FOXM1 and CENPF are associated with a poor prognosis through promoting proliferation and migration in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a clinically challenging disease due to its poor prognosis and limited therapeutic methods. The aim of the present study was to identify prognosis-related genes and therapeutic targets for LUAD. Raw data from the GSE32863, GSE41271 and GSE42127 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Following normalization, the data were merged into a matrix, which was first used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and survival analysis were performed to screen potential prognosis-related genes. Gene overlaps among DEGs, survival-related genes and WGCNA genes were finally constructed to obtain candidate genes. An analysis with the STRING database was performed to construct a protein-protein interaction network and hub genes were selected using Cytoscape. The candidate genes were finally identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro experiments, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Cell Counting Kit-8, colony-formation and migration assays, were performed to validate the potential mechanism of these genes in LUAD. Two genes, namely forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and centromere protein F (CENPF), were identified as unfavorable indicators of prognosis in patients with LUAD. High expression of FOXM1 and CENPF were associated with poor survival. Furthermore, LUAD cells with FOXM1 and CENPF knockdown showed a significant reduction in proliferation and migration (P<0.05). FOXM1 and CENPF may have an essential role in the prognosis of patients with LUAD by influencing cell proliferation and migration, and they provide potential molecular targets for LUAD therapy.

A Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Pulmonary Hypertension for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Timely diagnosis of PH in COPD patients is vital to achieve proper treatment; however, there is no algorithm to identify those at high risk. We aimed to develop a predictive model for PH in patients with COPD that provides individualized risk estimates. Methods: A total of 527 patients with COPD who were admitted to our hospital between May 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Using echocardiographic results as a standard, patients were stratified into a moderate- or high-PH probability group and a low-PH probability group. They were randomly grouped into either the training set (n = 368 patients) or validation set (n = 159 patients) in a ratio of 7:3. We utilized the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model to select the feature variables. The characteristic variables selected in the LASSO regression were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression to construct the predictive model. The predictive model was displayed using a nomogram. We used the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) to evaluate model performance, and internal validation was assessed. Results: The predictive factors included in the prediction model were Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage, emphysema, PaCO2, NT-pro-BNP, red blood cell (RBC) distribution width-standard deviation (RDW-SD), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The predictive model yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.770 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.719-0.820); in the internal validation, the AUC was 0.741 (95% CI, 0.659-0.823). The predictive model was well calibrated, and the DCA showed that the proposed nomogram had strong clinical applicability. Conclusion: This study showed that a simple nomogram could be used to calculate the risk of PH in patients with COPD which can be useful for the individualized clinical management of COPD patients who may be occur with PH. Further studies need to be confirmed by larger sample sizes and validated in the stable COPD population.

Clinical Value of FeNO for Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosis in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). METHODS: In this study, the medical records of AECOPD patients were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into AECOPD and AECOPD + PH groups based on the absence or presence of PH. Moreover, FeNO and other indexes were compared between the two groups. The value of FeNO in diagnosing AECOPD with PH was determined using the ROC curve. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were enrolled (56 in the AECOPD group and 27 in the AECOPD + PH group). The level of FeNO was significantly lower in the AECOPD + PH group than in the AECOPD group (P = 0.022). Moreover, FeNO level (25.22 ± 8.45 ppb) was higher in the mild PH subgroup than in the moderate (16.64 ± 5.67 ppb, P = 0.005) or severe (11.75 ± 2.36, P = 0.002) PH subgroups. FeNO level was positively correlated with C-reactive protein in AECOPD patients while negatively correlated with brain natriuretic peptide in the AECOPD + PH group. ROC analysis showed that the optimal cutoff value of FeNO in the diagnosis of AECOPD with PH was 24.5 ppb. CONCLUSION: FeNO level at admission can act as an indicator for PH diagnosis in AECOPD patients.

Nup54-induced CARM1 nuclear importation promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis through transcriptional activation and methylation of Notch2.

