Critical Care Commons^™

Incidence And Predictor Variables Of Pressure Injuries In Patients Undergoing Ventricular Assist Device And Total Artificial Heart Surgeries: An Eight-Year Retrospective Review, Christopher T. Brindle

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND

Cardiac surgery patients have some of the highest reported incidence and prevalence of pressure injuries (PI). A growing subset of cardiac surgery include patients with end-stage heart failure who undergo ventricular assist device (VAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) surgery. The risk of PI and their natural history of development in this population are unknown and the specific risk factors for PI development remain unexplored.

OBJECTIVES

To perform a systematic review of the literature to identify the incidence and risk factors of PI development in patients undergoing VAD-TAH surgery and thereby inform study design and variables in an eight-year …

Keep The Beat With Heart Failure Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Brenda L. Peterson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is the number one diagnosis-related group (DRG) for people 65 years of age and older in the United States. This disease group is complicated and debilitating, requiring frequent hospitalizations with high mortality rates. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has identified CHF as an area for improvement in hospitals.

Context: This was a quality improvement project for an integrated medical center in the Central Valley, California with over 19,000 HF patients. In 2018, for patients 65 years and older, HF is the third-most admitted DRG …

The Impact Of Pulmonary Hypertension In Preterm Infants With Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Through 1 Year., Joanne M. Lagatta, Erik B. Hysinger, Isabella Zaniletti, Erica M. Wymore, Shilpa Vyas-Read, Sushmita Yallapragada, Leif D. Nelin, William E. Truog, Michael A. Padula, Nicolas F M Porta, Rashmin C. Savani, Karin P. Potoka, Steven M. Kawut, Robert Digeronimo, Girija Natarajan, Huayan Zhang, Theresa R. Grover, William A. Engle, Karna Murthy, Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium Severe Bpd Focus Group

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of pulmonary hypertension on neonatal intensive care unit mortality and hospital readmission through 1 year of corrected age in a large multicenter cohort of infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of 1677 infants bornChildren's Hospital Neonatal Consortium with records linked to the Pediatric Health Information System.

RESULTS: Pulmonary hypertension occurred in 370 out of 1677 (22%) infants. During the neonatal admission, pulmonary hypertension was associated with mortality (OR 3.15, 95% CI 2.10-4.73, P < .001), ventilator support at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (60% vs 40%, P < .001), duration of ventilation (72 IQR 30-124 vs 41 IQR 17-74 days, P < .001), and higher respiratory severity score (3.6 IQR 0.4-7.0 vs 0.8 IQR 0.3-3.3, P < .001). At discharge, pulmonary hypertension was associated with tracheostomy (27% vs 9%, P < .001), supplemental oxygen use (84% vs 61%, P < .001), and tube feeds (80% vs 46%, P < .001). Through 1 year of corrected age, pulmonary hypertension was associated with increased frequency of readmission (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.38, 95% CI 1.18-1.63, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension have increased morbidity and mortality through …

Genetic Predisposition To Necrotizing Enterocolitis In Premature Infants: Current Knowledge, Challenges, And Future Directions., Alain Cuna, Lovya George, Venkatesh Sampath

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The role of genetics in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was initially informed by epidemiological data indicating differences in prevalence among different ethnic groups as well as concordance in twins. These early observations, together with major advances in genomic research, paved the way for studies that begin to reveal the contribution of genetics to NEC. Using the candidate gene or pathway approach, several potential pathogenic variants for NEC in premature infants have already been identified. More recently, genome-wide association studies and exome-sequencing based studies for NEC have been reported. These advances, however, are tempered by the lack of adequately …

The Association Of Qsofa, Sofa, And Sirs With Mortality In Emergency Department Pneumonia, Ian D. Mecham, Nathan C. Dean, Emily L. Wilson, Al R. Jephson, Michael J. Lanpsa

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Objective: To determine the association between 30-day mortality with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and quick SOFA (qSOFA) in emergency department patients with pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included the association of sepsis scores with hospital admission and direct ICU admission.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a pneumonia population conducted in the emergency department of 3 tertiary care medical centers and 4 community hospitals. Adult immunocompetent patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included from 3 twelve-month periods spanning December 2009 to October 2015. We generated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values for …

Role Of Echocardiography In The Intensive Care Unit: Overview Of The Most Common Clinical Scenarios, Luca Longobardo, Concetta Zito, Scipione Carerj, Giuseppe Caracciolo, Bijoy K. Khandheria

