[Possibilites of application of traditional Chinese medicine - acupuncture - in the perioperative period.] / A hagyományos kínai orvoslás ­ akupunktúra ­ alkalmazásának lehetoségei a perioperatív idoszakban.

Chinese medicine is a holistic method of therapy with thousands of years of history. There are more assumptions regarding the mechanism of action, nevertheless, several studies have demonstrated its therapeutic effect. Nowadays, patients and physicians have become open to complementary medicine, but acupuncture used in the perioperative period has not yet widespread in Hungary. The aim of the article is to describe traditional Chinese medicine, primarily the effect of acupuncture and laser acupuncture on patients undergoing surgery. Relieving anxiety before surgery, alleviating pain, nausea and vomiting during and after surgery is a basic anesthesiology task, however, the drug therapy can be supplemented with any technique of acupuncture. Based on numerous studies, acupuncture effectively reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea, has an anxiolytic and analgesic effect, and also has an anti-inflammatory effect caused by surgical stress. There are rarely contraindications to its application, accurate knowledge of the rules of point selection and with proper technique acupuncture is a low-risk, pain-free procedure that can be performed by inducing a mild needling sensation. Based on all this, it can become a part of multimodal therapy. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(30): 1187-1193.

[Use of thoracic and lung ultrasound in general anesthesia]. / A mellkas és a tüdo ultrahangvizsgálatának szerepe az általános érzéstelenítés során.

The use of ultrasound became an essential tool in the everyday practice of anesthesiology and intensive care as an indispensable prerequisite for the precise guidance of invasive procedures and also as a point-of-care diagnostic method. Despite the limitations of imaging the lung and thoracic structures, the COVID-19 pandemic and recent advances made this technology an evolving field. The intensive therapy applies these methods with important experience for differential diagnosis and assessment of disease severity or prognosis. Minor modifications of these results make the method beneficial for anesthesia and perioperative medicine. In the present review, the authors accentuate the most important imaging artefacts of lung ultrasonography and the principles of lung ultrasound diagnostic steps. Methods and artefacts of high importance supported by evidence for the assessment of airway management, attuning of intraoperative mechanical ventilation, respiratory disorders during surgery, and postoperative prognosis are articulated. This review intends to focus on evolving subfields in which technological or scientific novelties are expected. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(22): 864-870.

