Project description:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to multiorgan damage and fatal outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in blood, reflecting cell activation and tissue injury. We performed small RNA-Seq in healthy controls (N=11), non-severe (N=18) and severe (N=16) COVID-19 patients
Project description:Cardiopulmonary ultrasound (CPUS), the combination of lung ultrasound (LUS) and targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO)AA, may offer a more appropriate approach to the challenging neonatal cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. This paper reviews the possible use of CPUS in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Project description:A neonatal point-of-care ultrasound has multiple applications, but its use has been limited in neonatal intensive care units in the Unites States. An increasing body of evidence suggests that lung ultrasound performed by the neonatologist, at the bedside, is reliable and accurate in differentiating neonatal respiratory conditions, predicting morbidity, and guiding invasive interventions. Recent research has shown that a lung ultrasound can assist the clinician in accurately identifying and managing conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In this review, we discuss basic lung ultrasound terminology, evidence for applications of neonatal lung ultrasound, and its use as a diagnostic and predictive tool for common neonatal respiratory pathologies.
Project description:Global healthcare systems are challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to optimize allocation of treatment and resources in intensive care, as clinically established risk assessments such as SOFA and APACHE II scores show only limited performance for predicting the survival of severely ill COVID-19 patients. Comprehensively capturing the host physiology, we speculated that proteomics in combination with new data-driven analysis strategies could produce a new generation of prognostic discriminators. We studied two independent cohorts of patients with severe COVID-19 who required intensive care and invasive mechanical ventilation. SOFA score, Charlson comorbidity index and APACHE II score were poor predictors of survival. Instead, using plasma proteomes quantifying 302 plasma protein groups at 387 timepoints in 57 critically ill patients on invasive mechanical ventilation, we found 14 proteins that showed trajectories different between survivors and non-survivors. A proteomic predictor trained on single samples obtained at the first time point at maximum treatment level (i.e. WHO grade 7) and weeks before the outcome, achieved accurate classification of survivors (AUROC 0.81, n=49). We tested the established predictor on an independent validation cohort (AUROC of 1.0, n=24). The majority of proteins with high relevance in the prediction model belong to the coagulation system and complement cascade. Our study demonstrates that predictors derived from plasma protein levels have the potential to substantially outperform current prognostic markers in intensive care.
Project description:Hypercoagulability and endothelial dysfunction related to inflammation have been clearly demonstrated in COVID-19. However, their influence on thromboembolism, lung alterations and mortality in low-intensity-care patients with COVID-19 is not completely clarified. Our aims were to evaluate the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with compressive ultrasound (CUS); to describe lung ultrasound (LUS) features; and to study coagulation, inflammatory and endothelial perturbation biomarkers in COVID-19 patients at low-intensity care unit admission. The predictive value of these biomarkers on mortality, need for oxygen support and duration of hospitalization was also evaluated. Of the 65 patients included, 8 were non-survivors. CUS was negative for DVT in all patients. LUS Soldati and Vetrugno scores were strongly correlated (rho = 0.95) with each other, and both significantly differed in patients who needed oxygen therapy vs. those who did not (Soldati p = 0.017; Vetrugno p = 0.023), with coalescent B lines as the most prevalent pattern in patients with a worse prognosis. Mean (SD) levels of thrombomodulin and VCAM-1 were higher in non-survivors than in survivors (7283.9 pg/mL (3961.9 pg/mL) vs. 4800.7 pg/mL (1771.0 pg/mL), p = 0.004 and 2299 ng/mL (730.35 ng/mL) vs. 1451 ng/mL (456.2 ng/mL), p < 0.001, respectively). Finally, in a multivariate analysis model adjusted for age, sex and Charlson score, VCAM-1 level increase was independently associated with death [OR 1.31 (1.06, 1.81; p = 0.036)]. In conclusion, in a cohort of mild COVID-19 patients, we found no DVT events despite the highly abnormal inflammatory, endothelial and coagulation parameters. The presence of lung alterations at admission could not predict outcome. The endothelial perturbation biomarker VCAM-1 emerged as a promising prognostic tool for mortality in COVID-19.
