Status of Sepsis Care in European Hospitals: Results from an International Cross-Sectional Survey.

Rationale: Early detection, standardized therapy, adequate infrastructure and strategies for quality improvement should constitute essential components of every hospital's sepsis plan.

Objectives: To investigate the extent to which recommendations from the sepsis guidelines are implemented and the availability of infrastructure for the care of patients with sepsis in acute hospitals.

Methods: A multidisciplinary cross-sectional questionnaire was used to investigate sepsis care in hospitals.

Enterobactin inhibits microbiota-dependent activation of AhR to promote bacterial sepsis in mice.

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, but our understanding of the mechanisms underlying survival or susceptibility is limited. Here, as pathogens often subvert host defence mechanisms, we hypothesized that this might influence the outcome of sepsis. We used microbiota analysis, faecal microbiota transplantation, antibiotic treatment and caecal metabolite analysis to show that gut-microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites including indoles increased host survival in a mouse model of Serratia marcescens sepsis.

Artificial Tertiary Lymphoid Structures: Exploring Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a Platform for Immune Niche Formation.

Constructing artificial tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) opens new avenues for advancing cancer immunotherapy and personalized medicine by creating controllable immune niches. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) offer an ideal stromal source for such constructs, given their potent immunomodulatory abilities and accessibility. In this study, we explored the potential of adipose-derived MSCs to adopt TLS-supportive phenotypes and facilitate lymphocyte organization.

Influence of the Microbial Metabolite Acetyl Phosphate on Mitochondrial Functions Under Conditions of Exogenous Acetylation and Alkalization.

Background: Acetyl phosphate (AcP) is a microbial intermediate involved in the central bacterial metabolism. In bacteria, it also functions as a donor of acetyl and phosphoryl groups in the nonenzymatic protein acetylation and signal transduction. In host, AcP was detected as an intermediate of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, and its appearance in the blood was considered as an indication of mitochondrial breakdown.

Positive Effects of Argon Inhalation After Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats.

The noble gas argon is one of the most promising neuroprotective agents for hypoxic-reperfusion injuries of the brain. However, its effect on traumatic injuries has been insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the triple inhalation of the argon-oxygen mixture Ar 70%/O 30% on physical and neurological recovery and the degree of brain damage after traumatic brain injury and to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms of the neuroprotective effect.

The impact of early life experiences on inhibitory control and working memory.

Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a general term for a large group of nonequivalent situations that have the potential to traumatise a child. This risk factor is caused by a sensitive period of brain development, which is based on myelination, creation of synaptic connections and pruning. Dramatic environmental events during this period, such as history of institutionalisation, can disrupt optimal developmental pathways, leaving biological scars for life.

Morphology of Cortical Microglia in the Hyperacute Phase of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Hemorrhagic stroke is the deadliest type of stroke. Cellular and molecular biomarkers are important for understanding the pathophysiology of stroke. Microglia are among the most promising biological markers.

The Effect of the Acid-Base Imbalance on the Shape and Structure of Red Blood Cells.

Red blood cells respond to fluctuations in blood plasma pH by changing the rate of biochemical and physical processes that affect the specific functions of individual cells. This study aimed to analyze the effect of pH changes on red blood cell morphology and structure. The findings revealed that an increase or decrease in pH above or below the physiological level of pH 7.

Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopy for Investigation of Biomechanical Characteristics of Neutrophils.

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is a versatile tool for studying a wide range of materials. It is well suited for investigating living matter, for example, in single-cell neutrophil studies. SPM has been extensively utilized to analyze cell physical properties, providing detailed insights into their structural and functional characteristics at the nanoscale.

Common Mitochondrial Targets of Curcumin and Cinnamic Acid, the Membrane-Active Natural Phenolic Compounds.

Research has shown the multiple actions of curcumin on different cell systems, including enzymes and mitochondria. The detected effects of curcumin on mitochondria are diverse, ranging from protective to toxic. In this present work, the influence of curcumin, as well as cinnamic acid, which is a microbial metabolite and a possible product of the microbial breakdown of curcumin, on isolated mitochondria, was investigated.

Arterial Thrombosis in Acute Respiratory Infections: An Underestimated but Clinically Relevant Problem.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was increased interest in the issue of thrombotic complications of acute respiratory infections. Clinical reports and pathological studies have revealed that thrombus formation in COVID-19 may involve the venous and arterial vasculature. As thrombotic complications of infectious respiratory diseases are increasingly considered in the context of COVID-19, the fact that thrombosis in lung diseases of viral and bacterial etiology was described long before the pandemic is overlooked.

The Importance of Orthostatic Increase in Pulse Wave Velocity in the Diagnosis of Early Vascular Aging.

: Vascular aging can be assessed by arterial stiffness measured through pulse wave velocity (PWV). Increased PWV predicts arterial hypertension, cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Detection of early signs of vascular aging remains an unmet problem.

