OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the predictive value of norepinephrine equivalence (NEE) score on the 28-day death risk in patients with sepsis and provide evidence for its application in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and septic shock. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the data of patients with sepsis from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV 2.2 (MIMIC-IV 2.2). The patients who received vasoactive agents within 6 hours after the diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock were enrolled, and they were divided into survival and non-survival groups based on their 28-day outcomes. The baseline characteristics, vital signs, and treatment data were collected. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing the 28-day death risk. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to analyze the predictive value of various parameters on the 28-day death risk of septic patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate cumulative survival rate in patients classified by different quantitative parameters based on the cut-off values obtained from ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 7 744 patients who met the Sepsis-3 diagnostic criteria and received vasopressor treatment within 6 hours post-diagnosis were enrolled, of which 5 997 cases survived and 1 747 died, with the 28-day mortality of 22.6%. Significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, height, body weight, race, type of intensive care unit (ICU), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, underlying comorbidities, and vital signs. Compared with the survival group, the non-survival group had poorer blood routine, liver and kidney function, coagulation function, blood gas analysis and other indicators. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that age > 65 years old [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.892, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.801-0.994, P = 0.039] and male (HR = 0.735, 95%CI was 0.669-0.808, P < 0.001) were protective factors for 28-day death in patients with sepsis, and NEE score (HR = 1.040, 95%CI was 1.021-1.060, P < 0.001), shock index (HR = 1.840, 95%CI was 1.675-2.022, P < 0.001), APACHE II score (HR = 1.076, 95%CI was 1.069-1.083, P < 0.001), SOFA score (HR = 1.035, 95%CI was 1.015-1.056, P < 0.001), and CCI score (HR = 1.135, 95%CI was 1.115-1.155, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for 28-day death in septic patients. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of NEE score for predicting the 28-day death risk of septic patients was 0.743 (95%CI was 0.730-0.756), which was comparable to the predictive value of APACHE II score (AUC = 0.742, 95%CI was 0.729-0.755) and ratio of mean arterial pressure (MAP)/NEE score (MAP/NEE; AUC = 0.738, 95%CI was 0.725-0.751, both P > 0.05), and better than SOFA score (AUC = 0.609, 95%CI was 0.594-0.624), CCI score (AUC = 0.658, 95%CI was 0.644-0.673), shock index (AUC = 0.613, 95%CI was 0.597-0.629) and ratio of diastolic blood pressure (DBP)/NEE score (DBP/NEE; AUC = 0.735, 95%CI was 0.721-0.748, all P < 0.05). According to the cut-off values of APACHE II and NEE scores obtained from ROC curve analysis, the patients were stratified for Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis, and the results showed that the 28-day cumulative survival rate in the septic patients with an APACHE II score ≤ 22.5 was significantly higher than that in those with an APACHE II > 22.5 (Log-Rank test: χ² = 848.600, P < 0.001), and the 28-day cumulative survival rate in the septic patients with an NEE score ≤0.120 was significantly higher than that in those with an NEE score > 0.120 (Log-Rank test: χ² = 832.449, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS NEE score is an independent risk factor for 28-day death in septic patients who received vasoactive treatment within 6 hours of diagnosis and possesses significant predictive value. It can be used for severity stratification in sepsis management.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis/diagnosis* ; Male ; Female ; Norepinephrine/therapeutic use* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Prognosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Shock, Septic/mortality* ; Adult ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Aged, 80 and over

