Unfractionated heparin reduces hepcidin levels in critically ill patients.

A strong anti-hepcidin activity has been observed in heparins. Mean hepcidin levels were significantly reduced compared to baseline, following the first day of unfractionated heparin administration in critically patients. Heparin displayed a strong independent negative association with hepcidin. These results may lead to future treatment methods of forms of anaemia characterised by hepcidin excess, common among the critically ill.

Genetic Determinants of C1 Inhibitor Deficiency Angioedema Age of Onset.

BACKGROUND: In view of the large heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE), great efforts are being made towards detecting measurable biological determinants of disease severity that can help to improve the management of the disease. Considering the central role that plasma kallikrein plays in bradykinin production, we investigated the contribution of the functional polymorphism KLKB1-428G/A to the disease phenotype. METHODS: We studied 249 C1-INH-HAE patients from 114 European families, and we explored possible associations of C1-INH-HAE clinical features with carriage of KLKB1-428G/A, combined or not with that of the functional F12-46C/T polymorphism. RESULTS: Carriers of the G allele of the KLKB1-428G/A polymorphism exhibited a significantly delayed disease onset (i.e., by 4.1 years [p < 0.001], depending on the zygocity status), while carriers of both the KLKB1-428G/A and the F12-46C/T polymorphism displayed an 8.8-year delay in disease onset (p < 0.001) and a 64% lower probability of needing long-term prophylactic treatment (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support our initial hypothesis that functional alterations in genes of proteins involved in bradykinin metabolism and function affect the clinical phenotype and possibly contribute to the pathogenesis of C1-INH-HAE. Given that an earlier onset of symptoms is inversely correlated with the subsequent course of the disease and, eventually, the need for long-term prophylaxis, these polymorphisms may be helpful prognostic biomarkers of disease severity.

Searching for Genetic Biomarkers for Hereditary Angioedema Due to C1-Inhibitor Deficiency (C1-INH-HAE).

Existing evidence indicates that modifier genes could change the phenotypic outcome of the causal SERPING1 variant and thus explain the expression variability of hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE). To further examine this hypothesis, we investigated the presence or absence of 18 functional variants of genes encoding proteins involved in the metabolism and function of bradykinin, the main mediator of C1-INH-HAE attacks, in relation to three distinct phenotypic traits of patients with C1-INH-HAE, i.e., the age at disease onset, the need for long-term prophylaxis (LTP), and the severity of the disease. Genetic analyses were performed by a validated next-generation sequencing platform. In total, 233 patients with C1-INH-HAE from 144 unrelated families from five European countries were enrolled in the study. Already described correlations between five common functional variants [F12-rs1801020, KLKB1-rs3733402, CPN1-rs61751507, and two in SERPING1 (rs4926 and rs28362944)] and C1-INH-HAE severity were confirmed. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between either the age at disease onset, the LTP, or the severity score of the disease and a series of other functional variants (F13B-rs6003, PLAU-rs2227564, SERPINA1-rs28929474, SERPINA1-rs17580, KLK1-rs5515, SERPINE1-rs6092, and F2-rs1799963). Interestingly, correlations uncovered in the entire cohort of patients were different from those discovered in the cohort of patients carrying missense causal SERPING1 variants. Our findings indicate that variants other than the SERPING1 causal variants act as independent modifiers of C1-INH-HAE severity and could be tested as possible prognostic biomarkers.

Immunostimulation and Coagulopathy in COVID-19 Compared to Patients With H1N1 Pneumonia or Bacterial Sepsis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Multiple reports from all over the world link COVID-19 with endothelial/coagulation disorders as well as a dysregulated immune response. This study tested the hypothesis that immunostimulation will be greater in COVID-19 patients than in patients with H1N1 infection or bacterial sepsis. Also, whether an increase in immune stimulation will be accompanied by a more severely affected endothelium/coagulation system was examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three septic patients, admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), were enrolled (9 with SARS-CoV-2, 5 with H1N1 pneumonia, 9 with bacterial sepsis). Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity along with certain endothelial/coagulation factors were assessed on admission (time point 1) and at either improvement or deterioration (time point 2). RESULTS: MPO levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to both other groups. Furthermore, in patients with COVID-19, vWF levels did not differ significantly, fVIII levels were lower while ADAMTS-13 activity was higher compared to patients with H1N1 pneumonia and bacterial sepsis (a trend in the latter). CONCLUSION: Increased immunostimulation was noted in COVID-19 patients compared to other septic patients; however, this was not accompanied by greater disturbance of the clotting system and/or more severe endothelial injury.

