arezoo ahmadi

This study aimed to investigate mortality risk factors among severe COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) to inform better management strategies and reduce mortality rates.

A descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was conducted between March 2022 and April 2023 at the intensive care unit of Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The study included patients admitted to the ICU with severe COVID-19. The main variables were demographic factors (age, gender), pre-existing medical conditions (smoking, diabetes, hypertension), disease severity markers (CT-scan scores, inflammatory and coagulation parameters), and mortality outcomes.

The study included 395 eligible patients. The mortality rate was 57.72%, with no significant difference in hospital stay duration between deceased and survived patients. Smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were significantly associated with higher mortality. Males exhibited a higher mortality rate, although not statistically significant. Patients over 65 years old had significantly higher mortality. Winter showed a significant increase in mortality, likely due to the Omicron subvariant. Higher CT scan scores and elevated inflammatory/coagulation markers correlated with increased mortality risk.

Pre-existing conditions, demographic factors, and disease severity markers are crucial predictors of mortality in severe COVID-19 patients. Tailored interventions targeting these risk factors are essential to improve outcomes.

Pulmonary embolism can cause cardiac arrest. Fibrinolytic therapy and surgical embolectomy can be used to manage it. This case report presents the clinical course of a patient who experienced intraoperative cardiac arrest resulting from massive pulmonary embolism. The patient encountered three instances of cardiac arrest requiring 35 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Subsequent treatment involved the administration of reteplase, a thrombolytic agent. Following resuscitation, the patient developed multiple organ dysfunction in the intensive care unit, necessitating the use of diverse medications. Successful resolution of organ dysfunction led to the patient's transfer to the neurosurgery department. This case highlights the complexities involved in managing pulmonary embolism-induced cardiac arrest and subsequent multiorgan dysfunction, emphasizing the significance of a multidisciplinary approach in the comprehensive care and treatment of these patients.

Different virulence factors are involved in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC); hence, this study aimed to study the prevalence of biofilm formation, virulence factors, and phylogenetic groups and their correlation with biofilm formation among UPEC isolates through a systematic review and meta?analysis.

A literature search was conducted from 1, 2000, to the end of 2021 in different databases for studies that reported biofilm together with virulence genes or phylogenetic groups in UPEC isolates from patients with UTI according to PRISMA protocol. Data were analyzed by Comprehensive meta?analysis software.

The pooled prevalence of biofilm formers was 74.7%. The combined prevalence of phylogenetic Groups A, B1, B2, and D (s) were reported at 19.6%, 11%, 50.7%, and 20.5%, respectively. The most common virulence genes reported worldwide were fimA, ecpA, and fimH, with a combined prevalence of 90.3%, 86.6%, and 64.9%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of biofilm formation in UPEC isolates with phylogenetic Groups A, B1, B2, D, C, and Fwere 12.4%, 8.7%, 33.7%, 12.4%, 2.6%, and 2.65%, respectively. Several studies showed a correlation between biofilm production and virulence genes, or phylogenetic groups.

Regarding data obtained, the high level of combined biofilm formation (74.7%) and the presence of a positive correlation between biofilm production and virulence genes, or phylogenetic groups as reported by the most studies included in the present review, indicates an important role of biofilm in the persistence of UPEC in the UTI.

Cytokine storm in severe Covid-19 disease is one of the leading causes of death in these patients. Hemoperfusion is a method used to purify the blood from toxins and inflammatory factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hemoperfusion on mortality and morbidity in patients with severe Covid - 19 disease.

