Substrate utilization of carbohydrates, fat, and protein in the late acute phase of critically ill surgical patients: A retrospective longitudinal study.

Background And Aims: Tailoring nutrition to measured energy expenditure (EE) and provision of adequate protein amounts, is considered gold standard for critically ill patients. There are currently no recommendations to measure specific substrate utilization or to adapt nutrition accordingly.

Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal study, we analyzed results of 316 simultaneous measurements of indirect calorimetry (IC) and urinary urea nitrogen (UUN) in 191 mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients, admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) in a tertiary medical center.

Predictive Hypoxemic Threshold for Tolerating the Apnea Test While Assessing Death by Neurological Criteria.

Background: The apnea test (AT) plays a vital role in diagnosing brain death by evaluating the absence of spontaneous respiratory activity. It entails disconnecting the patient from mechanical ventilation to raise the CO partial pressure and lower the pH. Occasionally, the AT is aborted because of safety concerns, such as hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability, to prevent worsening conditions.

Linear Correlation Between Mean Arterial Pressure and Urine Output in Critically Ill Patients.

Objective: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) plays a significant role in regulating tissue perfusion and urine output (UO). The optimal MAP target in critically ill patients remains a subject of debate. We aimed to explore the relationship between MAP and UO.

Cortisol Levels During First Admission Day Are Associated With Clinical Outcomes in Surgical Critically Ill Patients.

Importance: To explore the correlation between cortisol levels during first admission day and clinical outcomes.

Objectives: Although most patients exhibit a surge in cortisol levels in response to stress, some suffer from critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). Literature remains inconclusive as to which of these patients are at greater risk of poor outcomes.

Kinetics of C-reactive protein during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: The exposure of blood to the artificial circuit during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can induce an inflammatory response. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a commonly used biomarker of systemic inflammation.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed results of daily plasma CRP measurements in 110 critically ill patients, treated with ECMO.

Two-hour indirect calorimetry measurement as a predictor of 24-hour energy expenditure in critically ill surgical patients: A longitudinal study.

Background: Measuring energy expenditure (EE) by indirect calorimetry (IC) has become the gold standard tool for critically ill patients to define energy targets and tailor nutrition. Debate remains as to the optimal duration of measurements or the optimal time of day in which to perform IC.

Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal study, we analyzed results of daily continuous IC in 270 mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary medical center and compared measurements performed at different hours of the day.

A new technology for detecting cerebral blood flow: a comparative study of ultrasound tagged NIRS and 133Xe-SPECT.

There is a need for real-time non-invasive, continuous monitoring of cerebral blood flow (CBF) during surgery, in intensive care units and clinical research. We investigated a new non-invasive hybrid technology employing ultrasound tagged near infrared spectroscopy (UT-NIRS) that may estimate changes in CBF using a cerebral blood flow index (CFI). Changes over time for UT-NIRS CFI and 133Xenon single photon emission computer tomography (133Xe-SPECT) CBF data were assessed in 10 healthy volunteers after an intravenous bolus of acetazolamide.

Intermediate acting versus long acting insulin for type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a chronic disease with short and long term complications. Its goals of therapy are to eliminate the symptoms of hyperglycaemia, reduce the long term microvascular and macrovascular complications and allow the patients to achieve a normal life-style. Basal insulin replacement for insulin dependent patients can be achieved with either intermediate or long acting insulin preparations.

Basal ganglia oscillations and pathophysiology of movement disorders.

Low frequency rest tremor is one of the cardinal signs of Parkinson's disease and some of its animal models. Current physiological studies and models of the basal ganglia differ as to which aspects of neuronal activity are crucial to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. There is evidence that neural oscillations and synchronization play a central role in the generation of the disease.

Effect of low altitude at the Dead Sea on exercise capacity and cardiopulmonary response to exercise in cystic fibrosis patients with moderate to severe lung disease.

Oxygen supplementation may improve exercise tolerance and the physiological response to exercise in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Elevated barometric pressure at low altitude is a simple means of increasing the quantity of inspired oxygen. Our objectives were to examine the effect of natural oxygen enrichment (at the Dead Sea, 396 m below sea level) on exercise capacity, and the physiological responses to maximal and submaximal exercise in CF patients.