Inflammatory Biomarkers of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a complex pathology in which the initial injury releases damage associated proteins that exacerbate the neuroinflammatory response during the chronic secondary injury period. One of the major pathological players in the inflammatory response after TBI is the inflammasome. Increased levels of inflammasome proteins during the acute phase after TBI are associated with worse functional outcomes.

Serum Caspase-1 as an Independent Prognostic Factor in Traumatic Brain Injured Patients.

Background: The objectives of this study were to assess the association between serum caspase 1 levels and known clinical and radiological prognostic factors and determine whether caspase 1was a more powerful predictor of outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) than clinical indices alone, to determine the association between the serum levels of caspase 1 and the 6-month outcome, and to evaluate if there is any association between caspase 1 with clinical and radiological variables.

Methods: This prospective and observational study was conducted in a university hospital and included patients with TBI who required hospital admission. Serum samples were collected at hospital admission and 24 h after TBI.

Enteral nutrition volume is not correlated with lower respiratory tract infection in patients on mechanical ventilation.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of enteral nutrition volume, gastrointestinal function and the type of acid suppressive drug upon the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation (MV).

Design: A retrospective secondary analysis was carried out.

Setting: The Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital.