Proinflammatory Cytokines Are Modulated in Vietnamese Patients with Dengue Fever.

The clinical outcome of dengue is due to a complex interplay between dengue virus (DENV) and host immune factors, including complement and cytokine systems. Proinflammatory cytokines are mainly produced by monocytes in response to infectious pathogens. This study investigated the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), and IL-12 in Vietnamese patients with dengue, and their correlations with the clinical outcome of dengue infection in 156 patients clinically classified as dengue without warning signs (DWS-, n = 87), dengue with warning signs (DWS+, n = 62), and severe dengue (SD, n = 7) patients as well as in 60 healthy controls (HCs). Serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-12 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-12 levels were significantly increased in dengue patients compared with HCs (p < 0.0001). TNF-α levels were significantly correlated with white blood cells and platelet counts (rs = 0.52, 0.2; p < 0.0001, p = 0.018, respectively). IL-1ß levels were correlated with red blood cells counts and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (rs = 0.23, 0.21, 0.23; p = 0.004, 0.012, 0.005, respectively). The results suggest that these three proinflammatory cytokines are associated with the clinical outcome of dengue and could play roles in the pathogenesis of the disease.

The Role of Serial NT-ProBNP Level in Prognosis and Follow-Up Treatment of Acute Heart Failure after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

BACKGROUND: After coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, heart failure is still major problem. The valuable marker for it is needed. AIM: Evaluating the role of serial NT-proBNP level in prognosis and follow-up treatment of acute heart failure after CABG surgery. METHODS: The prospective, analytic study evaluated 107 patients undergoing CABG surgery at Ho Chi Minh Heart Institute from October 2012 to June 2014. Collecting data was done at pre- and post-operative days with measuring NT-proBNP levels on the day before operation, 2 hours after surgery, every next 24 h until the 5th day, and in case of acute heart failure occurred after surgery. RESULTS: On the first postoperative day (POD1), the NT-proBNP level demonstrated significant value for AHF with the cut-off point = 817.8 pg/mL and AUC = 0.806. On the second and third postoperative day, the AUC value of NT- was 0.753 and 0.751. It was statistically significant in acute heart failure group almost at POD 1 and POD 2 when analyzed by the doses of dobutamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline (both low doses and normal doses). CONCLUSION: Serial measurement of NT-proBNP level provides useful prognostic and follow-up treatment information in acute heart failure after CABG surgery.