Spontaneous breathing trial with pressure support on positive end-expiratory pressure and extensive use of non-invasive ventilation versus T-piece in difficult-to-wean patients from mechanical ventilation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess whether a strategy combining spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) with both pressure support (PS) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and extended use of post-extubation non-invasive ventilation (NIV) (extensively-assisted weaning) would shorten the time until successful extubation as compared with SBT with T-piece (TP) and post-extubation NIV performed in selected patients as advocated by guidelines (standard weaning), in difficult-to-wean patients from mechanical ventilation.

Methods: The study is a single-center prospective open label, randomized controlled superiority trial with two parallel groups and balanced randomization with a 1:1 ratio. Eligible patients were intubated patients mechanically ventilated for more than 24 h who failed their first SBT using TP.

Pharmacokinetics, efficacy and tolerance of cefoxitin in the treatment of cefoxitin-susceptible extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales infections in critically ill patients: a retrospective single-center study.

Background: Cefoxitin is active against some extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE), but has not been evaluated so far in the intensive care unit (ICU) settings. Data upon its pharmacokinetics (PK), tolerance and efficacy in critical conditions are scanty. We performed a retrospective single-center study in a university hospital medical ICU, in subjects presenting with cefoxitin-susceptible ESBL-PE infection and treated with cefoxitin.

Necrotizing external otitis: analysis of relapse risk factors in 66 patients managed during a 12 year period.

Background: Necrotizing external otitis (NEO) is a severe infection of the skull base that occurs generally in the elderly and/or in diabetic recipients. There are few data in the literature about the therapeutic management of this complex bone infection.

Objectives: To analyse relapses after NEO treatment completion, and to describe the clinical features of NEO.

Prevalence and risk factors of hemodynamic instability associated with preload-dependence during continuous renal replacement therapy in a prospective observational cohort of critically ill patients.

Background: Hemodynamic instability is a frequent complication of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Postural tests (i.e.

Ventilation Management and Outcomes for Subjects With Neuromuscular Disorders Admitted to ICUs With Acute Respiratory Failure.

Background: Patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD) share the risk of acute respiratory failure (ARF) leading to ICU admissions. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is often proposed as an alternative to invasive ventilation. This study describes clinical features, ventilation management, and outcomes of subjects with NMD admitted to ICU and managed for ARF.

Simultaneous Presentation of Parvovirus B19 Infection and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Patient: Description and Review of the Literature.

Unlabelled: We present the case of a 25-year-old woman without medical history, presenting with acute respiratory failure needing mechanical ventilation. Aetiologic screening showed PVB19 primary infection and concomitant SLE flare-up. We discuss the causative interactions between PVB19 and SLE in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Transpulmonary pressures in obese and non-obese COVID-19 ARDS.

Background: Data on respiratory mechanics of COVID-19 ARDS patients are scarce. Respiratory mechanics and response to positive expiratory pressure (PEEP) may be different in obese and non-obese patients.

Methods: We investigated esophageal pressure allowing determination of transpulmonary pressures (PL ) and elastances (EL) during a decremental PEEP trial from 20 to 6 cm HO in a cohort of COVID-19 ARDS patients.

Quantitative-analysis of computed tomography in COVID-19 and non COVID-19 ARDS patients: A case-control study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess whether the computed tomography (CT) features of COVID-19 (COVID+) ARDS differ from those of non-COVID-19 (COVID-) ARDS patients.

Materials And Methods: The study is a single-center prospective observational study performed on adults with ARDS onset ≤72 h and a PaO/FiO ≤ 200 mmHg. CT scans were acquired at PEEP set using a PEEP-FiO table with VT adjusted to 6 ml/kg predicted body weight.

Antimony to Cure Visceral Leishmaniasis Unresponsive to Liposomal Amphotericin B.

We report on 4 patients (1 immunocompetent, 3 immunosuppressed) in whom visceral leishmaniasis had become unresponsive to (or had relapsed after) treatment with appropriate doses of liposomal amphotericin B. Under close follow-up, full courses of pentavalent antimony were administered without life-threatening adverse events and resulted in rapid and sustained clinical and parasitological cure.

An unusual cause of cardiothyreosis.

Severe hyperthyroidism can cause cardiac complications, such as severe rhythm disturbances, heart failure and angina. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a rare complication of pregnancy, ranging from benign hydatidiform mole to malignant form. Clinical hyperthyroidism may occur in GTD, as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secreted by molar tissue is structurally similar to thyroid-stimulating hormone.

An intracellular wave of cytochrome c propagates and precedes Bax redistribution during apoptosis.

Bax is considered to be pivotal in inducing cytochrome c release (CCR) from mitochondria during apoptosis. Indeed, Bax redistributes to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) upon activation and forms homo-multimers that are capable of permeabilizing the MOM. Our attempts to image this sequence of events in single live cells resulted in unexpected observations.