Predictive relevance of clinical scores and inflammatory parameters in secondary peritonitis.

Hypothesis: To measure and evaluate clinical scores and various inflammation parameters for providing a better outcome assessment of patients with secondary peritonitis.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: ICU of a university and a university affiliated hospital.

Significance of Elecsys S100 immunoassay for real-time assessment of traumatic brain damage in multiple trauma patients.

Background: The neuroprotein S100 released into the circulation has been suggested as a reliable marker for primary brain damage. However, safe identification of relevant traumatic brain injury (TBI) may possibly be hampered by S100 release from peripheral tissue. The objective of this study was to measure early S100 levels using the Elecsys S100 immunoassay for real-time assessment of severe TBI in multiple trauma.

Rapid measurement of S-100B serum protein levels by Elecsys S100 immunoassay in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting or endarterectomy.

Objectives: This study was designed to apply the rapid Elecsys S100 immunoassay for real-time measurement of S100 protein serum levels indicating acute brain damage in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS) or endarterectomy (CEA).

Design And Methods: Data of 14 CAS patients were compared to those of 43 CEA and 14 control patients undergoing coronary angiography (CA). S100 serum levels were measured by the full-automatic Elecsys S100 immunoassay and compared to those obtained by the well-established LIA-mat S100 system.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for human cathepsin X, a potential new inflammatory marker.

The human lysosomal cysteine-type carboxypeptidase cathepsin X is mainly present in monocytes and macrophages and may be released into the circulation due to constitutive and/or regulated secretion by (activated) immune cells. To define its potential diagnostic value as an inflammatory marker, we have developed a highly sensitive and specific sandwich-type immunoassay (ELISA) for cathepsin X permitting both intra- and extracellular detection and quantification. The dynamic range of the cathepsin X ELISA was determined to be 100 (detection limit) to 8000 pg/ml.

Bilateral lavage with diluted surfactant improves lung function after unilateral lung contusion in pigs.

Objective: This study evaluates the effects of bronchoalveolar lavage with diluted surfactant on unilateral lung contusion-induced lung dysfunction.

Design: Randomized prospective animal study.

Setting: An animal laboratory.