This was a retrospective study which performed by reviewing the files of 30 patients with severe Covid-19 disease referred to Sina Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Thirty patients with severe covid-19 disease and positive PCR participated in the study. All patients received routine treatment protocol for covid-19. Hemoperfusion was used for 15 patients in addition to receiving routine care. The remaining 15 patients were included in the control group. Patients in the hemoperfusion group underwent four sessions of hemoperfusion using continuous renal replacement therapy with continuous venovenous hemofiltration.

the ICU length of stay in the control and hemoperfusion groups was 3.40 ± 11.40 and 9.65 ± 16.33 days, respectively (P= 0.075). 8 patients died and 7 patients were discharged in the control group, but 11 patients died and 4 patients were discharged in the hemoperfusion group (P= 0.256). The respiratory rate of patients in the control and hemoperfusion groups decreased from 7.43 ± 29.40 to 4.03 ± 24.60 and from 6.11 ± 31.60 to 5.04 ± 24.46, respectively (P < 0.001). The percentage of arterial blood oxygen saturation in the control and hemoperfusion groups increased from 90.86 ± 5.61 to 93.06 30 4.30 and from 92.33 26 3.26 to 92.06 31 5.31, respectively (P= 0.456).

Hemoperfusion could not prevent the mortality of patients and finally out of 15 patients, 11 patients died and 4 patients were discharged. Also, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of arterial blood oxygen saturation.

 Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the use of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in hypertensive patients with COVID-19 has been controversial. Following our previous study, after one year, we intended to extend our sample size and results to investigate the effects of ARBs with both in-hospital outcomes and 7-month follow-up results in patients with COVID-19.

 Patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 who were admitted to Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from February to October 2020 participated in this follow-up cohort study. The COVID-19 diagnosis was based on a positive polymerase chain reaction test or chest computed tomography scan according to guidelines. Patients were followed for disease severity, incurring in-hospital mortality, complications, and 7-month all-cause mortality.

 We evaluated 1413 patients with COVID-19 in this study. After excluding 124 patients, 1289 including 561(43.5%) hypertensive patients, entered the analysis. During the study, 875(67.9%) severe disease, 227(17.6%) in-hospital mortality, and 307(23.8%) 7-month all-cause mortality were observed. After adjusting for possible confounders, ARB was not associated with severity, in-hospital and 7-month all-cause mortality, and in-hospital complications except for acute kidney injury. Discontinuation of ARBs was significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality and 7-month all-cause mortality (both P values<0.006). We observed a better 7-month outcome in those who continued their ARBs after discharge.

 The results of this study, along with the previous studies, provide reassurance that taking ARBs is not associated with the risk of mortality, complications, and poorer outcomes in hypertensive COVID-19 patients after adjustment for possible confounders.

Iran was one of the first countries to become an epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. However, there is a dearth of data on the outcomes of COVID-19 and predictors of death in intensive care units (ICUs) in Iran. We collected extensive data from patients admitted to the ICUs of the one of the tertiary referral hospitals in Tehran, Iran, to investigate the predictors of ICU mortality.

The study population included 290 COVID-19 patients who were consecutively admitted to the ICUs of the Sina hospital from May 5, 2021, to December 6, 2021, a period that included the peak of the epidemic of the delta (δ) variant. Demographic data, history of prior chronic diseases, laboratory data (including markers of inflammation), radiologic data, and medication data were collected.

Of the 290 patients admitted to the ICUs, 187 (64.5%) died and 103 (35.5%) survived. One hundred forty-one (141, 48.6%) were men, and the median age (10th percentile, 90th percentile) was 60 (41, 80). Using logistic regression models, older age, history of hypertension, high levels of inflammatory markers, low oxygen saturation, substantial lung involvement in computed tomography (CT) scans, and gravity of the disease as indicated by the WHO 8-point ordinal scale were primary predictors of mortality at ICU. The use of remdesivir and imatinib was associated with a statistically non-significant reduction in mortality. The use of tocilizumab had almost no effect on mortality.

The findings are consistent with and add to the currently existing international literature. The findings may be used to predict risk of mortality from COVID-19 and provide some guidance on potential treatments.

Context:

 There are some discrepancies regarding the association between periodontal disease and preterm in the literature. Considering all periodontal pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is the most invasive bacterium in connective tissues, and the impact of its presence in the diverse microbial community of periodontal pathogens with a lower frequency is much greater than expected.

This study investigated the association of Pg in infra-gingival plaque of preterm and low birth weight (PTLBW) mothers.

Setting and Design: 

This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 89 women, who were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari, Iran, in 2017.

