Influenza A Virus Infection Causes Chronic Lung Disease Linked to Sites of Active Viral RNA Remnants.

Clinical and experimental observations suggest that chronic lung disease is linked to respiratory viral infection. However, the long-term aspect of this relationship is not yet defined using a virus that replicates at properly high levels in humans and a corresponding animal model. In this study, we show that influenza A virus infection achieves 1 × 10-fold increases in viral load in the lung and dose-dependent severity of acute illness in mice.

Frequent Versus Infrequent Monitoring of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressures.

Background: Currently there is no accepted standard of practice for the optimal frequency of endotracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring in mechanically ventilated patients. Therefore, we conducted a study to compare infrequent endotracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring (immediately after intubation and when clinically indicated for an observed air leak or due to tube migration) with frequent endotracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring (immediately after intubation, every 8 h, and when clinically indicated).

Methods: We performed a prospective clinical trial with subjects assigned to study groups based on room assignment.