With the global spread of COVID-19, there have been significant increases in serious acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) worldwide. In addition, the incidence of ALI and ARDS induced by other various diseases remains high. Of those who survive, approximately half to two-thirds develop chronic pulmonary and psychological illness and disability, with more than half unable to resume their regular work activities one year after discharge. ALI/ARDS also can be induced by severe surgical critical care conditions, including intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R), acute pancreatitis (AP), sepsis, trauma, burns, and shock.

Previous studies have indicated the mechanisms involved, including inflammatory cascades, macrophage polarisation, oxidative stress, and bacterial translocation. Recent studies have considered the regulation of ALI and ARDS by biomarkers (targets or pathways) on a molecular level, revealing potential pathological similarities between conditions of different origin, opening up the possibility for the use of molecular biomarkers (targets/pathways) as tools alongside imaging biomarkers (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging). In order to diagnose and treat ALI more precisely, selective pharmacological inhibitors or agonists also should be developed.

The aim of this Special Issue is to encourage improvement in both molecular and imaging biomarkers and pharmacological interventions for acute lung injury related to surgical conditions, especially in risk prediction, screening, diagnosis, and prognosis. Original research and review articles are both welcome to best understand the importance of different biomarkers in ALI induced by surgical critical care conditions.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Advances in molecular biomarkers for ALI induced by surgical critical care conditions
• Advances in imaging biomarkers for ALI induced by surgical critical care conditions
• The synergy of molecular and imaging biomarkers in predicting and detecting ALI induced by surgical critical care conditions
• The synergy of molecular and imaging biomarkers in the assessment of prognosis in ALI induced by surgical critical care conditions
• Pharmacologic interventions including selective inhibitor/agonist therapies for ALI induced by surgical critical care conditions