The samples were assigned by purposive method with 30 mothers had PTLBW newborns and 59 mothers had normal term and normal birth weight (NTNBW) neonates. The probing depth, bleeding on probing clinical attachment levels, plaque index, and gingival index were measured. A sample from the periodontal pocket was collected to distinguish the Pg in subgingival plaque by polymerase chain reaction. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U and Chi-square test.

According to the periodontal indexes, 37.3% and 26.7% of the mothers in the NTNBW and PTLBW were diagnosed with periodontitis, respectively. Furthermore, Pg was detected in 30% and 20.3% of the cases in the PTLBW of NTLBW mothers. The amount of Pg in infra-gingival plaque was significantly higher in the PTLBW mothers than in the NTNBW (P = 0.016).

The results indicated that the quantity of Pg could be considered a risk factor for PTLBW delivery.

Remdesivir, an antiviral medication, became an early promising therapeutic candidate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to its ability to inhibit the virus in vitro. Current evidence about remdesivir treatment has been very controversial, so we aim to evaluate remdesivir to improve our knowledge about COVID-19 management and its long-term effects. In this retrospective cohort study using registered data derived from the Sina Hospital COVID-19 Registry with a 9-month follow-up, we enrolled patients receiving remdesivir and then matched a "control group" which did not receive remdesivir based on age, gender, and severity using propensity score matching. We used multivariant Cox regression to evaluate the remdesivir effect on patients' 9-month and in-hospital survival. We enrolled 227 patients, 116 in remdesivir and 111 in the control group. 213(93.8%) patients developed the severe disease, 88(38.8%) died during the 9-month follow-up, and 84(37.0%) died during hospitalization. In multivariate analysis, remdesivir did not affect the 9-month all-cause mortality and in-hospital mortality. Remdesivir was associated with increased in-hospital survival only in severe patients with diabetes (HR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.14-0.75; P:0.008), and there was a trend for better 9-month survival in severe patients with diabetes (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.20-1.09; P:0.080). We concluded that remdesivir treatment did not increase the 9-month survival rate either in patients with COVID-19 or patients with severe disease and underlying diseases. On the other hand, we found that remdesivir treatment could increase in-hospital survival only in patients with severe COVID-19 and a history of diabetes mellitus.

The present study was conducted to compare mechanically ventilated patients with and without COVID-19 in terms of hemodynamic instability using cardiovascular indicators. 

This prospective cohort study assigned intubated and mechanically ventilated patients to two groups, i.e. with COVID-19 and without COVID-19. The hemodynamic parameters measured and compared between the two groups on the first day of ICU admission and the following four consecutive days using an ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM) included cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), stroke volume (SV), flow time corrected (FTc), minute distance (MD) and potential kinetic energy (PKE). 

Forty-three patients (males: 62.7%) were assigned to the COVID-19 group and 40 (males: 64.1%) to the one without COVID-19. Insignificant differences were observed between the two groups at baseline in terms of the mean homodynamic variables measured using the USCOM (P>0.05). The mean CO increased (P=0.020), the mean SVR insignificantly changed (P=0.267), the mean MD increased (P=0.005) and PKE decreased (P=0.066) in the COVID-19 group during the five days of evaluation. In the same period, the mean CO insignificantly changed (P=0.937), the mean SVR increased (P=0.028) and changes in MD (P=0.808) and PKE (P=0.539) were insignificant in the group without COVID-19. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of the other homodynamic parameters during the follow-up (P>0.05). 

The five-day changes in the USCOM-measured homodynamic parameters were lower in the group without COVID-19 compared to in that with COVID-19. In the group without COVID-19, no statistically-significant differences were observed between the mean follow-up values of the variables, excluding SVR, and their baseline values.

Clinical manifestations of COVID 19 is still unknown. We performed this study to determine the occurrence of pulmonary barotrauma as a complication of this disease. In this retrospective study, a total of 955 COVID 19 patients with respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen support or invasive ventilation admitted to ICU of Sina Hospital from 20 March 2020 to 9 June 2021, were included and their chest imaging reviewed. Here, we report results of chest imaging of first 92 patients of this group. Barotrauma (pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium) occurred in 11 (11.9%) of 92 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection requiring ICU admission for respiratory support and monitoring. It seems barotrauma is a common complication of COVID 19 disease. The role of increased respiratory efforts, patient or ventilation induced lung injury, viral and host response should be assessed. It needs to consider the occurrence of barotrauma in Patients with COVID-19, before expansion of dead space treatment and limiting the ventilation effects.

