Socioeconomic status and risk of intensive care unit admission with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: A recent study showed higher risk of bacteremia among individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES). We hypothesized that patients with a low SES have a higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission with sepsis compared to patients with higher SES. METHODS: This was a case-control study on patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (2008-2010). Three hundred eighty-three sepsis patients were matched on sex, age, and zip code with controls retrieved from the background population. SES was defined as highest accomplished educational level, yearly income, cohabitation status, and occupation. The odds ratio (OR) of being admitted with sepsis to the ICU was calculated using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the remaining socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: The adjusted odds of being admitted to the ICU with sepsis were significantly higher among individuals living alone (OR 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-2.24, P < 0.001) compared to individuals living with a cohabitant. Individuals outside the labor force had an adjusted OR of 3.50 (CI 2.36-5.18, P < 0.001) compared to individuals in the labor force. Individuals with a medium level of education had an increased risk of admission to the ICU with sepsis compared to a high level of education (adjusted OR 1.43, CI 1.02-2.00, P = 0.04). There was no significant association between income and risk of ICU admission with sepsis after adjustment. CONCLUSION: Individuals living alone, being outside the labor force, or having a medium level of education had significantly higher risk of ICU admission with sepsis.

Gene flow and population structure of a common agricultural wild species (Microtus agrestis) under different land management regimes.

The impact of landscape structure and land management on dispersal of populations of wild species inhabiting the agricultural landscape was investigated focusing on the field vole (Microtus agrestis) in three different areas in Denmark using molecular genetic markers. The main hypotheses were the following: (i) organic farms act as genetic sources and diversity reservoirs for species living in agricultural areas and (ii) gene flow and genetic structure in the agricultural landscape are influenced by the degree of landscape complexity and connectivity. A total of 443 individual voles were sampled within 2 consecutive years from two agricultural areas and one relatively undisturbed grassland area. As genetic markers, 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci (nuclear markers) and the central part of the cytochrome-b (mitochondrial sequence) were analysed for all samples. The results indicate that management (that is, organic or conventional management) was important for genetic population structure across the landscape, but that landscape structure was the main factor shaping gene flow and genetic diversity. More importantly, the presence of organically managed areas did not act as a genetic reservoir for conventional areas, instead the most important predictor of effective population size was the amount of unmanaged available habitat (core area). The relatively undisturbed natural area showed a lower level of genetic structuring and genetic diversity compared with the two agricultural areas. These findings altogether suggest that political decisions for supporting wildlife friendly land management should take into account both management and landscape structure factors.

Lack of agreement and trending ability of the endotracheal cardiac output monitor compared with thermodilution.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive monitoring systems of central haemodynamics are gaining increasing popularity. The present study investigated the precision of the endotracheal cardiac output monitor (ECOM) system and its agreement with pulmonary artery catheter thermodilution (PAC TD) for measuring cardiac output (CO) during steady state and with induced haemodynamic changes in patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery. METHODS: Twenty-five patients were enrolled. After induction of anaesthesia, endotracheal intubation using a dedicated ECOM tube, and insertion of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), the patient was placed in the following successive positions: (a) supine, (b) head-down tilt, (c) head-up tilt, (d) supine, (e) supine with phenylephrine administration. CO was measured simultaneously using the ECOM and the PAC. RESULTS: Both methods showed an equally good precision < 10%. Compared to PAC TD, the ECOM system was associated with a bias in supine position of -0.45 l/min (95% confidence interval: -0.86; -0.05), limits of agreement -2.40 l/min to 1.49 l/min and a percentage error of 41.0%. There was no agreement in trending ability between the two methods, with a concordance rate of 30%, shown in a four-quadrant plot. CONCLUSION: In a direct comparison with PAC TD, the ECOM system did not show an acceptable agreement, with wide limits of agreement, a much larger percentage error than should be expected from the precision of the two methods and a very poor trending ability. Thus, the ECOM does not replace measurements done by thermodilution using a pulmonary artery catheter in cardiac surgery patients.

Rapid decline in 51Cr-EDTA measured renal function during the first weeks following lung transplantation.

