Correlation between normally aerated lung and respiratory system compliance at clinical high positive end-expiratory pressure in patients with COVID-19.

Normally aerated lung tissue on computed tomography (CT) is correlated with static respiratory system compliance (C) at zero end-expiratory pressure. In clinical practice, however, patients with acute respiratory failure are often managed using elevated PEEP levels. No study has validated the relationship between lung volume and tissue and C at the applied positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).

Teriparatide-Associated Hypercalcemia Concomitant With Acute Kidney Injury: A Case-Report.

Teriparatide, a recombinant human parathyroid hormone, is an anabolic treatment for osteoporosis with a high risk of fractures. Transient hypercalcemia is an adverse effect of teriparatide and usually resolves within 16h of teriparatide administration owing to its rapid absorption and elimination. Some cases of prolonged hypercalcemia have been reported, but these improved rapidly after teriparatide discontinuation.

CD30 expression in an emerging group of mesenchymal spindle cell neoplasms with ALK fusion detected by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.

An emerging group of spindle cell neoplasms harboring fusions involving NTRK or non-NTRK kinase genes often share characteristic S100 and/or CD34 expression; however, the diagnostic utility of immunohistochemical stains is not well established in this family owing to their lack of specificity. Recently, CD30 expression in spindle cell neoplasms with kinase gene fusions, such as NTRK, BRAF, RAF1, and RET, has been increasingly identified. We herein report a 10-year-old girl with high-grade spindle cell sarcoma of the neck.

Vacuolar Protein-Sorting Proteins Are Reduced Even Before Cognitive Decline in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Currently, interventions from the preclinical stage are considered necessary for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have reported that vacuolar protein-sorting protein (VPS), a retromer construct, is involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of AD and Parkinson's disease. This study evaluated VPS26, VPS29, and VPS35 before and after the onset of cognitive decline in an App knock-in mouse model of AD that more closely resembles the human pathology than previous AD models.

Isolation of High-Purity Betanin from Red Beet and Elucidation of Its Antioxidant Activity against Peroxynitrite: An in vitro Study.

Reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are damaging for many biomolecules. Peroxynitrite (ONOO) is the most toxic molecular species among RNS. Betalains are known to possess ONOO scavenging ability.

Correlation between the hysteresis of the pressure-volume curve and the recruitment-to-inflation ratio in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Background: Since the response to lung recruitment varies greatly among patients receiving mechanical ventilation, lung recruitability should be assessed before recruitment maneuvers. The pressure-volume curve (PV curve) and recruitment-to-inflation ratio (R/I ratio) can be used bedside for evaluating lung recruitability and individualing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). Lung tissue recruitment on computed tomography has been correlated with normalized maximal distance (NMD) of the quasi-static PV curve.

Exogenous Cell Surface Modification with Cell Penetrating Peptide-Conjugated Lipids Causes Spontaneous Cell Adhesion.

The technique of cell patterning on a substrate is of great importance for platforms in cell-based assays. Chemical treatment of the substrate is commonly performed for cell patterning using cationic polymers, extracellular matrices, and antibodies. However, cell patterning could be easier if there is an approach to immobilize cells without treating the substrate surface.

Using an ICU Diary to Communicate With Family Members of COVID-19 Patients in ICU: A Case Report.

Visitation restrictions for family members are problematic in intensive care management due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed the usefulness of an intensive care unit (ICU) diary about the experiences of family members of critical COVID-19 patients. Four family members of 2 COVID-19 patients participated in this report.

[A case of chronic postural tachycardia syndrome with positive anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibody].

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a form of orthostatic intolerance characterized by symptoms such as lightheadedness, fainting, and brain fog that occur with a rapid elevation in heart rate when standing up from a reclining position. The etiology of POTS has yet to be established. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that POTS may be an autoimmune disorder such as autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, an acquired, immune-mediated form of diffuse autonomic failure.

Bilateral phrenic nerve block as an effective means of controlling inspiratory efforts in a COVID-19 patient.

Bilateral continuous phrenic nerve block effectively regulates refractory persistent, strong inspiratory effort in a patient with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A 73-year-old man with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) was stopped due to uncontrollable strong inspiratory efforts and worsened lung injury.

Cardiac Failure Requiring Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) Management in a Refeeding Syndrome Patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Refeeding syndrome is a complex metabolic disorder that develops following rapid nutritional administration after a long period of undernutrition. The onset mechanism involves intracellular transport of phosphorus, potassium, and water, in association with rapid glucose administration. The resulting hypophosphatemia is extremely dangerous and can cause severe heart failure and fatal arrhythmia.

