Transcriptome from Paired Samples Improves the Power of Comprehensive COVID-19 Host-Viral Characterization.

Previous transcriptome profiling studies showed significantly upregulated genes and altered biological pathways in acute COVID-19. However, changes in the transcriptional signatures during a defined time frame are not yet examined and described. The aims of this study included viral metagenomics and evaluation of the total expression in time-matched and tissue-matched paired COVID-19 samples with the analysis of the host splicing profile to reveal potential therapeutic targets. Prospective analysis of paired nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and blood (BL) samples from 18 COVID-19 patients with acute and resolved infection performed using Kallisto, Suppa2, Centrifuge, EdgeR, PantherDB, and L1000CDS2 tools. In NPS, we discovered 6 genes with changed splicing and 40 differentially expressed genes (DEG) that yielded 88 altered pathways. Blood samples yielded 15 alternatively spliced genes. Although the unpaired DEG analysis failed, pairing identified 78 genes and 242 altered pathways with meaningful clinical interpretation and new candidate drug combinations with up to 65% overlap. Metagenomics analyses showed SARS-CoV-2 dominance during and after the acute infection, with a significant reduction in NPS (0.008 vs. 0.002, p = 0.019). Even though both NPS and BL give meaningful insights into expression changes, this is the first demonstration of how the power of blood analysis is vastly maximized by pairing. The obtained results essentially showed that pairing is a determinant between a failed and a comprehensive study. Finally, the bioinformatics results prove to be a comprehensive tool for full-action insights, drug development, and infectious disease research when designed properly.

Predicting mortality in severe polytrauma with limited resources.

BACKGROUND: Objective evaluation of the severity of injured patients is crucial for the adequate triage, decision-making, operative and intensive care management, prevention, outcome studies and system quality assessment. This study aimed to compare six, widely- used, trauma scores as predictors of mortality, and to identify the most powerful among them in limited-resources settings. METHODS: Seventy-five polytraumatized patients, admitted to the ICU of the Clinic for Emergency Surgery (Level 1 trauma center, CSS Belgrade) from June 2018-August 2020, were included in the study. The inclusion criteria were age≥16, ISS≥16 and SOFA≥5 points. Scores were evaluated using logistic regression model and analysis of areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). RESULTS: During the 26 months period, highly selected cases, mostly of blunt trauma (97.3%), due to a road traffic accident (68%) and free-falls (25.3%) were included. Surgery was indicated in 56 (74.7%) and non-operative treatment in 19 (25.3%) cases, with overall mortality rate at 36%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that all six trauma scores (ISS, NISS, APACHE2, SOFA, TRISS, KTS) were significant mortality predictors (p<0.001). Observed cut-off values for ISS: 39.5, NISS: 42, APACHE 2: 25, SOFA 6.5 points are predictive for mortality in non-survivors. A multivariate analysis showed that the most powerful mortality predictors are TRISS and APACHE 2 with AUCs: 0.9 and 0.866. CONCLUSION: According to our study the most powerful mortality predictors are APACHE 2 and TRISS, even in limited-resources hospital settings, while statistically significant KTS, did not perform as expected. We propose the appliance of the KTS, as the tool for exploiting 'golden hour', ISS or NISS during admission stage and APACHE 2 or TRISS for use in the first 24 hours after admission to ICU.

Seroprevalence in health care workers during the later phase of the second wave: Results of three hospitals in Serbia, prior to vaccine administration.