Genetics and Traumatic Brain Injury: Findings from an Exome-Based Study of a 50-Patient Case Series.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of global mortality and morbidity. Because TBI is accident-related, the role of genetics in predisposing to TBI has been largely unexplored. However, the likelihood of injury may not be entirely random and may be associated with certain physical and mental characteristics.

18 F-FDG PET Metabolic Parameters for the Prediction of Histological Response to Induction Chemotherapy in Osteosarcoma and Ewing Sarcoma : A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of 18 F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters to predict the histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.

Patients And Methods: This systematic review and network meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA-NMA and Cochrane guidelines. Electronic databases were searched from January 2008 to January 2024; this search was supplemented by snowballing methods.

An Integrated Approach Based on Clinical Data Combined with Metabolites and Biomarkers for the Assessment of Post-Operative Complications after Cardiac Surgery.

Early diagnosis of post-operative complications is an urgent task, allowing timely prescribing of appropriate therapy and reducing the cost of patient treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an integrated approach based on clinical data, along with metabolites and biomarkers, had greater predictive value than the models built on fewer data in the early diagnosis of post-operative complications after cardiac surgery. : The study included patients ( = 62) admitted for planned cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass) with ( = 26) or without ( = 36) post-operative complications.

Development of EEG Response to Unpleasant, Pleasant, and Neutral Tactile Stimuli.

Background: The study of tactile perception during a childhood is extremely important for understanding the social and communicative aspects of the child's development. Tactile perception of stimuli with different valence can have different normative stages of development.

Methods: In the present study, we examined changes in linear and nonlinear electroencephalogram (EEG) parameters during the presentation of pleasant (C-tactile optimal stroking), unpleasant (ice stroking), and neutral tactile stimuli in three groups of healthy volunteers: preschoolers 4 and 5 years, school-age children from 8 to 10 years, and adults from 20 to 40 years.

Fluorescence Spectroscopy With Temperature Functional Tests in the Assessment of Markers of Intracellular Energy Metabolism: Spatial Heterogeneity and Reproducibility of Measurements.

The fluorescence intensities of the cellular respiratory cofactors NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and FAD (oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide) reflect energy metabolism in skin and other tissues and can be quantified in vivo by fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). However, the variability of physiological parameters largely determines the reproducibility of measurement results and the reliability of the diagnostic test. In this prospective study, we evaluated the interday reproducibility of NADH and FAD fluorescence intensity measurements in the skin of 51 healthy volunteers assessed by the FS at baseline, after local cooling (10°C) and heating of the skin (35°C).

Prevalence and Impact of Malnutrition Risk on Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Electronic Health Records.

Background: Malnutrition is a critical concern in ICU settings. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, yet its prevalence and impact on clinical outcomes in patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) remain underexplored.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and impact of malnutrition risk on clinical outcomes in ICU patients with TBI, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke, and to identify key risk factors associated with malnutrition risk.

Loss of the tumour suppressor LKB1/STK11 uncovers a leptin-mediated sensitivity mechanism to mitochondrial uncouplers for targeted cancer therapy.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes one of the deadliest and most common malignancies. The LKB1/STK11 tumour suppressor is mutated in ∼ 30% of NSCLCs, typically lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD). We implemented zebrafish and human lung organoids as synergistic platforms to pre-clinically screen for metabolic compounds selectively targeting LKB1-deficient tumours.

The Tri-Steps Model of Critical Conditions in Intensive Care: Introducing a New Paradigm for Chronic Critical Illness.

The prevailing model for understanding chronic critical illness is a biphasic model, suggesting phases of acute and chronic critical conditions. A major challenge within this model is the difficulty in determining the timing of the process chronicity. It is likely that the triad of symptoms (inflammation, catabolism, and immunosuppression [ICIS]) could be associated with this particular point.

Supplementation of a High-Fat Diet with Pentadecylresorcinol Increases the Representation of in the Mouse Small and Large Intestines and May Protect against Complications Caused by Imbalanced Nutrition.

Imbalanced nutrition, such as a high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet, is associated with negative effects on human health. The composition and metabolic activity of the human gut microbiota are closely related to the type of diet and have been shown to change significantly in response to changes in food content and food supplement administration. Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are lipophilic molecules that have been found to improve lipid metabolism and glycemic control and decrease systemic inflammation.

Effects of Lithium Ions on tPA-Induced Hemorrhagic Transformation under Stroke.

Thrombolytic therapy with the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a therapeutic option for acute ischemic stroke. However, this approach is subject to several limitations, particularly the increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT). Lithium salts show neuroprotective effects in stroke, but their effects on HT mechanisms are still unknown.

Sevoflurane multiple Wash In/Wash Out at the end of anesthesia to reduce agitation: A multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative agitation is common after non-cardiac surgery. It is associated with postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction, leading to prolonged hospital stay and delayed social readjustment. Prevention and treatment strategies are lacking.