Bertrand Russell, philosopher and Nobel prize winner said "Laughter is the most inexpensive and most effective wonder drug. Laughter is a universal medicine." Humor as medicine may be just what the doctor ordered to keep us emotionally, mentally and physically fit. Children are not only wonderful hypnotic subjects, they love laughter and silliness. The therapeutic effectiveness of hypnotherapy with children and adolescents can be enhanced when humor is incorporated into the session. Laughter is fun and free and can be used to strengthen rapport and the therapeutic alliance between the clinician and the child. The neuro-psychological development in children necessary for the appreciation and development of humor will be discussed along with how and why humor and hypnosis can be combined to increase therapeutic effectiveness.

Humor, hypnosis and kids.

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis

The "2024 AHA/ACC/ACS/ASNC/HRS/SCA/SCCT/SCMR/SVM Guideline for Perioperative Cardiovascular Management for Noncardiac Surgery" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and management of adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from August 2022 to March 2023 to identify clinical studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline.

Recommendations from the "2014 ACC/AHA Guideline on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation and Management of Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery" have been updated with new evidence consolidated to guide clinicians; clinicians should be advised this guideline supersedes the previously published 2014 guideline. In addition, evidence-based management strategies, including pharmacological therapies, perioperative monitoring, and devices, for cardiovascular disease and associated medical conditions, have been developed.

2024 AHA/ACC/ACS/ASNC/HRS/SCA/SCCT/SCMR/SVM Guideline for Perioperative Cardiovascular Management for Noncardiac Surgery: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Circulation

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a multifactorial syndrome with a high risk of short- and long-term complications as well as increased health care costs. The traditional biomarkers of AKI, serum creatinine and urine output, have important limitations. The discovery of new functional and damage/stress biomarkers has enabled a more precise delineation of the aetiology, pathophysiology, site, mechanisms, and severity of injury. This has allowed earlier diagnosis, better prognostication, and the identification of AKI sub-phenotypes. In this review, we summarize the roles and challenges of these new biomarkers in clinical practice and research.

Biomarkers in acute kidney injury.

Annals of Intensive Care

Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disease with increasing prevalence in relation to increased rates of obesity in children. It has genetic, epigenetic, social, and environmental determinants. Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is alarming given a rapidly progressive course compared with the course of adult-onset disease, early-onset vascular complications, and long-term exposure to hyperglycemia and associated complications. It is often preceded by "prediabetes," a disease phase where defects in &#x3b2;-cell function relative to insulin sensitivity emerge. Herein, we review the current understanding of the pathophysiology of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in youth. We describe the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance, the precipitous decline of &#x3b2;-cell function, and the role of other hormonal abnormalities in the pathogenesis of the disease. We discuss the critical importance of social determinants of health in the predisposition and progression of these conditions and present current management strategies and the advances in therapeutic approaches. These must adapt to meet the unique needs of the individual patient and family. Significant knowledge gaps remain that need to be addressed in future research.

Pathophysiology and Treatment of Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes in Youth.

Diabetes Care

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common pathogen associated with bloodstream infections, respiratory infections, peritonitis, infective endocarditis, and meningitis. Literature assessing duration of antibiotic therapy for a S pneumoniae bacteremia secondary to common infection is scarce, leading to variability in practice. Therefore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of short (5-10 days) versus long (11-16 days) antibiotic durations for S pneumoniae bacteremia.

This retrospective, single-center cohort study assessed hospitalized patients with S pneumoniae -positive blood cultures, who received active antibiotics within 48 hours of first positive blood culture collection and achieved clinical stability by day 10 of the first positive blood culture collection. Exclusion criteria included treatment duration &lt;5 or &gt;16 days, death before completion of 10 days of therapy, polymicrobial bloodstream infection, and invasive infection. Rates of clinical failure (composite of 30-day hospital readmission, bacteremia recurrence, and mortality) were compared between the groups.

