195Pt NMR and DFT computational methods as tools towards the understanding of speciation and hydration/solvation of [PtX6]2- (X = Cl-, Br-) anions in solution.

195Pt NMR together with DFT calculations and MD simulations, offer a powerful toolkit with which to probe the hydration shells of the [PtCl6]2- anions, which may lead to a more profound understanding of the solute-solvent interactions of such complexes.

Nesiritide: past, present, and future.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an endogenous cardiac neurohormone, produced in the ventricles in response to pressure and volume elevation. Nesiritide is identical to endogenous BNP and is synthesized using recombinant DNA technology. It is currently used in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure. In clinical trials, nesiritide has been shown to decrease pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, right atrial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance, as well as increase cardiac index and stroke volume index. Infusions of nesiritide have led to increased diuresis and natriuresis. Patients treated with nesiritide have reported improvements in global clinical status, dyspnea, and fatigue. Therapy with nesiritide has resulted in decreased plasma renin, aldosterone, norepinephrine, and endothelin-1 levels, as well as reduced ventricular ectopy and ventricular tachycardia. Heart rate variability also improved with nesiritide. Patients with acute coronary syndromes, serious arrhythmia, renal disease, diastolic dysfunction, or vasopressor dependence have been safely managed with nesiritide. Early treatment with nesiritide in the emergency department may lead to decreased length of hospital stay and reduced readmission rates compared to standard care. Outpatient serial infusions of nesiritide in severe heart failure patients on optimal medical therapy may result in improved clinical status, increased ejection fraction, reduced aldosterone and endothelin-1 levels, and decreased hospitalizations. Potential future uses of nesiritide include treatment of acute coronary syndromes, pulmonary hypertension, bronchospasm in chronic lung disease, and as antifibrotic/anti-remodeling therapy or bridge to cardiac transplant. The possibility of subcutaneous injections of nesiritide has been studied in both animals and humans.

BNP in decompensated heart failure: diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential.

B-type or brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a balanced vasodilator with no inotropic nor chronotropic properties. Plasma levels can be used in diagnosis and prognosis of patients with heart failure, hypertension, myocardial infarction, right ventricular dysfunction and cor pulmonale. Intravenous therapy with BNP (nesiritide) in nearly 1000 patients demonstrated significant dose-dependent reductions in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance, as well as increased cardiac index. Compared to dobutamine, it is not pro-arrhythmic and has no effect on heart rate. Compared to standard therapy, it improves dyspnea by 3 h of therapy and leads to fewer headaches and arrhythmias than the commonly used intravenous agents nitroglycerin and dobutamine, respectively. Current research suggests an important role for use of nesiritide in the treatment of decompensated heart failure.

Split-thickness skin graft donor site care: a quantitative synthesis of the research.

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is a frequently used reconstructive technique but is associated with a large variation in practice. The purposes of this article are to integrate and synthesize the available empirical evidence regarding STSG donor site dressings, identify which dressings are associated with the best outcomes, and provide practice recommendations. This review of 33 studies found transparent film to be the best dressing for the care of STSG donor site wounds. Transparent film was associated with one of the fastest healing rates (9.47 days), a smooth epithelialized surface, a low infection rate (10 out of 394 patients or 3%), the least amount of pain (1.59 on 0 to 10 scale), and minimal cost ($.005 per square inch) when compared with other dressings.