A four-probiotic preparation for ventilator-associated pneumonia in multi-trauma patients: results of a randomized clinical trial.

The role of probiotics in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a probiotic regimen for VAP prophylaxis in mechanically ventilated multi-trauma patients, intubated immediately after the injurious insult. In a randomized, placebo-controlled study enrolling multi-trauma patients, patients expected to require mechanical ventilation for >10 days were assigned at random to receive prophylaxis with a probiotic formula (n=59) or placebo (n=53). The probiotic formula was a preparation of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 [1.75 × 109 colony-forming units (cfu)], Lactobacillus plantarum (0.5 × 109 cfu), Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 (1.75 × 109 cfu) and Saccharomyces boulardii (1.5 × 109 cfu) in sachets. Each patient received two sachets twice daily for 15 days: one through the nasogastric tube and one spread on the oropharynx. The incidence of VAP was the primary endpoint. The incidence of other infections and sepsis, and the duration of hospital stay were the secondary endpoints. Administration of probiotics reduced the incidence of VAP [11.9% vs 28.3%, hazard ratio (HR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.92; P=0.034] and sepsis [6.8% vs 24.5%, odds ratio 0.22, 95% CI 0.07-0.74: P=0.016]. Furthermore, probiotic prophylaxis reduced the time of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the length of hospital stay. The prophylactic use of probiotics with a combination of enteral and topical application to the oropharynx had a positive effect on the incidence of VAP and sepsis, as well as on ICU and total hospital stay in patients receiving protracted mechanical ventilation.

Implementation of phospholipids as pharmacological modalities for postoperative adhesions prevention.

Adhesions formation is considered a significant clinical entity implicating the healing process following major abdominal surgery, with serious clinical consequences and need for substantial health care expenditures. Several agents and substances applied either locally or systematically could potentially function as inhibitors of the formation of peritoneal adhesions endowed by limiting tissue apposition during the critical stages of mesothelial repair. Phospholipids are identified as surfactant-like substances, acting as a temporary membrane-like coverage of serosal defects. The experimental use of phospholipids for adhesions formation totals 24 publications. All retrieved studies, out of two, demonstrated the efficacy of phospholipids use in adhesions prevention. A single intraperitoneal dose of approximately 75 mg/kg of phosphatidylcholine, for a 30-min exposure time, emerges as the standard practice in terms of efficacy in both surgical alone or combined to peritonitis settings. The findings revealing an unimpeded healing of anastomoses and laparotomy wounds support the safety of this agent. The two additional properties of intraperitoneal use of phospholipids involve the inhibition of bacterial adherence/growth following impregnation of intra-abdominal drainages with phospholipids, without influencing bacterial translocation and the elimination of peritoneal carcinosis, through inhibition of intraperitoneal adhesion of tumor cells. The latter effect is achieved by a dose of phospholipids equal to 150 mg/kg. These experimental data, support that the intraperitoneal phospholipids administration can forestall adhesions formation following intra-abdominal surgical trauma, with no considerable overdosing-related adverse effects. Furthermore, these substances could possibly attenuate posttraumatic inflammation, and inhibit intraperitoneal tumor cell adhesion.

Combined Enteral and Parenteral Glutamine Supplementation in Endotoxemic Swine: Effects on Portal and Systemic Circulation Levels.

OBJECTIVE: To measure plasma glutamine (GLN) levels in systemic and portal circulation after combined enteral and parenteral administration in early endotoxemic swine. We hypothesized that this combination will be more efficient than intravenous administration alone in restoring plasma levels during the course of endotoxemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endotoxemia was induced with Escherichia coli O111:B4 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (250 µg/kg body weight) in 16 anes-thetized, fasted swine and maintained by constant infusion (2 µg/kg/h) over 180 min. Another 16 swine served as controls. After infusion with LPS or placebo, GLN was administered intravenously, enterally or in combination (0.5 g/kg i.v. plus 0.5 g/kg enterally) over 30 min. At 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120 and 180 min, blood was drawn from the systemic and portal circulation for colorimetric assessment of GLN. RESULTS: In healthy, placebo-alone swine, GLN levels remained stable throughout the study. Intravenous and combined infusion increased systemic levels (p = 0.001), but after enteral administration alone, a smaller effect was observed (p = 0.026). Portal levels were increased after combined, enteral and intravenous administration (p = 0.001). In endotoxemia, systemic and portal levels decreased significantly. Intravenous and, to a greater extent, combined administration increased systemic levels (p = 0.001), while enteral administration only had a small effect (p = 0.001). In the portal vein, intravenous and combined treatment increased plasma levels (p = 0.001), whereas enteral supplementation alone had again a small, yet significant effect (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that combined GLN supplementation is superior to intravenous treatment alone, in terms of enhanced availability in systemic and portal circulations. Thus, combined treatment at the onset of endotoxemia is a beneficial practice, ensuring adequate GLN to compensate for the resulting intracellular shortage.

