PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

David Schoenfeld

Publications and source records attributed to David Schoenfeld.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Pulmonary-artery versus central venous catheter to guide treatment of acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: The balance between the benefits and the risks of pulmonary-artery catheters (PACs) has not been established. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship of benefits and risks of PACs in 1000 patients with established acute lung injury in a randomized trial comparing hemodynamic management guided by a PAC with hemodynamic management guided by a central venous catheter (CVC) using an explicit management protocol. Mortality during the first 60 days before discharge home was the primary outcome. RESULTS: The groups had similar baseline characteristics. The rates of death during the first 60 days before discharge home were similar in the PAC and CVC groups (27.4 percent and 26.3 percent, respectively; P=0.69; absolute difference, 1.1 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, -4.4 to 6.6 percent), as were the mean (+/-SE) numbers of both ventilator-free days (13.2+/-0.5 and 13.5+/-0.5; P=0.58) and days not spent in the intensive care unit (12.0+/-0.4 and 12.5+/-0.5; P=0.40) to day 28. PAC-guided therapy did not improve these measures for patients in shock at the time of enrollment. There were no significant differences between groups in lung or kidney function, rates of hypotension, ventilator settings, or use of dialysis or vasopressors. Approximately 90 percent of protocol instructions were followed in both groups, with a 1 percent rate of crossover from CVC- to PAC-guided therapy. Fluid balance was similar in the two groups, as was the proportion of instructions given for fluid and diuretics. Dobutamine use was uncommon. The PAC group had approximately twice as many catheter-related complications (predominantly arrhythmias). CONCLUSIONS: PAC-guided therapy did not improve survival or organ function but was associated with more complications than CVC-guided therapy. These results, when considered with those of previous studies, suggest that the PAC should not be routinely used for the management of acute lung injury. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00281268.).

Analysis of Variance↗

Survival methods, including those using competing risk analysis, are not appropriate for intensive care unit outcome studies.

The preferred analysis for studies of mortality among patients treated in an intensive care unit should compare the proportions of patients who died during hospitalization. Studies that look for prognostic covariates should use logistic regression. Survival methods, such as the proportional hazards model, or methods based on competing risk analysis are not appropriate because prolonged survival among patients that die during their hospitalization does not benefit the patient and, therefore, should not be measured in the statistical analysis.

Hospital Mortality↗

PECAM-1 affects GSK-3beta-mediated beta-catenin phosphorylation and degradation.

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) regulates a variety of endothelial and immune cell biological responses. PECAM-1-null mice exhibit prolonged and increased permeability after inflammatory insults. We observed that in PECAM-1-null endothelial cells (ECs), beta-catenin remained tyrosine phosphorylated, coinciding with a sustained increase in permeability. Src homology 2 domain containing phosphatase 2 (SHP-2) association with beta-catenin was diminished in PECAM-1-null ECs, suggesting that lack of PECAM-1 inhibits the ability of this adherens junction component to become dephosphorylated, promoting a sustained increase in permeability. beta-Catenin/Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3beta) association and beta-catenin serine phosphorylation levels were increased and beta-catenin expression levels were reduced in PECAM-1-null ECs. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3beta) serine phosphorylation (inactivation) was blunted in PECAM-1-null ECs after histamine treatment or shear stress. Our data suggest that PECAM-1 serves as a critical dynamic regulator of endothelial barrier permeability. On stimulation by a vasoactive substance or shear stress, PECAM-1 became tyrosine phosphorylated, enabling recruitment of SHP-2 and tyrosine-phosphorylated beta-catenin to its cytoplasmic domain, facilitating dephosphorylation of beta-catenin, and allowing reconstitution of adherens junctions. In addition, PECAM-1 modulated the levels of beta-catenin by regulating the activity of GSK-3beta, which in turn affected the serine phosphorylation of beta-catenin and its proteosomal degradation, affecting the ability of the cell to reform adherens junctions in a timely fashion.

Animals↗

Prevention of fatal arrhythmias in high-risk subjects by fish oil n-3 fatty acid intake.

