1. Fixed-dose combination therapy: panacea or poison?

   • R. B. Rao
   • L. R. Goldfrank

   Editorial Pages: 283 - 285

2. Cardiac dysfunction in sepsis: new theories and clinical implications

   • R. M. Grocott-Mason
   • A. M. Shah

   Review Pages: 286 - 295

3. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid characteristics of early intermediate and late phases of ARDS

   • G. Nakos
   • E. I. Kitsiouli
   • M. E. Lekka

   Original Pages: 296 - 303

4. Hyperlactatemia during acute severe asthma

   • A. Rabbat
   • J. P. Laaban
   • J. Rochemaure

   Original Pages: 304 - 312

5. Acute normovolaemic haemodilution does not aggravate gastric mucosal acidosis during cardiac surgery

   • A. Bacher
   • N. Mayer
   • W. Haider

   Original Pages: 313 - 321

6. Ibuprofen does not impair renal function in patients undergoing infrarenal aortic surgery with epidural anaesthesia

   • A. Brinkmann
   • W. Seeling
   • K. H. Orend

   Original Pages: 322 - 328

7. Predictive value of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and gastric intramucosal pH (pH-i) in major abdominal surgery

   • A. Donati
   • D. Battisti
   • P. Pietropaoli

   Original Pages: 329 - 335

8. Antithrombin III (ATILL) replacement therapy in patients with sepsis and/or postsurgical complications: a controlled double-blind, randomized, multicenter study

   • F. Baudo
   • T. M. Caimi
   • G. Calori

   Original Pages: 336 - 342

9. Bioavailability of ciprofloxacin after multiple enteral and intravenous doses in ICU patients with severe gram-negative intra-abdominal infections

   • S. de Marie
   • M. F. Q. VandenBergh
   • J. W. Mouton

   Original Pages: 343 - 346

10. Training is required to improve the reliability of esophageal doppler to measure cardiac output in critically ill patients

    • J. Y. Lefrant
    • P. Bruelle
    • J. J. Eledjam

    Original Pages: 347 - 352

11. Critical care research and pre-emptive informed consent: a practical approach used in chris hani baragwanath ICU

    • M. Pinder
    • S. Tshukutsoane
    • J. Lipman

    Original Pages: 353 - 357

12. Oxygen delivery and consumption in surfactant-depleted newborn piglets

    • X. O. Yu
    • A. Moen
    • O. D. Saugstad

    Experimental Pages: 358 - 362

13. Recurrent hydrochlorothiazide-induced pulmonary edema

    • A. Mas
    • R. Jordana
    • M. Cervantes

    Brief Report Pages: 363 - 365

14. Sequential production of leukaemia inhibitory factor by blood cell culture in patients with ARDS

    • D. Gruson
    • G. Hilbert
    • G. Gbikpi-Benissan

    Brief Report Pages: 366 - 368

15. Severe hyperthermia during tetrabenazine therapy for tardive dyskinesia

    • E. Stevens
    • A. Roman
    • N. Jaspar

    Brief Report Pages: 369 - 371

16. Intensive care training and speciality status in Europe: international comparisons

    • J. F. Bion
    • G. Ramsay
    • the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine

    Esicm Statement Pages: 372 - 377

17. The American-European consensus conference on ARDS, Part 2

    • A. Artigas
    • G. R. Bernard
    • Consensus Committee

    Consensus Report Pages: 378 - 398

18. Inhaled nitric oxide in patients with pulmonary embolism

    • J. E. Tulleken
    • T. S. van der Werf
    • F. Barale

    Correspondence Pages: 399 - 400

19. Announcements

    Announcement Pages: 401 - 401