Role of faith in strategies of healthcare professionals in intensive care units in end-of-life decision making / A vallásosság szerepe az intenzív osztályon dolgozó orvosok és ápolók véleményének kialakításában az életvégi döntések meghozatalakor.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A haldoklást minden korban kulturális és vallási szabályok vették körül, melyek a mai napig hatnak a társadalomban. A 21. században számos beteg a kórházban, az intenzív osztályon fejezi be életét, ahol nem ritkán kerülhet sor életvégi döntés meghozatalára. Célkituzés: Vizsgálatunk célja annak feltárása volt, milyen hatással van az orvosok és ápolók vallásossága a kezeléskorlátozással kapcsolatos döntésekre az intenzív osztályon. Módszer: Magyarországi intenzív osztályokon dolgozó orvosok és szakdolgozók körében végeztünk kérdoíves felmérést a vallás életvégi döntésekre gyakorolt hatásáról. 189 orvos és 105 ápoló által anonim módon kitöltött kérdoívet elemeztünk. Eredmények: Az intenzív osztályra történo betegfelvételre nem volt hatással a vallásosság, azonban a szabad ágyak száma a vallásos orvosokat erosebben befolyásolta, mint az ateista és választ nem adó orvosokat (<0,0001). A vallásukat gyakorló orvosok szignifikánsan jobban figyelembe vették a hozzátartozó kérését, mint az ateisták (p = 0,0002). A vallásos ápolók gyakrabban folytatnák a beteg kezelését a hozzátartozó kérése ellenére is, ha még látnának esélyt a gyógyulásra, mint a nem vallásosak. Következtetés: Vizsgálatunk alátámasztotta, hogy a világnézet befolyásolja az orvosokat és ápolókat az élet végérol hozott döntésekben. A kezeléskorlátozásról hozott döntés összetett, elengedhetetlen megismerni hozzá a beteg és családjának haldoklással kapcsolatos vallási szokásait, mivel jó életvégi döntés a világnézeti szempontok figyelembevétele nélkül nem hozható. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(51): 2047-2054. INTRODUCTION: Death has always been surrounded by habits in all ages, influenced by cultural and religious differences. Many patients finish their lives at intensive care units where end-of-life decisions are the part of everyday practice in the 21th century. OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study was to assess how the religious beliefs of physicians and nurses affect their decision on therapy restriction. METHOD: We have performed questionnaire-based enquiries among physicians and nurses working at intensive care units on how religion affects end-of-life decisions. We have analyzed the anonymous questionnaires filled out by 189 physicians and 105 nurses. RESULTS: Our results have confirmed the hypothesis that religion affects decision making about therapy restriction. Patients' admissions were not affected by religious beliefs, but the number of available patient beds influenced the religious physicians more than the atheists ones or the non-responders (<0.0001). Actively religious physicians complied significantly better with the relatives than atheists (p = 0.0002). Religious nurses would continue patient treatment even against the will of relatives more often than atheists if they see a chance for recovery. CONCLUSION: The study supports that religion influences physicians and nurses in their end-of-life decisions. Decisions on therapy restriction are complex; it is important to find out religious beliefs and perception of death among patients and families because good end-of-life decision cannot be made disregarding religious considerations. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(51): 2047-2054.

Relationship between the coronavirus epidemic and the use of complementary and alternative medicine prior to elective surgical procedures / A koronavírus-járvány hatása a komplementer terápiás gyógymódok igénybevételére elektív sebészeti mutétek elott.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A 2019 végén Vuhanból kiinduló, SARS-CoV-2 okozta koronavírus-járvány jelentos hatást gyakorolt életünkre. Specifikus terápia hiányában az emberek egy része alternatív gyógymódokhoz fordult. Célkituzés: Vizsgálatunk célja annak feltárása volt, milyen hatást gyakorolt a koronavírus-járvány a betegek komplementer gyógymódokhoz való viszonyulására elektív sebészeti mutétek elott. Módszer: Egy magyarországi klinika és egy városi kórház elektív sebészeti mutétre váró betegei körében végeztünk anonim kérdoíves felmérést 2020. augusztus 3. és december 18. között. 279 kérdoívet dolgoztunk fel, a válaszadási arány 69,7% volt. Eredmények: A koronavírus-járvány hatására a válaszadók 91,4%-ának nem változott meg a véleménye a nem konvencionális kezelésekrol, 8,2%-a bizakodóbban tekintett ezekre. A komplementer terápia betegségmegelozo hatása iránt a kitöltok 16,8%-a volt bizakodó, 25,4%-a elutasító, 57,7%-a nem formált véleményt. A válaszadók 24,7%-a vett igénybe élete során alternatív módszereket, a koronavírus-fertozés megelozésére csak a nyilatkozók 10%-a alkalmazna ilyen gyógymódokat. Kizárólag a pandémia hatására senki nem kezdett el komplementer gyógymódokat használni. A kérdoívet kitöltok 55,6%-a használt gyógynövénykészítményt élete során. A járvány ideje alatt a válaszadók 27,5%-a vett igénybe gyógynövénykészítményeket; a gyógymód alkalmazása és a vizsgált szociodemográfiai tényezok között nem találtunk összefüggést. A gyógynövények alkalmazása alacsonyabb mértéku volt a daganatos és a thromboemboliás betegek között. Következtetés: Vizsgálatunk alapján a komplementer gyógymódok használata feltehetoen a járvány miatt elrendelt korlátozásokból adódóan csökkent, a gyógynövények alkalmazása azonban nem változott lényegesen. A válaszadók tizede használt komplementer gyógymódot a koronavírus-fertozés megelozésére. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(42): 1678-1686. INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 from Wuhan at the end of 2019 had considerable impact on our lives. In the absence of specific therapy, some people have resorted to alternative therapies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to explore the effect of the coronavirus epidemic on the patients' attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine. METHOD: We have performed anonymous questionnaire survey among patients of a Hungarian university hospital and a city hospital waiting for elective surgery between August 3, 2020 and December 18, 2020. We received 279 questionnaires, the response rate was 69.7%. RESULTS: As a result of the coronavirus epidemic, 91.4% of the respondents did not change their opinion about complementary and alternative treatments, 8.2% were more optimistic about them. 16.8% of respondents were optimistic, 25.4% rejected, and 57.7% did not form an opinion about the disease-preventing effect of complementary therapy. A quarter of respondents (24.7%) had used complementary therapies in their lifetime, with only 10% of respondents using such therapies to prevent coronavirus infection. As a result of the pandemic, no one started using complementary therapies. 55.6% of the respondents used a herbal preparation during their lifetime. In the course of the epidemic, a high proportion of respondents (27.5%) used herbal preparations; no correlation was found between the use of the treatment and the socio-demographic factors examined. The use of herbs was lower among cancer and thromboembolic patients. CONCLUSION: Based on our study, the use of complementary therapies presumably decreased due to the restrictions imposed in the epidemic, however, the use of herbs did not change significantly. One-tenth of the respondents used naturopathic cure to prevent coronavirus infection. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(42): 1678-1686.