BACKGROUND: The long-chain n-3 fatty acids in fish have been demonstrated to have antiarrhythmic properties in experimental models and to prevent sudden cardiac death in a randomized trial of post-myocardial infarction patients. Therefore, we hypothesized that these n-3 fatty acids might prevent potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias in high-risk patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four hundred two patients with implanted cardioverter/defibrillators (ICDs) were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with either a fish oil or an olive oil daily supplement for 12 months. The primary end point, time to first ICD event for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT or VF) confirmed by stored electrograms or death from any cause, was analyzed by intention to treat. Secondary analyses were performed for "probable" ventricular arrhythmias, "on-treatment" analyses for all subjects who had taken any of their oil supplements, and "on-treatment" analyses only of those subjects who were on treatment for at least 11 months. Compliance with double-blind treatment was similar in the 2 groups; however, the noncompliance rate was high (35% of all enrollees). In the primary analysis, assignment to treatment with the fish oil supplement showed a trend toward a prolonged time to the first ICD event (VT or VF) or of death from any cause (risk reduction of 28%; P=0.057). When therapies for probable episodes of VT or VF were included, the risk reduction became significant at 31%; P=0.033. For those who stayed on protocol for at least 11 months, the antiarrhythmic benefit of fish oil was improved for those with confirmed events (risk reduction of 38%; P=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Although significance was not achieved for the primary end point, this study provides evidence that for individuals at high risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias, regular daily ingestion of fish oil fatty acids may significantly reduce potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias.

Adult↗

Selective activation of peripheral blood T cell subsets by endotoxin infusion in healthy human subjects corresponds to differential chemokine activation.

Although activation of human innate immunity after endotoxin administration is well established, in vivo endotoxin effects on human T cell responses are not well understood. Most naive human T cells do not express receptors for LPS, but can respond to endotoxin-induced mediators such as chemokines. In this study, we characterized the in vivo response of peripheral human T cell subsets to endotoxin infusion by assessing alterations in isolated T cells expressing different phenotypes, intracellular cytokines, and systemic chemokines concentration, which may influence these indirect T cell responses. Endotoxin administration to healthy subjects produced T cell activation as confirmed by a 20% increase in intracellular IL-2, as well as increased CD28 and IL-2R alpha-chain (CD25) expression. Endotoxin induced indirect activation of T cells was highly selective among the T cell subpopulations. Increased IL-2 production (36.0 +/- 3.7 to 53.2 +/- 4.1) vs decreased IFN-gamma production (33.8 +/- 4.2 to 19.1 +/- 3.2) indicated selective Th1 activation. Th2 produced IL-13 was minimally increased. Differentially altered chemokine receptor expression also indicated selective T cell subset activation and migration. CXCR3+ and CCR5+ expressing Th1 cells were decreased (CXCR3 44.6 +/- 3.2 to 33.3 +/- 4.6 and CCR5 24.8 +/- 2.3 to 12 +/- 1.4), whereas plasma levels of their chemokine ligands IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 and MIP-1alpha were increased (61.4 +/- 13.9 to 1103.7 +/- 274.5 and 22.8 +/- 6.2 to 55.7 +/- 9.5, respectively). In contrast, CCR4+ and CCR3 (Th2) proportions increased or remained unchanged whereas their ligands, eotaxin and the thymus and activation-regulated chemokine TARC, were unchanged. The data indicate selective activation among Th1 subpopulations, as well as differential Th1/Th2 activation, which is consistent with a selective induction of Th1 and Th2 chemokine ligands.

Adult↗

Increased cardiovascular disease risk indices in HIV-infected women.

