ABO blood types and major outcomes in patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

Introduction ABO blood type A was reported to correlate with an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in white patients with severe sepsis and major trauma compared with patients with other blood types. Information regarding ABO phenotypes and major outcomes in patients with ARDS is unavailable. The primary aim was to determine the relationship between ABO blood type A and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). The secondary aim was to describe the association between ABO blood type A and ICU length of stay (LOS) in this study population. Methods In a multicenter, retrospective cohort study, we collected the clinical records of patients admitted from January 2012 to December 2014 in five ICUs of Northern Italy. We included adult white patients admitted to the ICU who were diagnosed with AHRF requiring mechanical ventilation. Results The electronic records of 1732 patients with AHRF were reviewed. The proportion of patients with ABO blood type A versus other blood types was 39.9% versus 60.1%. ICU mortality (25%) and ICU LOS (median [interquartile range], 5 [2\u201312] days) were not different when stratified by ABO blood type (ICU mortality, overall p value = 0.905; ICU LOS, overall p value = 0.609). SAPSII was a positive predictor of ICU mortality (odds ration [OR], 32.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 18.80\u201357.24; p < 0.001) and ICU LOS (\u3b2 coefficient, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35\u20130.75; p < 0.001) at multivariate analyses, whereas ABO blood type did not predict ICU outcome when forced into the model. Conclusion ABO blood type did not correlate with ICU mortality and ICU LOS in adult patients with AHRF who were mechanically ventilated

Communication and visiting policies in Italian intensive care units during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave and lockdown: a nationwide survey

Background: During the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave, an unprecedented number of patients with respiratory failure due to a new, highly contagious virus needed hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The aim of the present study was to describe the communication and visiting policies of Italian intensive care units (ICUs) during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave and national lockdown and compare these data with prepandemic conditions. Methods: A national web-based survey was conducted among 290 Italian hospitals. Each ICU (active between February 24 and May 31, 2020) was encouraged to complete an individual questionnaire inquiring the hospital/ICU structure/organization, communication/visiting habits and the role of clinical psychology prior to, and during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave. Results: Two hundred and nine ICUs from 154 hospitals (53% of the contacted hospitals) completed the survey (202 adult and 7 pediatric ICUs). Among adult ICUs, 60% were dedicated to COVID-19 patients, 21% were dedicated to patients without COVID-19 and 19% were dedicated to both categories (Mixed). A total of 11,102 adult patients were admitted to the participating ICUs during the study period and only approximately 6% of patients received at least one visit. Communication with family members was guaranteed daily through an increased use of electronic devices and was preferentially addressed to the same family member. Compared to the prepandemic period, clinical psychologists supported physicians more often regarding communication with family members. Fewer patients received at least one visit from family members in COVID and mixed-ICUs than in non-COVID ICUs, l (0 [0–6]%, 0 [0–4]% and 11 [2–25]%, respectively, p &lt; 0.001). Habits of pediatric ICUs were less affected by the pandemic. Conclusions: Visiting policies of Italian ICUs dedicated to adult patients were markedly altered during the first COVID-19 wave. Remote communication was widely adopted as a surrogate for family meetings. New strategies to favor a family-centered approach during the current and future pandemics are warranted

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Silver as a powerful electrocatalyst for organic halide reduction : the critical role of molecular structure

The remarkable electrocatalytic properties of silver for org. halide redns., related to its strong specific interactions with halide ions, and therefore modulated by the surface state and by the nature of the supporting electrolyte, were shown by the authors recently. The key role played by the mol. structure is now described together with its effect on the reaction pathway, in terms of not only the intrinsic R\ub7\ub7\ub7X reactivity modification but also of elements connected to the heterogeneous nature of the process, including the accessibility of the leaving group and the possible presence of adsorption auxiliary groups stabilizing the postulated R\ub7\ub7\ub7X\ub7\ub7\ub7Me intermediate. The present discussion is supported by: (a) cyclic voltammetric studies on a wide set of aliph. and arom. halides performed on silver, mercury and glassy carbon; and (b) a systematic program of preparative electroredns. carried out on variously configurated haloadamantanes in different operating conditions. The haloadamantane case, yielding a mixt. of adamantane and dimers in a ratio heavily affected by the operating conditions, is very appropriate for an elucidation of the factors favoring monoelectronic dimerization vs. bielectronic halogen replacement by hydrogen

Ascite fetale isolata: dalla diagnosi ecografica al tavolo operatorio

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