Correlation of diaphragm thickening fraction and oesophageal pressure swing in non-invasive ventilation of healthy subjects.

Introduction: The diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) may be a valuable tool for estimating respiratory effort in non-invasive ventilation. The primary aim of this physiological study is the investigation of the correlation of DTF with oesophageal pressure swings (ΔP). A secondary aim is to assess the discriminatory capacity of the index tests for different exercise loads.

Mask Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Increases Diaphragm Thickening Fraction in Healthy Subjects.

Introduction: The most widespread treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The addition of inspiratory support is a potential alternative. This is a physiological study to determine the effect of CPAP and inspiratory support pressure on respiratory effort measured by diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) in healthy volunteers.

A comprehensive antigen production and characterisation study for easy-to-implement, specific and quantitative SARS-CoV-2 serotests.

Background: Antibody tests are essential tools to investigate humoral immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. While first-generation antibody tests have primarily provided qualitative results, accurate seroprevalence studies and tracking of antibody levels over time require highly specific, sensitive and quantitative test setups.

Methods: We have developed two quantitative, easy-to-implement SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests, based on the spike receptor binding domain and the nucleocapsid protein.

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

Outcome evaluation of the bridge-to-bridge concept in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Background: Patients with cardiogenic shock can be stabilized by percutaneous implantation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). If weaning from ECMO is impossible, the implantation of a ventricular assist device (VAD) is required. Patients either go for recovery of myocardial function (bridge to recovery) or for heart transplantation (bridge to transplant).

Successful administration of levosimendan in a patient with low-gradient low-output aortic stenosis.

Aortic valve replacement in patients suffering from low-gradient aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure is associated with high operative mortality, and the perioperative use of inotropes is common. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer with positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects and has been developed for treatment of decompensated heart failure. Although its use in patients with low-gradient aortic stenosis is not established, we hypothesized that it might have beneficial effects on outcome after aortic valve replacement.