Gastric cancer (GC) has the fifth highest incidence globally, but its molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report that coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) is specifically highly expressed in gastric cancer and that its overexpression correlates with poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer. Nucleoporin 54 (Nup54) was identified as a CARM1-interacting protein that promoted CARM1 nuclear importation. In the nucleus, CARM1 cooperates with transcriptional factor EB (TFEB) to activate Notch2 transcription by inducing H3R17me2 of the Notch2 promoter but not H3R26me2. Additionally, the Notch2 intracellular domain (N2ICD) was identified as a CARM1 substrate. Methylation of N2ICD at R1786, R1838, and R2047 by CARM1 enhanced the binding between N2ICD and mastermind-like protein 1 (MAML1) and increased gastric cancer cell proliferation in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. Our findings reveal a molecular mechanism linking CARM1-mediated transcriptional activation of the Notch2 signaling pathway to Notch2 methylation in gastric cancer progression.

Comparison of invasive intubation and noninvasive mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The concurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is defined as overlap syndrome (OS), but investigations into predictors of OS in patients with COPD remain limited. Here, potential markers of OS in patients with COPD were investigated, and results of intubation were compared between patients with COPD only or OS. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with COPD who were divided according to OS diagnosis: COPD only (COPD group) or OS (OS group). RESULTS: Among 206 patients with COPD, 120 were diagnosed with OS. Mean body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in the OS versus COPD group (28.95 ± 2.96 versus 23.84 ± 4.06, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that BMI was associated with OS (area under the curve, 0.835). The rate of invasive intubation within 48 h was lower in the OS versus COPD group (9.2% versus 20.9%, respectively), and the duration of noninvasive ventilation was longer in the OS versus COPD group. CONCLUSIONS: BMI may be a predictor of OS in patients with COPD. The duration of noninvasive ventilation was longer in patients with OS than in patients with COPD alone.

[Risk factors analysis of central venous catheter-related thrombosis in critically ill patients and development of nomogram prediction model].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors of central venous catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) in critically ill patients and develop the model of a nomogram. METHODS: A prospective investigation study was conducted on 385 critically ill patients who received central venous catheters during hospitalization in Hengshui People's Hospital from May 2018 to March 2021. Color Doppler ultrasonography was performed daily after catheterization. Patients were divided into thrombosis group and non-thrombosis group according to whether CRT was formed. The patient's gender, age, body mass index (BMI), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, complications, existing tumor, D-dimer level on the 3rd day after catheterization, maximum velocity of right internal jugular vein on the 3rd day after catheterization, mechanical ventilation time, and catheter indwelling time were recorded, and the differences of above indexes between the two groups were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression was performed on the influencing factors with statistical differences between the two groups to establish the nomogram prediction. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) and calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive power of the model. RESULTS: The incidence of central venous CRT in critically ill patients was 16.1% (62/385). Compared with non-thrombosis patients, the thrombosis group patients had higher APACHE II score, the proportion of existing tumor, and D-dimer level on the 3rd day after catheterization [APACHE II score: 17 (15, 19) vs. 15 (12, 18), the proportion of existing tumor: 51.6% (32/62) vs. 35.3% (114/323), D-dimer (mg/L): 0.84 (0.64, 0.94) vs. 0.57 (0.44, 0.76), all P < 0.05], the maximum flow rate of right internal jugular vein was slower on the 3rd day after catheterization [cm/s: 14 (13, 15) vs. 16 (14, 18), P < 0.05]. Univariate analysis showed that high APACHE II score, critical patients with existing tumor, high D-dimer level on the 3rd day after catheterization, and slow maximum flow rate of right internal jugular vein on the 3rd day after catheterization were more likely to develop central venous CRT. Further multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high APACHE II score, existing tumor, high D-dimer level on the 3rd day after catheterization and slow maximum flow rate of right internal jugular vein on the 3rd day after catheterization were independent risk factors for central venous CRT in critical patients [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were 0.876 (0.801-0.957), 0.482 (0.259-0.895), 0.039 (0.011-0.139), 1.401 (1.218-1.611), and P values were 0.003, 0.021, < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively]. According to the results of multivariate analysis, the prediction model of the nomogram was constructed. The area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.820, 95%CI was 0.767-0.872, P < 0.001. The calibration curve showed that the prediction probability of central venous CRT nomogram model in critically ill patients had good consistency with the actual occurrence probability. CONCLUSIONS: Existing tumor, high APACHE II score, elevated D-dimer on the 3rd day after catheterization, and decreased maximum velocity of right internal jugular vein on the 3rd day after catheterization are independent risk factors for central venous CRT in critical patients. The prediction model based on the proposed model has good clinical efficacy.

