• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.77 no.1
• /
• pp.6-12
• /
• 2014

Severe sepsis is the most common cause of death among critically ill patients in non-coronary intensive care units. In 2002, the guideline titled "Surviving Sepsis Campaign" was published by American and European Critical Care Medicine to decrease the mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock patients, which has been the basis of the treatment for those patients. After the first revised guidelines were published on 2008, the most current version was published in 2013 based on the updated literature of until fall 2012. Other important revised guidelines in critical care field such as 'Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Pain, Agitation, and Delirium in Adult Patients in the Intensive Care Unit' were revised in 2013. This article will review the revised guidelines and several additional interesting published papers of until March 2014, including the part of ventilator-induced lung injury and the preventive strategies.

• Smart Media Journal
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.48-54
• /
• 2021

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality globally, and it costs billions of dollars annually. However, treating septic patients is currently highly challenging, and more research is needed into a general treatment method for sepsis. Therefore, in this work, we propose a reinforcement learning method for learning the optimal treatment strategies for septic patients. We model the patient physiological time series data as the input for a deep recurrent Q-network that learns reliable treatment policies. We evaluate our model using an off-policy evaluation method, and the experimental results indicate that it outperforms the physicians' policy, reducing patient mortality up to 3.04%. Thus, our model can be used as a tool to reduce patient mortality by supporting clinicians in making dynamic decisions.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.445-448
• /
• 2011

Mortality associated with maxillofacial infection is relatively low due to the development of antibiotics, and improved oral care. However, inappropriate treatment, delayed treatment, old age, underlying systemic disease, and drug-resistant microorganisms can potentially result in life threatening situations such as cavernous sinus thrombosis, mediastinitis, and sepsis. Sepsis is the most dangerous state with high mortality, ranging from 20~60%. The treatment of sepsis involves properly monitoring vital functions, fluid resuscitation, surgical drainage, and empirical use of high doses of antibiotics until culture results are available. Ventilatory support maybe be required as well. We encountered a 64-year-old patient who died from sepsis that developed as the result of an odontogenic infection. The initial diagnosis was right temporal, infraorbital, buccal, pterygomandibular space abscess. Despite surgical and medical supportive care, the condition progressed to sepsis and after four days the patient died due to multiple organ failure.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.161-169
• /
• 1988

Neonatal sepsis is a frequent and important cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. This study was undertaken to observe the 55 cases of proven neonatal sepsis among 6,717 newborn infants under 4 weeks of age, admitted to the nursery of Yeungnam University Hospital from May 1, 1983 to April 30, 1988. We observed following results : 1. The morbidity rate of male(1.12%) was higher than that of female(0.44%) significantly (p<0.05). 2. The morbidity rate of prematurity(2.65%) was higher than that of full term(0.76%) significantly (p<0.05). 3. The incidence of perinatal obstetric complications in early onset neonatal sepsis was higher than that of late onset neonatal sepsis (38.5% vs 10.3%, p<0.05). 4. The common clinical manifestations were poor feeding(52.7%), jaundice(45.5%), diarrhea(30.9%) and irritability (30.9%). 5. Among the causative organisms, gram positive organisms were predominated and Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common organism. There was no difference in the causative organisms between early onset and late onset sepsis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.60 no.8
• /
• pp.248-253
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Vitamin D plays a key role in immune function. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of infections, and low levels of circulating vitamin D are strongly associated with infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of low vitamin D levels in cord blood on neonatal sepsis in preterm infants. Methods: One hundred seventeen premature infants with gestational age of <37 weeks were enrolled. In the present study, severe vitamin D deficiency (group 1) was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <5 ng/mL; vitamin D insufficiency (group 2), 25(OH)D concentration ${\geq}5ng/mL$ and <15 ng/mL; and vitamin D sufficiency (group 3), 25(OH)D concentration ${\geq}15ng/mL$. Results: Sixty-three percent of the infants had deficient levels of cord blood vitamin D (group 1), 24% had insufficient levels (group 2), and 13% were found to have sufficient levels (group 3). The rate of neonatal sepsis was higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3. Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between the cord blood vitamin D levels and the risk of neonatal sepsis in premature infants.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.311-317
• /
• 2020

In the present experimental study, cecal ligation and puncture significantly increased the myocardial injury assessed in terms of excess release of creative kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), interleukin (IL)-6 and decrease of IL-10 in the blood following 12 h of laparotomy procedure as compared to normal control. Also, a significant increase in protein expression levels of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and decreased phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) was observed in the myocardial tissue as compared to normal control. A single independent administration of telmisartan (2 and 4 mg/kg) and AR-A014418 (1 and 2 mg/kg) substantially reduced sepsis-induced myocardial injury in terms of decrease levels of CK-MB, cTnI and IL-6, HMGB1, GSK-3β and increase in IL-10 and p-GSK-3β in the blood in sepsis- subjected rats. The effects of telmisartan at dose 4 mg/kg and AR-A014418 at a dose of 2 mg/kg were significantly higher than the telmisartan at a dose of 2 mg/kg and AR-A014418 1 mg/kg respectively. Further, no significant effects on different parameters were observed in the sham control group in comparison to normal. Therefore it is plausible to suggest that sepsis may increase the levels of angiotensin II to trigger GSK-3β-dependent signaling to activate the HMGB1/receptors for advanced glycation end products, which may promote inflammation and myocardial injury in sepsis-subjected rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.63 no.6
• /
• pp.226-231
• /
• 2020

