Predictive values of ultrasonic diaphragm thickening fraction combined with integrative weaning index in weaning patients with mechanical ventilation: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the predictive values of ultrasonic diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) combined with integrative weaning index (IWI) in weaning patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Patients with mechanical ventilation who received oral endotracheal intubation from September 2020 to September 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Before the start of the spontaneous breathing test (SBT), IWI was calculated according to the blood gas analysis parameters and parameters read in volume control mode. After the start of SBT, DTF was calculated according to the end-expiratory thickness and end-inspiratory thickness of the right diaphragm. The receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of DTF and IWI for successful weaning, and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to the best critical value. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and best cutoff value of DTF to predict successful weaning was 0.772, 0.727, and 0.293, respectively, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.72 (95%CI 0.59-0.86, p = 0.003). The sensitivity, specificity, and best cutoff value of IWI to predict successful weaning was 0.614, 0.909, 53.00, respectively, and AUC was 0.82 (95%CI 0.72-0.91, p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and best cutoff value of the combination of DTF and IWI to predict successful weaning was 0.614, 0.909, 17.848, respectively, and AUC was 0.84 (95%CI 0.75-0.93, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DTF and IWI can guide the selection of weaning, while DTF combined with IWI can improve the effect of weaning prediction and provide support for patients' weaning safety.

The effects of flexible short protocol with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist on preventing premature ovulation in poor responders.

PURPOSE: The proportion of patients with poor ovarian response (POR) is increasing, but effective treatment remains a challenge. To control the hidden peaks of luteinizing hormone (LH) and premature ovulation for poor responders, this study investigated the efficacy of flexible short protocol (FSP) with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) on trigger day. METHODS: The 662 cycles of POR patients were retrospectively analyzed. The cohort was divided into control and intervention groups. The intervention group (group A) with 169 cycles received a GnRH-ant given on trigger day. The control (group B) with 493 cycles received only FSP. The clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Compared with group B, with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) on trigger day in group A the incidences of spontaneous premature ovulation decreased significantly (2.37% vs. 8.72%, P < 0.05). The number of fresh embryo-transfer cycles was 45 in group A and 117 in group B. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes, including implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate and the cumulative live birth rate (12.0% vs. 9.34%; 22.22% vs. 21.93%; 17.78% vs. 14.91%; 20.51% vs. 20%, respectively; P > 0.05) between the two group. CONCLUSION: FSP with GnRH-ant addition on trigger day had no effect on clinical outcomes, but could effectively inhibit the hidden peaks of luteinizing hormone (LH) and spontaneous premature ovulation in POR. Therefore, it is an advantageous option for POR women.

Timely identification of atypical acute aortic dissection in the emergency department:a study from a tertiary hospital

Background/aim: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a rare but fatal disease if left untreated. Symptoms are often similar to common conditions; therefore, the diagnostic strategy is important. We aimed to identify the atypical symptoms in a timely manner without putting patients at greater risk for undetected AAD. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 59 AAD patients with both atypical and typical symptoms from January 2012 to December 2016. Patients with atypical symptoms continuing more than 30 min underwent a D-dimer test and computed tomography (CT) or computed tomographic angiography (CTA). Results: Of the 59 AAD patients, 22 were atypical. In the atypical group, the median delay time in our hospital was 3.1 h; average delay time after July 2015 was shorter than average delay time before June 2015 (16.59 ± 24.70 vs. 1.90 ± 0.57 h, P = 0.076). Conclusions: For patients in the emergency department who are suspected of having AAD, incorporating atypical symptoms with high levels of D-dimer into a triage strategy could improve the efficiency of clinical decision making. Furthermore, essential education directed towards the recognition of the atypical symptoms of AAD for front-line physicians may aid in a timely diagnosis, as compared with the usual assessments in the emergency department.

Decreased frequency of peripheral blood CD8+CD25+FoxP3+regulatory T cells correlates with IL-33 levels in pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the role of CD8+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory T (Treg) cells in pre-eclampsia (PE). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 46 patients with PE and 24 normotensive women within the third trimester of gestation. We analyzed the percentages of CD8+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry and the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A, IL-10, TGF-ß1, IL-1ß, and IL-33 by Luminex 200. RESULTS: We found that patients with PE had lower percentages of CD8+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells than normotensive pregnant women. In addition, the percentage of CD8+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells was positively correlated with IL-33 concentration and negatively correlated with IL-17A concentration in patients with PE. We also found that IL-33 treatment can induce proliferation of CD8+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the reduced CD8+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of PE. Abbreviations PE: pre-eclampsia; PBMCs: peripheral blood mononuclear cells; CTLA-4: cytotoxic T-lymphocyteantigen-4; APCs: antigen presenting cells; TGF-ß: transforming growth factor-ß; IL: interleukin; Treg: cells regulatory T cells; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; Foxp3: forkhead Box protein 3; HELLPs: hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme and low platelet syndrome.

Significance of Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling in Peripheral Blood Monocytes of Pre-eclamptic Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious condition affecting pregnant women and placing both the mother and fetus at risk. While little is known about the pathogenesis of PE, there is evidence for involvement from the maternal innate immune system, specifically, signaling arising from monocytes. The present study was to explore the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 on peripheral blood monocyte in the pathogenesis of PE. METHODS: This study included 22 patients with established preeclampsia and 23 healthy pregnant women (HP). All participants gave informed written consent for 4 mL of fresh venous blood to be collected into a tube containing heparin. The expression of TLR4 on monocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). Monocytes were stimulated with LPS for 18 h and cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-12P70, IL-10, and TNF-α) in supernatants was analyzed with Luminex platform (Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX). The expression of TLR4 and cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-12P70, IL-10, and TNF-α) was compared between women with PE and healthy pregnant women. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the percentage of TLR4+ monocytes was significantly higher in PE patients. Collected monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation had increased cytokine production, and monocytes from PE patients produced more IL-6 and TNF-α, and less IL-10 than cells from healthy participants. PE patients also showed a positive correlation between the percentage of TLR4+ monocytes and serum levels of IL-6 and TNFα. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that TLR4 signaling may play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Vitamin D3 alters Toll-like receptor 4 signaling in monocytes of pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia.

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is thought to play a role in the development of preeclampsia; however, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia according to abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveform. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive a daily dose of 2000 IU vitamin D3 supplements (n=30) or receive placebo (n=30) between gestational weeks 20-32 for a total of 12 consecutive weeks. Because vitamin D3 supplementation can induce anti-inflammatory cytokine signaling, peripheral blood monocytes were investigated by flow cytometry for expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), an important mediator of innate immune response. The pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1 from monocytes, which are typically upregulated in preeclampsia, was also assessed. The incidence of preeclampsia was significantly lower in patients treated with vitamin D3 compared to the placebo group. Both the mean fluorescence intensity and the positive percentage of monocytes TLR4 in the vitamin D group were significantly lower compared to the placebo group, as well as the concentrations of secreted TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1, while the concentration of IL-10 was higher. In the placebo group, the positive frequency of monocytes TLR4 was negatively correlated with the concentration of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in preeclampsia patients. Based on these results, we conclude that vitamin D3 supplementation for patients at risk of preeclampsia leads to a decrease in the expression of peripheral blood monocytes TLR4 and a subsequent decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Therefore, inhibiting the expression of monocytes TLR4 through vitamin D3 supplement may be a new approach to preeclampsia prevention.