Navigating the future of diabetes: innovative nomogram models for predicting all-cause mortality risk in diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish and validate a nomogram model for the all-cause mortality rate in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2007 to 2016. A random split of 7:3 was performed between the training and validation sets. Utilizing follow-up data until December 31, 2019, we examined the all-cause mortality rate. Cox regression models and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression models were employed in the training cohort to develop a nomogram for predicting all-cause mortality in the studied population. Finally, various validation methods were employed to assess the predictive performance of the nomogram, and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) was conducted to evaluate the clinical utility of the nomogram. RESULTS: After the results of LASSO regression models and Cox multivariate analyses, a total of 8 variables were selected, gender, age, poverty income ratio, heart failure, body mass index, albumin, blood urea nitrogen and serum uric acid. A nomogram model was built based on these predictors. The C-index values in training cohort of 3-year, 5-year, 10-year mortality rates were 0.820, 0.807, and 0.798. In the validation cohort, the C-index values of 3-year, 5-year, 10-year mortality rates were 0.773, 0.788, and 0.817, respectively. The calibration curve demonstrates satisfactory consistency between the two cohorts. CONCLUSION: The newly developed nomogram proves to be effective in predicting the all-cause mortality risk in patients with diabetic nephropathy, and it has undergone robust internal validation.

Reduce intraoperative albumin utilisation in cardiac surgical patients: a quality improvement initiative.

BACKGROUND: Albumin continues to be used routinely by cardiac anaesthesiologists perioperatively despite lack of evidence for improved outcomes. The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) data ranked our institution as one of the highest intraoperative albumin users during cardiac surgery. Therefore, we designed a quality improvement project (QIP) to introduce a bundle of interventions to reduce intraoperative albumin use in cardiac surgical patients. METHODS: Our institutional MPOG data were used to analyse the FLUID-01-C measure that provides the number of adult cardiac surgery cases where albumin was administered intraoperatively by anaesthesiologists from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2022. The QIP involved introduction of the following interventions: (1) education about appropriate albumin use and indications (January 2021), (2) email communications reinforced with OR teaching (March 2021), (3) removal of albumin from the standard pharmacy intraoperative medication trays (April 2021), (4) grand rounds presentation discussing the QIP and highlighting the interventions (May 2021) and (5) quarterly provider feedback (starting July 2021). Multivariable segmented regression models were used to assess the changes from preintervention to postintervention time period in albumin utilisation, and its total monthly cost. RESULTS: Among the 5767 cardiac surgery cases that met inclusion criteria over the 3-year study period, 16% of patients received albumin intraoperatively. The total number of cases that passed the metric (albumin administration was avoided), gradually increased as our interventions went into effect. Intraoperative albumin utilisation (beta=-101.1, 95% CI -145 to -56.7) and total monthly cost of albumin (beta=-7678, 95% CI -10712 to -4640) demonstrated significant decrease after starting the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: At a single academic cardiac surgery programme, implementation of a bundle of simple and low-cost interventions as part of a coordinated QIP were effective in significantly decreasing intraoperative use of albumin, which translated into considerable costs savings.

Improving appropriate use of intravenous albumin: results of a single-centre audit and multifaceted intervention.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous albumin has limited indications supported by randomised controlled trials, yet it is often prescribed for indications not supported by evidence. AIM: To reduce unnecessary transfusion of albumin. INTERVENTIONS: Under the leadership of a multidisciplinary quality improvement team, evidence-based recommendations were disseminated in tandem with a new electronic order set, an educational strategy, qualitative interviews with prescribers and a return policy change to reduce wastage. IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION: Interventions were introduced in a staggered fashion. The primary outcome, appropriate use of albumin, was monitored and quantified using pre-intervention and post-intervention audits. Process measures included statistical process run charts of monthly usage of 5% and 25% albumin and wastage. Data on length of stay (hospital and intensive care), new inpatient starts on kidney replacement and mortality were collected as balancing measures. RESULTS: Appropriate albumin usage based on indication increased from 30% to 50% (p<0.0001). There was significantly less overall albumin usage in the post-intervention period compared with the pre-intervention period (negative coefficient, p<0.0001), driven by a major reduction in the utilisation of the 5% formulation (p<0.0001). Overall albumin usage was significantly lower in the post-intervention period, decreasing from 800 to 450 vials per month. The intervention resulted in significantly less wastage (negative coefficient, p=0.017). Mortality, length of stay and new starts on kidney replacement therapy remained constant throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: Improved prescribing of albumin was achieved with a multifaceted approach. Substantial and sustained reductions in usage were achieved without negatively impacting patient-important outcomes. The estimated annual savings for the purchase cost of albumin was CAN $300 000. We provide a structured process for other organisations to optimise their use of albumin.

[Pembrolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and platinum as first-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma: a prospective phaseâ ¡study].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and platinum as first-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Methods: This was a prospective, single-arm, open label, phase 2 clinical study enrolling patients at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences with R/M HNSCC treated with pembrolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin or carboplatin. After six cycles of treatment, patients received pembrolizumab as maintenance therapy until disease progression or intolerable toxicity or completion of 35 cycles of treatment. The primary endpoint was objective response rate, and secondary endpoints included overall survival, progression-free survival, and safety profile. Efficacy was evaluated according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors 1.1, survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and adverse events were assessed using the America National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 5.0. Results: A total of 30 patients with R/M HNSCC were enrolled from 23 April 2021 to 22 March 2023, including 28 males and 2 females, with a median age of 67 years. The median follow-up time was 14.5 months, the objective response rate was 70.0%, the disease control rate was 96.7%, and the median progression-free survival and overall survival of all patients were 11.6 months and 18.8 months, respectively. Median duration of response was up to 17.3 months. Grade≥3 treatment-related adverse events were leukopenia (26.7%), neutropenia (26.7%), peripheral neurotoxicity (3.3%), rash (3.3%), hyperalgesia (3.3%), and immune-related pneumonitis (3.3%). The most common immune-related adverse event was hypothyroidism (40.0%). Conclusion: Pembrolizumab combined with nab-paclitaxel and platinum shows encouraging antitumor activity accompanied with a manageable safety profile in untreated R/M HNSCC patients in China.

[Phase â ¡ clinical trial of PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy for locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the effectiveness and safety of programmed death 1(PD-1) inhibitory combined with chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled phase Ⅱ trial. Patients recruited from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from July 2021 to February 2023 were randomly divided into two groups in a 1∶1 ratio: the experimental group (Toripalimab combined with albumin paclitaxel and cisplatin) and the control group (albumin paclitaxel and cisplatin); patients in both groups underwent three cycles of neoadjuvant therapy. After completion of neoadjuvant therapy, patients were evaluated and subsequent surgical treatment was performed. According to the completion of treatment, the analysis was conducted on both the full analysis set and the protocol set. The effectiveness and safety of treatments were evaluated. SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 41 cases with oral cancer were enrolled, including 26 males and 15 females, aged between 34 and 74 years old. There were 23 cases in the experimental group and 18 cases in the control group. A total of 23 cases completed neoadjuvant therapy and surgery according to the protocol. Experimental group and control group showed respectively the complete response rates of 1/19 and 0/17, the partial response rates of 13/19 and 8/17, the stage-down rates of 4/19 and 3/17, the pathologic complete response rate of 8/14 and 2/9, with no statistically significant differences in individual rates between two groups (P>0.05). The major pathological response rate of 13/14 in experimental group was higher than that of 2/9 in control group (P<0.05). The incidence of grade 3-4 adverse reactions related to treatment was low in both groups (4/23 vs. 3/18, χ2=0.13, P=0.72), and the most common serious adverse reactions in the experimental group were granulocyte deficiency and electrolyte disorder. There were no adverse reactions that affected subsequent surgical treatment or caused death, and the safety and tolerability were good. The median follow-up time was 15 months, and the one-year disease-free survival rate of the experimental group was higher than that of control group (92.86% vs. 77.78%, χ2=0.62, P=0.42), with a relative decrease of 87% in the risk of disease progression or death (P=0.029). For patients with programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1) protein expression combined positive score≥20, the experimental group showed higher major pathological response rate than control group (5/5 vs. 0/4, P=0.03). Conclusion: The neoadjuvant therapy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy can improve the pathological remission of oral squamous cell carcinoma and the long-term survival benefits and the prognosis of patients.