Project description:BackgroundEvidence from previous studies comparing lung ultrasound to thoracic computed tomography (CT) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is limited due to multiple methodologic weaknesses. While addressing methodologic weaknesses of previous studies, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound in a tertiary ICU population.MethodsThis is a single-center, prospective diagnostic accuracy study conducted at a tertiary ICU in the Netherlands. Critically ill patients undergoing thoracic CT for any clinical indication were included. Patients were excluded if time between the index and reference test was over eight hours. Index test and reference test consisted of 6-zone lung ultrasound and thoracic CT, respectively. Hemithoraces were classified by the index and reference test as follows: consolidation, interstitial syndrome, pneumothorax and pleural effusion. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio were estimated.ResultsIn total, 87 patients were included of which eight exceeded the time limit and were subsequently excluded. In total, there were 147 respiratory conditions in 79 patients. The estimated sensitivity and specificity to detect consolidation were 0.76 (95%CI: 0.68 to 0.82) and 0.92 (0.87 to 0.96), respectively. For interstitial syndrome they were 0.60 (95%CI: 0.48 to 0.71) and 0.69 (95%CI: 0.58 to 0.79). For pneumothorax they were 0.59 (95%CI: 0.33 to 0.82) and 0.97 (95%CI: 0.93 to 0.99). For pleural effusion they were 0.85 (95%CI: 0.77 to 0.91) and 0.77 (95%CI: 0.62 to 0.88).ConclusionsIn conclusion, lung ultrasound is an adequate diagnostic modality in a tertiary ICU population to detect consolidations, interstitial syndrome, pneumothorax and pleural effusion. Moreover, one should be careful not to interpret lung ultrasound results in deterministic fashion as multiple respiratory conditions can be present in one patient. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered at Netherlands Trial Register on March 17, 2021, with registration number NL9344.
Project description:BackgroundPoint of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a cost-effective, non-invasive procedure with high diagnostic reliability and therapeutic utilities. For various reasons, it is not being used routinely in neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU). We have introduced a systematic use of POCUS in critically ill patients in our neurosurgical ICU. We have studied the various indications and benefit of using this technique.MethodsThis is a prospective, single center cohort observational study done in patients who were admitted in a tertiary neurosurgical ICU over 1 year (17th September 2020 to 16th September 2021). POCUS was used daily as per a standardized format for multiple purposes. A formal training to the operator was provided and standardized method of evaluation and intervention was used. Outcome was studied to understand the impact of the POCUS and difficulties encountered during its use.ResultsPOCUS was used in 240 patients, including all patients for primary and secondary surveys, 192 patients (80%) for optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement, 14 myelomeningoceles for trans-fontanelle ultrasound study, 16 post operative cases of aneurysm clipping for transcranial Doppler (TCD) study, 86 patients for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) screening, 17 for evaluation of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt functionality, 30 for transcranial defect ultrasound, 45 for chest ultrasound, 4 for evaluation of hemodynamic shock and 67 patients who had difficult cannualtion or while insertion of central venous catheter placement. POCUS was also used for difficult cannulation, central catheter placement and e-FAST scan. Significant findings were reported 129 times, which led to immediate change in management in 62 patients (25.83%) as compared to 16 patients in whom significant findings were not reported using POCUS, but management was changed using other radiological modalities (P<0.01). There was initial lag in adopting the technique, however with practice, the team developed confidence. As a result, the accuracy and time taken to perform the procedure was reduced significantly.ConclusionsRoutine systematic use of POCUS can be beneficial not only for the rapid diagnosis and prompt management of patients, but also helpful in monitoring and performing various procedures in neurosurgical ICU. Though not all modalities mentioned in standardized format was used in all patients, use of this format has helped improved training and maintain proper use of POCUS in our ICU.
Project description:PurposeThe objective of the present study was to provide a detailed histopathological description of fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19), and compare the lesions in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients.MethodsIn this prospective study we included adult patients who died in hospital after presenting with confirmed COVID-19. Multiorgan biopsies were performed. Data generated with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and RT-PCR assays were reviewed.Results20 patients were enrolled in the study and the main pulmonary finding was alveolar damage, which was focal in 11 patients and diffuse in 8 patients. Chronic fibrotic and inflammatory lesions were observed in 18 cases, with acute inflammatory lesions in 12 cases. Diffuse lesions, collapsed alveoli and dystrophic pneumocytes were more frequent in the ICU group (62.5%, vs. 25%; 63%, vs. 55%; 87.5%, vs. 54%). Acute lesions (82%, vs. 37.5%; p = 0.07) with neutrophilic alveolitis (63.6% vs. 0%, respectively; p = 0.01) were observed more frequently in the non-ICU group. Viral RNA was detected in 12 lung biopsies (60%) up to 56 days after disease upset. TEM detected viral particles in the lung and kidney biopsy samples up to 27 days after disease upset. Furthermore, abundant networks of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs, a hallmark of viral replication) were observed in proximal tubular epithelial cells.ConclusionLung injury was different in ICU and non-ICU patients. Extrapulmonary damage consisting in kidney and myocardial injury were more frequent in ICU patients. Our TEM experiments provided the first description of SARS-CoV-2-induced DMVs in kidney biopsy samples-a sign of intense viral replication in this organ.