Phenobarbital is still one of the drugs of choice in managing patients with brain injury in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the impact of acute physiological changes on phenobarbital pharmacokinetic parameters is not well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of parenteral phenobarbital in critically ill patients with brain injury. Patients with severe traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury at high risk of seizure were included and followed for seven days. All patients initially received phenobarbital as a loading dose of 15 mg/kg over 30-minutes infusion, followed by 2 mg/kg/day divided into three doses. Blood samples were obtained on the first and fourth day of study at 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10 hours after the end of the infusion. Serum concentrations of phenobarbital were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet (UV) detector. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including the volume of distribution (Vd), half-life (t1/2), and the drug clearance (CL), were provided by MonolixSuite 2019R1 software using stochastic approximation expectation-maximization (SAEM) algorithm and compared with previously reported parameters in healthy volunteers. Data from seventeen patients were analyzed. The mean value±standard deviation of pharmacokinetic parameters was calculated as follows: Vd: 0.81±0.15 L/kg; t1/2: 6.16±2.66 days; CL: 4.23±1.51 ml/kg/h. CL and Vd were significantly lower and higher than the normal population with the value of 5.6 ml/kg/h (P=0.002) and 0.7 L/kg (P=0.01), respectively. Pharmacokinetic behavior of phenobarbital may change significantly in critically ill brain-injured patients. This study affirms the value of early phenobarbital therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to achieve therapeutic goals.

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate if the use of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) can be a suitable noninvasive surrogate approach for repeated invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) measures. 

The study used a sample of 22 adult patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from an in intensive care unit (ICU). ICP levels were measured using the gold standard and recorded in cmH20. ONSD was measured using ultrasonography with 5.6-5.7 MHz linear probe and recorded in millimeters. The data analysis was done using STATA software version 15. 

The results showed a strong positive correlation between ICP and ONSD (r = 0.743, p = 0.001). The accuracy of the sonographic ONSD declined over time, starting from a high of 90.9% at the baseline and declining to a low of merely 20.0% after 48 hours. 

These findings indicate that the ONSD approach could be very useful alternative and noninvasive method for monitoring ICP.

The term phytobezoar refers to a trapped mass in the gastrointestinal tract caused by the agglomeration of indigestible ingested plant materials, including fibers, skins, and seeds. A persimmon phytobezoar is formed after the frequent consumption of persimmons. The clinical manifestations of persimmon phytobezoars are similar to other phytobezoars and depend on the localization and size of the trapped mass.

Here, we presented a 57-year-old male with persimmon phytobezoars, which finally led to small bowel obstruction. The patient was referred to the emergency room with complaints of severe abdominal pain and frequent vomiting.The patient underwent laparotomy surgery that led to the removal of a portion of his ileum.

Overindulgence in taking persimmon can lead to formation of phytobezoar and subsequent obstruction of small intestinal. Persimmon phytobezoars are difficult to break up into pieces because of containing tannins, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most debilitating kinds of stroke. Recent evidence shows that the proper initiation of neuroprotective agents might save at risk neurons and improve the outcome.

The focus of this study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of melatonin on patients with hemorrhagic stroke.

Forty adult patients with confirmed nontraumatic ICH, who were admitted to the ICU within 24 hours of the stroke onset were enrolled in this study. Subjects in the melatonin group received 30 mg of melatonin every night for 5 consecutive nights. In order to evaluate the intensity of the neuronal injury, S100B was assessed once on day 1 and, day 5 post ICU admission. Additionally, the length of ICU stay, mortality, and the duration of mechanical ventilation were also recorded.

