Objective To investigate the risk factors and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in elderly patients with sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU).Methods Clinical data of 108 elderly patients diagnosed as sepsis admitted in ICU in our hospital,from May 2010 to May 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.Patients were divided into two groups:the AKI group and the non-AKI group.Clinical characteristics,laboratory and physiologic data were compared between groups.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors for AKI in these patients,and clinical outcome was retrospectively analyzed.Results Among the 108 elderly patients,60 patients developed AKI and the incidence was 55.6％.Baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were lower in the AKI group than in non-AKI group (t=4.536 and 3.28).Prothrombin time (PT) (t=3.053),multiple organ dysfunction score (MODS) (t =2.201),acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score (t=3.423),the incidence of septic shock (x2 =5.400) and patients undergoing surgical operation within two weeks (x2 =5.625) were higher or longer in AKI group than in non-AKI group (all P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that MAP (OR =0.833),baseline GFR (OR=0.776),MODS (OR=2.039) were independent risk factors for AKI occurrence.Hospital mortality,length of stay in ICU and hospitalization time were higher or longer in AKI group than in non-AKI group (P=0.001,0.026 and 0.042).Conclusions MAP,baseline GFR and MODS are the independent risk factors for AKI occurrence in elderly adults with sepsis in ICU.Hospital mortality,length of stay in ICU and hospitalization time are increased in sepsis patients combined with AKI.

Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of the modified apnea test (MAT) for brain death evaluation. Method A prospective, controlled clinical study was carried out. Forty-three patients with suspected brain death underwent a total of 85 MATs. The patient's spontaneous breathing, hemodynamics and oxy genarion were monitored during MAT; arterial blood pH, PaCO2, PaO2 were measured before and after the MAT. Paired t test was used for statistical analysis to determine significant differences in measurements before and after MAT on the same patient. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used to determine statistical significance for skew distribution of PaO2 before and after apnea testing. Informed consent was obtained from the kinfolk of all participants and all of the procedures were done in accordance with national and international laws and policies. Results Hemodynamics and oxygenarion were stable in all patients during MAT, and none regained spontaneous respiration. About 89.4% of tests were completed within 4 minutes, and 10.6% within 8 minutes. The mean value of Pa CO2 rise was (23.1 ±4.8), and the average rate of PaCO2 increase was 5.3 mmHg per minute. Conclusions Modified apnea test can be done safely for brain death evaluation and is a useful supplement to the common apnea test.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of polysaccharide from Fructus corni ( PFC) on cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation ( H/R) injury and its possible relationship with ROS/PKC/p38 MAPK pathway.METHODS:Prima-ry cardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal SD rats and randomly divided into normal group, H/R group, PFC (20 mg/L, 100 mg/L and 200 mg/L) preconditioning+H/R groups, chelerythrine+PFC (100 mg/L)+H/R group and SB203580+PFC (100 mg/L)+H/R group.The cell viability was measured by inverted microscopic observation.Apoptosis in the car-diomyocytes was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining and fluorescence microscopy.The levels of lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) and superoxide dismutase ( SOD) in the cell culture supernatants, and the reactive oxygen species ( ROS) in the cells were also measured by microplate reader.The protein levels of PKC, p-p38 MAPK and HSP70 in the cells were detec-ted by Western blotting.RESULTS:Compared with normal group, the cell viability and beating frequency were decreased in H/R group.LDH and ROS contents, apoptotic rate and p-p38 MAPK level increased significantly (P<0.01).Compared with H/R group, PFC preconditioning increased beating frequency, SOD activity and the protein level of PKC and HSP70, and decreased ROS production, the protein level of p-p38 MAPK and cell apoptotic rate.However, the effect of PFC was in-hibited by chelerythrine or SB203580.CONCLUSION:PFC may protect cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. Its mechanism is possibly involved in the inhibition of ROS via increasing the activity of SOD and the activation of PKC, and suppression of excessive activation of p38 MAPK.

