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Summary Aims To investigate the clinical benefit of routine procalcitonin (PCT) measurement in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary referral hospital. Methods Adult patients with suspected infections were included. White blood cells, C‑reactive protein (CRP), and PCT were measured. Results In this study 129 patients of median age 64 years (interquartile range 39–89 years) were prospectively included. The Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were 21 ± 14 and 7 ± 6, respectively. Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality was 22.5%. Immunocompromised patients constituted 39.5%. A significant correlation was observed between PCT and APACHE II (Spearman’s rho 0.461, p

The present study aimed to examine the impact of vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid on the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients with normal renal function at the intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The primary endpoint of our research was to ascertain whether a significant difference exists among the use of the investigated antibiotics and the incidence of AKI in critically ill patients with severe infection. Secondary endpoints were to analyze the efficacy of vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid. These were defined by the duration of antibiotic use, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay and patient outcome.

Background: Self-poisoning accounts for between 3 and 17% of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Objectives: To display the misused substances, intention, and outcome of patients admitted to the ICU due to self-poisoning. Methods: A retrospective review of ICU admissions using an electronic patient database was performed. Results: A total of 149 patients were admitted, accounting for 4.6% of ICU admissions. Self- poisoning with self-harm was more frequent than without self-harm intent (62.4% vs. 37.6%). 64.4% of ingested substances were misused prescribed drugs. Females used antipsychotics (X2 = 15, p< 0.05) and benzodiazepines (X2 =11.52, p< 0.05), and males ingested antipsychotics (X2 = 12, p< 0.05) with a self-harm intent. Antipsychotics were always used with a self-harm intent. Illicit drugs (X2 =9.14, p< 0.05) and ethanol (X2 =7.34, p< 0.05) were mostly used without self-harm intent. 102 patients (68.5%) continued treatment in a psychiatric clinic, more often women (X2 (1, N = 145)=7.94, p< 0.005). The readmission rate was low. Mortality was 2.6%. Conclusion: Self-poisoning is an infrequent cause of ICU admission. Prescribed psychotropic medications, including benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and antidepressants were the most frequently misused substances. Psychiatric consultation before the ICU discharge and subsequent psychiatric treatment might lower the repetition and readmission rate.

Floating thrombi in the aorta are very rare and usually associated with coagulation disorder. We report a patient with longstanding, relatively good controlled myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) who developed floating thrombi in the thoracic aorta while taking dabigatran etexilate for thromboprophylaxis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Treatment with low molecular weight heparin was successful as patient recovered completely and control CTA showed complete resolution of the thrombi. To our knowledge, this is the first case of aortic thrombi that occurred despite dabigatran use. This raises concern that DOACs might not be efficient therapy for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. Another question is whether patients with polycythemia vera should continue the use of acetylsalicylic acid when anticoagulant drug is needed.