The role of ultrasonographic lung aeration score in the prediction of postoperative pulmonary complications: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are important contributors to mortality and morbidity after surgery. The available predicting models are useful in preoperative risk assessment, but there is a need for validated tools for the early postoperative period as well. Lung ultrasound is becoming popular in intensive and perioperative care and there is a growing interest to evaluate its role in the detection of postoperative pulmonary pathologies. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify characteristics with the potential of recognizing patients at risk by comparing the lung ultrasound scores (LUS) of patients with/without PPC in a 24-h postoperative timeframe. METHODS: Observational study at a university clinic. We recruited ASA 2-3 patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia. LUS was assessed preoperatively, and also 1 and 24 h after surgery. Baseline and operative characteristics were also collected. A one-week follow up identified PPC+ and PPC- patients. Significantly differing LUS values underwent ROC analysis. A multi-variate logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise model building was performed to find independent predictors of PPCs. RESULTS: Out of the 77 recruited patients, 67 were included in the study. We evaluated 18 patients in the PPC+ and 49 in the PPC- group. Mean ages were 68.4 ± 10.2 and 66.4 ± 9.6 years, respectively (p = 0.4829). Patients conforming to ASA 3 class were significantly more represented in the PPC+ group (66.7 and 26.5%; p = 0.0026). LUS at baseline and in the postoperative hour were similar in both populations. The median LUS at 0 h was 1.5 (IQR 1-2) and 1 (IQR 0-2; p = 0.4625) in the PPC+ and PPC- groups, respectively. In the first postoperative hour, both groups had a marked increase, resulting in scores of 6.5 (IQR 3-9) and 5 (IQR 3-7; p = 0.1925). However, in the 24th hour, median LUS were significantly higher in the PPC+ group (6; IQR 6-10 vs 3; IQR 2-4; p < 0.0001) and it was an independent risk factor (OR = 2.6448 CI95% 1.5555-4.4971; p = 0.0003). ROC analysis identified the optimal cut-off at 5 points with high sensitivity (0.9444) and good specificity (0.7755). CONCLUSION: Postoperative LUS at 24 h can identify patients at risk of or in an early phase of PPCs.

