Critical care medicine
-
Critical care medicine · Jan 2006
Case ReportsPressure-flow signatures of central-airway mucus plugging.
Medical Intensive Care Unit of Regions Hospital, a University of Minnesota-affiliated teaching hospital. ⋯ Four newly observed signs were recorded that may serve to identify occult central airway mucus plugging in the ventilated asthmatic patient.
-
Critical care medicine · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyGut ischemia-reperfusion affects gut mucosal immunity: a possible mechanism for infectious complications after severe surgical insults.
To examine influences of gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) on gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) mass and function. ⋯ Despite the maintained mucosal immunoglobulin A level, gut I/R markedly reduces GALT cell numbers, with changes in lymphocyte phenotypes. These alterations may be associated with increased morbidity due to infectious complications after severe surgical insults.
-
Critical care medicine · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyNitric oxide modifies the sarcoplasmic reticular calcium release channel in endotoxemia by both guanosine-3',5' (cyclic) phosphate-dependent and independent pathways.
a) To determine whether decreased sarcoplasmic calcium release channel (CRC) activity is a mechanism by which myocardial contractility is reduced in endotoxemia; b) to determine whether nitric oxide modulates CRC activity in endotoxemia; and c) to examine two nitric oxide signaling pathways in relation to CRC function in endotoxemia. ⋯ Nitric oxide has a dual effect on the CRC in endotoxemia. At low concentrations, as measured in early endotoxemia, nitric oxide stabilizes the CRC through cGMP-mediated mechanisms. In late endotoxemia, high nitric oxide concentrations decrease channel activity through both cGMP-dependent and cGMP-independent mechanisms.
-
Critical care medicine · Jan 2006
Comment Letter Comparative StudyRaising mean arterial pressure in patients with septic shock.
-
Critical care medicine · Jan 2006
Editorial Comment Comparative StudyClinical skills in acute care: a role for simulation training.