[Prediction of pathological remission of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and construction of clinical model based on clinical features and inflammatory markers].

Objective: To analyze the potential clinical biological factors influencing the major pathological response (MPR) to neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy in patients with resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with resectable HNSCC who underwent neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from June 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between clinical characteristics, inflammatory markers and MPR, and a nomogram model was constructed. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis were used to verify the predictive ability and accuracy of the nomogram model. Results: A total of 173 patients were included in the study, with 141 males and 32 females, aged from 22 to 83 years. After pathological assessment, the patients were divided into two groups: MPR group (108 cases) and non MPR group (65 cases). Logistics regression analysis indicated that the patients with HPV+oropharyngeal cancer, partial response or complete response by imaging assessment, low pre-treatment platelet/lymphocyte ratio, low pre-treatment C reactive protein/albumin ratio and lower pre-and post-treatment C reactive protein/albumin ratio difference were more likely to have MPR (all P<0.05). Nomogram model was constructed based on the above factors, with a C-index of 0.826 (95%CI: 0.760-0.892), and the calibration curve and decision curve analysis confirmed the prediction accuracy of the model. Conclusion: This study shows that many factors are related to MPR of patients with resectable HNSCC receiving neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and the constructed nomogram model helps to develop personalized treatment strategies for the patients.

Ustekinumab effectiveness in Crohn's disease with lesions in the intestines.

Ustekinumab is prescribed for the treatment of patients with steroid-resistant moderate to severe Crohn's disease. We investigated its clinical outcome in patients with small and large intestinal lesions. Patients who were newly administered ustekinumab between March 2014 and December 2020 at Hamamatsu University Hospital were included in the study. The primary endpoint was Crohn's disease activity index score at baseline and weeks 8, 24, and 48 after the initiation of treatment, and secondary endpoints were albumin, hemoglobin, and C-reactive protein at these time points. Ustekinumab treatment retention was examined in both groups; the 2 groups were compared using the Friedman test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher exact test. Overall, Crohn's disease activity index scores improved between baseline and 48 weeks, but the difference was not significant. However, there was a significant improvement between baseline and 48 weeks in patients with lesions in the small intestine only. Overall, patients showed significant improvement in albumin levels between baseline and 48 weeks but not in C-reactive protein or hemoglobin levels. When limited to patients with lesions in the small intestine, albumin and hemoglobin levels showed significant improvement. Both types showed high rates of treatment retention, although there was no significant difference. Ustekinumab appears to be a safe and effective treatment option that may be particularly effective in patients with lesions in the small intestine only.

U-shaped relationship between fasting blood glucose and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in the general United States population.

Objective: The current controversy surrounding the association between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and albuminuria necessitates further investigation. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between FBG and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Methods: A cohort of complete data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants (1999-2020) was analyzed. Linear regression analyses and a generalized additive model explored the association between FBG and UACR. Furthermore, the stability of this relationship across different populations was assessed. Results: The study involved a total of 20,264 participants who were identified as U.S. citizens. By employing linear regression analysis, a statistically significant relationship was observed between elevated FBG levels and an increase in UACR (P<0.0001). Additionally, using a generalized additive model analysis, a U-shaped correlation between FBG and UACR was identified. Further examination using threshold effect analysis indicated a turning point for FBG at 5.44 mmol/L. A noteworthy finding in multiple populations is the consistent U-shaped association between FBG and UACR, except for individuals with serum uric acid levels ≥420 µmol/L and those who refrain from alcohol consumption. Conclusion: The general U.S. population has a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between FBG and UACR.

