Embryo-like structures (ELS) are intended for the study of embryonic development without the use of human supernumerary embryos. Scientists working in countries that do not allow research on embryos hope that these structures will replace natural embryos. The interest in ELS is largely based on two misconceptions: the belief that there is a shortage of research embryos and the belief that research on ELS will make research on natural embryos redundant. This paper argues that research efforts should be refocused on natural embryos.

IVF embryos in the bin, embryo-like structures in the spotlight.

Reproductive Biomedicine Online

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have a reliable hypoglycaemic and weight-loss effect that can intervene in obesity, which is the basis of type 2 diabetes pathology. GLP-1RA therapy has shown potential benefits in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and improving kidney outcomes in patients with diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular disease. More recent evidence is expanding their benefits to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and clinically important renal outcomes in patients with and without diabetes. Some sub-analyses of large clinical trials suggest that GLP-1RA and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor combination therapy may provide more significant reductions in heart failure hospitalization and renal composite events than each alone. Moreover, the addition of finerenone to this combination therapy could potentially provide stronger cardiorenal protective benefits. Further studies are needed to assess the potential cardiovascular and renal benefits of combination therapy and to determine suitable patient population for the therapy.

Updated evidence on cardiovascular and renal effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and combination therapy with SGLT2 inhibitors and finerenone: a narrative review and perspectives.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

There is significant variability in the application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. There are numerous studies assessing methods of determining optimal PEEP, but many methods, patient populations, and study settings lack high-quality evidence. Guidelines make no recommendations about the use of a specific method because of equipoise and lack of high-quality evidence. We conducted a scoping review to determine which methods of determining optimal PEEP have been studied and what gaps exist in the literature.

We searched five databases for primary research reports studying methods of determining optimal PEEP among adults undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. Data abstracted consisted of the titration method, setting, study design, population, and outcomes.

Two hundred and seventy-one studies with 17,205 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 73 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 10,733 patients. We identified 22 methods. Eleven were studied with an RCT. Studies enrolled participants within an intensive care unit (ICU) (216/271, 80%) or operating room (55/271, 20%). Most ICU studies enrolled patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (162/216, 75%). The three most studied methods were compliance (73 studies, 29 RCTs), imaging-based methods (65 studies, 11 RCTs), and use of PEEP-FI O2 tables (52 studies, 20 RCTs). Among ICU RCTs, the most common primary outcomes were mortality or oxygenation. Few RCTs assessed feasibility of different methods (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;3). The strengths and limitations of each method are discussed.

Numerous methods of determining optimal PEEP have been evaluated; however, notable gaps remain in the evidence supporting their use. These include specific populations (normal lungs, patients weaning from mechanical ventilation) and using alternate outcomes (ventilator-free days and feasibility) and they present significant opportunities for future study.

Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/atzqc ); first posted, 19 July 2022.

Methods for determining optimal positive end-expiratory pressure in patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation: a scoping review.

Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia

Heart failure is defined as increased intracardiac pressures, either alone or combined with reduced cardiac output. Clinically, it is presented with signs and symptoms of congestion and compensated perfusion. Cardiogenic shock, on the other hand, is the spectrum of hemodynamic disturbances that lead to hypoperfusion or need for circulatory support, due to cardiac disease. Both entities affect millions of people worldwide, have a dismal prognosis, and constitute a severe socioeconomic burden. Heart failure can be the aftermath of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathies. It undergoes multiple classifications, facilitating its investigation and treatment. The pathogenetic mechanisms differ in various types of heart failure, regarding the affected ventricles, the duration of symptoms, and their primary/secondary onset. These mechanisms reflect the complex interactions between cardiopulmonary, vascular, and hepatorenal systems. Acute deterioration of cardiac function can lead to cardiogenic shock. Myocardial infarction accounts for 81% of such cases. Healthy lifestyle and timely management of coronary artery disease are paramount, as they can prevent this life-threatening situation and reduce mortality and the economic burden for healthcare systems. Irrespective of the etiology, cardiogenic shock is interpreted using the pressure-volume loop. This can be modified for each ventricle, the underlying pathophysiology, and the time since symptoms' onset. It therefore provides valuable information about the native circulation and the expected alterations under mechanical or pharmacological support, facilitating the decision-making progress. In 2019, given the phenotypical heterogeneity of cardiogenic shock, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions introduced a classification system. According to this, patients are stratified in five stages proportionally to the severity of their condition. Aside from this classification, various biochemical, imaging, and hemodynamic monitoring indices are used to assess coagulation pathway and cardiac, hepatorenal, and pulmonary function, enabling the heart team to tailor therapy. Additionally, the prognostication progress is facilitated by scores, such as the Observatoire Regional Breton sur l'Infarctus (ORBI) score, the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) SHOCK-II score, and the CardShock score, indicating suitable escalation or de-escalation strategies. Despite the current progress, there are several areas of advancement regarding the role of vasoactive drugs in cardiogenic shock, revascularization options, mechanical ventilation patterns, hypothermia treatment, and mechanical circulatory support protocols.

Cardiac Failure and Cardiogenic Shock: Insights Into Pathophysiology, Classification, and Hemodynamic Assessment.

