Generic Portal

Description of research lines:
a. “Acute Lung Injury” in Children. Studies into the incidence and pathofysiological mechanisms of ‘acute lung injury’ (ALI) in children with particular focus on host-, iatrogenic and environmental factors

1. Host Factors
Children with Down’ s syndrome are at risk for ALI. The hypothesis is that in these children airway epithelial cells are prone to apoptosis.
2. Iatrogenic Factors
Mechanical ventilation, ALI and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme. Mechanical ventilation contributes to lung injury by increased inflammatory responses and apoptosis mediated by Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme.
3. Environmental Factors
“Apoptotic pathways during severe RSV infection “. RSV is a very frequent cause of ALI in young children. Based on clinical studies in which we explored biomarkers of epithelial injury in RSV infected children with ALI we study classical pro-apoptosis pathways in experimental and translational experimental studies.

b. Follow-up after Paediatric Intensive Care Treatment
1. Physical sequelae
Incidence and significance of sequelae and their relationship with outcome
2. Quality of Life
Evaluation of quality of life in children and parents
3. Psychological Sequelae
Evaluation of posttraumatic stress syndrome in pediatric intensive care graduates

c. End-of-Life Decision making
Retrospective and prospective analysis of the process of “End-of-Life Decisionmaking” by means of a national survey of involved medical specialists, a literature review, and a prospective case study.