Little is known regarding cardiovascular disease risk indices in HIV-infected women. This study investigated cardiovascular disease risk indices in 100 consecutively recruited HIV-infected women and 75 healthy female control subjects. Subjects were recruited from hospital- and community-based health care providers. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, lipid, and glucose levels were the main outcome measures. CT scan, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and anthropometry were used to assess body composition. Although similar in age, weight, and racial composition, HIV-infected women demonstrated higher CRP (4.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.4 mg/L, P = 0.007), IL-6 (2.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.1 pg/mL, P = 0.02), triglyceride (1.84 +/- 0.21 vs. 0.85 +/- 0.05 mM, P = 0.0002), 2-hour glucose after oral glucose challenge (6.88 +/- 0.22 vs. 5.72 +/- 0.17 mM, P = 0.0003), and fasting insulin (81 +/- 8 vs. 45 +/- 2 pM, P = 0.0002) and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.17 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.45 +/- 0.05 mM, P < 0.0001) and adiponectin (5.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.5 mg/L, P = 0.0001) levels compared with the control population. HIV-infected women had more abdominal visceral fat and less extremity fat by CT and DXA scan and demonstrated a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) than the control population. Within the HIV group, CRP and other indices were significantly related to body composition in stepwise regression models. Among all subjects, WHR, but not HIV status, was significantly related to CRP and other cardiovascular disease risk indices. HIV-infected women demonstrate significantly increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease in association with abnormal fat distribution.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Identification of the regions of PECAM-1 involved in beta- and gamma-catenin associations.

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) binds tyrosine-phosphorylated beta-catenin and modulates beta-catenin localization and sequestration. The biological significance of this interaction, while still unclear, it has been postulated to be involved in modulating adherens junction dynamics in response to perturbants [J. Clin. Invest. 109 (2002) 383]. Here we demonstrate that tyrosine-phosphorylated beta-catenin, and to a lesser extent unphosphorylated beta-catenin, interact with a portion of the cytoplasmic domain of PECAM-1 encoded by exon 15. Using RT-PCR, we obtained products representing alternatively spliced PECAM-1 isoforms from mouse kidney total mRNA and generated PECAM-1-GST constructs expressing full length and naturally occurring alternatively spliced PECAM-1 variants. Co-precipitation assays revealed that the protein sequence encoded by exon 15 is necessary for beta-catenin binding. Transfections using deletion mutants confirmed the importance of the exon 15 sequence in this interaction. In contrast, gamma-catenin-PECAM-1 interactions are thought to be modulated by an as yet undefined PECAM-1 serine phosphorylation and appear to mediate dynamic PECAM-1 intermediate filament cytoskeletal interactions [J. Biol. Chem. 275 (2000) 21435]. Here we demonstrate that the PECAM-1-gamma-catenin interaction occurs via an exon 13-mediated process. GST-pull-down assays illustrated the importance of the exon 13 sequence in this interaction. Further, using site-directed mutagenesis of S(673) to C and D and S(669 and 670) to C, we confirmed the importance of S(673) and its phosphorylation state as a mediator of gamma-catenin-PECAM-1 binding. Our studies define the exons of the PECAM-1 cytoplasmic domain that is involved in mediating these PECAM-1-catenin family member interactions and will allow investigators to better define the biological functions resulting from these interactions.

Cell Line↗

Glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotic agents: a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test and minimal model analysis.

BACKGROUND: While the incidence of new-onset diabetes mellitus may be increasing in patients with schizophrenia treated with certain atypical antipsychotic agents, it remains unclear whether atypical agents are directly affecting glucose metabolism or simply increasing known risk factors for diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To study the 2 drugs most clearly implicated (clozapine and olanzapine) and risperidone using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design in stable, treated patients with schizophrenia evaluated using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test and the Bergman minimal model analysis. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from an urban community mental health clinic and were studied at a general clinical research center. Patients Fifty subjects signed informed consent and 41 underwent the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Thirty-six nonobese subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, matched by body mass index and treated with either clozapine, olanzapine, or risperidone, were included in the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fasting plasma glucose and fasting serum insulin levels, insulin sensitivity index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and glucose effectiveness. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD duration of treatment with the identified atypical antipsychotic agent was 68.3 +/- 28.9 months (clozapine), 29.5 +/- 17.5 months (olanzapine), and 40.9 +/- 33.7 (risperidone). Fasting serum insulin concentrations differed among groups (F(33) = 3.35; P = .047) (clozapine>olanzapine>risperidone) with significant differences between clozapine and risperidone (t(33) = 2.32; P = .03) and olanzapine and risperidone (t(33) = 2.15; P = .04). There was a significant difference in insulin sensitivity index among groups (F(33) = 10.66; P<.001) (clozapine olanzapine>risperidone) (clozapine vs risperidone, t(33) = 2.94; P = .006; olanzapine vs risperidone, t(33) = 2.42; P = .02). There was a significant difference among groups in glucose effectiveness (F(30) = 4.18; P = .02) (clozapine<olanzapine<risperidone) with significant differences between clozapine and risperidone (t(30) = -2.59; P = .02) and olanzapine and risperidone (t(30) = -2.34, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Both nonobese clozapine- and olanzapine-treated groups displayed significant insulin resistance and impairment of glucose effectiveness compared with risperidone-treated subjects. Patients taking clozapine and olanzapine must be examined for insulin resistance and its consequences.

