Shock : molecular, cellular, and systemic pathobiological aspects and therapeutic approaches : the official journal the Shock Society, the European Shock Society, the Brazilian Shock Society, the International Federation of Shock Societies
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The assessment of baroreflex function since the first appearance of endotoxemia is important because the arterial baroreflex should exert a protective role during sepsis. Nevertheless, contrasting results were previously reported. This could be due to the hemodynamic instability characterizing this condition that may per se interfere with reflex cardiovascular adjustments. ⋯ We found that blood pressure levels did not change with the infusion of LPS, whereas inflammatory cytokines increased significantly. The baroreflex sensitivity was significantly reduced 10 min after the beginning of LPS infusion, reached values about half those at baseline within 15 min after the start of infusion, and remained significantly low after the end of infusion. In conclusion, we documented that septic shock inducing LPS infusion is responsible for a very rapid impairment of the baroreflex function, independent from the level of blood pressure.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) afflicts 200,000 patients annually with a mortality rate of 30% to 60% despite wide use of low tidal volume (LTV) ventilation, the present standard of care. High-permeability alveolar edema and instability occur early in the development of ARDS, before clinical signs of lung injury, and represent potential targets for therapy. We hypothesize that early application of a protective ventilation strategy (airway pressure release ventilation [APRV]) will stabilize alveoli and reduce alveolar edema, preventing the development of ARDS. ⋯ Protective ventilation with APRV immediately following injury prevents development of ARDS. Reduction in lung edema, preservation of lung E-cadherin, and surfactant protein A abundance in BALF suggest that APRV attenuates lung permeability, edema, and surfactant degradation. Protective ventilation could change the clinical paradigm from supportive care for ARDS with LTV ventilation to preventing development of ARDS with APRV.
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Gastrointestinal bacteria and epithelia contribute to systemic inflammation and infections in critically ill patients, but the gut microbiota in these diseases has not been analyzed dynamically by molecular fingerprinting methods. This study aimed to identify ileal flora dysbiosis pattern and bacterial species that changed significantly in a rat model of intestinal ischemia and reperfusion and illustrate time courses of both epithelial alterations and gut flora variations in the same injury. Forty-eight rats were randomized into eight groups (n = 6/group). ⋯ The specific dysbiosis were characterized by Escherichia coli proliferation and Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacilli reduction. These bacteria that contributed most were identified by principal component analysis and sequencing and confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, alterations of ileal microbiota followed epithelial changes in the time course of reperfusion.
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Thromboelastography (TEG) is emerging as the standard in the management of acute coagulopathies in injured patients. Although TEG is sensitive in detecting abnormalities in clot strength, one shortcoming is differentiating between fibrinogen and platelet contributions to clot integrity. Current American algorithms suggest platelet transfusion, whereas European guidelines suggest fibrinogen concentrates for correcting low clot strength. ⋯ Moreover, FF had a stronger correlation to clot strength, and increased levels were directly associated with increased percent contribution to clot strength. In vitro studies also demonstrated an increase in FF, clot strength, and percent fibrinogen contribution to clot strength with the addition of fibrinogen concentrate. These data suggest that fibrinogen should be addressed early in trauma patients manifesting acute coagulopathy of trauma.