Flow cytometry analysis of CD4+IFN-γ+ T-cells for the diagnosis of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

BACKGROUND: CD4+ cells expressing Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), following stimulation with specific mycobacterial antigens, identified with flow cytometry (FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+), is a new method for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ in comparison with tuberculin skin test (TST) and Quantiferon TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-G-IT) in the diagnosis of latent MTB infection (LTBI), in close contacts and in patients with rheumatic diseases under treatment with anti-TNFa and other biologic agents. METHODS: TST, QFT-G-IT, and FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ were performed in 56 immunocompetent close contacts and in 65 medically immunosuppressed patients under biologic treatment. RESULTS: In close contacts, 63% were FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ ESAT-6(+), 70% FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ PPD(+), 41% QFT-G-IT(+) and 57% TST(+). FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ ESAT-6 was the only test that was strongly correlated to the exposure time to infection. In the immunosuppressed group, 49% were FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ ESAT-6(+), 62% FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ PPD(+), 4.6% QFT-G-IT(+), and 18% TST(+). CONCLUSION: FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ assays are more sensitive than QFT-G-IT and TST for the diagnosis of LTBI in close contacts and in immunosuppressed patients under anti-TNF-a treatment. FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ is not affected by the chronic use of biologic agents. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society.

Intraperitoneal application of phospholipids for the prevention of postoperative adhesions: a possible role of myofibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal adhesions, organized as fibrous bands after abdominal surgery, are related with considerable morbidity and repeated hospitalization. Phospholipids, natural constituents of the peritoneal fluid, seem to display excellent antiadhesive properties. The aim of this study was to investigate whether intraperitoneal application of phospholipids is capable of reducing postoperative adhesions and the possible underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male Wistar rats were subjected to a midline laparotomy and a standard peritoneal and cecum abrasion trauma. Before laparotomy closure, a bolus of 3 mL of phospholipids (12 mg/mL) or NaCl (placebo) was given intraperitoneally. Seven days later, the quality and the quantity of adhesions, as well as serum proinflammatory and/or profibrotic mediators, were blindly assessed. Human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts were isolated from normal controls and cultured with transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGFß1, 5 ng/mL) in the presence of phospholipids (30-300 µg/mL). Collagen production in culture supernatants and migratory activity of myofibroblasts were also assessed. RESULTS: Phospholipids reduced intra-abdominal adhesions (P < 0.001), with respect to their intensity and area, and serum levels of cytokines (interleukin 1ß, interleukin 6, platelet-derived growth factor-1, and TGFß1) compared with placebo-treated rats. Stimulation of myofibroblasts with TGFß1 significantly increased (P < 0.001) the basic collagen production. The presence of phospholipids significantly reduced (P < 0.001) both the TGFß1 induced and the basic collagen production. Using a wound healing assay, phospholipids were found to reduce the basic and the TGFß1-induced migration of myofibroblasts in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal phospholipids might be involved in the prevention of postoperative adhesions formation via the reduction of proinflammatory and/or profibrotic mediators and by inhibiting fibrogenic properties of mesenchymal cells.

Homemade specimen retrieval bag for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A solution in the time of fiscal crisis.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the current economic crisis in Greece, major cutbacks on healthcare costs have been imposed, resulting in a shortage of surgical supplies, including laparoscopic materials. In an attempt to reduce costs, we developed a homemade specimen retrieval bag for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: We used the polyethylene bag containing the catheter of a Redon drainage set. The bag was cut in half and pleated longitudinally; then, the gallbladder was placed in the bag and removed through the umbilicus with a grasping forceps. DISCUSSION: From September 2011 to June 2012, we used our homemade bag on 85 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No rupture, accidental opening, or bile leak was observed. The learning curve was found to be five cases. Our homemade specimen retrieval bag seems to be a safe, effective, and easy tool for tissue extraction. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate its full potential.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Hellas, Greece: the Hypertension Study in General Practice in Hellas (HYPERTENSHELL) national study.

BACKGROUND: The Hypertension Study in General Practice in Hellas (Hypertenshell) is a cross-sectional study (much like the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study) for assessing the prevalence, level of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Greece. METHODS: The study was conducted with the collaboration of physicians in 98 Health Centers across Greece. Participants were interviewed about lifestyle, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken on two clinical visits for verification of diagnosis and control of hypertension. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP > or =140 mm Hg or diastolic BP > or =90 mm Hg, or current treatment with antihypertensive drugs; the same threshold was used for assessing control of hypertension. RESULTS: A total of 11,950 individuals participated and data for 11,540 were analyzed, comprising 0.1% of the Greek population. The prevalence of hypertension was 31.1% (men 33.6%, women 28.4%); among elderly individuals (>65 years) the prevalence was higher (65.4%). Of the hypertensive individuals, 39.8% did not know that had hypertension, yielding an awareness of 60.2%; in addition, 12.4% were aware but not treated (men 13.1%, women 11.8%). In all, 51.2% (1838) of hypertensive subjects were treated; 67.2% (1235) were treated but not controlled (men 66.7%, women 67.7%); and 32.8% (603) were treated and controlled (men 33.3%, women 32.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the Hypertenshell Study indicate that hypertension is a common risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the Greek population. Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension are comparable to the best rates of control of hypertension given for the problem, but there is a considerable potential for further improvement in the control of this disease.