Objective To investigate the value of procalcitonin (PCT) on predicting the severity and prognosis in patients with early acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods A prospective observation study was conducted. A total of 113 patients with ARDS undergoing mechanical ventilation admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Affiliated People's Hospital ofJiangsu University from October 2012 to April 2016 were enrolled. Based on oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2), the patients were classified into mild, moderate, and severe groups according to Berlin Definition. Twenty-five healthy volunteers were served as controls. Demographics, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score, and Murray lung injury score were recorded. Within 24 hours after diagnosis of ARDS, the serum levels of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined by enzyme-linked fluorescence analysis (ELFA) and immune turbidimetric method, respectively. The patients were also divided into survival and non-survival groups according to clinical outcome within 28-day follow-up, and the clinical data were compared between the two groups. Spearman rank correlationwas applied to determine the correlation between variables. The predictive value of the parameters on 28-day mortality was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was used to compare different PCT levels of patients with 28-day cumulative survival rate. Results After excluding patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria and loss to follow-up, the final 89 patients were enrolled in the analysis. Among 89 ARDS patients analyzed, 27 of them were mild, 34 moderate, and 28 severe ARDS. No significant differences were found in age and gender between ARDS and healthy control groups. Infection and trauma were the most common etiology of ARDS (55.1% and 34.8%, respectively). Compared with healthy control group, both CRP and PCT in serum of ARDS group were higher [CRP (mg/L): 146.32 (111.31, 168.49) vs. 6.08 (4.47, 7.89), PCT (μg/L): 3.46 (1.98, 5.56) vs. 0.02 (0.01, 0.04), bothP < 0.01], and the two showed sustained upward trends with the ARDS course of disease. Compared with mild group, severe group had significantly higher APACHE Ⅱ and Murray scores. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that both serum PCT and CRP in patients with ARDS was correlated well with APACHE Ⅱ score (r values were 0.669 and 0.601, respectively, bothP < 0.001), while PCT was weakly but positively correlated with Murray score (r = 0.294,P = 0.005), but not the case of CRP (r = 0.203,P = 0.052). APACHE Ⅱ score and serum PCT in non-survival group (n = 38) were significantly higher than those of the survival group [n = 51; APACHE Ⅱ score: 26.00 (23.00, 28.50) vs. 21.00 (17.00, 25.00), PCT (μg/L): 6.38 (2.82, 9.49) vs. 3.09 (1.08, 3.57), both P < 0.01], but Murray score and CRP level were similar between survivors and non-survivors. The areas under ROC curve (AUC) of APACHE Ⅱ score and PCT for predicting 28-day mortality were 0.781 and 0.793, respectively, which were better than those of AUC of Murray score and CRP (0.606 and 0.561, respectively, allP < 0.05). The AUC of APACHE Ⅱ score combined with PCT was significantly higher than that of PCT (0.859 vs. 0.793,P = 0.048) or APACHE Ⅱ score alone (0.859 vs. 0.781,P = 0.038). Using a PCT cut-off value of > 4.35μg/L for predicting 28-day mortality, the sensitivity and specificity was 92.2% and 63.2%, respectively, and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 2.50 and 0.12 respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis indicated that the patients whose PCT more than 4.35μg/L, had lower 28-day cummulative survival rate as compared with those with PCT ≤ 4.35μg/L (log-rank test: χ2 = 5.013,P = 0.025).Conclusion The elevated serum PCT level in patients with ARDS seems to be correlated well with the severity of lung injury, and appears to be a useful prognostic marker of outcome in the early phases of ARDS.