Objective To investigate the expression of micro RNA-146a (miR-146a),TNF receptorassociated factor 6 (TRAF6) gene and IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) gene in the peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and their relationship with the disease activity.The role of miR-146a,TRAF6,IRAK1 in the pathogenesis of AS was explored.Methods Expression of miR-146a,TRAF-6 and IRAK-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied using realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 45 AS patients and 22 healthy controls.The indicators of disease activity adopted in this study were Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reactive protein (CRP) level,and immunoglobulin (Ig).The relationship was analyzed in AS patients between the relative expression levels miR-146a,TRAF6,IRAK1 and BASDAI,ESR,CRP,Ig concentration.Non-parametric test,t test,One-way ANOVA,Pearson's and Spearman's correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results ①The relative expression level of miR-146a which was observed in PBMCs of AS patients was significantly higher than that in normal control group [1.46(0.39,4.79)and 0.81(0.17,1.90),P＜0.05].The expression of miR-146a was significantly higher in active AS patients group than that in inactive patients [2.93(0.95,7.95) and 0.54(0.28,1.69),P＜0.05],there was no difference between the treatment group and without treatment group [1.28(0.31,2.37) and 2.22(0.49,7.71),P＞0.05].② There was significant difference in the relative expression level of IRAK-1 between AS patients and the normal control group.IRAK1 was significantly higher in AS patients than that in normal control group (1.4±0.7,1.1±0.4,P＜0.05).However,there was not difference between active AS patients group and inactive patients group as well as treated group and untreated group (1.5±0.9,1.4±0.5; 1.6±0.7,1.3±0.7,P＞0.05).③ TRAF6 expression was obviously lower in AS patients than that in normal control group (1.3±0.6,1.7±0.8,P＜0.05),and that was also significantly lower in the untreated group and active group than that in the normal control group (1.1±0.7,1.7±0.8; 1.1±0.5,1.7±0.8,P＜0.05).④ Signi-ficant positive correlation was observed between the miR-146a level and BASDAI,as well as duration of morning stiffness (r=0.557,P=0.000; r=0.363,P=0.018).The expression level of IRAK1 was significantly negative correlated with IgM (r=-0.313,P=0.046).Conclusion ① miR-146a expression is up-regulated in patients with AS,and it may be a potential useful marker for disease activity in AS patients; ② The abnormal expression of IRAK1,TRAF6 in AS patients may play a role in the pathogenesis of AS.

Objective· To investigate the prospective value of early postoperative PI-APD in children with hydronephrosis.Methods· Data of children with hydronephrosis who underwent pyeloplasty in Xinhua Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between Jan 2012 to Nov 2015 was collected.PI-APD was divided into 3 categories (≤ 19％,19％＜PI-APD＜40％ and ≥ 40％).The relationship between PI-APD value and the degree of renal function (DRF) and dilation recovery after surgery was analyzed.Results· There were 360 children with hydronephrosis.The median follow-up was 20 months.The PI-APD value (3 months after pyeloplasty) was positively correlated with the degree of DRF recovery (r=0.631,P=0.000).Five patients received redo-pyeloplasty.PI-APD of all these patients was ＜19％.Conclusion· PI-APD is a new feasible ultrasound parameter in pyeloplasty followup.PI-APD ≥ 40％ at the first post-operative visit predicts pyeloplasty success.PI-APD ≤ 19％ indicates close follow-up after operation.PI-APD can also help select children at high risk for repeat intervention after pyeloplasty.