Adult↗

An estimator for treatment comparisons among survivors in randomized trials.

In clinical trials of advanced-stage disease it is often of interest to perform treatment comparisons for endpoints which are defined only for survivors. Examples include time on ventilation in ventilation studies, change in quality of life in health-related quality-of-life studies, and duration of response to therapy in therapeutic trials. Randomized treatment comparisons for these endpoints cannot be performed because the outcomes are only defined in the nonrandomly selected subgroup of survivors. We propose a new evaluation of the survivor average causal effect (SACE) for treatment comparisons of this nature. We provide an estimator of SACE in the presence of no unmeasured confounders, a nontestable assumption, which identifies SACE. We also outline a sensitivity analysis for exploring robustness of conclusions to deviations from this assumption. We apply this method to duration of ventilation in a clinical trial of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Biometry↗

Whole blood and leukocyte RNA isolation for gene expression analyses.

The analysis of gene expression data in clinical medicine has been plagued by the lack of a critical evaluation of accepted methodologies for the collection, processing, and labeling of RNA. In the present report, the reliability of two commonly used techniques to isolate RNA from whole blood or its leukocyte compartment was compared by examining their reproducibility, variance, and signal-to-noise ratios. Whole blood was obtained from healthy subjects and was either untreated or stimulated ex vivo with Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB). Blood samples were also obtained from trauma patients but were not stimulated with SEB ex vivo. Total RNA was isolated from whole blood with the PAXgene proprietary blood collection system or from isolated leukocytes. Biotin-labeled cRNA was hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChips. The Pearson correlation coefficient for gene expression measurements in replicates from healthy subjects with both techniques was excellent, exceeding 0.985. Unsupervised analyses, including hierarchical cluster analysis, however, revealed that the RNA isolation method resulted in greater differences in gene expression than stimulation with SEB or among different trauma patients. The intraclass correlation, a measure of signal-to-noise ratio, of the difference between SEB-stimulated and unstimulated blood from healthy subjects was significantly higher in leukocyte-derived samples than in whole blood: 0.75 vs. 0.46 (P = 0.002). At the P < 0.001 level of significance, twice as many probe sets discriminated between SEB-stimulated and unstimulated blood with leukocyte isolation than with PAXgene. The findings suggest that the method of RNA isolation from whole blood is a critical variable in the design of clinical studies using microarray analyses.

Adolescent↗

A six-month, placebo-controlled trial of D-cycloserine co-administered with conventional antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients.

RATIONALE: D-Cycloserine, a partial agonist at the glycine site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, has demonstrated inconsistent efficacy for negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. The strongest evidence for efficacy has come from studies using D-cycloserine at a dose of 50 mg/day added to conventional antipsychotics in trials of 8 weeks duration or less. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy for negative symptoms and cognitive impairment of D-cycloserine augmentation of conventional antipsychotics in a 6-month trial. METHODS: Fifty-five schizophrenia patients with prominent negative symptoms, treated with conventional antipsychotics, were randomly assigned to treatment with D-cycloserine 50 mg/day or placebo for 6 months in a double-blind, parallel group design. RESULTS: Twenty-six subjects completed the 6-month trial; drop-out rates did not differ between treatment groups. D-Cycloserine treatment did not differ from placebo treatment on any primary outcome measure at 8 or 24 weeks, including response of negative symptoms and performance on a cognitive battery. Serum D-cycloserine concentrations did not correlate with response of negative symptoms. CONCLUSION: D-Cycloserine did not exhibit therapeutic effects in this trial, possibly reflecting the high drop-out rate, a narrow range of therapeutic serum concentrations, a modest magnitude of therapeutic effect for the selected outcome measures, or loss of efficacy over time. Because D-cycloserine is a partial agonist with relatively low affinity for the glycine site, the magnitude of potential therapeutic effect may be smaller than that achieved by the higher-affinity full agonists, glycine and D-serine.