Relationship between end-tidal carbon dioxide and arterial carbon dioxide in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation: A cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: So far, only a few studies have examined and confirmed the correlation between end-expiratory carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2) and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) during invasive mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients. This study aimed to observe the correlation between PaCO2 and PETCO2 in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation.This was a cross-sectional study of adult patients on invasive mechanical ventilation enrolled between June 2018 and March 2019. Patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation underwent one of the following mechanical ventilation modes: assisted/controlled ventilation, synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation, and spontaneous breathing. Subsequently, the difference and correlation between PETCO2 and PaCO2 were analyzed.A total of 184 patients with 298 pairs of PETCO2-PaCO2 data were included in the analysis. Without distinguishing the ventilator mode, there was significant positive correlation between PETCO2 and PaCO2. In different ventilator modes, the correlation coefficient was 0.81 for synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation, 0.47 for assisted/controlled ventilation, and 0.55 for spontaneous breathing, respectively. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (r = 0.80), multiple trauma (r = 0.64), severe pneumonia (r = 0.60), gastrointestinal surgery (r = 0.57), and cerebrovascular diseases (r = 0.53), PETCO2 and PaCO2 were positively correlated. For oxygenation index <200 mm Hg, correlation coefficient r = 0.69, P < .001; oxygenation index ≥200, r = 0.73, P < .001. Under different oxygenation indexes, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 correlation coefficients. Among 116 pairs of data with oxygenation index <200 mm Hg, the difference of PaCO2-PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg was found in 25 pairs (21.55%); in 182 pairs of data with oxygenation index ≥200 mm Hg, the difference of PaCO2-PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg was found in 26 pairsIn patients on invasive mechanical ventilation, there was a good correlation between PETCO2 and PaCO2 in different ventilator modes, different disease types, and different oxygenation indexes, especially in synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation mode and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

The applied research on the intra-abdominal pressure monitoring in early enteral nutrition in patients with severe pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the applied value of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring in early enteral nutrition (EEN) in patients with severe pneumonia. METHODS: 96 patients with severe pneumonia who underwent EEN treatment in our hospital from June 2017 to June 2019 were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into a control group (48 patients) and an observation group (48 patients). The control group was treated using the conventional EN method, and the observation group was treated using the intra-abdominal pressure monitoring besides the conventional EN method. The incidence of EN intolerance, the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APECHEll) scores, the positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) value, mechanical ventilation time, EN implementation days, length of stay in ICU, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, mortality, and the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the incidence of EEN intolerance in the observation group was significantly reduced. The results of univariate analysis showed that, in the EN intolerance group, the IAP, the PEEP value and APACHEII scores after 3 days of EEN implementation were higher than the EEN tolerance group, indicating a influencing factor of EEN intolerance (P<0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that IAP value was a risk factor for EEN intolerance (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis result for IAP to predict EEN tolerance showed that the area under the curve for IAP value to predict EN tolerance was 0.856, the optimal cut-off value was 10.73 mmHg, the sensitivity was 95.10%, and the specificity was 89.60%. CONCLUSION: The intra-abdominal pressure monitoring during the EEN in patients with severe pneumonia is a preferred method to guide the patients' EEN.

