Causal relationships between dietary habits and Barrett's esophagus risk: a univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization study.

Aims: Dietary habits are reported to be associated with Barrett's esophagus (BE) risk; however, whether there is a causal relationship remains controversial. Here, we systematically examined the causal effects of genetically predicted dietary habits on BE risk through a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis approach. Methods: Data for exposures were obtained from the UK Biobank (UKB), while the summary-level data for outcomes were obtained from a large sample-size GWAS meta-analysis. Genetic variants associated with 17 ordinary dietary habits at the genome-wide significance level were regarded as instrumental variables (IVs). Univariable and multivariable MR analyses were conducted to explore the causal relationships between dietary habits and BE risk. Sensitivity analyses were implemented to evaluate robustness of the results and determine the potential pleiotropy bias. Results: Univariable MR (UVMR) analysis showed that genetic predisposition to alcohol intake frequency, cooked vegetable intake, beef intake, bread intake, fresh fruit intake, salad/raw vegetable intake, and dried fruit intake were associated with BE risk, with all P values <0.05. After adjusting confounders, the effects of four dietary habits on BE risk persisted; multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis revealed that alcohol intake frequency (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.74 (1.34, 2.27); P = 3.42 × 10-5) was causally associated with higher BE risk, the cooked vegetable intake (adjusted OR = 2.64 (1.16, 5.97); P = 0.02) had suggestively increased BE risk, while higher consumption of bread (adjusted OR = 0.54 (0.32-0.91); P = 0.02) and fresh fruit (adjusted OR = 0.34 (0.15, 0.77); P = 0.01) were suggestively associated with lower BE risk. Conclusions: These MR analyses demonstrate evidence of causal relationships between dietary habits and BE risk. These findings provide new insights into targeted dietary intervention strategies for BE prevention.

Nursing Care of Patient With Tracheostomy Tube Cuff Rupture Caused by Tracheal Polyp: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Tracheostomy is common in patients with critical illness. Mechanical ventilation requires the airway to be closed by an inflated tracheostomy tube cuff. Tracheostomy tube cuff rupture is a serious complication of airway management. This case study summarizes the nursing care of a patient who received prolonged mechanical ventilation and had recurrent tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures caused by a tracheal polyp. CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: An 81-year-old woman was admitted because of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The patient had undergone percutaneous tracheostomy 3 years earlier because of difficulty in weaning from the ventilator and had recurrent lung infections that led to respiratory failure. A tracheal polyp was identified as the cause of multiple tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures. OUTCOMES: After the tracheal polyp was removed with bronchofiberscope guidance, the patient remained hospitalized because of difficulty in ventilator weaning but had no further tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures. CONCLUSION: Tracheal polyps that cause tracheostomy tube cuff ruptures are rare, but nurses should be alert to their occurrence. If a tube cuff ruptures in a patient receiving long-term mechanical ventilation, bronchoscopy should be performed as soon as possible to allow for early identification of the cause and ensure patient safety.

Association between gene polymorphism of inflammatory factors, thrombogenic factors, and stress-related proteins and abdominal aortic aneurysm: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a deadly disease in the elderly population. Currently, the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the presence of AAAs has become a hot topic and is a concern for many researchers. METHOD: We performed a document retrieval in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (to January 2020). A total of 17 case-control reports on SNPs of AAAs and eight SNPs of correlation factors were selected. All essential data, including race, age, country, criteria of AAA diagnosis, method of AAA measurement, method of genotype detection, name of SNPs, minor allele frequency (MAF), Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) of the control group, and number of cases and control groups were extracted by two reviewers independently. The fixed-effect model and random-effect model were used to calculate the overall odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The association between selected SNPs and the presence of AAAs was evaluated under different genetic models (dominant, codominant, recessive, overdominant, and allele models). RESULTS: A total of 17 articles (sample size ranging from to 42-665 AAA cases and 49-2,297 controls) and 23 SNPs of related factors were identified. Eight SNPs were assessed in at least two studies and were selected for further meta-analysis. We found that the A allele of interleukin (IL)-10 (-1082 G/A) (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.18-1.54, p < 0.0001) was a risk factor for AAAs under random and fixed-effect models. In addition, partial genetic models of these SNPs were confirmed to be related to the presence of AAA. Subgroup analysis revealed that haptoglobin (HP)-1 was a risk factor for AAAs (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.04-1.63, p = 0.02) in the European population. No association was found between the occurrence of AAA and the other SNPs. CONCLUSION: In our current meta-analysis, we speculated that the genotype distribution of IL-10 (-1082 G/A) may be associated with the emergence of AAA.

Investigation and analysis of status of mechanical prevention of venous thrombosis in ICU.

AIMS: The presented paper aims at understanding the current situation of mechanical prevention of venous thrombosis in ICU. DESIGN: A questionnaire survey. METHODS: A self-developed Questionnaire on the Current Situation of VTE Mechanical Prevention in ICU was distributed. RESULTS: A total of 125 valid questionnaires were collected. The results shows that only 11.2% ICUs had the ratio of mechanical prevention equipment to the bed number ≥0.8:1; there was significant differences among ICU nurses in different levels of hospitals in mastering the indications, contraindications and use process of venous thromboembolism mechanical prevention; 42 ICUs (33.6%) used disposable leg covers for patients before the use of mechanical prevention equipment. The face-to-face teaching model was the main method adopted in the education and training of mechanical prevention.