Analysis of related factors of CRA in lung cancer patients with different serum iron levels: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Serum iron, an essential component of hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in vivo, is a crucial parameter for evaluating the body's iron storage and metabolism capacity. Iron deficiency leads to reduced Hb synthesis in red blood cells and smaller red blood cell volume, ultimately resulting in iron-deficiency anemia. Although serum iron cannot independently evaluate iron storage or metabolism ability, it can reflect iron concentration in vivo and serve as a good predictor of iron-deficiency anemia. Therefore, exploring the influence of different serum iron levels on anemia and diagnosing and treating iron deficiency in the early stages is of great significance for patients with lung cancer. AIM: This study aims to explore the related factors of cancer-related anemia (CRA) in lung cancer and construct a nomogram prediction model to evaluate the risk of CRA in patients with different serum iron levels. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 1610 patients with lung cancer, of whom 1040 had CRA. The relationship between CRA and its influencing factors was analyzed using multiple linear regression models. Lung cancer patients were divided into two groups according to their serum iron levels: decreased serum iron and normal serum iron. Each group was randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort at a ratio of 7:3. The influencing factors were screened by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and nomogram models were constructed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the models. RESULTS: CRA in lung cancer is mainly related to surgery, chemotherapy, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, serum iron, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and total cholesterol (p < 0.05). CRA in lung cancer patients with decreased serum iron is primarily associated with albumin, age, and cancer staging, while CRA in lung cancer patients with normal serum iron is mainly related to CRP, albumin, total cholesterol, and cancer staging. The area under the ROC curve of the training cohort and validation cohort for the prediction model of lung cancer patients with decreased serum iron was 0.758 and 0.760, respectively. Similarly, the area under the ROC curve of the training cohort and validation cohort for the prediction model of lung cancer patients with normal serum iron was 0.715 and 0.730, respectively. The calibration curves of both prediction models were around the ideal 45° line, suggesting good discrimination and calibration. DCA showed that the nomograms had good clinical utility. CONCLUSION: Both models have good reliability and validity and have significant clinical value. They can help doctors better assess the risk of developing CRA in lung cancer patients. CRP is a risk factor for CRA in lung cancer patients with normal serum iron but not in patients with decreased serum iron. Therefore, whether CRP and the inflammatory state represented by CRP will further aggravate the decrease in serum iron levels, thus contributing to anemia, warrants further study.

Prognostic significance of inflammation scores in malignant mesothelioma.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between inflammatory markers and survival in many cancers has been investigated previously. Inflammatory markers may also offer the possibility of predicting surveillance in patients with malignant mesothelioma. Our study seeks to enhance comprehension of how variables such as the nutritional status and inflammation indices of malignant mesothelioma patients impact the disease's progression and prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included patients who were treated at the Erciyes University Medical Oncology Clinic between 2010 and 2022 and diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. This is a retrospective single-center cohort study. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied to determine the inflammation markers' optimal cut-off values with high sensitivity and specificity. Patients were categorized based on these values. The differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between categorized groups were assessed using Log-rank curves and Kaplan-Meier tests. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression analysis on statistically significant data. The relationship between inflammation markers and malignant mesothelioma survival was evaluated. RESULTS: There are 115 patients in this study. Pre-treatment high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.12-2.83, p=0.04), high pan-immune inflammation value (PIIV) (HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.32-4.79, p=0.03), and high systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.2-2.78, p=0.04) were associated with poor OS. Conversely, high advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.53-0.84, p=0.03) and high hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte and platelet (HALP) (HR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.23-0.78, p=0.02) were associated with favorable survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our study investigated the prognostic value of various inflammation markers in malignant mesothelioma patients and suggests that composite formulas like NLR, PIIV, SIRI, ALI, and HALP that incorporate CBC cells and nutritional parameters like albumin, height, and weight could more consistently and accurately predict malignant mesothelioma prognosis.

Biodegradable suture development-based albumin composites for tissue engineering applications.

