International Guidelines for Neonatal Resuscitation: An excerpt from the Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care: International Consensus on Science. Contributors and Reviewers for the Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines

The International Guidelines 2000 Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) formulated new evidenced-based recommendations for neonatal resuscitation. These guidelines comprehensively update the last recommendations, published in 1992 after the Fifth National Conference on CPR and ECC. As a result of the evidence evaluation process, significant changes occurred in the recommended management routines for: * Meconium-stained amniotic fluid: If the newly born infant has absent or depressed respirations, heart rate <100 beats per minute (bpm), or poor muscle tone, direct tracheal suctioning should be performed to remove meconium from the airway. * Preventing heat loss: Hyperthermia should be avoided. * Oxygenation and ventilation: 100% oxygen is recommended for assisted ventilation; however, if supplemental oxygen is unavailable, positive-pressure ventilation should be initiated with room air. The laryngeal mask airway may serve as an effective alternative for establishing an airway if bag-mask ventilation is ineffective or attempts at intubation have failed. Exhaled CO(2) detection can be useful in the secondary confirmation of endotracheal intubation. * Chest compressions: Compressions should be administered if the heart rate is absent or remains <60 bpm despite adequate assisted ventilation for 30 seconds. The 2-thumb, encircling-hands method of chest compression is preferred, with a depth of compression one third the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest and sufficient to generate a palpable pulse. * Medications, volume expansion, and vascular access: Epinephrine in a dose of 0.01-0.03 mg/kg (0.1-0.3 mL/kg of 1:10,000 solution) should be administered if the heart rate remains <60 bpm after a minimum of 30 seconds of adequate ventilation and chest compressions. Emergency volume expansion may be accomplished with an isotonic crystalloid solution or O-negative red blood cells; albumin-containing solutions are no longer the fluid of choice for initial volume expansion. Intraosseous access can serve as an alternative route for medications/volume expansion if umbilical or other direct venous access is not readily available. * Noninitiation and discontinuation of resuscitation: There are circumstances (relating to gestational age, birth weight, known underlying condition, lack of response to interventions) in which noninitiation or discontinuation of resuscitation in the delivery room may be appropriate.

Abnormal renal and hepatic glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Release of glucose by liver and kidney are both increased in diabetic animals. Although the overall release of glucose into the circulation is increased in humans with diabetes, excessive release of glucose by either their liver or kidney has not as yet been demonstrated. The present experiments were therefore undertaken to assess the relative contributions of hepatic and renal glucose release to the excessive glucose release found in type 2 diabetes. Using a combination of isotopic and balance techniques to determine total systemic glucose release and renal glucose release in postabsorptive type 2 diabetic subjects and age-weight-matched nondiabetic volunteers, their hepatic glucose release was then calculated as the difference between total systemic glucose release and renal glucose release. Renal glucose release was increased nearly 300% in diabetic subjects (321+/-36 vs. 125+/-15 micromol/min, P < 0.001). Hepatic glucose release was increased approximately 30% (P = 0.03), but increments in hepatic and renal glucose release were comparable (2.60+/-0.70 vs. 2.21+/-0.32, micromol.kg-1.min-1, respectively, P = 0.26). Renal glucose uptake was markedly increased in diabetic subjects (353+/-48 vs. 103+/-10 micromol/min, P < 0.001), resulting in net renal glucose uptake in the diabetic subjects (92+/-50 micromol/ min) versus a net output in the nondiabetic subjects (21+/-14 micromol/min, P = 0.043). Renal glucose uptake was inversely correlated with renal FFA uptake (r = -0.51, P < 0.01), which was reduced by approximately 60% in diabetic subjects (10. 9+/-2.7 vs. 27.0+/-3.3 micromol/min, P < 0.002). We conclude that in type 2 diabetes, both liver and kidney contribute to glucose overproduction and that renal glucose uptake is markedly increased. The latter may suppress renal FFA uptake via a glucose-fatty acid cycle and explain the accumulation of glycogen commonly found in the diabetic kidney.

