In neutropenic patients with IAS and underlying HM, SS significantly improved the response to antifungal therapy. Additional studies are warranted.

Obesity is associated with increased markers of oxidative stress. We examined whether oxidative stress is reduced within the first week after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery and could be related to changes in adipose tissue depots. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) marker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and activity of antioxidant glutathione peroxidases (GPX) in plasma were compared before and ~1 week after RYGB. The effects of RYGB on subcutaneous adipose tissue and interstitial fluid 8-iso-PGF2α levels and subcutaneous adipose tissue expression of GPX-3 were also assessed. Levels of 8-iso-PGF2α in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue were determined. Plasma 8-iso-PGF2α levels decreased (122 ± 75 to 56 ± 15 pg/ml, P = 0.001) and GPX activity increased (84 ± 18 to 108 ± 25 nmol/min/ml, P = 0.003) in the first week post-RYGB. RYGB also resulted in reductions of 8-iso-PGF2α in subcutaneous adipose tissue (1,742 ± 931 to 1,132 ± 420 pg/g fat, P = 0.046) and interstitial fluid (348 ± 118 to 221 ± 83 pg/ml, P = 0.046) that were comparable to plasma (26–33%, P = 0.74). Adipose GPX-3 expression was increased (6.7 ± 4.7-fold, P = 0.004) in the first postoperative week. The improvements in oxidative stress occurred with minimal weight loss (2.4 ± 3.4%, P = 0.031) and elevations in plasma interleukin-6 (18.0 ± 46.8 to 28.0 ± 58.9 pg/ml, P = 0.004). Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues express comparable 8-iso-PGF2α levels (1,204 ± 470 and 1,331 ± 264 pg/g fat, respectively; P = 0.34). These data suggest that RYGB affects adipose tissue leading to the restoration of adipose redox balance within the first postoperative week and that plasma 8-iso-PGF2α is primarily derived from subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for patients suffering from acute cardiopulmonary collapse is the penultimate therapy to provide hemodynamic stability. Although it can be a life sustaining as well as life-saving therapy, there are important factors that contribute to its success. In this review, we will describe the indications, management, pitfalls and limitations of ECLS.

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For ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), there is often inadequate pulmonary artery for effective EVLP. Creation of a neopulmonary artery conduit with donor aorta alleviates this shortcoming. This technique will become of more importance and need as there are more donation after circulatory death donor (DCD) heart procurements as this is a common source of EVLP. With the time constraints associated with the DCD recovery approach, there is a high likelihood of having a short native pulmonary artery with the lung block necessitating this approach.

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