Recent advancements in the field of biomedical engineering have underscored the pivotal role of biodegradable materials in addressing the challenges associated with tissue regeneration therapies. The spectrum of biodegradable materials presently encompasses ceramics, polymers, metals, and composites, each offering distinct advantages for the replacement or repair of compromised human tissues. Despite their utility, these biomaterials are not devoid of limitations, with issues such as suboptimal tissue integration, potential cytotoxicity, and mechanical mismatch (stress shielding) emerging as significant concerns. To mitigate these drawbacks, our research collective has embarked on the development of protein-based composite materials, showcasing enhanced biodegradability and biocompatibility. This study is dedicated to the elaboration and characterization of an innovative suture fabricated from human serum albumin through an extrusion methodology. Employing a suite of analytical techniques-namely tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)-we endeavored to elucidate the physicochemical attributes of the engineered suture. Additionally, the investigation extends to assessing the influence of integrating biodegradable organic modifiers on the suture's mechanical performance. Preliminary tensile testing has delineated the mechanical profile of the Filament Suture (FS), delineating tensile strengths spanning 1.3 to 9.616 MPa and elongation at break percentages ranging from 11.5 to 146.64%. These findings illuminate the mechanical versatility of the suture, hinting at its applicability across a broad spectrum of medical interventions. Subsequent analyses via SEM and TGA are anticipated to further delineate the suture's morphological features and thermal resilience, thereby enriching our comprehension of its overall performance characteristics. Moreover, the investigation delves into the ramifications of incorporating biodegradable organic constituents on the suture's mechanical integrity. Collectively, the study not only sheds light on the mechanical and thermal dynamics of a novel suture material derived from human serum albumin but also explores the prospective enhancements afforded by the amalgamation of biodegradable organic compounds, thereby broadening the horizon for future biomedical applications.

Malnutrition in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is associated with increased mortality in patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer. Because albumin levels are used as a surrogate for nutritional status, the purpose of this study is to assess whether malnutrition is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in H&N free flap reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 2006-2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database was queried for patients undergoing flap procedures of the H&N based on Current Procedure Terminology codes. Patients were included if they were operated on by an otolaryngologist or when the primary surgical site was H&N. Nutritional status was categorized as malnourished (preoperative albumin level <3.5 g/dL) or normal (preoperative albumin level ≥3.5 g/dL). Major complications included pulmonary complications, cardiac complications, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, and sepsis/septic shock. Minor complications included surgical infection, urinary tract infection, bleeding, and dehiscence. Data were analyzed via univariate chi-square and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the patients, 2532 (83.3%) had normal albumin and 506 (16.7%) had hypoalbuminemia. Patients with hypoalbuminemia were more likely to have smoking history (P = 0.008), pulmonary comorbidity (P < 0.001), renal comorbidity (P = 0.018), disseminated cancer (P < 0.001), steroid use (P < 0.001), recent weight loss (P < 0.001), bleeding disorder (P = 0.023), and preoperative transfusion (P < 0.001). After adjustment for preoperative variance, malnourished patients were more likely to experience death (P < 0.001), return to operating room (P < 0.001), free flap failure (P = 0.008), pulmonary complication (P < 0.001), deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (P = 0.019), wound disruption (P = 0.042), intraoperative transfusion (P < 0.001), minor complication (P < 0.001), major complication (P < 0.001), and extended length of stay (P < 0.001). Of the patients with normal albumin, 2.1% experienced flap failure compared with 6.3% of patients with hypoalbuminemia. It should be noted that malnourished patients were 3.370 times more likely to experience flap failure (95% confidence interval, 1.383-8.212; P = 0.008) and 3.975 times more likely to experience death (95% confidence interval, 1.700-9.626; P = 0.001) than those with normal albumin. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition is associated with death, flap failure, minor complications, and other major complications following H&N free flap surgery, even after controlling for preoperative variance. Optimizing preoperative nutrition status before free flap procedures may ameliorate morbidity and mortality in H&N patients.

Serum PM20D1 levels in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and its clinical significance.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of Peptidase M20 domain containing 1 (PM20D1) in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients and examine its association with lipid metabolism, echocardiography, and hemodynamic parameters. METHODS: This prospective observational research enrolled 103 IPAH patients from January 2018 to January 2022. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the serum PM20D1 levels in all patients before treatment within 24 h of admission. Demographic data, echocardiography, hemodynamic parameters and serum biomarkers were also collected. RESULTS: The IPAH patients in the deceased group had significantly elevated age, right atrial (RA), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), mean right atrial pressure (mRAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and significantly decreased 6 min walking distance (6MWD) and tricuspid annulus peak systolic velocity (TASPV). IPAH patients showed significant decreases in serum PM20D1, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and albumin (ALB). Additionally, PM20D1 was negatively correlated with RA, NT-proBNP and positively correlated with PVR, ALB, 6MWD, and TAPSV. Moreover, PM20D1 has the potential as a biomarker for predicting IPAH patients' prognosis. Finally, logistic regression analysis indicated that PM20D1, ALB, NT-proBNP, PVR, TASPV, RA and 6MWD were identified as risk factors for mortality in IPAH patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that the serum levels of PM20D1 were significantly decreased in IPAH patients with poor prognosis. Moreover, PM20D1 was identified as a risk factor associated with mortality in IPAH patients.