Objective: To investigate the expression of TSLP in human lung cancer tissue and the correla-tion between TSLP expression and number of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Methods: The expression of TSLP mRNA and protein was detected in different pathological lesions of the lung by Q-RT-PCR and immunohisto-chemistry. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect Foxp3+ Tregs. The correlation of TSLP with the number of Tregs was analyzed. Results: TSLP gene was expressed in tumor tissues (n=37), latero-tumor tissues (n=29) and non-tumor lung tissues (n=24), without statistical difference (P=0.148). TSLP protein was expressed in the cytoplasm and was observeed in 69.57% of tumor tissues, 13.33% of benign lesions and 30.00% of non-tumor lung tissues, with a significant difference (P<0.05). The expression of TSLP protein was correlated with tumor size (P=0.000) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.018). The number of Tregs in TSLP positive group was more than that in TSLP negative group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of TSLP in lung tu-mor tissues is increased and is correlated with the number of Tregs, indicating that TSLP could induce Treg to play an important role in tumor immunotolerance.

Objective:To analyze long-term outcomes of inoperable non-metastatic pancreatic cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy-based comprehensive treatment.Methods:Clinical data of 168 patients with medically unfit, refusal to surgery or inoperable non-metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with radiotherapy-based comprehensive treatment in PLA General Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Survival outcomes,prognostic factors and patterns of treatment failure were analyzed in the radiotherapy ( n=95) and combined chemoradiotherapy ( n=73) groups. The survival analysis was conducted by Kaplan-Meier method. The survival curve was compared by log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were identified by Cox proportional harzard model. Results:With a median follow-up of 20.2 months in the entire group, the median overall survival (OS) and median progression-free survival (PFS) were 18.0 and 12.3 months. The corresponding median OS and median PFS after receiving radiotherapy were 14.3 and 7.7 months. The 1-, 2-and 3-year OS rates were 72.1%, 36.6% and 21.5%, and the 1- and 2-year local control rates were 82.6% and 64.3%, respectively. The median OS for stage Ⅰ, stage Ⅱ and stage III were 27.1, 18.0 and 17.0 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in the median OS of patients with localized disease (stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ) between the radiotherapy and combined chemoradiotherapy groups (21.1 vs. 20.4 months, P=0.470). In patients with locally advanced disease (stage Ⅲ), combined chemoradiotherapy group showed better median OS compared with radiotherapy group (19.2 vs. 13.8 months, P=0.004). Clinical stage, CA19-9 before radiotherapy, comprehensive treatment and biological effective dose (BED 10) were identified as the independent prognostic factors for OS ( P=0.032, 0.011, 0.003 and 0.014). The cumulative 1- and 2-year actuarial rates of treatment failure, local-regional recurrence and distant metastasis were 48% and 74.4%, 15.0% and 27.4%, 23.6% and 33.1%, respectively. Liver metastasis (16.1%, 27/168) and local recurrence (11.9%, 20/168) were the primary patterns of treatment failure. Conclusions:Definitive radiotherapy-based comprehensive treatment effectively prolongs long-term survival in patients with inoperable non-metastatic pancreatic cancer. Definitive radiotherapy can be an alternative treatment option with curative intent for patients with localized pancreatic cancer who are medically unfit or refuse to undergo surgery. The combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy remains an effective treatment choice for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Objective To observe the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block for awake orotracheal fiberoptic intubation.Methods Forty patients with limited cervical activity scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia,23 males and 17 females,aged 18-65 years,ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ were chosen.According to random number table method,they were randomly divided into two groups (n =20).Group N received superior laryngeal nerve block u-sing the acupoint-located method by anatomical landmark,and group D was under ultrasound-guided, combined with airway anesthesia.Awake orotracheal fiberoptic intubation was then performed.Intu-bation time and the changes of MAP,HR,Ramsay sedation score were recorded at the time of bur-glary (T0 ),before the endotracheal tube into the mouth (T1 ),endotracheal tube into the glottis im-mediately (T2 ),5 min after intubation (T3 ).Ramsay score was rated to assess the patients'comfort and tolerance,complications during intubation process were documented,the patient's satisfaction was received.Results Compared with the group N,the intubation time of group D was significantly shorter [(0.5±0.1)min vs (1.0±0.2)min,P <0.05].In group N,MAP and HR were obviously higher during intubation with lower Ramsay sedation score at T2 compared with group D (P <0.05). Patients in group D had lower comfort score and tolerance grade during intubation (P <0.05).The incidence of nausea,vomiting,restlessness and pharyngalgia were significantly lower in group D (P< 0.05 ).Besides, patients during intubation in group D were more satisfactory (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block for awake orotracheal fiberoptic intuba-tion could provide an ideal sedative effect,maintain stable circulation and keep patients tolerable.

