Preoperative fasting: in medio stat virtus

Hyponatremia and hypernatremia in the newborn: in medio stat virtus.

Hyponatremia and hypernatremia are complex clinical problems that occur frequently in full term newborns and in preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) although their real frequency and etiology are incompletely known. Pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical timing of hypo-hypernatremia are well known in adult people whereas in the newborn is less clear how and when hyp...

In medio stat virtus: unanticipated consequences of telomere dysequilibrium

The integrity of chromosome ends, or telomeres, depends on myriad processes that must balance the need to compact and protect the telomeric, G-rich DNA from detection as a double-stranded DNA break, and yet still permit access to enzymes that process, replicate and maintain a sufficient reserve of telomeric DNA. When unable to maintain this equilibrium, erosion of telomeres leads to perturbatio...

The pulmonary artery catheter: in medio virtus.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the role of the pulmonary artery catheter in the intensive care unit. DATA SOURCES Recent and relevant literature from MEDLINE and authors' personal databases. STUDY SELECTION Studies on pulmonary artery catheter use and use of other monitoring devices in critically ill patients. DATA EXTRACTION Based largely on clinical experience and assessment of the relevant publi...

In Medio Stat Virtus: An Alternative View of Usury in Adam Smith’s Thinking

Preoperative fasting in children.

C hildren undergo a preoperative fast in an attempt to minimize the fluid and solid food component of gastric contents. The importance of a preoperative fast was acknowledged early in the evolution of anesthesia as a discipline of medicine. In response to concerns about the aspiration of gastric contents, a prolonged fast presumably came into vogue. With this practice, it was not unusual to hav...