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The intensive care unit (ICU) is among the more important settings in which echocardiography plays a pivotal role. The ease of use, speed of execution, and completeness of information on heart anatomy and function that echocardiography is able to provide makes this tool the perfect diagnostic technique in patients for whom exhaustive information must be quickly obtained by physicians who sometimes lack specific skills in cardiovascular imaging. However, the clinical entities encountered by ICU clinicians are often difficult to distinguish and patient symptoms may not be obvious. This brief review describes three common clinical scenarios that benefit from echocardiography in …

Ursodeoxycholic Acid Versus Phenobarbital For Cholestasis In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Tamorah Lewis, Simisola Kuye, Ashley Sherman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Although neonates and young infants with cholestasis are commonly treated with either phenobarbital or ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol), there is no evidence that phenobarbital is effective for this indication. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of ursodiol and phenobarbital for the treatment of cholestasis in a diverse NICU population.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study including infants with cholestasis who were admitted to a Level IV NICU between January 2010 and December 2015. Drug courses of phenobarbital and ursodiol were identified within the medical record, and medical, demographic, and drug information were extracted. The primary outcome was reduction …

Spinal Cord Trauma: An Overview Of Normal Structure And Function, Primary And Secondary Mechanisms Of Injury, And Emerging Treatment Modalities, Daniel Morin

Senior Honors Theses

The structures of the spinal cord and vertebral column are designed to provide flexibility, while still providing ample protection for the spinal cord deep within. While it does offer remarkable protection against most routine trauma, the spinal cord is still vulnerable to high-force etiologies of trauma and may become damaged as a result. These events are referred to as primary injury. Following the initial injury, the body’s own physiological responses cause a cascade of deleterious effects, known as secondary injury. Secondary injury is a major therapeutic target in mitigating the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI), and much research is …

Imaging-Based Clusters In Current Smokers Of The Copd Cohort Associate With Clinical Characteristics: The Subpopulations And Intermediate Outcome Measures In Copd Study (Spiromics), Babak Haghighi, Sanghun Choi, Jiwoong Choi, Eric A. Hoffman, Alejandro P. Comellas, John D. Newell, R. Graham Barr, Eugene Bleecker, Christopher B. Cooper, David Couper, Mei Lan Han, Nadia N. Hansel, Richard E. Kanner, Ella A. Kazerooni, Eric A.C. Kleerup, Fernando J. Martinez, Wanda O'Neal, Stephen I. Rennard, Prescott G. Woodruff, Ching-Long Lin

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Classification of COPD is usually based on the severity of airflow, which may not sensitively differentiate subpopulations. Using a multiscale imaging-based cluster analysis (MICA), we aim to identify subpopulations for current smokers with COPD.

METHODS: Among the SPIROMICS subjects, we analyzed computed tomography images at total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV) of 284 current smokers. Functional variables were derived from registration of TLC and RV images, e.g. functional small airways disease (fSAD%). Structural variables were assessed at TLC images, e.g. emphysema and airway wall thickness and diameter. We employed an unsupervised method for clustering.

RESULTS: Four clusters …

Use Of A 4-Week Up-Titration Regimen Of Roflumilast In Patients With Severe Copd, Henrik Watz, Nitin Bagul, Klaus F. Rabe, Stephen I. Rennard, Vijay Kt Alagappan, Jonas Román, Axel Facius, Peter Ma Calverley

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: The oral selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor roflumilast (ROF) reduces exacerbations in patients with severe COPD. Adverse events (AEs) can cause early ROF discontinuation. Alternative dosing strategies may help patients continue their therapy.

METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind trial, 1,321 patients with severe COPD were randomized 1:1:1 to 4 weeks' treatment with ROF 250 µg once daily (OD), 500 µg every other day (EOD), or 500 µg OD, each followed by ROF 500 µg OD for 8 weeks, plus standard therapy. The primary end point was the percentage of patients prematurely discontinuing study treatment.

