Association of blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio with short-term prognosis and severity of tuberculosis meningitis patients without HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Predicting the short-term prognosis and severity of tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) patients without HIV infection can be challenging, and there have been no prior studies examining the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a potential predictor of short-term prognosis or its relationship to TBM severity. We hypothesized that NLR might serve as an independent indicator of short-term prognostic significance and that there might be a correlation between NLR and severity. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of NLR as a predictor of short-term prognosis and its relationship to severity of tuberculosis meningitis patients without HIV infection. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from patients diagnosed with TBM in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from the period between January 1st, 2018 and August 1st, 2019. Multivariable analysis was executed by the logistic regression model to verify the independence of the 28-day mortality, the discriminative power for predicting short-term prognosis was evaluated using a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to discuss correlation between NLR and the severity of TBM. RESULTS: We collected data from 231 TBM patients without HIV infection. 68 (29.4%) patients are classified as stage (I) 138(59.8%) patients are stage (II) 25(10.8%) patients are stage (III) 16(6.9%) patients died during the follow-up period of 28 days. By multiple logistic regression analyses, the NLR (OR = 1.065, 95% CI = 1.001-1.133, P = 0.045), peripheral neurological deficit (OR 7.335, 95% CI 1.964-27.385, P = 0 0.003) and hydrocephalus (OR 11.338, 95% CI 2.397-53.633, P = 0 0.002) are independent risk factors of 28-day mortality. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting short prognosis using NLR is 0.683 (95% CI 0.540-0.826, P = 0.015), the optimal cutoff value is 9.99(sensitivity: 56.3%, specificity: 80.9%). The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with higher NLR(>9.99) had significantly worse survival outcomes(P<0.01).Pearson's correlation analysis presents a significant positive correlation between the severity of TBM and NLR (r = 0.234, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: NLR, peripheral neurological deficit, and hydrocephalus are independent risk factors of 28-day mortality, NLR can predict the short-term prognosis of TBM patients without HIV infection. NLR is also found to be significantly and positively correlated with the severity of TBM.

The ratio of red blood cell distribution width to serum calcium predicts severity of patients with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Illness severity of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) at early stage is crucial because the identified moderate and severe cases need early intensive care to reduce the risk of serious complications such as multi-organ failure. Although red blood cell distribution width(RDW)and serum calcium(Ca)alone can be used as predictors of the severity of AP, they have low sensitivity and specificity. Thus, this study is aimed at evaluating the value of the ratio of RDW to serum calcium, which can all be acquired on admission, in predicting the severity of AP. METHODS: This study was based on a retrospective cohort study on patients with AP at the emergency department (ED) of West China Hospital Hospital from January 2016 to June 2016. We divided the patients with AP into two groups, mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and moderate severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) + severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to valuate the predictive value of the ratio of RDW to serum calcium for the severity of AP patients and the cut-off value for the ratio of RDW to serum calcium was calculated with sensitivity and specificity. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 666 AP patients were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into MAP (n = 518) and MSAP+SAP (n = 148) groups. The AUC of RDW/ Ca was 0.912 (95% CI 0.887 to 0.937, P < 0.001), larger than the AUCs of RDW (AUC = 0.768, 95% CI 0.723 to 0.812, P < 0.001) and Ca (AUC = 0.875, 95% CI 0.844 to 0.906, P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for RDW/ Ca to predict MSAP and SAP was 7.04 (sensitivity = 0.885, specificity = 0.834). CONCLUSION: The RDW/Ca might be a valuable predictor of the severity of patients with AP.

A Nomogram Model for Post-Intubation Hypotension in Patients with Severe Pneumonia in the Emergency Department.