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of sepsis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the compliance with sepsis diagnosis and treatment guidelines in intensive care unit (ICU) at different levels of hospitals, and to identify the risk factors associated with poor prognosis in patients with sepsis in this region. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in ICU of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Critical Care Medicine Alliance. The survey period was from 10:00 on January 31, 2024, to 09:59 on February 1, 2024. The patients diagnosed with sepsis admitted to the ICU during the study period were included in the analysis. Data on patient demographics, physiology, microbiology, and treatment protocols were collected, with follow-up until the 28th day after ICU admission or death. Baseline characteristics and treatment information of septic patients across different hospital levels were compared, as well as clinical data of septic patients with different 28-day outcomes. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify risk factors for 28-day death in septic patients. RESULTS: A total of 77 units of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Critical Care Medicine Alliance from 14 prefectures/cities in Xinjiang participated in the survey. On the survey day, 727 patients were admitted to ICU, of whom 179 (24.6%) were diagnosed with sepsis, and 64 (35.8%) died within 28 days, 115 (64.2%) survived. Among the participating institutions, 33 were tertiary hospitals (42.9%), managing 97 septic cases (54.2%), and 44 were secondary hospitals (57.1%), managing 82 septic cases (45.8%). The lactic acid monitoring rate and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) rate for septic patients in tertiary hospitals were significantly higher than those in secondary hospitals [lactic acid monitoring rate: 92.8% (90/97) vs. 82.9% (68/82), CRRT rate: 17.5% (17/97) vs. 3.7% (3/82), both P < 0.05]. No statistically significant differences were observed between tertiary and secondary hospitals in length of ICU stay or 28-day mortality [length of ICU stay (days): 11.0 (16.0) vs. 10.0 (22.0), 28-day mortality: 35.1% (34/97) vs. 36.6% (30/82), both P > 0.05]. Compared with survivors, non-survivors had higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score and lower Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score. Significant differences were noted in vital signs [heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂)], laboratory markers [red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte ratio (LYM%), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), pH value, base excess (BE)], and monitoring, diagnosis and treatment information (invasive blood pressure monitoring, mechanical ventilation, CRRT, usage of norepinephrine). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model indicated that body temperature [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.416, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.022-1.961, P = 0.037] and WBC (HR = 1.040, 95%CI was 1.010-1.071, P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for 28-day death in patients with sepsis. CONCLUSIONS Sepsis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is characterized by a high mortality. In this region, tertiary hospitals demonstrate better compliance with bundled treatment strategies such as lactic acid monitoring and the usage of CRRT compared to secondary hospitals, yet they do not show significant advantages in clinical outcomes. Body temperature and WBC are independent risk factors for 28-day death in patients with sepsis in this region. However, clinicians should still consider the actual situation of patients, along with more optimal early warning indicators and comprehensive system assessments, to identify and prevent risk factors for adverse outcomes in patients.
Humans ; Sepsis/diagnosis* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Intensive Care Units ; Prognosis ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Incidence

In the earliest existing pharmacological monograph in China,Shennong Bencao Jing,there is a record of a parasitic plant known as"desert ginseng"——Cistanche deserticola.It exerts beneficial effects on the function of the heart,kidney,spleen,and lung.As research into its pharmacological properties has progressed,the active components of Cistanche deserticola also have shown promise for treating intestinal disorders.Due to the complex pathological mechanisms of sepsis,which often accompany multiple organ dysfunction,aligns closely with the multi-target pharmacological characteristics of Cistanche deserticola's.Furthermore,because Cistanche deserticola is both edible and medicinal,and exhibits a wide therapeutic window,it has a natural advantage in the clinical transformation and application after drug development.Currently,to expand its medicinal range,a review of the main active components of Cistanche deserticola and their related pharmacological effects is conducted,and combined with the specific characteristics of intestinal injury in sepsis,the potential value of Cistanche deserticola in intestinal barrier protection,microbial coordination,and intestinal motility regulation is further elaborated,providing new ideas and a theoretical basis for the application of Cistanche deserticola in sepsis-induced intestinal injury.

Sepsis is defined as a severe organ dysfunction caused by an imbalanced immune response to infection, making it a common life-threatening critical condition in clinical practice. With the rapid advancement of precision and personalized medicine, along with a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis, immune dysfunction has increasingly been recognized as a major factor contributing to poor outcomes in sepsis patients. This article discusses the mechanisms of immune dysfunction, methods of immune monitoring, and patient stratification in sepsis, highlighting the importance of achieving immune balance in sepsis treatment. It aims to explore new strategies for immunotherapy in sepsis.