Aim: To explore the protective role of hydration, urine alkalization (Na bicarbonate) and high doses of antioxidant (N-acetylcysteine) in the prevention of CIN. Material and methods: In a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study patients were divided into three groups: 1) peroral hydration, 2) Na bicarbonate infusion and 3) N-acetylcysteine (NAC) plus NaHCO3 infusion. Serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were measured before and 48 hours after the angiography. Mehran score was calculated for each patient. Results: The study included 106 patients. Groups were comparable regarding the baseline characteristics. According to Mehran risk score 70 % of patients had a low risk, 24% medium and 6% high risk score for development of CIN. After the procedure renal function was preserved in all patients (SCr 103(87.0-121.5), BUN 5.8 (4.9-7.6), creatinine clearance 74.7(55.3-97.6), NGAL 11.4(5.4-19.9)) regardless of the Mehran risk score. The follow up was completed for 73 patients (68 %). Twenty two patients (32 %) developed chronic kidney disease, mostly classified as G3a and G3b according to KDIGO guidelines. Chronic kidney disease developed in patients with the positive history of diabetes and in patients who had higher Mehran score before the diagnostic procedure. Conclusion: The study showed that patients with preserved renal function are not prone to CIN. Regardless of the protocol used, no case of CIN was observed. Our results indicate that adequate hydration is a key component in maintaining the renal function. Higher Mehran score might be useful in predicting the development of chronic kidney disease., Cilj: Ispitati protektivnu ulogu hidracije, alkalizacije mokraće (natrijevim bikarbonatom) i visokih doza antioksidansa (N-acetilcistein) u prevenciji kontrastne nefropatije. Materijali i metode: U prospektivnom istraživanju pacijenti su bili podijeljeni u tri skupine: 1) peroralna hidracija, 2) infuzija natrijevog bikarbonata i 3) infuzija N-acetilcisteina (NAC) i NaHCO3. Serumska vrijednost kreatinina, ureje i neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) izmjerene su prije i 48 sati nakon angiografije. Svakom pacijentu izračunati su Mehran bodovi koji predstavljaju rizik razvoja kontrastne nefropatije. Rezultati: U istraživanje je uključeno 106 pacijenata. Sve tri skupine pacijenata imale su usporedive osnovne karakteristike. Prema bodovima po Mehranu, 70 % pacijenata imalo je niski rizik, 24 % srednji i 6 % visoki rizik razvoja kontrastne nefropatije. Nakon kontrastne pretrage bubrežna funkcija bila je očuvana u svih pacijenata (serumski kreatinin 103 (87.0 – 121.5), urea 5.8 (4.9 – 7.6), klirens kreatinina 74.7 (55.3 – 97.6), NGAL 11.4 (5.4 – 19.9)) neovisno o riziku procijenjenom bodovima po Mehranu. Praćenje je završeno za 73 pacijenta (68 %). Dvadeset i dva pacijenta (32 %) razvila su kroničnu bubrežnu insuficijenciju, klasificiranu prema KDIGO smjernicama kao G3a i G3b. Kronična bubrežna insuficijencija razvila se u pacijenata sa šećernom bolesti i u pacijenata koji su imali viši broj bodova prema Mehranu prije dijagnostičke pretrage. Zaključak: Istraživanje je pokazalo da pacijenti s normalnom bubrežnom funkcijom imaju mali rizik razvoja kontrastne nefropatije. U ispitivanoj skupini pacijenata nije zabilježen niti jedan slučaj kontrastne nefropatije bez obzira na vrstu protokola koji je korišten za hidraciju. Naši rezultati ukazuju na to da je adekvatna hidracija ključna u prevenciji kontrastne nefropatije. Nadalje, postoji mogućnost da viši broj bodova po Mehranu može poslužiti kao prediktor razvoja kronične bubrežne bolesti.

Vankomicin je antibiotik koji se koristi za liječenje infekcija uzrokovanih Gram- -pozitivnim bakterijama, no kod nekih pacijenata uzrokuje ozljedu bubrega. Budući da standardni biomarkeri ozljede bubrega ne pokazuju dovoljnu osjetljivost i specifičnost, potrebno je pronaći nove biomarkere kako bismo mogli ranije detektirati poremećaje bubrežne funkcije te pravovremenim prekidom ili promjenom terapije spriječiti daljnje ozljede bubrega. Cilj je rada bio usporediti proteomske profile urina dviju pacijentica oboljelih od upale pluća koje su primale terapiju vankomicinom sa i bez kliničkih znakova ozljede bubrega uzrokovanih navedenim antibiotikom, kako bismo identificirali nove potencijalne proteinske biomarkere akutne ozljede bubrega uzrokovanog vankomicinom.