We previously described a 54% decline in renal function at 6 months after lung transplantation (LTx). We hypothesized that this decline is a very early event following LTx. Thirty-one consecutive patients (16 females/15 males), mean age 49 (+/-13) years, with emphysema, cystic fibrosis/bronchiectasis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were included in an analysis of renal function before and after LTx. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured using the (51)Cr-ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid plasma clearance single injection technique (mGFR) at baseline before transplantation and at 1, 2, 3 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Mean mGFR declined from 103 +/- 18 to 65 +/- 22, 53 +/- 16 and 57 +/- 18 mL/min/1.73m(2) at 1-, 3- and 12-weeks post-LTx (p < 0.0001), respectively. In a time-dependent repeated measures ANOVA, risk factors for a decline in mGFR posttransplant included: time (p < 0.0001), acute renal failure within 2 weeks post-LTx (p = 0.0003), use of heart and lung machine (p = 0.04), and the use of ephedrine (p = 0.048), as well as increasing age, older than 18 years at LTx (p = 0.006). These data demonstrate that renal function, measured with an isotope method, decreases dramatically during the first week after LTx.

Enlarged clitoris in wild polar bears (Ursus maritimus) can be misdiagnosed as pseudohermaphroditism.

A 23-year-old female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) killed in an Inuit hunt in East Greenland on July 9, 1999 had a significantly enlarged clitoris resembling, in size, form and colour, those of previously reported 'pseudohermaphroditic' polar bears from Svalbard. It has been suggested that an enzyme defect (21-hydroxylase deficiency), androgen producing tumour or high exposure to organochlorines during the foetal stage or early development could be the reason for the supposed pseudohermaphroditism observed for Svalbard bears. Except for the enlarged clitoris, all dimensions of the external and internal reproductive organs of the present were similar to a reference group of 23 normal adult female polar bears from East Greenland collected in 1999-2002. The aberrant bear was a female genotype, and macroscopic examination of her internal reproductive organs indicated that she was reproductively functional. A histological examination of the clitoral enlargement in the present East Greenland specimen allows a first-time histological evaluation of the earlier macroscopic field diagnosis from Svalbard. This examination revealed intense chronic ulcerative and perivascular clitoriditis similar to "acral lick dermatitis" frequently seen in domestic dogs (i.e., we did not find any signs of pseudohermaphroditic hyperplasia of clitoral tissue due to androgenic or antiestrogenic endocrine disruption). The levels of organohalogens and TEQ values were lower than concentration thresholds of toxicological risk. It is hence possible that the previously reported adult female polar bear pseudohermaphrodites from Svalbard are in fact misdiagnoses. Therefore, future studies examining pseudohermaphroditism in wildlife should consider that certain occurrences are natural events, e.g., enlarged clitoris in the present East Greenland polar bear. Furthermore, caution should be exercised in suggesting linkages of such inflammatory abnormalities with correlations to anthropogenic pollutant exposures.

Endotoxemia and enhanced generation of oxygen radicals by neutrophils from patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.

Plasma endotoxin concentrations and oxidative burst response of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes were examined in 12 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass. The measurements were made just before the operation, 5 minutes after removal of the aortic crossclamp, and 24 hours after the operation. Endotoxin was quantitated by a combination of a sensitive Limulus amebocyte lysate assay and rocket immunoelectrophoresis measuring picogram amounts of endotoxin. Peripheral blood neutrophils were purified by a two-step dextran sedimentation and metrizoate sodium Ficoll (Lymphoprep., Nyegaard, Oslo, Norway) centrifugation. The oxidative burst response of these cells was measured for their ability to generate superoxide anion and was determined by a cytochrome c reduction assay. Preoperatively, all the plasma samples except one were free of endotoxin. The endotoxin levels reached 100 pg/ml 5 minutes after removal of the aortic crossclamp, and except in one sample they had decreased 24 hours after the operation. Studies on the generation of superoxide by neutrophils showed a decline in the response 5 minutes after removal of the aortic crossclamp and an enhancement of the response to f-Met-Leu-Phe by cells obtained from 11 of 12 patients 24 hours postoperatively. In vitro addition of bacterial lipopolysaccharide to blood from healthy individuals also enhanced the superoxide response of the neutrophils. We conclude that during cardiopulmonary bypass the circulating blood is contaminated by endotoxin and the neutrophils are primed for enhanced generation of oxygen radicals. The released oxygen radicals may be involved in the tissue damage observed in these patients.