[The use of herbal remedies prior to elective surgical procedures at an urban hospital and a university clinic in Hungary. Descriptive study]. / Gyógynövények használata elektív mutéti beavatkozás elott. Kérdoíves felmérés egy egyetemi klinika és egy városi kórház betegei körében.

Introduction: Herbal medicine use has become widespread in recent years. This is the first study in Hungary evaluating the use of nutraceutical agents in patients undergoing elective surgery. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the types, frequency of use and predisposing factors of the most commonly used herbs among patients of an urban hospital and a university clinic. Method: We conducted an anonymous survey questionnaire at the Jávorszky Ödön Hospital and at the 1st Department of Surgery of Semmelweis University. A total of 1000 questionnaires were distributed. Results: In total, 612 questionnaires were returned. 34.3% of patients used herbal remedies, 19.6% of them two weeks prior to surgery. The most commonly used herbs were garlic, chamomile and lemongrass, while in the two-week period before surgery were garlic, ginger and rosehips. 58.5% of the patients had some type of co-morbidity; in this group, the use of herbal remedies was significantly more frequent. 64.4% of patients were expected to undergo general surgical intervention; in this group, the use of herbs was more popular. Analyzing the sociodemographic factors, women, people with a higher level of education, the ones that live in the capital and are over 60 years of age are more likely to use these compounds. Conclusion: One third of patients waiting for surgery used herbal remedies, one fifth of them two weeks prior to surgery. Only one fifth of the patients reported the use of these compounds to their doctors. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(1): 17-25.

Role of inferior vena cava collapsibility index in the prediction of hypotension associated with general anesthesia: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative hypotension increases 30-day mortality and the risks of myocardial injury and acute renal failure. Patients with inadequate volume reserve before the induction of anesthesia are highly exposed. The identification of latent hypovolemia is therefore crucial. Ultrasonographic measurement of the inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI) is able to detect volume responsiveness in circulatory shock. No current evidence is available regarding whether preoperative measurement of the IVCCI could identify patients at high risk for hypotension associated with general anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 102 patients undergoing elective general surgery under general anesthesia with standardized propofol induction were recruited for this prospective observational study. The IVCCI was measured under spontaneous breathing. A collapsing (IVCCI≧50%) (CI+) and a noncollapsing (CI-) group were formed. Immediate postinduction changes in systolic and mean blood pressure were compared. The performance of the IVCCI as a diagnostic tool for predicting hypotension (systolic pressure < 90 mmHg or a ≥ 30% drop from the baseline) was evaluated by ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were available for analysis, with 20 in the CI+ and 63 in the CI- group, we excluded 19 previously eligible patients due to inadequate visualization of the IVC (7 cases), lack of adherence to the protocol (8 cases), missing data (2 cases) or change in anesthesiologic management (2 cases). The mean decrease in systolic pressure in the CI+ group was 53.8 ± 15.3 compared to 35.8 ± 18.1 mmHg in CI- patients (P = 0.0001). The relative mean arterial pressure change medians were 34.1% (IQR 23.2-43.0%) and 24.2% (IQR 17.2-30.2%), respectively (P = 0.0029). The ROC curve analysis for IVCCI showed an AUC of 64.8% (95% CI 52.1-77.5%). The selected 50% level of the IVCCI had a sensitivity of only 45.5% (95% CI 28.1-63.7%), but the specificity was high at 90.0% (78.2-96.7%). The positive predictive value was 75.0% (95% CI 50.9-91.3%), and the negative predictive value was 71.4% (95% CI 58.7-82.1%). CONCLUSION: In spontaneously breathing preoperative noncardiac surgical patients, preoperatively detected IVCCI≧50% can predict postinduction hypotension with high specificity but low sensitivity. Despite moderate performance, IVCCI is an easy, noninvasive and attractive option to identify patients at risk and should be explored further.

[Identification of risk factors of multiresistant infections on two intensive care units]. / A multirezisztens infekciók rizikófaktorainak vizsgálata két intenzív osztályon.