Background: Post-intubation hypotension (PIH) frequently occurs in the management of critically ill patients and is associated with prognosis. The study aimed to construct a prediction model for PIH events by analyzing risk factors in patients with severe pneumonia in the emergency department. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 572 patients with severe pneumonia diagnosed in the emergency department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Five hundred patients with severe pneumonia who underwent endotracheal intubation were included in the study. All patients were randomized according to 7:3 and divided into a training cohort (n=351) and a validation cohort (n=149). Risk factors for PIH were analyzed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and multivariable logistic regression. Calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and decision curve analysis were applied to assess the predictive model's fitness, discrimination, and clinical utility. Results: A total of 500 patients with severe pneumonia who underwent endotracheal intubation were enrolled in this study, and PIH occurred in 234 (46.8%) of these patients. Age, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score, and induction agent use were identified as significant risk factors for the occurrence of PIH. Additionally, the body mass index was the opposite of the above. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the model was 0.856 (95% CI, 0.818-0.894) in the training cohort and 0.849 (95% CI, 0.788-0.910) in the validation cohort. The nomogram model was validated and demonstrated good calibration and high net clinical benefit. Finally, to facilitate application by clinicians, an online server has been set up which can be accessed free of charge via the website https://chinahospitals.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/. Conclusion: The nomogram is used for individualized prediction of patients with severe pneumonia prior to intubation and is simple to perform with high clinical value.

A Rapid Prognostic Score Based on Bedside Arterial Blood Gas Analysis (ABG) Established for Predicting 60-Day Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis in the Emergency Department.

Objective: To establish a rapid and concise prognosis scoring system for pancreatitis in the emergency department based on bedside arterial blood gas analysis (ABG). Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was used to establish the new scoring system, and a validation group was used to verify it. The primary endpoint was 60-day death, and secondary endpoints were 28-day death, admission to the intensive care unit (AICU), requirement for mechanical ventilation (MV) and persistent organ failure (POF). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was drawn to validate the predictive value of the new scoring system. The performance of the new scoring system was compared with that of conventional predictive scoring. Results: 443 patients were in the derivation group and 217 patients in the validation group, of which 27 and 25 died during follow-up. A total of 443 patients in the derivation group, 27 of whom died during the follow-up period. Multivariate regression analysis showed that mental status, hematocrit (HCT), base excess (BE) and Serum ionic calcium (Ca2+) were independent risk factors for 60-day mortality of pancreatitis, and they were used to create a new scoring system (MHBC). In the derivation and validation, the ability of MHBC (AUC= 0.922, 0.773, respectively) to predict 60-day mortality from pancreatitis was no less than that of APACHE II (AUC= 0.838, 0.748, respectively) and BISAP (AUC= 0.791, 0.750, respectively), while, MHBC is more quickly and concisely than APACHE II and BISAP. Compared with MHBC less than or equal to 2, when MHBC is greater than 2, the 28-day mortality, 60-day mortality and the incidence of AICU, MV and POF increased significantly (P <0.001). Conclusion: The MHBC can quickly and concisely evaluate the 60-day mortality, 28-day mortality, and the incidence of AICU, MV and POF of patients with acute pancreatitis in the emergency department.

Use of Modified Balthazar Grades for the Early Prediction of Acute Pancreatitis Severity in the Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a new approach based on Balthazar grades of acute pancreatitis (AP) and to assess this modified method as a tool for the early prediction of AP severity in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: Data pertaining to AP patients ≥18 years old that had undergone computed tomography (CT) scanning within 24 h following ED admission between January 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were separated into two groups based on the length of time between the onset of their AP symptoms and the completion of CT scanning (Group 1: <72 h; Group 2: ≥72 h). Modified Balthazar grades for these patients were then assessed, with the concordance between these modified grades and the 2012 revised Atlanta classification being assessed using the Kappa (κ) statistic. The modified grade with the largest κ value was evaluated based on performance traits including Harrell's concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analyses, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCA) in comparison with bedside index for severity in AP (BISAP) scores. RESULTS: In total, 372 patients were included in the present analysis. These patients were regraded according to six methods, with the method yielding the largest κ value consisting of regraded Balthazar grades A-C, D, and E, respectively, corresponding to mild, moderate, and severe AP. The κ values for this method were 0.786 (95% CI, 0.706-0.853) in Group 1 and 0.907 (95% CI, 0.842-0.955) in Group 2, exhibiting nearly complete agreement with the latest Atlanta classification of AP. AUROC values for these modified Balthazar grades when used to predict SAP were significantly higher than those for BISAP scores in Group 1, Group 2, and the overall cohort (P < 0.05). The DCA curves for Group 1, Group 2, and the overall patient cohort exhibited substantial net benefits when using these modified grades across a range of POFs relative to BISAP scores. The calibration curve for this modified approach to predicting POF in AP patients revealed good agreement in this cohort. CONCLUSION: Modified Balthazar grades exhibited substantial to near-total agreement with the 2012 revised Atlanta classification of AP patients, and this modified method can thus be used for the early prediction of AP severity in the ED.