Cardiovascular Responses During Sepsis.

Sepsis is the life-threatening organ dysfunction arising from a dysregulated host response to infection. Although the specific mechanisms leading to organ dysfunction are still debated, impaired tissue oxygenation appears to play a major role, and concomitant hemodynamic alterations are invariably present. The hemodynamic phenotype of affected individuals is highly variable for reasons that have been partially elucidated. Indeed, each patient's circulatory condition is shaped by the complex interplay between the medical history, the volemic status, the interval from disease onset, the pathogen, the site of infection, and the attempted resuscitation. Moreover, the same hemodynamic pattern can be generated by different combinations of various pathophysiological processes, so the presence of a given hemodynamic pattern cannot be directly related to a unique cluster of alterations. Research based on endotoxin administration to healthy volunteers and animal models compensate, to an extent, for the scarcity of clinical studies on the evolution of sepsis hemodynamics. Their results, however, cannot be directly extrapolated to the clinical setting, due to fundamental differences between the septic patient, the healthy volunteer, and the experimental model. Numerous microcirculatory derangements might exist in the septic host, even in the presence of a preserved macrocirculation. This dissociation between the macro- and the microcirculation might account for the limited success of therapeutic interventions targeting typical hemodynamic parameters, such as arterial and cardiac filling pressures, and cardiac output. Finally, physiological studies point to an early contribution of cardiac dysfunction to the septic phenotype, however, our defective diagnostic tools preclude its clinical recognition. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1605-1652, 2021.

Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients Is Related to the Persistence of Sepsis Inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Septic patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) often experience difficulty in weaning. Th aim of this study was to determine whether inflammatory biomarkers of sepsis could be indicative of the failure or success of spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) in these patients. METHODS: Sixty-five patients on MV (42 septic and 23 intubated for other reasons) fulfilling the criteria for SBT were included in the study. Blood samples were collected right before, at the end of (30 min) and 24 h after the SBT. Serum inflammatory mediators associated with sepsis (IL-18, IL-18BP, TNF) were determined and correlated with the outcome of SBT. RESULTS: A successful SBT was achieved in 45 patients (69.2%). Septic patients had a higher percentage of SBT failure as compared to non-septic patients (85% vs. 15%, p = 0.026), with an odds ratio for failing 4.5 times (OR = 4.5 95%CI: 1.16-17.68, p 0.022). IL-18 levels and the relative mRNA expression in serum were significantly higher in septic as compared to non-septic patients (p < 0.05). Sepsis was independently associated with higher serum IL-18 and TNF levels in two time-point GEE models (53-723, p = 0.023 and 0.3-64, p = 0.048, respectively). IL-18BP displayed independent negative association with rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) (95% CI: -17.6 to -4, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Sustained increased levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP, acknowledged markers of sepsis, were found to be indicative of SBT failure in patients recovering from sepsis. Our results show that, although subclinical, remaining septic inflammation that sustaines for a long time complicates the weaning procedure. Biomarkers for the estimation of the septic burden and the right time for weaning are needed.

Buffering Capacity in Sepsis: A Prospective Cohort Study in Critically Ill Patients.

