Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with cerebral depression.

Introduction: Bacterial nosocomial ventilator-associated pneumonias are common complications in critically-ill patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the significance of the quantitative changes of consciousness of various etiology as a risk factor for the development of this type of pneumonia.

Patients And Methods: The present prospective study included 81 patients with depressed level of consciousness of different etiology who had developed bacterial nosocomial pneumonia.

Interleukin-10-1082 promoter polymorphism in association with cytokine production and sepsis susceptibility.

Objective: To investigate the -1082 (A/G) polymorphism in the promoter of the IL-10 gene in terms of IL-10 production from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to evaluate the relationship of this polymorphism with susceptibility to severe sepsis and the outcome of the disease.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Research laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology and University Hospital ICU, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University.

High interleukin 12 and low interleukin 10 production after in vitro stimulation detected in sepsis survivors.

Objective: To evaluate viability of isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and production of cytokines in vitro after stimulation as prognostic factors for survival in sepsis patients.

Design: Prospective study of the biological response of PBMC in the onset of severe sepsis.

Setting: Research laboratory of molecular biology and immunology and university hospital ICU, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University.