BACKGROUND: Since the COVID-19 pandemic has started, Serbia has faced problems in implementing proper public health measures in the population, including non-pharmaceutical interventions, as well as protecting health care workers (HCWs) from disease, like all other countries. This study aimed to estimate COVID-19 seroprevalence and evaluate the risk perception of COVID-19 among HCWs in three different hospitals in Belgrade, Serbia: non-COVID hospital, Emergency Center (EC), and dedicated COVID hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three hospitals during the second wave of the outbreak in Serbia, from June to early October. All staff in these hospitals were invited to voluntarily participate in blood sampling for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and questionnaire testing. The questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, known exposure to COVID-19 positive persons, previous signs and symptoms related to COVID-19 infection since the outbreak had started in our country, and SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody among 1580 HCWs was 18.3 % [95 % CI 16.4-20.3 %]. Significantly higher prevalence of HCWs with positive results for the serum IgG antibody test was observed in COVID hospital (28.6 %, 95 %CI: 24.0-33.6 %) vs. prevalence in the EC (12.6 %, 95 %CI: 10.1-15.4 %), and in the non-COVID hospital (18.3 %, 95 %CI: 15.2-26.7 %). The prevalence adjusted for declared test sensitivity and specificity would be 16.8 %; that is 27.4 % in COVID-19 hospital, 10.9 % in EC, and 16.8 % in non-COVID hospital. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the independent predictors for seropositivity were working in COVID-hospital, the profession of physician, and the presence of the following symptoms: fever, shortness of breath, and anosmia/ageusia. CONCLUSIONS: We found an overall seropositivity rate of 18.3 % and 16.0 % of the adjusted rate that is higher than seroprevalence obtained in similar studies conducted before vaccinations started. The possibility that patients in non-COVID dedicated hospitals might also be infectious, although PCR tested, imposes the need for the use of personal protective equipment also in non-COVID medical institutions.

Time Course of Redox Biomarkers in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Relation with Inflammatory, Multiorgan Impairment Biomarkers and CT Findings.

Although the original data on systemic oxidative stress in COVID-19 patients have recently started to emerge, we are still far from a complete profile of changes in patients' redox homeostasis. We aimed to assess the extent of oxidative damage of proteins, lipids and DNA during the course of acute disease, as well as their association with CT pulmonary patterns. In order to obtain more insight into the origin of the systemic oxidative stress, the observed parameters were correlated with inflammatory biomarkers and biomarkers of multiorgan impairment. In this prospective study, we included 58 patients admitted between July and October 2020 with COVID-19 pneumonia. Significant changes in malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and advanced oxidation protein products levels exist during the course of COVID-19. Special emphasis should be placed on the fact that the pattern of changes differs between non-hospitalized and hospitalized individuals. Our results point to the time-dependent relation of oxidative stress parameters with inflammatory and multiorgan impairment biomarkers, as well as pulmonary patterns in COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Correlation between redox biomarkers and immunological or multiorgan impairment biomarkers, as well as pulmonary CT pattern, confirms the suggested involvement of neutrophils networks, IL-6 production, along with different organ/tissue involvement in systemic oxidative stress in COVID-19.

The association between 24-h blood pressure patterns and left ventricular mechanics.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate left ventricular (LV) mechanics in the recently diagnosed hypertensive patients with different 24-h blood pressure (BP) patterns (dipping, nondipping, extreme dipping and reverse dipping). METHODS: The current cross-sectional study included 209 hypertensive patients who underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring and comprehensive two-dimensional echocardiographic examination including multilayer strain analysis. RESULTS: There was no difference in 24-h and daytime BP values between four groups. Night-time BP significantly and gradually increased from extreme dippers, across dippers and nondippers, to reverse dippers. LV global longitudinal and circumferential strains were greater in dippers and extreme dippers than in nondippers and reverse dippers. This was also found for endocardial and epicardial LV longitudinal and circumferential strains. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that nondipping and reverse dipping patterns were associated with reduced LV longitudinal strain [odds ratio (OR) 1.71 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-5.61) and OR 2.50 (95% CI: 1.31-6.82), respectively] independently of age, sex, 24-h SBP, LV mass index and E/è. Only the reverse dipping BP pattern was independently of clinical and echocardiographic parameters related with reduced LV circumferential strain [OR 1.90 (95% CI: 1.10-4.80)]. CONCLUSION: Nondipping and reverse dipping BP patterns had stronger impact on LV mechanics compared with patients with dipping and extreme dipping BP patterns in hypertensive population. LV functional and mechanical remodeling deteriorated from extreme dippers and dippers, to nondippers and reverse dippers.