RESULTS: Patients in the 250 µg OD/500 …

Centrilobular Emphysema And Coronary Artery Calcification: Mediation Analysis In The Spiromics Cohort, Surya P. Bhatt, Hrudaya P. Nath, Young-Il Kim, Rekha Ramachandran, Jubal R. Watts, Nina L.J. Terry, Sushil Sonavane, Swati P. Deshmane, Prescott G. Woodruff, Elizabeth C. Oelsner, Sandeep Bodduluri, Meilan K. Han, Wassim W. Labaki, J. Michael Wells, Fernando J. Martinez, R. Graham Barr, Mark T. Dransfield, Spiromics Investigators

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a two-to-five fold increase in the risk of coronary artery disease independent of shared risk factors. This association is hypothesized to be mediated by systemic inflammation but this link has not been established.

METHODS: We included 300 participants enrolled in the SPIROMICS cohort, 75 each of lifetime non-smokers, smokers without airflow obstruction, mild-moderate COPD, and severe-very severe COPD. We quantified emphysema and airway disease on computed tomography, characterized visual emphysema subtypes (centrilobular and paraseptal) and airway disease, and used the Weston visual score to quantify coronary artery calcification (CAC). We used …

Can Capture Be Used To Identify Undiagnosed Patients With Mild-To-Moderate Copd Likely To Benefit From Treatment?, Nancy K. Leidy, Fernando J. Martinez, Karen G. Malley, David M. Mannino, Meilan K. Han, Elizabeth D. Bacci, Randall W. Brown, Julia F. Houfek, Wassim W. Labaki, Barry J. Make, Catherine A. Meldrum, Wilson Quezada, Stephen I. Rennard, Byron Thomashow, Barbara P. Yawn

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: COPD Assessment in Primary Care To Identify Undiagnosed Respiratory Disease and Exacerbation Risk (CAPTURE™) uses five questions and peak expiratory flow (PEF) thresholds (males ≤350 L/min; females ≤250 L/min) to identify patients with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV

METHODS: Data from the CAPTURE development study were used to test its sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) differentiating mild-to-moderate COPD (n=73) from no COPD (n=87). SN and SP for differentiating all COPD cases (mild to severe; n=259) from those without COPD (n=87) were also estimated. The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale and COPD Assessment Test (CAT™) …

The Development Of Azd7624 For Prevention Of Exacerbations In Copd: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Naimish R. Patel, Danen M. Cunoosamy, Malin Fagerås, Ziad Taib, Sara Asimus, Tove Hegelund-Myrbäck, Sofia Lundin, Katerina Pardali, Nisha Kurian, Eva Ersdal, Cecilia Kristensson, Katarina Korsback, Robert Palmér, Mary N. Brown, Steven Greenaway, Leonard Siew, Graham W. Clarke, Stephen I. Rennard, Barry J. Make, Robert A. Wise, Paul Jansson

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays a central role in the regulation and activation of pro-inflammatory mediators. COPD patients have increased levels of activated p38 MAPK, which correlate with increased lung function impairment, alveolar wall inflammation, and COPD exacerbations.

OBJECTIVES: These studies aimed to assess the effect of p38 inhibition with AZD7624 in healthy volunteers and patients with COPD. The principal hypothesis was that decreasing lung inflammation via inhibition of p38α would reduce exacerbations and improve quality of life for COPD patients at high risk for acute exacerbations.

METHODS: The p38 isoform most relevant to lung inflammation was assessed …

The Effectiveness Of Interventions And Bundles For Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Mohamad Alhamwi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) are a major cause of increased mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) patients. Despite CDC's efforts to reduce infection rates, patients often suffer consequences. The objective of this study is to perform a systematic review of strategies utilized in the neonatal population and evaluate them with the current CDC's guidelines to assess the effectiveness of bundles in preventing CLABSI in NICUs.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using CINAHL Plus with Text, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and MEDLINE from January 2008 up to 2018. There were multiple …

Customizing A Pressure Injury Bundle Based On Unit-Specific Data, Kathlyn Baharaeen, Kimberly Palmer, Jamie Leroy, Julia Crouch, Bryan Limer, Gianna Swift, Kate Gibbs

Posters

No abstract provided.

