Early achievement of mild therapeutic hypothermia and the neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest.

Background: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) achieved by endovascular cooling has emerged as a new treatment strategy to reduce hypoxic brain injury after cardiac arrest (CA). It remains to be established how the time interval between CA and MTH impacts the neurologic outcome. We hypothesized that a more rapid achievement of MTH (time to target temperature [TTT], time to coldest temperature [TCT]) improves the outcome after CA.

MARS dialysis in decompensated alcoholic liver disease: a single-center experience.

Acute decompensation of chronically stable alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most common cause of terminal liver failure in developed countries. Molecular adsorbent recirculation system (MARS) is increasingly used as artificial liver support to facilitate spontaneous organ recovery. However, the experience to date and the evidence to justify this therapeutic strategy in acutely decompensated ALD are still insufficient.

Severe septic inflammation as a strong stimulus of myocardial NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide release.

Background: Septic shock (SS) has recently been identified as stimulus of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release. We tested whether SS mediates NT-proBNP release through cardiomyocyte necrosis. Moreover, the discriminative value of NT-proBNP for the distinction between SS and non-septic shock (NSS) was assessed.

Acute reversible cardiomyopathy with cardiogenic shock in a patient with Addisonian crisis: a case report.

A 42 year-old female, admitted to the ICU, with Addisonian crisis developed acute cardiopulmonary failure after hydrocortisone therapy was initiated. An echocardiogram showed severe reduction in the left-ventricular ejection fraction. Additionally, profound ECG abnormalities with diffuse ST-elevation and decreased QRS-amplitudes occurred, whereas Troponin-I was only moderately increased.