Levosimendan inhibits release of reactive oxygen species in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro and in patients with acute heart failure and septic shock: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Levosimendan is an extensively investigated inodilator showing also cardioprotective and antiinflammatory effects. The aim of our study was to explore the influence of levosimendan on polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN), a main source of reactive oxygen species, in vitro and in patients with acute heart failure or septic myocardial depression.

Methods: PMN isolated from healthy volunteers were incubated with levosimendan in vitro.

Teicoplanin pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients on continuous veno-venous hemofiltration.

Pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin (TP) was assessed in critically ill patients on continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH), in eleven patients, after the first dose and in another four after repeated administration. The TP peak concentration amounted to 55.44 +/- 15.

Lemierre's syndrome following infectious mononucleosis.

We report the case of an 18-year-old woman who was admitted to the medical intensive care unit in Innsbruck with severe septic shock and respiratory insufficiency following a prolonged infection of the upper airways (pharyngitis, sinusitis). Abscessing pneumonia and bilateral pleural empyema were diagnosed as focus. Cultures of pleural fluids were positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Enoxaparin vs. unfractionated heparin for anticoagulation during continuous veno-venous hemofiltration: a randomized controlled crossover study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the low molecular weight heparin enoxaparin as anticoagulant in continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) compared with unfractionated heparin.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled crossover study.

Setting: Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital.

Migration of leukocytes across an endothelium-epithelium bilayer as a model of renal interstitial inflammation.

Interstitial inflammation has emerged as a key event in the development of acute renal failure. To gain better insight into the nature of these inflammatory processes, the interplay between tubular epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and neutrophils (PMN) was investigated. A coculture transmigration model was developed, composed of human dermal microvascular endothelial (HDMEC) and human renal proximal tubular cells (HK-2) cultured on opposite sides of Transwell growth supports.

Amphotericin B tissue distribution in autopsy material after treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and amphotericin B colloidal dispersion.

Objectives: Tissue concentrations of amphotericin B were determined in autopsy material of patients who had been treated with liposomal amphotericin B or amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (colloidal amphotericin B) for suspected or proven invasive fungal infection.

Patients And Methods: Amphotericin B tissue levels were measured in liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and myocardial and brain tissue of 20 patients who had been treated with lipid-formulated amphotericin B, before they died from multi-organ failure. Seven patients had been treated with liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) and thirteen with colloidal amphotericin B (Amphocil).

Pharmacokinetics of liposomal amphotericin B during extracorporeal albumin dialysis.

Extracorporeal blood purification techniques such as hemofiltration or albumin dialysis can exert a significant, but not easily predictable influence on plasma pharmacokinetics of antimicrobial agents. The effect of albumin dialysis on the pharmacokinetics of liposomal amphotericin B (AMB) and other lipid-formulated drugs has not been investigated so far. Therefore, plasma concentrations of liberated and liposomal AMB were measured in a patient, who obtained liposomal AMB for suspected invasive mycosis and required albumin dialysis because of cholestatic liver failure caused by graft versus host disease after bone marrow transplantation.

Reduction of D-dimer levels after therapeutic administration of antithrombin in acquired antithrombin deficiency of severe sepsis.

Introduction: In acute disseminated intravascular coagulation, the effect of antithrombin (AT) administration on elevated levels of D-dimer is not well established. In the present study, we report on changes in circulating levels of D-dimer in response to administration of AT in a series of patients with acquired AT deficiency due to severe sepsis.

Methods: Eight consecutive critically ill medical patients presenting with acute disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with severe sepsis/septic shock received a single bolus infusion of AT over 30 minutes, aiming to achieve physiological AT levels.

Influence of antithrombin on ischemia/reperfusion injury in the isolated blood-free perfused rat heart.

Introduction: Antithrombin (AT) is well known as an important inhibitor of the coagulation system. An interesting new hypothesis is that antithrombin exerts specific anti-inflammatory effects by stimulating the production of prostacyclin in endothelial cells. Recent studies report beneficial influence on ischemia/reperfusion injury in several organs.

Calpain, calpastatin activities and ratios during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is accompanied by an early burst in calpain activity, resulting in decreased calpastatin activity and an increased calpain/calpastatin ratio, thereby promoting increased protein release. To determine the possibility of a 'calpain burst' impacting cardiac calpastatin inhibitory activity, rat hearts were subjected (Langendorff) to either 45 or 60 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion with and without pre-administration (s.c.