Prognostic significance of immunohistochemical markers in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Background: To present basic demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), to determine the overall survival rate and to analyze the results of immunohistochemical staining and its correlation with the length of survival.Material and methods: The study was conducted during the period between 1996 and 2010 and included 30 patients with ACC. Immunohistochemical staining (MMP9, melan A, inhibin, caltretinin, D2-40, synaptophysin and Ki-67) was performed.Results: ACC was diagnosed in 19 females and 11 men (1.7:1). The average age was 50.1 years. The median tumor size was 10 cm, the median weight 400 g. Majority of subjects had positive immunohistochemical staining for the markers of interest. Patients with any negative staining had shorter cancer-specific survival than ones with positive staining. According to the log-rank test results as well as according to the results of the univariate Cox analysis, negative staining for inhibin, D2-40 and synaptophysin and Ki-67 expression ≥7% were associated with poorer prognosis.Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that the absence of staining for some immunohistochemical markers and increased expression of Ki-67 are associated with a poorer prognosis and shorter survival of patients with ACC. Immunohistochemical markers may serve as a prognostic factor for ACC.

Is there association between left atrial function and functional capacity in patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes?

We sought to investigate the relationship between phasic left atrial function (LA) and functional capacity in the patients with type 2 diabetes (DM). This cross-sectional investigation included 72 controls and 64 uncomplicated DM subjects. All participants underwent echocardiographic examination and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Total and passive LA emptying fractions (EF), demonstrating LA reservoir and conduit function, were significantly lower in DM patients than in controls. Active LA EF, the parameter of LA booster pump function, was similar between DM and controls. Total and positive LA strains, corresponding with reservoir and conduit function, were also significantly reduced in DM subjects comparing with controls. However, negative LA strain-parameter of LA booster pump function, was significantly increased in DM patients in comparison with controls. Peak oxygen consumption was significantly reduced and ventilation/carbon dioxide slope was elevated in DM patients. In the whole study population LA global longitudinal strain was associated with heart rate recovery in the first minute, peak oxygen consumption and ventilation/carbon dioxide slope independently of other clinical parameters and LV hypertrophy and LV diastolic function. In conclusion, LA phasic function and functional capacity were significantly impaired in the patients with DM. LA longitudinal strain, but not LA volume index, was independently related with functional capacity in the whole study population. Our results suggest that evaluation of LA function and functional capacity could detect subclinical target organ damage and prevent development of further complications in uncomplicated DM patients.

Influence of IL-6, TNF-α and Hs-CRP on Insulin Sensitivity in Patients after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy or Open Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of IL-6, TNF-α and hs-CRP on insulin sensitivity during postoperative follow-up in patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) or open hernia repair (OHR). METHODS: 65 patients were studied: after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC; n=40) or open hernia repair (OHR; n=25). Glucose, insulin, hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-a were determined at day 0 (before the operation) and at days 1, 3 and 7 (after the operation). RESULTS: There were no difference between LC and OHR groups concerning age, BMI, glucose, insulin, hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α at day 0. hs-CRP increased at day 1, 3 and 7 vs. day 0 (p<0.0005), without difference between groups (p=0.561). IL-6 increased at day 1 and day 3 vs. day 0 (p<0.005). IL-6 was higher at day 1 in OHR group in comparison with LC group (p=0.044). There were no differences in TNF-a levels between LC and OHR groups (p=0.056). There was increase of HOMA-IR at day 1, 3 and 7 vs. day 0 (p<0.0005) in both groups. Significantly higher increase of HOMA-IR was in OHR group compared with LC group at day 1 (p=0.045). There was a positive correlation between hs-CRP and HOMA-IR (r=0.46; p=0.025) and between IL-6 and HOMA-IR at day 1 in OHR group (r=0.44; p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly higher HOMA-IR was found in OHR group compared with LC. Positive correlation between hs-CRP and IL-6 with HOMA-IR in OHR group at day 1, indicate possible influence of this mediators on impairment of insulin sensitivity.