The value of ROX index in predicting the outcome of high flow nasal cannula: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy is widely employed in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) patients. However, the techniques for predicting HFNC outcome remain scarce. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched until April 20, 2021. We included the studies that evaluated the potential predictive value of ROX (respiratory rate-oxygenation) index for HFNC outcome. This meta-analysis determined sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic score, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and pooled area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve. RESULTS: We assessed nine studies with 1933 patients, of which 745 patients experienced HFNC failure. This meta-analysis found that sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, diagnostic score, and DOR of ROX index in predicting HFNC failure were 0.67 (95% CI 0.57-0.76), 0.72 (95% CI 0.65-0.78), 2.4 (95% CI 2.0-2.8), 0.46 (95% CI 0.37-0.58), 1.65(95% CI 1.37-1.93), and 5.0 (95% CI 4.0-7.0), respectively. In addition, SROC was 0.75 (95% CI 0.71-0.79). Besides, our subgroup analyses revealed that ROX index had higher sensitivity and specificity for predicting HFNC failure in COVID-19 patients, use the cut-off value > 5, and the acquisition time of other times after receiving HFNC had a greater sensitivity and specificity when compared to 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that ROX index could function as a novel potential marker to identify patients with a higher risk of HFNC failure. However, the prediction efficiency was moderate, and additional research is required to determine the optimal cut-off value and propel acquisition time of ROX index in the future. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021240607.

Glucocorticoids for acute respiratory distress syndrome: A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids are some of the most commonly used drugs for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the curative effect and side effects of glucocorticoids in treating patients with ARDS remain controversial. METHODS: Three databases were searched until 2 July 2020, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared glucocorticoids versus other therapies in the treatment of ARDS were included in this meta-analysis. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs with 1362 ARDS patients were assessed. Overall, no statistically significant effect was found on mortality between the glucocorticoid group and the control group of ARDS patients. In the subgroup analysis, no benefit of glucocorticoids for ARDS on mortality was found in trials stratified according to low versus high risk of bias or with vs. without a loading dose. As for the dose and length of therapy, no statistically significant effect was found on mortality with high-dose, short-course glucocorticoid therapy. However, lower-dose and longer-course therapy with glucocorticoids was found to decrease the mortality of ARDS patients (lower dose: RR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.51-0.93, P = .02; longer-course therapy: RR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.37-0.99, P = .04). The TSA showed that more trials are needed to confirm the results. CONCLUSIONS: Longer- and lower-dose glucocorticoid treatment may improve the prognosis of ARDS patients, but RCTs with higher quality and larger sample sizes are needed to further clarify the clinical effects of glucocorticoids on ARDS.

Analysis of sepsis-related genes through weighted gene co-expression network / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To identify the Key genes in the development of sepsis through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).Methods:The gene expression dataset GSE154918 was downloaded from the public database Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, which containes data from 105 microarrays of 40 control cases, 12 cases of asymptomatic infection, 39 cases of sepsis, and 14 cases of follow-up sepsis. The R software was used to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEG) in sepsis, and the distributed access view integrated database (DAVID), search tool for retrieval of interacting neighbouring genes (STRING) and visualization software Cytoscape were used to perform gene function and pathway enrichment analysis, Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and key gene analysis to screen out the key genes in the development of sepsis.Results:Forty-six candidate genes were obtained by WGCNA and combined with DEG expression analysis, and these 46 genes were analyzed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto City Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment to obtain gene functions and involved signaling pathways. The PPI network was further constructed using the STRING database, and 5 key genes were selected by the PPI network visualization software Cytoscape, including the mast cell expressed membrane protein 1 gene (MCEMP1), the S100 calcium-binding protein A12 gene (S100A12), the adipokine resistance factor gene (RETN), the c-type lectin structural domain family 4 member gene (CLEC4D), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gene (PPARG), and differential expression analysis of each of these 5 genes showed that the expression levels of the above 5 genes were significantly upregulated in sepsis patients compared with healthy controls.Conclusion:In this study, 5 key genes related to sepsis were screened by constructing WGCNA method, which may be potential candidate targets related to sepsis diagnosis and treatment.

Integrin ανß3 modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced hyperpermeability in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.

Previous studies suggest an association of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) hyperpermeability with sepsis-related cardiac injury. Our results showed that CMECs permeability was dependent upon concentration and time of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation. Integrin ανß3 expression decreased after LPS stimulation. Pretreatment with anti-integrin ανß3 antibody enhanced LPS-induced hyperpermeability. Upregulation of integrin ανß3 decreased LPS-induced hyperpermeability. F-actin remodeling was enhanced after LPS stimulation and was inhibited by up-regulation of integrin ανß3. Inhibition of Src or Rac1 reduced CMECs permeability after LPS stimulation, but there were no differences in the phosphorylation of Src and Rac1 when over-expressing or blocking integrin ß3. After pretreatment with Src or Rac1 inhibitor, no significant difference was found in the expression of integrin ανß3 in LPS-induced CMECs. These finding suggested that integrin ανß3 overexpression decreased LPS-stimulated CMECS permeability by inhibition of cytoskeletal remodeling, but the mechanism might not be mediated via Src/Rac1 signaling.

