• Air Bubbles Activate Complement and Trigger Hemostasis and C3-Dependent Cytokine Release Ex Vivo in Human Whole Blood 

      Storm, Benjamin; Christiansen, Dorte; Fure, Hilde; Ludviksen, Judith K; Lau, Corinna; Lambris, John D.; Woodruff, Trent M.; Brekke, Ole-Lars; Braaten, Tonje Bjørndal; Nielsen, Erik Waage; Mollnes, Tom Eirik (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-11-03)
      Venous air embolism, which may complicate medical and surgical procedures, activates complement and triggers thromboinflammation. In lepirudin-anticoagulated human whole blood, we examined the effect of air bubbles on complement and its role in thromboinflammation. Whole blood from 16 donors was incubated with air bubbles without or with inhibitors of C3, C5, C5aR1, or CD14. Complement activation, ...
    • Application of the C3 inhibitor compstatin in a human whole blood model designed for complement research – 20 years of experience and future perspectives 

      Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Storm, Benjamin; Brekke, Ole Lars; Nilsson, Per H.; Lambris, John D. (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-05-13)
      The complex molecular and cellular biological systems that maintain host homeostasis undergo continuous crosstalk. Complement, a component of innate immunity, is one such system. Initially regarded as a system to protect the host from infection, complement has more recently been shown to have numerous other functions, including involvement in embryonic development, tissue modeling, and repair. ...
    • Avoiding ambient air in test tubes during incubations of human whole-blood minimizes complement background activation 

      Storm, Benjamin; Christiansen, Dorte; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Nielsen, Erik Waage (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-10-06)
      <p><i>Background - </i>In vitro, the complement system can be studied in test tubes incubated with anticoagulated human whole-blood. Background activation of complement may mask inflammatory signals. Air bubbles are known to activate complement. We examined if removing ambient air from test tubes before incubation reduced background complement activation. <p><i>Methods - </i>Blood from twelve donors ...
    • Hands-free continuous carotid Doppler ultrasound for detection of the pulse during cardiac arrest in a porcine model 

      Faldaas, Bjørn Ove; Nielsen, Erik Waage; Storm, Benjamin; Lappegård, Knut Tore; How, Ole-Jakob; Nilsen, Bent Aksel; Kiss, Gabriel Hanssen; Skogvoll, Eirik; Torp, Hans; Ingul, Charlotte Ingeborg Björk (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-06-20)
      Background/Purpose - Pulse palpation is an unreliable method for diagnosing cardiac arrest. To address this limitation, continuous hemodynamic monitoring may be a viable solution. Therefore, we developed a novel, hands-free Doppler system, RescueDoppler, to detect the pulse continuously in the carotid artery.<p> <p>Methods - In twelve pigs, we evaluated RescueDoppleŕs potential to measure blood ...
    • Intraosseous fluid resuscitation causes systemic fat emboli in a porcine hemorrhagic shock model 

      Kristiansen, Steinar; Storm, Benjamin; Dahle, Dalia; Josefsen, Terje D.; Dybwik, Knut Gustav; Nilsen, Bent Aksel; Nielsen, Erik Waage (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-12-20)
      Background: Intraosseous cannulation can be life-saving when intravenous access cannot be readily achieved. However, it has been shown that the procedure may cause fat emboli to the lungs and brain. Fat embolization may cause serious respiratory failure and fat embolism syndrome. We investigated whether intraosseous fluid resuscitation in pigs in hemorrhagic shock caused pulmonary or systemic ...
    • Open chest and pericardium facilitate transpulmonary passage of venous air emboli 

      Storm, Benjamin; Halvorsen, Per Steinar; Skulstad, Helge; Dybwik, Knut Gustav; Schjalm, Camilla; Christiansen, Dorte; Wisløff-Aase, Kristin; Fosse, Erik; Braaten, Tonje Bjørndal; Nielsen, Erik Waage; Mollnes, Tom Eirik (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-02-17)
      <p><i>Background:</i> Transpulmonary passage of air emboli can lead to fatal brain- and myocardial infarctions. We studied whether pigs with open chest and pericardium had a greater transpulmonary passage of venous air emboli than pigs with closed thorax. <p><i>Methods:</i> We allocated pigs with verified closed foramen ovale to venous air infusion with either open chest with sternotomy and opening ...
    • Venous Air Embolism Activates Complement C3 Without Corresponding C5 Activation and Trigger Thromboinflammation in Pigs 

      Storm, Benjamin; Ludviksen, Judith K; Christiansen, Dorte; Fure, Hilde; Pettersen, Kristin; Landsem, Anne; Nilsen, Bent Aksel; Dybwik, Knut Gustav; Braaten, Tonje; Nielsen, Erik Waage; Mollnes, Tom Eirik (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-03-15)
      Introduction: Air embolism may complicate invasive medical procedures. Bubbles trigger complement C3-mediated cytokine release, coagulation, and platelet activation in vitro in human whole blood. Since these findings have not been verified in vivo, we aimed to examine the effects of air embolism in pigs on thromboinflammation.<p> <p>Methods: Forty-five landrace pigs, average 17 kg (range 8.5-30), ...
    • Venous Air Embolism and Complement-driven Thromboinflammation. In vitro human whole blood studies and in vivo porcine studies on the effect of air emboli on the complement system, cytokine network, and the hemostasis 

      Storm, Benjamin (Doctoral thesis; Doktorgradsavhandling, 2022-09-27)
      <p><i>Background:</i> Air embolism may complicate many medical procedures and cause vascular occlusion, organ infarctions, or death. In vitro, air triggers the alternative complement pathway and activates platelets. Previous studies of air emboli were conducted in serum, plasma, or heparin anticoagulated whole blood, with ambient air present in tubes, precluding detailed examination of thromboinflammation. ...