Electroencephalographic monitoring during hypothermia after pediatric cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND

Hypoxic ischemic brain injury secondary to pediatric cardiac arrest (CA) may result in acute symptomatic seizures. A high proportion of seizures may be nonconvulsive, so accurate diagnosis requires continuous EEG monitoring. We aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of long-term EEG monitoring, to describe electroencephalographic background and seizure characteristics, and to identify background features predictive of seizures in children undergoing therapeutic hypothermia (TH) after CA.

METHODS

Nineteen children underwent TH after CA. Continuous EEG monitoring was performed during hypothermia (24 hours), rewarming (12-24 hours), and then an additional 24 hours of normothermia. The tolerability of these prolonged studies and the EEG background classification and seizure characteristics were described in a standardized manner.

RESULTS

No complications of EEG monitoring were reported or observed. Electrographic seizures occurred in 47% (9/19), and 32% (6/19) developed status epilepticus. Seizures were nonconvulsive in 67% (6/9) and electrographically generalized in 78% (7/9). Seizures commenced during the late hypothermic or rewarming periods (8/9). Factors predictive of electrographic seizures were burst suppression or excessively discontinuous EEG background patterns, interictal epileptiform discharges, or an absence of the expected pharmacologically induced beta activity. Background features evolved over time. Patients with slowing and attenuation tended to improve, whereas those with burst suppression tended to worsen.

CONCLUSIONS

EEG monitoring in children undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is safe and feasible. Electrographic seizures and status epilepticus are common in this setting but are often not detectable by clinical observation alone. The EEG background often evolves over time, with milder abnormalities improving and more severe abnormalities worsening.

Renal glucose production and utilization: new aspects in humans

According to current textbook wisdom the liver is the exclusive site of glucose production in humans in the postabsorptive state. Although many animal and in vitro data have documented that the kidney is capable of gluconeogenesis, production of glucose by the human kidney in the postabsorptive state has generally been regarded as negligible. This traditional view is based on net balance measurements which, other than after a prolonged fast or during metabolic acidosis, showed no significant net renal glucose release. However, recent studies have refuted this view by combining isotopic and balance techniques, which have demonstrated that renal glucose production accounts for 25% of systemic glucose production. Moreover, these studies indicate that glucose production by the human kidney is stimulated by epinephrine, inhibited by insulin and is excessive in diabetes mellitus. Since renal glucose release is largely, if not exclusively, due to gluconeogenesis, it is likely that the kidney is as important a gluconeogenic organ as the liver. The most important renal gluconeogenic precursors appear to be lactate, glutamine and glycerol. The implications of these recent findings on the understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of human glucose metabolism are discussed.

CPR in children

CPR has not been well studied in children and little is known about factors predictive of outcome. We conducted a study with three goals: longitudinal determination of demographic and laboratory data characterizing pediatric arrest victims; identification of factor(s) predictive of outcome; and determination of the prevalence of ionized hypocalcemia in pediatric arrest victims. All resuscitation efforts were documented during a one-year period in a 240-bed tertiary care children's hospital. Patients were classified into two groups--respiratory arrest (RA, requiring only assisted ventilation), and cardiac arrest (CA, absence of palpable cardiac activity requiring closed-chest CPR). Collected data and laboratory tests were analyzed using a step-wise discriminant analysis to determine which factors were predictive of outcome. There were 113 arrests in 93 children; 53 were CA victims and 40 were RA victims. CA had a high in-hospital mortality (90.6%) compared to RA (32.5%). The population was young (55% less than 1 year old) and 87% had at least one chronic underlying disease. No laboratory or demographic value was significantly associated with eventual outcome. The number of doses of epinephrine in CA victims, or bicarbonate in RA victims, was associated with eventual outcome. None of 31 CA victims receiving more than two doses of epinephrine survived to discharge. Low ionized calcium concentrations (less than 3.5 mg/dL) were identified in ten patients; septic shock was present in seven, and chronic renal failure in two.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Recommended guidelines for uniform reporting of pediatric advanced life support: the Pediatric Utstein Style. A statement for healthcare professionals from a task force of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council

