Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

O uso da estreptoquinase no tratamento da oclusão arterial aguda pós-cateterização da artéria femoral em crianças com menos de 10 kg The use of streptokinase in the treatment of acute arterial occlusion after catheterization of the femoral artery in children weighing less than 10 kg

CONTEXTO: O tratamento da oclusão arterial aguda em menores de 5 kg tem constituído tema de discussão. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o tratamento do quadro da oclusão arterial aguda pós-cateterismo da artéria femoral em crianças com menos de 10 kg com o uso de heparina isolada e também associada com estreptoquinase, e comparar os resultados do exame físico (como diagnóstico), da reversão da oclusão arterial, de complicações e de exames laboratoriais nos dois métodos MÉTODOS: Trinta casos de oclusão da artéria femoral foram identificados em 1.583 cateterismos em crianças no Instituto de Cardiologia de Porto Alegre, entre 1992 e 2000. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: um usou apenas heparina (14 casos), e o outro usou heparina associada com estreptoquinase (16 casos). Os exames laboratoriais (tempo de protrombina, tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativado e fibrinogênio) coletados antes e durante a infusão intravenosa foram avaliados estatisticamente, assim como o tempo de uso da medicação, as complicações e os resultados. RESULTADOS: O exame físico mostrou-se método fidedigno para avaliar a oclusão; no grupo que utilizou a associação de heparina e estreptoquinase, houve a resolução de 87% dos casos de oclusão arterial, e a principal complicação foi sangramento no sítio de punção em 56,3% dos pacientes. Os resultados apresentaram p < 0,05. Os exames laboratoriais não tiveram significado estatístico. CONCLUSÃO: A estreptoquinase associada com a heparina é mais efetiva do que a heparina isolada no tratamento da oclusão arterial aguda da artéria femoral pós-cateterismo, tanto que sua associação apresenta uma redução do risco relativo de 88% em relação à heparina isolada.<br>BACKGROUND: The treatment of acute arterial occlusion in children weighing less than 5 kg has been widely discussed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the treatment of acute arterial occlusion after catheterization of the femoral artery in children weighing less than 10 kg using heparin alone and associated with streptokinase, and to compare the results of physical examination (such as diagnosis), reversal of the arterial occlusion, complications and laboratory tests between both methods. METHODS: Thirty cases of femoral artery occlusion were identified among 1,583 catheterizations in children at Instituto de Cardiologia de Porto Alegre between 1992 and 2000. The patients were divided into two groups: one used heparin alone (14 cases) and the other used heparin associated with streptokinase (16 cases). The laboratory tests (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen) performed before and during the intravenous infusion were statistically analyzed, as well as period of drug administration, complications and results. RESULTS: Physical examination proved to be reliable to evaluate occlusion; in the group using heparin associated with streptokinase, there was resolution of the arterial occlusion in 87% of cases, and the main complication was bleeding at the puncture site, which was present in 56.3% of the patients. These results showed p < 0.05. Laboratory tests were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Streptokinase associated with heparin is more effective on acute artery occlusions following femoral catheterization than heparin alone. Its association presents an 88% rate of relative risk reduction in relation to heparin alone

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.13Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt