S-100B is superior to NSE, BDNF and GFAP in predicting outcome of resuscitation from cardiac arrest with hypothermia treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a pilot study to evaluate the blood levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S-100B as prognostic markers for neurological outcome 6 months after hypothermia treatment following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: One intensive care unit at Uppsala University Hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-one unconscious patients resuscitated after cardiac arrest. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Unconscious patients after cardiac arrest with restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were treated with mild hypothermia to 32-34°C for 26h. Time from cardiac arrest to target temperature was measured. Blood samples were collected at intervals of 1-108h after ROSC. Neurological outcome was assessed with Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category (CPC) scale at discharge from intensive care and again 6 months later, when 15/31 patients were alive, of whom 14 had a good outcome (CPC 1-2). Among the predictive biomarkers, S-100B at 24h after ROSC was the best, predicting poor outcome (CPC 3-5) with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 100%. NSE at 96h after ROSC predicted poor outcome, with sensitivity of 57% and specificity of 93%. BDNF and GFAP levels did not predict outcome. The time from cardiac arrest to target temperature was shorter for those with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The blood concentration of S-100B at 24h after ROSC is highly predictive of outcome in patients treated with mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Assessment of intravascular volume by transthoracic echocardiography during therapeutic hypothermia and rewarming in cardiac arrest survivors.

AIM: To study haemodynamic effects and changes in intravascular volume during hypothermia treatment, induced by ice-cold fluids and maintained by ice-packs followed by rewarming in patients after resuscitation from cardiac arrest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 24 patients following successful restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), hypothermia was induced with infusion of 4 degrees C normal saline and maintained with ice-packs for 26 h after ROSC. This was followed by passive rewarming. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at 12, 24 and 48 h after ROSC to evaluate ejection fraction and intravascular volume status. Central venous pressure (CVP), central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2)) and serum lactate were measured. Fluid balance was calculated. RESULTS: Twelve hours after ROSC, two separate raters independently estimated that 10 and 13 out of 23 patients had a decreased intravascular volume using transthoracic echocardiography. After 24 and 48 h this number had increased further to 14 and 13 out of 19 patients and 13 and 12 out of 21 patients. Calculated fluid balance was positive (4000 ml the day 1 and 2500 ml day 2). There was no difference in ejection fraction between the recording time points. Serum lactate and ScvO(2) were in the normal range when echocardiography exams were performed. CVP did not alter over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that inducing hypothermia following cardiac arrest, using cold intravenous fluid infusion does not cause serious haemodynamic side effects. Serial transthoracic echocardiographic estimation of intravascular volume suggests that many patients are hypovolaemic during therapeutic hypothermia and rewarming in spite of a positive fluid balance.

Cerebral energy failure following experimental cardiac arrest Hypothermia treatment reduces secondary lactate/pyruvate-ratio increase.

AIM: This was an experimental study performed to investigate cerebral metabolism during hypothermia treatment and rewarming after resuscitation from cardiac arrest (CA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen pigs underwent CA followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). After randomisation into one hypothermic (n=8) and one normothermic group (n=8) the animals received infusion of 4 or 38 degrees C saline, respectively. Following restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) both groups were observed for 360min. The hypothermic group was cooled for 180 min and then rewarmed. Temperature was not modulated in the normothermic group. Cerebral microdialysis was conducted and lactate/pyruvate (L/P)-ratio and glutamate were analysed. Intracranial pressure probe was inserted. Oxygen saturation in venous jugular bulb blood (SjO2) was analysed. RESULTS: All animals initially had increased L/P-ratio (>30). A total of nine animals developed secondary increase. In the hypothermic group this was observed in 2/7 animals and in the normothermic group in 7/8 (p=0.04). Glutamate increased initially in all animals with secondary increases in two animals in each group. No differences in L/P-ratio or glutamate were detected during the rewarming phase compared to the hypothermic phase. The hypothermic group had higher SjO(2) (p=0.04). In both groups intracranial pressure increased after ROSC. CONCLUSION: After resuscitation from CA there was a risk of cerebral secondary energy failure (reflected as an increased L/P-ratio) but hypothermia treatment seemed to counteract this effect. Cerebral oxygen extraction, measured by SjO(2,) was increased in the hypothermic group probably due to reduced metabolism. Rewarming did not reveal any obvious harmful events.

