scholarly journals An Inflammatory Profile Correlates With Decreased Frequency of Cytotoxic Cells in Coronavirus Disease 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (16) ◽  
pp. 2272-2275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Bordoni ◽  
Alessandra Sacchi ◽  
Eleonora Cimini ◽  
Stefania Notari ◽  
Germana Grassi ◽  
...  

Abstract Increased production of inflammatory cytokines and myeloid-derived suppressor cells occurs in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. These inversely correlated with perforin-expressing natural killer (NK) and CD3+ T cells. We observed a lower number of perforin-expressing NK cells in intensive care unit (ICU) patients compared with non-ICU patients, suggesting an impairment of the immune cytotoxic arm as a pathogenic mechanism.

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 781
Author(s):  
Christian Zanza ◽  
Tatsiana Romenskaya ◽  
Yaroslava Longhitano ◽  
Fabio Piccolella ◽  
Fabrizio Racca ◽  
...  

The use of probiotics in critically ill adult and children patients has been growing exponentially over the last 20 years. Numerous factors in pediatriac intensive care unit (PICU) patients may contribute to intestinal dysbiosis, which subsequently promotes the pathobiota’s growth. Currently, lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species are mainly used to prevent the development of systemic diseases due to the subverted microbiome, followed by streptococcus, enterococcus, propionibacterium, bacillus and Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. The aim of this article is to review the scientific literature for further confirmation of the importance of the usage of probiotics in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, especially in the pediatric population. A progressive increase in nosocomial infections, especially nosocomial bloodstream infections, has been observed over the last 30 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the incidence of nosocomial infections in PICUs was still high and ranged between 5% and 10%. Petrof et al. was one of the first to demonstrate the efficacy of probiotics for preventing systemic diseases in ICU patients. Recently, however, the use of probiotics with different lactobacillus spp. has been shown to cause a decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, in some studies, the use of probiotics, in particular the mix of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium reduces the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in PICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation. In abdominal infections, there is no doubt at all about the usefulness of using Lactobacillus spp probiotics, which help to treat ICU-acquired diarrhoea episodes as well as in positive blood culture for candida spp. Despite the importance of using probiotics being supported by various studies, their use is not yet part of the standard protocols to which all doctors must adhere. In the meantime, while waiting for protocols to be drawn up as soon as possible for use in PICUs, routine use could certainly stimulate the intestine’s immune defences. Though it is still too early to say, they could be considered the drugs of the future.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1130-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya Chen ◽  
Kangxia Wang ◽  
Yuping Xu ◽  
Peipei Guo ◽  
Baoli Hong ◽  
...  