Variations In Practice Of Apnea Test For Brain Death: Review From A Multihospital Health Care System, Jeffrey Stein, Marvi V. Rijhwani, Ernesto Brauer

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Ventilation encompasses both active and passive processes. Air is initially drawn into the lungs due to a negative intrathoracic pressure created using the respiratory muscles, most importantly the diaphragm. In contrast, expiration is the passive relaxation of the respiratory muscles. Oxygenation occurs when oxygen diffuses across the alveolar-capillary membrane. The ability to oxygenate without ventilation has been termed apneic diffusion oxygenation or apneic oxygenation. We believe it is crucial to keep alveoli open in order for adequate oxygenation to occur. This can be achieved with the aid of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). We investigated this concept in patients who …

Cigarette Smoke Impairs A2a Adenosine Receptor Mediated Wound Repair Through Up-Regulation Of Duox-1 Expression., Zhi Tian, Hui Zhang, Jendayi Dixon, Nicole Traphagen, Todd A. Wyatt, Kusum K. Kharbanda, Samantha Simet, Narasaiah Kolliputi, Diane S Allen-Gipson

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure and intrinsic factors such as the NADPH oxidases produce high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ensuing inflammatory tissue injury. We previously demonstrated that CS-generated ROS, particularly hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), impaired adenosine stimulated wound repair. We hypothesized that CS exposure modulates expression of Dual oxidase 1 (Duox-1), a NADPH oxidases known to generate H2O2. To test this hypothesis, we used human bronchial epithelial cell line Nuli-1 and C57BL/6 mice. Cells were treated with 5% CS extract (CSE) for various periods of time, and mice were exposed to whole body CS for six weeks. Both CSE and …

Effect Of Low-Level Co2 On Innate Inflammatory Protein Response To Organic Dust From Swine Confinement Barns., David Schneberger, Jane M. Devasure, Kristina L. Bailey, Debra J. Romberger, Todd A. Wyatt

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Organic hog barn dust (HDE) exposure induces lung inflammation and long-term decreases in lung function in agricultural workers. While concentrations of common gasses in confined animal facilities are well characterized, few studies have been done addressing if exposure to elevated barn gasses impacts the lung immune response to organic dusts. Given the well documented effects of hypercapnia at much higher levels we hypothesized that CO2 at 8 h exposure limit levels (5000 ppm) could alter innate immune responses to HDE.

METHODS: Using a mouse model, C57BL/6 mice were nasally instilled with defined barn dust extracts and then housed in …

Effect Of Low-Level Co2 On Innate Inflammatory Protein Response To Organic Dust From Swine Confinement Barns., David Schneberger, Jane M. Devasure, Kristina L. Bailey, Debra J. Romberger, Todd A. Wyatt

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Organic hog barn dust (HDE) exposure induces lung inflammation and long-term decreases in lung function in agricultural workers. While concentrations of common gasses in confined animal facilities are well characterized, few studies have been done addressing if exposure to elevated barn gasses impacts the lung immune response to organic dusts. Given the well documented effects of hypercapnia at much higher levels we hypothesized that CO2 at 8 h exposure limit levels (5000 ppm) could alter innate immune responses to HDE.

METHODS: Using a mouse model, C57BL/6 mice were nasally instilled with defined barn dust extracts and then housed in …

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation For Cardiogenic Shock: A Retrospective Analysis Based On The Etiology Of Shock, Andrew Burchett, Thomas Tribble, Richard Charnigo, Susan Smyth, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

Abstract:

Background: We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the efficacy of VA-ECMO support in cardiogenic shock based on various etiologies.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 99 patients supported with VA-ECMO from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2015. Outcomes included survival to discontinuation of VA-ECMO support and survival to hospital discharge. The etiologies of cardiogenic shock included cardiac arrest (CPR), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary embolism (PE), right ventricular failure (RVF) not secondary to an acute pulmonary embolism, and post-cardiotomy syndrome (PCS). The PCS group was used as a reference group; odds ratios were estimated …

Reduced Microrna-503 Expression Augments Lung Fibroblast Vegf Production In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Jun Ikari, Amy J. Nelson, Jannah Obaid, Alvaro Giron-Martinez, Kumiko Ikari, Fumihiko Makino, Shunichiro Iwasawa, Yoko Gunji, Maha Farid, Xingqi Wang, Hesham Basma, Dawn Demeo, Carol Feghali-Bostwick, Olaf Holz, Klaus Rabe, Xiangde Liu, Stephen I. Rennard