Application of intra-abdominal pressure monitoring in early enteral nutrition after abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of intra-abdominal pressure monitoring in early enteral nutrition therapy after abdominal surgery. METHODS: 164 patients who underwent elective abdominal surgery in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 82 cases in each group. On the basis of conventional enteral nutrition nursing, the control group received conventional gastric residual monitoring, and the observation group received intra-abdominal pressure monitoring. The clinical treatment effect, intra-abdominal pressure, incidence of intra-abdominal hypertension, APACHE-II score, and enteral nutrition tolerance were compared. Correlation of early enteral nutrition intolerance and intra-abdominal pressure was analyzed in the ROC curve. RESULTS: The time of abdominal pain relief, adjusted enteral nutrition, and hospitalization were significantly shorter in the observation group (P < 0.05). The intra-abdominal pressure, intra-abdominal hypertension rate, and APACHE-II scores were comparable before treatment (P > 0.05) and all were significantly reduced after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05). After treatment, the above items were significantly lower in the observation group (P < 0.05). The enteral nutrition's tolerance level of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the early enteral nutrition tolerance of patients after abdominal surgery was correlated with the level of intra-abdominal pressure (P < 0.05). The ROC reveled that the baseline level of intra-abdominal pressure and the average level of intra-abdominal pressure 3 days before enteral nutrition were of diagnostic values in predicting the intolerance during enteral nutrition. CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal pressure monitoring can significantly improve patients' symptoms, and it should be accurately measured for doctors to make timely diagnoses and provide proper treatments.

The predictive value of serum procalcitonin for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to estimate the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) prediction in the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).A total of 220 AECOPD patients were divided into NIPPV group (n = 121) and control group (routine treatment, n = 99) based on the routine standards and physicians' experience. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent factors for NIPPV treatment. Additionally, the predictive values of the factors were measured through receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve.NIPPV group and control group showed significant differences in respiratory rate (RR), PaO2, PaCO2, pH, oxygenation index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), neutrophil, CRP (C-reaction protein), and PCT (P < .05 for all). PCT, CRP, PaCO2, RR, and neutrophil were independently correlated with NIPPV treatment in AECOPD. ROC curve showed that PCT had superior predictive value, with AUC of 0.899, the sensitivity of 86%, and the specificity of 91.9%. The cut-off value of serum PCT for NIPPV prediction was 88.50 ng/l.AECOPD patients who require NIPPV treatment frequently have high levels of PCT, CRP, PaCO2, RR and neutrophil. Serum PCT may be employed as an indicator for NIPPV treatment in AECOPD patients.

[Etiological analysis of 61 286 hospitalized specimens from a tertiary hospital over 5 years].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detection and distribution of hospitalized specimens from a tertiary hospital over 5 years. METHODS: Specimens of sputum, urine, blood, secretions and puncture fluid were collected from patients admitted to the Harrison International Peace Hospital from November 2013 to November 2018. The origin of specimens, the distribution of departments and the distribution of pathogenic bacteria isolated were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 61 286 specimens were sent for examination during the 5 years. The top 5 specimens were sputum culture (n = 18 302, 29.9%), sputum smear (n = 11 253, 18.4%), blood culture (n = 9 713, 15.8%), urine culture (n = 6 448, 10.5%) and secretion culture (n = 6 133, 10.0%), accounting for 84.6% (51 849/61 286). Sputum specimens accounted for 48.2% (29 555/61 286) with the largest proportion. The number of specimens from medical wards was much higher than that from surgical wards (specimens: 25 468 vs. 10 521), respiratory medicine, department of critical care medicine and emergency intensive care unit (EICU) were important sources of pathogenic specimens in the hospital, accounting for 29.8% (18 243/61 286) in total. The average positive rate of all specimens was 23.5% (14 424/61 286). The positive rates of sputum culture and urine culture were 29.7% (5 428/18 302) and 35.4% (2 281/6 448), respectively, while the positive rate of blood culture was only 6.6% (643/9 713). Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen in all specimens except for sputum culture and fecal culture. Escherichia coli [40.6% (926/2 281)], Klebsiella pneumoniae [9.2% (210/2 281)], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [8.2% (188/2 281)], Enterococcus faecalis (group D) [6.6% (151/2 281)] and Candida albicans [3.2% (73/2 281)] were the most common pathogens in urine culture. Klebsiella pneumoniae [24.1% (1 309/5 428)], Acinetobacter baumannii [21.3% (1 154/5 428)], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [15.1% (818/5 428)], Escherichia coli [6.5% (351/5 428)] and Maltose oligotrophomonas maltose [5.8% (316/5 428)] were the most common pathogens in sputum culture. Escherichia coli [36.5% (235/643)], Klebsiella pneumoniae [10.9% (70/643)], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [4.8% (31/643)], Staphylococcus epidermidis [3.4% (22/643)] and Staphylococcus humanis [3.3% (21/643)] were the most common pathogens in blood culture. CONCLUSIONS: Specimens sent for examination by inpatients are mainly from internal medicine wards, mainly from sputum, blood and urine, and the detected pathogens are mainly Gram-negative bacteria.

Procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, PaCO2, and noninvasive mechanical ventilation failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

It is unclear whether procalcitonin (PCT) is correlated with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) failure. This retrospective case-control study aimed to compare PCT levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and PaCO2 in patients (05/2014-03/2015 at the Harrison International Peace Hospital, China) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and NIV failure/success.This was a retrospective case-control study of patients with AECOPD who required NIV between May 2014 and March 2015. All consecutive patients with AECOPD admitted at the Department of Critical Care Medicine and transferred from the general ward were included in the study. Hemogram, PCT, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), arterial blood gas (ABG), and CRP levels were measured ≤1 hour before NIV was used. NIV was considered to have failed if at least one of the following criteria was met: cardiac arrest or severe hemodynamic instability; respiratory arrest or gasping; mask intolerance; difficulty in clearing bronchial secretions; or worsening of ABGs or sensorium level during NIV. The factors associated with NIV failure were determined.A total of 376 patients were included: 286 with successful NIV and 90 wither NIV failure. The multivariate analysis showed that PCT (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.2-3.2, P = .006), CRP (OR = 1.2, 95%CI: 1.1-1.3, P < .001), and PaCO2 (OR = 1.1, 95%CI: 1.1-1.2, P < .001) ≤1 hour before NIV were independently associated with NIV failure. The optimal cutoff were 0.31 ng/mL for PCT (sensitivity, 83.3%; specificity, 83.7%), 15.0 mg/mL for CRP (sensitivity, 75.6%; specificity, 93.0%), and 73.5 mm Hg for PaCO2 (sensitivity, 71.1%; specificity, 100%). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.854 for PCT, 0.849 for CRP, and 0.828 for PaCO2. PCT, CRP, and PaCO2 were used to obtain a combined prediction factor, which achieved an AUC of 0.978 (95%CI: 0.961-0.995).High serum PCT, CRP, and PaCO2 levels predict NIV failure for patients with AECOPD. The combination of these three parameters might enable even more accurate prediction.

Early use of noninvasive techniques for clearing respiratory secretions during noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypercapnic encephalopathy: A prospective cohort study.

Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) might be superior to conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs). Inefficient clearance of respiratory secretions provokes NPPV failure in patients with hypercapnic encephalopathy (HE). This study compared CMV and NPPV combined with a noninvasive strategy for clearing secretions in HE and AECOPD patients.The present study is a prospective cohort study of AECOPD and HE patients enrolled between October 2013 and August 2015 in a critical care unit of a major university teaching hospital in China.A total of 74 patients received NPPV and 90 patients received CMV. Inclusion criteria included the following: physician-diagnosed AECOPD, spontaneous airway clearance of excessive secretions, arterial blood gas analysis requiring intensive care, moderate-to-severe dyspnea, and a Kelly-Matthay scale score of 3 to 5. Exclusion criteria included the following: preexisting psychiatric/neurological disorders unrelated to HE, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, upper airway obstruction, acute coronary syndromes, preadmission tracheostomy or endotracheal intubation, and urgent endotracheal intubation for cardiovascular, psychomotor agitation, or severe hemodynamic conditions.Intensive care unit participants were managed by NPPV. Participants received standard treatment consisting of controlled oxygen therapy during NPPV-free periods; antibiotics, intravenous doxofylline, corticosteroids (e.g., salbutamol and ambroxol), and subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin; and therapy for comorbidities if necessary. Nasogastric tubes were inserted only in participants who developed gastric distension. No pharmacological sedation was administered.The primary and secondary outcome measures included comparative complication rates, durations of ventilation and hospitalization, number of invasive devices/patient, and in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates.Arterial blood gases and sensorium levels improved significantly within 2 hours in the NPPV group with lower hospital mortality, fewer complications and invasive devices/patient, and superior weaning off mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation duration, hospital stay, or 1-year mortality was similar between groups.NPPV combined with a noninvasive strategy to clear secretions during the first 2 hours may offer advantages over CMV in treating AECOPD patients complicated by HE.

[Analysis of death risk factors for nosocomial infection patients in an ICU: a retrospective review of 864 patients from 2009 to 2015].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mortality risk factors of nosocomial infection patients in intensive care unit (ICU), and to guide clinicians to take effective control measures. METHODS: A retrospectively cohort study was conducted. The relevant information of patients with nosocomial infection treated in ICU of Hengshui Harrison International Peace Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical University from June 2009 to December 2015 was analyzed. The patients who admitted to ICU again, with length of ICU stay less than 48 hours, without first etiology of screening within 48 hours of ICU admission, or without complete pathogenic information were excluded. The gender, age, diagnosis, length of ICU stay, invasive operation, nutritional status, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEII) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, distribution and drug resistance of the pathogens, and procalcitonin (PCT) levels at 7 days after nosocomial infection were recorded. The risk factors leading to death in patients with nosocomial infection were analyzed by logistic regression, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of all risk factors on the outcome of patients with nosocomial infection. RESULTS: In 864 enrolled patients with male of 54.75% and mean age of (63.50±15.80) years, 732 (84.72%) patients survived and 132 (15.28%) died. Compared with survivors, the non-survivors had higher age (years: 65.47±15.32 vs. 58.15±13.27), incidence of urgent trachea intubation (32.58% vs. 22.81%), deep venous catheterization (83.33% vs. 63.25%), and multiple drug-resistant infection (65.91% vs. 33.20%), longer length of ICU stay (days: 13.56±4.29 vs. 10.29±4.32) and duration of coma (days: 7.36±2.46 vs. 5.48±2.14), lower albumin (g/L: 23.64±8.47 vs. 26.36±12.84), higher APACHEII score (19.28±5.16 vs. 17.56±5.62), SOFA score (8.55±1.34 vs. 6.43±2.65), and PCT (µg/L: 3.06±1.36 vs. 2.53±0.87, all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in gender and urinary tract catheterization between survivors and non-survivors (both P > 0.05). The low respiratory tract was the most common site of infection followed by urinary tract and bloodstream in both groups. It was shown by logistic regression analysis that prolonged ICU stay [odds ratio (OR) = 2.039, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.231-3.473, P = 0.002], APACHEII score (OR = 1.683, 95%CI = 1.002-9.376, P = 0.000), SOFA score (OR = 2.060, 95%CI = 1.208 -14.309, P = 0.041), PCT (OR = 2.090, 95%CI = 1.706-13.098, P = 0.004), and multi-drug resistant pathogens infection (OR = 5.245, 95%CI = 2.213-35.098, P = 0.027) were independent risk factors for ICU mortality in patients with nosocomial infection. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of length of ICU stay, APACHEII score, SOFA score, and PCT level for predicting death of nosocomial infection patients was 0.854, 0.738, 0.786, and 0.849, respectively, the best cut-off value was 16.50 days, 22.45, 6.37 and 3.38 µg/L, respectively, the sensitivity was 83.6%, 90.0%, 81.1%, and 89.6%, and the specificity was 70.3%, 75.6%, 71.3%, and 85.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged ICU stay, nosocomial infection with secondary sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome were the leading causes of death for nosocomial infection patients in ICU. Prolonged ICU stay, APACHE II score, SOFA score, and PCT level could effectively predict death risks for nosocomial infection patients.