Cilj: Vankomicin je antibiotik koji se koristi za liječenje infekcija uzrokovanih Gram- -pozitivnim bakterijama, no kod nekih pacijenata uzrokuje ozljedu bubrega. Budući da standardni biomarkeri ozljede bubrega ne pokazuju dovoljnu osjetljivost i specifičnost, potrebno je pronaći nove biomarkere kako bismo mogli ranije detektirati poremećaje bubrežne funkcije te pravovremenim prekidom ili promjenom terapije spriječiti daljnje ozljede bubrega. Cilj je rada bio usporediti proteomske profile urina dviju pacijentica oboljelih od upale pluća koje su primale terapiju vankomicinom sa i bez kliničkih znakova ozljede bubrega uzrokovanih navedenim antibiotikom, kako bismo identificirali nove potencijalne proteinske biomarkere akutne ozljede bubrega uzrokovanog vankomicinom. Prikaz slučaja: Uzorci urina prikupljeni su treći i sedmi dan terapije vankomicinom od pacijentice sa i pacijentice bez kliničkih znakova bubrežne disfunkcije te su analizirani dvodimenzionalnom gel elektroforezom kombiniranom s MALDI-TOF/TOF masenom spektrometrijom. Vidljive razlike u proteomskim profilima urina između dviju pacijentica javljaju se treći, a naročito su izražene sedmi dan terapije. Dvodimenzionalna gel elektroforeza kombinirana s masenom spektrometrijom potvrdila je već ranije dokazanu ulogu proteina neutrofilnog lipokalina povezanog s gelatinazom (NGAL, engl. neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) kao biomarkera akutne ozljede bubrega, te otkrila ekspresiju citoskeletnog keratina 1 tipa II i retinol-vezujućeg proteina 4 (RBP4, engl. retinol-binding protein 4) samo u urinu pacijentice kod koje je terapija vankomicinom uzrokovala poremećaj bubrežne funkcije. Zaključci: Citoskeletni keratin 1 tipa II i retinol-vezujući protein 4 mogli bi predstavljati nove potencijalne biomarkere ozljede bubrega uzrokovane vankomicinom. Potrebne su daljnje studije na većem broju pacijenata kako bi se validirali dobiveni rezultati i utvrdio njihov potencijalni dijagnostički i klinički značaj., Aim: Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria which can induce renal injury in some patients. Since standard biomarkers of kidney injury lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, there is an unmet need for novel biomarkers that would enable early detection of renal injury and timely cessation or modification of treatment to prevent more severe kidney injury. The goal of this paper was to compare proteomics profiles of urine samples collected from two vancomycin-treated patients suffering from pneumonia with and without clinical symptoms of drug-induced renal dysfunction as to identify novel potential protein biomarkers of vancomycin-induced kidney injury. Case report: Urine samples were collected on the third and seventh day of vancomycin therapy from patients with and without clinical signs of acute kidney injury. Samples were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Differences in urinary proteomes between these two patients could be observed on the third and especially on the seventh day of therapy. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry confirmed previously established role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as biomarker of renal injury, and revealed the expression of keratin 1 type II cytoskeletal and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) only in urine from the patient with vancomycin- induced renal dysfunction. Conclusions: Keratin 1 type II cytoskeletal and retinol-binding protein 4 could be considered novel potential biomarkers of vancomycin-induced kidney injury. Additional studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to validate these findings and investigate their potential diagnostic and clinical significance.

Vrste roda Heuchera L. pripadaju skupini trajnica koje se najčešće primjenjuju za uređenje cvjetnih gredica i kamenjara. Osim cvijeta, posjeduju privlačno lišće, što ih čini zanimljivima kroz cijelu godinu. Pri generativnom razmnožavanju koje je zastupljeno u značajnoj mjeri u proizvodnji trajnica, često dolazi do problema sporog nicanja što poskupljuje troškove proizvodnje, stoga je poželjan što kraći period od sjetve do nicanja. Cilj rada je bio utvrditi utjecaj endomikorizne gljive Glomus mossae na dinamiku nicanja sjemena i razvoj listova kod kultivara Heuchera sanguinea Engelm. 'Metallica'. Sjeme je posijano u prethodno inokulirani supstrat sporama endomikorizne gljive Glomus mossae u dvije različite koncentracije, od 2,5 vol. %, i 5 vol. %. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da je endomikorizna gljiva Glomus mossae imala pozitivan učinak na dinamiku nicanja u usporedbi s kontrolom. Pozitivan učinak Glomus mossae izostao je kod razvoja listova, u manjoj koncentraciji inokuluma u supstratu (2,5 vol. %), u usporedbi s kontrolom., Species of the genus Heuchera L. belong to the group of perennials that are commonly used for decorating flowerbeds and rockeries. Besides flowers they possess attractive leaves, which makes them attractive throughout the year. In generative reproduction of a perennials slow germination is often a problem which raises production costs. Therefore, it is desirable to have as short a period from sowing to germination. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mossae in two different concentrations of inoculums on the dynamics of seed germination cultivar Heuchera sanguinea Engelm. 'Metallica'. Seeds was sown in substrate previously inoculated with spores of mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mossae in two different concentrations of 2,5 vol% and 5 vol%. The research results show that the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mossae had a positive effect on the dynamics of the germination compared with the control. The positive effect of Glomus mossae lacked at the development of leaves, to a lesser concentration of inoculums in the substrate (2,5 vol%), compared with control.

