Results

Of the 6104 patients who underwent

randomization, 3054 were assigned to undergo intensive control and 3050 to undergo conventional control; data with regard to the primary outcome at day 90 were available for 3010 and 3012 patients, respectively. The two groups had similar characteristics at baseline. A total of 829 patients (27.5%) in the intensive-control Dibutyryl-cAMP group and 751 (24.9%) in the conventional-control group died (odds ratio for intensive control, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.28; P = 0.02). The treatment effect did not differ significantly between operative (surgical) patients and nonoperative (medical) patients (odds ratio for death in the intensive-control group, 1.31 and 1.07, respectively; P = 0.10). Severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose level, = 40 mg per deciliter [2.2 mmol per liter]) was reported in 206 of 3016 patients (6.8%) in the intensive-control group and 15 of 3014 (0.5%) in the conventional-control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups in the median number of days in the ICU (P = 0.84) or hospital (P = 0.86) or the median number of days of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.56) or renal-replacement therapy (P = 0.39).

Conclusions

In this large, international, randomized trial, we found that intensive

glucose control increased mortality among adults in the ICU: a blood glucose target of 180 mg or less per deciliter resulted in lower mortality than did a target of 81 to 108 mg per deciliter. (ClinicalTrials.gov PX-478 nmr number, NCT00220987.)”
“Objective: Rupture of glutaraldehyde-fixed porcine aortic roots has been reported, but the mechanism and incidence of this complication is unknown. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes and the risk of dilation and rupture of porcine aortic roots after implantation.

Methods: Commercially available porcine aortic roots were Megestrol Acetate used for aortic root replacement in 308 patients (Freestyle bioprosthesis [Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn] in 251 patients and Toronto

Root [St Jude Medical, St Paul, Minn] in 57 patients) whose mean age was 62 +/- 13 years. The main indication for aortic root replacement was dilation of the native aortic root. Clinical follow-up was complete at a mean of 5.3 +/- 2.5 years. Valve function and aortic root diameter were assessed by means of echocardiography.

Results: There were 10 (3.2%) operative and 39 (12.6%) late deaths. At 8 years, patients’ survival was 79.0% +/- 3.1%, freedom from reoperation was 95.3% +/- 1.7%, and freedom from severe aortic insufficiency was 93.8% +/- 2.7%. The diameter of the aortic sinuses increased from 31.9 +/- 4.3 to 34.1 +/- 4.8mm(P<.0001), and it exceeded 40 mm in 10% of the patients. Linear regression analysis revealed that the duration of follow-up (P<.0001) and the size of the valve implanted (P<.0001) were associated with risk of sinus dilation.