Prone positioning in patients with moderate and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Post hoc analysis of a previous trial has suggested that prone positioning may improve survival in patients with severe hypoxemia and with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Objective: To assess possible outcome benefits of prone positioning in patients with moderate and severe hypoxemia who are affected by ARDS.

Design, Setting, And Patients: The Prone-Supine II Study, a multicenter, unblinded, randomized controlled trial conducted in 23 centers in Italy and 2 in Spain.

Role of the kidney in plasma cytokine removal in sepsis syndrome: a pilot study.

Background: At the onset of sepsis, endotoxins or other components of the gram-negative capsular wall stimulate the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines by activating the monocyte-macrophage system. In this context, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and IL-6 are considered co-responsible for the clinical picture of sepsis syndrome. Many organs can be involved, and kidney dysfunction occurs early with a picture of non-oliguric acute renal failure (NOARF) or oliguric acute renal failure (OARF).