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor′s professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.

Objective To discuss the regulatory mechanism of nucleotide-binding oligomerzation domain 2(NOD2)/receptor interacting protein 2(RIP2)signaling pathway on inflammatory activation of macrophages in intestinal mucosa and provide experimental evidence for intestinal mucosal inflammation caused by bacterial products.Methods Using the THP-1 monocyte cell line,macrophages were stimulated with muramyl dipeptide(MDP)at varying concentrations and durations.mRNA and protein expression levels of NOD2 and RIP2 were detected.The secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-1β in the cell culture supernatant were measured.The most effective siRNA targeting RIP2 and optimal transfection concentration were screened,and the impact of RIP2 gene silencing on MDP-induced inflammatory activation of macrophages was observed.Results After silencing the RIP2 gene,MDP induced a significant decrease in TNF-α and IL-1βsecretion in macrophages,but the changes in cell phenotype were not significantly affected.Conclusion This study revealed the important role of NOD2/RIP2 signaling pathway in inflammatory activation of macrophages,and it is possible to effectively inhibit inflammatory activation of macrophages by interfering with this signaling pathway.

With updates of the definition and guidelines of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS),significant improvements have been made in the clinical recognition and management of ARDS.The lung-protective ventilation strategy remains the primary supportive therapy for ARDS,while the absence of specific pharmacological treatments continues to contribute to the persistently high mortality rate in ARDS patients.Evidence from studies reveals that the clinical and biological heterogeneity of ARDS is closely associated with differences in its etiology,disease severity,progression and gene expression,and also demonstrates the complex pathogenesis of ARDS.Therefore,how to optimize the treatment of this heterogeneous syndrome and break through the dilemma of pharmacologic therapies is a daily problem faced by every clinician.Based on the pathophysiological mechanism of ARDS,this review summarizes the clinical studies on pharmacological interventions targeting immune response modulation,restoration of alveolar epithelial cell function,reversal of endothelial cell and vascular dysfunction,stabilization of coagulation,and promotion of tissue repair.The aim is to optimize the clinical practice and scientific research,and provide reference for clinicians achieving the goal of personalized medicine.

Objective:To clarify the current status of mechanical ventilation management in critically ill patients and identify prognostic risk factors in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, thereby providing evidence for targeted training programs and quality improvement initiatives.Methods:A cohort study was conducted across multiple ICUs in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 31 to February 1, 2024. Patients receiving mechanical ventilation during the study period were enrolled, with clinical outcomes followed up until February 28, 2024. Statistical analyses included demographic characteristics, therapeutic interventions, laboratory parameters, and medication regimens.Results:A total of 77 ICUs and 727 patients were screened in the study, and 253 (34.80%) patients who received mechanical ventilation were ultimately included. Among these patients, 177 patients (69.96%) were treated in tertiary hospitals, and 76 patients (30.04%) in secondary hospitals. Significant differences were observed between tertiary and secondary hospitals regarding ventilator mode selection and mechanical ventilation parameter settings (all P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the 28-day mortality rate between tertiary hospitals and secondary hospitals (33.9% vs. 43.4%, P=0.194). Compared with patients in the survival group, death group patients were older and had more severe disease severity. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that body temperature ( HR=1.573, 95% CI: 1.173-2.110, P=0.003), white blood cell count ( HR=1.048, 95% CI: 1.012-1.084, P=0.008), pH ( HR=0.019, 95% CI: 0.001-0.349, P=0.007), age > 65 years ( HR=1.817, 95% CI: 1.086-3.041, P=0.023), and fraction of inspired oxygen ≥ 60% ( HR=2.072, 95% CI: 1.143-3.757, P=0.016) were independent influencing factors for 28-day mortality in mechanically ventilated patients. Conclusions:Mechanically ventilated patients are a major component of the ICU population in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with the characteristics of high risk of death. The clinical practice of mechanical ventilation in this region is heterogeneous. In the future, it is urgent to strengthen the improvement of medical quality and related training to improve the success rate of patients with mechanical ventilation.

