Is SARS-CoV-2 viral load a predictor of mortality in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients?

Objective: Viral load varies during infection and is higher during the initial stages of disease. Given the importance of the intensive care unit (ICU) in the late stages of COVID-19 infection, analyzing cycle threshold values to detect viral load upon ICU admission can be a clinically valuable tool for identifying patients with the highest mortality risk.

Methods: This was a retrospectively designed study.

Complementary Roles of Cadaveric and Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Acute Liver Failure.

Background: Living donor liver transplantation may complement cadaveric transplantation in acute liver failure (ALF) patients.

Methods: Between 2008 and 2017, 89 patients were treated for ALF; 15 patients (17%) recovered with intensive care treatment; 31 (35%) died without transplant. The records of the remaining 43 patients (median (range) age: 14 (1-62)) who underwent transplantation were evaluated.

Effects of adjunct treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins on the course of severe COVID-19: results from a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of adjunct treatment with Octagam, an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) product, on clinical outcomes and biomarkers in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Data from a single center was analyzed retrospectively. Patients had received preliminary standard intensive care (SIC) according to a local treatment algorithm, either alone or along with IVIG 5% at 30 g/day for 5 days.

Diagnosing acute brain dysfunction due to sepsis.

Developments in the management of critically ill patients suffering organ dysfunctions have demonstrated that brain is the prominent organ to be effected during critical illness. Acute brain dysfunction due to pathologic neuroinflammatory processes associated with sepsis is commonly seen and related to morbidity and mortality in the ICU treatment. Studies reported that survivors of sepsis may suffer long-term cognitive dysfunction that affects quality of life.

Association Between Inflammatory Markers and Cognitive Outcome in Patients with Acute Brain Dysfunction Due to Sepsis.

Introduction: Sepsis-induced brain dysfunction (SIBD) has been neglected until recently due to the absence of specific clinical or biological markers. There is increasing evidence that sepsis may pose substantial risks for long term cognitive impairment.

Methods: To find out clinical and inflammatory factors associated with acute SIBD serum levels of cytokines, complement breakdown products and neurodegeneration markers were measured by ELISA in sera of 86 SIBD patients and 33 healthy controls.

Neuroimaging Findings in Sepsis-Induced Brain Dysfunction: Association with Clinical and Laboratory Findings.

Background: Incidence and patterns of brain lesions of sepsis-induced brain dysfunction (SIBD) have been well defined. Our objective was to investigate the associations between neuroimaging features of SIBD patients and well-known neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration factors.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 93 SIBD patients (45 men, 48 women; 50.

The frequency, risk factors, and complications of gastrointestinal dysfunction during enteral nutrition in critically ill patients.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders in intensive care patients remain relatively unexplored. Nowadays, the frequency, risk factors and complications of GI dysfunction during enteral nutrition (EN) become more questionable.

Aim: To evaluate the frequency, risk factors and complications of GI dysfunction during EN in the first 2 weeks of the intensive care unit (ICU) stay and to identify precautions to prevent the development of GI dysfunction and avoid complications.

Mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulin in septic encephalopathy.

Acute brain dysfunction associated with sepsis is a serious complication that results in morbidity and mortality. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment is known to alleviate behavioral deficits in the experimentally induced model of sepsis. To delineate the mechanisms by which IVIg treatment prevents neuronal dysfunction, an array of immunological and apoptosis markers was investigated.

A Case of Biotinidase Deficiency in an Adult with Respiratory Failure in the Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Biotinidase deficiency (BD) is a rare, inherited autosomal recessive disorder that is treatable within childhood. We present a patient with pneumonia and respiratory acidosis who was not diagnosed with any systemic disorders; the patient was finally diagnosed as BD.

Case Report: A thirty-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with respiratory failure that had persisted for a few days and progressively weakening over the previous six months.

Effects of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy on behavior deficits and functions in sepsis model.

Background: We aim to demonstrate behavioral alterations in a sepsis model using intravenous (IV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulins enriched with IgA and IgM (IgGAM).

Methods: We divided 48 Wistar albino rats into five groups: control group, sham-operated group (only antibiotic treatment), cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group (CLP plus antibiotic treatment), IgG group (250 mg/kg IV IgG) and IgGAM group (250 mg/kg IV IgGAM). Intravenous immunoglobulins were given 5 min after the CLP procedure.

The Comparison of Pressure (PSV) and Volume Support Ventilation (VSV) as a 'Weaning' Mode.

