Serum syndecan-1 reflects organ dysfunction in critically ill patients.

Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is found in the endothelial glycocalyx and shed into the blood during systemic inflammatory conditions. We investigated organ dysfunction associated with changing serum SDC-1 levels for early detection of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. To evaluate the effect of SDC-1 on laboratory parameters measured the day after SDC-1 measurement with consideration for repeated measures, linear mixed effects models were constructed with each parameter as an outcome variable.

Severe heat stroke complicated by multiple cerebral infarctions: a case report.

Background: Heat-related illnesses include symptoms such as heat syncope/cramps, heat exhaustion, and life-threatening heat stroke. Usually, a heat stroke causes cerebellar ataxia, cognitive impairment, dysphagia, and aphasia. We report a very rare case of a patient who developed severe heat stroke complicated by multiple cerebral infarctions.

Development of a teicoplanin loading regimen that rapidly achieves target serum concentrations in critically ill patients with severe infections.

We performed high-dose loading (12 mg/kg every 12 h for 48 h; 4 doses total) of teicoplanin (TEIC) in patients with severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, with the goal of achieving target serum concentration (TEICc) ≥ 15 mg/l within 48 h of starting administration. The safety and effectiveness of the fixed, early-stage administration method were evaluated across a range of kidney dysfunction severity levels. TEIC high-dose loading was administered to 106 patients with MRSA infection from February 2010 to February 2013.