Cardiopulmonary effects of low-dose arginine vasopressin in ovine acute lung injury.

Objective: To elucidate the effects of low-dose arginine vasopressin on cardiopulmonary functions and nitrosative stress using an established model of acute lung injury.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled laboratory experiment.

Setting: Investigational intensive care unit.

Role of storage time of red blood cells on microcirculation and tissue oxygenation in critically ill patients.

Purpose Of Review: To review the current literature on the role of storage time of transfused red blood cells on microcirculation and tissue oxygenation in critically ill patients.

Recent Findings: The actual target of transfusion of red blood cells is the maintenance of adequate tissue oxygenation. Recent studies suggest that, besides hemoglobin concentration, mixed or central venous oxygen saturation may also be used as surrogate markers for the estimation of transfusion requirement.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibition attenuates cardiopulmonary dysfunctions after combined burn and smoke inhalation injury in sheep.

Objective: We hypothesized that nitric oxide derived from the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is responsible for much of the injury resulting from skin burn and smoke inhalation. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of selective neuronal NOS inhibition on cardiopulmonary functions and cellular injury in sheep with acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to combined burn and smoke inhalation injury.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled laboratory experiment.

Processing of stored packed red blood cells using autotransfusion devices decreases potassium and microaggregates: a prospective, randomized, single-blinded in vitro study.

The aim of the study was to compare the potential of autotransfusion devices to reduce non-infectious complications related to transfusion of long-stored packed red blood cells (PRBC; n= 57), such as changes in electrolytes, blood cells and the load of free microaggregates. Following a baseline measurement, a blood pool of three PRBC was divided into three equal volumes and washed with either the Haemonetics Cell Saver (HCS) or the continuous autotransfusion system (C.A.

Combined burn and smoke inhalation injury impairs ovine hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Objective: To examine the effects of combined burn and smoke inhalation injury on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, 3-nitrotyrosine formation, and respiratory function in adult sheep.

Design: Prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, single-blinded trial.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Selective thromboxane A2 synthase inhibition by OKY-046 prevents cardiopulmonary dysfunction after ovine smoke inhalation injury.

Background: Because thromboxane A2 is implicated in the pathophysiology of acute lung injury, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of selective thromboxane A2 synthase inhibition on cardiopulmonary function in the experimental setting of severe smoke inhalation injury.

Methods: Sixteen adult sheep were operatively instrumented for chronic study. The injured intervention group was treated with the selective thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor OKY-046, whereas the injured control group received only the vehicle (n = 8 each).

Effects of manganese superoxide dismutase nebulization on pulmonary function in an ovine model of acute lung injury.

Smoke inhalation injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in thermally injured individuals. There is evidence of increased oxygen free radical activity, e.g.

The ATP-sensitive potassium-channel inhibitor glibenclamide improves outcome in an ovine model of hemorrhagic shock.

This study was designed as a prospective laboratory experiment to evaluate the effects of the ATP-sensitive potassium-channel inhibitor glibenclamide on hemodynamics and end-organ function in an ovine model of hemorrhagic shock. Twenty-four adult sheep were anesthetized and surgically prepared to measure hemodynamics of the systemic and pulmonary circulation. The anterior surface of the abdominal aorta was exposed at a location 6 cm superior to the iliac bifurcation.

Decreased mRNA stability as a mechanism of glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression by cultured keratinocytes.

Epidermal keratinocyte-derived overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor has been functionally linked to increased density of tortuous and hyperpermeable dermal microvessels, representing a characteristic component of cutaneous inflammation. We hypothesized that potent anti-inflammatory properties of synthetic glucocorticoids are attributed in part to their interference with the regulated vascular endothelial growth factor expression by keratinocytes. As vascular endothelial growth factor is markedly upregulated by autocrine transforming growth factor alpha and paracrine hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor expression, the effect of glucocorticoids on growth-factor-induced vascular endothelial growth factor production by primary and immortalized keratinocytes was examined.