[Observation of the use of percutaneous tracheostomy tube for closed drainage of pneumothorax in intensive care unit].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of the transcutaneous tracheostomy tube in patients with pneumothorax and its clinical value. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-two patients with pneumothorax admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Harrison International Peace Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2010 to June 2014 were enrolled. The patients were divided into control group and observation group, with 16 cases in each group. Beside the treatment for primary disease, the patients in control group received thoracic close drainage with traditional silica gel tube as performed by thoracic surgeons, and those in observation group received thoracic close drainage with transcutaneous tracheostomy tube by intensive care doctors. The curative effect and complications of the two groups were observed. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the time from diagnosis to operation (minutes:8.00 ± 1.36 vs. 23.06 ± 3.83, t=14.790, P=0.000) and the operation time were significantly shortened (days:5.37 ± 1.02 vs. 7.31 ± 1.70, t=7.286, P=0.000), the frequency of drainage tube replacement (times: 0.18 ± 0.40 vs. 3.87 ± 1.14, t=12.128, P=0.000) and the times of repeated chest radiography (times:1.12 ± 0.34 vs. 2.93 ± 0.77, t=8.589, P=0.000) in observation group were significantly reduced, the length of hospital day was significantly shortened (days:8.30 ± 1.37 vs. 24.56 ± 5.62, t=17.289, P=0.000), the rates of dislocation of drainage tube (0 vs. 3 cases), obstruction of the tube (0 vs. 5 cases), and subcutaneous emphysema (3 vs. 16 cases) were reduced obviously, but there was no difference in incidence of incision infection (1 vs. 3 cases) and infection of thoracic cavity (0 vs. 2 cases). CONCLUSIONS: The usage of transcutaneous tracheostomy tube in patients with pneumothorax is safe and simple. Doctors in ICU can independently do this procedure, and its effect is positive.

[A prospective randomized controlled trial on effect of norvancomycin tube sealing for prevention of central venous catheter-related infection in critical patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical value of tube-sealing with norvancomycin and heparin saline mixture for prevention of central venous catheter-related infection (CRI). METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed. 120 patients who were admitted to department of critical care medicine from January 2012 to January 2014 were included, with their subclavian vein catheterization installation time longer than 48 hours, age over 18 years and younger than 80 years, and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score reaching 10-29. The patients were divided into two groups using a random number table, and finally 116 patients were enrolled. Norvancomycin and heparin saline mixture were used for tube sealing in the intervention group (n=56), while only heparin saline was used in the control group (n=60). The incidence of CRI, catheter correlated spectrum of pathogens, adverse events, mortality, hospital day, catheter retention time, and hospital costs were compared between two groups. RESULTS: (1) There was no significant difference in the incidence of CRI between intervention group and control group [7.14% (4/56) vs. 8.33% (5/60), χ(2)=0.058, P=1.000]. There was no catheter pathogenic colonization in the intervention group, but there were 2 cases of catheter pathogenic colonization in control group. (2) A total of 7 pathogens were found in two groups. Three cases with pathogenic bacteria was found in the intervention group, with 1 case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 case Acinetobacter baumannii, and 1 case fungi. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, fungi, and Acinetobacter baumannii was found in the control group, with 1 case of each. There was no significantly statistical difference between two groups (all P>0.05), but there was a decreasing trend of Gram-positive cocci infection in the intervention group. (3) There was no significant difference in the catheter thrombosis, local bleeding or hematoma, catheter dislocation and other adverse events between intervention group and control group [21.43% (12/56) vs. 23.33% (14/60), χ(2)=0.060, P=0.806]. (4) There were no significant differences in mortality [7.14% (4/56) vs. 8.33% (5/60), χ(2)=0.058, P=1.000], hospital day (35.9±15.2 days vs. 34.1±16.3 days, t=16.330, P=0.620), catheter retention time (25.0±4.5 days vs. 24.5±5.1 days, t=26.427, P=2.560) and cost of hospitalization (10 thousand Yuan: 3.42±1.22 vs. 3.72±1.30, t=13.215, P=1.560) between intervention group and control group. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with central venous catheter, application norvancomycin with heparin saline mixture for tube sealing did not reduce the incidence of CRI, the incidence of adverse events and mortality, does not reduce hospitalization time, catheter retention time and hospital costs, but may reduce the catheter colonization and infection of Gram-positive bacteria.

