Sepsis is the terminal event for most infectious diseases and is now defined as life-threatening ... more Sepsis is the terminal event for most infectious diseases and is now defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis is frequent, deathly and associated with high burden for patients, relatives and societies. Sepsis is underreported in diagnostic coding, making estimation difficult of the true burden of the disease in Denmark. It is likely, however, that sepsis contributes to 15% of all deaths in Denmark.
Body temperature, P-cortisol, P-glucose, P-transferrin, haematocrit and total and differential le... more Body temperature, P-cortisol, P-glucose, P-transferrin, haematocrit and total and differential leucocyte counts were investigated in 24 men undergoing inguinal herniotomy, but otherwise healthy. The patients were randomized to general anaesthesia (GA, n = 8), epidural analgesia (E, n = 8) or epidural analgesia + indomethacin (E + I, n = 8). The rectal temperature rose significantly after surgery, except in the E + I group, and increase in blood granulocytes was significantly less in these patients than in the GA group. Group E showed intermediate changes. P-transferrin changes were similar in all three groups. Glucose and cortisol showed only slight increase in the GA group and constant values in groups E and E + I. It is concluded that prostaglandins may play a role in mediating the surgical stress response, but that factors other than neural stimuli and prostaglandins are important in releasing postoperative granulocytosis.
Abstract Purpose Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a severe disease with an overall poor outcom... more Abstract Purpose Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a severe disease with an overall poor outcome. Neurofilament (NFL) has shown to be a promising biomarker of neuroaxonal injury in various neurological disorders but has not been investigated in ABM. The aims of this study were (i) to obtain a temporal profile of NFL, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B in serum during ABM, and (ii) to evaluate their use as biomarkers of severity (Glasgow coma score) and prognosis (Glasgow Outcome Score, GOS and death) in severe ABM. Methods Fifteen adults with severe community-acquired ABM who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. Lumbar puncture and blood tests were performed on admission, and blood tests were performed three times daily during the ICU stay. GOS was obtained day 30. Results Serum NFL was significantly elevated in ABM patients compared to healthy controls, both at admission and throughout the observation period (p < .01). NFL increased significantly from day 1 up to day 3–6 (p < .0001), peaking day 6. NSE increased significantly from admission up to day 3 (p < .01). At day 5–6, the serum values were not significantly different from values at admission. The highest median serum value of S100B was observed at admission (0.10 µg/L, IQR 0.06–0.14), significantly decreasing day 4–6 (p < .05). None of the investigated biomarkers revealed significant correlation with severity and prognosis. Conclusion This study represents a first clinical observation of the temporal profile of NFL in serum, in severe ABM. No correlation with severity or prognosis.
The effect of labetalol, a combined alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the cerebral circ... more The effect of labetalol, a combined alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the cerebral circulation was investigated in 7 normotensive subjects. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured with the intravenous 133Xe method and mean flow velocity (Vmean) in the middle cerebral artery was determined using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound. Examination was performed before and then 15, 60 and 120 min after 0.75 mg/kg i.v. labetalol. Reactivity to inhalation of 5% CO2 in air was studied before, and again 90 min after labetalol administration. Neither CBF nor Vmean changed following labetalol administration, whereas a marked increase occurred during inhalation of CO2. The median CO2 reactivity was 3.2%/mmHg (range: 1.8-4.0) for CBF and 4.4%/mmHg (1.5-5.6) for Vmean. These results indicate that labetalol, given in moderate but clinically relevant doses, does not affect the cerebral circulation in normotensive subjects. Neither does it affect CO2 reactivity. The uniform results obtained with the two methods suggest TCD as a usable alternative to conventional CBF technique in the assessment of cerebral vasoactivity of various drugs in subjects with a normal cerebral circulation.
Early, relevant antibiotic treatment is of pivotal significance for survival for patients with se... more Early, relevant antibiotic treatment is of pivotal significance for survival for patients with sepsis. Recent reports reveal, that critically ill patients may need substantially higher dosing of antibiotics than the usual standards. The background is the newly described augmented renal clearance (ARC), which can be observed in critically ill patients with sepsis. ARC results in significantly reduced antibiotic concentrations in patients with sepsis and can potentially have fatal consequences. The purpose of this paper is to make medical doctors aware of the phenomenon and to compensate for the increased antibiotic clearance.