Immunologic disorder has been reported to promote the progression of endometriosis (EMT). It has been known that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) drive the progression of many types of diseases. Few studies have shown the relation between MDSCs and EMT. To test whether MDSCs play a role in the progression of EMT, we defined MDSCs, cytokines, and the exosomal microRNA (miRNA) profile in peritoneal fluid (PF) from EMT patients. Characteristics of MDSCs, regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effector T cells were quantified by flow cytometry. Peritoneal fluid monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) 1/3, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 1/2, and 13 other cytokines were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Exosomal miRNA sequencing was prepared from PF of 3 women with early-stage EMT, 3 women with advanced stage EMT, and 3 women from control group. Our results showed that accumulations of monocytic MDSCs (Mo-MDSCs) and Tregs were detected in advanced patients with EMT. Patients with EMT displayed a significantly higher production of PF CXCL1, CXCL2, MCP-1, MCP-3, and HGF as compared to those from controls. MicroRNA sequencing showed 13 exosomal miRNAs (miRNA-1908, -130b, -451a, -486-5p, -4488, -432, -342, -425, -505, -6508, -145, -365a, and -365b) which are involved in immune alteration and cell proliferation and were differentially expressed in patients with EMT (fold-change ± 2.0). In conclusion, our study revealed that Mo-MDSCs, inflammatory cytokines, and exosomal miRNA seem to be involved in the progression of EMT; however, the relation between Mo-MDSCs, cytokines, and miRNA needs further research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie-Susanne Stecher ◽  
Sofia Anton ◽  
Alessia Fraccaroli ◽  
Jeremias Götschke ◽  
Hans Joachim Stemmler ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) is an established tool in the first assessment of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients in predicting clinical course and outcome. Methods We analyzed lung ultrasound score (LUS) of all COVID-19 patients admitted from March 2020 to December 2020 to the Internal Intensive Care Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) of Munich. LU was performed according to a standardized protocol at ICU admission and in case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation. A normal lung scores 0 points, the worst LUS has 24 points. Patients were stratified in a low (0–12 points) and a high (13–24 points) lung ultrasound score group. Results The study included 42 patients, 69% of them male. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (81%) and obesity (57%). The values of pH (7.42 ± 0.09 vs 7.35 ± 0.1; p = 0.047) and paO2 (107 [80–130] vs 80 [66–93] mmHg; p = 0.034) were significantly reduced in patients of the high LUS group. Furthermore, the duration of ventilation (12.5 [8.3–25] vs 36.5 [9.8–70] days; p = 0.029) was significantly prolonged in this group. Patchy subpleural thickening (n = 38; 90.5%) and subpleural consolidations (n = 23; 54.8%) were present in most patients. Pleural effusion was rare (n = 4; 9.5%). The median total LUS was 11.9 ± 3.9 points. In case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation, LUS worsened significantly compared to baseline LU. Twelve patients died during the ICU stay (29%). There was no difference in survival in both LUS groups (75% vs 66.7%, p = 0.559). Conclusions LU can be a useful monitoring tool to predict clinical course but not outcome of COVID-19 ICU patients and can early recognize possible deteriorations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa L. Steel ◽  
Shewit P. Giovanni ◽  
Sarah C. Katsandres ◽  
Shawn M. Cohen ◽  
Kevin B. Stephenson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) is commonly used in hospitals to titrate medications for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), but may be difficult to apply to intensive care unit (ICU) patients who are too sick or otherwise unable to communicate. Objectives To evaluate the frequency of CIWA-Ar monitoring among ICU patients with AWS and variation in CIWA-Ar monitoring across patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods The study included all adults admitted to an ICU in 2017 after treatment for AWS in the Emergency Department of an academic hospital that standardly uses the CIWA-Ar to assess AWS severity and response to treatment. Demographic and clinical data, including Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) assessments (an alternative measure of agitation/sedation), were obtained via chart review. Associations between patient characteristics and CIWA-Ar monitoring were tested using logistic regression. Results After treatment for AWS, only 56% (n = 54/97) of ICU patients were evaluated using the CIWA-Ar; 94% of patients had a documented RASS assessment (n = 91/97). Patients were significantly less likely to receive CIWA-Ar monitoring if they were intubated or identified as Black. Conclusions CIWA-Ar monitoring was used inconsistently in ICU patients with AWS and completed less often in those who were intubated or identified as Black. These hypothesis-generating findings raise questions about the utility of the CIWA-Ar in ICU settings. Future studies should assess alternative measures for titrating AWS medications in the ICU that do not require verbal responses from patients and further explore the association of race with AWS monitoring.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A536-A536
Author(s):  
Juan Dong ◽  
Cassandra Gilmore ◽  
Hieu Ta ◽  
Keman Zhang ◽  
Sarah Stone ◽  
...  

BackgroundV-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a B7 family inhibitory immune checkpoint protein and is highly expressed on myeloid cells and T cells.1 VISTA acts as both an inhibitory ligand when expressed on antigen-presenting cells and a receptor when expressed on T cells. Our recent study has shown that VISTA is a myeloid cell-specific immune checkpoint and that blocking VISTA can reprogram suppressive myeloid cells and promote a T cell-stimulatory tumor microenvironment.2 In this study, we further demonstrate that VISTA blockade directly alters the differentiation and the suppressive function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC).MethodsFlow cytometry was performed to examine VISTA expression on MDSCs in multiple murine tumor models including the B16BL6 melanoma model, MC38 colon cancer model, and the KPC pancreatic cancer models. To examine the role of VISTA in controlling the differentiation and suppressive function of MDSCs, we cultured wild type (WT) and VISTA.KO bone marrow progenitor cells with GM-CSF and IL-6 to induce BM -derived MDSCs.ResultsOur preliminary results show that VISTA is highly expressed on M-MDSCs in B16BL6, MC38 and KPC tumors. In BM-derived MDSCs, VISTA deletion significantly altered the signaling pathways and the differentiation of MDSCs. Multiple inflammatory signaling pathways were downregulated in VISTA KO MDSCs, resulting in decreased production of cytokines such as IL1 and chemokines such as CCL2/4/9, as well as significantly impaired their ability to suppress the activation of CD8+ T cells. The loss of suppressive function in VISTA KO MDSCs is correlated with significantly reduced expression of iNOS. To validate the results from BM-MDSCs, we sorted CD11b+CD11c-Ly6C+Ly6G- M-MDSCs and CD11b+CD11c-Ly6G+ G-MDSCs from B16BL6 tumor tissues and tested the ability of a VISTA-blocking mAb to reverse the suppressive effects of tumor-derived MDSCs. Our results show that blocking VISTA impaired the suppressive function of tumor-derived M-MDSC but not G-MDSCs.ConclusionsTaken together, these results demonstrate a crucial role of VISTA in regulating the differentiation and function of MDSCs, and that blocking VISTA abolishes MDSC-mediated T cell suppression, thereby boosting.Ethics ApprovalAll in vivo studies were reviewed and approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (Approval number 2019-2142).ReferencesXu W, Hire T, Malarkannan, S. et al. The structure, expression, and multifaceted role of immune-checkpoint protein VISTA as a critical regulator of anti-tumor immunity, autoimmunity, and inflammation. Cell Mol Immunol 2018;15:438–446.Xu W, Dong J, Zheng Y, et al. Immune-checkpoint protein VISTA regulates antitumor immunity by controlling myeloid cell-mediated inflammation and immunosuppression. Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7:1497–510.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1505
Author(s):  
Claire Roger ◽  
Benjamin Louart

