In 2012, a new acute respiratory distress syndrome definition was proposed for adult patients. It was later validated for infants and toddlers. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence, outcomes, ...and risk factors associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome in children up to 15 years according to the Berlin definition.
A prospective, multicenter observational study from March to September 2013.
Seventy-seven PICU beds in eight centers: two private hospitals and six public academic hospitals in Brazil.
All children aged 1 month to 15 years admitted to the participating PICUs in the study period.
None.
All children admitted to the PICUs were daily evaluated for the presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome according to the American-European Consensus Conference and Berlin definitions. Of the 562 patients included, acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 57 patients (10%) and 58 patients (10.3%) according to the Berlin definition and the American-European Consensus Conference definition, respectively. Among patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome according to the Berlin definition, nine patients (16%) were mild, 21 (37%) were moderate, and 27 (47%) were severe. Compared with patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome, patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome had significantly higher severity scores, longer PICU and hospital length of stay, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and higher mortality (p < 0.001). The presence of two or more comorbidities and admission for medical reasons were associated with development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Comparisons across the three the Berlin categories showed significant differences in the number of ventilator-free days (21, 20, and 5 d, p = 0.001) and mortality for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (41%) in comparison with mild (0) and moderate (15%) acute respiratory distress syndrome(p = 0.02). No differences in PICU or hospital stay were observed across the groups.
The Berlin definition can identify a subgroup of patients with distinctly worse outcomes, as shown by the increased mortality and reduced number of ventilator-free days in pediatric patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Background: Oxidative stress is believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related intestinal damage. Circulating antioxidants may have a role to play in ...preventing free radical-mediated tissue injury. Methods: Plasma vitamin A, E and carotenoid concentrations, leukocytic genomic damage and 8-hydroxy-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG) concentration were determined in 46 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, 37 Crohn disease (CD) patients and 386 controls. A 20 ml blood sample was taken from each subject for antioxidant and 8-OHdG measurements. A food frequency questionnaire was administered to a sample of subjects from each group to evaluate daily intake of dietary compounds. Results: Antioxidant concentration was significantly reduced in IBD patients, particularly in those with active disease, with respect to controls ( P < 0.0001). 8-OHdG concentrations were significantly increased in IBD patients compared to controls, independent of disease activity ( P < 0.05). No correlation was found between antioxidant and 8-OHdG concentrations. Carotenoid concentrations were significantly reduced in malnourished IBD patients (0.89 ± 0.14 μmol/l) compared to patients with normal or high body mass index (1.83 ± 0.12 μmol/l; P < 0.05), independent of disease activity or extension. Protein, fruit and vegetable intakes of IBD patients were significantly lower than those of controls. Conclusions: Depletion of antioxidants is likely to be important in the pathophysiology of IBD: UC and CD patients show increased free radical peripheral leukocyte DNA damage and decreased plasma antioxidant defenses. These results indicate the necessity of further studies to establish whether optimal vitamin status may improve the clinical course of UC and CD.
Insulin resistance (IR) reduces response to pegylated‐interferon (PEG‐IFN)/ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but the mechanisms are still undefined. We examined the relationship between ...baseline insulin levels, the main component affecting homeostasis model of assessment – insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) for assessment of IR in non‐diabetic patients, and the ‘acute’ virological response to PEG‐IFN measured 24 h after the first injection and taken as correlate of intracellular interferon signalling. In 62 patients treated with PEG‐IFN/Ribavirin, serum insulin and HOMA‐IR were assessed at baseline, while hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐RNA was measured at baseline and 24 h, 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Sustained virological response was examined 24 weeks after therapy discontinuation. Mean baseline insulin was 11.52 ± 8.51 U/L and mean HOMA‐IR was 2.65 ± 2.01 both being significantly higher with advanced liver fibrosis. Hepatitis C virus‐RNA decay observed 24 h after the first injection of PEG‐IFN was significantly lower (0.7 ± 0.8 log) in patients with HOMA ≥3 compared with those with HOMA <3 (1.7 ± 0.8, P = 0.001). A highly significant (r = −0.42) inverse correlation was observed between baseline insulin levels and the 24‐h HCV‐RNA decay. The difference in early viral kinetics between patients with HOMA ≥3 or <3 resulted in a significant difference in the percentage of patients achieving rapid (week 4) and sustained virological response. Multivariate analysis, inclusive of patient age, HCV genotype and fibrosis stage, identified baseline insulin levels as the main independent variable affecting the 24‐h response to PEG‐IFN. Hyperinsulinaemia reduces the cellular response to Pegylated‐interferon in CHC with IR. Strategies to reduce insulin levels before initiation of treatment should be pursued to improve efficacy of anti‐viral treatment.
The clinical course of Crohn's disease is often unpredictable. The aim of this study was to select the most useful parameters able to predict clinical relapses.
One hundred-thirty Crohn's disease ...patients in clinical remission were followed every 4 months for 2 yr or until clinical relapse. Demographic and clinical data were recorded and intestinal permeability (lactulose/mannitol L/M test) and biochemical tests (white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, alpha1 acid glycoprotein, and serum iron) were performed at study entry. A subgroup of 54 patients had clinical follow-up and repeated tests every 4 months.
Fifty-two patients (40%) relapsed during the 2-yr follow-up. A significant correlation was found between relapse and gender (p = 0.030) but not between relapse and age, extent and type of disease, previous surgery, or therapy. Increased L/M test (p = 0.0001) and decreased serum iron level (p = 0.0057) were associated with clinical relapse. Time-dependent analysis, performed on patients receiving serial evaluation, showed that L/M test alteration was the only variable that could predict a relapse (RR 8.84, 95% confidence interval CI 1.41-53.37; p < 0.05).
The L/M test identifies Crohn's disease patients in apparent remission, but with a high risk of clinical relapse, better than clinical and biochemical indices. Different treatment strategies might be suggested for this subgroup of patients.
