Clinical Research Directory

Outer Membrane Vesicle and Ferroptosis-Related Signatures in Sepsis-Associated Acute Lung Injury Caused by Extra-Pulmonary Hypervirulent Klebsiella Pneumoniae

This prospective observational translational cohort study will investigate whether extra-pulmonary infection caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) is associated with an increased risk of sepsis-associated acute lung injury (SALI), compared with infection caused by classical Klebsiella pneumoniae (cKP). The study will further examine whether circulating bacterial outer membrane vesicle (OMV) signals and ferroptosis-related biomarker profiles are associated with subsequent SALI development. Adults with Sepsis-3 and microbiologically confirmed extra-pulmonary K. pneumoniae infection will be enrolled within 6 hours of sepsis recognition. Patients with acute lung injury at enrollment will be excluded from the primary cohort. Blood samples will be collected at enrollment, 24 hours, and 72 hours. Clinical isolates will undergo molecular characterization to classify infections as hvKP or cKP. The primary outcome will be new-onset SALI within 7 days after enrollment. A nested translational substudy will evaluate the effects of patient-isolate-derived OMVs on human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The study will not alter antimicrobial therapy, source control, respiratory support, fluid management, or any other aspect of routine clinical care.

Monitoring of Septic Shock-induced Immunosuppression

Septic syndromes are a major although largely under-recognized health care problem and represent the first cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICU). While it has long been known that sepsis deeply perturbs immune homeostasis by inducing a tremendous systemic inflammatory response, novel findings indicate that sepsis indeed initiates a more complex immune response that varies over time, with the concomitant occurrence of both pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. As a resultant, after a short pro-inflammatory phase, septic patients enter a stage of protracted immunosuppression. This is illustrated in those patients by reactivation of dormant viruses (cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)) or infections due to pathogens, including fungi, which are normally pathogenic solely in immunocompromised hosts. These alterations might be directly responsible for worsening outcome in patients who survived initial resuscitation as nearly all immune functions are deeply compromised. New promising therapeutic strategies are currently emerging from those recent findings such as adjunctive immunostimulation for the most immunosuppressed patients. Recent studies have described the induction of immunoregulatory cells (of myeloid and lymphoid origin) following septic shock and have revealed a similar induction kinetics across all subpopulations of regulatory cells. Nevertheless, these observations need to be confirmed and linked to the underlying mechanisms responsible for the induction of these cells (notably the activation of the inflammasome pathway), which remain largely unknown. IMMUNOSEPSIS 5 study will therefore, as part of a prospective observational study involving a large cohort of patients, demonstrate the concurrent induction of all regulatory cell subpopulations following sepsis and the activation of the hyper-inflammatory response, including the inflammasome pathway. The association between these parameters and patient outcomes will also be assessed (death and/or the occurrence of a secondary infection).

MyokinE100 System: Closed Loop Electrical Muscle Stimulation to Mitigate ICU Acquired Weakness in Medical ICU Patients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a new medical device that sends electrical signals to the thigh muscles is safe and easy to use for people in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) who are at risk of losing muscle strength. It will also explore whether this treatment can help slow down muscle weakening. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Do participants develop medical problems when receiving electrical muscle stimulation in the ICU? * Is electrical muscle stimulation a practical way to help reduce muscle weakness in critically ill patients? Researchers will compare the control group (standard of care) to the intervention group (standard of care plus 60-minute sessions of electrical muscle stimulation daily during the ICU stay) to see if the device is safe and easy to use. Participants will: * Receive either standard of care or standard of care plus electrical muscle stimulation of the thigh muscles * Have their muscle strength checked during the study * Complete a survey three months after ICU discharge to check on their recovery

CBC Indices and Serum Lactate in Neonatal Sepsis

Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of illness and death in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Diagnosing it quickly is challenging because the early signs often overlap with other common newborn health issues. While a blood culture is the most accurate way to confirm an infection, the results can take 48 to 72 hours. This delay highlights the need for faster, more accessible diagnostic tools. This observational study aims to find quicker ways to diagnose neonatal sepsis and predict its severity using readily available blood tests. Researchers are investigating whether specific details from a standard Complete Blood Count (CBC), such as the variation in red blood cell size (RDW), the average size of platelets (MPV), and the ratio of immature to total white blood cells (I/T ratio), combined with serum lactate levels (a marker of tissue oxygenation and stress) can serve as reliable, early warning signs. The study will enroll newborns (0 to 28 days old) admitted to the NICU who show clinical signs of a possible infection. Upon admission and before starting any antibiotic treatment, a small blood sample will be drawn to measure these CBC indices and serum lactate, alongside the standard blood culture. By comparing these rapid blood test results with the final blood culture outcomes and the infants' overall clinical progress in the NICU, the research team hopes to determine if this simple combination of markers can help doctors diagnose sepsis earlier, anticipate the severity of the illness, and make faster, life-saving treatment decisions.