Health information, an area for competition in Swedish pharmacies / Información sanitaria, un área de competencia en las farmacias suecas

Objective: To investigate the views and expectations of a selected group of customers regarding health information in Swedish pharmacies. Methods: A repeated cross sectional, questionnaire study carried out in 2004 and 2005. Customers buying calcium products answered questions on osteoporosis and general questions on health promotion and information. Results: Respondents had a positive attitude towards receiving health information from the pharmacies and towards the pharmacies’ future role in health promotion. However, only 30% of the respondents expected to get information on general health issues from the pharmacy. In spite of this, 76% (2004) and 72% (2005) of the respondents believed that the pharmacies could influence people’s willingness to improve their health. Conclusion: There is a gap between the respondents’ positive attitudes towards the Swedish pharmacies and their low expectations as regards the pharmacies’ ability to provide health information. In the light of the upcoming change to the state monopoly on medicine sales, this gap could be an important area for competition between the actors in the new situation for medicine sales in Sweden (AU)

Objetivo: Investigar las visiones y expectativas de un grupo seleccionado de clientes en relación a la información en las farmacias suecas. Métodos: Un cuestionario repetido transversal realizado en 2004 y 2005. Los clientes que compraban productos con calcio respondieron a preguntas sobre osteoporosis y preguntas generales sobre promoción de la salud e información. Resultados: Los respondentes tenían una actitud positiva hacia recibir información de las farmacias y hacia el futuro papel del farmacéutico en la promoción de la salud. Sin embargo, solo el 30% de los respondentes esperaba obtener información sobre aspectos generales de salud en la farmacia. A pesar de esto, el 76% (2004) y 72% (2005) de los respondentes creían que las farmacias podrían influir en la voluntad de las personas para mejorar su salud. Conclusión: Hay una brecha entre las actitudes positivas de los respondentes hacia las farmnacias suecas y sus bajas expectativas sobre la capacidad de las farmacias de proporcionar información sobre la salud. A la vista del inminente cambio en el monopolio estatal de la venta de medicamentos, esta brecha podría ser un área importante de competencia entre los actores de esta nueva situación de venta de medicamentos en Suecia (AU)

Health information, an area for competition in Swedish pharmacies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the views and expectations of a selected group of customers regarding health information in Swedish pharmacies. METHODS: A repeated cross sectional, questionnaire study carried out in 2004 and 2005. Customers buying calcium products answered questions on osteoporosis and general questions on health promotion and information. RESULTS: Respondents had a positive attitude towards receiving health information from the pharmacies and towards the pharmacies' future role in health promotion. However, only 30% of the respondents expected to get information on general health issues from the pharmacy. In spite of this, 76% (2004) and 72% (2005) of the respondents believed that the pharmacies could influence people's willingness to improve their health. CONCLUSION: There is a gap between the respondents' positive attitudes towards the Swedish pharmacies and their low expectations as regards the pharmacies' ability to provide health information. In the light of the upcoming change to the state monopoly on medicine sales, this gap could be an important area for competition between the actors in the new situation for medicine sales in Sweden.

Induction of mild hypothermia with infusion of cold (4 degrees C) fluid during ongoing experimental CPR.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic hypothermia after resuscitation has been shown to improve the outcome regarding neurological state and to reduce mortality. The earlier hypothermia therapy is induced probably the better. We studied the induction of hypothermia with a large volume of intravenous ice-cold fluid after cardiac arrest during ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: Twenty anaesthetised piglets were subjected to 8 min of ventricular fibrillation, followed by CPR. They were randomized into two groups. The hypothermic group was given an infusion of 4 degrees C acetated Ringer's solution 30 ml/kg at an infusion rate of 1.33 ml/kg/min, starting after 1 min of CPR. The control group received the same infusion at room temperature. All pigs received a bolus dose of vasopressin after 3 min of CPR. After 9 min, defibrillatory shocks were applied to achieve restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Core temperature and haemodynamic variables were measured at baseline and repeatedly until 180 min after ROSC. Cortical cerebral blood flow was measured, using Laser-Doppler flowmetry. RESULTS: All pigs had ROSC, except one animal in the hypothermic group. Only one animal in the hypothermic group died during the observation period. The calculated mean temperature reduction was 1.6+/-0.35 degrees C (S.D.) in the hypothermic group and 1.1+/-0.37 degrees C in the control group (p=0.009). There was no difference in cortical cerebral blood flow and haemodynamic variables. CONCLUSION: Inducing hypothermia with a cold infusion seems to be an effective method that can be started even during ongoing CPR. This method might warrant consideration for induction of early therapeutic hypothermia in cardiac arrest victims.