Re-analysis of ventilator-free days (VFD) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) studies.

Background: Over recent decades, improvements in healthcare have reduced mortality and morbidity rates in many conditions. This has resulted, in part, from the identification of effective interventions in randomised trials, and in conducting such trials, a composite outcome measure (COM) with multiple components will increase event rates, which allows study completion with a smaller sample size. In critical care research, the COM "ventilator-free days" (VFD) combines mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) into a single continuous measure, which can be analysed in a variety of ways.

Ammonia-Induced Brain Edema Requires Macrophage and T Cell Expression of Toll-Like Receptor 9.

Background & Aim: Ammonia is central in the pathogenesis of brain edema in acute liver failure (ALF) with infection and systemic inflammation expediting development of intracranial hypertension (ICH). Patients with acetaminophen-induced ALF have increased neutrophil TLR9 expression which can be induced by ammonia. We determined whether ammonia-induced brain edema and immune dysfunction are mediated by TLR9 and if this could be prevented in a TLR9-deficient mouse model.

Transmission dynamics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a medical intensive care unit in India.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a global pathogen and an important but seldom investigated cause of morbidity and mortality in lower and middle-income countries where it can place a major burden on limited resources. Quantifying nosocomial transmission in resource-poor settings is difficult because molecular typing methods are prohibitively expensive. Mechanistic statistical models can overcome this problem with minimal cost.