Impact of secondary sepsis on mortality in adult intensive care unit patients.

Rationale: Septic patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) suffer from immune dysregulation, potentially leading to a secondary sepsis episode. This study aims to (i) assess the secondary sepsis rate, (ii) compare the second with the first episodes in terms of demographics, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and outcomes, and iii) evaluate the outcome of secondary sepsis.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective study (2014-2017) was conducted in a Greek ICU, including consecutive cases of adult patients admitted to the ICU for at least 48 h with a principal admission diagnosis of sepsis and stayed for at least 48 h.

ICU-Associated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection: Risk Factors Affecting the Outcome Following the Emergence of Colistin-Resistant Isolates in a Regional Greek Hospital.

Intensive care unit patients may present infections by difficult-to-treat-resistant Gram-negative microorganisms. Colistin resurfaced as a last resort antibiotic for the treatment of multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, colistin might not improve survival, particularly after the emergence of colistin-resistant isolates.

Current Perspectives on the Diagnosis and Management of Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis.

Ventriculitis or post-neurosurgical meningitis or healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis (VM) is a severe infection that complicates central nervous system operations or is related to the use of neurosurgical devices or drainage catheters. It can further deteriorate patients who have already presented significant neurologic injury and is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and poor functional outcome. VM can be difficult to distinguish from aseptic meningitis, inflammation that follows hemorrhagic strokes and neurosurgical operations.

Type I Interferon Signature in Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Clinical and Laboratory Associations.

Increased expression of type I interferon (IFN)-regulated genes has been described in blood and tissue cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other rheumatic disorders. Only isolated studies have examined the type I IFN gene expression in antiphosholipid syndrome (APS), while efforts to evaluate associations with APS-related factors are scarce. Our aim was to investigate the type I IFN signature in patients with primary APS (PAPS), SLE/APS, and SLE in comparison with healthy controls, and to evaluate associations with disease-related characteristics.

The impact of N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid in contrast-induced nephropathy in critical care patients: an open-label randomized controlled study.

Background: The aim was to investigate whether the use of N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid reduce contrast-induced nephropathy incidence in critical care patients.

Methods: This was a one-center, two-arm, prospective, randomized, open-label, controlled trial in the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. Patients with stable renal function, who underwent non urgent contrast-enhanced computed tomography for diagnostic purposes, were included in the study.

New insights into the mechanisms involved in B-type natriuretic peptide elevation and its prognostic value in septic patients.

Introduction: Elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with critical sepsis (severe sepsis and septic shock) may indicate septic cardiomyopathy. However, multiple heterogeneous conditions may also be involved in increased BNP level. In addition, the prognostic value of BNP in sepsis remains debatable.

Contrast-induced nephropathy in aged critically ill patients.

Background: Aging is associated with renal structural changes and functional decline. The attributable risk for renal dysfunction from radiocontrast agents in critically ill older patients has not been well established.

Methods: In this prospective study, we assessed the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in critically ill patients with stable renal function who underwent computed tomography with intravenous contrast media.

Expression of Fas (CD95/APO-1) and Fas ligand (FasL) in experimentally-induced acute pancreatitis.

Introduction: Acinar cell death is a crucial event in acute pancreatitis (AP) and may occur either by apoptosis or necrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the apoptosis associated proteins Fas and FasL in experimentally induced severe AP.

Methods: AP was induced in 30 rats by injecting 0.