Curēus

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a diverse group of parenchymal lung diseases characterized by varying degrees of inflammation and/or fibrosis. Patients with ILD frequently require hospitalization, with many needing intensive care unit (ICU) admission, most often due to respiratory failure. The diagnosis and management of ILD in the ICU present unique challenges. Diagnosis primarily relies on chest CT imaging to identify fibrosis and inflammation. Acute exacerbations, whether in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or non-IPF ILD, require careful evaluation of potential triggers and differential diagnoses. Bronchoalveolar lavage may provide valuable information, such as the identification of infections, but carries risks of complications. Biopsies, whether transbronchial or surgical, can also be informative but pose significant procedural risks. Corticosteroids are the cornerstone of treatment for acute exacerbations of IPF, with higher doses potentially benefiting non-IPF ILD. Additional immunosuppressive agents may be used in cases with evidence of inflammation. Oxygen supplementation, particularly with high-flow nasal cannula, is often employed to manage severe hypoxemia, while noninvasive ventilation can be useful for worsening hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia. When mechanical ventilation is used, it is recommended to target low tidal volumes to minimize lung injury; high PEEP may be less effective and even associated with increased mortality. Prone positioning can improve oxygenation in severely hypoxemic patients. In addition to ventilatory strategies, careful fluid management and addressing concomitant pulmonary hypertension are essential components of care. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a high-risk intervention reserved for the most severe cases. Lung transplantation may be considered for end-stage ILD patients in the ICU, with outcomes dependent on the urgency of transplantation and the patient's overall condition. Managing ILD in the ICU requires a multidisciplinary approach, and despite recent advances, mortality remains high, emphasizing the need for continued research and individualized treatment strategies.

The Management of Interstitial Lung Disease in the ICU: A Comprehensive Review.

Journal of Clinical Medicine

The integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier maintains protein excretion below 150 mg/day. When urinary proteins increase, this indicates damage to the filtration barrier. However, proteinuria is not only a marker of kidney damage but also exacerbates it through various mechanisms involving the glomerular and tubulointerstitial compartments. Therefore, it is essential to intervene with renoprotective action that reduces the proteinuria. In this context, Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are cornerstone treatments. Recent advancements include sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, initially used for glycemic control, now recognized for their renoprotective properties in both diabetic and non-diabetic populations. Another drug, Finerenone, a selective non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, has emerged as a promising agent, offering anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic benefits with fewer side effects than traditional steroidal options. Finally, dual inhibition of angiotensin II and endothelin-1 receptors through agents like Sparsentan presents a novel approach with significant antiproteinuric effects in IgA nephropathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. This brief review summarizes the mechanisms by which proteinuria promotes kidney damage and the renoprotective therapeutic approaches available, which can be combined with lifestyle modifications and specific treatments for underlying diseases to mitigate the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Proteinuria and Progression of Renal Damage: The Main Pathogenetic Mechanisms and Pharmacological Approach.

Medicina

Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening condition frequently encountered in clinical practice, particularly among patients with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension and those undergoing treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi). The management of chronic and acute hyperkalemia is complex and requires timely intervention to prevent severe complications such as cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Traditional therapeutic approaches to chronic hyperkalemia, including dietary potassium restriction, use of diuretics, and administration of cation-exchange resins like sodium polystyrene sulfonate, often suffer from limitations like gastrointestinal side effects, variable efficacy, delayed onset of action, and RAASi treatment discontinuation. In recent years, the development of new potassium binders, specifically patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC), has revolutionized the management of hyperkalemia. Patiromer, a non-absorbed polymer, binds potassium in the gastrointestinal tract in exchange for calcium, thus facilitating its excretion. SZC operates by exchanging sodium and hydrogen ions for potassium, leading to efficient potassium removal. Both agents have demonstrated rapid and sustained reductions in serum potassium levels, coupled with favorable safety and tolerability profiles, in multiple clinical trials. This review article, authored by a multidisciplinary group of Portuguese experts in hyperkalemia management, provides an in-depth analysis of the efficacy and safety of current therapeutic strategies and highlights the clinical potential of new potassium binders. The introduction of patiromer and SZC offers significant advantages over traditional therapies, providing effective and better-tolerated options for patients. The review highlights the role of these novel agents in contemporary hyperkalemia management and calls for ongoing research to further refine treatment protocols and improve patient outcomes.

Hyperkalemia management: a multidisciplinary expert panel's perspective on the role of new potassium binders.

Heart Failure Reviews

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are key drugs in the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly those with hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and heart failure (HF), given their demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the risk of both surrogate and hard endpoints. Despite their positive impact on the outcome, patients with RAASi and MRAs are particularly vulnerable to hyperkalaemia, with approximately 50 % of these individuals experiencing two or more recurrences annually. The common practice of reducing the dose or discontinuing the treatment with RAASi and MRAs in conditions of hyperkalaemia results in suboptimal management of these patients, with a potential impact on their mortality and morbidity risk. Recent guidelines from cardiovascular and renal international societies increasingly recognize the need for alternative strategies to manage the risk of hyperkalaemia, allowing the continuation of RAASi and MRA therapies. In this review, we summarise the new potential options available to manage hyperkalaemia in patients with CVD and the recommendations of the most recent guidelines on the topic.

IVF embryos in the bin, embryo-like structures in the spotlight.

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