Abstract: A system and method for measuring alveolar performance during ventilation using a microphone positioned adjacent to the distal end of a ventilation tube. The microphone is connected to a monitor that filters the signals received from the microphone to eliminate unwanted noise, such as that caused by the heart and turbulent airflow through the large airways of the lungs. The desired signals are then amplified and displayed on a graph as a function of lung volume during inflation. A clinician may take appropriate ventilation strategies based on the results displayed by the system to avoid ventilator induced lung injuries and decrease the mortality rates of patients having acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing blood loss associated with cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery in a human that is about to undergo, is undergoing, or has undergone, cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery. The method comprises administering to the human an effective amount of a non-antibacterial tetracycline formulation. The non-antibacterial tetracycline formulation is administered to the human about to undergo cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery within about one month prior to the surgery, or is administered to the human that has undergone cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery within about one month after the surgery.

Abstract: The invention is method for preventing sepsis-induced ARDS in a mammal in need thereof, the method comprises administering to the mammal a tetracycline compound in an amount that is effective to prevent sepsis-induced ARDS but has substantially no antibiotic activity.

Abstract: The invention discloses a novel method for preventing acute lung injury in a mammal following trauma. The method includes treating the mammal with an effective amount of a tetracycline prior to intrapulmonary accumulation of neutrophils.