INTRODUCTION: Intensive care units are favourable environment for infections, many of them are caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. AIM: Identifying risk factors of ICU-acquired multiresistant infections. METHOD: We performed observational study on two academic intensive care units (a multidisciplinary and a surgical ICU) between 01/09/2014 and 30/11/2015. Patients with a first infection caused by predefined organisms (P. aeruginosa, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, A. baumanni, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. faecium, E. faecalis or their multiresistant homologues) verified ≥48 h following admission were divided into two groups according to multiresistant (MRB) and non-multiresistant (n-MRB) bacteria. Prevalence of diabetes, COPD, smoking, alcoholism, acute surgery, malignancy were recorded. Their role was evaluated on pooled populations. Illness severity was marked by SAPS-II at admission and SOFA-score on day of positive culture. We also noted the length of stay, mechanical ventilation, antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: Multidisciplinary ICU had 627, the surgical 1096 admissions. On the formal unit MRB group had 41 (48.1%), the n-MRB had 38 (51.9%) patients. On the latter unit 31 (54.4%) and 26 (45.6%) patients were involved. Smoking favoured multiresistant bacteria (RR 1.44 CI95% 1.04-2.0; p = 0.048). In case of malignancies n-MRB were more prominent (RR of MRB 0.68 CI95% 0.47-0.97; p = 0.026), other comorbidities had no significant impact. Illness severity scores did not differ at any of the ICUs. Preceding length of stay, days on mechanical ventilation or on antibiotics were similar in each group on both ICUs. CONCLUSION: Smoking was revealed as a risk factor for MRB on our ICUs. We were not able to identify time-dependent risk factors. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(32): 1259-1268.

[Attitudes, knowledge and use of complementary and alternative medicine among perioperative healthcare professionals]. / Komplementer terápiás gyógymódok megítélése a perioperatív ellátásban dolgozó egészségügyi szakdolgozók között.

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative healthcare professionals' attitudes towards non-conventional treatments have not been explored in Hungary yet. AIM: Our goal was to survey healthcare professionals' attitude and knowledge towards naturopathy in six clinics of the Semmelweis University that provide perioperative care. METHOD: An anonymous, paper-based questionnaire was used. With an 82% response rate, the data was gained from 119 questionnaires and was processed using statistical analysis and chi-squared test. RESULTS: Only 25.2% of those surveyed considered themselves to be well-informed in this field. 68.1% of the participants had an interest in naturopathy and 60.5% would have liked to learn about naturopathy. 70.6% would be willing to use non-conventional treatments in their daily work, predominantly those who have used these methods in the case of their own illness, p = 0.0027. The most popular treatment methods included homeopathy, alternative massage and movement therapy, acupuncture and manual therapy. CONCLUSION: As anticipated based on international literature in this field, those Hungarian healthcare professionals who took part in our survey showed openness and interest towards naturopathy. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(10), 368-375.

Complementary and alternative medicine: attitudes, knowledge and use among surgeons and anaesthesiologists in Hungary.

BACKGROUND: Despite their worldwide popularity the question of using non-conventional treatments is a source of controversy among medical professionals. Although these methods may have potential benefits it presents a problem when patients use non-conventional treatments in the perioperative period without informing their attending physician about it and this may cause adverse events and complications. To prevent this, physicians need to have a profound knowledge about non-conventional treatments. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed among surgeons and anaesthesiologists working in Hungarian university clinics and in selected city or county hospitals. Questionnaires were distributed by post, online or in person. Altogether 258 questionnaires were received from 22 clinical and hospital departments. RESULTS: Anaesthesiologists and surgeons use reflexology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal medicine and manual therapy most frequently in their clinical practice. Traditional Chinese Medicine was considered to be the most scientifically sound method, while homeopathy was perceived as the least well-grounded method. Neural therapy was the least well-known method among our subjects. Among the subjects of our survey only 3.1 % of perioperative care physicians had some qualifications in non-conventional medicine, 12.4 % considered themselves to be well-informed in this topic and 48.4 % would like to study some complementary method. Women were significantly more interested in alternative treatments than men, p = 0.001427; OR: 2.2765. Anaesthesiologists would be significantly more willing to learn non-conventional methods than surgeons. 86.4 % of the participants thought that non-conventional treatments should be evaluated from the point of view of evidence. Both surgeons and anaesthesiologists accept the application of integrative medicine and they also approve of the idea of teaching these methods at universities. CONCLUSIONS: According to perioperative care physicians, non-conventional methods should be evaluated based on evidence. They also expressed a willingness to learn about those treatments that meet the criteria of evidence and apply these in their clinical practice.