Objective To evaluate the effects of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) system on oxidative stress and mortality in critically ill patients and to explore the correlation between glucose index,oxidative stress and mortality.Methods Selected 123 cases of critically ill patients were enrolled in this prospective randomized controlled study.They were randomly divided into the RT-CGM group(n =61) and blood glucose meter group (GM group,n =62).The following parameters were compared between the two groups:mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE),hypoglycemia incidence,low blood glucose index (LBGI),high blood glucose index (HBGI),28-day mortality and plasma level of 8-iso-PGF2α (8-iso) at 48 hours (R2),72 hours (R3) and 96 hours(R4) after admission to ICU.The correlation between glucose index and plasma level of 8-iso-PGF2α were analyzed.The correlation between glucose index,plasma 8-iso level and 28-day death were analyzed.Results The parameters of MAGE,hypoglycemia incidence,LBGI and HBG1 in the RT-CGM group and the GM group were (3.73 ±1.09) mmol/Land (4.19±1.11)mmol/L(P=0.02),3.28％ and 14.52％(P=0.03),0.0011 and 0.0119 (P ＜ 0.01) and 0.2258 and 0.3697 (P ＜ 0.01),respectively.The plasma levels of 8-iso at R2,R3,R4 in the RT-CGM group and the GM group were (111.44 ± 16.99) ng/L and (114.03 ± 14.64) ng/L(P=0.37),(94.53 ±14.92)ng/L and (110.31 ±13.42) ng/L(P＜0.01) and (57.84±12.22) ng/L and (84.41 ± 14.16)ng/L(P ＜0.01),respectively.The r values between MAGE,LBGI,HBGI and the plasma level of 8-iso were 0.69,0.71 and 0.67,respectively (all P values ＜ 0.01).Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed MAGE,LBGI,HBGI entered final models (corrected R2 =0.61,P ＜ 0.01) with β values of 0.64,0.65 and 0.6 respectively(all P values ＜0.01).The 28-day mortality in the RT-CGM group and the GM group was 9.84％ and 30.65％ (P ＜0.01).The OR values of MAGE,hypoglycemia incidence,LBGI,HBGI and the plasma level of 8-iso for 28-day death were 2.14 (0.98-4.35),3.43 (1.12-5.82),2.67 (1.01-5.14),1.32 (0.24-2.96) and 1.89 (0.67-3.44),respectively.Conclusion RT-CGM can optimize the care in critically ill patients by improving hypoglycemia,hyperglycemia,glucose variability and oxidative stress and bring more detailed concern in the process,and to reduce the mortality.

The effect of insulin gene enhancer binding protein (ISL1) on proliferation of HIT-T15 cells was investigated.ISL1 significantly promoted cell proliferation.ISL1 also increased the advance of HIT-T15 cell phase significantly.The results showed that ISL1 promoted proliferation of HIT-T15 cells.

Objective To determine the influence of continuous mild sedation versus usual sedation on the sedative effect and inflammatory factor level in ICU patients with multiple trauma.Methods In this prospective, randomized double-blind investigation, 58 multiple trauma patients hospitalized from October 2013 to April 2015 were randomized into continuous mild sedation group (continuous group, n =30) and conventional sedation group (conventional group, n =28) using the sealed envelopes.Between-group differences were made on the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the ICU, ratio of inception of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), tracheotomy rate, accidental extubation rate, sepsis rate, multiple organ failure (MOF) rate and mortality.Serum inflammatory factor levels of the patients were recorded.Results There were 3 deaths (10％) in continuous group versus 4 deaths (14％) in conventional group (P ＞ 0.05).Patients in continuous group showed significantly less time spent on mechanical ventilation [(4.8 ±2.7) vs.(8.9 ±3.1)d] and in the ICU [(10.7 ± 5.4) vs.(16.9 ± 7.3) d] compared with conventional group (P ＜ 0.01).Between-group differences were insignificant regarding the ratio of CRRT inception, tracheotomy rate, accidental extubation rate, sepsis rate and MOF rate (P ＞ 0.05).Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Creactive protein (CRP) were lower in continuous group than those in conventional group at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post-ICU, but significant differences were only observed at 48 h (P ＜ 0.05).At these time periods, serum IL-10 levels in continuous group were significantly higher than those in conventional group (P ＜0.05).In receiver operative characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, the area under the curve for IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and CRP in continuous group was 0.726, 0.608, 0.729 and 0.757 respectively at 48 h post-ICU, indicating a predictive value of these markers for sepsis.Conclusion Continuous mild sedation results in shortened length of stay in the ICU and decreased inflammatory response in the treatment of patients with multiple trauma.