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

Alterations in microRNA (miRNA) expression may contribute to COPD pathogenesis. In COPD, lung fibroblast repair functions are altered in multiple ways, including extracellular mediator release. Our prior study revealed miR-503 expression is decreased in COPD lung fibroblasts, although the exact role played by miR-503 is undetermined. The current study examined a role of miR-503 in cytokine, growth factor and fibronectin production by lung fibroblasts from patients with and without COPD. Primary adult lung fibroblasts were isolated from patients with or without COPD. MiR-503 expression and interleukin (IL)-6, -8, PGE2, HGF, KGF, VEGF and fibronectin release were examined with or without …

Variability In Objective And Subjective Measures Affects Baseline Values In Studies Of Patients With Copd, Wayne H. Anderson, Jae Wook Ha, David J. Couper, Wanda K. O'Neal, R. Graham Barr, Eugene R. Bleecker, Elizabeth E. Carretta, Christopher B. Cooper, Claire M. Doerschuk, M. Bradley Drummond, Meilan K. Han, Nadia N. Hansel, Victor Kim, Eric C. Kleerup, Fernando J. Martinez, Stephen I. Rennard, Donald Tashkin, Prescott G. Woodruff, Robert Paine, Jeffrey L. Curtis, Richard W. Kanner, Spiromics Research Group

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

RATIONALE: Understanding the reliability and repeatability of clinical measurements used in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease progression is of critical importance across all disciplines of clinical practice and in clinical trials to assess therapeutic efficacy and safety.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal is to understand normal variability for assessing true changes in health status and to more accurately utilize this data to differentiate disease characteristics and outcomes.

METHODS: Our study is the first study designed entirely to establish the repeatability of a large number of instruments utilized for the clinical assessment of COPD in the same subjects over the same …

Body Mass Index Change In Gastrointestinal Cancer And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Associated With Dedicator Of Cytokinesis 1, Merry-Lynn Noelle Mcdonald, Sungho Won, Manuel Mattheisen, Peter J. Castaldi, Michael H. Cho, Erica Rutten, Megan Hardin, Wai-Ki Yip, Stephen I. Rennard, David A. Lomas, Emiel F.M. Wouters, Alvar Agusti, Richard Casaburi, Christoph P. Lange, George O'Connor, Craig P. Hersh, Edwin K. Silverman

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: There have been a number of candidate gene association studies of cancer cachexia-related traits, but no genome-wide association study (GWAS) has been published to date. Cachexia presents in patients with a number of complex traits, including both cancer and COPD. The objective of the current investigation was to search for a shared genetic aetiology for change in body mass index (ΔBMI) among cancer and COPD by using GWAS data in the Framingham Heart Study.

METHODS: A linear mixed effects model accounting for age, sex, and change in smoking status was used to calculate ΔBMI in participants over 40 years …

Network-Based Analysis Reveals Novel Gene Signatures In Peripheral Blood Of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Ma'en Obeidat, Yunlong Nie, Virginia Chen, Casey P. Shannon, Anand Kumar Andiappan, Bernett Lee, Olaf Rotzschke, Peter J. Castaldi, Craig P. Hersh, Nick Fishbane, Raymond T. Ng, Bruce Mcmanus, Bruce E. Miller, Stephen I. Rennard, Peter D. Paré, Don D. Sin

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the third leading cause of death and there is a huge unmet clinical need to identify disease biomarkers in peripheral blood. Compared to gene level differential expression approaches to identify gene signatures, network analyses provide a biologically intuitive approach which leverages the co-expression patterns in the transcriptome to identify modules of co-expressed genes.

METHODS: A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to peripheral blood transcriptome from 238 COPD subjects to discover co-expressed gene modules. We then determined the relationship between these modules and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV …

New Insights Into Post-Sepsis Muscle Weakness Elucidated Using A Novel Animal Model, Allison M. Steele

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Sepsis is a severe life-threatening critical illness that damages multiple physiological systems. After hospital discharge, more than 70% of severe sepsis survivors report profound weakness which significantly impacts quality of life. Such weakness gives rise to new limitations of daily living, which ultimately leads to loss of independence in many patients. Despite wide recognition of this serious issue by clinicians and researchers alike, the mechanisms contributing to chronic skeletal muscle dysfunction after sepsis are not well understood. Lack of progress in this field is largely due to the absence of an appropriate animal model; current models are either too mild …

Evaluation Of Preoperative Anemia And Transfusion Requirements In Adult Liver Transplant Recipients, Parissa M.N. Moghimi, Erika A. Aldag, Rachel Pedersen, Ajay Sahajpal, Jacob N. Clendenon, Vikraman Gunabushanam, Mehraboon S. Irani, David J. Kramer

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Liver transplantation is often associated with massive blood loss due to surgical complexity and the hemostatic abnormalities of end-stage liver disease. Blood transfusions have been associated with increased risk of infection, multiorgan dysfunction, graft loss and mortality.