Objective To investigate the effect of ultrasonograpy (US )-guided bilateral superior laryngeal nerve (SLN)block by different concentrations of lidocaine combined with intrave-nous anesthesia for polypectomy of vocal cord by laryngoscope.Methods Sixty patients,aged 18-65 years, ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, scheduled for elective polypectomy of vocal cord by laryngoscope were divided into 3 groups (n=20 each)using a random number table:US-guided bilat-eral SLN block by 2% lidocaine (group A),S-guided bilateral SLN block by 1% lidocaine (group B), and traditional SLN block by 2% lidocaine (group C).HR,MAP,SpO2and plasma concentration of NE were detected at the time of patients entering the operating room (T0),immediately after intuba-tion(T1),suspensing laryngoscopy (T2),5 min after suspensing laryngoscopy (T3),immediately af-ter extubation(T4),5 min after extubation(T5).Extubation time and side effects such as dysphagia and dyspnea in two hours after extubation were recorded as well.Results HR and MAP in the three groups at T1-T5were increased compared to T0(P<0.05).Compared with group C,HR and MAP in groups A and B were decreased at T1-T5(P<0.05).Plasma concentration of NE of groups A and B was more significantly decreased than group C (P<0.05),and extubation time of groups A and B was less than that of group C (P <0.05 ).Conclusion US-guided bilateral SLN block by 1% lidocaine has definite effect and better comfort level,with stable haemodynamics and less extubation time.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients infected with 2019-nCoV Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 in Zhuhai city.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to compare clinical characteristics of patients infected with 2019-nCoV Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2, who were admitted in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University during January 13 to March 8 2022. The Mann-Whitney U-test or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for quantitative data, and the χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test was used for qualitative data. Results:Among 122 patients infected with the Omicron variant, there was 79 adults (BA.1 23 cases, BA.2 56 cases) and 43 children (BA.1 19 cases, BA.2 24 cases). In adults, patients infected with BA.2 sub-variant had a higher baseline viral loads at admission than BA.1 infected patients [7.64(6.92, 8.55) lg copies/mL vs. 6.64(6.04, 7.34) lg copies/mL; Z=-3.022, P=0.003]; compared to BA.1 patients, BA.2 patients had a higher proportion of mild and asymptomatic cases and a lower proportion of common infection cases ( χ2=8.052, P=0.012); the proportion of patients with pneumonia imaging changes in BA.1 patients was higher than that in BA.2 infected patients [(6/23, 26.1%) vs. (2/56, 3.6%); χ2=6.776, P=0.009). In children, the rate of fever in BA.2 group was higher than that in BA.1 group [(16/24, 66.7%) vs. ( 5/19, 26.3%); χ2=6.910, P=0.009); the proportion of patients with reduced lymphocyte counts in BA.2 group was higher than that in BA.1 group [(17/24, 70.8%) vs.(1/19, 5.3%); χ2=18.734, P<0.001). Compared with adult cases, children with BA.2 sub-variant infection had higher fever rate [(16/24, 66.7%) vs. (19/56, 33.9%); χ2=7.317, P=0.007). The viral loads of daily nasal swabs in BA.2 infected patients increased first and then decreased in both adults and children, with a greater decrease than BA.1 during the first two weeks. Conclusions:Compare with 2019-nCoV Omicron variant BA.1, BA.2 has a higher baseline viral loads in adults, which means much more contagious in the early stages. But the viral load drops faster in BA.2 infected patients. In children, BA.2 patients are more likely to have fever and reduced lymphocyte counts, which indicates that the prevention and control of 2019-nCoV Omicron sub-variant BA.2 is more difficult.