A Standardized Step-by-Step Approach for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sepsis.

Sepsis is the major culprit of death among critically ill patients who are hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Although sepsis-related mortality is steadily declining year-by-year due to the continuous understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism on sepsis and improvement of the bundle treatment, sepsis-associated hospitalization is rising worldwide. Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines are continuously updating, while their content is extremely complex and comprehensive for a precisely implementation in clinical practice.

Effects of acute kidney injury on acute pancreatitis patients' survival rate in intensive care unit: A retrospective study.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common acute pancreatitis (AP)-associated complications that has a significant effect on AP, but the factors affecting the AP patients' survival rate remains unclear.

Aim: To assess the influences of AKI on the survival rate in AP patients.

Methods: A total of 139 AP patients were included in this retrospective study.

Acute right ventricular dysfunction in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

To investigate the right heart function in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a retrospective analysis of 49 COVID-19 patients with ARDS was performed. Patients were divided into severe group and critically-severe group according to the severity of illness. Age-matched healthy volunteers were recruited as a control group.

Effect of initiation of renal replacement therapy on mortality in acute pancreatitis patients.

This study aims to explore effect of initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) on mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients. In this study, a total of 92 patients from the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University who were diagnosed with AP and underwent RRT or not between January 2014 and December 2018 were included in this retrospective study. Demographic and clinical data were obtained on admission to SICU.

Mechanisms of Renal-Splenic Axis Involvement in Acute Kidney Injury Mediated by the α7nAChR-NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of splenectomy on dexmedetomidine-activated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway-mediated alleviation of LPS-induced AKI. A mouse model of septic kidney injury was established in C57BL/6 mice. A total of 30 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group, LPS group, dexmedetomidine + LPS group, splenectomy group, splenectomy + LPS group, and splenectomy + dexmedetomidine + LPS group.

Clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms as initial symptoms: Retrospective case series.

Background: A large number of pneumonia cases due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been first reported in China. Meanwhile, the virus is sweeping all around the world and has infected millions of people. Fever and pulmonary symptoms have been noticed as major and early signs of infection, whereas gastrointestinal symptoms were also observed in a significant portion of patients.

A multi-center cross-sectional study on blood purification among adult patients in intensive care unit in China: a study protocol.

Background: Blood purification (BP) is one of the most important rescue measures for patients with critical illness in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially for those with acute kidney injury. The purpose of this nationwide survey was to reveal the real world of current BP practice in different ICUs all over China. This study was designed to be a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Dexmedetomidine protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis-associated acute kidney injury via an α7 nAChR-dependent pathway.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome that results in severe tubular damage with high morbidity and mortality. However, there is a lack of effective therapy strategies. Therefore, it is critical to develop effective drugs for AKI.

[Effects of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on hemodynamics in acute right heart failure in dogs].

Objective: To investigate the effects of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on the hemodynamics in dogs with acute right heart failure.

Methods: Ten healthy adult male dogs (weighted 20-25 kg) were randomly divided into two groups: acute right heart failure group (n = 5) and ECMO group (n = 5). Under anesthesia, dogs were underwent thoracotomy, then the catheters were placed in the right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary artery, for measuring the relevant pressures, including right arterial pressure (RAP), right ventricular pressure (RVP), and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP).