Objective To investigate the related factors of serum carnitine deficiency in critical ill patients, and the influence of its deficiency on the length of hospital stay. Methods A prospective study was conducted. Critical ill patients with acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)score>12 admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from March 2013 to September 2013 were enrolled. Serum carnitine concentration and indexes of organ function were determined,and the tolerance of enteral nutrition within 5 days,the length of hospital stay,the length of intensive care unit(ICU)stay,and the hospital mortality were recorded. The relationship between serum carnitine and indexes mentioned above was analyzed. Results Thirty critically ill patients were enrolled. Serum carnitine concentration was very low in all critically ill patients,i.e. (8.92±5.05)μmol/L(normal reference value at 43.5 μmol/L)at hospital admission. Serum carnitine concentration in patients with APACHEⅡscore>23(7 cases)was significantly lower than that in those with APACHEⅡscore 12-23(23 cases,μmol/L:5.33±1.72 vs. 10.02±5.24,t=2.300,P=0.001). Serum carnitine concentration in patients with serum total bilirubin(TBil)>19μmol/L(9 cases)was significantly lower than that in those with TBil≤19μmol/L(21 cases,μmol/L:5.54±2.70 vs. 9.84±5.08,t=2.750,P=0.014). Serum carnitine concentration was negatively correlated with the APACHEⅡscore and the TBil(r=-0.387,P=0.035;r=-0.346,P=0.048). During the 5-day observation period,enteral feeding amount〔(5 134±1 173)mL〕was positively correlated with serum carnitine concentration(r=0.430,P=0.022). In 30 critical patients,the incidence of abdominal distension was 40.0%(12/30),and the serum carnitine concentration of patients with abdominal distension was lower compared with that of patients without abdominal distension(μmol/L:7.83±4.98 vs. 9.12±5.35,t=0.707,P=0.383). The incidence of diarrhea was 26.7%(8/30),and the serum carnitine concentration of diarrhea patients was lower compared with that of patients without diarrhea(μmol/L:8.27±5.78 vs. 9.73±4.78,t=0.607,P=0.576). The mean length of hospital stay was(34.72±16.66)days. The serum carnitine concentrations in patients with hospital stay≥45 days (8 cases)were lower compared with those in those<45 days(22 cases,μmol/L:5.71±3.23 vs. 9.95±5.26,t=1.627,P=0.020). No correlation was found between serum carnitine concentrations and the hospital stay(r=-0.165, P=0.385). The length of ICU stay was(18.60±10.72)days. Serum carnitine concentration in patients with the length of ICU stay>7 days(27 cases)was slightly lower than that in those with the length of ICU stay≤7 days (3 cases,μmol/L:8.44±5.00 vs. 13.24±3.65,t=1.610,P=0.119). No correlation was found between serum carnitine concentrations and the length of ICU stay(r=-0.019,P= 0.293). In-hospital mortality was 26.67%(8/30). No significant difference in serum carnitine concentrations was found between the death group and the survival group(μmol/L:12.24±6.52 vs. 7.72±3.91,t=-1.846,P=0.098). No correlation was found between serum carnitine concentrations and in-hospital mortality(r=0.340,P=0.066). Conclusions Carnitine deficiency is significant in critically ill patients,and it is correlated with disease severity and serum TBil. The total amount of lenteral feeding was lower,and hospital stay was prolonged in critically ill patients with low serum carnitine level.

Objective To investigate whether the change of cardiac output (CO) with bed head raising (BHR) combined with passive leg raising (PLR) can be used to assess volume overload in critical patients.Methods A prospective observational diagnostic trial was designed. The patients who underwent fluid resuscitation 6 hours or more, and admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Meizhou People's Hospital in Guangdong Province from January to December in 2016 were enrolled. Volume overload were identified with the criteria including the increasing of pulmonary rales, the higher levels of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and new pulmonary exudates in chest radiograph. CO and heart rate (HR) were monitored with impedance cardiography at supine position and BHR by 30°(BHR30), 60° (BHR60), and PLR in all patients. The changes of CO (?CO30,?CO60,?COPLR) and HR (?HR30,?HR60,?HRPLR) were calculated at different positions. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive values of?CO30,?CO60 and combination of?CO60 and?COPLR on volume overload.Results A total of 62 patients were enrolled in this study, with 44 males and 18 females, age of (58.9±15.9) years, a body mass index of (22.7±2.4) kg/m2, and an acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score of 18.7±4.4. The CO of 32 patients with volume overload was significantly increased at BHR30 or BHR60 compared with supine position [?CO30 was (14.5±11.5)%,?CO60 was (26.9±17.5)%, bothP< 0.01], and the?CO60 was increased more than the?CO30 (P < 0.01);while CO was slightly decreased after PLR,?COPLR was (-8.4±11.3)% (P > 0.05). There was no consistent change of CO at BHR30 or BHR60 compared with supine position in 30 patients without volume overload,?CO30 was (-3.4±9.1)% (P < 0.05),?CO60 was (-2.4±14.0)% (P > 0.05), while CO was significantly increased after PLR,?COPLR was (12.4±11.3)% (P < 0.01). There was no significant change of HR after BHR and PLR in patients with volume overload and non volume overload. ROC curve showed that when the cut-off value of ΔCO30≥3.3%, the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.903±0.039, the sensitivity was 90.6%, the specificity was 80.0%, and the accuracy was 85.5% for predicting volume overload; when the cut-off value of ΔCO60≥5.6%, the AUC was 0.911±0.036, the sensitivity was 96.9%, the specificity was 73.3%, and the accuracy was 85.5% for predicting volume overload. If volume overload was assessed by the increase of ΔCO60 combining with the decrease of ΔCOPLR, the AUC was 0.928±0.034, the optimal cut-off value for the new combined predictive indicator in predicting volume overload was -0.008, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy was 96.9%, 83.3%, 90.3%, respectively, and its evaluation effect is better than the use of ΔCO30 or ΔCO60 alone.Conclusion The change of CO with BHR combined with PLR can be used to accurately evaluate volume overload in patient with critically illness.

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma oxidative stress factors levels and organ damage parameters as well as prognosis in patients with sepsis. Methods A case-control study was conducted. Twenty-five patients admitted to surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from March to December in 2016 and diagnosed as sepsis were enrolled as study subjects. Another 15 patients without sepsis admitted to surgical ICU in the same period were enrolled as controls. General demographic data, main diagnoses, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score within 24 hours, clinical laboratory indicators [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), white blood count (WBC)] and oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO)] as well as length of ICU stay, total hospital stay and 28-day mortality were recorded. Spearman or Pearson correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between oxidative stress indicators and organ damage indicators as well as prognosis in patients with sepsis. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of oxidative stress indicators for 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis. Results The length of ICU stay in sepsis group was significantly longer than that in non-sepsis group [days: 7.0 (5.5, 11.0) vs. 4.0 (1.0, 11.0), P < 0.05], and AST, BUN, CRP, PCT, plasma MDA and NO levels were significantly higher than those in non-sepsis group [AST (U/L): 50.76±19.53 vs. 28.53±14.02, BUN (mmol/L): 9.99±5.26 vs. 6.97±4.32, CRP (mg/L): 109.28±42.79 vs. 60.33±46.68, PCT (μg/L): 5.4 (0.3, 24.0) vs. 0.6 (0.1, 1.5), MDA (ng/L): 488.31±76.68 vs. 399.30±50.23, NO (ng/L): 5.08±0.89 vs. 4.42±0.88, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in gender, age, APACHEⅡ score, total hospital stay, 28-day mortality, ALT, SCr, WBC or plasma SOD activity between the two groups. The correlation analysis between oxidative stress parameters and organ damage parameters as well as prognosis in patients with sepsis showed that MDA and NO were positively correlated with SCr (r value was 0.426 and 0.431, respectively, both P < 0.05), and there was a positive correlation between MDA and NO (r = 0.990, P < 0.01); plasma SOD activity was negatively correlated with 28-day mortality (r = -0.468, P < 0.05), while MDA and NO levels were positively correlated with 28-day mortality (r value was 0.598 and 0.611, respectively, both P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that plasma SOD, MDA and NO levels had a good independent predictive effect on 28-day mortality, the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.816±0.087, 0.904±0.078 and 0.912±0.071, and the best cut-off value was 40.76% (sensitivity 68.4%, specificity 100%), 487.93 ng/L (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 89.5%) and 5.31 ng/L (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 89.5%), respectively. Conclusions The plasma levels of oxidative stress factors in patients with sepsis are significantly increased, which is closely related to organ damage and poor prognosis. The plasma SOD, MDA and NO levels can be used as independent bio-marker to predict the 28-day mortality of patients with sepsis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical treatment options for cavernous transformation of portal vein (CTPV).Methods:Data of 65 CTPV patients receiving invasive treatment and followed up at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between Apr 2011 and Apr 2021 were collected. Patients were divided into four groups based on different treatment option, 24 patients were treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) and 11 patients with splenopneumopexy, while 22 patients underwent splenectomy and devascularization , 8 were treated by endoscopic variceal ligation . The difference of postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy between the four groups were analyzed,Results:There were no difference between four groups in sex, age, preoperative serum aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, albuminand Child-Turcotte-Pugh grade. The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy in the TIPS group was 33.3%±9.6%、46.5%±10.3% and 64.4%±13.1% in half year, 1 year, and 3 years , respectively. Postoperative hepatic encephalopathy rate was higher in TIPS group( χ2=31.191, P=0.000). Three patients in the TIPS group developed upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage within 6 months after the operation, and postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding rate was higher in splenopneumopexy group( χ2=7.542, P=0.006), Conclusion:The clinical treatment options for CTPV patients are complicated ,we should make individual treatment options depend on the etiology, clinical symptoms and site of blood flow obstruction.

Objective:To study the factors influencing short-term prognosis of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (B-CS) presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and to assess the predictive value of platelet-albumin-bilirubin score (PALBI) on death within 30 d in these patients.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 74 patients with B-CS who presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to February 2020. There were 51 males and 23 females, with age of (46.5±11.1) years old. These patients were divided into the survival group ( n=58) and the death group ( n=16) according to the disease outcomes up to 30 d of follow-up. Factors influencing short-term deaths of these patients were analyzed, and the predictive values of PALBI, ALBI, CTP and MELD scores on short-term prognosis of the patients were assessed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, and the areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated and compared. Results:The differences between patients in the survival and death groups for white blood cell, platelet, PALBI score, PALBI classification, ALBI score, CTP score, MELD score, and presence or absence of hepatic encephalopathy were significantly different (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CTP score≥10 or CTP grade C ( OR=1.669, 95% CI: 1.048-2.661), and PALBI score >-2.09 or PALBI grade 3 ( OR=5.245, 95% CI: 2.128-12.924) were independent risk factors for predicting death within 30 days. The areas under the ROC curves for PALBI, ALBI, CTP and MELD score were 0.89, 0.72, 0.77 and 0.76, with the cut-off values of -1.92, -1.60, 8.50 and 13.60, respectively. The differences between the PALBI score and ALBI, CTP scores were significantly different ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The PALBI score showed a positive predictive value on short-term prognostic assessment of patients with B-CS presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It was comparable to the effect of the MELD score but was significantly better than the ALBI and CTP scores.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of controlled nutritional status (CONUT) score for overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) after transjugular intrahepatic portosys-temic stent-shunt (TIPSS) in Budd-Chiari syndrome patients.Method:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 48 Budd-Chiari syndrome patients who underwent TIPSS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2014 to March 2021 were collected. There were 26 males and 22 females, aged (46±13)years. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations and follow-up; (2) analysis of influencing factors of OHE after TIPSS; (3) predic-tion of OHE after TIPSS. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was performed using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented by M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was performed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Logistic regression model with forward method. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the efficacy. Comparison among AUC was performed using the Delong test. Results:(1) Surgical situations and follow-up. All 48 patients underwent TIPSS successfully, and the operation time of the 48 patients was (131±29)minutes. All patients were implanted with 8 mm covered stent. All 48 patients were followed up for 46(25,71)months, and there were 14 cases with OHE and 34 cases without OHE after TIPSS. Of the 14 cases with OHE, 12 cases were evaluated as West-Haven Ⅱ grade and 2 cases were evaluated as West-Haven Ⅲ grade. (2) Analysis of influencing factors of OHE after TIPSS. Results of multivariate analysis showed that history of hepatic encephalo-pathy and CONUT score were independent factors influencing the incidence of OHE of Budd-Chiari syndrome patients who underwent TIPSS ( odds ratio=8.36, 1.74, 95% confidence interval as 1.02?68.75, 1.12?2.69, P<0.05). (3) Prediction of OHE after TIPSS. Results of ROC curve showed that the AUC of the CONUT score, the Child-Pugh score of liver function and the integrated model of end-stage liver disease (iMELD) score in predicting the incidence of OHE after TIPSS was 0.77(95% confidence interval as 0.64?0.91, P<0.05), 0.71(95% confidence interval as 0.56?0.87, P<0.05) and 0.71(95% confidence interval as 0.53?0.88, P<0.05), respectively, and there was no significant difference between the AUC of the CONUT score and the Child-Pugh score of liver function or the iMELD score ( Z=0.84, 0.59, P>0.05). The optimal cutoff value of CONUT score in predicting the incidence of OHE after TIPSS was 7, with the sensitivity, specificity and Yodon index as 78.6%, 61.8% and 0.40, respectively. Conclusion:The CONUT score can be used to predict the incidence of OHE in Budd-Chiari syndrome patients who underwent TIPSS, and the discrimination of CONUT score is equivalent to the Child-Pugh score of liver function and the iMELD score.

