Volume 1, Issue 1

End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) monitoring is an important tool for assessing respiratory and circulatory status of patients. It has become an integral component of perioperative anesthesia care in patients undergoing general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. ETCO₂ monitoring can also benefit non-intubated patients. This review covers the basics of ETCO₂ and methods of partial pressure of ETCO₂ (PETCO₂) monitoring and focuses on the literature regarding PETCO₂ monitoring for non-intubated patients. Most studies explored the superiority of PETCO₂ monitoring in patients under sedation outside operating room, while others investigated the potential advantages of PETCO₂ monitoring in other scenarios such as post-anesthesia care unit, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and patient-controlled analgesia. As carbon dioxide detection technology and sampling circuits continue to improve, PETCO2 monitoring is expected to be used in more medical scenarios.

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a ubiquitous commensal in the mammalian flora and the most prevalent fungal pathogen of humans. As an opportunistic fungus, C. albicans can cause mucosal and invasive infections. Invasive candidiasis infected by C. albicans is a leading cause of perioperative death in immunocompromised and immunodeficient patients. The morphological change from the yeast to the mycelium plays a key role in the pathogenesis of C. albicans. C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), including Dectin-1, Dectin-2, Dectin-3, Mincle, and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin, are among the pattern recognition receptors expressed by innate immune cells that can recognize C. albicans. The emergence of drug-resistant C. albicans put pressure on the healthcare system, whereby CLRs have also attracted extensive attention from physicians. Thus, in this article, we discuss the interaction between CLRs and C. albicans and the treatment prospects of CLRs on anti-C. albicans.

Fungi pose a severe threat to human health worldwide, especially to patients with weakened immune systems. Perioperative patients are at a high risk of fungal infection and death because of the immunosuppression caused by the surgery, as well as the use of surgical instruments. Perioperative patients in ICU are at greater risk of fungal infection. Fungal infections are often difficult to identify, and the treatment is particularly challenging. A well-functioning host immune and an appropriate level of inflammation is essential for controlling fungal infections. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in regulating host immune function, primarily through participating in the post-transcriptional regulation of target genes. After fungal infection, miRNAs are differentially expressed in various tissues, cells, and extracellular vesicles, promoting or inhibiting antifungal effects through different mechanisms to modulate the host immune response. In addition, differentially expressed miRNAs could serve as potential biological markers for the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections. In this review, we discuss the role and significance of miRNAs in fungal infections.