Sepsis is the terminal event for most infectious diseases and is now defined as life-threatening ... more Sepsis is the terminal event for most infectious diseases and is now defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis is frequent, deathly and associated with high burden for patients, relatives and societies. Sepsis is underreported in diagnostic coding, making estimation difficult of the true burden of the disease in Denmark. It is likely, however, that sepsis contributes to 15% of all deaths in Denmark.
Body temperature, P-cortisol, P-glucose, P-transferrin, haematocrit and total and differential le... more Body temperature, P-cortisol, P-glucose, P-transferrin, haematocrit and total and differential leucocyte counts were investigated in 24 men undergoing inguinal herniotomy, but otherwise healthy. The patients were randomized to general anaesthesia (GA, n = 8), epidural analgesia (E, n = 8) or epidural analgesia + indomethacin (E + I, n = 8). The rectal temperature rose significantly after surgery, except in the E + I group, and increase in blood granulocytes was significantly less in these patients than in the GA group. Group E showed intermediate changes. P-transferrin changes were similar in all three groups. Glucose and cortisol showed only slight increase in the GA group and constant values in groups E and E + I. It is concluded that prostaglandins may play a role in mediating the surgical stress response, but that factors other than neural stimuli and prostaglandins are important in releasing postoperative granulocytosis.
Abstract Purpose Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a severe disease with an overall poor outcom... more Abstract Purpose Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a severe disease with an overall poor outcome. Neurofilament (NFL) has shown to be a promising biomarker of neuroaxonal injury in various neurological disorders but has not been investigated in ABM. The aims of this study were (i) to obtain a temporal profile of NFL, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B in serum during ABM, and (ii) to evaluate their use as biomarkers of severity (Glasgow coma score) and prognosis (Glasgow Outcome Score, GOS and death) in severe ABM. Methods Fifteen adults with severe community-acquired ABM who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. Lumbar puncture and blood tests were performed on admission, and blood tests were performed three times daily during the ICU stay. GOS was obtained day 30. Results Serum NFL was significantly elevated in ABM patients compared to healthy controls, both at admission and throughout the observation period (p < .01). NFL increased significantly from day 1 up to day 3–6 (p < .0001), peaking day 6. NSE increased significantly from admission up to day 3 (p < .01). At day 5–6, the serum values were not significantly different from values at admission. The highest median serum value of S100B was observed at admission (0.10 µg/L, IQR 0.06–0.14), significantly decreasing day 4–6 (p < .05). None of the investigated biomarkers revealed significant correlation with severity and prognosis. Conclusion This study represents a first clinical observation of the temporal profile of NFL in serum, in severe ABM. No correlation with severity or prognosis.
The effect of labetalol, a combined alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the cerebral circ... more The effect of labetalol, a combined alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, on the cerebral circulation was investigated in 7 normotensive subjects. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured with the intravenous 133Xe method and mean flow velocity (Vmean) in the middle cerebral artery was determined using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound. Examination was performed before and then 15, 60 and 120 min after 0.75 mg/kg i.v. labetalol. Reactivity to inhalation of 5% CO2 in air was studied before, and again 90 min after labetalol administration. Neither CBF nor Vmean changed following labetalol administration, whereas a marked increase occurred during inhalation of CO2. The median CO2 reactivity was 3.2%/mmHg (range: 1.8-4.0) for CBF and 4.4%/mmHg (1.5-5.6) for Vmean. These results indicate that labetalol, given in moderate but clinically relevant doses, does not affect the cerebral circulation in normotensive subjects. Neither does it affect CO2 reactivity. The uniform results obtained with the two methods suggest TCD as a usable alternative to conventional CBF technique in the assessment of cerebral vasoactivity of various drugs in subjects with a normal cerebral circulation.
Early, relevant antibiotic treatment is of pivotal significance for survival for patients with se... more Early, relevant antibiotic treatment is of pivotal significance for survival for patients with sepsis. Recent reports reveal, that critically ill patients may need substantially higher dosing of antibiotics than the usual standards. The background is the newly described augmented renal clearance (ARC), which can be observed in critically ill patients with sepsis. ARC results in significantly reduced antibiotic concentrations in patients with sepsis and can potentially have fatal consequences. The purpose of this paper is to make medical doctors aware of the phenomenon and to compensate for the increased antibiotic clearance.
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