Survival and prognostic factors for survival, cancer specific survival and disease free interval in 239 patients with Hurthle cell carcinoma: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Hurthle cell carcinoma makes up 3 to 5% of all thyroid cancers and is considered to be a true rarity. The aim of our study was to analyze clinical characteristics and survival rates of patients with Hurthle cell carcinoma. METHODS: Clinical data regarding basic demographic characteristics, tumor grade, type of surgical treatment and vital status were collected. Methods of descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for statistical analysis. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent predictors. RESULTS: During the period from 1995 to 2014, 239 patients with Hurthle cell carcinoma were treated at our Institution. The average age of the patients was 54.3, with female to male ratio of 3.6:1 and average tumor size was 41.8 mm. The overall recurrence rate was 12.1%, with average time for relapse of 90.74 months and average time without any signs of the disease of 222.4 months. Overall 5-year, 10-year and 20-year survival rates were 89.4%, 77.2%, 61.9% respectively. The 5-year, 10-year and 20-year cancer specific survival rates were 94.6%, 92.5%, 87.4%, respectively. When disease free interval was observed, 5-year, 10-year and 20-year rates were 91.1%, 86.2%, 68.5%, respectively. The affection of both thyroid lobes and the need for reoperation due to local relapse were unfavorable independent prognostic factors, while total thyroidectomy as primary procedure was favorable predictive factor for cancer specific survival. CONCLUSION: Hurthle cell carcinoma is a rare tumor with an encouraging prognosis and after adequate surgical treatment recurrences are rare.

Severe Blunt Hepatic Trauma in Polytrauma Patient - Management and Outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the fact that treatment of liver injuries has dramatically evolved, severe liver traumas in polytraumatic patients still have a significant morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the options for surgical management of severe liver trauma as well as the outcome. METHODS: In this retrospective study 70 polytraumatic patients with severe (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma [AAST] grade III-V) blunt liver injuries were operated on at the Clinic for Emergency Surgery. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 48.26±16.80 years; 82.8% of patients were male. Road traffic accident was the leading cause of trauma, seen in 63 patients (90.0%). Primary repair was performed in 36 patients (51.4%), while damage control with perihepatic packing was done in 34 (48.6%). Complications related to the liver occurred in 14 patients (20.0%). Liver related mortality was 17.1%. Non-survivors had a significantly higher AAST grade (p=0.0001), higher aspartate aminotransferase level (p=0.01), lower hemoglobin level (p=0.0001), associated brain injury (p=0.0001), perioperative complications (p=0.001) and higher transfusion score (p=0.0001). The most common cause of mortality in the "early period" was uncontrolled bleeding, in the "late period" mortality was caused by sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSION: Patients with high-grade liver trauma who present with hemorrhagic shock and associated severe injury should be managed operatively. Mortality from liver trauma is high for patients with higher AAST grade of injury, associated brain injury and massive transfusion score.

Survival and prognostic factors for adrenocortical carcinoma: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is aggressive, but rare tumours that have not been sufficiently studied. The aim of our study was to present the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with ACC, to determine the overall survival rates, analyse the effect of prognostic factors on survival, as well as to identify favorable and unfavourable predictors of survival. METHOD: The study included 72 patients (42 women and 30 men) with ACC. We analysed the prognostic value of the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, tumour characteristics, therapy administered and survival rates. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test were used to estimate the overall and specific survival probabilities and the Cox regression model was used to identify independent prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: The patients had mean age of 50 years. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year probabilities of survival in patients with ACC were 52.5 %, 41.1 %, and 16.4 %, respectively. The median survival time was 36 months. The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the presence of lymphatic metastases (HR = 7.37, 95 % CI = 2.31-23.48, p = 0.001) and therapy with mitotane (HR = 0.11, 95 % CI = 0.04-0.27, p = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSION: The presence of lymphatic metastasis is an unfavourable prognostic factor, while postoperative therapy with mitotane is a favorable prognostic factor for survival in patients with ACC.

