Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Observational StudyCan we predict pneumococcal bacteremia in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia?
This study aimed to evaluate the role of biomarkers as markers of pneumococcal bacteremia in severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). ⋯ In this cohort, significantly higher PCT, BNP, lactate, and CRP levels were found in BPP, and PCT presented the best ability to identify pneumococcal bacteremia. A PCT serum level lower than 17 ng/mL could identify patients with SCAP unlikely to have pneumococcal bacteremia.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Observational StudyPlasma mitochondrial DNA levels in patients with trauma and severe sepsis: Time course and the association with clinical status.
This study aimed to investigate the serial changes in plasma levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in patients with trauma and severe sepsis and the mechanism of increase in mtDNA levels and the association between the levels and severity. ⋯ The levels of mtDNA were elevated during traumatic injury and severe sepsis, although time course and prognostic significance differed between the groups, suggesting that the mechanisms of mtDNA release into plasma differ.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Complement C3 depletion links to the expansion of regulatory T cells and compromises T-cell immunity in human abdominal sepsis: A prospective pilot study.
Complement depletion commonly occurred in septic patients, but this problem was often underestimated during the treatment process. This study was designed to determine the association between complement depletion and T-cell immunosuppression. ⋯ Complement C3 depletion was found to be linked to the expansion of Tregs during abdominal sepsis. Such depletion and associated immunosuppression should be paid close attention in the critical care.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Observational StudyAssociation between weight change and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients.
Body weight fluctuates daily throughout a patient's stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to a variety of factors, including fluid balance, nutritional status, type of acute illness, and presence of comorbidities. This study investigated the association between change in body weight and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients during short-term hospitalization in the ICU. ⋯ Increase in body weight of critically ill patients may be correlated with duration of mechanical ventilation use and longer stay of ICU hospitalization and be associated with ICU mortality.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
A novel method of post-pyloric feeding tube placement at bedside.
Post-pyloric feeding tube placement is often difficult, and special equipment or peristalsis agents are used to aid insertion. Although several reports have described blind techniques for post-pyloric feeding-tube placement, no general consensus about method preference has been achieved. ⋯ With a novel technique, from the bedside, without special tools or drugs, we successfully placed post-pyloric feeding tubes. Essential points when inserting the tube are confirmation of the location of the tube tip by palpation of injected air, and to avoid deflection and looping.