Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: The Role of Inflammatory and Stress Response in the Pathogenesis of Cognitive Dysfunction After Cardiac Surgery
Brief Summary: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is the most common complication after cardiac surgery. This prospective study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms of development of POCD following cardiac surgery taking into account surgical technique (with use or no use of extracorporeal circulation). The investigators focused on the role of inflammatory and stress response to surgical procedure as potential factors involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction. Systematic inflammatory response in patients undergoing on-pump or off-pump surgery was analyzed by measuring serum levels of C reactive protein (CRP) and occurrence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Stress response to surgery was evaluated following cortisol levels and its daily variations. The degree of cognitive dysfunction was assessed based on serum levels of S100β. The effect of dexamethasone on the levels of stress and inflammatory response biomarkers, serum levels of S100β, as well as on the development of POCD was compared with control group that received normal saline.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age greater than 18 years
2. Require CPB for any cardiac surgical procedure (such as CABG, Valve, Aorta, or combined procedures)
3. Must have a EuroSCORE ≥ 6
4. Provide written informed consent

NOTE: For participating sites in India, China and Hong Kong, the following eligibility criteria will be applied:

1. Age greater than 18 years
2. Require CPB for any cardiac surgical procedure (such as CABG, Valve, Aorta, or combined procedures)
3. Must have at least one of the following:

   1. EuroSCORE greater than or equal to 4 and undergoing valvular surgery
   2. EuroSCORE greater than or equal to 6 and undergoing any other cardiac surgery procedure (i.e. CABG, Aorta)
4. Provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Use of systemic corticosteroids
2. History of bacterial or fungal infection in last 30 days
3. Allergy/intolerance to corticosteroids
4. Will receive Aprotinin
5. Previous participation in study
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Neonates Age \</= 1 month
* Scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery involving Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) (reparative or palliative procedures)
* Inpatient Status at MUSC a minimum of 8 hours prior to planned surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prematurity: \</= 36 weeks post gestational age at time of surgery
* Treatment with steroids, other than inhaled forms, in the two weeks prior to scheduled surgery
* Participation in research studies involving the evaluation of investigational drugs within 30 days of randomization
* Suspected infection that would contraindicate steroid use (eg - Herpes)
* Known hypersensitivity to IVMP or one of its components or other contraindication to steroid therapy (e.g., gastrointestinal bleeding)
* Preoperative use of mechanical circulatory support or active resuscitation at the time of proposed randomization
* Inability to begin the pre-operative study drug at least 8 hours prior to surgery
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction below 39 % duration of the extracorporeal circulation more than 97 min

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* Severe liver insufficiency
* Severe renal insufficiency
* Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
* Steroid therapy
* Psychiatric disease
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants undergoing cardiac surgery: coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve surgery or a combined procedure,
* Procedure must be elective

Exclusion Criteria:

* Symptomatic cerebrovascular disease,
* Cerebrovascular incident in last 3 years,
* Neurodegenerative disease,
* Psychiatric disease,
* Visual, hearing or motor impairment interfering with cognitive testing,
* Carotid artery stenosis ( ≥50%),
* Myocardial infarction within last 3 months,
* Left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤35%,
* Previous cardiac or carotid surgery,
* Uncontrolled systemic hypertension (blood pressure≥180/110 mmHg),
* Corticosteroid-dependent asthma,
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
* Malignancy, liver disease (aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) or bilirubin ˃1.5x above reference range),
* Kidney disease (serum creatinine ˃1.7 mg/dl or blood urea nitrogen ˃50 mg/dL),
* Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (postprandial glucose ˃200 mg/dL or hemoglobin A1c ˃9%),
* Endocrine and metabolic diseases, requiring steroid treatment longer than 7 days in the past year,
* Alcohol or controlled substance abuse,
* Individuals without primary school education,
* Preoperative C reactive protein ˃0.5 mg/dL,
* Preoperative white blood cell count \<3 x109/L or ˃11 x109/L,
* Preoperative Mini mental score \<26 points,
* Preoperative Beck's depression inventory score ˃ 19 points,
* Intraoperative plan change (conversion from "off-pump" to "on-pump" and vice versa),
* Need for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest,
* Additional corticosteroid treatment throughout the study period.

Answer: D