Stroke Volume Measurements by Echocardiography and Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor in Children: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Objectives: Stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output monitoring is a cornerstone of hemodynamic assessment. Noninvasive technologies are increasingly used in children. This study compared SV measurements obtained by transcutaneous Doppler ultrasound techniques (ultrasonic cardiac output monitor [USCOM]), transthoracic echocardiography jugular (TTE-J), and parasternal (TTE-P) views performed by pediatric intensivists (OP-As) with limited training in cardiac sonography (20 previous examinations) and pediatric cardiologists (OP-Bs) with limited training in USCOM (30 previous examinations) in spontaneously ventilating children.

Ultrasound cardiac output monitoring in mechanically ventilated children.

Aim: To non-invasively identify the hemodynamic changes in critically ill children during the first 48 h following initiation of mechanical ventilation by the ultrasound cardiac output monitor (USCOM) method and compare the data in children with pulmonary and non-pulmonary pathology.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective observational study to evaluate the influence of mechanical ventilation on hemodynamic changes and to describe hemodynamic profiles of mechanically ventilated children. A total of 56 children with respiratory failure were included in the present study.

Alcohol and drug intoxications in adolescents admitted to paediatric wards in the Czech Republic: 5-year retrospective study 2006-2010.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish frequency, severity and circumstances of alcohol and drug intoxications in adolescents admitted to inpatient wards in the Czech Republic.

Methods: Chief physician of each participating ward (or their designated deputy) searched the patient records for required information. The data was then statistically processed.

Right Ventricular Pressure Overload and Pathophysiology of Growing Porcine Biomodel.

The primary objective was to create a clinically relevant model of right ventricular hypertension and to study right ventricular myocardial pathophysiology in growing organism. The secondary objective was to analyse the effect of oral enoximone (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) therapy on right ventricular haemodynamic parameters and myocardial changes in biomodel of right ventricular hypertension. The study included a total of 12 piglets of 42 days of age.

Healthy lung tissue response to mechanical ventilation in an experimental porcine model.

Background: The aim of this comparative study was to assess the impact of two different settings of tidal volume (Vt) on the function and morphology of the mechanically ventilated lungs during a 12-h period.

Materials And Methods: A total of 32 animals were randomly divided into two groups. Group A included piglets ventilated with a Vt of 6 ml/kg and group B piglets ventilated with a Vt of 10 ml/kg.

Reactive hyperaemia index as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in children with Crohn's disease is significantly lower than healthy controls.

Aim: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are prone to cardiovascular disorders, although there is little research to support this assertion, and other data are controversial in children. We aimed to determine the extent of premature atherosclerosis in Crohn's disease (CD) by measuring reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) as a functional marker of endothelial dysfunction (ED).

Methods: Twenty-one patients with CD and twelve healthy matched subjects were enrolled in the study.

Vascular histopathologic reaction to pulmonary artery banding in an in vivo growing porcine model.

Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is used as a surgical palliation to reduce excessive pulmonary blood flow caused by congenital heart defects. Due to the lack of microscopic studies dealing with the tissue remodeling caused by contemporary PAB materials, this study aimed to assess histologic changes associated with PAB surgery by analyzing local tissue reaction to the presence of Gore-Tex strips fixed around the pulmonary artery. Gore-Tex strips were used for PAB in a growing porcine model.

Effects of high tidal volume mechanical ventilation on production of cytokines, iNOS, and MIP-1β proteins in pigs.

The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal changes of the pulmonary inflammatory process as a result of mechanical stress due to mechanical ventilation. The concentrations of IL-8, TNF-α, MIP-1β, nitrites/nitrates, and inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) were investigated indicate in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Twenty-three piglets were divided into three groups.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha stimulates liver regeneration in porcine model of partial portal vein ligation.

Background/aims: Portal vein ligation (PVL) could multiply the future liver remnant volume (FLRV). Tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is connected with initial phase of liver regeneration. The aim of this basic pilot study was to accelerate regeneration of liver parenchyma after PVL.

Inhibition of transforming growth factor beta-1 augments liver regeneration after partial portal vein ligation in a porcine experimental model.

Background/aims: TGF-β1 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is over expressed in terminal phase of liver regeneration.

Methodology: Twenty-four hours after partial portal vein ligation monoclonal antibody against TGF-β1 (TGF-β1 group, 7 piglets) or physiological solution (control group, 9 piglets) were applied into the central venous catheter. The biochemical parameters (bilirubin, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, gamma- glutamyl transferase, cholinesterase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and albumin) were assessed.

Repeated bedside echocardiography in children with respiratory failure.

Background: The aim of this study was to verify the benefits and limitations of repeated bedside echocardiographic examinations in children during mechanical ventilation. For the purposes of this study, we selected the data of over a time period from 2006 to 2010.

Methods: A total of 235 children, average age 3.

Treatment of encapsulated pleural effusions in children: a prospective trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to improve the efficacy of treatment of complicated pleural effusions.

Methods: In this prospective study, 76 consecutive children (average age 5.0 +/- 4.

Interleukin-6 augments activation of liver regeneration in porcine model of partial portal vein ligation.

Background: Portal vein ligation (PVL) could multiply the future liver remnant volume (FLRV). Interuleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is associated with an initial phase of liver regeneration. The aim of this study was to accelerate the regeneration of liver parenchyma after PVL by intraportal cytokine application.

Optimization of the model of abdominal aortic aneurysm--experiment in an animal model.

Background: Many studies have been performed in order to model abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in an experimental animal, most commonly in small laboratory animals. In our study, we tried to find the best AAA model in a pig by using various mechanical and enzymatic mechanisms.

Methods: Twenty-two pigs were operated on.

Ischemic training and immunosuppressive agents reduce the intensity of ischemic reperfusion injury after kidney transplantation.

Objectives: Ischemia-reperfusion injury affects posttransplant renal function, directly increases the probability of acute rejection, and is associated with chronic rejection and impaired long-term function. Animal studies suggest that ischemic preconditioning enhances resistance to ischemia and may be augmented by treating donors using immunosuppressant agents. This study sought to confirm the hypothesis that a combination of ischemic training and immunosuppression prior to renal harvest would maximize a transplanted kidney's resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Lethal course of rotavirus gastroenteritis - a case history.

The case of fatal course of rotaviral gastroenteritis at eight months old boy has been described. Two days history of frequent watery stools in home care, hyperosmolar dehydration grading to hypovolemic shock, cardiopulmonary resuscitation in regional hospital, transported comatose with vital functions support. In spite of temporary stabilization of the patient, there was retrogression to multiorgan failure (ischemic myocardial infliction, circulatory failure, ARDS, renal failure, DIC, enteritis, post ischemic hepatopathy).