The Effects of Endotracheal Suctioning on Pain and Serum Markers

The goal of this experimental study is to understand if endotracheal tube (ETT) suctioning increases pain and causes stress on the body in intubated adult ICU patients. These patients are already on ventilators, which means they need suctioning to keep their airways clear, but this procedure may be uncomfortable and cause stress. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does ETT suctioning raise pain levels as measured by the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)? Does ETT suctioning increase certain chemicals in the blood (hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid) that show stress and lack of oxygen in the body? Researchers will compare patients who have ETT suctioning (intervention group) with those who do not have suctioning during the study period (control group) to see if there are differences in pain and blood markers of stress. Participants will: Have pain measured before and after suctioning using the CPOT. Have blood samples taken from an existing line at three time points: 5 minutes before, 5 minutes after, and 30 minutes after suctioning. Provide demographic information (like age, gender, and diagnosis) from medical records. This research will help improve how pain is managed for ICU patients who cannot speak for themselves, potentially leading to better pain relief methods in the future.

Sepsis Multiomic Analysis & Risk sTratification in China

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, and delayed diagnosis remains a major driver of mortality, while traditional biomarkers (PCT, CRP, lactate) have limited early sensitivity and timeliness. This prospective, single-center, observational cohort study at Yuebei People's Hospital will enroll approximately 1400 ICU patients (1000 with sepsis and 400 non-sepsis controls) to build a comprehensive multi-omics biobank and identify early diagnostic and risk-stratification biomarkers for sepsis. Using bulk RNA sequencing, targeted proteomics (PRM), targeted metabolomics, and ELISA validation, the study aims to: (1) screen mRNA diagnostic biomarkers and establish a molecular risk-stratification system; (2) develop and validate an RT-LAMP rapid bedside detection method; and (3) identify and validate plasma and urine protein/metabolite biomarkers and build a combined diagnostic model. The specific candidate biomarker identities are maintained confidentially and will be disclosed with the primary results.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Leucocytes Profiling Versus Platelet Indices in Prediction of Clinical Outcome for Candidates With Sepsis. A Bi-centric Observational Clinical Trial

Leucocyte subpopulation and platelet indices analysis can predict clinical outcome

Evaluation of a Multi-country Medical Oxygen Program

REAL-MOXY is a set of 5 mixed methods studies designed to understand how oxygen and pulse oximetry are used (or not used) at a facility level, to identify opportunities and barriers for strengthening oxygen systems for beneficiaries, users and managers.

Self-directed Mobile Mindfulness to Address ICU Survivors' Psychological Distress

Serious acute heart and lung illnesses like heart failure, severe COVID, and sepsis often leave survivors struggling not only physically, but also with lasting depression, anxiety, and stress. These problems that are hard to treat because access to mental health care is often limited. To help address this, the researchers created Lift, a fully automated mindfulness program designed with patient input and delivered through a mobile app. The investigators now plan a large, multi-site study to test whether Lift improves mental health and quality of life over six months compared to a critical illness education program called Enlighten Recovery. Overall the goal is to make an easy-to-use, widely accessible program available to people across the U.S., including those who speak Spanish.

An Observational Study in the United States to Learn How Venous Thromboembolism, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, and Sepsis Are Related

This is an observational study in which data already collected from people with venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to sepsis (blood poisoning) are studied. These people were hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) and may or may not have had disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In this observational study, only observations are made without participants receiving any advice or changes to their healthcare. VTE is a condition that occurs when blood clots form in the veins, which can be dangerous. DIC is a serious blood disorder that can cause clots throughout the body, blocking blood flow. People who have sepsis are at a higher risk of developing both VTE and DIC. Researchers wanted to know if people who have sepsis developed DIC before developing VTE. To prevent VTE in people with sepsis, it is important to know how severe the sepsis is, how it progresses, and whether DIC is also present or not. In this study, researchers will assess patient data from a medical database in the United States (US). The main purpose of this study is to learn if there is a relationship between sepsis, DIC, and VTE. To do this, researchers will divide the participants with VTE due to sepsis into three groups as follows: * participants who were diagnosed with DIC based on the extent of blood clotting * participants who likely had DIC but it was not diagnosed * participants who did not develop DIC during the same hospital visit The researchers will collect the following information: * the number of participants who had VTE due to sepsis also had DIC * the change in participants' laboratory results and vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure, from the time their sepsis was diagnosed to the time their VTE and DIC were diagnosed The researchers will study the data collected between January 2007 and December 2021. The data will come from the participants' information stored in a database called the Optum VTE EHR which collects patient medical data from hospitals across the US. In this study, only available data from routine care are collected. No visits or tests are required as part of this study.

