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Andrew J E Seely

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew J E Seely.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Complex systems and the technology of variability analysis.

Characteristic patterns of variation over time, namely rhythms, represent a defining feature of complex systems, one that is synonymous with life. Despite the intrinsic dynamic, interdependent and nonlinear relationships of their parts, complex biological systems exhibit robust systemic stability. Applied to critical care, it is the systemic properties of the host response to a physiological insult that manifest as health or illness and determine outcome in our patients. Variability analysis provides a novel technology with which to evaluate the overall properties of a complex system. This review highlights the means by which we scientifically measure variation, including analyses of overall variation (time domain analysis, frequency distribution, spectral power), frequency contribution (spectral analysis), scale invariant (fractal) behaviour (detrended fluctuation and power law analysis) and regularity (approximate and multiscale entropy). Each technique is presented with a definition, interpretation, clinical application, advantages, limitations and summary of its calculation. The ubiquitous association between altered variability and illness is highlighted, followed by an analysis of how variability analysis may significantly improve prognostication of severity of illness and guide therapeutic intervention in critically ill patients.

Critical Illness↗

Intra-abdominal sepsis attenuates local inflammation-mediated increases in microvascular permeability at remote sites in mice in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Given that leukocyte delivery to remote sites is diminished in states of systemic inflammation, such as sepsis, and activated leukocytes may be responsible for endothelial injury leading to vascular leakage, we hypothesized that intra-abdominal sepsis would diminish microvascular leakage at remote sites by altering leukocyte-endothelial interactions. METHODS: Using a murine intravital microscopy model, we examined leukocyte-endothelial interactions and vascular leakage at a peripheral site in the presence of local and/or systemic inflammation. Forty mice were randomized to 1 of 4 study groups: local infection (orchitis), systemic infection (intra-abdominal sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture), local and systemic infection, and control. Postcapillary venules of the cremaster muscle were examined by bright light and fluorescence intravital microscopy. Microvascular leakage was determined after intravenous administration of fluorescent albumin. RESULTS: Systemic infection attenuated the increases in both leukocyte adherence and local infection-induced microvascular permeability. Neutrophil cell-surface expression of L-selectin, as determined by flow cytometry, diminished with both local and systemic infection, whereas expression of CD11b increased with systemic, but not local, infection. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that systemic (intra-abdominal) sepsis diminishes local inflammation-mediated vascular leakage by attenuating leukocyte adherence.

Abdomen↗

Science review: Cell membrane expression (connectivity) regulates neutrophil delivery, function and clearance.

As the principal cellular component of the inflammatory host defense and contributor to host injury after severe physiologic insult, the neutrophil is inherently coupled to patient outcome in both health and disease. Extensive research has focused on the mechanisms that regulate neutrophil delivery, function, and clearance from the inflammatory microenvironment. The neutrophil cell membrane mediates the interaction of the neutrophil with the extracellular environment; it expresses a complex array of adhesion molecules and receptors for various ligands, including mediators, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and membrane molecules on other cells. This article presents a review and analysis of the evidence that the neutrophil membrane plays a central role in regulating neutrophil delivery (production, rolling, adhesion, diapedesis, and chemotaxis), function (priming and activation, microbicidal activity, and neutrophil-mediated host injury), and clearance (apoptosis and necrosis). In addition, we review how change in neutrophil membrane expression is synonymous with change in neutrophil function in vivo. Employing a complementary analysis of the neutrophil as a complex system, neutrophil membrane expression may be regarded as a measure of neutrophil connectivity, with altered patterns of connectivity representing functionally distinct neutrophil states. Thus, not only does the neutrophil membrane mediate the processes that characterize the neutrophil lifecycle, but characterization of neutrophil membrane expression represents a technology with which to evaluate neutrophil function.