BACKGROUND: The concept of buffering generally refers to the ability of a system/organism to withstand attempted changes. For acid-base balance in particular, it is the body's ability to limit pH aberrations when factors that potentially affect it change. Buffering is vital for maintaining homeostasis of an organism. The present study was undertaken in order to investigate the probable buffering capacity changes in septic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 113 ICU patients (96 septic and 17 critically-ill non-septic/controls). The buffering capacity indices were assessed upon ICU admission and reassessed only in septic patients, either at improvement or upon severe deterioration. Applying Stewart's approach, the buffering capacity was assessed with indices calculated from the observed central venous-arterial gradients: a) ΔPCO2/Δ[H+] or ΔpH, b) ΔSID/Δ[H+] or ΔpH. RESULTS: In a generalized estimating equation linear regression model, septic patients displayed significant differences in ΔPCO2/ΔpH [beta coefficient = -47.63, 95% CI (-80.09) - (-15.17), p = 0.004], compared to non-septic patients on admission. Lower absolute value of ΔPCO2/ΔpH (%) on admission was associated with a significant reduction in ICU mortality (HR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99, p = 0.02). At septic-group reassessment (remission or deterioration), one-unit increase of ΔPCO2/Δ[H+] reduced the ICU death hazard by 44% (HR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33-0.96, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the particular cohort of patients studied, a difference in the buffering capacity was recorded between septic and non-septic patients on admission. Moreover, buffering capacity was an independent predictor of fatal ICU outcome at both assessments, ICU-admission and sepsis remission or deterioration.

Obesity and infection.

Obesity increases morbidity and mortality through its multiple effects on nearly every human system. However, the various aspects of the association between obesity and infection have not been reviewed. Thus, we reviewed the relevant literature focusing on clinical aspects of this association. Obesity has a clear but not yet precisely defined effect on the immune response through a variety of immune mediators, which leads to susceptibility to infections. Data on the incidence and outcome of specific infections, especially community-acquired infections, in obese people are so far limited. The available data suggest that obese people are more likely than people of normal weight to develop infections of various types including postoperative infections and other nosocomial infections, as well to develop serious complications of common infections. Large prospective studies are required to further define the burden of infectious morbidity and mortality conferred by obesity.

Elevated serum triglycerides is the strongest single indicator for the presence of metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes already fulfill one diagnostic criterion for MS according to the existing classifications. Our aim was to identify one single clinical parameter, which could effectively predict the presence of MS in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We studied all patients with type 2 diabetes who attended our Diabetes Outpatient Clinic during a three-month period. Waist circumference, blood pressure and serum lipids were measured. Establishment of MS diagnosis was based a) on National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria and b) on International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied in order to identify the clinical parameter with the highest predictive capability for MS. Among the 500 participating patients (231 males, 269 females), MS was diagnosed in 364 patients (72.8%) according to the NCEP ATP III criteria and in 408 patients (81.6%) according to the IDF criteria. RESULTS: For the NCEP ATP III classification, serum triglycerides (in the overall population), waist and HDL (in female population) demonstrated the highest predictive capability for MS (AUCs:0.786, 0.805 and 0.801, respectively). For the IDF classification, no single parameter reached an AUC > 0.800 in the overall population. In females, HDL displayed a satisfactory predictive capability for MS with an AUC which was significantly higher than the one in males (0.785 vs. 0.676, respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated serum triglycerides strongly indicate the presence of MS in patients with type 2 diabetes. In female patients with type 2 diabetes, central obesity was the second stronger predictor of MS besides hypertriglyceridemia.

Increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a rural Greek population.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is becoming a modern epidemic due to the high prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. Previous studies in Greece in urban and mixed urban and rural populations, reported a prevalence of DM of less than 3%. However data concerning the prevalence of DM in exclusively rural areas of Greece are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of DM in a representative rural area of Greece. METHODS: The group studied consisted of the resident population of the villages Saint Demetreus, Adami and Metohi of the district of Argolida, Greece, according to the 2001 Greek Census. In total, 880 subjects, aged 1-99 years (410 males [46.6%] mean age [+/- standard deviation, SD] 46.7 +/- 26 yrs, 470 females-mean age [+/- SD] 48.2 +/- 24.3 years) were screened for the presence of DM. Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), personal and family history were recorded at baseline. After an overnight fast, blood samples were drawn for the determination of plasma glucose (FPG) and serum lipid profile. In the case of FPG >126 mg/dL a second determination was performed one week later. Subjects with FPG <126 mg/dL on repeated test, and those with FPG between 110 and 126 mg/dL, were invited to undergo an oral glucose tolerance test. Diagnosis of DM was based on the 1999 WHO criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of DM was 7.8 % (95% CI: 5.9-12.5), with known diabetics being 5.3% of the population and undiagnosed diabetes being 2.5%. No significant differences were detected between males and females (7.1% vs 7.6%, p>0.05). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of DM with increasing age (age 41-50 years: 6.4% vs 71-80 years 14.1%, p<0.05). Impaired glucose tolerance was diagnosed in 3.9%, while impaired fasting glucose was diagnosed in 1.9%. Furthermore, the prevalence of obesity (BMI>30 kg/m2<) was 20.8%, while central obesity (WHR >0.90 males, >0.85 in females) was observed in 63%. Age, obesity, family history of DM, arterial hypertension and elevated triglyceride levels were significantly associated with the presence of DM (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DM has significantly increased in the rural population of Greece. Age, hypertension, obesity, family history of diabetes and elevated triglyceride levels were significantly associated with prevalent diabetes. These subjects should be a primary target for preventive intervention strategies.