Cerebral Salt-wasting Syndrome in a Critically Ill Patient: An Easily Neglected Syndrome in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

BACKGROUND: Cerebral salt-wasting syndrome (CSWS), which usually secondary to cerebral diseases, is characterized by hyponatremia and hypovolemia. In clinical practice, it is quite difficult to distinguish CSWS from other hyponatremia syndrome, especially in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where the conditions of patients are more complicated. Nonetheless, it is crucial because treatments might be fundamentally different. CASE PRESENTATION: We discuss a case of patient who presented with refractory hyponatremia and hypovolemia after traumatic brain injury, finally was diagnosed with CSWS, and successfully treated with corticotropin. CONCLUSIONS: This case report provides a unique opportunity to observe the trigger of subdural effusion-induced CSWS, and also it provides the classical therapy for CSWS in a critically ill patient. In view of the difficulty to tell CSWS from other similar diseases in ICU, ICU doctors should be aware of such condition.

The prognostic role of the programmed death-1 expression on T lymphocytes in septic patients / 中华内科杂志

Objective:To investigate the value of programmed death-1（PD-1） expression on the T lymphocytes for the prognosis of septic patients.Methods:From September 2017 to May 2019, septic patients were included in Department of Intensive Care Unit at 6 hospitals. The PD-1 expression on T cells were measured by flow cytometry. Logistic regression was conducted to analyze independent risk factors related to death within 28 days，and receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) was conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of PD-1 expression on T cells in septic patients.Results:A total of 64 septic patients were enrolled to this study，including 32 survivors and 32 deaths. The PD-1 expression on T cells in the death group was significantly higher than that in the surviving group ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the percentages of PD-1 +/CD3 +T cells and PD-1 +/CD8 +T cells were positively correlated with procalciton in ( r=0.313, P =0.015； r=0.375, P=0.003), logistic regression analysis showed that the percentages of PD-1 +/CD3 +，PD-1 +/CD4 +，PD-1 +/CD8 +T cells were independent risk factors for the death of sepsis patients. The percentage of PD-1 +/CD3 +T cell was 3.63%, with AUC 0.842, sensitivity to predict the mortality 96.43% and specificity 59.38%, ( P<0.000 1). The percentage of PD-1 +/CD4 +T cell was 4.65%, with AUC 0.847, sensitivity 96.43%, specificity 62.50%，( P<0.000 1). The percentage of PD-1 +/CD8 +T cell was 3.91%, with AUC 0.771, sensitivity 64.29%, specificity 81.25%，( P=0.000 3). Conclusions:The T cell PD-1 expression is an independent risk factor to predict the 28-day mortality in septic patients. Combining the proportions of PD-1 +/CD3 +, PD-1 +/CD4 +and PD-1 +/CD8 +T cells may further enhance the predictive value for death.

Effect of High-Volume Hemofiltration in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Studies have been carried out to assess the efficacy of high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) among critically ill patients. However, it is currently unclear whether HVHF is really valuable in critically ill patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Randomized controlled trials evaluating HVHF for critically ill adult patients were included in this analysis. Three databases were searched up to July 27, 2018. The relative risk (RR), mean difference (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined. RESULTS Twenty-one randomized controlled trials were included in this analysis. Overall, HVHF was associated with lower mortality compared with control measures (RR=0.88, 95% CI=0.81 to 0.96, P=0.004) in critically ill patients. Sub-analysis revealed HVHF reduced mortality in sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, but no similar effect in other diseases. HVHF decreased levels of plasma tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 6. The heart rate of the HVHF group after treatment was slower than the control group, while we found higher mean arterial pressure in the HVHF group, but oxygenation index was not significantly different between the two groups. HVHF had no remarkable influence on acute physiological and chronic health evaluation score (APACHE II score) compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS HVHF might be superior to conventional therapy in critically ill patients.

Advances in biomarkers of myocardial injury in sepsis / 中华危重病急救医学

Sepsis is a common disease in critical patients, which may lead to myocardial damage, thereby aggravating the severity of the patients' condition, and causing adverse prognosis. How to detect sepsis with myocardial injury as early as possible, and use corresponding treatment measures on time are essential. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), myoglobin (Mb), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) and other traditional cardiac markers are easily affected by the complications of other critical diseases, thus the diagnostic value of those markers for myocardial injury of sepsis is reduced. In recent years, there have been some studies on heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), microRNA (miRNA), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1), high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), histone and other new biomarkers of myocardial injury in septic patients. This article reviewed the value of these unconventional cardiac markers in the diagnosis of sepsis-induced myocardial injury, with the hope to provide some help for clinic.