Forty patients completed the study. In both groups the plasma concentrations of S100B decreased after 5 days compared with their baseline values. However, this reduction was more significant in the melatonin compared to the control group (P-value < 0.05). The duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay was shorter in the melatonin group, and this difference was statistically significant for the length of ICU stay (P-value < 0.05), and marginally significant for the duration of mechanical ventilation (P-value = 0.065). The in-ICU mortality rate of the melatonin group was 15%, almost half of that of the control group (30%). However, this difference was not statistically significant.

In conclusion, melatonin can be considered as a harmless and effective nueroprotective agent with some unique features which has made it an appropriate adjunctive medicine for critically ill intubated patients.

Methadone is used for the pain management worldwide. Its special characteristics make it a potential alternative for pain management in critically ill and geriatric patients. Due to lack of studies in this population, we aimed to compare the pharmacokinetic behavior of Methadone following intramuscular and intravenous administration in geriatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients and with previously reports in healthy volunteers.

According to the limitations in ICU setting, we could include 11 patients over 65 years old, who required opioid for pain relief in this study. Patients were randomized to receive 5 mg of Methadone IM or IV injection every 8 hours for 6 days. The Methadone plasma level detected with LC-mass tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetics parameters were evaluated for each subject in both 1st and 6th days of treatment.

Based on our results, bioavailability of intramuscular Methadone in geriatric ICU patients was low and less than 40% of the dose was absorbed within first 12 hours. The volume of distribution of Methadone in the first day was significantly lower than the previously reported values in healthy subjects and significantly increased during these 6 days. The Methadone half-life in this population also significantly increased through this period.

Pharmacokinetic behavior of Methadone in geriatric ICU patients is unpredictable. Reduced volume of distribution and half-life may be observed initially, following with an increase to the normal range. It seems that IM administration of Methadone in geriatric critically ill patients may not provide target analgesic Methadone serum levels.

Although mechanical ventilation is frequently a life‑saving therapy, its use can result in unwanted side effects. It has been well documented that the choice of sedating agent may influence the duration of mechanical ventilation. Melatonin is a sedative and analgesic agent without any respiratory depressant effect which makes it an attractive adjuvant for sedation in the intubated patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.

Forty adult intubated patients with hemorrhagic stroke, who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within 24 h of onset, were enrolled in this randomized double‑blind study. Subjects in the melatonin group received 30 mg of melatonin every night throughout the nasogastric tube. Length of ICU stay, mortality, and duration of mechanical ventilation were recorded for all patients.

The duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay were shorter in patients who received melatonin in comparison with the control group, and this difference was statistically significant for the length of ICU stay and marginally significant for the duration of mechanical ventilation. Although not statistically significant, the mortality rate of the control group was 30%, almost double that of the study group (15%).

Melatonin possesses hypnotic, analgesic, anti‑inflammatory, and anti‑oxidative properties that distinguish it as an attractive adjuvant in patients under mechanical ventilation. In conclusion, the administration of melatonin may facilitate the weaning process through decreasing the consumption of sedatives with respiratory depressant properties as well as preventing ventilator‑associated lung injury

Phenytoin is an antiepileptic drug used widely for prophylaxis and treatment of seizure after neurotrauma. Phenytoin has a complex pharmacokinetics and monitoring of its serum concentrations is recommended during treatment. Total phenytoin concentration is routinely measured for monitoring of therapy. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between phenytoin total and free concentrations in neurotrauma critically-ill patients to determine whether the phenytoin total concentration is a reliable predictor of free drug, which is responsible for the therapeutic effects.

A total of 40 adult head trauma patients evaluated for free (unbound) and total serum phenytoin concentrations. Patients were divided into two groups. GroupA consists of 20 unconscious patients with severe head injury under mechanical ventilation and Group B consists of 20 conscious self-ventilated patients. Correlation and agreement between total and free phenytoin plasma concentrations were analyzed.

Pearson correlation analysis and Bland-Altman test showed weak to moderate correlation (r = 0.528) and poor agreement between free and total phenytoin concentrations in patients with severe trauma and higher Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores (GroupA) and good correlation (r = 0.817) and moderate agreement in patients with mild to moderate trauma and lower APACHE II scores (Group B).

