No abstract available.
Ligaments* ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse*

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and survival in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: We analyzed the sepsis registry of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary urban hospital and meeting the criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock from August 2008 to March 2012. We categorized patients into the underweight group (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), the normal weight group (18.5 < or = BMI < 25 kg/m2) and the obese group (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2). Then, we analyzed the registry to evaluate the relation between obesity and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 770 adult patients with severe sepsis and septic shock were analyzed. In-hospital mortality rate of the underweight group (n = 86), the normal weight group (n = 489) and the obese group (n = 195) was 22.1%, 15.3% and 16.4%, respectively. In a multivariate regression analysis, the underweight group had a significant association with in-hospital mortality compared with the normal weight group (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-1.87; p = 0.028). The obese group showed no significant difference in mortality (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.08-3.86; p = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: The underweight patients showed significantly higher mortality than the normal weight patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.
Adult ; Body Mass Index* ; Emergencies ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Mortality ; Obesity ; Sepsis* ; Shock, Septic* ; Thinness

The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether the molecular defect of acid-base transporters in renal tubules is related to the functional defect of urinary acidification in distal renal tubular acidosis(RTA). We performed NH4Cl, furosemide, or bicarbonate loading test to evaluate renal acidification function, and immunohistochemistry using antibodies to H+- ATPase, Cl-/HCO3- exchanger(band-3 protein), and Na+/K+-ATPase in kidney tissue in 6 patients with RTA and renal cell carcinoma patients as normal controls. Kidney tissue was obtained either by percutaneous needle biopsy(RTA) or nephrectomy(NC). The results were as follows; 1) In all six RTA patients, proton secretory defect of distal acidification was shown by a failure to lower the urine pH after NH4Cl loading or furosemide test or abnormally low urine-blood pCO2 difference during bicarbonate loading. In two patients with RTA, proximal acidification defect was combined, which was demonstrated by increased fractional excretion of bicarbonate. 2) In normal control, intense H+-ATPase and band-3 protein staining was observed in collecting ducts. 3) In distal RTA patients, H+-ATPase and band- 3 protein staining was not demonstrable or markedly decreased in the intercalated cells of distal nephron. 4) In two patients who had both proximal and distal RTA, H+-ATPase staining was markedly decreased in the brush border of proximal tubules as well as the distal nephron. In conclusion, the defect of acid-base transporters in renal tubule was related with the functional defect of urinary acidification in distal RTA.
Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Furosemide ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Microvilli ; Needles ; Nephrons ; Protons

BACKGROUND: Septic shock is a pathophysiologic state of circulatory failure with tissue hypoperfusion. However, it is usually defined as sepsis-induced hypotension not responding to fluid resuscitation, regardless of the objective findings of tissue hypoperfusion such as lactic acidosis or organ failures. Numerous patients with sepsis-induced hypotension present to the emergency department without hyperlactemia or severe organ failure. Hence, we investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with septic shock according to the presence of hyperlactatemia or significant organ failure. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of adult patients presenting with septic shock in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital between August 2008 and July 2010. Initial serum lactate was categorized low (<2.5 mmol/L) and high (> or =2.5 mmol/L). Organ failure was assessed by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Primary outcome measurement was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 227 patients were enrolled. There were 88 (38.8%) patients in the low lactate group, and 139 (61.2%) patients in the high lactate group. Patients with low lactate levels showed a lower mortality rate (6.8% compared with 25.1% of those with high lactate level). The low lactate group showed less rapid heart rate, less severe organ failures and shorter length of stay in the intensive care unit. During the early goal-directed therapy, they required a smaller amount of fluid administration and a lower dose of norepinephrine although other hemodynamic variables were similarly maintained. In particular, if patients showed less severe organ dysfunction (SOFA score < 8) in the low lactate group (n = 45), in-hospital mortality was 0% (adjusted mortality was 1.3% [95% confidence interval = 0.3-5.0]). CONCLUSION: Patients with septic shock, who were enrolled according to the traditional definition, showed a very favorable outcome if they did not have hyperlactatemia or significant organ failure.
Acidosis, Lactic ; Adult ; Emergencies ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intensive Care Units ; Lactic Acid ; Length of Stay ; Norepinephrine ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Tertiary Healthcare

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019.In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virusinfected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.

Background: As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research. Results: In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research. Conclusions This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.