Articles: human.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jan 2014
Infusion rate and plasma volume expansion of dextran and albumin in the septic guinea pig.
Intravenous fluid treatment of hypovolaemia in states of increased capillary permeability, e.g. sepsis, is often accompanied by adverse oedema formation. A challenge is therefore to achieve and maintain normovolaemia using as little plasma volume substitution as possible to minimise interstitial oedema. In the present study, we evaluated the importance of infusion rate for the plasma volume expanding effects of 6% dextran 70 and 5% human albumin in a guinea pig sepsis model. ⋯ The study performed on a guinea pig sepsis model showed that the plasma volume expanding effects of fixed volumes of 6% dextran 70 and 5% albumin were greater when given at a slow than at a fast infusion rate.
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A major pathophysiologic mechanism in sepsis is impaired host immunity which results in failure to eradicate invading pathogens and increased susceptibility to secondary infections. Although many immunosuppressive mechanisms exist, increased expression of the inhibitory receptor programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) are thought to play key roles. The newly recognized phenomenon of T cell exhaustion is mediated in part by PD-1 effects on T cells. This study tested the ability of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies to prevent apoptosis and improve lymphocyte function in septic patients. ⋯ In vitro blockade of the PD-1:PD-L1 pathway decreases apoptosis and improves immune cell function in septic patients. The current results together with multiple positive studies of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 in animal models of bacterial and fungal infections and the relative safety profile of anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 in human oncology trials to date strongly support the initiation of clinical trials testing these antibodies in sepsis, a disorder with a high mortality.
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Severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early prediction of severe AP is needed to improve patient outcomes. The aim of the present study was to find novel cytokines or combinations of cytokines that can be used for the early identification of patients with AP at risk for severe disease. ⋯ IL-6 and HGF levels upon admission have prognostic value for severe AP which is similar to levels of CRP, creatinine and calcium. Although IL-6 and HGF, as either single or combined markers, were not perfect in identifying patients at risk for severe AP, the possibility that combining them with novel prognostic markers other than cytokines might improve prognostic accuracy needs to be studied. The accuracy of IL-8, HGF and G-CSF levels in predicting severe AP in patients without clinical signs of OD upon admission warrants larger studies.
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In times of growing bacterial resistance against antimicrobiotic drugs the broad prescription of antibiotics in human medicine must be carefully considered. The perioperative antibiotic treatment is in the center of that conflict. On the one hand an efficient pathogen reduction for the preemptive treatment of infectious complications is desired but on the other hand it is suspected that this promotes the selection of multiresistant pathogens which could lead to an increase of more complicated nosocomial infections. The aim of this article is a critical appraisal of this subject on the basis of the 2012 guidelines of the German working group of Hygiene in Hospital and Practice (AWMF) and the 2010 recommendations of the Paul-Ehrlich-Gesellschaft.