Beta-lactams are the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials in intensive care unit (ICU) settings and remain one of the safest antimicrobials prescribed. However, the misdiagnosis of beta-lactam-related adverse events may alter ICU patient management and impact clinical outcomes. To describe the clinical manifestations, risk factors and beta-lactam-induced neurological and renal adverse effects in the ICU setting, we performed a comprehensive literature review via an electronic search on PubMed up to April 2021 to provide updated clinical data. Beta-lactam neurotoxicity occurs in 10–15% of ICU patients and may be responsible for a large panel of clinical manifestations, ranging from confusion, encephalopathy and hallucinations to myoclonus, convulsions and non-convulsive status epilepticus. Renal impairment, underlying brain abnormalities and advanced age have been recognized as the main risk factors for neurotoxicity. In ICU patients, trough concentrations above 22 mg/L for cefepime, 64 mg/L for meropenem, 125 mg/L for flucloxacillin and 360 mg/L for piperacillin (used without tazobactam) are associated with neurotoxicity in 50% of patients. Even though renal complications (especially severe complications, such as acute interstitial nephritis, renal damage associated with drug induced hemolytic anemia and renal obstruction by crystallization) remain rare, there is compelling evidence of increased nephrotoxicity using well-known nephrotoxic drugs such as vancomycin combined with beta-lactams. Treatment mainly relies on the discontinuation of the offending drug but in the near future, antimicrobial optimal dosing regimens should be defined, not only based on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets associated with clinical and microbiological efficacy, but also on PK/toxicodynamic targets. The use of dosing software may help to achieve these goals.


1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. R. Webb ◽  
B. Roberts ◽  
F. X. Breheny ◽  
C. L. Golledge ◽  
P. D. Cameron ◽  
...  

Epidemics of bacteraemia and wound infection have been associated with the infusion of bacterially contaminated propofol administered during anaesthesia. We conducted an observational study to determine the incidence and clinical significance of administration of potentially contaminated propofol to patients in an ICU setting. One hundred patients received a total of 302 infusions of propofol. Eighteen episodes of possible contamination of propofol syringes were identified, but in all cases contamination was by a low-grade virulence pathogen. There were no episodes of clinical infection or colonization which could be attributed to the administration of contaminated propofol. During the routine use of propofol to provide sedation in ICU patients the risk of nosocomial infection secondary to contamination of propofol is extremely low.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 714-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Babamohamadi ◽  
Monir Nobahar ◽  
Jalaladin Razi ◽  
Raheb Ghorbani

The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of vitamin A eye ointment (VAEO) and moist chamber (MC) in preventing ocular surface disorders (OSD) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. A total of 38 eligible patients were selected for participation in the present clinical trial. All the patients were randomly administered VAEO in one eye every 6 hr for 5 days and had a polyethylene cover (PC) placed on their other eye to create an MC that was replaced every 12 hr as well. The results of Schirmer’s test also increased by 2.06 mm in the VAEO group ( p < .001), while they showed a slight reduction by 0.15 mm in the MC group ( p = .669). VAEO was more effective in preventing OSD in ICU patients than MC and is, therefore, recommended to be used as a method of preventing OSD.


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