Morphological Differences between Liquid-Based Cytology and Conventional Preparation in Endometrial Endometrioid Carcinoma Grade 1 and Grade 3, and the Differentiation of Grades in Each Method.

Introduction: Direct smearing preparation (conventional preparation [CP]) has been widely used for endometrial cytology in Japan. In CP, sampling and screening errors are problematic. In liquid-based cytology preparation (LBC), the problems of CP can be solved.

Thrombomodulin, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Protein C Levels, and Organ Dysfunction in Sepsis.

Unlabelled: Since endothelial function is closely related to organ dysfunction in sepsis and the relationship among endothelial injury, organ dysfunction, and other biomarkers remains unclear, we aimed to evaluate the correlation among endothelial injury, organ dysfunction, and several biomarkers in patients with sepsis.

Design: This was a retrospective observational study.

Setting: The study was conducted in a university hospital with 14 mixed ICU beds.

Endoscopic Insertion of Nasojejunal Feeding Tube at Bedside for Critically Ill Patients: Relationship between Tube Position and Intragastric Countercurrent of Contrast Medium.

Unlabelled: Background and Oblectives: We evaluated the success rate of endoscopically positioned nasojejunal feeding tubes and the intragastric countercurrent of contrast medium thereafter.

Method: This retrospective observational study investigated patients who were admitted to a single intensive care unit and required endoscopic placement of a post-pyloric feeding tube between January 2010 and June 2016. The feeding tube was grasped with forceps via a transoral endoscope and inserted into the duodenum or jejunum.

Light-triggered hydrophilic drug release from liposomes through removal of a photolabile protecting group.

The antibiotic penicillin G cannot be completely incorporated into hydrophobic lipid-membranes owing to its hydrophilicity. Through modification with a hydrophobic and photolabile protecting group, penicillin G was effectively incorporated into liposomes and released by photoirradiation at 365 nm.

Transient hyperlactatemia during intravenous administration of glycerol: a prospective observational study.

Background: Intravenous glycerol treatment, usually administered in the form of a 5% fructose solution, can be used to reduce intracranial pressure. The administered fructose theoretically influences blood lactate levels, although little is known regarding whether intravenous glycerol treatment causes transient hyperlactatemia. This study aimed to evaluate blood lactate levels in patients who received intravenous glycerol or mannitol.

Body weight definitions for evaluating a urinary diagnosis of acute kidney injury in patients with sepsis.

Background: We hypothesized that the use of actual body weight might lead to more frequent misdiagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) than when ideal body weight is used in underweight and/or obese patients. We examined which definition of body weight is most effective in establishing a urinary diagnosis of AKI in septic patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients aged ≥ 20 years admitted to the intensive care unit of a university hospital between June 2011 and December 2016 were analyzed.

Markers of acute kidney injury in patients with sepsis: the role of soluble thrombomodulin.

Background: Endothelial activation and damage occur early during sepsis, with activated coagulopathy and playing a major role in the pathophysiology of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to compare the various biomarkers of endothelial injury with the biomarkers of coagulation and inflammation and to determine a significant predictor of AKI in patients with sepsis.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study on patients with sepsis fulfilling the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock criteria admitted to an adult intensive care unit (ICU) at a university hospital from June 2011 to December 2016.

Roles of neurally adjusted ventilatory assist in improving gas exchange in a severe acute respiratory distress syndrome patient after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report.

Background: Patient-ventilator asynchrony is a major cause of difficult weaning from mechanical ventilation. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is reported useful to improve the synchrony in patients with sustained low lung compliance. However, the role of NAVA has not been fully investigated.

The dexmedetomidine concentration required after remifentanil anesthesia is three-fold higher than that after fentanyl anesthesia or that for general sedation in the ICU.

Purpose: The general dexmedetomidine (DEX) concentration required for sedation of intensive care unit patients is considered to be approximately 0.7 ng/mL. However, higher DEX concentrations are considered to be required for sedation and/or pain management after major surgery using remifentanil.

Multiple vascular accidents including rupture of a sinus of valsalva aneurysm, a minor ischemic stroke and intracranial arterial anomaly in a patient with systemic congenital abnormalities: a case report.

A 39-year-old man with a history of rupture of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm experienced an ischemic stroke. Although the patient presented left-sided hemiparesis for a week, no abnormal signals were indicated on diffusion-weighted imaging with repeated magnetic resonance scans. Carotid ultrasound and cerebral angiography were conducted, and they revealed hypoplasty of the left internal carotid artery with a low-lying carotid bifurcation at the level of the C6 vertebra.