[Complementary and alternative medicine use in surgical patients]. / Nem konvencionális gyógymódok használata sebészeti betegek között.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the rise in use of non-conventional therapies, we may consider the application of those in perioperative setting. AIM: The aims of the authors were to measure the attitude of patients waiting for elective surgery towards naturopathic methods, to determine their use and factors influencing their usage. METHOD: A questionnaire was applied that patients filled in individually and anonymously at the First Department of Surgery of Semmelweis University, between July 1, 2014 and April 30, 2016. RESULTS: 63.6% of the 519 participants (response rate = 21%) were interested in non-conventional therapies, and 26.8% of them applied naturopathy. In this group there were significantly more females (p = 0.022; OR: 1.066-2.3635), patients with university degree (p = 0.000315; OR: 1.3915-3.1132), aged 40-49 (p = 0.012419; OR: 1.1451-3.2405), and patients with hormonal disease (p = 0.039482; OR: 1.0186-5.7242). In terms of lifetime prevalence the most popular methods were traditional Chinese medicine (8.9%), alternative movement and massage therapy (7.5%) and homeopathy (7.3%). Only 12.9% of the patients reported the application of these methods to the physician. CONCLUSION: Surgical patients are interested in naturopathic methods, and one-fourth of them actually use them even in the perioperative period. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(37), 1483-1488.

Herbal medicine use by surgery patients in Hungary: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of non-conventional treatments, especially the consumption of herbs is showing an increasing tendency all over the world. The consumption of herbal medicines might cause several complications during perioperative care. METHODS: The survey was conducted at the First Department of Surgery of Semmelweis University and focused on the demographics of patients consuming herbal medicines who had undergone elective surgery between July 1(st) 2014 and February 28(th) 2015. A one-page questionnaire, that the patients filled in individually and anonymously, was used. The response rate was 17.3 %. RESULTS: Out of the 390 patients who filled in the questionnaire, 7.2 % (28 patients) used herbal medicines, 3.6 % (14 patients) of them two weeks prior to their hospitalization. The other 3.6 % (14 patients) took herbal medicines sometime in the past. The majority of those who have ever consumed herbs are women (18/28), have completed secondary or tertiary education (23/28), more than half of them suffer from tumorous diseases and only a quarter of them (7/28) informed their physician about their use of herbal medication of their own accord. CONCLUSIONS: Attention must be paid to the exploration of herb consumption habits of surgery patients during the preoperative examinations in order to avoid potential side effects, complications or drug interactions.

[Outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a surgical intensive care unit]. / Vancomycinrezisztens Enterococcusok megjelenése sebészeti intenzív osztályon.

INTRODUCTION: Enterococci have increasing importance in intensive care units, and vancomycin-resistant strains express a new challenge. AIM: The aim of the authors was to present their findings obtained from the first vancomycin-resistant enterococci outbreak occurred in 2013 at the Intensive Care Unit of the 1st Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University. METHOD: This was a case-control study of patients who had Enterococci species isolated from their microbiological samples between January 1 and June 30, 2013. Changes of Enterococcal incidence and consequences of vancomycin-resistance in patient outcome were analyzed. Demographic data, hospital length of stay and mortality data were also collected. RESULTS: Enterococci were isolated from 114 patients and 14 of them had vancomycin-resistant strains. The incidence of Enterococcal strains was not different in the periods before and after the outbreak of the first vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. Patients with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci had significantly higher mortality rate than those with vancomycin-sensitive Enterococcus (42.9% vs 30.0%, p = 0.005); however, length of stay was not significantly different. Co-morbidities and emergency surgery were significantly higher in patients who had vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. CONCLUSIONS: The higher mortality observed in patients with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infections highlights the importance of prevention and appropriate infection control, however, the direct relationship of vancomycin-resistance and increased mortality is questionable.