Genetic polymorphisms of innate and adaptive immunity as predictors of outcome in critically ill patients.

Sepsis and septic shock frequently cause the admission or complicate the clinical course of critically ill patients admitted in the intensive care units (ICU). Genetic variations disrupting the immune sensing of infectious organisms, could affect the ability of the immune system to respond to infection, and may influence both the genetic predisposition to infection and the diversity of the clinical presentation of sepsis. The aim of this study was to uncover possible associations between common functional immune gene polymorphisms (of both innate and adaptive immunity) and ICU-acquired sepsis and mortality. The TLR4-D299G (rs4986790), TLR4-T399I (rs4986791), C2-c.841_849+19del28 (rs9332736), TACI-C104R (rs34557412), BAFFR-P21R (rs77874543), and BAFFR-H159Y (rs61756766) polymorphisms were detected in a cohort of 215 critically ill patients, admitted in an 8-bed medical/surgical ICU. Interestingly, TLR4-D299G, TLR4-T399I and BAFFR-P21R carriage was associated with a lower risk of ICU-acquired sepsis. This association applied particularly in medical patients, while in trauma and surgical patients no significant associations were observed. Moreover, carriers of TACI-C104R displayed an undiagnosed mild to moderate hypogammaglobulinemia along with a significantly lower survival rate in the ICU, although lethal events were not attributed to sepsis. These findings further elucidate the role that host immune genetic variations may play in the susceptibility to ICU-acquired sepsis and ICU mortality.

Glycated hemoglobin at admission in the intensive care unit: clinical implications and prognostic relevance.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the clinical significance of HbA1c levels on admission in the intensive care unit (ICU) as a prognostic marker for morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. PATIENTS-METHODS: This prospective observational study included consecutive patients admitted in an 8-bed multidisciplinary ICU. Patients were prospectively followed from ICU admission until ICU outcome (death/discharge). All patients had an HbA1c measurement upon admission in the ICU. RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-five consecutive patients (376 males, 179 females) were included in the study. In patients without prior diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosis, a cutoff of 6.5% for HbA1c (diagnostic cutoff for DM) predicted more severe disease (as described by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores at admission) and higher ICU mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-5.25). In the subgroup of patients with a history of DM, a cutoff of 7% for HbA1c (glycemic target) had no predicting ability for ICU mortality. CONCLUSIONS: HbA1c is a useful tool for the diagnosis of a previously undiagnosed DM. This study showed that in critically ill patients with previously undiagnosed DM, HbA1c at admission is significantly associated with ICU mortality.

MBL2 genotypes and their associations with MBL levels and NICU morbidity in a cohort of Greek neonates.

The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of MBL2 genotypes and their associations with MBL levels and various morbidities of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). One hundred and thirty-four (134) NICU (83 term and 51 preterm) and 150 healthy neonates were enrolled in the study. MBL2 genotype and MBL serum levels at birth were determined prospectively by PCR-RFLP-sequencing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. NICU neonates displayed significantly lower MBL serum levels compared to healthy ones. MBL deficiency, defined as the low MBL2 expression group (XA/O and O/O), was significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory morbidity, especially transient tachypnea of the newborn and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Moreover, an increase of 100 ng/mL of serum MBL levels decreases by 5% the risk of total respiratory morbidity and by 7% the risk of RDS, after correction for prematurity and sex and regardless of the presence of infections. Our study further supports the notion that neonates with MBL deficiency and low MBL serum levels at birth may be at higher risk of developing severe respiratory complications.

