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Background: In COVID-19, higher than expected level of intrapulmonary shunt has been described, in association with a discrepancy between the initial relatively preserved lung mechanics and the hypoxia severity. This study aim was to measure the shunt fraction and variations of PaO2/FiO2 ratio and oxygen alveolar-arterial gradient (A-a O2) at different FiO2. Methods: Shunt was measured by a non-invasive system during spontaneous breathing in 12 patients hospitalized at COVID-19 Semi-Intensive Care Unit of Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy, between October 22 and November 23, 2020. Results: Nine patients were men, mean age (±SD) 62±15 years, mean BMI 27.5±4.8 Kg/m2. Systemic hypertension, diabetes type 2 and previous myocardial infraction were referred in 33%, 17%, and 7%, respectively. Mean PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 234±66 and 11 patients presented a bilateral chest X-ray involvement. Mean shunt was 21±6%. Mainly in patients with a more severe respiratory failure, we found a progressive decrease of PaO2/FiO2 ratio with higher FiO2. Considering (A-a O2), we found a uniform tendency to increase with FiO2 increasing. Even in this case, the more severe were the patients, the higher was the slope, suggesting FiO2 insensitiveness due to a shunt effect, as strengthened by our measurements. Conclusion: Relying on a single evaluation of PaO2/FiO2 ratio, especially at high FiO2, could be misleading in COVID-19. We propose a two steps evaluation, the first at low SpO2 value (e.g., 92-94%) and the second one at high FiO2 (i.e., >0.7), allowing to characterize both the amendable (ventilation/perfusion mismatch), and the fixed (shunt) contribution quote of respiratory impairment, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many case reports suggest that the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy associated with surgical and medical approaches may contribute to restricting the growth of zygomycetes in patient tissue. The primary aim of this study was to obtain data concerning the in vitro susceptibility of 22 zygomycetes to antifungals such as amphotericin B and posaconazole, and to compare the in vitro development of these fungi in aerobic normobaric versus hyperoxic normobaric and hyperbaric atmosphere. None of the zygomycetes grew after 24-hour and 72-hour incubation in a hyperoxic hyperbaric (2 or 3 ATA) atmosphere. However, when plates were maintained at room temperature in aerobic conditions, colonies were observed from 36-96 h after inoculation, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values remained the same. This preliminary in vitro study focuses on the in vitro examination of combination therapies to potentiate antifungal activity. Both hyperoxic hyperbaric conditions and a single antifungal agent, as well as combinations of different antifungal drugs were used. Results suggest an impressive in vitro fungistatic activity of the hyperoxic hyperbaric atmosphere, even if the antifungal effect is strictly time-dependent using these incubation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The amount of immature leukocytes reflects marrow response to bacterial infection, and this may be quantified as the band or immature granulocyte (IG) count. The aim of this study was to analyze the IG count performance of the Sysmex XN-9000 hematology analyzer in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods. 480 peripheral blood samples from adult patients admitted to the ICU (301 control, 119 sepsis and 60 septic shock) were analyzed with Sysmex XN-9000. Serum C reactive protein (CRP) was measured on Siemens ADVIA 2400. IG count in peripheral blood was determined either by XN-9000 or optical microscopy (OM). Agreement between the two methods was assessed with Pearson's correlation, Passing-Bablok regression and Bland Altman bias. Diagnostic accuracy was estimated through ROC curves analysis. Sysmex XN-9000 imprecision and within-run precision were also evaluated. Results. Pearson's correlation (r) relative to IG count, as absolute and percentage values, was 0.89 (p <0.0001) and 0.74 (p <0.0001), respectively, with a Bias of 0.22 and 1.69 respectively. The Area Under the curve (AUC) for the IG count for diagnosing sepsis was greater on XN-9000 than OM and equal to the serum CRP. The diagnostic accuracy of IG counts improves when taking into account the conventional criteria for diagnosing sepsis. Conclusion. IG count appears suitable and reliable when performed using XN-9000. Even if a modest overestimation was found, the diagnostic accuracy showed by IG analysis on XN-9000 may represent a valid alternative to OM count for diagnosing sepsis in ICU patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In COVID-19, higher than expected level of intrapulmonary shunt has been described, in association with a discrepancy between the initial relatively preserved lung mechanics and the hypoxia severity. This study aim was to measure the shunt fraction and variations of PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio and oxygen alveolar-arterial gradient (A-a O 2 ) at different FiO 2 ., Methods: Shunt was measured by a non-invasive system during spontaneous breathing in 12 patients hospitalized at COVID-19 Semi-Intensive Care Unit of Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy, between October 22 and November 23, 2020., Results: Nine patients were men, mean age (±SD) 62±15 years, mean BMI 27.5±4.8 Kg/m 2 . Systemic hypertension, diabetes type 2 and previous myocardial infarction were referred in 33%, 17%, and 7%, respectively. Mean PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio was 234±66 and 11 patients presented a bilateral chest X-ray involvement. Mean shunt was 21±6%. Mainly in patients with a more severe respiratory failure, we found a progressive decrease of PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio with higher FiO 2 . Considering (A-a O 2 ), we found a uniform tendency to increase with FiO 2 increasing. Even in this case, the more severe were the patients, the higher was the slope, suggesting FiO 2 insensitiveness due to a shunt effect, as strengthened by our measurements., Conclusion: Relying on a single evaluation of PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio, especially at high FiO 2 , could be misleading in COVID-19. We propose a two steps evaluation, the first at low SpO 2 value ( e.g ., 92-94%) and the second one at high FiO 2 ( i.e ., >0.7), allowing to characterize both the amendable (ventilation/perfusion mismatch), and the fixed (shunt) contribution quote of respiratory impairment, respectively., (©Copyright: the Author(s).)

Background: Sepsis is still a major cause of death in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Patients with liver impairment express an imbalanced cytokine response which alters common sepsis biphasic nature. Cytokines measurement is expensive, often unavailable, whereas leukocytes (WBC) evaluation performed through hematology analyzers can provide a practical strategy for monitoring inflammatory response., Methods: A total of 200 healthy subjects (HS) and 84 patients (18 with, 66 without liver impairment) admitted to ICU, were assessed for International Sepsis Definitions, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. We tested 1,022 peripheral blood samples using Sysmex XN-9000, estimating diagnostic accuracy of leukocyte differential count and nontraditional parameters through receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves analysis compared to clinical classification., Results: Median value of all-leukocyte parameters was different in ICU patients compared to HS. Leukocytes, neutrophils (NE) and immature granulocytes (IGs) in sepsis and septic shock (SS) were higher than no sepsis (NS), with an area under the curve: 0.81, 0.82 and 0.78 respectively. Lymphocytes (LY) and monocytes (MO) were significantly associated with liver impairment., Conclusions: Diagnostic accuracy of all-leukocyte parameters may provide valuable information for diagnosis and follow-up of sepsis in ICU patients, especially those with liver impairment.

Hemodynamically Unstable Pelvic Trauma is a major problem in blunt traumatic injury. No cosensus has been reached in literature on the optimal treatment of this condition. We present the results of the First Italian Consensus Conference on Pelvic Trauma which took place in Bergamo on April 13 2013. An extensive review of the literature has been undertaken by the Organizing Committee (OC) and forwarded to the Scientific Committee (SC) and the Panel (JP). Members of them were appointed by surgery, critical care, radiology, emergency medicine and orthopedics Italian and International societies: the Italian Society of Surgery, the Italian Association of Hospital Surgeons, the Multi-specialist Italian Society of Young Surgeons, the Italian Society of Emergency Surgery and Trauma, the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, the Italian Society of Medical Radiology, Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and the World Society of Emergency Surgery. From November 2012 to January 2013 the SC undertook the critical revision and prepared the presentation to the audience and the Panel on the day of the Conference. Then 3 recommendations were presented according to the 3 submitted questions. The Panel voted the recommendations after discussion and amendments with the audience. Later on a email debate took place until December 2013 to reach a unanimous consent. We present results on the 3 following questions: which hemodynamically unstable patient needs an extraperitoneal pelvic packing? Which hemodynamically unstable patient needs an external fixation? Which hemodynamically unstable patient needs emergent angiography? No longer angiography is considered the first therapeutic maneuver in such a patient. Preperitoneal pelvic packing and external fixation, preceded by pelvic binder have a pivotal role in the management of these patients.Hemodynamically Unstable Pelvic Trauma is a frequent death cause among people who sustain blunt trauma. We present the results of the First Italian Consensus Conference.