Twenty-four patients with severe sepsis in the medical intensive care unit were randomized @:@:@ to receive intravenous infusions every six hours for four days of ascorbic acid : Lo-AscA ( @ mg/kg/@ h , n = @ ) , or Hi-AscA ( @ mg/kg/@ h , n = @ ) , or Placebo ( @ % dextrose/water , n = @ ) .