Ethics in clinical practice with older adults: recognizing biases and respecting boundaries.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Sonneborn.
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OBJECTIVE: Changes of endothelial-related coagulation was studied in intensive care patients. DESIGN: Descriptive, prospective. SETTING: Clinical investigation, intensive care unit of an university hospital. PATIENTS: 40 consecutive critically ill patients with severe trauma (n = 20) or postoperative complications (n = 20) were studied. 14 patients suffered from sepsis, 12 patients suffered from acute renal failure. INTERVENTIONS: 12 patients with acute renal failure were continuously hemofiltrated. All patients were on continuous sedation (fentanyl and midazolam) and mechanical ventilation. MEASUREMENTS: In addition to standard coagulation variables, thrombomodulin (TM), protein C and protein S as well as thrombin/antithrombin III (TAT) plasma concentrations were measured from arterial blood samples using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA). Measurements were carried out on the day of admission (trauma patients) or on the day of diagnosis of sepsis and during the next 4 days. MAIN RESULTS: Throughout the entire investigation period, TM plasma concentrations in patients with sepsis (baseline: 90 +/- 25 micrograms/l, 4th day: 152 +/- 28 micrograms/l) were significantly higher than in non-septic patients (baseline: 60 +/- 29 micrograms/l, 4th day: 42 +/- 15 micrograms/l). 15 of the 40 patients died within or after the end of the investigation period. TM plasma concentrations of survivors were lower (maximum: 63 +/- 18 micrograms/l) than in the non-survivors (maximum: 159 +/- 22 micrograms/l) (p < 0.05). Hemofiltered patients showed higher TM plasma levels, which further increased during the hemofiltration procedure. Protein C and (free) protein S were without significant group differences. TAT plasma levels were elevated above normal in all patients (no group differences). CONCLUSIONS: Besides plasmatic and platelet-related coagulation, endothelium-associated coagulation appears to be also important for maintenance of hemostasis. TM plasma concentrations were elevated in all our critically ill patients, particularly when sepsis was evident. This appears to be most likely due to endothelial membrane damage with increased release of membrane-bound TM into the circulating blood in these patients. The importance of the elevated plasma levels of circulating soluble TM on hemostasis in these patients is an ongoing debate and warrants further studies.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate platelet function in patients undergoing continuous pump-driven veno-venous hemofiltration. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty consecutive, critically ill patients with acute renal failure (serum creatinine concentration > 3.0 mg/dL (> 265 mumol/L), serum urea > 200 mg/dL (> 33 mmol/L), urine output < 20 mL/hr) secondary to sepsis or trauma. A comparable group (n = 20) without renal failure and not undergoing hemofiltration served as a control group. INTERVENTIONS: Continuous pump-driven veno-venous hemofiltration was used in patients with renal insufficiency. Pump flow ranged from 60 to 100 mL/hr. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Platelet function was assessed by a turbidimetric technique using a double-channel aggregometer. Aggregation was induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (2.0 mumol/L), collagen (4 micrograms/mL), epinephrine (25 mumol/L), and saline solution (control). Maximum aggregation was considered to be the maximum increase in light transmission after the addition of the aggregating agents. The maximum gradient of aggregation was considered to be the maximum increase per minute. Measurements were carried out before hemofiltration (baseline values) and during the following 5 days. In the control group, blood samples were taken at corresponding data points. Eight patients undergoing continuous hemofiltration survived during the investigation period; 16 patients in the control group survived. There were no significant differences among the two groups with respect to standard coagulation variables. Maximum platelet aggregation was lower than in normal patients after the addition of all three inductors (ADP, collagen, and epinephrine). In control patients, all aggregation variables remained almost stable during the entire investigation period. In the hemofiltered patients, maximum platelet aggregation was significantly reduced (ADP, decrease of 62 relative % from baseline values; collagen, decrease of 86 relative % from baseline values; epinephrine, decrease of 77 relative % from baseline values). Maximum platelet aggregation was also depressed in these patients (ADP, decrease of 40 relative % from baseline values; collagen, decrease of 88 relative % from baseline values; epinephrine, decrease of 85 relative % from baseline values). When platelet aggregation variables were reduced greater than a decrease of 60 relative % from baseline values (in all induction groups), the mortality rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous pump-driven veno-venous hemofiltration significantly changed platelet aggregability, which became obvious 2 to 3 days after the start of hemofiltration.
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the editor In 2018, CHEST published a notice1 that all articles authored by Joachim Boldt be read with caution due to expressions of concern about falsified data. In 2020, CHEST received additional evidence of research misconduct and breaches of scientific integrity that were discovered following an investigation by the author's former institution, the University of Giessen2. In light of this new evidence, this article has been retracted by CHEST. 1. Irwin, R.S., MD, Master FCCP. Notice From the Editor in Chief. CHEST 153(3), p. 767. 2. Mukherjee, J. Statement on the scientific credibility of articles published by Joachim Boldt, formerly professor at Justus Liebig University (JLU), Giessen, Germany. https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S000709122030163X-mmc3.pdf.