Objective:To examine the effect of thrombolytic therapy of Budd-Chiari syndrome (B-CS) with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis, and the prognosis factors of it.Methods:The clinical data of 67 patients of B-CS with IVC thrombosis treated in the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 30 males and 37 females. The age was (47.7±11.1) years(range: 18 to 72 years). All patients received catheter directed thrombolysis, and the thrombolysis process, complications and outcomes were analyzed. All patients received IVC balloon angioplasty after thrombolytic therapy. The t test, χ 2 test, Mann-Whitney U test were used for univariate analysis of the prognosis factors of thrombolysis effects, while unconditional Logistic regression model were used for multivariate analysis. Results:In the 67 patients, 47 cases succerssed in thrombolytic therapy. The successful rates of thrombolysis at 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week were 9.0%, 29.9%, 64.2% and 70.1%, respectively. The rates of thrombolytic catheter-related infection at 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week were 1.5%, 4.5%, 14.9% and 31.3%, respectively. No serious complications such as symptomatic and acute pulmonary embolism occurred during perioperative period of IVC balloon angioplasty. Univariate analysis showed that differences in thrombus length ((36.7±18.1) mm vs. (52.0±16.4) mm, t=-3.234, P=0.002), Child-Pugh classification (class A/B/C: 37/8/2 vs. 10/8/2, Z=-2.310, P=0.021) and pre-opening IVC proportion (68.1% (32/47) vs. 35.0% (7/20), χ2=6.313, P=0.012) were statistically significant. The thrombus length ( OR=0.948, 95% CI: 0.913 to 0.984, P=0.005), pre-opening IVC ( OR=5.451, 95% CI: 1.469 to 20.228, P=0.011) were independent prognosis factors of thrombolytic effect. Conclusions:Thrombolytic therapy for B-CS with IVC thrombosis were satisfactory, and the thrombolysis duration should be confined within 3 weeks. IVC balloon angioplasty is safe and effective for patients failing in thrombolysis, and pre-opening IVC is an important method to improve the thrombolytic effect.