DNA-damaging drug-induced apoptosis sensitized by N-myc in neuroblastoma cells.

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid tumours in children (8-10% of all malignancies). Over 22% of cases have N-myc amplification associated with aggressively growing neuroblastomas. Oncogene-induced sensitization of cells to apoptosis is an important mechanism for suppression of tumorigenesis. Tumour suppressors often play a critical role in linking oncogenes to apoptotic machinery. For example, activated p53 then targets both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways to promote apoptosis through transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Understanding of the involved mechanisms has important clinical implications. We have employed DNA-damaging drug-induced apoptosis sensitized by oncogene N-myc as a model. DNA damaging drugs trigger high levels of p53, leading to caspase-9 activation in neuroblastoma cells. Inactivation of p53 protects cells from drug-triggered apoptosis sensitized by N-myc. These findings thus define a molecular pathway for mediating DNA-damaging drug-induced apoptosis sensitized by oncogene, and suggest that inactivation of p53 or other components of this apoptotic pathway may confer drug resistance in neuroblastoma cells. The data also suggests that inactivation of apoptotic pathways through co-operating oncogenes may be necessary for the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma with N-myc amplification.

Essential role for p53 and caspase-9 in DNA damaging drug-induced apoptosis in neuroblastoma IMR32 cells.

Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor of the sympathetic nervous system accounting for up to 10% of pediatric cancers and 15% of cancer-related deaths. It is a useful system for investigation of stress signal-mediated apoptosis as a tumor suppression mechanism. In this study, we present evidence that p53 mediates DNA damaging drug-induced apoptosis in IMR32 cells through the caspase-9 pathway. In summary, we define a molecular pathway for mediating DNA damaging drug-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma IMR32 cells and suggest that inactivation of essential components of this apoptotic pathway may confer drug resistance on neuroblastoma cells.

[Intervention effect of tongfei mixture on nocturnal hypoxia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of tongfei mixture (TFM, a Chinese recipe mainly consisted of angelica and rehmannia root) on nocturnal hypoxia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Sixty patients with COPD of remission phase were randomly divided into 3 groups, 20 in each group. Group A was the control group; Group B, the group simply treated with oxygen; Group C, treated with oxygen and TFM. Changes of pulmonary function, diaphragm muscle mobility (DMM), 6 min walk distance (6MWD), morning arterial blood gas, nocturnal lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO2), mean blood oxygen saturation (MSaO2), the percentage of saturation lower than 90% time account for total sleeping time (SLT90%) and ultrasonocardiogram before and after treatment were observed. RESULTS: Levels of LSaO2, MSaO2 and SLT90% in Groups B and C were significantly higher than those in Group A (P<0.05, P<0.01). The lowering of PaCO2 in Group C was more significant than that in Group B (P<0.05). The mPAP level in Group C was lower, FEV1, 6MWD and DMM were improved than those in Group A and B, showing significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined use of oxygen therapy and TFM could not only improve the nocturnal hypoxia, but also lower PaCO2. TFM is an important supplement of oxygen therapy.