Incidence, clinical features, and risk factors of hemocoagulase-induced hypofibrinogenemia: A retrospective real-world study.

The objective of this study was to explore the real-world incidence, severity, clinical features, and potential risk factors associated with hypofibrinogenemia induced by hemocoagulase. Based on Chinese Hospital Pharmacovigilance System, a retrospective case-control study was conducted, enrolling hospitalized patients who received hemocoagulase for the treatment or prevention of hemorrhage in Weifang People's Hospital in China from January 2021 to May 2022. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze the potential risk factors. Out of 10,397 hospitalized patients who received hemocoagulase, 341 patients showed positive triggers, with 235 patients ultimately conformed as hemocoagulase-associated hypofibrinogenemia. The system positive alarm rate was 68.91%, and the overall incidence of hemocoagulase-induced hypofibrinogenemia was 2.26%, predominantly characterized by mild to moderate severity levels. The incidence varied among the 4 types of hemocoagulase, with the highest incidence observed in hemocoagulase Agkistrodon Halys Pallas at 4.59%. The incidence of hemocoagulase from Deinagkistrodon acutus, Bothrops Atrox and Adder were 0.97%, 0.44% and 0.12%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (odds ratios [OR] = 177.328, P < .001), source of snake venom (OR = 5.641, P < .05), albumin (OR = 2.487, P < .001), and cumulative dosage (OR = 1.106, P < .001) were independent risk factors. Increased risk of hemocoagulase-related hypofibrinogenemia may be associated with children, elderly patients, low albumin levels, high cumulative doses and hemocoagulase from Agkistrodon Halys Pallas. Early recognition and close drug monitoring for these high-risk patients are vital in clinical practice.

Effectiveness of an ERAS-based exercise-nutrition management model in enhancing postoperative recovery for thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the effect of an exercise-nutrition management model based on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) concept on patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical surgery for lung cancer. METHODS: From June 2019 to December 2022, 85 lung cancer patients who underwent thoracoscopic radical lung cancer surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group, consisting of 42 patients, received routine nursing care during the perioperative period. The study group, comprising 43 patients, implemented an exercise-nutrition management model based on the ERAS concept during the perioperative period. We compared general data, perioperative indicators, compliance, and complications between the 2 groups. Additionally, we assessed the nutritional status using the patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PA), and hemoglobin (Hb), as well as lung function, including forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), in the patient population following the Piper intervention. RESULTS: In the study group, the times to first defecation and getting out of bed, the duration of thoracic drainage tube indwelling, and the length of hospital stay were shorter than those in the control group. The VAS scores on the 2nd and 3rd postoperative days were lower in the study group than in the control group (P < .05). Medication compliance was higher in the study group compared to the control group (P < .05). Post-intervention, the PG-SGA scores in the study group were lower, while PA, ALB, and Hb levels were higher than those in the control group (P < .05). The MVV, FEV1, and FVC values were higher in the study group than in the control group after the intervention (P < .05). The PFS and mMRC scores were lower in the study group compared to the control group after the intervention, and the QLQ-C30 scores were higher (P < .05). The incidence of complications was 6.98% in the study group, which was not significantly different from 11.90% in the control group (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The exercise-nutrition management model, based on the ERAS concept, exhibits significant perioperative effects in patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer, improving their nutritional status and reducing complications.