Background: Probiotics and prebiotics have strain-specific effects on the host. Synbiotics, a mixture of probiotics and prebiotics, are proposed to have more beneficial effects on the host than either agent has alone. Purpose: We performed a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium together with oligosaccharides and lactoferrin on the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or sepsis in very low birth weight neonates. Methods: Neonates with a gestational age ≤32 weeks and birth weight ≤1,500 g were enrolled. The study group received a combination of synbiotics and lactoferrin, whereas the control group received 1 mL of distilled water as placebo starting with the first feed until discharge. The outcome measures were the incidence of NEC stage ≥2 or late-onset cultureproven sepsis and NEC stage ≥2 or death. Results: Mean birth weight and gestational age of the study (n=104) and the control (n=104) groups were 1,197±235 g vs. 1,151±269 g and 29±1.9 vs. 28±2.2 weeks, respectively (P>0.05). Neither the incidence of NEC stage ≥2 or death, nor the incidence of NEC stage ≥2 or late-onset culture-proven sepsis differed between the study and control groups (5.8% vs. 5.9%, P=1; 26% vs. 21.2%, P=0.51). The only significant difference was the incidence of all stages of NEC (1.9% vs. 10.6%, P=0.019). Conclusion: The combination of synbiotics and lactoferrin did not reduce NEC severity, sepsis, or mortality.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.271-276
• /
• 2019

Zingerone (ZGR), a phenolic alkanone isolated from ginger, has been reported to possess pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. This study was initiated to determine whether ZGR could modulate renal functional damage in a mouse model of sepsis and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The potential of ZGR treatment to reduce renal damage induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery in mice was measured by assessment of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lipid peroxidation, total glutathione, glutathione peroxidase activity, catalase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity. Treatment with ZGR resulted in elevated plasma levels of BUN and creatinine, and of protein in urine in mice with CLP-induced renal damage. Moreover, ZGR inhibited nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ activation and reduced the induction of nitric oxide synthase and excessive production of nitric acid. ZGR treatment also reduced the plasma levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, reduced lethality due to CLP-induced sepsis, increased lipid peroxidation, and markedly enhanced the antioxidant defense system by restoring the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in kidney tissues. Our study showed renal suppressive effects of zingerone in a mouse model of sepsis, suggesting that ZGR protects mice against sepsis-triggered renal injury.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.84-93
• /
• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to estimate the incidence of nosocomial sepsis and to identify the most relevant risk factors for nosocomial sepsis in high-risk very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods : A retrospective review of 341 VLBW infants, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Eulji University Hospital (Daejeon & Seoul) between January 2002 and June 2009, who survived more than 72 hours was performed. The incidence, causative organisms, risk factors and prognosis of nosocomial sepsis in VLBW infants were analyzed. Results : The incidence of nosocomial sepsis was 16.1% and the onset date of nosocomial sepsis was 21.5$\pm$15.9 days (mean$\pm$SD) after delivery. Staphylococcus aureus (21.3%) was the most common organism in the patients with nosocomial sepsis in VLBW infants. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, gestational age [odds ratio (OR), 0.87; 95% CI, 0.83-0.91], umbilical artery catheter use for more than 5 days (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.15-4.46), umbilical venous catheter use for more than 5 days (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.11-4.16), peripheral arterial line use (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.14-4.04) and intravenous intralipids (OR, 4.3;95% CI, 1.13-14.32) were identified as risk factors. Conclusion : The limited usage of intravascular catheter related procedures and the short providence of intravenous nutrition may decrease the incidence of nosocomial sepsis in VLBW infants.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of overexpression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and on the concentration of nitric oxide and to determine the mechanism for the relationship between HSP70 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in sepsis. Methods: Experiments were performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats, and sepsis was induced by using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Glutamine (GLN) or saline was administered 1 h after initiation of sepsis. We acquired serum and lung tissues from the rats 12 h or 24 h after initiation of sepsis. We analyzed the concentration of nitric oxide, the expression of HSP70 in the lung, and the gene expression of iNOS in the lung. Results: In CLP+GLN, glutamine given after initiation of sepsis enhanced the expression of HSP70 in the lung at 12 h (CLP+GLN vs. CLP:: $47.19{\pm}10.04$ vs. $33.22{\pm}8.28$, p = 0.025) and 24 h (CLP+GLN vs. CLP: $47.06{\pm}10.60$ vs. $31.90{\pm}4.83$, p = 0.004). In CLP+GLN, glutamine attenuated the expression of iNOS mRNA in the lung at 12 h (CLP+GLN vs. CLP: $4167.17{\pm}951.59$ vs. $5513.73{\pm}1051.60$, p = 0.025) and 24 h (CLP+GLN vs. CLP: $9,437.65{\pm}2,521.07$ vs. $18,740.27{\pm}8,241.20$, p = 0.016) and reduced the concentration of nitric oxide in serum at 12 h (CLP+GLN vs. CLP: $0.86{\pm}0.48$ vs. $3.82{\pm}2.53{\mu}mol/L$, p = 0.016) and 24 h (CLP+GLN vs. CLP: $0.39{\pm}0.25$ vs. $1.85{\pm}1.70{\mu}mol/L$, p = 0.025). Conclusion: The overexpression of HSP70 induced by the administration of glutamine in sepsis attenuated the gene expression of iNOS and reduced the concentration of nitric oxide.