Assessing respiratory mechanics and muscle function is critical for both clinical practice and
research purposes. Several methodological developments over the past two decades have …

The main complaint of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
shortness of breath with exercise, that is usually progressive. The principal mechanism that …

Background Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are exposed to many sources of discomfort.
Although increasing attention is being given to the detection and treatment of pain, very little …

Background: Optimal management of patients who are clinically suspected of having
ventilator-associated pneumonia remains open to debate. Objective: To evaluate the effect …

ABSTRACT A continuous infusion of vancomycin (CIV) may provide an alternative mode of
infusion in severe hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcal (MRS) infections. A …

Rationale: Diaphragmatic function is a major determinant of the ability to successfully wean
patients from mechanical ventilation (MV). Paradoxically, MV itself results in a rapid loss of …

Background. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and
hyperinflation of the lungs, dysfunction of the diaphragm may contribute to respiratory …

Rationale: Diaphragmatic insults occurring during intensive care unit (ICU) stays have
become the focus of intense research. However, diaphragmatic abnormalities at the initial …

Rationale: Intensive care unit (ICU)-and mechanical ventilation (MV)-acquired limb muscle
and diaphragm dysfunction may both be associated with longer length of stay and worse …

Background Although traditionally associated with polycythemia, COPD has a systemic
inflammatory component that could interfere with erythropoiesis. This study describes the …