This consensus document is an attempt to provide an organized method of reporting pediatric ALS data in out-of-hospital, emergency department, and in-hospital settings. For this methodology to gain wide acceptance, the task force encourages development of a common data set for both adult and pediatric ALS interventions. In addition, every effort should be made to ensure that consistent definitions are used in all age groups. As health care changes, we will all be challenged to document the effectiveness of what we currently do and show how new interventions or methods of treatment improve outcome and/or reduce cost. Only through collaborative research will we obtain the necessary data. For these reasons, and to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes, it is the hope of the task force that clinical researchers will follow the recommendations in this document. It is recognized that further refinements of this statement will be needed; these recommendations will improve only when researchers, clinicians, and EMS personnel use them, work with them, and modify them. Suggestions, recommendations, and other comments aimed at improving the reporting of pediatric resuscitation should be sent to Arno Zaritsky, MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughter, Division of Critical Care Medicine, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507.

Intrapleural streptokinase as adjunctive treatment for persistent empyema in pediatric patients

Successful treatment of persistent empyema by intrapleural streptokinase is described in five pediatric patients. Their ages ranged from 18 months to 7 years. All experienced dramatic improvement in the resolution of their empyemas following intrapleural streptokinase. Improved chest tube drainage occurred concurrently with clinical improvement. Intrapleural instillation of streptokinase appears to be a safe adjunctive therapeutic tool to facilitate drainage of persistent empyema in the small number of pediatric patients in whom it has been employed. Additional study will be required to further assess the long-term therapeutic efficacy and consequences of intrapleural streptokinase therapy.

Recommended guidelines for uniform reporting of pediatric advanced life support: the pediatric Utstein Style. A statement for healthcare professionals from a task force of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council. Writing Group

This consensus document is an attempt to provide an organized method of reporting pediatric ALS data in out-of-hospital, emergency department, and in-hospital settings. For this methodology to gain wide acceptance, the task force encourages development of a common data set for both adult and pediatric ALS interventions. In addition, every effort should be made to ensure that consistent definitions are used in all age groups. As health care changes, we will all be challenged to document the effectiveness of what we currently do and show how new interventions or methods of treatment improve outcome and/or reduce cost. Only through collaborative research will we obtain the necessary data. For these reasons, and to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes, it is the hope of the task force that clinical researchers will follow the recommendations in this document. It is recognized that further refinements of this statement will be needed; these recommendations will improve only when researchers, clinicians, and EMS personnel use them, work with them, and modify them. Suggestions, emendations, and other comments aimed at improving the reporting of pediatric resuscitation should be sent to Arno Zaritsky, MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter, Division of Critical Care Medicine, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507.

Osmotic response element enhancer activity. Regulation through p38 kinase and mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase

Hypertonicity induces a group of genes that are responsible for the intracellular accumulation of protective organic osmolytes such as sorbitol and betaine. Two representative genes are the aldose reductase enzyme (AR, EC 1.1.1.21), which is responsible for the conversion of glucose to sorbitol, and the betaine transporter (BGT1), which mediates Na+-coupled betaine uptake in response to osmotic stress. We recently reported that the induction of BGT1 mRNA in the renal epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line is inhibited by SB203580, a specific p38 kinase inhibitor. In these studies we report that the hypertonic induction of aldose reductase mRNA in HepG2 cells as well as the osmotic response element (ORE)-driven reporter gene expression in transfected HepG2 cells are both inhibited by SB203580, suggesting that p38 kinase mediates the activation and/or binding of the transcription factor(s) to the ORE. Electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays with cell extracts prepared from SB203580-treated, hypertonically stressed HepG2 cells further show that the binding of trans-acting factors to the ORE is prevented and is thus also dependent on the activity of p38 kinase. Similarly, treatment of hypertonically stressed cells with PD098059, a mitogen-activated extracellular regulated kinase kinase (MEK1) inhibitor, results in inhibition of the hypertonic induction of aldose reductase mRNA, ORE-driven reporter gene expression, and the binding of trans-acting factors to the ORE. ORE-driven reporter gene expression was not affected by p38 kinase inhibition or MEK1 inhibition in cells incubated in iso-osmotic media. These data indicate that p38 kinase and MEK1 are involved in the regulation of the hyperosmotic stress response.