Adult↗

Higher versus lower positive end-expiratory pressures in patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Most patients requiring mechanical ventilation for acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) receive positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 5 to 12 cm of water. Higher PEEP levels may improve oxygenation and reduce ventilator-induced lung injury but may also cause circulatory depression and lung injury from overdistention. We conducted this trial to compare the effects of higher and lower PEEP levels on clinical outcomes in these patients. METHODS: We randomly assigned 549 patients with acute lung injury and ARDS to receive mechanical ventilation with either lower or higher PEEP levels, which were set according to different tables of predetermined combinations of PEEP and fraction of inspired oxygen. RESULTS: Mean (+/-SD) PEEP values on days 1 through 4 were 8.3+/-3.2 cm of water in the lower-PEEP group and 13.2+/-3.5 cm of water in the higher-PEEP group (P<0.001). The rates of death before hospital discharge were 24.9 percent and 27.5 percent, respectively (P=0.48; 95 percent confidence interval for the difference between groups, -10.0 to 4.7 percent). From day 1 to day 28, breathing was unassisted for a mean of 14.5+/-10.4 days in the lower-PEEP group and 13.8+/-10.6 days in the higher-PEEP group (P=0.50). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in patients with acute lung injury and ARDS who receive mechanical ventilation with a tidal-volume goal of 6 ml per kilogram of predicted body weight and an end-inspiratory plateau-pressure limit of 30 cm of water, clinical outcomes are similar whether lower or higher PEEP levels are used.

Adult↗

Hepatitis C virus is independently associated with increased insulin resistance after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is a strong epidemiologic association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the pathogenetic basis for this association has not been established. We sought to evaluate the association between insulin resistance (IR), beta-cell dysfunction, and HCV among orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients. METHODS: We performed a cross sectional analysis comparing 39 HCV(+) with 60 HCV(-) OLT recipients. IR and beta-cell function were calculated using validated measures and were correlated with clinical variables. RESULTS: By multivariate analysis of the entire cohort, HCV infection and body mass index (BMI) were independent predictors of IR (P =0.04 and 0.0006, respectively). HCV infection was associated with 35% increase in IR. Because the model used to calculate IR was derived from nondiabetic subjects, we performed additional analysis of patients who did not meet criteria for diabetes at the time of their study evaluation. In this analysis, HCV(+) subjects had greater fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) IR (15.3 mu U/mL and 3.8) compared with HCV(-) patients (10.7 mu U/mL and 2.5) (P =0.03, 0.03). There was no difference in beta-cell function or hepatic insulin extraction between the HCV (+) and (-) groups. HCV (P =0.0005), BMI (P <0.0001), and high high-density lipoprotein (P =0.039) were the only independent predictors of IR. The presence of HCV infection and a 10-fold increase in HCV RNA were associated with a 62% and 8% increase in IR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HCV is independently associated with increased IR after OLT. These findings provide a possible pathogenetic basis for the association of DM with HCV.

Adult↗

Measurement of free testosterone in normal women and women with androgen deficiency: comparison of methods.