C-reactive protein to albumin ratio as a prognostic tool for predicting intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in children with kawasaki disease: a systematic review of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the primary treatment for Kawasaki disease (KD). However, 10-20% of KD patients show no response to IVIG treatment, making the early prediction of IVIG resistance a key focus of KD research. Our aim is to explore the application of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) for predicting IVIG resistance in children with KD through meta-analysis. METHODS: Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMbase, CNKI, WanFang, the Chinese Biomedical Database, and CQVIP were searched up to November 2023 for cohort studies on predicting IVIG-resistant KD using the CAR. Articles were selected based on pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria after extracting literature data and assessing them using the QUADAS-2.0 tool for evaluating the accuracy of diagnostic tests. Stata 15.0 software was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Four Chinese and English literature reports were included in this meta-analysis. The results revealed the presence of a threshold effect and high heterogeneity among the included studies. The combined sensitivity for CAR predicting IVIG-resistant KD was calculated as 0.65 (95% CI 0.58-0.72), specificity as 0.71 (95% CI 0.57-0.81), and the area under the curve (AUC) as 0.70 (95% CI 0.66-0.74) using the random-effects model. The combined positive likelihood ratio was 2.22 (95% CI 1.35-3.65), the combined negative likelihood ratio was 0.49 (95% CI 0.35-0.69), and the diagnostic odds ratio was 5 (95% CI 2-10). CONCLUSION: CAR is an auxiliary predictive indicator with moderate diagnostic value that provides guidance in the early treatment of the disease, demonstrating a certain predictive value that warrants further investigation. However, CAR cannot yet be considered as a definitive diagnostic or exclusionary marker for IVIG-resistant KD. Therefore, multi-center, large sample, and high-quality long-term follow-up trials are warranted to confirm the current findings.

Analysis of risk factors affecting wound healing and wound infection after meningioma resection.

To analyse the risk factors affecting wound healing and infection after spinal meningioma resection surgery. The surgical incision healing of 137 patients who underwent spinal meningioma resection at our hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 was analysed. The data collected included physical examination findings, haematological and biochemical measurements, and various scales assessed upon admission and after surgery. These data were then analysed. The surgical wound healing, infection and postoperative complications were statistically analysed. Multiple logistic regression analysis method was used to conduct risk factor analysis on corresponding indicators; the odds ratio and p value of 95% confidence interval were calculated. Factors such as age and smoking history were significantly negatively correlated with wound healing after meningioma resection (odds ratio < 1.000, p < 0.05), while preoperative albumin and platelet count were significantly positively correlated with wound healing (odds ratio > 1.000, p < 0.05). Age, WHO Meningioma Grading, preoperative albumin and preoperative platelet were significantly negatively correlated with wound infection after meningioma resection (odds ratio < 1.000, p < 0.05). The history of virus infection and history of neurological disorders were significantly positively correlated with wound infection (odds ratio > 1.000, p < 0.05). The influence of each factor is different. Age, smoking history, WHO Meningioma Grading, preoperative albumin, preoperative platelets, history of virus infection and history of neurological disorders had the greatest influence on wound healing and infection after meningioma resection.

Postoperative leukocyte counts as a surrogate for surgical stress response in matched robot- and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery cohorts of patients: A preliminary report.

The objective is to preliminary evaluated postoperative leukocyte counts as a surrogate for the surgical stress response in NSCLC patients who underwent RATS or VATS for further prospective analyses with proper assessment of surgical stress response and tissue trauma. We retrospectively analyzed patients with stageI-IIIA NSCLC who underwent RATS or VATS at a hospital between 8 May 2020 and 31 December 2021. Analysis of leukocytes (including neutrophils and lymphocytes) and albumin on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 3 in patients with NSCLC treated with RATS or VATS after propensity score matching (PSM). In total, 1824 patients (565 RATS and 1259 VATS) were investigated. The two MIS groups differed significantly with regard to operative time (p < 0.001), chronic lung disease (p < 0.001), the type of pulmonary resection (p < 0.001), the excision site of lobectomy (p = 0.004), and histology of the tumor (p = 0.028). After PSM, leukocyte and neutrophil levels in the RATS group were lower than those in the VATS group on PODs 1 and 3, with those on POD 3 (p < 0.001) being particularly notable. While lymphocyte levels in the RATS group were significantly lower than those in the VATS group only at POD 1 (p = 0.016). There was no difference in albumin levels between the RATS and VATS groups on PODs 1 and 3. The surgical stress response and tissue trauma was less severe in NSCLC patients who underwent RATS than in those who underwent VATS, especially reflected in the neutrophils of leukocytes.