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of resveratrol activation of Sirt1/PGC-1α/Nrf2 pathway and its protective effect on apoptosis in rats with sepsis cardiomyopathy.Methods:In this study, 32 SD male rats were randomly (random number) divided into sham operation group (sham group), sepsis group (C group), Sirt1 agonist group (S group), Sirt1 agonist +PGC-1α inhibitor group (SP group), and cecal exploration was performed in rats of Sham group. The other three groups underwent Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to establish a rat model of septic cardiomyopathy, and the corresponding groups were given Sirt1 agonist resveratrol and PGC-1α inhibitor SR-18292. The heart of the rats were examined by B ultrasound 20 hours after CLP to compare left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular fraction shortening rate (LVFS). Myocardial tissue was stained with HE to observe the pathological changes, and serum myocardial troponin I (cTnI), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and oxidative stress indexes such as ROS and MDA were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of Sirt1, PGC-1α, Nrf2 and pyro related proteins (GSDMD, Caspase-1, NLRP3) in myocardial tissue were detected by Immunohistochemistry and Western Blotting.Results:Immunohistochemical and Western Blotting experiments showed that compared with sham group, the protein expressions of Sirt1, PGC-1α and Nrf2 in C group were decreased ( P < 0.05), and the expressions of GSDMD, Caspase-1 and NLRP3 were increased. The LVEF of group S rats was higher than that of group C rats ( P<0.05); Although the LVEDV and LVFS of group S were higher and the LVESV was lower, there was no statistically significant difference ( P > 0.05). Compared with group C, the edema and necrosis of cardiomyocytes in group S were alleviated, the arrangement of cardiomyocytes was slightly regular, and the inflammatory infiltration was reduced by HE staining. The cTnI, IL-1 β, IL-18, MDA, and ROS levels in group S were lower than those in group C ( P<0.05). Immunohistochemical and Western Blotting experiments showed that compared with group C, the protein expressions of Sirt1, PGC-1α and Nrf2 in group S were increased ( P < 0.05), and the expressions of GSDMD, Caspase-1 and NLRP3 were decreased ( P < 0.05). The LVESV of the SP group was higher than that of the S group rats ( P<0.05), while LVEDV, LVFS, and LVEF were all lower ( P>0.05). HE staining showed that the edema and necrosis of cardiomyocytes in SP group were more severe than those in S group, the arrangement of cardiomyocytes was more disordered than that in the former group, the vacuol-like deformation of cardiomyocytes was increased, and the infiltration of interstitial inflammatory cells was increased. The cTnI, IL-1 β, IL-18, MDA, and ROS levels in the SP group were higher than those in the S group rats ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Sirt1 expression between the SP group and the S group in myocardial tissue detected by immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. However, the expression levels of PGC-1 α and Nrf2 were lower in the SP group, while the expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, and Caspase-1 were higher in the SP group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Resveratrol enhances myocardial function and decreases inflammatory cytokine levels in rats suffering from septic cardiomyopathy, potentially through a mechanism involving the Sirt1/PGC-1α/Nrf2 pathway.

Sepsis is defined as a severe organ dysfunction caused by an imbalanced immune response to infection, making it a common life-threatening critical condition in clinical practice. With the rapid advancement of precision and personalized medicine, along with a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis, immune dysfunction has increasingly been recognized as a major factor contributing to poor outcomes in sepsis patients. This article discusses the mechanisms of immune dysfunction, methods of immune monitoring, and patient stratification in sepsis, highlighting the importance of achieving immune balance in sepsis treatment. It aims to explore new strategies for immunotherapy in sepsis.