Reduced antimicrobial consumption through enhanced pneumonia management in critically ill patients: outcomes of an antibiotic stewardship program in the intensive care unit.

Background: Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who are suspected of having pneumonia are frequently treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobials even when the diagnosis remains uncertain. While appropriate antimicrobial therapy offers undeniable benefits, its inappropriate or excessive use can lead to harmful side effects. This study examines the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in the ICU on both diagnostic accuracy and antimicrobial consumption in critically ill patients with pneumonia.

Resolving a sticky situation: A case report of mechanical thrombectomy of Histoacryl emboli in the right atrium and inferior vena cava.

A 68-year-old male with liver cirrhosis presented with dizziness and dyspnea two days after endoscopic Histoacryl occlusion of gastric varicses. Imaging revealed a large endovascular embolization of Histoacryl glue, spanning from porto-caval collaterals via the inferior vena cava to the right atrium, partially occluding right atrial inflow. This case report describes the successful removal of this large net-like mass of Histoacryl glue using thrombectomy devices from the inferior vena cava and the right atrium.

Cytokine adsorption in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (CYTOHEP): A single center, open-label, three-arm, randomized, controlled intervention pilot trial.

Background: To investigate the efficacy of bilirubin reduction by hemoadsorption with CytoSorb® in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-center, open-label, controlled pilot trial. Patients with ACLF, acute kidney injury, and serum bilirubin ≥5 mg/dL were assigned 1:1:1 to one of three study groups (CRRT with or without hemoadsorption, no CRRT).

Survival prediction using the Freiburg index of post-TIPS survival (FIPS) in critically ill patients with acute- on chronic liver failure: A retrospective observational study.

Background And Aim: Liver cirrhosis in patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with high mortality. Well established scores are useful to allow for assessment of prognosis and support ICU treatment guidance. However, currently used scoring systems often do not reflect the complexity of critically ill patients.

Secondary Sclerosing Cholangitis Following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Secondary sclerosing cholangitis (SSC) is a rare disease with poor prognosis. Cases of SSC have been reported following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-SSC). The aim of this study was to compare COVID-SSC to SSC in critically ill patients (SSC-CIP) and to assess factors influencing transplant-free survival.

Cytokine adsorption in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (CYTOHEP)-a single center, open-label, three-arm, randomized, controlled intervention trial.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a major healthcare problem and the mortality rate is high. During recent years, systemic inflammation has been recognized as a major driver of hepatic decompensation and progression of liver cirrhosis to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). The aim of the CYTOHEP study is to assess the impact of extracorporeal hemoadsorption with the CytoSorb adsorber on serum bilirubin concentrations, humoral inflammation parameters, liver function parameters, and patient survival in patients with ACLF and acute kidney injury (AKI).

Coronary angiography following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA): a review of outcomes and clinical considerations.

Introduction: In patients suffering a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), the prevalence of a coronary artery lesion as the underlying cause is relatively high, but many other causes have been described. For this reason, identifying patients who would benefit from an emergency coronary angiography is important.

Areas Covered: In the present manuscript, we reviewed the literature covering some relevant studies regarding the role of coronary angiography in patients with OHCA, including our local algorithm for the management of patients with OHCA.

[Aspiration-based endocarditis debridement of a competent tricuspid valve in a high-risk case of tricuspid valve endocarditis secondary to cardiac device-related infective endocarditis].

Introduction: The incidence of tricuspid valve endocarditis secondary to cardiac device-related infective endocarditis is rising, probably due to an increasing number of implantations. We describe a novel therapy approach using standard cardiology diagnostic catheter guided by periinterventional transesophageal echocardiographic imaging for aspiration-based endocarditis debridement of the tricuspid valve in a high-risk-patient.

History: A 65-year-old patient presented with right-heart endocarditis associated with cardiac device-related infective endocarditis.

Cytokine adsorption in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (CYCOV): a single centre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: We sought to clarify the benefit of cytokine adsorption in patients with COVID-19 supported with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Methods: We did a single-centre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial to investigate cytokine adsorption in adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring ECMO. Patients with COVID-19 selected for ECMO at the Freiburg University Medical Center (Freiburg, Germany) were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive cytokine adsorption using the CytoSorb device or not.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support as a Bridge to Recovery during Chemotherapy in a Young Patient with Metastatic Choriocarcinoma and Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Introduction: A young woman presented at a local hospital with severe dyspnea directly after childbirth. She was di-agnosed with choriocarcinoma and massive pulmonary metastases. Shortly after administration of polychemotherapy she developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Identification of differentially expressed genes involved in the formation of multicellular tumor spheroids by HT-29 colon carcinoma cells.

The multicellular tumor spheroid (MCTS) model represents a suitable in vitro model recreating in vivo tumor formation. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes that could potentially serve as predictive gene markers for MCTS and be involved in the formation of MCTS. Using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method, we identified ERBB2/HER2-interacting protein (Erbin), Tumor rejection gp96 (Tr-gp96), 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA), ATP synthase, Kruppel-like transcription factor 5 (KLF5), transcription factor-like 5 (TCFL5), and the dual-specificity phosphatase 11 (DUSP11) to be overexpressed in 3-day-old HT-29 colon carcinoma MCTSs compared to HT-29 colon carcinoma cells grown in monolayer.