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic value of CRRT on severe sepsis coincidence with capillary leak syndrome in surgical patients. Methods 38 patients suffering from severe sepsis coincidence with capillary leak syndrome were random divided into routine group ( n = 18 ) and CRRT group ( n =20). Both groups were given routine treatment, while the patients of CRRT group were given CRRT in addition. Red blood cell count (RBC), haematoglobin level, blood platelets count, leukocyte count, hematocrit (HCT), plasma-albumin level, central venous pressure ( CVP), arterial blood pressure ( ABP), urinary production change of every hour, oxygenation index condition ( PO2\FiO2 ) were measured at 0, 12, 24, 48,72 hour following routine treatment or CRRT. Additionally, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor- a (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8(IL-8) were determined at the same time. Results Blood platelets count, HCT, plasma-albumin level in CRRT group were significantly higher than those of routine group [72 h: (211. 75 ± 45. 23 ) × 109 vs ( 135.67 ± 41.45 ) × 109 ;0. 43 ± 0. 05 vs 0. 35 ±0. 04; (48. 60 ±4. 76) g/L vs (41.17 ±4. 64) g/L, P <0. 01 ]. WBC were significantly lower than those of routine group[72 h:(7.58 ±2.31) ×109 vs (13.77 ±2.67) × 109, P <0.01]. Change of ABP, PO2\FiO2, urinary production for every hour was notably increased than those of routine group [72 h: (94. 25 ±8.60) mmHg vs ( 84. 22 ± 7. 37 ) mmHg; 345. 25 ± 35. 21 vs 304. 22 ± 38. 74; ( 80. 15 ± 14. 54 ) ml vs (62. 72 ± 12. 33) ml, P <0. 01 ]. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 of CRRT group were markedly decreased compared with those of routine group(72 h:249. 55 ±99. 60 vs 368. 83 ±97. 11 ;600. 75 ±98. 31 vs 718. 94 ± 92. 00 ;665. 35 ±138. 44 vs 843. 22 ±123. 95 , P <0. 01,P <0.05). Conclusions CRRT can significantly improve patient's condition, which may be an effective nechanism to treat the surgical patients with severe sepsis coincidence with capillary leak syndrome.

Objective:To analyze the causes of hyperdynamic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in sepsis patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and its impact on prognosis.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 273 sepsis patients admitted to the department of critical care medicine of the Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University from January 2018 to October 2021 were collected including gender, age, severity score, comorbidities, source of infection, vital signs, transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) parameters, fluid intake and output, vasoactive drug dose, therapeutic measures and prognostic indicators. The patients were divided into normal LVEF group (LVEF 0.55-0.70), low LVEF group (LVEF < 0.55) and hyperdynamic LVEF group (LVEF > 0.70) according to the TTE examination results within 7 days of ICU admission. The clinical indicators among the three groups were compared and analyzed, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen risk factors for the development of hyperdynamic LVEF in patients with sepsis. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between the mortality of different types of LVEF and clinical variables.Results:Among 273 patients, 20 patients with severe valvular or cardiomyopathy at admission and those who did not completed cardiac ultrasound within 7 days of ICU admission were excluded. A total of 253 patients were finally enrolled, including 169 patients in the normal LVEF group, 40 patients in the low LVEF group, and 44 patients in the hyperdynamic LVEF group. There were statistically significant differences in age, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, central venous pressure (CVP), heart rate (HR), oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2), blood lactate (Lac), urine output, vasoactive drug dose, ratio of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chronic liver disease, cancer, invasive mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy (RRT), and incidence of septic shock among the different types of LVEF groups. TTE results analysis showed that the hyperdynamic LVEF group had higher stroke volume (SV) and cardiac index (CI) than those in the normal LVEF and low LVEF groups, lower systemic vascular resistance (SVR) than that in the normal LVEF and low LVEF groups, and an increased E/A ratio. The 90-day mortality in the hyperdynamic LVEF group was significantly higher than that in the normal LVEF and low LVEF groups [59.1% (26/44) vs. 24.9% (42/169), 32.5% (13/40), both P < 0.05]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that chronic liver disease [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.712, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.912-3.234, P < 0.001], cancer ( OR = 2.784, 95% CI was 1.296-6.151, P < 0.001), HR ( OR = 1.026, 95% CI was 1.014-1.038, P < 0.001), vasoactive drug dose ( OR = 1.133, 95% CI was 1.009-1.291, P < 0.001), and invasive mechanical ventilation ( OR = 2.141, 95% CI was 1.285-3.651, P < 0.001) were independent factors for hyperdynamic LVEF in ICU sepsis patients. Correlation analysis showed that the mortality of hyperdynamic LVEF, normal LVEF and low LVEF patients was positively correlated with vasoactive drug dose ( r value was 0.251, 0.361, 0.289, respectively, all P < 0.001). The mortality of the hyperdynamic LVEF patients was negatively correlated with SVR ( r = -0.545, P < 0.001). Conclusions:Chronic liver disease, cancer, HR, vasoactive drugs dose, and invasive mechanical ventilation are independent risk factors for hyperdynamic LVEF in patients with sepsis. Hyperdynamic LVEF is positively associated with mortality in sepsis patients, which may be due to the the decrease of SVR caused by septic vascular paralysis.