Presence of circulating endotoxins during cardiac operations.

Ten patients having coronary artery bypass grafting were intraoperatively and postoperatively analyzed for endotoxins with the Limulus amoebocyte lysate test. A new highly sensitive rocket immunoelectrophoretic assay for reading the reactions of endotoxins with Limulus amoebocyte lysate was used. Preoperatively, all blood samples from the patients had negative Limulus amoebocyte lysate tests, negative blood cultures, normal total white cell counts, and were clinically without signs of infection. Intraoperatively, a substantial amount of endotoxins were found in samples from the extracorporeal circuit, the pulmonary artery, and the cardiac suction lines, which persisted during the cardiopulmonary bypass. The endotoxin content decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) 6 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass and further decreased within the seventh postoperative day (p less than 0.01). A positive Limulus amoebocyte lysate test was also found in some of the fluids administered during the operation, that is, the cardioplegic fluids, the priming fluids for the extracorporeal circuit, the blood transfusions, and the ice for local cooling. Postoperatively, all patients had rectal temperatures below 38.5 degrees C, but no correlation was found between the magnitude of endotoxin content and the degree of fever. Only one of the patients had positive blood cultures. Despite the measured endotoxin content, no intraoperative or postoperative complications were found.

[Heart transplantation]. / Hjertetransplantation.

In carefully selected patients with end-stage heart failure heart transplantation has developed from an experimental procedure to standard therapy during the last 30 years. It is currently accepted as a procedure for prolonging life and also for improving quality of life. According to the Registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation the overall one-year actuarial survival is 79% and 10-year survival barely 50%. Nine years after the start of the Heart Transplant Program at Rigshospitalet the overall actuarial survival of 157 consecutive patients is 66%. Due to the limited donor access a decline of heart transplant recipients has been recorded during the late nineties. Mechanical replacement of the heart may develop from technological advances and possibly this therapy may gain a complementary status in heart failure, however the human biological replacement is currently the standard.

[Heart transplantation in Denmark. Therapeutic routines and preliminary results]. / Hjertetransplantation i Danmark. Behandlingsrutiner og praeliminaere resultater.

When the criterion of brain-death was introduced in Denmark on 1.7.1990, the possibility for heart transplantation and other interventions was opened. The first heart transplantation was carried out 3.10.1990 and, during the first year, 28 transplantations were carried out on 27 patients. The therapeutic routines in the department are reviewed and the results obtained after the first year are presented. A total of 33 donors who fulfilled the donor criteria were available. Of these, 28 came to Rigshospitalet, two were sent abroad and suitable recipients could not be found for two. The recipient group consisted of four women and 23 men with an average of 46 years. At the time of writing, on an average 169 days after operation (13-330), 23 out of 27 patients survived in good health and with normal cardiac function. Three patients are still in hospital.

[Anesthesiologic aspects of multiorgan donation]. / Anaestesiologiske aspekter ved multiorgandonation.

As of July 1990 brain death was legally recognized in Denmark thereby rendering transplantation of heart, liver and lung possible. Brain death donors are usually treated in neurosurgical or anaesthetic intensive care units. The staff of these units influence the number of donors and also the quality of organs donated. Physiological factors pertinent to brain death donors and pre- and peroperative donor therapy in relation to multiorgan procurement are discussed from the viewpoint of the anaesthetist. Symptomatic therapy aimed at optimizing and maintaining organ function is employed; thus continuing intensive care. Sympathetic and somatic reflex responses to surgical stimulation are to be anticipated, often necessitating analgesics to blunt haemodynamic responses and neuromuscular blocking agents to inhibit movements and/or rigidity.

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 August 2012 - 30 September 2012.

This article documents the addition of 83 microsatellite marker loci and 96 pairs of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sequencing primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Bembidion lampros, Inimicus japonicus, Lymnaea stagnalis, Panopea abbreviata, Pentadesma butyracea, Sycoscapter hirticola and Thanatephorus cucumeris (anamorph: Rhizoctonia solani). These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Pentadesma grandifolia and Pentadesma reyndersii. This article also documents the addition of 96 sequencing primer pairs and 88 allele-specific primers or probes for Plutella xylostella.