Development and Validation of a Novel Prognostic Score Based on Thrombotic and Inflammatory Biomarkers for Predicting 28-Day Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a multifactorial disease that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Thrombosis and inflammation are involved in the development and progression of AP. AIM: To develop and validate a novel and simple scoring system for predicting 28-day adverse outcomes in AP patients based on a thrombotic and an inflammatory biomarker. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was used to establish the new scoring system (thrombo-inflammatory prognostic score; TIPS), and another study was used to verify it. The study end points were 28-day mortality, requirement for mechanical ventilation (MV), persistent organ failure (POF), and admission to the intensive care unit (AICU). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was drawn to validate the predictive value of the TIPS. The performance of the TIPS was compared with that of conventional predictive scoring systems. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the TIPS and the different end points. RESULTS: Among 440 patients with AP in the derivation group, 27 patients died within the 28-day follow-up period. Prothrombin time (PT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were used to calculate the TIPS. The TIPS (AUC=0.843) showed a performance comparable to that of the more established APACHE II (AUC=0.841), SOFA (AUC=0.797), BISAP (AUC=0.762), and Balthazar CT (AUC=0.655) in predicting 28-day mortality in AP. The 28-day mortality and the incidence of MV, POF, and AICU were significantly higher among patients with a higher TIPS (P<0.001). The results of logistic regression analyses indicated that the TIPS was independently associated with the risks of 28-day mortality, AICU, MV and POF. CONCLUSION: The TIPS can enable prediction of 28-day adverse clinical outcomes with AP patients in the ED.

Thrombo-Inflammatory Prognostic Scores Improve BISAP-Based Risk Stratification in Acute Pancreatitis Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: The thrombo-inflammatory prognostic score (TIPS) and the bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) are both scoring systems that enable the rapid prognostic assessment of early-stage acute pancreatitis (AP) patients, but the overall prognostic utility of these individual systems is limited. This study was thus developed to explore whether a combination of TIPS and BISAP scores would offer better insight to facilitate the risk stratification of AP patients. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort research evaluated AP cases referred to the emergency department from January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017. The ability of TIPS scores to improve BISAP-based AP patient risk stratification was appraised employing the curves of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) approaches. The initial endpoint for this research was 28-day mortality, while secondary endpoints comprised intensive care unit admission (AICU) and mechanical ventilation (MV) over a 28-day follow-up period. Results: Totally, 440 cases enrolled in the current study were divided at a ratio of 1:1 to derivation and validation cohorts. When estimating 28-day mortality, the combination of TIPS and BISAP (T-BISAP) improved the area under the curve (AUC) value in the derivation group from 0.809 to 0.903 (P < 0.05), in addition to similarly improving this AUC value from 0.709 to 0.853 (P < 0.05) in the validation cohort. Moreover, T-BISAP significantly improved the AUC values for 28-day AICU from 0.751 to 0.824 (P < 0.05) and the AUC values for 28-day MV from 0.755 to 0.808 (P < 0.05). A DCA approach revealed T-BISAP to exhibit higher net benefit when used for patient risk stratification as compared to BISAP alone. Conclusion: The addition of TIPS scores to BISAP scores can enable prediction of 28-day adverse clinical outcomes with AP patients in the ED.

Analysis of the Value of the Blood Urea Nitrogen to Albumin Ratio as a Predictor of Mortality in Patients with Sepsis.

