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“Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). including erythropoietin and darbepoetin, among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and anemia have yielded heterogeneous results, and

important safety questions remain unanswered We therefore undertook a meta-analysis to examine the effects selleck chemical of ESAs in this population

Methods and Results: We systematically searched EM BASE. Medline. the Cochrane Library. ClinicalTrials gov. and relevant bibliographies to identify all relevant RCTs Data were aggregated using random-effects models We identified 9 RCTs (n = 747 patients) Compared with control. ESAs were associated with a significant reduction in CHF-related hospitalizations (odds ratio [OR] = 0 41. 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0 24-0 69) The effect of ESAs on mortality was inconclusive (OR = 0 60, 95% CI = 0 32-1 11) ESAs were associated

with improved quality of life and left ventricular ejection fraction, lower brain-natriuretic peptide levels. and improved exercise tolerance test performance. There was no evidence of an increase in the incidence of adverse events among patients randomized to ESAs (OR = 0 86, 95% Cl = 0 51-1 42).

Conclusions: In patients with CHF and anemia. ESAs PRIMA-1MET datasheet are associated with a decrease in CHF-related hospitalizations and improved quality of life and exercise tolerance However. RCTs completed to date have involved a small number of patients, and available mortality data are inconclusive (J Cardiac Fail 2010,16 649-658)”
“Objective: To investigate the clinical features, management, and prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

(AIDS) patients.

Method: 24 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis with accurate pathological diagnosis were retrospectively studied.

Results: 15 male patients and nine female patients were diagnosed at the first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 1999 to November 2011. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 44.2 +/- 11.3 years (range: 24 to 65 years). Among these patients, learn more 13 had other comorbidities. 15 were symptomatic and the other nine were asymptomatic. The most common presenting symptoms were cough, chest tightness, expectoration, and fever. None had concurrent cryptococcal meningitis. The most frequent radiologic abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) scans were solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules, and masses or consolidations, and most lesions were located in the lower lobes. All patients had biopsies for the accurate diagnosis. Among the 24 patients, nine patients underwent surgical resections (eight had pneumonectomy via thoracotomy and one had a pneumonectomy via thoracoscopy).