Our results indicated that total phenytoin serum concentration is not a reliable therapeutic goal for drug monitoring in severely-ill head trauma patients even in the absence of hypoalbuminemia, renal and hepatic failure. It seems justifiable to measure free phenytoin concentration in all severely ill neurotrauma patients.

Delirium is a common postoperative complication in adolescence patients and is associated with increased costs, morbidity and mortality. Recently, an association between the occurrence of delirium and increased risk of dementia has been revealed. Several risk factors have been found to be related with the development of postoperative delirium. However, the three strategies include monitoring depth of anesthesia, adequate pain assessment and treatment, immediately diagnosing postoperative delirium are highly recommended.

 sepsis is a severe inflammatory response mediated by infection witch is characterized by oxidative stress, cytokines release and impairment of mitochondrial function. Sepsis associated encephalopathy is a transient and reversible impairment of brain function witch is affect approximately 30 percent of septic patients. Melatonin has an important physiologic role in sleep and circadian rhythm regulation, immunity system regulation, antioxidant and mitochondria protective functions, reproduction control and mood regulation. We done a double blind randomized clinical trial in order to evaluate effect of melatonin supplement on damage indicators in 28 patients with sepsis admitted to general intensive care unit. patients in melatonin receiving group, as soon as possible after the confirmation of the diagnosis of sepsis, was taken melatonin tablets with the dose of 51 milligrams 2 hours after the administration of night dietary gavage each night for the duration of 5 nights in addition to antibiotic regimen by the nurse. Patients in control group received antibiotic regimen without melatonin. Standard antibiotic protocol considered for the patients included in the study is similar and contains imipenem or meropenem plus vancomycin plus amikacin. Blood sample obtain from all patients included in the study in order to measure laboratory indicators associate with sepsis such as serum lactate, serum procalcitonin, CRP and also serum levels of S100B and NSE one time on arrival to the study and other time after receipt of the last dose of melatonin. Moreover, SOFA score and TISS 28 score were evaluated before and after intervention with melatonin. in this study the mean ± S.D. of SOFA score in melatonin receiving group after the end of intervention was significantly lower than the control group (5.71 ± 3.56 vs 7.14 ± 3.70, P=0.011). Other clinically and laboratory findings did not show any significant difference between two groups after the end of study. according to investigational aspect of melatonin administration for improvement of sepsis associated indicators and lack of comprehensive clinical guideline in order to determine optimal dose, route of administration and appropriate duration of treatment with melatonin in this indication, further investigations is necessary in this field to exactly determine the above mentioned points. Altogether it is necessary to note that with consideration of the results of this study and few other studies in this field with small sample sizes, decision about melatonin supplement efficacy or not as additive therapy in patients with sepsis, require performance of more clinical trials with greater study populations.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is widely considered as the disease of elderly white men. Inflammation is one of the most well-known mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AAA. Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in the body with established anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of Mg loading following AAA surgery on two inflammation markers, IL-6 and CRP, as well as patients’ outcome.
This study was conducted as a randomized clinical trial on 18 patients (divided into two groups) after surgical correction of Acute Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). All the patients admitted in ICU ward of Sina Hospital. In intervention group, 10 grams of MgSO4 has been infused through 12 hours. The control group has not received the intervention. IL-6 and CRP were measured and compared at times 0,12, 24 and 36 hours. The patients were monitored for 36 hours.
After intervention, the differences of heart rate and APACHE II score were not statistically significant between intervention and control groups (P=0.097 and P=0.472, respectively). IL-6 levels decreased consistently in both groups after inclusion in the study. However, IL-6 level was significantly less in intervention group early after the end of MgSO4 infusion comparing with control group (P=0.01). Likewise, the CRP level decreased significantly after inclusion in the study (P=0.005). However, these changes were not significant between intervention and control groups (P=0.297).
According to the results of this study, continuous infusion of MgSO4 after AAA surgery may provide IL-6 suppression.