An advisory statement from the Pediatric Working Group of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), with representation from North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and South America, was formed in 1992 to provide a forum for liaison between resuscitation organizations in the developed world. This consensus document on resuscitation extends previously published ILCOR advisory statements on resuscitation to address the unique and changing physiology of the newly born infant within the first few hours after birth and the techniques for providing advanced life support. After careful review of the international resuscitation literature and after discussion of key and controversial issues, consensus was reached on almost all aspects of neonatal resuscitation, and areas of controversy and high priority for additional research were delineated. Consensus on resuscitation for the newly born infant included the following principles: Common or controversial medications (epinephrine, volume expansion, naloxone, bicarbonate), special resuscitation circumstances affecting care of the newly born, continuing care of the newly born after resuscitation, and ethical considerations for initiation and discontinuation of resuscitation are discussed. There was agreement that insufficient data exist to recommend changes to current guidelines regarding the use of 21% versus 100% oxygen, neuroprotective interventions such as cerebral hypothermia, use of a laryngeal mask versus endotracheal tube, and use of high-dose epinephrine. Areas of controversy are identified, as is the need for additional research to improve the scientific justification of each component of current and future resuscitation guidelines.

Vasopressin pressor effects in critically ill children during evaluation for brain death and organ recovery

BACKGROUND

Vasopressin (VP) shows promise as a pressor agent in animals and adult human cardiac arrest and resuscitation, but has not been studied for pressor effect in critically ill or arrested children. VP infusion is routine treatment for diabetes insipidus during brain death evaluation and organ recovery. We hypothesized that low dose VP infusion during organ recovery in critically ill children exerts a pressor effect, without major organ toxicity.

METHODS

34 VP-treated and 29 age-matched critically ill controls (C) < or =18 years were retrospectively reviewed during brain death evaluation and organ recovery. VP infusion protocol titrated VP dose clinically to urine output, with high variability. Pressor and inotrope management was titrated clinically to BP, cerebral perfusion and central venous pressures (when available) and peripheral perfusion with similar protocol targets for pre-load in VP and C groups. Outcome measures include dose, type and number of pressors and inotropes. Organ function was assessed at recovery and 48 h post-transplant by independent surgeon and transplant program organ function criteria. Analysis by Odds Ratio (OR), and chi-square.

RESULTS

VP dose averaged 0.041+/-0.069 U/kg/h. Average baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) before VP infusion was 79+/-17 mmHg VP and 76+/-14 mm Hg C (P=0.6). Subsequent average MAP were: 82+/-21 mmHgVP after VP infusion versus 71+/-16 mmHg C (P=0.01) and 80+/-14 mmHg VP versus 68+/-22 mmHg C (P=0.01). Ability to wean/stop pressors and inotropes was: dopamine (14/23) 42% VP versus (10/26) 38% C (P=0.75), dobutamine (4/7) 57% VP versus (0/6) 0% C (P=0.026), epinephrine (4/5) 80% VP versus (0/6) 0% C (P=0.006), norepinephrine/phenylephrine (4/4) 100% VP versus (2/5) 40% C (P=0. 057). Alpha agonist pressor dependence was successfully weaned from 7/9 (78%) VP versus 0/9 (0%) C: odds ratio=7.3, (P<0.01). There was no VP induced dysrhythmia, hypertension, anuria or toxicity reported. Good organ recovery function was not significantly different at recovery or 48 h post-transplant for kidney (79% VP versus 69% C, P=0.068), liver (87% VP versus 95% C, P=0.533), or heart (90% VP versus 71% C, P=0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Low dose vasopressin infusion exerts a pressor effect in critically ill children treated for diabetes insipidus during brain death and organ recovery. VP treated patients were 7.3 times more likely to wean from alpha agonists than comparably managed age matched controls, without adverse affect on transplant organ function. We speculate that further prospective assessment of VP safety and efficacy as a pressor adjunct for resuscitation of critically ill children is warranted.