[Changes in the incidence of multiresistant pathogens and its consequences in the intensive care unit]. / Multirezisztens kórokozók gyakoriságának változása és ennek vonatkozásai az intenzív osztályon.

UNLABELLED: Incidence of nosocomial infections and antibiotics resistance in intensive care units is increasing worldwide. Blood-stream infections of Gram-negative non-fermentive bacteria are associated with higher mortality. AIM AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to compare the antibiotic sensitivity of nosocomial blood-stream infections between years 2008-2010. RESULTS: There was no difference in the sensitivity of methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended-spectrum beta lactamase producing Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli infections between the two years examined. Antibiotic resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas infections showed a marked increase in 2010 when compared to that found in 2008: there was no multiresistant Acinetobacter infection in samples obtained in 2008, but all these infections were found to be sensitive only to colistin in samples investigated in 2010. Sensitivity of Pseudomonas infections to carbapenems and piperacillin/tazobactam decreased significantly during this time. In addition, the authors found that the mortality of multiresistant Gram-negative blood-stream infections was higher compared to that caused by non-multiresistant bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: These results emphasize the importance of infection control, adequate dosing and timing of antibiotics, and an appropriate number of nurses in intensive care unit.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor-induced sensitization to TNFalpha/TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in cervical carcinoma cells is dependent on HPV oncogene expression.

Histone-deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACi) can block proliferation and induce intrinsic apoptosis in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cervical carcinoma cells, independently of copy number and integration locus of the viral DNA. Using HPV18-positive HeLa cells as model systems, we provide evidence that HDAC inhibition leads to transcriptional suppression of c-FLIP, which negatively regulates extrinsic apoptosis by preventing the recruitment of caspase-8 to the death-inducing signaling complex. Consequently, HDACi pretreatment renders cervical cancer cells sensitive to TNFalpha and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Already 5-hr incubation with TNFalpha or TRAIL was sufficient to eradicate more than 40% of pretreated cells, which are normally completely refractory against respective death-ligands alone even under long-term incubation. Ectopic expression of either short or long splicing variant of c-FLIP, c-FLIP(s) and c-FLIP(L), abrogates sensitization. Notably, combined HDACi/death ligand treatment did not result in eradication of HPV-negative cells, despite the fact that both c-FLIP isoforms were also downregulated. However, knocking down HPV18 E6/E7 transcription by siRNA prevents HDACi/death-ligand mediated apoptosis, indicating that continued viral oncogene expression favors sensitization. Here, the viral oncoprotein E7 seems to play a functional role, since only HPV16 E7-immortalized human keratinocytes underwent significant apoptosis on HDACi/TNFalpha treatment, whereas keratinocytes expressing only HPV16 E6 or primary keratinocytes were refractory under the same experimental conditions. Taken together, HDACi can be considered as an alternative therapeutic option in the treatment of premalignant and malignant lesions.

