BACKGROUND Chromogranin A (CgA) in plasma (P-CgA), a neuroendocrine marker of sympathetic stress, has been shown to predict mortality in medical intensive care. We hypothesized that the magnitude of CgA release would reflect stress load, and thereby injury severity in burn intensive care patients. METHODS Fifty-one consecutive patients with a burn area exceeding 10% were included. P-CgA was m...

Multiple organ failure is the commonest cause of death in the intensive care unit setting. There are numerous precipitating factors including sepsis, trauma and pancreatitis. The resulting tissue hypoxia, exaggerated inflammatory response and generation of free oxygen radicals leads to tissue damage and organ dysfunction. No definitive treatment exists despite considerable efforts to find a 'ma...

conclusions there was a significant correlation between elevated lipase levels and the incidence of multiple organ failure. moreover, no significant association was found between the elevated amylase levels and organ failure. however, on admission, measurement of these enzymes coupled with routine laboratory investigations can be a powerful tool in the early detection of patients progressing to...

BACKGROUND Early detection of compensated pediatric septic shock requires diagnostic tests that are sensitive and specific. Four physical exam signs are recommended for detecting pediatric septic shock prior to hypotension (cold extremities, mental status, capillary refill, peripheral pulse quality); this study tested their ability to detect patients who develop organ dysfunction among a cohort...

Sepsis is complex syndrome with endothelial barrier integrity compromise, contributing to end-organ dysfunction. Some findings have established that markers of septic endothelial activation are associated with extent of sepsis severity, organ dysfunction and mortality. Endocan is a novel endothelium derived soluble dermatan sulfate proteoglycan and endocan’s increased serum levels founded in pa...

Ceylon Medical Journal The wasp (Vespa affinis) is common and widely distributed in Sri Lanka. Wasp venom is known to contain factors that release histamine, enzymes, haemolysins, neurotoxins and vasodilators [1]. Case reports with severe multi-organ dysfunction after wasp stings are few in literature. We report two patients who developed severe multi-organ dysfunction following multiple wasp b...

OBJECTIVE Due to atypical symptom presentation older patients are more prone to delayed sepsis recognition. We investigated whether initial disease severity before emergency department (ED) treatment (including treatable acute organ dysfunction), quality of ED sepsis care and the impact on mortality was different between patients older and younger than 70 years. If differences exist, improvemen...

BACKGROUND It is considered that the pathogenesis is closely related to an excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines caused by bacterial toxins and an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators. MATERIALS AND METHODS This work investigates the effect of electro-acupuncturing (EA), at Zusanli point (ST36) on plasma cytokine release and organ dysfunction and the...

.................................................................................................................................... 1 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ 2 List of original papers ....................................................................................................