The American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Function Standards Committee developed guidelines for the 6MWT in clinical settings. The 6MWT was chosen because it is easier to administer, better tolerated, and better reflects activities of daily living than other walk tests.
Criteria
Key Diagnostic Criteria Distinguishing Manic Episode from Hypomanic Episode
Bipolar disorder, a medical illness with substantial morbidity and mortality, is characterized by episodic recurrent mania or hypomania and major depression. The hallmark of bipolar disorder is at least one episode of mania (bipolar I disorder) or hypomania (bipolar II disorder).
Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depression
In major depression, the person’s mood is described as depressed, sad, hopeless, discouraged, or “down in the dumps”.
Guidelines for the Clinical Use of Red Cell Transfusions
The red blood cell transfusions should not be dictated by a single hemoglobin “trigger” but instead should be based on the patient’s risks of developing complications of inadequate oxygenation. Red blood cell transfusion is rarely indicated when the hemoglobin concentration is greater than 10 g/dL and is almost always indicated when it is less than 6 g/dL.
Current Indications for Use of the Swan-Ganz Catheter
The Swan-Ganz balloon flotation catheter was introduced in clinical use by H. J. C. Swan and William Ganz in 1970. Since then, the catheter has been used in many kinds of clinical fields, such as critical care medicine, cardiovascular surgery, anesthesia, and cardiology, because of its useful functions.
Diagnosis of Goodpasture’s Syndrome
Goodpasture’s syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by pulmonary hemorrhage, glomerulonephritis, and antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies.
Indications and Recommendations for Intracranial Endovascular Neurointerventional Procedures
Intracranial endovascular cerebrovascular interventions treat cerebrovascular diseases by use of minimally invasive intravascular techniques.
Clinical Laboratory Testing in the Rheumatic Diseases
The diagnosis of rheumatologic diseases is based on clinical information, blood and imaging tests, and in some cases on histology. Blood tests are useful in confirming clinically suspected diagnosis and monitoring the disease activity. The tests should be used as adjuncts to a comprehensive history and physical examination.
Indications and Contraindications for Targeted Temperature Management in Comatose Patients after Cardiac Arrest
Targeted temperature management should be implemented in the context of a broader strategy of critical care for a comatose patient with the post-cardiac arrest syndrome.
The 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint swelling, joint tenderness, and destruction of synovial joints, leading to severe disability and premature mortality. Given the presence of autoantibodies, such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti–citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) (tested as anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP]), which can precede the clinical manifestation of RA by many years, RA is considered an autoimmune disease.
A joint working group of the ACR and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) was therefore formed to develop a new approach for classification of RA.