Objective:To investigate high mobility group protein 1(HMGB1), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)levels and their clinical significance in elderly patients with viral pneumonia.Methods:One hundred and sixty elderly patients with viral pneumonia admitted to the Sixth Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University were enrolled as research subjects.In addition, 40 elderly people who underwent regular physical examination were considered as the control group.Patients with viral pneumonia were divided into the low-risk group, middle-risk group and high-risk group according to CURB-65 scores and pneumonia severity index(PSI)scores.HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were compared between different groups.The correlations of CURB-65 scores and PSI scores with HMGB1, TNF-α, IL-6 levels were analyzed.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to examine influencing factors for the severity of viral pneumonia in elderly patients.Results:HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were higher in research subjects than in the control group.As the severity of viral pneumonia increased, so did HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels(all P<0.05). HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the severe viral pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in the non-severe viral pneumonia group( P<0.05). HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were positively correlated with CURB-65 scores and PSI scores(CURB-65 score: r=0.463, 0.392 and 0.497, P=0.015, 0.003 and 0.025; PSI score: r=0.596, 0.515 and 0.381, P=0.007, 0.011 and 0.009). HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were influencing factors for the severity of viral pneumonia in elderly patients( OR=1.344, 1.422 and 1.351, P=0.006, 0.015 and 0.009). Conclusions:HMGB1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels are closely correlated with the severity of viral pneumonia and are helpful for early assessment of viral pneumonia.

Objective To explore the role and effectiveness of flexible fiberoptic brochoscopy ( FFB) in critically ill children with continuous invasive respiratory support. Methods From July 2014 to June 2017,135 critically ill children with severe pneumonia had received continuous invasive respiratory sup-port and undergone FFB in the pediatric intensive care unit( PICU) of our hospital. These patients were en-rolled into the therapy group. Another 104 severe pneumonia patients who had not received FFB were enrolled into the control group. Clinical characteristics of both groups were collected and compared. Results No sig-nificant differences were detected in patients′gender, age, PCIS, usage of antibiotics, and the levels of CRP and PCT assayed at the time of admission to PICU between the therapy group and control group(P>0. 05). The positive rate of bacteria culture of the bronchoscopic lavage was 78. 52％( 106 cases ) in the therapy group,and it was significantly higher than that in the control group(60. 58％,63 cases) (χ2 =5. 681,P <0. 005). For 106 cases in the therapy group,117 bacteria strains were identified,while there were 72 bacteria strains found in 63 cases with positive bacteria culture in the control group. Gram negative bacteria were the most common type,followed by Gram positive bacteria. The third most common pathogenic microbes were fungi,with a significantly higher frequency in the therapy group. No significant differences were found in PaO2 and oxygenation index between both groups before FFB. However,in a half hour after FFB,the PaO2 and oxygenation index significantly increased in the therapy group,and higher than those in the control group (P<0. 005). The levels of CRP and PCT assayed before and the first day after FFB were not significantly changed(P>0. 05). But the levels of CRP and PCT in the therapy group significantly decreased in the third day after FFB,and more than those in the control group. Furthermore,duration of invasive respiratory sup-port,and the stay of PICU were significantly shorter in the therapy group(P<0. 005). Conclusion FFB can play an important role in the collection of pathogenic microbes. It also achieves better results in the treatment of severe pneumonia for children in PICU. Therefore,it is worthwhile to be recommended as a safe and feasi-ble intervention in PICU.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of pulmonary fungal infection and drug resist-ance of the pathogenic fungi among children with severe diseases in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU). Methods From July 2013 to June 2017,the complete clinical data,results of fungal culture and drug sensi-tivity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in 112 critically ill children with pulmonary fungus infection of PICU hospitalization in our hospital were collected. Samples of peripheral venous blood were collected meantime, including blood routine examination,C reactive protein,G test and GM test. Results One hundred and twen-ty-six fungi were isolated from sputum samples in 112 critically ill children. Severe pulmonary infection (30. 36%,34/112) was the most common form of the primary diseases, the next were severe sepsis (16. 07%,18/112)and severe malnutrition(15. 18%,17/112). Classified based on age difference,the first one was ＜1 year old (43. 75%,49/112),the second one was 1 to 3 years old(29. 46%,33/112). The fun-gal strains were predominantly Candida albicans (61. 90%) and Candida tropicalis (16. 67%),among the infectious cases 14 were diagnosed as mixed infection. Two cases of 3 cryptococcal infectious children were HIV infection,another one was malignant tumor,Cryptococcus was cultured in both sputum,pleural effusion and cerebrospinal fluid. The drug resistance rate of fluconazol in 126 strains of fungi was 12. 70%,the rate of itraconazole was 7. 14%. Generally,the fungi cultured were with very low resistance to 5-fluorocytosine,vori-conazole and amphotericin B. However,the strains of Aspergillus fumigates,Candida kruse,Candida parapsi-losis and Cryptococcus were highly resistant to fluconazol and itraconazole,but with very low resistance to 5-fluorocytosine and amphotericin B. Conclusion Candida albicans is the main pathogenic fungus of pulmo-nary fungal infection among children in PICU,and we could choose voriconazole and amphotericin B as treat-ment of critically ill children with pulmonaty fungal infection.

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture combined with buccal electrical stimulation on dysphagia at oral phase after stroke. Methods 40 patients with oral-phase dysphasia after stroke were randomly divided into treatment group (n=20) and control group (n=20). The control group received routine therapy and swallowing training, and the treatment group received acupuncture and electrical stimulation on buccinator in addition. They were assessed with Oral Function Scale and Kubota's Drinking Test before and 20 d after treatment.Results There was no significant difference between both groups before treatment (P>0.05). Both groups improved after treatment (P<0.01), and improved more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture combined with buccal electrical stimulation is satisfactory for oral-phase dysphagia after stroke.