Resuscitation of the newly born infant: an advisory statement from the Pediatric Working Group of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), with representation from North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and South America, was formed in 1992 to provide a forum for liaison between resuscitation organizations in the developed world. This consensus document on resuscitation extends previously published ILCOR advisory statements on resuscitation to address the unique and changing physiology of the newly born infant within the first few hours following birth and the techniques for providing advanced life support. After careful review of the international resuscitation literature and after discussion of key and controversial issues, consensus was reached on almost all aspects of neonatal resuscitation, and areas of controversy and high priority for additional research were delineated. Consensus on resuscitation for the newly. born infant included the following principles. (i) Personnel trained in the basic skills of resuscitation should be in attendance at every delivery. A minority (fewer than 10%) of newly born infants require active resuscitative interventions to establish a vigorous cry and regular respirations, maintain a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute (bpm), and maintain good color and tone. (ii) When meconium is present in the amniotic fluid, it should be suctioned from the hypopharynx on delivery of the head. If the meconium-stained newly born infant has absent or depressed respirations, heart rate, or muscle tone, residual meconium should be suctioned from the trachea. (ii) Attention to ventilation should be of primary concern. Assisted ventilation with attention to oxygen delivery, inspiratory time, and effectiveness judged by chest rise should be provided if stimulation does not achieve prompt onset of spontaneous respirations and/or the heart rate is less than 100 bpm. (iv) Chest compressions should be provided if the heart rate is absent or remains less than 60 bpm despite adequate assisted ventilation for 30 s. Chest compressions should be coordinated with ventilations at a ratio of 3:1 and a rate of 120 'events' per minute to achieve approximately 90 compressions and 30 rescue breaths per minute. (v) Epinephrine should be administered intravenously or intratracheally if the heart rate remains less than 60 bpm despite 30 s of effective assisted ventilation and chest compression circulation. Common or controversial medications (epinephrine, volume expansion, naloxone, bicarbonate), special resuscitation circumstances affecting care of the newly born, continuing care of the newly born after resuscitation, and ethical considerations for initiation and discontinuation of resuscitation are discussed. There was agreement that insufficient data exist to recommend changes to current guidelines regarding the use of 21% versus 100% oxygen, neuroprotective interventions such as cerebral hypothermia, use of a laryngeal mask versus endotracheal tube, and use of high-dose epinephrine. Areas of controversy are identified, as is the need for additional research to improve the scientific justification of each component of current and future resuscitation guidelines.

Human kidney free fatty acid and glucose uptake: evidence for a renal glucose-fatty acid cycle

To determine the relationship between free fatty acids (FFA) and glucose uptake by the human kidney, 12 postabsorptive normal volunteers underwent renal vein catheterization and were infused to isotopic steady state with [6-3H]glucose and [9,10-3H]palmitate. Arterial and renal vein palmitate specific activities were not significantly different (3,533 +/- 219 vs. 3,549 +/- 220 dpm/mumol, P = 0.64). Palmitate renal fractional extraction and uptake determined isotopically (7.2 +/- 1.1% and 9.1 +/- 1.4 mumol/min) were not significantly different from those calculated by net balance measurements (8.3 +/- 1.2% and 9.7 +/- 1.2 mumol/min, P > 0.07 and P > 0.7, respectively). Renal palmitate uptake accounted for 8.7 +/- 1.3% of its systemic turnover. Renal linoleate and oleate fractional extraction calculated by net balance measurements (8.0 +/- 0.9 and 7.7 +/- 1.2%, respectively) were not significantly different from each other and that of palmitate (all P > 0.7). Renal uptake of palmitate, linoleate (7.9 +/- 1.0 mumol/min), and oleate (10.9 +/- 2.0 mumol/min) were all directly proportional to their arterial concentrations (r = 0.70, 0.68, and 0.63, respectively, all P < 0.025). Renal glucose uptake (93 +/- 10 mumol/min) accounted for 12.6 +/- 1.5% of its systemic turnover and was inversely related to the sum of palmitate, linoleate, and oleate uptake (r = -0.74, P < 0.01). These data indicate that in postabsorptive humans: 1) the kidney is an important site of FFA and glucose disposal, 2) a renal glucose-fatty acid cycle may exist, and 3) there appears to be little or no release into the circulation of stored renal FFA.

