Articles: sepsis.
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Zhonghua Min Guo Xiao Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi · Sep 1995
Hypothermia and sepsis: the major causes of mortality in gastroschisis.
From 1984 to 1993, 25 neonates with gastroschisis were treated at Chianghua Christian Hospital (CCH). Twenty-one patients were outborn, and only four were inborn babies. Eighteen patients were treated by primary fascial closure of the abdominal wall defect and seven, by the silastic sac technique. ⋯ Six patients (24%) developed sepsis and only one survived. Metabolic acidosis related to hypothermia and sepsis were the major causes of death in this study (P values of 0.024 and 0.01 respectively). It is no doubt that an experienced pediatrician is essential for immediate neonatal care to prevent unnecessary insults.
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Although studies with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in animal models have shown that IL-1 contributes to mortality in sepsis, the mechanisms whereby IL-1 mediates lethal effects are not well established. A possible mechanism is that IL-1 enhances the activation and release of other inflammatory mediator systems such as coagulation, fibrinolysis, neutrophils, and secretory-type phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). We investigated this possibility by assessing the effect of intravenously injected recombinant human IL-1 alpha (rhIL-1 alpha) on these plasma parameters in baboons. ⋯ The difference between sPLA2 levels in both groups, although higher in the controls (maximal levels, 3,140 +/- 1,435 ng/mL in control v 2,217 +/- 1,375 ng/mL in IL-1ra-treated group), was not significant. Thus, IL-1 contributes to activation of various other mediator systems in severe sepsis in nonhuman primates. We propose that these effects may explain the lethal actions of IL-1 in this sepsis model and suggest a similar role for IL-1 in severe human sepsis.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 1995
Meta AnalysisCorticosteroid treatment for sepsis: a critical appraisal and meta-analysis of the literature.
To determine the effect of corticosteroid therapy on morbidity and mortality in patients with sepsis. ⋯ Current evidence provides no support for the use of corticosteroids in patients with sepsis or septic shock, and suggests that their use may be harmful. These trials underscore the need for future methodologically rigorous trials evaluating new immune-modulating therapies in well-defined critically ill patients with overwhelming infection.
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Clin. Exp. Immunol. · Aug 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of two types of intravenous immunoglobulins in the treatment of neonatal sepsis.
In a prospective double-blind study, standard intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was compared with an IgM-enriched IVIG in the treatment of neonatal sepsis. The two treatment groups were also compared with matched controls. One hundred and thirty babies (65 in each group) ranging from 0 to 24 days old, 480 to 4200 g in weight and born between 24 and 42 weeks of gestation who had, or were suspected of having, sepsis were given either standard IVIG or IgM-enriched IVIG (250 mg/kg per day) for 4 days in addition to supportive and antibiotic therapy. ⋯ Mortality from infection in 'culture proven sepsis' was 3/44 (6.8%) in the IgM-enriched IVIG group, 6/42 (14.2%) in the standard IVIG group, and 11/43 (25.5%) in the control group (P = 0.017, IgM versus control, P = 0.19 standard IVIG versus control). There was no statistical difference in the outcome between the two immunoglobulin therapy groups (P = 0.25). The study indicates that IVIG improves outcome in neonatal sepsis when used as an adjunct to supportive and antibiotic therapy, but larger studies are required to confirm this.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 1995
Effect of volume support, antibiotic therapy, and monoclonal antiendotoxin antibodies on mortality rate and blood concentrations of endothelin and other mediators in fulminant intra-abdominal sepsis in rats.
To study the therapeutic effects of volume support, antibiotics, and a monoclonal antiendotoxin antibody on the mortality rate and blood concentrations of endothelin and other mediators in fulminant intra-abdominal sepsis in rats. ⋯ The concentration of plasma endothelin was increased during fulminant intra-abdominal sepsis in rats. Combining volume support with antibiotic therapy reduced the mortality rate, but did not modify concentrations of plasma endothelin-1. The monoclonal antiendotoxin antibody E5 reduced the mortality rate and concentrations of endotoxin, TNF, and endothelin-1, but not big endothelin. This finding indicates that E5 therapy inhibits the conversion of big endothelin to 21-residue endothelin-1.