations' web sites at global level. Results: Magnitude of web-recommendations at global level was surprisingly scant both for coverage and consistency. Seven official medical societies provided updated web-recommendation for cancer cachexia to their patients/family members, and 15 for cancer pain. Scantiness was unrelated by continent, developmental index, oncology tradition, economic-geographic area and society type scrutinized. Conclusions: Patients need expert advice when exposed to fake internet information largely dominated by paramedical market profits. In this era of "new media" the patients' net-education represents a new major educational challenge for medical societies
Facing internet fake-medicine and web para-pharmacy in the total absence of official recommendations from medical societies
Purpose: Internet fake information, parapharmacy and counterfeit drugs are a market of hundreds of billion dollars. Misleading internet data decrease patients' compliance to medical care, promote use of questionable and detrimental practices, and jeopardize patient outcome. This is particularly harmful among cancer patients, especially when pain and nutritional aspects are considered. Provision of Web recommendations for the general audience (patients, relatives, general population) from official medical-providers might be useful to outweigh the detrimental internet information produced by non-medical providers. Methods: 370 oncology and anesthesiology related societies were analyzed. Our objective was to evaluate the magnitude of web-recommendation for cancer cachexia and cancer pain for the general audience provided by official medical organizations' web sites at global level. Results: Magnitude of web-recommendations at global level was surprisingly scant both for coverage and consistency. Seven official medical societies provided updated web-recommendation for cancer cachexia to their patients/family members, and 15 for cancer pain. Scantiness was unrelated by continent, developmental index, oncology tradition, economic-geographic area and society type scrutinized. Conclusions: Patients need expert advice when exposed to fake internet information largely dominated by paramedical market profits. In this era of "new media" the patients' net-education represents a new major educational challenge for medical societies