Sepsis is the result of the interaction between inflammatory mediators and coagulation pathway. Unfractionated heparin may play a role as an anti-inflammatory agent beyond its anticoagulatory effect in sepsis. As a result, it may cause reduction in organ failure rate in patients with sepsis due to its impact on both inflammatory and coagulation process..
The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of heparin in sepsis. Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as an inflammatory mediator and urinary necoutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a marker of kidney injury were investigated..
Patients and This prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted in a 32-bed intensive care unit. Thirty patients with sepsis were randomized to receive heparin infusion of 500 units/hour or 5000 units of heparin three times a day, subcutaneously. The plasma level of PAI-1 and urinary level of NGAL were determined at day 0, 2 and 7..
The infusion group had a lower plasma PAI-1 level compared to the subcutaneous group at day 7 (11.3 ± 1.6 vs. 16.5 ± 4.2; P = 0.003). The urinary NGAL level was lower in the infusion group at day 2 (131.3 ± 11.9 vs. 151.2 ± 20.6; P = 0.014); however, at day 7 the NGAL level was decreased in the subcutaneous group as much as the infusion group and there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores between the two groups at day 0, 2 and 7..
Low-dose heparin infusion compared to subcutaneous heparin can decrease the plasma PAI-1 and urinary NGAL levels more rapidly. It can be related to anti-inflammatory effects of heparin, which may be more prominent in infusion route..

Arginine vasopressin as a supplementary vasopressor in septic shock restores vascular tone and mean arterial pressure, meanwhile decreases dose and exposure time to catecholamines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vasopressin on lactate and lactate clearance as markers of tissue perfusion during septic shock. In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, 30 patients with septic shock were enrolled in two groups. One group received norepinephrine infusion (titrated to reach the target MAP of ≥65 mm Hg) and the other group in addition to norepinephrine, received vasopressin at a constant rate of 0.03 u/min. Serum lactate levels were assessed at baseline, 24 and 48 hours after randomization. Lactate clearance was estimated for each patient at 24 and 48 hours. Venous lactate was measured in both groups. Despite a tendency toward higher venous lactate at 24 and 48 hours in the norepinephrine group (3.1 vs. 2.5, P=0.67 and 1.7 vs. 1.1, P=0.47), the conflict was not statistically significant among them. While lactate clearance after 24 hours was significantly higher in vasopressin treatment group (46% vs. 20%, respectively; P=0.048), the 48-hour lactate clearance did not differ from statistic viewpoints despite their clinical values (66% vs. 40%, P=0.17). Although lactate levels did not significantly differ between treatment groups, lactate clearance at 24 hours was significantly higher in vasopressin group. This may be the effect of vasopressin effect on microcirculation and tissue hypoperfusion or its catecholamine sparing effect.

The empiric antibiotic therapy can result in antibiotic overuse, development of bacterial resistance and increasing costs in critically ill patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of procalcitonin (PCT) guide treatment on antibiotic use and clinical outcomes of patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). A total of 60 patients were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into two groups, cases that underwent antibiotic treatment based on serum level of PCT as PCT group (n=30) and patients who undergoing antibiotic empiric therapy as control group (n=30). Our primary endpoint was the use of antibiotic treatment. Additional endpoints were changed in clinical status and early mortality. Antibiotics use was lower in PCT group compared to control group (P=0.03). Current data showed that difference in SOFA score from the first day to the second day after admitting patients in ICU did not significantly differ (P=0.88). Patients in PCT group had a significantly shorter median ICU stay, four days versus six days (P=0.01). However, hospital stay was not statistically significant different between two groups, 20 days versus 22 days (P=0.23). Early mortality was similar between two groups. PCT guidance administers antibiotics reduce antibiotics exposure and length of ICU stay, and we found no differences in clinical outcomes and early mortality rates between the two studied groups.

To date, stem cell therapy is a novel treatment method especially in irreversible end organ damage. We present a case of a 21-yr-old man, who admitted in Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran with open left femur fracture following car accident. Developing fat emboli syndrome led to cardiac arrest. Despite of efforts to optimize supportive care and neuroprotective strategies, the level and content of conscious did not improve. We performed stem cell therapy and he was discharged home with mild neurologic deficit on hospital day 116. This is the first case of stem cell therapy applied to a postarrest victim with severe evidently irreversible neurological injuries. This therapy could be considered to improve neurological recovery in patients following cardiac arrest.