Articles: function.
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Various experimental studies in animals have shown that general anaesthetics are potentially toxic to the developing brain. By inducing apoptosis or interfering with neurogenesis, anaesthetic exposure during a critical period of neuronal development can have significant impact on neurocognitive function later in life. It remains controversial whether these experimental results can be transferred to human beings and this is under intensive scientific evaluation. ⋯ Anaesthesia is not an end in itself, but necessary to facilitate surgical procedures. There is evidence that maintaining physiological conditions is important for the overall outcome following anaesthesia and surgery. Until proven otherwise, it can be recommended to keep anaesthesia and surgery as short as possible, to use short-acting drugs and/or a combination of general anaesthesia and multimodal pain therapy including systemic analgesics, and local or regional anaesthesia, to reduce the overall drug dosage.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
ReviewWhen Cardiac Failure, Kidney Dysfunction, and Kidney Injury Intersect in Acute Conditions: The Case of Cardiorenal Syndrome.
To review and describe diagnostic and prognostic value of biomarkers of renal function and renal injury in the cardiorenal syndrome complicating acutely decompensated heart failure. ⋯ Biomarkers reflecting renal function and injury are likely to better phenotype subgroups of patients with cardiorenal syndrome and to provide unique prognostic information. Future studies are needed relative to strategies using such biomarkers to guide care of affected patients.
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Observational Study
Assessing the bowel function of critically ill children: a pilot study.
To describe the bowel function of critically ill children. ⋯ Critically unwell children needing more than 24 hours of intensive care have a state of non-defecation for most of the time, with formed stools being rare. Further observational studies will better define bowel function in critically unwell children.
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Caveolae are a nexus for protective signaling. Trafficking of caveolin to mitochondria is essential for adaptation to cellular stress though the trafficking mechanisms remain unknown. The authors hypothesized that G protein-coupled receptor/inhibitory G protein (Gi) activation leads to caveolin trafficking to mitochondria. ⋯ Gi proteins are involved in trafficking caveolin to mitochondria to enhance stress resistance. Agents that target Gi activation and caveolin trafficking may be viable cardioprotective agents.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Inhibition of Neogenin Dampens Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.
Liver ischemia and reperfusion injury is a common source of significant morbidity and mortality following liver transplantation, hemorrhagic shock, or major hepatic surgery. Based on studies showing a critical role for the neuronal guidance receptor neogenin (Neo1) outside the nervous system in mediating tissue adaption during acute inflammation, we hypothesized that Neo1 enhances hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury. ⋯ These data provide a unique role for Neo1 in the development of hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury and identified Neo1 as a potential target to prevent liver dysfunction in the future.