Procalcitonin levels to guide antibiotic therapy in adults with non-microbiologically proven apparent severe sepsis: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Some patients with the phenotype of severe sepsis may have no overt source of infection or identified pathogen. We investigated whether a procalcitonin-based algorithm influenced antibiotic use in patients with non-microbiologically proven apparent severe sepsis.

Design: This multicentre, randomised, controlled, single-blind trial was performed in two parallel groups.

Effects of esmolol on systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and on oxygenation in pigs with hypodynamic endotoxin shock.

Purpose: The aim of this experimental study is to investigate cardiovascular tolerance of blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors in an endotoxin model.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Animal laboratory in a university medical center.