Effect of Albumin Replacement on Oxygen Delivery in Sepsis Patients

Fluid resuscitation is a critical component of sepsis treatment. Research has shown that intravenous (IV) fluid therapy in sepsis positively impacts cardiac output and thereby oxygen (O2) delivery through a complex interaction of central venous pressure, right atrial pressure, venous resistance, ventricular compliance, cardiac contractility, and systemic vascular resistance. The 2021 sepsis prevention guidelines recommend balanced crystalloids as first-line therapy. However, no studies in the literature have evaluated the effect of albumin on O2 delivery. In our study, the investigators aim to assess the impact of albumin replacement on O2 delivery in sepsis patients in the intensive care unit.

Clinical Validation of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Glycemic Management of Critically Ill Sepsis Patients

Poor glycemic control is common in critically ill patients with sepsis and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; however, achieving safe and effective glucose management in the ICU remains challenging with conventional intermittent monitoring. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers real-time interstitial glucose readings and has the potential to improve detection of dysglycemic events, enhance adherence to glycemic protocols, and reduce nursing workload. This prospective, randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the accuracy, clinical effectiveness, and operational utility of a factory-calibrated CGM system (FreeStyle Libre II) compared with standard blood glucose monitoring (fingerstick, arterial, and venous measurements) in septic ICU patients. The primary outcomes include CGM accuracy against reference methods, protocol adherence rates, time efficiency, and the incidence of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events. The findings of this trial will help determine whether CGM can provide a reliable, clinically feasible, and time-saving alternative for glycemic management in this high-risk population, thereby supporting its integration into routine ICU practice and informing future larger-scale studies on long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Metabolic and Functional Study of γδ T Cells in Critically Ill Patients

This prospective observational cohort study investigates the subset-specific metabolic adaptation and functional remodeling of cytotoxic γδT cells in critically ill patients with and without sepsis. Emerging evidence indicates that γδT cells, as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity, play a critical role in early anti-infection defense during sepsis. However, the functional status and underlying regulatory mechanisms of cytotoxic γδT cells in septic patients remain incompletely understood. Our preliminary single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that cytotoxic γδT cells from septic patients exhibit significant alterations in cytotoxicity-associated molecules (GZMB, PRF1, GNLY) and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway genes, particularly COX6C, which correlates with cytotoxic effector molecule expression. This study aims to systematically characterize the proportion, cytotoxicity, and mitochondrial metabolic function of circulating cytotoxic γδT cells across three cohorts: healthy controls, critically ill non-septic patients, and critically ill septic patients. By integrating flow cytometry, mitochondrial function assays, and functional validation experiments, we seek to elucidate the role of COX6C-mediated mitochondrial metabolic abnormalities in cytotoxic γδT cell dysfunction, providing theoretical basis for understanding immune dysregulation in sepsis and identifying novel therapeutic targets.

The Extended Study of Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care IV

The goal of this observational study is to learn how common infections are in intensive care units (ICUs) around the world and how they are treated. The study will look at all adults in the ICU during a single 24-hour period. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What types of infections and antibiotic-resistant bacteria are most common in ICUs worldwide? * How do resistance patterns affect how participants are treated and how they recover? How are antibiotics used in ICUs, and how do hospitals practice antibiotic stewardship? * What organ support treatments do participants with infections receive? * What are the outcomes of participants with severe infections, including survival at hospital discharge (up to 60 days)? Researchers will compare ICUs across regions and income levels to see how infection patterns, treatments, and outcomes differ around the world. Participants will: * Be counted if they are present in the ICU at any time during the study day. * Have information collected from their medical record about their health, the infection they may have, treatments they receive, and their outcome at ICU and hospital discharge (up to 60 days). Because this is an observational study, participants will not receive any new treatments as part of the study.