Purpose: At present, simple, accurate, and efficient prognostic tools for the evaluation of cases with early-stage sepsis in the emergency department (ED) are lacking. An increased blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio (BAR) has previously been shown to be a valuable biomarker with predictive utility in several diseases. The relationship between BAR and sepsis patient outcomes, however, is not well-understood. This exploration was thus developed for the exploration of the link between BAR values and the short-term prognosis of cases with sepsis. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort research of sepsis cases admitted to the West China Hospital of Sichuan University ED from July 2015 to June 2016. Laboratory data were collected upon ED admission, and 7-day all-cause mortality was the primary study endpoint. Relationships between BAR values and APACE II and SOFA scores were generated assessed with correlation coefficient heatmaps. Independent risk factors were identified through multivariate analyses, with the curves of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) being employed to gauge the value of BAR as a predictor of the risk of mortality in sepsis cases. Results: In sum, 801 patients participated in the present investigation. BAR values were strongly correlated with APACHE II and SOFA scores. In a multivariate logistic regression assessment, BAR was identified as an independent predictor of mortality among patients with sepsis (HR=1.032, 95% CI: 1.010-1.055, P=0.004). BAR exhibited an AUC of 0.741 (95% CI: 0.688-0.793, P<0.001) when used to predict patient mortality risk, with 5.27 being the optimal BAR cut-off. Conclusion: We found that BAR can be used as a reliable biomarker to predict mortality in patients with sepsis.

Efficiency of red cell distribution width in predicting severity and mortality of patients with acute pancreatitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have showed that red cell distribution width (RDW) may be an inflammatory status, and it may be used to predict prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP). However, there are no systematic reviews for the evidence, and the association between RDW and AP is still not completely understood. Therefore, we will undertake a systematic review of the literature to summarize previous evidence regarding this topic, in order to clarify the value of RDW predicting prognosis of patients with AP. METHODS: We will search EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library from their inception to Mar 2021 to retrieve relevant studies. Two authors independently judged study eligibility and extracted data. Heterogeneity will be examined by computing the Q statistic and I2 statistic. RESULTS: This study proved the Efficiency of RDW in predicting mortality and severity of patients with AP. And provided easy method for clinical evaluation for AP patients. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this systematic review will show the value of RDW predicting prognosis of patients with AP. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is unnecessary as this protocol is only for systematic review and does not involve privacy data. The findings of this study will be disseminated electronically through a peer-review publication or presented at a relevant conference.

Efficiency of free thyroxine in predicting severity and mortality of patients with acute pancreatitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that free thyroxine may be used as a severity indicator of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) in emergency department, helping determine the differential care of AP. However, there are no systematic reviews and the association between free thyroxine and AP is still not completely understood. Therefore, we will undertake a systematic review of the literature to summarize previous evidence regarding this topic, in order to clarify whether free thyroxine can help us pick out the mild AP cases. METHODS: : We will search the EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library from inception to Mar 2021 to retrieve relevant studies using the search strategy: ("free thyroxine") AND (pancreatitis OR pancreatitides). Two authors independently judged study eligibility and extracted data. Heterogeneity will be examined by computing the Q statistic and I2 statistic. RESULTS: : This study proved the efficiency of free thyroxine in predicting the severity of patients with AP. CONCLUSIONS: : This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of free thyroxine predicting the severity of patients with AP. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is unnecessary as this protocol is only for systematic review and does not involve privacy data. The findings of this study will be disseminated electronically through a peer-review publication or presented at a relevant conference.

Effectiveness and safety of proton pump inhibitors for treating acute pancreatitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have showed that anti-acid therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can inhibit pancreatic secretion and it may be used in treating acute pancreatitis (AP). But at present, there is no systematic reviews for the evidence and the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of anti-acid therapy with PPIs in AP were not unclear. Therefore, we will undertake a systematic review of the literature to summarize previous evidence regarding this topic, in order to clarify the effectiveness and safety of anti-acid therapy with PPIs in AP. METHODS: We will search the EMBASE, WANFANG DATA, Web of Knowledge, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library from inception to June 30,2021 to retrieve relevant studies using the search strategy: ("Proton pump inhibitors" OR "PPI" OR "PPIs" OR "Omeprazole" OR "Tenatoprazole" OR "Pantoprazole" OR "acid suppression therapy" OR "acid suppression drugs") AND ("pancreatitis" OR "pancreatitides"). Two authors independently judged study eligibility and extracted data. Heterogeneity will be examined by computing the Q statistic and I2 statistic. RESULTS: This study assessed the efficiency and safety of proton pump inhibitors for treating acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of PPIs for treating AP. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is unnecessary as this protocol is only for systematic review and does not involve privacy data. The findings of this study will be disseminated electronically through a peer-review publication or presented at a relevant conference.

