Abolished circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion in sedated and artificially ventilated intensive care patients.

Background: Sleep disturbance is common in intensive care patients. Aside from its unpleasantness, there is a correlation with intensive care unit (ICU) syndrome/delirium. Reasons for sleep deprivation appear to be multifactorial, including the underlying illness, an acute superimposed disturbance, medications, and the ICU environment itself.

Intensive care unit syndrome/delirium is associated with anemia, drug therapy and duration of ventilation treatment.

Background: We have performed a prospective qualitative investigation of the ICU syndrome/delirium; the main parts of which have recently been published. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between the ICU syndrome/delirium and age, gender, length of ventilator treatment, length of stay and severity of disease, as well as factors related to arterial oxygenation and the amount of drugs used for sedation/analgesia.

Methods: Nineteen mechanically ventilated patients who had stayed in the ICU for more than 36 h were closely observed during their stay, and interviewed in depth twice after discharge.

Passive drug diffusion via standardized skin mini-erosion; methodological aspects and clinical findings with new device.

Purpose: To develop a clinical alternative to drug administration by injection or infusion.

Methods: A simple, mechanical device (Cellpatch) enables both the formation of a standardized small epidermal bleb and exposure of the circular base of the bleb to drug. The epidermis is split off by suctioning without bleeding or discomfort in a layer superficial to dermal capillaries and nociceptor nerves.

Nitric oxide inhalation decreases pulmonary platelet and neutrophil sequestration during extracorporeal circulation in the pig.

Objective: The inhibiting effect of nitric oxide on the aggregation and adhesion of neutrophils and platelets has been well documented in vitro. In vivo evidence, however, is more scant. In this study, we studied the effects of inhaled nitric oxide on pulmonary cellular sequestration in our sham hemodialysis model.

Dynamic accumulation of neutrophils in lungs and visceral organs during early abdominal sepsis in the pig.

Activation and accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs, neutrophils) in the lungs is considered an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of pulmonary dysfunction in association with sepsis. It probably constitutes only part of a general cellular response; and a corresponding reaction has been implicated in other organs during sepsis (e.g.