A total of 162 patients were included, with 51 patients in the short- and 111 patients in the long-duration group. Pneumonia was the suspected source of bacteremia in 90.1% of patients. Rates of clinical failure were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Patients received a median antibiotic course of 7 days in the short group compared to 14 days in the long group; however, there was no significant difference observed in the median hospital length of stay, median intensive care unit length of stay, or rate of Clostridioides difficile infection.

Shorter antibiotic courses may be appropriate in patients with S pneumoniae bacteremia secondary to community-acquired pneumonia.

Short Versus Long Antibiotic Duration in Streptococcus pneumoniae Bacteremia.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains a significant global health concern, with increasing prevalence and a substantial impact on quality of life. This narrative review explores recent advances in our understanding of GERD pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. The complex interplay of factors contributing to GERD, including lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction, transient sphincter relaxations, and esophageal motility disorders, is discussed. Emerging diagnostic techniques, such as high-resolution manometry and impedance-pH monitoring, have enhanced our ability to accurately identify and characterize GERD. The review highlights the evolving landscape of GERD treatment, from conventional approaches like lifestyle modifications and proton pump inhibitors to novel strategies including potassium-competitive acid blockers, endoscopic therapies, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. The potential role of the microbiome in GERD pathogenesis and as a therapeutic target is examined. The concept of personalized medicine in GERD management is explored, considering genetic factors, biomarkers, and individual patient profiles. Complications of GERD, including erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma, are reviewed, emphasizing the importance of early detection and appropriate management. The economic burden and impact on the quality of due to GERD are also addressed. This comprehensive review underscores the multifaceted nature of GERD and the need for a personalized, multidisciplinary approach to its management. It highlights ongoing research efforts and emerging therapies that promise to improve outcomes for GERD patients, while also identifying areas requiring further investigation to optimize diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: New Insights and Treatment Approaches.

Curēus

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating stroke with limited medical treatments; thus, timely exploration of emerging therapeutic targets is essential. This review focuses on the latest strategies to mitigate secondary brain injury post-ICH other than targeting surgery or hemostasis, addressing a significant gap in clinical practice and highlighting potential improvements in patient outcomes.

Promising therapeutic targets to reduce secondary brain injury following ICH have recently been identified, including attenuation of iron toxicity and inhibition of ferroptosis, enhancement of endogenous resorption of hematoma, and modulation of perihematomal inflammatory responses and edema. Additionally, novel insights suggest the lymphatic system of the brain may potentially play a role in hematoma clearance and edema management. Various experimental and early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated these approaches may potentially offer clinical benefits, though most research remains in the preliminary stages.

Continued research is essential to identify multifaceted treatment strategies for ICH. Clinical translation of these emerging targets could significantly enhance the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and potentially reduce secondary brain damage and improve neurological recovery. Future efforts should focus on large-scale clinical trials to validate these approaches, to pave the way for more effective treatment protocols for spontaneous ICH.

New targets in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Current Opinion in Neurology

High-risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant mortality and may require emergency endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Intubation and ventilation are thought to exacerbate cardiorespiratory instability. Our purpose was to conduct a systematic literature review to identify studies investigating peri-intubation events in acute PE.

A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Library was performed. Results were screened by two independent observers. Studies reporting on intubation and positive pressure ventilation in acute PE patients were included. The primary outcome was adverse events during the peri-intubation period. Data was synthesized and an assessment of risk of bias was conducted. The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023444483).

4100 unique articles were screened. Three retrospective studies comprising 104 patients with acute PE met criteria and were included. Peri-intubation, hemodynamic collapse was observed in 19%-28% of cases. Patients with hemodynamic collapse exhibited higher rates of echocardiographic RV dysfunction.

Peri-intubation adverse events are common in patients with acute PE. Current evidence is limited and highlights the need for further research to optimize management of respiratory failure in acute PE and patient selection for intubation to improve patient outcomes.

Humor, hypnosis and kids.

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