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Low serum albumin (SA) levels are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. We investigated whether baseline SA levels are associated with no-reflow following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). A total of 536 patients (aged 60 ± 13 years; 74% men) who underwent pPCI were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups: no-reflow and normal-reflow. No-reflow was defined as thrombolysis in myocardial infarction ≤2 flow. Admission SA levels were significantly lower in the no-reflow group than in the normal-reflow group (3.55 ± 0.44 vs 4.01 ± 0.32 mg/dL, P < .001). Also, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), creatinine, creatine kinase myocardial band isoenzyme, and troponin T were significantly higher while hemoglobin and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly lower in the no-reflow group. In multivariate analysis, SA level remained an independent predictor of angiographic no-reflow (odds ratio 0.114, 95% confidence interval 0.032-0.405, P = .001) together with LVEF, hsCRP, and baseline culprit artery patency. Admission SA level was an independent predictor of no-reflow after pPCI.

Prophylactic antibiotic use in childhood burns is controversial. The efficiency of antibiotic prophylaxis in 77 pediatric burn patients was evaluated. Forty-seven patients received prophylactic antibiotics (Group AP), while 30 patients received no prophylaxis (Group NP). Age, wound depth, day of admission, mechanism of burn injury, type of dressings were similar for both groups (p > 0.05). Wound infection rates were 21.3 % in Group AP and 16.7 % in Group NP (p > 0.05). S. aureus, Enterobacter spp., P. aeruginosa, and E. coli were the most common microorganisms. Patients with wound colonization and infection had a larger burned total body surface area (BTBSA) in both groups (p < 0.01). Eight patients had clinical sepsis. All but one of the septic patients were from Group AP. Associated infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract (16), urinary tract (7), and otitis media (2) were more common in Group AP. One patient died from sepsis in Group AP. Hospital stays were longer in Group AP (21.7 +/- 16.4 vs. 13.5 +/- 10 days; p < 0.05). Antibiotic prophylaxis in childhood burns does not reduce the rate of wound infection. Age, wound depth and BTBSA are not critical variables for prophylaxis. Reinforcing the use of culture-specific antibiotics for more beneficial and cost-effective results in the treatment of childhood burns is recommended.

We investigated the relationship between red cell distribution width (RDW) and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients (aged 61 ± 12, 69% men) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Consecutive patients diagnosed with ACS (n = 662) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: CIN and no CIN. Contrast-induced nephropathy was defined as an increase in serum creatinine level of ≥0.5 mg/dL or ≥25% above baseline within 72 hours after PCI. Contrast-induced nephropathy occurred in 81 (12.2%) patients. Red cell distribution width, creatinine, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in the CIN group than in the no-CIN group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that baseline RDW level (odds ratio 1.379, 95% confidence interval 1.084-1.753, P = .009), age (P = .025), creatinine (P = .004), and left ventricular ejection fraction (P = .011) were independent risk factors for the development of CIN. In conclusion, increased RDW levels are independently associated with a greater risk of CIN in patients undergoing PCI for ACS.