Articles: sepsis.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 1995
ReviewMolecular mechanisms of sepsis: molecular biology of the cell.
Complex and interrelated biological processes are at work in the expression of the host response to sepsis. To a large degree, these processes reflect drastic changes in the molecular workings of cells of the body. The protean nature of sepsis reflects this molecular adaptation. ⋯ It uses the process of endotoxin-induced cellular activation as its model and highlights important aspects of DNA promoter and enhancer processes in this activation. Specific examples of known promoter genes and genomic translation are described. This review serves as a "primer" for the subsequent three review articles in this series that will follow it in preceding issues.
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We performed this investigation to assess whether selective approaches to performing lumbar puncture (LP) in the early neonatal period will result in a missed or delayed diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. ⋯ If LPs are omitted as part of the early neonatal sepsis evaluation, the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis occasionally will be delayed or missed completely.
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Jun 1995
Differential adaptation of glucocorticoid sensitivity of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes in patients with sepsis or septic shock.
In view of the immunosuppressive action of glucocorticoids (GCs), the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with sepsis or septic shock is paradoxical. At the same time, administration of GCs to these patients is not clearly beneficial. We investigated the role of GCs in severe illness by measuring the sensitivity of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes to GCs in a mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation assay. ⋯ This hypersensitivity is counteracted, possibly at the site of inflammation, by high local concentrations of cytokines. This would enable an adequate local response of the immune system in the presence of elevated cortisol levels. In view of the increased sensitivity of peripheral leukocytes to GCs, treatment of these patients with high doses of GCs may not be beneficial or may even be harmful.
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Nihon Geka Gakkai zasshi · May 1995
Clinical Trial[Endotoxin eliminating therapy in patients with severe sepsis--direct hemoperfusion using polymyxin B immobilized fiber column].
PMX is a blood purifier containing chemically immobilized polymyxin B fiber (PMX-F). To evaluate its effectiveness on the severe septic human, direct hemoperfusion (DHP) using a PMX-F was performed for 2 hours. The changes in various circulatory parameters, symptoms of septic shock, and blood endotoxin concentration and the survival rate, were evaluated. ⋯ DHP was performed 61 times in 42 patients, of whom 38 had septic MOF, 25 with gram-negative bacterial infection. At the initiation of this treatment, 33 patients were receiving vasoactive agents, and 36 were under artificial ventilation via endotracheal intubation. The mean septic severity score (SSS) in all patients was about 46.6. Twenty-two of the 42 survived. The endotoxin concentration (mean +/- S.E.; pg/ml) was 85.0 +/- 27.2 immediately before treatment but significantly decreased to 57.5 +/- 28.4 after treatment (n = 50) and to 28.2 +/- 4.4 on the next day (n = 23) (p < 0.01). The endotoxin concentrations at the inlet and outlet of the PMX also significantly decreased 30 minutes after the initiation of DHP. Circulatory parameters, BP, CI, SVR and Vo2I demonstrated significant improvement. Body temperature also showed the same results. The removal of endotoxin in the blood using PMX was effective for severe sepsis or septic MOF. Various symptoms due to endotoxin was alleviated after this treatment.