Purpose: To determine for liver transplantation whether correlation exists between preoperative anemia and transfusion requirements, length of stay or incidence of postoperative infection.

Methods: A retrospective review of liver transplantations from Jan. 1, 2012, to June 30, 2015, was conducted. Packed red blood cell (PRBC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelet and cryoprecipitate units were collected preoperatively, intraoperatively and within the first 48 …

Interpreting Patient-Reported Outcomes From Clinical Trials In Copd: A Discussion, Paul W. Jones, Stephen I. Rennard, Maggie Tabberer, John H. Riley, Mitra Vahdati-Bolouri, Neil C. Barnes

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

One of the challenges faced by the practising physician is the interpretation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in clinical trials and the relevance of such data to their patients. This is especially true when caring for patients with progressive diseases such as COPD. In an attempt to incorporate the patient perspective, many clinical trials now include assessments of PROs. These are formalized methods of capturing patient-centered information. Given the importance of PROs in evaluating the potential utility of an intervention for a patient with COPD, it is important that physicians are able to critically interpret (and critique) the results derived from …

Upregulation Of Rgs2: A New Mechanism For Pirfenidone Amelioration Of Pulmonary Fibrosis, Yan Xie, Haihong Jiang, Qian Zhang, Suneet Mehrotra, Peter W. Abel, Myron L. Toews, Dennis W. Wolff, Stephen I. Rennard, Reynold A. Panettieri, Thomas B. Casale, Yaping Tu

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Pirfenidone was recently approved for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the therapeutic dose of pirfenidone is very high, causing side effects that limit its doses and therapeutic effectiveness. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of action of pirfenidone could improve its safety and efficacy. Because activated fibroblasts are critical effector cells associated with the progression of fibrosis, this study investigated the genes that change expression rapidly in response to pirfenidone treatment of pulmonary fibroblasts and explored their contributions to the anti-fibrotic effects of pirfenidone.

METHODS: We used the GeneChip microarray to screen for genes that were rapidly up-regulated upon exposure …

Effects Of Roflumilast In Copd Patients Receiving Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long-Acting Β2-Agonist Fixed-Dose Combination: Re(2)Spond Rationale And Study Design, Stephen I. Rennard, Fernando J. Martinez, Klaus F. Rabe, Sanjay Sethi, Emilio Pizzichini, Andrew Mcivor, Shahid Siddiqui, Antonio Anzueto, Haiyuan Zhu

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Roflumilast, a once-daily, selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, reduces the risk of COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. The RE(2)SPOND study is examining whether roflumilast, when added to an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist (ICS/LABA) fixed-dose combination (FDC), further reduces exacerbations. The methodology is described herein.

METHODS: In this Phase IV, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial, participants were randomized 1:1 (stratified by long-acting muscarinic antagonist use) to receive roflumilast or placebo, plus ICS/LABA FDC, for 52 weeks. Eligible participants had severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis, had two or more moderate-severe exacerbations within …

Copd Exacerbation Biomarkers Validated Using Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry, Janice M. Leung, Virginia Chen, Zsuzsanna Hollander, Darlene Dai, Scott J. Tebbutt, Shawn D. Aaron, Kathy L. Vandemheen, Stephen I. Rennard, J. Mark Fitzgerald, Prescott G. Woodruff, Stephen C. Lazarus, John E. Connett, Harvey O. Coxson, Bruce Miller, Christoph Borchers, Bruce M. Mcmanus, Raymond T. Ng, Don D. Sin

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) result in considerable morbidity and mortality. However, there are no objective biomarkers to diagnose AECOPD.

METHODS: We used multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry to quantify 129 distinct proteins in plasma samples from patients with COPD. This analytical approach was first performed in a biomarker cohort of patients hospitalized with AECOPD (Cohort A, n = 72). Proteins differentially expressed between AECOPD and convalescent states were chosen using a false discovery rate < 0.01 and fold change >1.2. Protein selection and classifier building were performed using an elastic net logistic regression model. The performance of the biomarker panel …