Fasting prior to surgery can cause dehydration and alter hemodynamics. This study aimed to determine the impact of a carbohydrate-enriched drink (Nutricia^TM Pre-op^®) on selected hemodynamical parameters, measured in a non-invasive manner. We enrolled 100 healthy volunteers and measured their weight, height, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), thoracic fluid content (TFC), thoracic fluid index (TFCI), stroke volume (SV), stroke volume variation (SVV), stroke index (SI), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), heather index (HI), systolic time ration (STR), systemic time ratio index (STRI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) by a Niccomo™ device, implementing the impedance cardiography (ICG) method. Measurements were performed at the beginning of the study, and after 10 h and 12 h. We randomly allocated participants to the control group and the pre-op group. The pre-op group received 400 mL of Nutricia™ preOp^®, as suggested in the ERAS guidelines, within 10 h of the study. Student’s t-test or the Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare the two groups, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. We did not observe any changes in hemodynamical parameters, blood pressure, and heart rate between the groups. We have proven that carbohydrate-enriched drink administration did not have a significant impact on the hemodynamical parameters of healthy volunteers.

Background: The Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) is a biomarker initially developed to predict survival in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic haemato-poietic stem cell transplantation and is regarded as a surrogate of endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate whether EASIX reflects early hemodynamic instability and vasopressor requirement in critically ill patients. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 447 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk. Illness severity scores—including the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)—and laboratory parameters, were collected at admission. EASIX, simplified EASIX (sEASIX), and modified EASIX (mEASIX) were calculated using established formulas. Vasopressor requirements, ex-pressed as norepinephrine equivalents (NEE), were recorded during the first 72 h. Statistical analyses included Spearman’s correlation, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: In univariate analysis, EASIX was associated with ICU mortality (OR 1.333; 95% CI 1.135–1.576), but this association was not significant after adjustment. EASIX positively correlated with vasopressor requirements, severity scores (SOFA, SAPS II, APACHE II), and inflammatory and metabolic markers (PCT, CRP, lactate). It correlated with norepinephrine-equivalent doses within the first 48 h and moderately discriminated high-dose vaso-pressor use (>0.1 µg/kg/min). A weak negative correlation with ICU length of stay was observed. No association with age was found. Conclusions: EASIX is an age-independent marker associated with disease severity and early vaso-pressor burden in ICU patients. Rather than providing a direct measurement of endothelial function, it reflects a global signal of systemic stress and microvascular derangement and should be interpreted accordingly.

Introduction: Sepsis remains a major challenge in intensive care medicine, characterized by a dysregulated host response to infection and high mortality. Increasing evidence highlights complex interactions among the endocrine, immune, and metabolic systems, including a potential role of testosterone in modulating the immunometabolic response. Aim: To systematically map and synthesize current evidence on the role of testosterone as a potential modulator of the immunometabolic response in sepsis. Materials and methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO were searched for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies included adult patients with sepsis or septic shock and investigated testosterone levels, androgen receptor activity, or androgen-based interventions. All study designs, including case reports, were considered. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies reported lower testosterone levels in patients with higher disease severity, reflected by higher SOFA and APACHE II scores, and in non-survivors compared with survivors. Experimental and translational studies have demonstrated that the androgen receptor (AR) pathway regulates cytokine production and immune cell metabolism. Clinical studies evaluating testosterone supplementation reported changes in selected metabolic and clinical parameters; however, no statistically significant improvement in survival was observed. Conclusion: Testosterone and the androgen receptor pathway may contribute to immunometabolic dysregulation in sepsis. Testosterone deficiency is associated with greater disease severity and increased mortality; however, current evidence does not support the routine use of androgen therapy. Further well-designed translational and clinical studies, incorporating sex-specific analyses, baseline hormonal status, and multi-omics approaches, are required to enable personalized hormonal interventions in sepsis.