Recommended guidelines for uniform reporting of pediatric advanced life support: the pediatric Utstein style

This statement is the product of a task force meeting held June 8, 1994, in Washington DC in conjunction with the First International Conference on Pediatric Resuscitation and a follow-up task force writing group meeting held September 18, 1994, in Chicago. Draft versions of the statement were circulated for comment to all members of the task force, the American Heart Association Subcommittee on Pediatric Resuscitation, and several outside reviewers. This statement and the International Conference on Pediatric Resuscitation were cosponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. The development of this statement was authorized by the American Academy of Pediatrics; the American Heart Association National Subcommittees on Pediatric Resuscitation, Basic Life Support, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support, the Committee on Emergency Cardiac Care, the Science Advisory Committee; and the European Resuscitation Council. In addition to the writing group, members of the Pediatric Utstein Task Force are Paul Anderson, M Douglas Baker, Jane Ball, Desmond Bohn, Dena Brownstein, J Michael Dean, Niranjan Kissoon, Bruce Klein, Patrick Malone, Karin McCloskey, James McCrory, P Pearl O'Rourke, Mary Patterson, Charles Schleien, James Seidel, Joseph J Tepas III, and Becky Yano.

"All citizens of the world can save a life" - The World Restart a Heart (WRAH) initiative starts in 2018

"All citizens of the world can save a life". With these words, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) is launching the first global initiative - World Restart a Heart (WRAH) - to increase public awareness and therefore the rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for victims of cardiac arrest. In most of the cases, it takes too long for the emergency services to arrive on scene after the victim's collapse. Thus, the most effective way to increase survival and favourable outcome in cardiac arrest by two- to fourfold is early CPR by lay bystanders and by "first responders". Lay bystander resuscitation rates, however, differ significantly across the world, ranging from 5 to 80%. If all countries could have high lay bystander resuscitation rates, this would help to save hundreds of thousands of lives every year. In order to achieve this goal, all seven ILCOR councils have agreed to participate in WRAH 2018. Besides schoolchildren education in CPR ("KIDS SAVE LIVES"), many other initiatives have already been developed in different parts of the world. ILCOR is keen for the WRAH initiative to be as inclusive as possible, and that it should happen every year on 16 October or as close to that day as possible. Besides recommending CPR training for children and adults, it is hoped that a unified global message will enable our policy makers to take action to address the inequalities in patient survival around the world.

Effects of physiological hyperinsulinemia on systemic, renal, and hepatic substrate metabolism

To determine the effect of physiological hyperinsulinemia on renal and hepatic substrate metabolism, we assessed systemic and renal glucose release and uptake, systemic and renal gluconeogenesis from glutamine, and certain aspects of systemic and renal glutamine and free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism. These were assessed under basal postabsorptive conditions and during 4-h hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp experiments in nine normal volunteers using a combination of isotopic techniques and renal balance measurements. Hepatic glucose release (HGR) and glutamine gluconeogenesis were calculated as the difference between systemic and renal measurements. Infusion of insulin suppressed systemic glucose release and glutamine gluconeogenesis by approximately 50% during the last hour of the insulin infusion (P < 0.001). Renal glucose release and glutamine gluconeogenesis decreased from 2.3 +/- 0.4 to 0.9 +/- 0.2 (P < 0.002) and from 0.52 +/- 0.07 to 0.14 +/- 0.03 micromol. kg-1. min-1 (P < 0.001), respectively. HGR and glutamine gluconeogenesis decreased from 8.7 +/- 0.4 to 4.5 +/- 0.5 (P < 0.001) and from 0.35 +/- 0.02 to 0.27 +/- 0.03 micromol. kg-1. min-1 (P < 0.002), respectively. Renal glucose uptake (RGU) increased from 1.61 +/- 0.19 to 2.18 +/- 0.25 micromol. kg-1. min-1 (P = 0.029) but accounted for only approximately 5% of systemic glucose disposal (40.6 +/- 4.3 micromol. kg-1. min-1). Both systemic and renal FFA clearance increased approximately fourfold (P < 0.001 for both). Nevertheless, renal FFA uptake decreased (P = 0.024) and was inversely correlated with RGU (r = -0.582, P = 0.011). Finally, insulin increased systemic glutamine release (P = 0.007), uptake (P < 0.005), and clearance (P < 0.001) but left renal glutamine uptake and release unaffected (P > 0.4 for both).

