Risk factors for early-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors related to ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. From January 2011 to December 2015, a single-center retrospective study including 200 SAH patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) ≥48 h was performed. The clinical data of these patients were collected and analyzed. The age range of the patients were 41-63 and 72 (36%) were male. The Glasgow coma scale score range was 5-15 and the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II range was 31-52. One hundred and forty-eight (74%) patients had a World Federation of Neurosurgeons (WNFS) score ≥III. Aneurysm was secured with an endovascular coiling procedure in 168 (84%) patients and 94 (47%) patients presented VAP. Male gender (OR=2.25, 95%CI=1.15-4.45), use of mannitol (OR=3.02, 95%CI=1.53-5.94) and enteral feeding above 20 kcal·kg-1·day-1 (OR=2.90, 95%CI=1.26-6.67) after day 7 were independent factors for VAP. Patients with early-onset VAP had a longer duration of sedation (P=0.03), MV (P=0.001) and ICU length of stay (P=0.003) and a worse Glasgow Outcome Scale score (P<0.001), but did not have a higher death rate.

Application of ultrasound technology in the study of ischemic postconditioning to protect testes from ischemia-reperfusion injury.

This study was designed to investigate the application of ultrasound technology in the study of ischemic postconditioning to protect testes from ischemia-reperfusion injury. Seventy-two big white rabbits were divided into mild ischemic groups (Group A: A0, A1, A2, A3), moderate ischemic groups (Group B: B0, B1, B2, B3) under ultrasound monitor, and control group (N = 8). Groups A0 and B0 received direct perfusion, while the other groups received a different short time filling/stopped filling treatment (15 s/15 s, 30 s/30 s, or 45 s/45 s) three times before complete perfusion. Each group received contrast-enhanced ultrasound before complete filling. At 3 days after perfusion, the testicular tissue was removed for biopsy. The parameters of testicular contrast in pre-reperfusion groups A and B differed significantly from those of their corresponding control groups (P < 0.05). The changes in testis-related pathological indicators in groups A1 and A2 were more significant than those of group A0 (P < 0.05), and changes in group B2 were more obvious than those of group B0 (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the comparison of other indicators between the corresponding groups (P > 0.05). Ultrasound technology can help build different degree models of ischemic testes and predict the protective effect of post-ischemic treatment.