Objective: The purpose of our study is to compare two different ventilation modes-pressure support ventilation (PSV) and volume support ventilation (VSV)-as the means of weaning.

Methods: Sixty patients were enrolled in our study. Patients were randomized in to two groups.

The Comparison of Automatic Tube Compensation (ATC) and T-piece During Weaning.

Objective: Automatic Tube Compensation (ATC) is a newly developed mechanical ventilatory support method. The aim of this study was to compare the ATC and the T-piece as a weaning method.

Methods: Patients who were treated in ICU with mechanical ventilation for longer than 24 hours were included in this prospective clinical study.

Recruitment Maneuver Does not Increase the Risk of Ventilator Induced Lung Injury.

Background: Mechanical ventilation (MV) may induce lung injury.

Aims: To assess and evaluate the role of different mechanical ventilation strategies on ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in comparison to a strategy which includes recruitment manoeuvre (RM).

Study Design: Randomized animal experiment.

Intravenous immunoglobulins prevent the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in experimentally induced sepsis.

Interventions: The effects of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulins enriched with immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M on blood-brain barrier integrity and survival rates in septic rats were comparatively investigated.

Measurements: Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and perforation in Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into the following groups: Sham, cecal ligation and perforation, cecal ligation and perforation plus immunoglobulin G (250 mg/kg, intravenous), and cecal ligation and perforation plus immunoglobulins enriched with immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M (250 mg/kg, intravenous).

The treatment of acute liver failure with fractionated plasma separation and adsorption system: Experience in 85 applications.

Introduction: Artificial liver support systems represent a potential useful option for the treatment of liver failure. The outcomes of patients treated with the fractionated plasma separation and adsorption (FPSA) system are presented.

Patients And Methods: FPSA was performed 85 times for 27 patients (median 3 treatments/patient) with liver failure [85.

Role of magnesium sulfate in postoperative pain management for patients undergoing thoracotomy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium sulfate on pain management for post-thoracotomy patients.

Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study.

Setting: University hospital.

Risk factors for mortality of nosocomial bacteraemia in intensive care units.

Objective: The aim of this study was to follow critically ill patients prospectively in intensive care units (ICUs) to determine risk factors for mortality and outcome associated with nosocomial bacteraemia (NB).

Subjects And Methods: A case-control study of 176 patients was conducted to identify the risk factors for mortality of NB in ICU patients. The study was performed in emergency, surgical and general surgical ICUs with 23 beds during a 15-month period.

The effects of airway pressure and inspiratory time on bacterial translocation.

Background: Mechanical ventilation with high peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) induces lung injury and bacterial translocation from the lung into the systemic circulation. We investigated the effects of increased inspiratory time on translocation of intratracheally inoculated bacteria during mechanical ventilation with and without extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).

Methods: Rats were ventilated in pressure-controlled mode with 14 cm H2O PIP, 0 cm H2O PEEP, I:E ratio 1/2, and Fio2 1.

Effects of body temperature on ventilator-induced lung injury.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of body temperature on ventilator-induced lung injury.

Material And Methods: Thirty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 6 groups based on their body temperature (normothermia, 37 +/- 1 degrees C; hypothermia, 31 +/- 1 degrees C; hyperthermia, 41 +/- 1 degrees C). Ventilator-induced lung injury was achieved by ventilating for 1 hour with pressure-controlled ventilation mode set at peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) of 30 cmH2O (high pressure, or HP) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 0 cmH2O.

Time required for equilibration of arterial oxygen pressure after setting optimal positive end-expiratory pressure in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the time course of Pao2 change following the setting of optimal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: Multidisciplinary intensive care unit of a university hospital.

[The effects of immunonutrition on the development of nosocomial infections and on clinical outcome in critically ill patients].

Background: We investigated the effects of early immunonutrition on the development of nosocomial infections and clinical outcome in intensive care patients.

Methods: Thirty mechanically ventilated patients were randomly assigned to two enteral nutrition regimens in the intensive care unit. Fifteen patients (8 males, 7 females; mean age 54 years; range 21 to 72 years) received immunonutrition solution containing arginine, nucleotides, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, while controls (10 males, 5 females; mean age 55 years; range 24 to 78 years) received isocaloric solution.

[Iatrogenic hypernatremia during hydatid cyst operation].

Hypernatremia due to salt gain is generally iatrogenic. This case report presents a 55 year-old woman who was operated because of hepatic hydatid cyst. At the end of the operation, following extubation the patient was unconscious and serum sodium concentration was found to be 185 mEq/ L.