Ulinastatin on Systemic Immune-Inflammation in Patients With Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infection

Complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI) triggers dysregulated systemic inflammation and immune paralysis leading to high organ failure and death risk. Ulinastatin is a protease inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties, but its dose-related effects on immune-inflammation of cIAI patients remain unclear. This single-center single-blinded three-arm randomized controlled pilot study enrolls adult cIAI patients (≥18 years, SOFA≥2) at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital. Eligible patients are randomized into low-dose ulinastatin, high-dose ulinastatin and normal saline placebo groups (1:1:1, 5 days intravenous treatment plus standard care), total planned enrollment 165 participants after 10% dropout adjustment. Primary endpoint is Day5 change of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII); secondary outcomes include serial inflammatory biomarkers, SOFA variation, organ dysfunction, hospitalization duration, 28-day mortality and safety profiles. This pilot aims to clarify ulinastatin's immune-modulating effect and inform future large RCT design.

COMPArative Study of the Consequence on innaTe Immune Response du to Bacterial or Viral Infection in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit

Patient admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) for acute infection whether it be viral or bacterial had major impairment of the immune response. One hallmark of the immune impairment is presence of immature granulocyte (IG) in blood. Depend of initial trigger (virus or bacteria) concentration, phenotype and function of IG seems to be different. In this prospective trial, immature granulocytes will be analyzed in depth in immunocompetent patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit for an acute viral or bacterial infection.

T6A Biomarker for Detection of Bacterial Infection in Newborn Infants

This study aims to assess the efficacy of a new biomarker, N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A), for the early diagnosis of Early-Onset Sepsis (EOS) in newborns.

FMT for 90-Day Outcome of Clinical Use in ICU Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, representing one of the leading causes of death in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Gut microbiota disruption is increasingly recognized as a key driver of persistent inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction in septic patients. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising approach to restore gut microbial homeostasis. This study hypothesizes that FMT acts not through long-term engraftment of donor microbes, but via a "functional pulse" - a potent, transient biological intervention that delivers high-dose microbial metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids), competitively inhibits pathogens, and rapidly modulates intestinal immune cell functions. This is a single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted in the ICU of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. A total of 60 adult patients diagnosed with sepsis according to Sepsis-3 criteria within 24 hours of ICU admission will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ICU standard care alone (control group) or ICU standard care plus FMT administered via a nasojejunal tube for three consecutive days (intervention group). The primary endpoint is all-cause mortality at 90 days. Secondary endpoints include ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolites, serum citrulline levels as a marker of intestinal barrier function, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, vasopressor requirements, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels, fluid balance, incidence of ICU delirium and feeding intolerance, and 90-day hospital readmission rate. Safety outcomes include gastrointestinal symptoms and transient fever.

Myeloid Bias in the Bone Marrow of Septic Patients and Its Correlation With Disease Severity and Prognosis: A Single-Center, Prospective Cohort Study

Sepsis remains a leading cause of critical illness worldwide, yet the underlying mechanisms driving its profound and persistent immune dysfunction are incompletely understood. The bone marrow, as the birthplace of all immune cells, plays a central role in orchestrating systemic immune responses. Emerging evidence from animal models suggests that sepsis triggers emergency myeloid-biased hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, characterized by expansion of myeloid progenitors and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) at the expense of lymphoid and erythroid lineages. This bone marrow remodeling precedes peripheral immune alterations and may represent the initiating event of sepsis-induced immunosuppression. However, direct clinical evidence in humans is scarce. This prospective, single-center cohort study aims to systematically characterize bone marrow hematopoietic remodeling in patients with septic shock, compared to critically ill non-septic patients and healthy volunteers, and to determine whether the degree of myeloid lineage bias correlates with disease severity, immunosuppression, and adverse clinical outcomes. This study will enroll three cohorts. Bone marrow aspirates and peripheral blood samples will be collected at 48-72 hours post-enrollment for flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, MDSC subsets, and PD-L1 expression, as well as cytokine profiling and exploratory single-cell transcriptomics. Rectal swabs will be collected synchronously for 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics to investigate the association between gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and bone marrow myeloid skewing, testing the gut-bone marrow-immune axis hypothesis. Clinical severity (SOFA/APACHE II), secondary infections, and 90-day mortality will be assessed to evaluate prognostic value. By integrating bone marrow hematopoiesis, gut microbiome, and clinical outcomes, this study seeks to provide novel mechanistic insights into sepsis-induced immunoparalysis and identify potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for immune restoration.

A Study to Investigate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of AZD4144in Participants With Sepsis-associated Acute Kidney Injury.

