Early-life exposure to heat wave induces carry-over effects on oxidative status and behaviour in an amphibian.

Climate change is making heat waves (HWs) more frequent and intense. These periods of abnormally elevated temperatures pose serious challenges to the life of organisms, particularly of those with limited thermoregulation abilities like amphibians. How early-life stress impacts the phenotype after metamorphosis remains a relatively understudied field of research.

Selective logging weakly influences species co-occurrence in a community of tropical understorey birds.

Selective logging is a major driver of tropical land-use change, causing reductions in forest specialist species with concurrent increases in edge-tolerant species. A key question is understanding how selective logging impacts co-occurrence and assembly mechanisms in vertebrate communities as forests recover post-logging. Using a 10-year, repeat-sample study of understorey bird species in Borneo, we compare the structure of species co-occurrences over time between old-growth unlogged and logged forests, investigating the roles of functional traits and local abundance in driving co-occurrence patterns.

Effects of intravenous paracetamol on mean arterial pressure in critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Background: Intravenous administration of paracetamol to critically ill patients may have negative hemodynamic effects. However, such effects have not been adequately quantified.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (published in English language in PubMed and/or EMBASE) conducted on intensive care unit (ICU) patients, reporting hemodynamic changes within 30 min of intravenous paracetamol administration for fever and/or analgesia.

Left ventricular systolic function and mechanical ventilation weaning failure: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Objective: The impact of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction on weaning failure is unclear.

Design: Updated meta-analysis assessing the association between LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and weaning failure.

Setting: A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE for prospective studies reporting weaning according to echocardiographic data measured before starting a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT).

Life at new extremes: Integrating stress physiology and the bio-exposome in the Anthropocene.

Conventional physiological research has focused on elucidating the endogenous mechanisms that underly the adaptations of species to life in extreme habitats, such as polar regions or deserts. In this review article, we argue that even habitats that are not considered extremes are facing unpredictable, rapid, and strong modifications due to human activities that expose animals to novel extreme conditions. Thus, physiological research on these animals can offer insight on the role of physiological plasticity in driving their resilience and adaptation.

Perspectives on the Role of Thoracic Fascial Blocks in Cardiac Anaesthesia: Will They Represent a New Era?

Cardiac surgery is continuously evolving, with increasing skills required by the cardiac anaesthesiologist. Following the advent of intraoperative echocardiography, we are witnessing a potential new revolution for the cardiac anaesthesiologist. A new era has indeed started with the implementation of thoracic fascial blocks (TFBs) in the field of cardiac surgery.

Articulating Video Stylets in the Setting of Simulated Traumatic Cervical Spine Injury: A Comparison with Four Other Devices and Approaches to Endotracheal Intubation.

Simulation offers the opportunity to train healthcare professionals in complex scenarios, such as those with as traumatized patients. We conducted an observational cross-sectional research simulating trauma with cervical immobilization. We compared five techniques/devices: direct laryngoscopy (DL), videolaryngoscopy (VLS, Glidescope or McGrath), combined laryngo-bronchoscopy intubation (CLBI) and articulating video stylet (ProVu).

Automated and reference methods for the calculation of left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral or ejection fraction by non-cardiologists: a systematic review on the agreement of the two methods.

Echocardiography is crucial for evaluating patients at risk of clinical deterioration. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and velocity time integral (VTI) aid in diagnosing shock, but bedside calculations can be time-consuming and prone to variability. Artificial intelligence technology shows promise in providing assistance to clinicians performing point-of-care echocardiography.

Mortality in Patients With Sepsis Treated With Esmolol or Landiolol: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials With Trial Sequential Analysis.

Background: The latest meta-analysis indicated potential survival benefits from ultra-short-acting β-blockers in patients with sepsis with persistent tachycardia. However, subsequent multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported conflicting findings, prompting the need for an updated meta-analysis to incorporate these newly published RCTs.

Research Question: Does the use of ultra-short-acting β-blockers (esmolol or landiolol) in patients with sepsis with persistent tachycardia improve mortality?

Study Design And Methods: We conducted an updated systematic search through April 2, 2024, exploring the MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase databases for RCTs reporting mortality in adult patients with sepsis treated with esmolol or landiolol as compared with those treated with neither of these or receiving placebo and published in English.

Inferior vena cava distensibility during pressure support ventilation: a prospective study evaluating interchangeability of subcostal and trans‑hepatic views, with both M‑mode and automatic border tracing.

The Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) is commonly utilized to evaluate fluid status in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),with more recent emphasis on the study of venous congestion. It is predominantly measured via subcostal approach (SC) or trans-hepatic (TH) views, and automated border tracking (ABT) software has been introduced to facilitate its assessment. Prospective observational study on patients ventilated in pressure support ventilation (PSV) with 2 × 2 factorial design.

Ciprofol as compared to propofol for sedation and general anesthesia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Propofol is the most commonly used hypnotic agent used during sedation and general anesthesia (GA) practice, offering faster recovery compared to benzodiazepines. However, cardiovascular impact of propofol and pain at injection are commonly encountered side effects. Ciprofol is a novel disubstituted phenol derivative, and there is growing evidence regarding its clinical use.

Articulating Video Stylet Compared to Other Techniques for Endotracheal Intubation in Normal Airways: A Simulation Study in Consultants with No Prior Experience.

Simulation for airway management allows for acquaintance with new devices and techniques. Endotracheal intubation (ETI), most commonly performed with direct laryngoscopy (DL) or video laryngoscopy (VLS), can be achieved also with combined laryngo-bronchoscopy intubation (CLBI). Finally, an articulating video stylet (ProVu) has been recently introduced.

Melatonin or Ramelteon for Delirium Prevention in the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Melatonin modulates the circadian rhythm and has been studied as a preventive measure against the development of delirium in hospitalized patients. Such an effect may be more evident in patients admitted to the ICU, but findings from the literature are conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Impacts of rising temperatures and water acidification on the oxidative status and immune system of aquatic ectothermic vertebrates: A meta-analysis.

Species persistence in the Anthropocene is dramatically threatened by global climate change. Large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO) from human activities are driving increases in mean temperature, intensity of heatwaves, and acidification of oceans and freshwater bodies. Ectotherms are particularly sensitive to CO-induced stressors, because the rate of their metabolic reactions, as well as their immunological performance, are affected by environmental temperatures and water pH.

Caution Is Warranted When Assessing Diastolic Function Using Transesophageal Echocardiography. Comment on Kyle et al. Consensus Defined Diastolic Dysfunction and Cardiac Postoperative Morbidity Score: A Prospective Observational Study. 2021, , 5198.

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Circulating 16S RNA in Biofluids: Extracellular Vesicles as Mirrors of Human Microbiome?

The human body is inhabited by around 10 microbes composing a multicomplex system, termed microbiota, which is strongly involved in the regulation and maintenance of homeostasis. Perturbations in microbiota composition can lead to dysbiosis, which has been associated with several human pathologies. The gold-standard method to explore microbial composition is next-generation sequencing, which involves the analysis of 16S rRNA, an indicator of the presence of specific microorganisms and the principal tool used in bacterial taxonomic classification.

Augmentation of endogenous neurosteroid synthesis alters experimental status epilepticus dynamics.

Neurosteroids can modulate γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-mediated inhibitory currents. Recently, we discovered that the neurosteroids progesterone, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, allopregnanolone, and pregnanolone are reduced in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with status epilepticus (SE). However, it is undetermined whether neurosteroids influence SE.