Gorrasi J, et al. - In mechanically-ventilated septic patients, researchers assessed the production of pulmonary NO (nitric oxide) as well as nitroxidative stress. A total of 36 patients with sepsis and 33 without sepsis who were managed with mechanical ventilation within the first 48 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission were compared to 33 mechanically ventilated patients without sepsis (MV) plus eight operating room patients without lung disease served as control healthy group (ORCG). The analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was performed to determine nitrite plus nitrate (NOx−), 3-nitrotyrosine and malondialdehyde (MDA). An increase of NO production leading to secondary NO-derived oxidants resulted in an enhanced lung nitrooxidative stress during early phases of sepsis and promoted protein nitration and lipid peroxidation.