Antigens, CD↗

Alteration of chemoattractant receptor expression regulates human neutrophil chemotaxis in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the mechanisms that regulate human neutrophil delivery in vivo, as well as the mechanisms that lead to observed reduction in polymorphonuclear (PMN) delivery to remote sites in septic patients. METHODS: Alterations in human PMN chemoattractant receptor expression and chemotactic function in vivo were evaluated in two distinct experiments: exudate PMNs (PMNs that have undergone transmigration to skin window blisters in controls) and septic PMNs (circulating PMNs from septic patients in the intensive care unit) were both separately compared with control circulating PMNs. RESULTS: Exudate PMNs displayed increased C5a receptors and C5a chemotaxis, and reduced interleukin-8 receptors (both IL-8 RA and IL-8 RB) and IL-8 chemotaxis. Septic PMNs displayed reduced C5a and IL-8 receptors and decreased C5a chemotaxis but no change in IL-8 chemotaxis. IL-8 but not C5a receptor gene expression decreased in parallel to receptor alteration. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that change in PMN chemoattractant receptor expression serves to regulate PMN chemotaxis in vivo; that exudate PMN chemotaxis depends more on C5a than IL-8; and that diminished chemoattractant receptors and chemotaxis in septic PMNs may explain decreased PMN delivery in these patients.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗

Hypertonic saline resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock diminishes neutrophil rolling and adherence to endothelium and reduces in vivo vascular leakage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vivo effects of hypertonic saline (HTS) resuscitation on the interactions of endothelial cells (ECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and vascular permeability after hemorrhagic shock. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The PMN has been implicated in the pathogenesis of EC damage and organ injury following hemorrhagic shock. Compared to Ringer's lactate (RL), HTS resuscitation diminishes PMN and EC adhesion molecule expression and organ sequestration of PMNs. METHODS: In a murine model of hemorrhagic shock (50 mmHg for 45 minutes followed by resuscitation) using intravital microscopy on cremaster muscle, the authors studied PMN-EC interactions and vascular leakage (epifluorescence after 50 mg/kg fluorescent albumin) in three resuscitation groups: HTS (shed blood + 4 cc/kg 7.5% HTS, n = 12), RL (shed blood + RL [2x shed blood volume], n = 12), and sham (no hemorrhage or resuscitation, n = 9). EC ICAM-1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Data, presented as mean +/- SEM, were evaluated by analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: There were no differences between groups in flow mechanics. Compared to RL, HTS animals (t = 90 minutes) displayed diminished PMN rolling and PMN adhesion to EC at time intervals beyond t = 0. There were no differences between the sham and HTS groups. Vascular leakage was 45% lower in HTS than in RL-resuscitated animals. Cremaster EC ICAM-1 expression was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Using HTS instead of RL to resuscitate hemorrhagic shock diminishes vascular permeability in vivo by altering PMN-EC interactions. HTS could serve as a novel means of immunomodulation in hemorrhagic shock victims, potentially reducing PMN-mediated tissue injury.

Animals↗

Soluble L-selectin attenuates tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated leukocyte adherence and vascular permeability: a protective role for elevated soluble L-selectin in sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: We have previously demonstrated that leukocyte delivery to remote sites is decreased in sepsis and that increased concentrations of soluble L-selectin are, in part, responsible for this finding. Given that leukocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular leakage, we hypothesized that the elevated soluble L-selectin concentrations in sepsis may translate into decreased inflammation-mediated leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and vascular leakage at these sites. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled animal study. SETTING: Surgical research laboratory in a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Swiss white male mice weighing 25-35 g. INTERVENTIONS: Mice were randomized to one of three study groups: intracremaster tumor necrosis factor-alpha with subsequent intravenous bicarbonate buffered solution; intracremaster tumor necrosis factor-alpha with intravenous soluble L-selectin (10 microg/mL); and intracremaster bicarbonate buffered solution with intravenous bicarbonate buffered solution. The cremaster muscle was prepared for both light and fluorescence intravital microscopy 2 hrs after intracremaster injection, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled albumin was injected intravenously. Leukocyte-endothelial interactions (rolling flux, rolling velocity, and adherence) were counted off-line. Postcapillary venule leakage was determined by the permeability index (perivenular/intravenular fluorescence) after intravenous injection of fluorescent albumin. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Soluble L-selectin significantly attenuated tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated increases in leukocyte adherence and vascular leakage. Leukocyte rolling velocity was restored to baseline with soluble L-selectin; however, rolling flux was not altered. Blood pressure, shear rate, and leukocyte counts did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Soluble L-selectin decreases local inflammation-mediated leukocyte adherence and vascular leakage in vivo. The increased concentrations of soluble L-selectin in sepsis may represent a protective mechanism by which the host attempts to diminish the deleterious systemic effects of activated leukocytes during sepsis.

Animals↗