Androgen deficiency in women is increasingly recognized as a new clinical syndrome and has raised our awareness of the importance of accurate and well-validated measurements of serum free testosterone (T) concentrations in women. Therefore, we compared serum free T levels measured by equilibrium dialysis to those measured by a direct RIA (analog method) and to those calculated from the law of mass action (requires the measurement of total T and SHBG). We also calculated the free androgen index, 100 x T/SHBG, as a simple index known to correlate with free T. Subjects were 147 women with variable androgen and estrogen statuses. All were studied three times in 1 month and included women 1) with regular menses (estrogen positive, T positive), 2) more than 50 yr old and not receiving estrogen (estrogen negative, T positive), 3) receiving estrogen (estrogen positive, T negative), and 4) with severe androgen deficiency secondary to hypopituitarism (estrogen negative, T negative). Calculated values for free T using the laws of mass action correlated well with those obtained from equilibrium dialysis (r = 0.99; P < 0.0001). However, the agreement depended strongly on the specific assays used for total T and SHBG. In contrast, the direct RIA method had unacceptably high systematic bias and random variability and did not correlate as well with equilibrium dialysis values (r = 0.81; P < 0.0001). In addition, the lower limit of detection was higher for the direct RIA than for equilibrium dialysis or calculated free T. Free androgen index correlates well with free T by equilibrium dialysis (r = 0.93; P < 0.0001), but is a unitless number without reference to the physical reality of free T. We conclude that the mass action equation and equilibrium dialysis are the preferred methods for use in diagnosing androgen deficiency in women.

Adult↗

PECAM-1 promotes beta-catenin accumulation and stimulates endothelial cell proliferation.

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) binds tyrosine phosphorylated beta-catenin and modulates beta-catenin localization [J. Immunol. 158 (7) (1997) 3408; J. Cell Sci. 112 (Pt 18) (1999) 3005]. To elucidate functional consequences of this interaction, we studied endothelial cells from PECAM-1 knockout animals and compared them to PECAM-1 expressing endothelial cells [Mol. Biol. Cell 11 (9) (2000) 3109]. We noted an increase in the expression of beta-catenin protein in PECAM-1 expressing endothelial cells. Further, by immunofluorescence, beta-catenin localized to the cell membrane as well as to the nucleus in PECAM-1 positive endothelial cells, whereas cells not expressing PECAM-1 stained for beta-catenin only at the membrane. Additionally, we demonstrate that PECAM-1 lacking the majority of the cytoplasmic domain promotes significantly less accumulation of transcriptionally active beta-catenin than full-length PECAM-1. Finally, we note an increased proliferative rate in the PECAM-1 reconstituted cells compared to the endothelial cells lacking PECAM-1. Taken together, our data suggest that PECAM-1, an adhesion molecule, affects cell proliferation via accumulation of transcriptionally active beta-catenin.

Actins↗

Effects of recruitment maneuvers in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome ventilated with high positive end-expiratory pressure.

OBJECTIVE: Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and recruitment maneuvers (RMs) may partially reverse atelectasis and reduce ventilation-associated lung injury. The purposes of this study were to assess a) magnitude and duration of RM effects on arterial oxygenation and on requirements for oxygenation support (Fio2/PEEP) in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) receiving ventilation with low tidal volumes and high levels of PEEP; and b) frequency of adverse respiratory and circulatory events attributable to RMs. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, crossover study. SETTING: Thirty-four intensive care units at 19 hospitals. PATIENTS: Seventy-two patients with early ALI/ARDS. Baseline PEEP and Fio2 were 13.8 +/- 3.0 cm H2O and 0.39 +/- 0.10, respectively (mean +/- sd). INTERVENTIONS: We conducted RMs by applying continuous positive airway pressure of 35-40 cm H2O for 30 secs. We conducted sham RMs on alternate days. We monitored oxyhemoglobin saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2), Fio2/PEEP, blood pressure, and heart rate for 8 hrs after RMs and sham RMs. We examined chest radiographs for barotrauma. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Responses to RMs were variable. Greatest increments from baseline SpO2 within 10 mins after RMs were larger than after sham RMs (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.3 %, mean +/- SEM, p < .01). Systolic blood pressure decreased more +/- 1.1 mm Hg, p < .01). Changes in Fio2/PEEP requirements were not significantly different at any time after RMs vs. sham RMs. Barotrauma was apparent on first radiographs after one RM and one sham RM. CONCLUSIONS: In ALI/ARDS patients receiving mechanical ventilation with low tidal volumes and high PEEP, short-term effects of RMs as conducted in this study are variable. Beneficial effects on gas exchange in responders appear to be of brief duration. More information is needed to determine the role of recruitment maneuvers in the management of ALI/ARDS.

Blood Pressure↗