Objective To evaluate interleukin-27 ( IL-27 ) as a sepsis diagnostic biomarker in critically ill adults with sepsis. Methods A retrospetive study was conducted. A total of 176 systemic inflammatory response syndrome ( SIRS ) patients in Department of Critical Care Medicine of Xinxiang Medical College First Affiliated Hospital from March to November in 2014 were enrolled. The patients were divided into no sepsis group ( n=66 ), pulmonary originated sepsis group ( n=65 ), and non-pulmonary originated sepsis group ( n=45 ). Plasma IL-27 and procalcitonin ( PCT ) were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ). Receiver operating characteristic curve ( ROC ) and classification and regression tree methodology was used to evaluate diagnostic biomarker performance. Results The proportion of patients in pulmonary original sepsis group whose body temperature in line with SIRS criteria was significantly higher than no sepsis group ( 66.2%vs. 44.5%, P<0.05 ), and they were easy to suffer from tumor ( 44.6%vs. 22.7%, P<0.05 ). The proportion of patients in non-pulmonary originated sepsis group whose white blood cell count in line with SIRS criteria was significantly higher than no sepsis group ( 68.9%vs. 42.7%, P<0.05 ). It indicated that patients in pulmonary originated sepsis group and non-pulmonary originated sepsis group were more in line with SIRS criteria compared with no sepsis group. It was shown by ROC curve that IL-27 and PCT was not effective in discriminating sepsis among unselected patients showing symptoms and signs of SIRS. The area under the curve ( AUC ) was 0.59 [ 95%confidence interval ( 95%CI )=0.49-0.65 ] and 0.61 ( 95%CI=0.55-0.71 ). According to the further analysis from different infection sources, the highest AUC was 0.71 ( 95%CI=0.59-0.79 ) for IL-27 in patients with a non-pulmonary originated sepsis. A decision tree incorporating IL-27, PCT, and age had an AUC of 0.78 ( 95%CI = 0.71-0.87 ) in patients with a non-pulmonary originated sepsis, which was higher than IL-27 [ 0.71 ( 95%CI = 0.59-0.79 ) ] or PCT [ 0.65 ( 95%CI = 0.57-0.78 ) ]. Compared to that of pediatric cohort with sepsis, lower expression of IL-27 was found in adult patients. Conclusions IL-27 performed overall poorly as a sepsis diagnostic biomarker in adults. IL-27 may be a more reliable diagnostic biomarker for sepsis in children than in adults. The combination of IL-27 and PCT can reasonably estimate the risk of sepsis in subjects with a non-pulmonary originated sepsis.

Objective To analyze the recurrence rate of intubation and increase of ventilator support rate within 24 hours after using fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) in critically ill patients with hypoxemia complicated with respiratory failure, and to approach the feasibility of FOB in such patients.Methods A prospective study was conducted, including 200 critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure using FOB [oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) ≤ 300 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa)] admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College. The rates of intubation and increased ventilatory support and the reasons for bronchoscopy related complications after using FOB 24 hours were recorded, the main risk factors leading to these changes and complications were analyzed and screened by logistic regression analytic method.Results Within 24 hours after using FOB for 200 patients with respiratory failure, an increase in mechanical ventilatory support was required in 68 patients (34%) of that 28 (14%) led to endotracheal intubation. With the extension of time, the rates of intubation and ventilatory support showed a tendency of elevation, the rise in ventilatory support rate being faster. The reasons for bronchoscopy related complications after FOB consisted of cardiovascular disease (41%), coronary artery disease (17%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 17%), chronic restrictive pulmonary disease (10%), immunity suppression (54%), malignant neoplastic hematologic disorder (20%), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS, 12%), solid organ transplantation (3%), solid tumor (10%), corticosteroid therapy (25%), immunosuppressive drug (16%), diabetes (15%), chronic renal failure (14%), swallowing nerve injury (37%), anticoagulant therapy (19%), antiplatelet therapy (13%). In the patients with occurrence of COPD or immunosuppression, the rate of invasive ventilation used was significantly higher than that without using invasive ventilation [COPD: 35% (10/28) vs. 14% (24/172),χ2 = 8.081,P = 0.004; immunosuppression: 75% (21/28) vs. 50% (86/172),χ2 = 6.051,P = 0.014]. The logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of COPD or immunosuppression was obviously related to whether the intubation being necessary or not [COPD: odds ratio (OR) = 5.200, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.500 - 17.700,P = 0.006; immunosuppression:OR = 5.300, 95%CI =1.600 - 17.100,P = 0.004].Conclusions In patients with hypoxemia using FOB, they often require addition of mechanical ventilatory support, but the intubation rate is not high. Under the ventilatory support, FOB has certain feasibility for treatment of critically ill patients with hypoxemia and acute respiratory failure.