Proven Fatal Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with COVID-19 and Pneumonia.

There is increasing attention for opportunistic pathogens such as complicating SARS-CoV-2 infections in the critically ill. For invasive fungal disease, establishing a clear diagnosis can be challenging due to the invasiveness of diagnostic procedures required for a proven case. Here we present one of the first proven cases of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis by positive culture of post-mortem lung biopsy.

Induced hypothermia is associated with reduced circulating subunits of mitochondrial DNA in cardiac arrest patients.

Induced hypothermia may protect from ischemia reperfusion injury. The mechanism of protection is not fully understood and may include an effect on mitochondria. Here we describe the effect of hypothermia on circulating mitochondrial (mt) DNA in a substudy of a multicenter randomized trial (the Target Temperature Management trial).

Nebulized C1-Esterase Inhibitor does not Reduce Pulmonary Complement Activation in Rats with Severe Streptococcus Pneumoniae Pneumonia.

Complement activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pneumonia. We hypothesized that inhibition of the complement system in the lungs by repeated treatment with nebulized plasma-derived human C1-esterase inhibitor reduces pulmonary complement activation and subsequently attenuates lung injury and lung inflammation. This was investigated in a rat model of severe Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.

Helium ventilation for treatment of post-cardiac arrest syndrome: A safety and feasibility study.

Aim: Besides supportive care, the only recommended treatment for comatose patients after cardiac arrest is target temperature management. Helium reduces ischaemic injury in animal models, and might ameliorate neurological injury in patients after cardiac arrest. As no studies exist on the use of helium in patients after cardiac arrest we investigated whether this is safe and feasible.

Effect of transfusion of fresh frozen plasma on parameters of endothelial condition and inflammatory status in non-bleeding critically ill patients: a prospective substudy of a randomized trial.

Introduction: Much controversy exists on the effect of a fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion on systemic inflammation and endothelial damage. Adverse effects of FFP have been well described, including acute lung injury. However, it is also suggested that a higher amount of FFP decreases mortality in trauma patients requiring a massive transfusion.

Prolonged helium postconditioning protocols during early reperfusion do not induce cardioprotection in the rat heart in vivo: role of inflammatory cytokines.

Postconditioning of myocardial tissue employs short cycles of ischemia or pharmacologic agents during early reperfusion. Effects of helium postconditioning protocols on infarct size and the ischemia/reperfusion-induced immune response were investigated by measurement of protein and mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Rats were anesthetized with S-ketamine (150 mg/kg) and diazepam (1.

The potential of heliox as a therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults and children: a descriptive review.

Background: In neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and acute RDS (ARDS) mechanical ventilation is often necessary to manage hypoxia, whilst protecting the lungs through lower volume ventilation and permissive hypercapnia. Mechanical ventilation can, however, induce or aggravate the lung injury caused by the respiratory distress. Helium, in a gas mixture with oxygen (heliox), has a low density and can reduce the flow in narrow airways and allow for lower driving pressures.

A short course of infusion of a hydrogen sulfide-donor attenuates endotoxemia induced organ injury via stimulation of anti-inflammatory pathways, with no additional protection from prolonged infusion.

Organ failure is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Previously, we showed that a short course of infusion of a hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) donor reduced metabolism with concurrent reduction of lung injury. Here, we hypothesize that prolonged H(2)S infusion is more protective than a short course in endotoxemia with organ failure.

Mild hypothermia reduces ventilator-induced lung injury, irrespective of reducing respiratory rate.

In the era of lung-protective mechanical ventilation using limited tidal volumes, higher respiratory rates are applied to maintain adequate minute volume ventilation. However, higher respiratory rates may contribute to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Induced hypothermia reduces carbon dioxide production and might allow for lower respiratory rates during mechanical ventilation.

Induced hypothermia is protective in a rat model of pneumococcal pneumonia associated with increased adenosine triphosphate availability and turnover*.

Objective: To determine the effect of induced hypothermia on bacterial growth, lung injury, and mitochondrial function in a rat model of pneumococcal pneumosepsis.

Design: Animal study.

Setting: University research laboratory.