Table of contents A1 Point-of-care ultrasound examination of cervical spine in emergency department Yahya Acar, Onur Tezel, Necati Salman A2 A new technique in verifying the placement of a nasogastric tube: obtaining the longitudinal view of nasogastric tube in addition to transverse view with ultrasound Yahya Acar, Necati Salman, Onur Tezel, Erdem Cevik A3 Pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery after cannulation of a central venous line. Should we always use ultrasound in these procedures? Margarita Algaba-Montes, Alberto Oviedo-García, Mayra Patricio-Bordomás A4 Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization. A novel approach in emergency department Margarita Algaba-Montes, Alberto Oviedo-García, Mayra Patricio-Bordomás A5 Clinical ultrasound in a septic and jaundice patient in the emergency department Margarita Algaba-Montes, Alberto Oviedo-García, Mayra Patricio-Bordomás A6 Characterization of the eyes in preoperative cataract Saudi patients by using medical diagnostic ultrasound Mustafa Z. Mahmoud, Abdelmoneim Sulieman A7 High-frequency ultrasound in determining the causes of acute shoulder joint pain Mustafa Z. Mahmoud A8 Teaching WINFOCUS Ultrasound Life Support Basic Level 1 for Providers in resource-limited countries Abbas Ali, Alrayah Mustafa, Ihab Abdelrahman, Mustafa Bahar, Osama Ali, H. Lester Kirchner, Gregor Prosen A9 Changes of arterial stiffness and endothelial function during uncomplicated pregnancy Ajda Anzic, Paul Leeson A10 Cardiovascular haemodynamic properties before, during and after pregnancy Ajda Anzic, Paul Leeson A11 An old man with generalized weakness Maryam Bahreini, Fatemeh Rasooli A12 Ultrasonography for non-specific presentations of abdominal pain Maryam Bahreini, Houman Hosseinnejad A13 Introduction of a new imaging guideline for suspected renal colic in the emergency department: effect on CT Urogram utilisation Gabriel Blecher, Robert Meek, Diana Egerton-Warburton A14 Transabdominal ultrasound screening for pancreatic cancer in Croatian military veterans: a retrospective analysis from the first Croatian veteran’s hospital Edina Ćatić Ćuti, Stanko Belina, Tihomir Vančina, Idriz Kovačević A15 The challenge of AAA: unusual case of obstructive jaundice Edina Ćatić Ćuti, Nadan Rustemović A16 Educational effectiveness of easy-made new simulator model for ultrasound-guided procedures in pediatric patients: vascular access and foreign body management Ikwan Chang, Jin Hee Lee, Young Ho Kwak, Do Kyun Kim A17 Detection of uterine rupture by point-of-care ultrasound at emergency department: a case report Chi-Yung Cheng, Hsiu-Yung Pan, Chia-Te Kung A18 Abdominal probe in the hands of interns as a relevant diagnostic tool in revealing the cause of heart failure Ela Ćurčić, Ena Pritišanac, Ivo Planinc, Marijana Grgić Medić, Radovan Radonić A19 Needs assessment of the potential utility of point-of-care ultrasound within the Zanzibar health system Abiola Fasina, Anthony J. Dean, Nova L. Panebianco, Patricia S. Henwood A20 Ultrasonographic diagnosis of tracheal compression Oliviero Fochi, Moreno Favarato, Ezio Bonanomi A21 The role of ultrasound in the detection of lung infiltrates in critically ill patients: a pilot study Marijana Grgić Medić, Ivan Tomić, Radovan Radonić A22 The SAFER Lasso; a novel approach using point-of-care ultrasound to evaluate patients with abdominal complaints in the emergency department Youngrock Ha, Hongchuen Toh A23 Awareness and use of clinician-performed ultrasound among clinical clerkship faculty Elizabeth Harmon, Wilma Chan, Cameron Baston, Gail Morrison, Frances Shofer, Nova Panebianco, Anthony J. Dean A24 Clinical outcomes in the use of lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of pediatric pneumonias Angela Hua, Sharon Kim, James Tsung A25 Effectiveness