This study will enroll adults aged 18 to 80 years diagnosed with sepsis due to a suspected or confirmed bacterial infection, within 7 days of being admitted to the hospital, and who have also developed acute kidney injury within 72 hours of the onset of sepsis. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either AZD4144 or a placebo intravenously once daily for the number of days specified in the CSP. During this Treatment Period, participants will undergo daily safety monitoring, as well as blood and urine sample collection and other assessments. After the Treatment Period, participants will continue to be monitored for safety and other assessments during each additional day they remain hospitalized (if applicable) as well as during up to 2 follow up visits after discharge. The main goal is to compare specific kidney function measurements between those participants receiving AZD4144 and those receiving the placebo.

A Study to Learn About How Safe BAY 3389934 is, Its Suitable Dose, and How it Affects the Participants With Sepsis Induced Coagulopathy

Researchers are looking for a better way to treat people who have sepsis induced coagulopathy. Sepsis happens when bacteria and their toxins spread in the blood, causing an infection. To overcome the infection the body responds activating the immune system, sometimes this immune response is too active and causes uncontrolled blood clot formation, also called sepsis-induced coagulopathy. Sepsis coagulopathy damages blood vessels and organs and leads to low platelet levels in the body. In severe cases, it can even lead to death. The main purpose of this first in patient study is to learn about how safe BAY 3389934 is, its suitable dose, and how it affects the participants with sepsis induced coagulopathy. For this study, researchers will enroll people receiving treatment for sepsis induced coagulopathy in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). For this, the researchers will collect the number of participants with medical problems during and after receiving BAY 3389934. These medical problems are also known as "adverse events". Doctors keep track of all medical problems that happen in studies, even if they do not think they might be related to the study treatments. Participants will be divided into 2 groups. The first group will receive the lowest starting dose of BAY3389934. The researcher will carefully monitor how the participant responds to the medication and may adjust the dose, either increasing or decreasing it based on the safety and the tolerability of the drug. If no serious side effects are reported from the first group, the second group will receive higher dose of BAY3389934. Each participant will be in the study for around 28 days. During the study, the doctors and their study team will: * Take blood and urine samples, * Do physical examinations, * Check vital signs such as body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate, * Examine heart health using electrocardiogram (ECG)

Effects of Anisodamine on Sublingual Microcirculation and Vascular Waterfall Phenomenon in Patients With Septic Shock

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label interventional pilot study aims to evaluate the short-term physiological effects of intravenous anisodamine on sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall parameters in adult patients with septic shock. Eligible patients will have septic shock according to Sepsis-3 criteria, will require norepinephrine support after adequate fluid resuscitation, and will be receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and PiCCO-based hemodynamic monitoring. After baseline assessment, participants will receive intravenous anisodamine according to the study protocol. Anisodamine will be administered as a loading dose of 0.5 mg/kg within 3 minutes, with a minimum dose of 20 mg and a maximum dose of 40 mg, followed by continuous infusion at 0.02-0.1 mg/kg/hour, with a maximum total daily dose of 200 mg. Sublingual microcirculatory variables, including microvascular flow index, perfused vessel density, proportion of perfused vessels, and heterogeneity index, as well as vascular-waterfall parameters, including estimated critical closing pressure, estimated mean systemic filling pressure, and the Pcc-Pmsf gradient, will be measured at baseline, 3 hours, and 6 hours after initiation of anisodamine. Systemic hemodynamic, perfusion, vasopressor, PiCCO-derived variables, and safety outcomes will also be collected. The primary objective is to characterize immediate changes in sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall physiology after anisodamine administration and to provide preliminary data for future controlled studies.

Occult Vasoplegia in Normotensive Sepsis: Early Prediction With Diastolic Index and Lactate

The goal of this observational study is to learn if the Diastolic Shock Index (DSI) and initial lactate can predict occult vasoplegia in adults with normotensive sepsis. Normotensive sepsis occurs in patients who have an apparently normal mean arterial pressure but may have impaired vascular tone. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can an elevated DSI at admission predict the initiation of vasopressors (norepinephrine) within the first 6 hours of intensive care unit stay? * How does the combination of initial DSI and lactate perform compared to each marker alone in predicting hemodynamic deterioration? Researchers will compare patients with an elevated DSI to those with a normal DSI to see if this index identifies those who will progress to circulatory shock.Since this is a retrospective cohort study using existing medical records, participants will not be asked to perform any tasks. Researchers will analyze anonymized data, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and lactate levels already recorded in the institutional database.

Effect of a Focused Point-of-care Ultrasonography Screening Protocol in Hospitalized Patients

This research project aims to establish a real-time focused ultrasound examination protocol for routine assessment of hospitalized patients, including evaluations of the inferior vena cava (IVC), pericardial effusion, hydronephrosis, and ascites.