Two-staged procedure of portal ligation and hepatectomy monitored by ICG clearance.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to predict and estimate the optimal time of resection following portal vein ligation (PVL) with the aid of three dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) volumetry and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance in healthy liver. Following right PVL, we induced hypertrophy of the left liver lobe prior to an extended right hepatectomy. METHODS: Fourteen patients with right lobe liver metastases from colorectal cancer underwent right PVL. Cutoff points for the ICG clearance test were: R15 < 14% or PDR > 15%/min. The criteria for resection also required a remnant liver volume of 25% of the whole liver volume. The latter was assessed by CT scan prior to the procedures. Liver function was measured with routine biochemical tests and ICG clearance. Postoperatively, repeated ICG clearance and 3D CT volumetry tests were used to estimate the liver's regeneration. Liver resections were performed as a second stage. RESULTS: After portal ligation, ICG clearance increased significantly in some patients, while in others, the ICG clearance remained unchanged with borderline low or normal clearance values. Between the two operations, patients with high clearance had less complications and a better regeneration rate of the left lobe with a shorter waiting period in contrast to the "low ICG group." CONCLUSIONS: ICG clearance has a significant prognostic value. Patients with an apparently inoperable right lobe liver tumor can be successfully treated using a two-staged procedure of portal vain ligation followed by hepatectomy. The 3D CT volumetry and ICG clearance test are essential monitoring tools in these liver resections.

[Home parenteral nutrition. May it be performed in Hungary, too?]. / Otthoni parenteralis táplálás. Lehetséges Magyarországon is?

Patients suffering from intestinal failure can receive home parenteral nutrition in several countries of the world since the end of the 1960s. In Hungary, intestinal failure patients can receive parenteral nutrition only in hospital, even if they can live in family or they are capable to work under certain circumstances because the present health financial system and legal environment do not allow home parenteral nutrition. This system is extremely uneconomical, reserves hospital beds and is opposing the European practice. Based on literature of recent years, the authors reviewed the life expectancy, the quality of life of patients receiving home parenteral nutrition and the frequency of complications and home parenteral nutrition systems applied worldwide. The specialized knowledge needed for home parenteral nutrition is entirely available, the solutions and technical supports are ready in the Hungarian market. Professionals committed to nutrition therapy have initiated academic collaboration among specialties to arrange the poorly handled questions of home parenteral nutrition and to establish the home parenteral nutrition system in Hungary.

[Principles of intensive care in severe acute pancreatitis in 2008]. / Az akut súlyos pancreatitis intenzív terápiás kezelési elvei 2008-ban.

Acute pancreatitis is a dynamic, often progressive disease; 14-20% require intensive care in its severe form due to multiorgan dysfunction and/or failure. This review was created using systematic literature review of articles published on this subject in the last 5 years. The outcome of severe acute pancreatitis is determined by the inflammatory response and multiorgan dysfunction - the prognostic scores (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, Glasgow Prognostic Index, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment, Multi Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Scale, Ranson Scale) can be used to determine outcome. Clinical signs (age, coexisting diseases, confusion, obesity) and biochemistry values (serum amylase, lipase, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, creatinine, urea, calcium) have important prognostic roles as well. Early organ failure increases the risk of late abdominal complications and mortality. Intensive care can provide appropriate multi-function patient monitoring which helps in early recognition of complications and appropriate target-controlled treatment. Treatment of severe acute pancreatitis aims at reducing systemic inflammatory response and multiorgan dysfunction and, on the other side, at increasing the anti-inflammatory response. Oral starvation for 24-48 hours is effective in reducing the exocrine activity of the pancreas; the efficacy of protease inhibitors is questionable. Early intravascular volume resuscitation and stable haemodynamics improve microcirculation. Early oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation provide adequate oxygenation. Electrolyte and acid-base control can be as important as tight glucose control. Adequate pain relief can be achieved by thoracic epidural catheterization. Early enteral nutrition with immunonutrition should be used. There is evidence that affecting the coagulation cascade by activated protein C can play a role in reducing the inflammatory response. The complex therapy of acute pancreatitis includes appropriate antibiotics, thrombo-embolic prophylaxis and in certain cases plasmapheresis and/or haemofiltration. Reducing intraabdominal pressure may be necessary in the acute phase. Intensive care multidisciplinary teamwork can reduce the mortality of severe acute pancreatitis from 30% to 10%.