of ultrasound in hypotensive patients Isa Gunaydin, Zeynep Kekec, Mehmet Oguzhan Ay A26 Moderate-to-severe left ventricular ejection fraction related to short-term mortality of patients with post-cardiac arrest syndrome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Jinjoo Kim, Jinhyun Kim, Gyoosung Choi, Dowon Shim A27 Usefulness of abdominal ultrasound for acute pyelonephritis diagnosis after kidney transplantation Ji-Han Lee A28 Lung ultrasound for assessing fluid tolerance in severe preeclampsia Jana Ambrozic, Katja Prokselj, Miha Lucovnik A29 Optic nerve sheath ultrasound in severe preeclampsia Gabrijela Brzan Simenc, Jana Ambrozic, Miha Lucovnik A30 Focused echocardiography monitoring in the postoperative period for non-cardiac patients Asta Mačiulienė, Almantas Maleckas, Algimantas Kriščiukaitis, Vytautas Mačiulis, Andrius Macas A31 POCUS-guided paediatric upper limb fracture reduction: algorithm, tricks, and tips Sharad Mohite A32 Point-of-care lung ultrasound: a good diagnostic tool for pneumonia in a septic patient Zoltan Narancsik, Hugon Možina A33 A case of undergraduate POCUS (r)evolution Sara Nikolić, Jan Hansel, Rok Petrovčič, Una Mršić, Gregor Prosen A34 The Graz Summer School for ultrasound: from first contact to bedside application: three-and-a-half-day undergraduate ultrasound training: résumé after two years of continuous development Simon Orlob, Markus Lerchbaumer, Niklas Schönegger, Reinhard Kaufmann A35 Usefulness of point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency room in a patient with acute abdominal pain Alberto Oviedo-García, Margarita Algaba-Montes, Mayra Patricio-Bordomás A36 Use of bedside ultrasound in a critically ill patient. A case report Alberto Oviedo-García, Margarita Algaba-Montes, Mayra Patricio-Bordomás A37 Diagnostic yield of clinical echocardiography for the emergency physician Alberto Oviedo-García, Margarita Algaba-Montes, Mayra Patricio-Bordomás A38 Focused cardiac ultrasound in early diagnosis of type A aortic dissection with atypical presentation Chun-I Pan, Hsiu-Yung Pan, Chien-Hung Wu A39 Detection of imperforated hymen by point-of-care ultrasound Hsiu-yung Pan, Chia-Te Kung A40 Developing a point-of-care ultrasound curriculum for pediatric nurse practitioners practicing in the pediatric emergency department Sarah Pasquale, Stephanie J. Doniger, Sharon Yellin, Gerardo Chiricolo A41 Use of transthoracic echocardiography in emergency setting: patient with mitral valve abscess Maja Potisek, Borut Drnovšek, Boštjan Leskovar A42 A young man with syncope Fatemeh Rasooli, Maryam Bahreini A43 Work-related repetitive use injuries in ultrasound fellows Kristine Robinson, Clara Kraft, Benjamin Moser, Stephen Davis, Shelley Layman, Yusef Sayeed, Joseph Minardi A44 Lung ultrasonography in the evaluation of pneumonia in children Irmina Sefic Pasic, Amra Dzananovic, Anes Pasic, Sandra Vegar Zubovic A45 Central venous catheter placement with the ultrasound aid: two years’ experience of the Interventional unit, Division of Intensive Care Medicine, KBC Zagreb Ana Godan Hauptman, Marijana Grgic Medic, Ivan Tomic, Ana Vujaklija Brajkovic, Jaksa Babel, Marina Peklic, Radovan Radonic A46 Duplicitas casui: two patients admitted due to acute liver failure Vedran Radonic, Ivan Tomic, Luka Bielen, Marijana Grgic Medic A47 A pilot survey on an understanding of Bedside Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) among medical doctors in internal medicine: exposure, perceptions, interest, and barriers to training Peh Wee Ming A48 Unusual case of defecation syncope Nur hafiza Yezid, Fatahul Laham Mohammed A49 A case report of massive pulmonary embolism; a multidisciplinary approach Zainal Abidin Huda, Wan Nasarudin Wan Ismail, W.Yus Haniff W.Isa, Hashairi Fauzi, Praveena Seeva, Mohd Zulfakar Mazlan