Effectiveness and safety of Liuhedan for treating acute pancreatitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Liuhedan is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat acute pancreatitis (AP) in China. However, there is no systematic reviews for the evidence and the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of Liuhedan for treating AP. The aim of this study is to summarize previous evidence, assessing the efficacy and safety of Liuhedan in the treatment of AP. METHODS: We will search the EMBASE, WANFANG DATA, Web of Knowledge, CNKI, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library from inception to June 30, 2021 to retrieve relevant studies using the search strategy: ("Liuhedan" OR "Liuhe Pill" OR "Liu-He-Dan") AND ("pancreatitis" OR "pancreatitides"). Two authors independently judged study eligibility and extracted data. Heterogeneity will be examined by computing the Q statistic and I2 statistic. RESULTS: This study assessed the efficiency and safety of Liuhedan for treating acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of Liuhedan for treating AP. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is unnecessary as this protocol is only for systematic review and does not involve privacy data. The findings of this study will be disseminated electronically through a peer-review publication or presented at a relevant conference.

Evaluation of the Prognostic Value of Red Cell Distribution Width to Total Serum Calcium Ratio in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a sudden inflammatory process in the pancreas with variable involvement of nearby organs or other organ systems, and it is a common cause for hospitalization of gastrointestinal origin. Early prediction of the prognosis of patients with AP is important to help physicians triage the patients and decrease mortality. Red cell distribution width (RDW) and total serum calcium (TSC) have been reported to be useful predictors of the severity of AP, but if these parameters are associated with the prognosis of AP is unknown. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether RDW/TSC can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with AP at an early stage. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled AP patients admitted to the emergency department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2016. According to the prognosis, AP patients were divided into ICU group and non-ICU group, surgery group and nonsurgery group, and hospital survival group and hospital death group. Demographic information and clinical and laboratory parameters of all enrolled patients after being admitted to ED were compared between the groups. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the prognostic values of RDW, TSC, and RDW/TSC in patients with AP. RESULTS: A total of 666 AP patients were enrolled in this study, with an average age of 47.99 ± 14.11 years, including 633 patients who survived to discharge and 33 patients who died during hospitalization. The areas under the curve (AUC) of RDW and RDW/TSC predict that patients need to be admitted to ICU (0.773 vs. 0.824 vs. 0.723), patients need surgery treatment (0.744 vs. 0.768 vs. 0.690), and patients survived to hospital discharge (0.809 vs. 0.855 vs. 0.780) were greater than that of TSC, with RDW/TSC being the greatest. CONCLUSIONS: RDW/TSC may be a new method to identify the AP patients who need to be transferred to the ICU, accompanying complications which need surgery treatment, or may be died in hospital at an early stage, and we should pay more attention to RDW/TSC in patients with AP, for they may have a worse prognosis.

The effects of thoracic cage dimension and chest subcutaneous adipose tissue on outcomes of adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The associations between thoracic cage dimension, chest subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) depth and outcomes of adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) remain unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated IHCA patients between January 2016 and October 2017. The thoracic cage transverse diameter, internal AP diameter, cross-sectional area, anterior and posterior SAT depths were measured in computed-tomography (CT) images. Using logistic regression models, we determined the adjusted associations between thoracic cage dimension, SAT depths and the prognosis for IHCA. The primary outcome was sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and the secondary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Among 423 IHCA patients, 258 patients achieved ROSC and 70 survived to discharge. Smaller cross-sectional area and posterior SAT depth were significantly related to ROSC. Smaller posterior SAT depth was associated with ROSC. After multivariate adjustment, the smaller cross-sectional area was independently associated with ROSC (Odds ratio [OR] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.99-1.00; p = 0.008) and survival to discharge (OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.98-1.00; p = 0.024), and the smaller posterior SAT depth was independently related to ROSC (OR 0.65, 95%CI 0.44-0.96; p = 0.030), whereas no relation to survival to discharge was found. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with IHCA, the smaller thoracic cage dimension and posterior SAT depth are associated with better survival. An adjustable compression depth based on the thoracic cage dimension might be better than the "one-size-fits-all" compression depth for resuscitating CA patients. In addition, physicians should pay extra attention to compression efficacy when resuscitating obese patients.