TACI expression and signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

TACI is a membrane receptor of BAFF and APRIL, contributing to the differentiation and survival of normal B cells. Although malignant B cells are also subjected on TACI signaling, there is a remarkable intradisease and interindividual variability of TACI expression in B-cell malignancies. The aim of our study was to explore the possible role of TACI signaling in the biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including its phenotypic and clinical characteristics and prognosis. Ninety-four patients and 19 healthy controls were studied. CLL patients exhibited variable TACI expression, with the majority of cases displaying low to undetectable TACI, along with low to undetectable BAFF and increased APRIL serum levels compared to healthy controls. CLL cells with high TACI expression displayed a better survival capacity in vitro, when cultured with BAFF and/or APRIL. Moreover, TACI expression was positively correlated with the presence of monoclonal gammopathy and inversely with CD11c expression. Therefore, our study provides further evidence for the contribution of BAFF/APRIL signaling to CLL biology, suggesting also that TACI detection might be useful in the selection of patients for novel targeting therapeutic approaches.

Impact of red blood cells transfusion on ICU-acquired bloodstream infections: a case-control study.

Our study investigated the impact of packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion on the occurrence of bloodstream infections (BSIs) in patients admitted in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU), further assessing potential associations with particular BSI types. A nested matched (1:1) case-control design was implemented. Sex, age, admission category, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score II (plus Injury Severity Score in trauma patients) were used for matching. Controls were selected to have an ICU length of stay at least equal to the time to first BSI episode of the corresponding cases. Propensity scores for receiving pRBC transfusion were calculated in the entire prospective cohort. Of 582consecutive ICU patients, 165 matched case-control pairs were formed. In multivariable analysis, pRBC transfusion was independently associated with 2-fold probability for BSI (adjusting for matching variables and propensity score). There was a significant dose-dependent association of BSI risk with regard to the number of pRBC units transfused (odds ratios [OR], 1.73, 2.09, 2.34 for 1-3, 4-6, and more than 6 pRBC units transfused, respectively, compared with nontransfused patients, P values .116, .018, and .015, respectively). In subgroup analysis, catheter-related BSIs displayed the strongest association with pRBC transfusion (OR = 5.01, P = .014).

Greek surgical patients' satisfaction related to perioperative anesthetic services in an academic institute.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is an increasingly appreciated measure of outcome for health care procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Greek surgical patients' satisfaction with perioperative anesthetic services and to determine which factors maximize satisfaction level through all phases of perioperative care. METHODS: Adult Greek patients admitted for elective surgery in an academic hospital were included in the study. Three separate questionnaires were constructed: Q1 (patients who underwent general anesthesia alone or combined with epidural) and Q2 (patients who received regional anesthesia alone) covered perioperative anesthetic care; Q3 covered postoperative analgesia services in the ward (patient-controlled analgesia or epidural analgesia) provided by our anesthesiologist-centered analgesia care team. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used separately for each questionnaire, and extracted factors were entered into multiple logistic regression with patient satisfaction as the dependent binary variable. Statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-five patients were included. Q1 questionnaire (answered by 282 patients) included four dimensions: communication with the anesthesiologist, sense of cold/shivering, pain, and nausea. Q2 questionnaire (answered by 63 patients) included three dimensions: communication with the anesthesiologist, sense of cold/shivering, and nausea/anxiety. Q3 questionnaire (answered by 237 patients) included five dimensions: anesthesiologist intervention upon symptoms, pain, care by the anesthesiologist/physical activity, nausea/vomiting, and anesthesiologist behavior. The communication dimension score in Q1 and Q2, sense of shivering in Q2, and pain management and anesthesiologist behavior dimension scores in Q3 were significantly associated with patient satisfaction. Overall satisfaction rates were high (according to the questionnaire, the observed percentage was in the range of 96.3%-98.6%). CONCLUSION: Greek surgical patients reported high satisfaction with perioperative anesthesia care. Interaction between patient and anesthesiologists during all periods of study, absence of shivering in regional anesthesia, and adequate postoperative pain control in the ward were significant predictors of patient satisfaction in the present Greek surgical population.