PURPOSE To develop internationally harmonised standards for programmes of training in intensive care medicine (ICM). METHODS Standards were developed by using consensus techniques. A nine-member nominal group of European intensive care experts developed a preliminary set of standards. These were revised and refined through a modified Delphi process involving 28 European national coordinators representing national training organisations using a combination of moderated discussion meetings, email, and a Web-based tool for determining the level of agreement with each proposed standard, and whether the standard could be achieved in the respondent's country. RESULTS The nominal group developed an initial set of 52 possible standards which underwent four iterations to achieve maximal consensus. All national coordinators approved a final set of 29 standards in four domains: training centres, training programmes, selection of trainees, and trainers' profiles. Only three standards were considered immediately achievable by all countries, demonstrating a willingness to aspire to quality rather than merely setting a minimum level. Nine proposed standards which did not achieve full consensus were identified as potential candidates for future review. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary set of clearly defined and agreed standards provides a transparent framework for assuring the quality of training programmes, and a foundation for international harmonisation and quality improvement of training in ICM.

Objective To characterise the training environment in ICM across Europe, with a particular focus on factors influencing competency-based training. Method A cross-sectional web-based survey completed by the national coordinator for the CoBaTrICE (Competency-Based Training in Intensive Care medicinE) programme in each of 28 European countries. Results Since the last survey in 2004, 50% of EU countries have modified their training programmes. Seven have already adopted the CoBaTrICE programme since its completion in 2006. Multidisciplinary access to ICM training (‘supraspeciality’ model) is available in 57%, most commonly as a 2-year training programme. National examinations are held by 26 (93%); in 24 (86%) this is a mandatory exit exam; ten use the European Diploma of Intensive Care (EDIC). A formal national system for quality assurance of ICM training exists in only 18 (64%) countries. National standards for approving hospitals as training centres vary widely. In 29% there is no designated specialist with responsibility for training at the local level. Time for teaching was cited as inadequate by 93% of respondents; only 21% of trainers receive contractual recognition for their work. In 39% there is no protected teaching time for trainees. Half of countries surveyed have no formal system for workplace-based assessment of competence of trainees. Conclusions There is considerable diversity in pedagogic structures, processes and quality assurance of ICM across Europe. National training organisations should develop common standards for quality assurance, health systems need to invest in educator support, and the EU should facilitate harmonisation by recognising ICM as a multidisciplinary speciality.

Mucinous cystadenoma is a rare benign neoplasm and is usually discovered incidentally. Pleuritis and pericarditis, inflammation of the pleura and pericardium, may represent manifestations of autoimmune disorders especially in female subjects. We report a patient with polyserositis that was resolved after removal of the mucinous cystadenoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is a first report describing pleuritis and pericarditis as an initial presentation of mucinous cystadenoma of an appendix. A forty-year-old Caucasian female patient with a history of pleuritis and recurrent pericarditis was admitted to the hospital due to acute abdomen. At that time she was taking indomethacin and colchicine due to pericarditis that was controlled only with the combination of these two drugs. The patient had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and normocytic anemia. Immunological tests, including antinuclear antibody, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, rheumatoid factor, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, were repeatedly negative. Emergency surgery revealed acute appendicitis with perforation and subsequent diffuse peritonitis. Histopathological examination showed acute appendicitis and mucinous cystadenoma. Following the surgery the patient did not take any drugs. Fourteen months later the patient was symptom free. Pleuritis and pericarditis in female patients are most often associated with autoimmune diseases. We assume that increased ESR and CRP with anemia detected in the patient may reflect the altered immunity that is due to mucinous cystadenoma. We believe that this report has a broader clinical impact, implying that benign tumor could alter immunity, which can lead to unusual presentation such as polyserositis.

At the University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 37 patients underwent liver transplanta-tion in the period from 2010 to 2014. Six patients had fatal complications in the ear-ly post-transplantation period and deceas-es in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU). All other patients (31) were transferred to the medical ICU and later to the medical ward. The most common indications for liver transplantation were alcoholic liver disease (9 patients) and hepatitis C (8 pa-tients). Two-thirds of the patients were male (67.7%) with an average age of 51 years. Thirty patients were discharged alive from the hospital. Infections developed in nine patients, mostly pneumonia and peritonitis. Only one patient experienced infection caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria, namely peritonitis due to me-thicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). All infections were successfully treated with antibiotics and none of them caused graft rejection.