IL4 receptor targeting enables nab-paclitaxel to enhance reprogramming of M2-type macrophages into M1-like phenotype via ROS-HMGB1-TLR4 axis and inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis.

Rationale: Nab-paclitaxel (Abx) is widely employed in malignant tumor therapy. In tumor cells and pro-tumoral M2-type macrophages, the IL4 receptor (IL4R) is upregulated. This study aimed to elucidate the selective delivery of Abx to M2-type macrophages by targeting IL4R and reprogramming them into an anti-tumoral M1-type. Methods: Abx was conjugated with the IL4R-binding IL4RPep-1 peptide using click chemistry (IL4R-Abx). Cellular internalization, macrophage reprogramming and signal pathways, and tumor growth and metastasis by IL4R-Abx were examined. Results: IL4R-Abx was internalized into M2 macrophages more efficiently compared to the unmodified Abx and control peptide-conjugated Abx (Ctrl-Abx), which was primarily inhibited using an anti-IL4R antibody and a receptor-mediated endocytosis inhibitor compared with a macropinocytosis inhibitor. IL4R-Abx reprogrammed the M2-type macrophages into M1-like phenotype and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and extracellular release of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in M2 macrophages at higher levels than Abx and Ctrl-Abx. The conditioned medium of IL4R-Abx-treated M2 macrophages skewed M2 macrophages into the M1-like phenotype, in which an anti-HMGB1 antibody and a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor induced a blockade. IL4R-Abx accumulated at tumors, heightened immune-stimulatory cells while reducing immune-suppressing cells, and hampered tumor growth and metastasis in mice more efficiently than Abx and Ctrl-Abx. Conclusions: These results indicate that IL4R-targeting allows enhancement of M2-macrophage shaping into M1-like phenotype by Abx through the ROS-HMGB1-TLR4 axis, improvement of antitumor immunity, and thereby inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis, presenting a new approach to cancer immunotherapy.

[Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection in patients undergoing hemodialysis].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of hemodialysis patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a single-center from Beijing. METHODS: Patients with COVID-19 who received regular hemodialysis at Peking University Third Hospital from November 30, 2022 to January 4, 2023 were selected as the study objects. Clinical symptoms, severity and duration of symptoms during the period of virus positive were investigated in the form of questionnaires, and the basic information of the patients, as well as the results of blood tests (routine blood and blood biochemistry, etc.) before and after infection, dialysis treatment and the outcome of the disease were collected by consulting medical records. RESULTS: A total of 203 subjects were included in this study, including 148 mild cases (72.91%), 23 medium cases (11.33%), 32 severe and critical cases (15.76%), and 16 (7.88%) deaths occured during the follow-up. Clinical symptoms mainly included respiratory symptoms (among which 81.77% had cough, 68.97% had expectoration), fever (81.28%) and fatigue (65.52%), and fatigue and weakness had the longest duration [9 (5, 15) days] among all symptoms. Twenty-six patients (12.8%) reduced the dialysis sessions [1 (1, 2) times], 25 patients (12.32%) had the behavior of early finishing dialysis (27 times), reducing the dialysis time by 30.0 (20.0, 30.5) minutes. Univa-riate analysis showed that the hemoglobin, creatinine, urea nitrogen and ultrafiltration decreased signi-ficantly after infection (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in age, albumin, hemoglobin, creatinine levels and vascular access types among the patients with different clinical subtypes, and the changes of dialysis sessions, fever, expectoration and fatigue degree were also different among the patients with different clinical subtypes (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=1.051, 95%CI: 1.017-1.086, P=0.003) and albumin levels (OR=0.905, 95%CI: 0.803-1.019, P=0.098) corrected by fever, expectoration and fatigue levels were still associated with the occurrence of pneumonia. CONCLUSION: The morbidity of pneumonia and the proportion of deaths in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 were higher, and some clinical symptoms lasted for a longer time than the general population. During the infection period, the incidence of dialysis-related complications increased, hemoglobin and nutritional status decreased. Elderly patients and patients with low albumin level had a higher risk of developing pneumonia after infection.