While the study team has accumulated preliminary in vitro data supporting the inhibitory effect of resistin on neutrophils, it is imperative to confirm these findings in vivo. Specifically, the study team will need to study how serum resistin levels differ in patients with septic shock and acute kidney injury (AKI). Furthermore, it is essential to see how neutrophil function differs when exposed to serum from these two different patient populations (septic shock versus septic shock + AKI).