Paediatric life support. An advisory statement by the Paediatric Life Support Working Group of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation

This document reflects the deliberations of ILCOR. The epidemiology and outcome of paediatric cardiopulmonary arrest and the priorities, techniques and sequence of paediatric resuscitation assessments and interventions differ from those of adults. The working group identified areas of conflict and controversy in current paediatric basic and advanced life support guidelines, outlined solutions considered and made recommendations by consensus. The working group was surprised by the degree of conformity already existing in current guidelines advocated by the American Heart Association (AHA), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC), the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC), and the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa (RCSA). Differences are currently based upon local and regional preferences, training networks and customs, rather than scientific controversy. Unresolved issues with potential for future universal application are highlighted. This document does not include a complete list of guidelines for which there is no perceived controversy and the algorithm/decision tree figures presented attempt to follow a common flow of assessments and interventions, in coordination with their adult counterparts. Survival following paediatric prehospital cardiopulmonary arrest occurs in only approximately 3-17% and survivors are often neurologically devastated. Most paediatric resuscitation reports have been retrospective in design and plagued with inconsistent resuscitation definitions and patient inclusion criteria. Careful and thoughtful application of uniform guidelines for reporting outcomes of advanced life support interventions using large, randomized, multicenter and multinational clinical trials are clearly needed. Paediatric advisory statements from ILCOR will, by necessity, be vibrant and evolving guidelines fostered by national and international organizations intent on improving the outcome of resuscitation for infants and children worldwide.

International Resuscitation Network Registry: design, rationale and preliminary results

There is a lack of high-quality information about the effectiveness of resuscitation interventions and international differences in structure, process and outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation because data are not collected uniformly. An internet-based international registry could make such evaluations possible, and enable the conduct of large randomized controlled trials of resuscitation therapies. A prospective international cohort study was performed that included 571 infants, children and adults (a) who experienced cardiac arrest requiring chest compressions or external defibrillation, (b) outside the hospital in the study communities and (c) upon whom resuscitation was attempted by EMS personnel. Cardiac arrest was defined as lack of responsiveness, breathing or movement in individuals for whom the EMS system is activated for whom an arrest record is completed. All data were collated via a secure and confidential web-based method by using automated forms processing software with appropriate variable range checks, logic checks and skip rules. Median number of missing responses for each variable was 0 (interquartile range 0, 0). Twenty-seven percent of the patients had a first recorded rhythm of ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, 60% had a witnessed arrest, and 34% received bystander CPR. Mean time from call to arrival on scene was 7.1+/-5.1 min. Six percent of the patients survived to hospital discharge. The resuscitation process was highly variable across centers, and survival and neurological outcome were also significantly and independently different across centers. This study shows that it is possible to collect data prospectively describing the structure, process and outcome associated with cardiac arrest in multiple international sites via the internet. Therefore, it is feasible to conduct adequately powered randomized trials of resuscitation therapies in international settings.

Role of the kidney in human leptin metabolism

To assess the role of the human kidney in leptin metabolism, we measured renal leptin net balance and urinary leptin excretion in 16 normal postabsorptive volunteers with varying degrees of obesity. Arterial leptin concentrations (11.6 +/- 2.7 ng/ml) significantly exceeded renal vein concentrations (10.3 +/- 2.5 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Renal leptin fractional extraction averaged 13.1 +/- 1.1%, and renal leptin net balance (uptake) averaged 1,070 +/- 253 ng/min. Lineweaver-Burk analysis indicated that renal leptin uptake followed saturation kinetics with an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of 10.9 ng/ml and maximal velocity of 1,730 ng/min. Leptin was generally undetectable in urine. Using literature values for systemic leptin clearance, we calculated that renal leptin uptake could account for approximately 80% of all leptin removal from plasma. These data indicate that the human kidney plays a substantial role in leptin removal from plasma by taking up and degrading the peptide.