Hartmann's procedure vs loop colostomy in the treatment of obstructive rectosigmoid cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal carcinoma is the most common malignant gastrointestinal tumour. There is still a considerable controversy when it comes to urgent surgical treatment of obstructive carcinoma of the left colon and rectum. METHODS: Seventy-five patients from the randomized trial were followed up. This study was designed as a stratified randomized trial with four stratums according to age and ASA score (older/younger than 60 years and ASA score <>3). Each of the four groups is then divided into two sub-groups according to the operating technique: loop colostomy or Hartmann's procedure. RESULTS: There were no difference found in hospitalization among the groups (loop colostomy vs. Hartmann's procedure) in the same stratus (P = 0.3192, P = 0.5760, P = 0.9023 respectively), except in the case of doing reconstructive procedure after loop colostomy (P = 0.0049) in the fourth stratum (patients younger than 60 years with ASA score lower than 3). Type of operation had no influence over the blood test values observed on admittance and during hospitalization (P = 0.319, P = 0.871, P = 0.7, P = 0.843, P = 0.52 respectively for the blood values). In terms of surgical and non-surgical complications it has been shown that there is no statistically significant difference between patients treated by two methods. Age, gender, ASA score, type of operation and surgical complications were not singled out as a risk factor for fatal outcome (P = 0.199, P = 0.155, P = 0.764, P = 0.452 and P = 0.724 respectively). The only factors that are singled out as a risk factor for death are the emergence of non-surgical complications and angina pectoris (P = 0.006, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in surgical treatment of large bowel obstruction caused by rectosigmoid carcinoma. Neither of those two methods showed significant advantage in treatment of large bowel obstruction caused by rectosigmoid cancer.

Glissonean pedicle approach in major liver resections.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver resections are still one of the most challenging operations. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency and safety of the intrahepatic Glissonean pedicle approach vs. classical Hilar dissection in major hepatectomies. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-four patients were assigned to the Glissonean approach (GA, n=34), while the Hilar dissection were assessed as historical control, matched for the age, gender, comorbidities and Child-Pugh score (HD, n=34). RESULTS: The GA was associated with significantly shorter surgery duration (191.18±41.10 vs. 246.62± 56.55), transection time (38.94±14.56 vs. 56.32±19.40) and ischemic duration (26.03±11.27 vs. 41.18±12.80) than HD (p<0.001 for all). The amount of blood loss was significantly lower in GA (245.59±169.39 vs. 344.71±166.25; p=0.018). The amount of blood transfusion was significantly lower in GA during surgery (322.86±102.07 vs. 414.76±135.48) as well as postoperatively than HD (246.67±5.77 vs. 336.67±120.55) (p=0.038 and p=0.026. respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Major hepatectomy can be performed more easily using the Glissonean pedicle approach than by hilar dissection. En-masse transection of pedicles, as well as hepatic veins, using endo-GIA vascular stapler could be performed safely. Liver surgeons should know the Glissonean pedicle approach.

The efficacy of three transection techniques of the liver resection: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver resection is a demanding procedure due to the risk of massive blood loss. Different instruments for liver transection are available today. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to analyze the efficacy of three different parenchyma transection techniques of liver resection. METHODOLOGY: A total of 60 non-cirrhotic patients undergoing hepatectomy were randomly selected for clamp crushing technique (CRUSH), ultrasonic dissection (CUSA) or bipolar device (LigaSure), n=20 in each group. All patients had liver resection under low central venous pressure anaesthesia (CVP), with ischemic preconditioning and intermittent inflow occlusion. Primary endpoints were surgery duration, transection duration, cumulative pedicle clamping time, intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion. Secondary endpoints included the postoperative liver injury, postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Overall surgery duration was 295 vs. 270 vs. 240min for LigaSure, CUSA and Clamp Crushing Technique, respectively. The transection duration was 85 vs. 52.5 vs. 40 minutes, respectively. These three different resection techniques of non-cirrhotic liver produced similar outcome in terms of intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, postoperative complications and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The Clump Crushing Technique, CUSA and Liga Sure are equally safe for resection of non-cirrhotic liver. Liver resections can be performed safely if the entire concept is well designed and the choice of dissection device does not affect the outcome of hepatectomy.