Prikazan je bolesnik u dobi od 59 godina s dugotrajnim febrilitetom i kašljem koji je razvio oštećenje jetre. Biopsijom jetre je dokazana nekazeozna granulomatozna upala. Vrijednost angiotenzin konvertirajućeg enzima je bila povišena (85 U/L). Opetovano uzimane hemokultura, kultura urina i kultura likvora su bile sterilne. U iskašljaju nije detektiran mikobakterij. Obzirom na navedeno, postavljena je sumnja na sarkoidozu te je započeta terapija kortikosteroidom. Usprkos terapiji, stanje bolesnika se pogoršavalo. Razvilo se akutno zatajenje bubrega do potrebe za hemodijalizom te parcijalna respiratorna insuficijencija. MSCT toraksa je pokazao sitnonodularni intersticijski infiltrat, pretežno u gornjim režnjevima pluća, uz povećane medijastinalne limfne čvorove, te konglomerat uvećanih mjestimično kolikviranih limfnih čvorova subkarinarno. Direktni preparat bronhoalveolarnog lavata u dva navrata i transbronhalna aspiracija iglom bili su negativni na bacil tuberkuloze. Nakon pregleda očne pozadine postavljena je sumnja na diseminiranu tuberkulozu. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, osjetljiv na streptomicin, izonijazid, etambutol, rifampicin, pirazinamid, naknadno je porastao u kulturi koštane srži. Uz antituberkulotsku terapiju bolesnik je trajno bio febrilan 21 dan. Nakon pet mjeseci terapije bolesnik se potpuno oporavio, uključujući i potpuni oporavak bubrežne funkcije., We present a previously healthly 59-year-old patient with fever, cough and liver disease. Liver biopsy showed non-necrotizing ("non-caseating") granulomas. The level of angiotensin-converting enzyme was above the reference range (85 U/L). Blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were repeatedly sterile. No mycobacteria were detected in the sputum. Given the above findings, sarcoidosis was suspected and corticosteroid therapy was initiated. However, the patient was getting worse and developed acute kidney injury together with partial respiratory insufficiency. The chest CT showed interstitial infiltrate, mainly in the upper lobes of the lung, mediastinal lymph node enlargement with partial colliquation. Bronchoscopic aspiration and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed two times; no Mycobacterium was detected. Transbronchial needle aspiration also found no Mycobacterium. Ophthalmologic examination revealed choroiditis and antituberculosis therapy was initiated. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was later detected in culture of bone marrow. After five months of antituberculosis therapy the patient completely recovered, his liver tests were normal as well as renal function.

Introduction Critical illness is commonly complicated by hyperglycaemia caused by mediators of stress and inflammation. Severity of disease is the main risk factor for development of hyperglycaemia, but not all severely ill develop hyperglycemia and some do even in mild disease. We hypothesised that acute disease only exposes a latent disturbance of glucose metabolism which puts those patients at higher risk for developing diabetes. Methods Medical patients with no history of impaired glucose metabolism or other endocrine disorder admitted to an intensive care unit between July 1998 and June 2004 were considered for inclusion. Glucose was measured at least two times a day, and patients were divided into the hyperglycaemia group (glucose ≥7.8 mmol/l) and normoglycaemia group. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed within six weeks after discharge to disclose patients with unknown diabetes or pre- diabetes who were excluded. Patients treated with corticosteroids and those terminally ill were also excluded from the follow-up which lasted for a minimum of five years with annual oral glucose tolerance tests. Results A five-year follow-up was completed for 398 patients in the normoglycaemia group, of which 14 (3.5%) developed type 2 diabetes. In the hyperglycaemia group 193 patients finished follow- up and 33 (17.1%) developed type 2 diabetes. The relative risk for type 2 diabetes during five years after the acute illness was 5.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1 to 10.2). Conclusions Patients with hyperglycaemia during acute illness who are not diagnosed with diabetes before or during hospitalization should be considered a population at increased risk for developing diabetes. They should, therefore, be followed-up, in order to be timely diagnosed and treated.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent disease: about one-quarter of patients admitted to hospital is diagnosed with DM, but there are also a large number of patients who are undiagnosed. An acutely ill patient with hyperglycaemia and no history of diabetes may have stress hyperglycaemia or a first manifestation of diabetes, but it is virtually impossible to establish diagnosis based on measurements of glucose. HbA1c is widely used as a marker of glycaemic control and has been proposed and used, but not yet officially accepted, as a diagnostic marker for diabetes. We have tested its usefulness for diagnosing diabetes in the intensive care setting.

A case series of 12 obese patients admitted to medical intensive care unit (ICU) due to life-threatening diseases and the influence of weight loss on cardiovascular parameters is presented. We assessed body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, pulse, and laboratory values on admission. At discharge from ICU patients were counseled on how to lose weight. They were examined one and six months later. Statistically significant (P

Importance Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. Objective To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020. Interventions The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was organ support–free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned –1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%). Results After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support–free days were 0 (IQR, –1 to 15), 0 (IQR, –1 to 13), and 0 (–1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support–free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support–free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions.