A Case of Takotsubo Syndrome in a Smoker-Epileptic Patient With Rhinovirus Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit: Could the InterTAK Criteria Be Useful?

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is an acute cardiac dysfunction that typically presents hypokinesis of the apical segment of the left ventricle beyond a single coronary artery territory. The pathological mechanisms of TS remain unclear, and several possible theories have been postulated, including catecholamine excess, coronary artery spasm, microvascular dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances. Based on the etiology, a primary and secondary form is distinguished.

Fasting in critical illness: the role of ketonuria - a retrospective observational study.

Background: Metabolic acidosis is a frequent finding in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). It can be caused by prolonged fasting due to surgical procedures or by medical conditions that lead to starvation ketoacidosis (SKA). Early recognition and treatment of SKA could prevent several life-threatening complications, improving survival and reducing the ICU length of stay.

Does COVID-19 vaccination protect against pulmonary embolism?

The prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID-19 patients is highly variable, depending on methodological and clinical factors, among which vaccination (1). The hypothesis of a possible protective role of vaccination in preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients has not been explored. The aim of the study was to evaluate PE prevalence in vaccinated versus unvaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Postresuscitation treatment with argon improves early neurological recovery in a porcine model of cardiac arrest.

Introduction: Effects of postresuscitation treatment with argon on neurologic recovery were investigated in a porcine model of cardiac arrest (CA) with an underlying acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded in 12 pigs, and CA was induced. After 8 min of untreated CA, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for 5 min before defibrillation.

Hypothermia improves ventricular myocyte contractility under conditions of normal perfusion and after an interval of ischemia.

Aim: Recent investigations have reported improved myocardial function during hypothermia following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. The effects of hypothermia on myocyte contractility were investigated under conditions of normal perfusion and after a 10min interval of ischemia.

Methods: Ventricular myocytes were obtained from 10 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 400+/-50g.

Gas distribution in a two-compartment model during volume or pressure ventilation: role of elastic elements.

The results of the studies on pulmonary gas distribution during constant-flow controlled-volume inflation (VCV) and inspiratory constant pressure inflation (PCV) in experimental studies are conflicting. In a mathematical model, with the characteristics of two lung compartments including tissue viscoelastic properties, pulmonary gas distribution was tested by simulating PCV and VCV at same inflation volumes. The compartmental distributions of the tidal volume were compared during CMV and PCV in different configurations obtained by changing the elastic and viscoelastic properties in each compartment, but maintaining the same total values of respiratory mechanics measured in patients.