Segment-oriented liver resections based on posterior intrahepatic glissonian approach.

BACKGROUND: Segment-oriented liver resections can be performed effective by posterior intrahepatic approach. A significance of such resection - is that they are oncologically radical as well as parenchyma-sparing. METHODOLOGY: Segmental liver resections were performed in 102 patients with liver tumors. Suprahilar control of the appropriate glissonean pedicle was achieved by the posterior intrahepatic approach. Liver parenchyma was transsected by ultrasonic dissector, under intermittent vascular occlusion (IVO). Pedicle was divided at the end of resection using "endo-GIA" vascular stapler. RESULTS: The overall transection time was 30,14+/-12,56 min. The amount of blood loss was 285,59+/-129,92 ml. The postoperative complication rate was 25,49%. R0 resection had 94 (92,16%) patients.There was no liver failure or perioperative death. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior intrahepatic approach for segmental resection is safe, can expedite the liver transection and reduce intraoperative hemorrhage. This approach provides adequate tumor clearance with preservation of normal parenchyma, as well as the vasculature or the biliary drainage of the contralateral liver.

[Primary carcinoid of the ovary].

BACKGROUND: Carcinoid tumors are distinct neuroendocrine neoplasms commonly located within the gastrointestinal tract and bronchopulmonary system. The aim of this case report was to present a patient with carcinoid tumor of the ovary as a less common form of this neoplasm. CASE REPORT: A 49 year old woman was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal pain and suspicion of neuroendocrine neoplasm, 4 month after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and total hysterectomy for ovarian tumor. Pathological diagnosis was typical for carcinoid tumor. At admission the patient had slightly eleveated levels of tumor marker CA 125 and highly elevated levels of 5- HIAA. Abdominal CT showed suspicious rest tumor in the pelvis. Relaparotomy was done and retroperitoneal fibrosis was found. Six months after the intervention the levels of 5-HIAA and CA 125 were normal, and NMR of the abdomen showed no signs of rest tumor. CONCLUSION: Carcinoid tumor of the ovary is rare form of ovarian tumors and less than 0.1% had malignant potential. Surgical therapy associated with a long-term followup was the treatment of choice. Consideration of unusual sites of carcinoid tumors facilitates appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

[Surgical treatment of liver injury--5-year experience].

Due to improved methods of treatment and management of hemorrhage, the mortality from liver injuries has decreased significantly over the past few decades. In spite of that, liver injuries still represent diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This retrospective study included 197 patients surgically treated because of trauma of the liver at The Clinic for Emergency Surgery, during the period 2004-2009. The results showed significant difference in mortality rates in cases of penetrating wounds compared to blunt trauma and gunshot wounds. The severity of injury evaluated by Organ Injury Scale was significantly higher in gunshot wounds compared to blunt and penetrating trauma. The correlation of severity of injuries and mortality rates showed that the mortality is significantly lower in patients with grade 1, 2, and 3 injuries compared to grades 4 and 5 (p = 0.016). Specific complication rate was 28.4%, while mortality rate was 21.8%. The results reflect diagnostic and treatment problems, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary approach to the patients with liver trauma.

[Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome--what should we know?].

Acutelunginjury (ALI) and its more severe form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are syndromes with a spectrum of increasing severity of lung injury defined by physiologic and radiographic criteria. There are many clinical disorders as sociated with the development of ALI/ARDS and can be divided into those associated with direct or indirect lung injury. Early detection and protective lung ventilation strategy contribute to lowering the mortality rate.