Objective:To examine the effect of thrombolytic therapy of Budd-Chiari syndrome (B-CS) with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis, and the prognosis factors of it.Methods:The clinical data of 67 patients of B-CS with IVC thrombosis treated in the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 30 males and 37 females. The age was (47.7±11.1) years(range: 18 to 72 years). All patients received catheter directed thrombolysis, and the thrombolysis process, complications and outcomes were analyzed. All patients received IVC balloon angioplasty after thrombolytic therapy. The t test, χ 2 test, Mann-Whitney U test were used for univariate analysis of the prognosis factors of thrombolysis effects, while unconditional Logistic regression model were used for multivariate analysis. Results:In the 67 patients, 47 cases succerssed in thrombolytic therapy. The successful rates of thrombolysis at 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week were 9.0%, 29.9%, 64.2% and 70.1%, respectively. The rates of thrombolytic catheter-related infection at 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week were 1.5%, 4.5%, 14.9% and 31.3%, respectively. No serious complications such as symptomatic and acute pulmonary embolism occurred during perioperative period of IVC balloon angioplasty. Univariate analysis showed that differences in thrombus length ((36.7±18.1) mm vs. (52.0±16.4) mm, t=-3.234, P=0.002), Child-Pugh classification (class A/B/C: 37/8/2 vs. 10/8/2, Z=-2.310, P=0.021) and pre-opening IVC proportion (68.1% (32/47) vs. 35.0% (7/20), χ2=6.313, P=0.012) were statistically significant. The thrombus length ( OR=0.948, 95% CI: 0.913 to 0.984, P=0.005), pre-opening IVC ( OR=5.451, 95% CI: 1.469 to 20.228, P=0.011) were independent prognosis factors of thrombolytic effect. Conclusions:Thrombolytic therapy for B-CS with IVC thrombosis were satisfactory, and the thrombolysis duration should be confined within 3 weeks. IVC balloon angioplasty is safe and effective for patients failing in thrombolysis, and pre-opening IVC is an important method to improve the thrombolytic effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of Budd-Chiari syndrome (B-CS) complicated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThe clinical data of 30 patients with B-CS complicated with HCC treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2012 to November 2014 were analyzed retrospectively, 106 another patients were selected randomly as control group in the same term. Gender, age, medical history, type of B-CS, hemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, Child-Pugh classification, portal vein diameter, HBV infection and drinking history were recorded and analyzed between the two groups. Univariate analysis and unconditional Logistic regression model were performed to screen corresponding risk factors. Area under curve (AUC) was calculated according to receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the diagnostic value of each indicator.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that there were no statistical differences in gender (χ² =0.001), age (t=0.317), medical history (t=-0.906), type of B-CS (χ² =2.894), ALT (t=-1.581), Child-Pugh classification (Z=-0.777), HBV infection (χ² =0.016) and drinking history (χ² =0.285) between the two groups (all P > 0.05), but the hemoglobin (t=3.370) and albumin (t=2.152) in HCC group were lower and AST (t=-2.425) and portal vein diameter (t=-2.554) were higher than that in the other group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P <0.05). The results of unconditional Logistic regression model analysis indicated that hemoglobin, AST and portal vein diameter were independent risk factors of B-CS complicated with HCC (OR=0.972, 1.015, 1.206; P=0.004, 0.022, 0.012). ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC of AST, hemoglobin and portal vein diameter was 0.704, 0.324 and 0.624, the predicate value was, in order, AST, portal vein diameter, hemoglobin.

CONCLUSIONHemoglobin, AST and portal vein diameter are independent risk factors of B-CS complicated with HCC.

Area Under Curve ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; complications ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; Logistic Models ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective:To explore the risk factors of short-term prognosis of severe Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) patients,established and verified the nomogram prediction model for these BCS patients and evaluated its clinical application value.Methods:This study is a retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of 171 patients with severe BCS diagnosed were retrospectively analyzed in the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2023. There were 105 males and 66 females, aged (52.1±12.8) years (range: 18 to 79 years). The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they died within 28 days: the death group ( n=38) and the survival group ( n=133). The risk factors for short-term death of patients were analyzed,and independent risk factors were screened by univariate and multivariate analysis. Furthermore,these factors were used to establish the nomogram prediction model. The area under the curve(AUC),the Bootstrap Resampling,the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the Decision Curve Analysis(DCA) were used to verify the model′s differentiation,internal verification,calibration degree and clinical effectiveness,respectively. Results:Univariate and multivariate Logistics regression analysis showed that the history of hepatic encephalopathy,white blood cell,glomerular filtration rate and prothrombin time were independent risk factors ( P<0.05). The above factors were used to successfully establish the prediction model with 0.908 of AUC and 0.895 of the internal verification of AUC,indicating that the predictive model was valuable. The 0.663 P-values in the Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated the high calibration degree of the model. The clinical effectiveness of the model was proved by the 18% clinical benefit population using the DCA curve with the 17% probability threshold. Conclusions:The independent risk factors are the history of hepatic encephalopathy,white blood cell,glomerular filtration rate and prothrombin time. An adequate basis was acquired by establishing a nomogram prediction model of the short-term prognosis of severe BCS,which was helpful for early clinical screening and identification of high-risk patients with severe BCS who could die in the short term and timely providing timely intervention measures for improving the prognosis.