OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of restrictive fluid management in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). METHODS: Between January, 2019 and June, 2020, we randomly assigned 51 postoperative patients (stay in the ICU of no less than 7 days) with sTBI into treatment group ( RESULTS: The cumulative fluid balance of the two groups were positive on day 1 and negative on days 3 and 7 after ICU admission; at the same time points, the patients in the treatment group had significantly greater negative fluid balance than those in the control group ( CONCLUSIONS Restrictive fluid management can reduce cerebral edema and improve the prognosis but does not affect the 28-day mortality of patients with sTBI.
Brain Injuries, Traumatic/therapy* ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To analyze the relationship between the expression of microRNA-126 (miR-126) in peripheral blood lymphocytes with apoptosis and prognosis in patients with sepsis, and to explore its potential regulatory mechanism.Methods:Thirty patients with general infection and 20 patients with sepsis admitted to the department of intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January to December 2019 were enrolled. Peripheral blood was taken to separate lymphocytes, and the expressions of miR-126 and caspase-3 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the same time, the liver and kidney function and other laboratory indexes were measured, and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) scores were calculated. The 28-day prognosis was observed. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between miR-126 and caspase-3, APACHEⅡ score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of miR-126 on prognosis; at the same time, according to the best cut-off value of miR-126 in predicting prognosis, the patients were divided into two groups, and the 28-day Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn.Results:The expression of miR-126 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with sepsis was lower than that of patients with general infection [miR-126 mRNA (2 -ΔCt): 1.239±0.134 vs. 1.599±0.110, P < 0.01], while the expression of caspase-3 and APACHEⅡ score were significantly increased [caspase-3 mRNA (2 -ΔCt): 1.172±0.132 vs. 0.901±0.143, APACHEⅡ: 19.75±3.74 vs. 12.63±3.94, both P < 0.01]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression of miR-126 was negatively correlated with the expression of caspase-3 ( r = -0.678, P < 0.001) and APACHEⅡ score ( r = -0.581, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting the prognosis by miR-126 expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes was 0.823 ( P < 0.001). When the best cut-off value was 1.395, the sensitivity was 75.0%, the specificity was 71.4%, the positive predictive value was 81.1%, the negative predictive value was 63.6%, the positive likelihood ratio was 2.622, and the negative likelihood ratio 0.350. In addition, the patients were divided into high miR-126 group (miR-126 > 1.395, n = 31) and low miR-126 group (miR-126 ≤ 1.395, n = 19) according to the best cut-off value of miR-126. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 28-day cumulative survival rate of high miR-126 group was higher than that of low miR-126 group (Log-Rank: χ 2 = 11.702, P = 0.001). Conclusion:miR-126 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with sepsis may affect immune status by promoting apoptosis of lymphocytes, and its expression level can reflect the severity and prognosis of sepsis.

Sepsis is one of the major threats to human health worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Micronutrients (microelements and vitamins) play an important role in the occurrence and development of sepsis as essential components or auxiliary factors of enzymes in the process of metabolism. In this paper, the role of trace elements (zinc, selenium, copper) and vitamins (vitamin C, vitamin B1) in the mechanism of sepsis and the effect of supplementation on mortality were studied. At present, whether the supplementation of micronutrients can change the final mortality of sepsis remains controversial and requires more clinical trials to verify.

Objective:To report our experience of treating open comminuted limb fractures caused by gunshots using the Masquelet technique.Methods:Between January 2016 and July 2018, 3 patients were admitted to Institute of Orthopedics, 920 Hospital of Joint Logistic Service of People's Liberation Army for open comminuted limb fractures caused by gunshots.They were all male, aged from 18 to 41 years (average, 30.7 years).Their fractures were complicated with perforating wounds and belonged to Gustilo type ⅢB for open fractures.The bone defects were 5 to 9 cm in length (average, 6.7 cm), located at the proximal femur in 2 cases and at the upper middle humerus in one.They were treated by standard Masquelet technique at 2 stages.The postoperative functions of the hip, knee and shoulder were evaluated according to the Harris hip score, Lowa knee score and Constant-Murley shoulder function score.Results:The 3 patients obtained an average follow-up of 17.3 months.The bone defects were all repaired in the 3 patients without any signs of infection.The 2 patients with femoral defects were rated as both excellent by the Harris hip score, as excellent in one and as good in the other by the Lowa knee score; the patient with humeral defects was rated as excellent by the Constant-Murley shoulder function score.Conclusion:Masquelet technique is a desirable treat-ment of segmental long bone defects caused by gunshots.

Objective To investigate the target blood pressure level of restrictive fluid resuscitation in patients with traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Methods Sixty patients with traumatic hemorrhagic shock admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2016 to December 2018 were enrolled. All patients were resuscitated with sodium acetate ringer solution after admission. According to the difference of mean arterial pressure (MAP) target, the patients were divided into low MAP (60 mmHg ≤ MAP < 65 mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), middle MAP (65 mmHg ≤ MAP < 70 mmHg) and high MAP (70 mmHg ≤ MAP < 75 mmHg) groups by random number table using the admission order with 20 patients in each group. Those who failed to reach the target MAP after 30-minute resuscitation were excluded and supplementary cases were deferred. The restrictive fluid resuscitation phase was divided into three phases: before fluid resuscitation, liquid resuscitation for 30 minutes and 60 minutes. The most suitable resuscitation blood pressure level was further speculated by monitoring the inflammatory markers and hemodynamics in different periods in each group of patients. Pearson correlation analysis was used to detect the correlation of variables. Results Before fluid resuscitation, there was no significant difference in hemodynamics or expressions of serum cytokines among the three groups. Three groups of patients were resuscitated for 30 minutes to achieve the target blood pressure level and maintain 30 minutes. With the prolongation of fluid resuscitation time, the central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) were increased slowly in the three groups, and reached a steady state at about 30 minutes after resuscitation, especially in the high MAP group and the middle MAP group. The expressions of serum inflammatory factors in the three groups were gradually increased with the prolongation of fluid resuscitation time. Compared with the low MAP group and the high MAP group, after 30 minutes of resuscitation the middle MAP group was superior to the other two groups in inhibiting the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and promoting anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 [TNF-α mRNA (2-ΔΔCt):0.21±0.13 vs. 0.69±0.34, 0.57±0.35; IL-6 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.35±0.31 vs. 0.72±0.39, 0.59±0.42; IL-10 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 1.25±0.81 vs. 0.61±0.46, 0.82±0.53; all P < 0.05], but there was no significant difference in promoting the expression of IL-4 mRNA among three groups. At 60 minutes of resuscitation, compared with the low MAP group and the high MAP group, the middle MAP group could significantly inhibit the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6 and promote IL-10 [TNF-α mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.72±0.35 vs. 1.05±0.54, 1.03±0.49; IL-6 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 0.57±0.50 vs. 1.27±0.72, 1.01±0.64; IL-10 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt): 1.41±0.90 vs. 0.81±0.48, 0.94±0.61; all P < 0.05]. Compared with the high MAP group, the middle MAP group had significant differences in promoting the expression of IL-4 mRNA (2-ΔΔCt: 1.32±0.62 vs. 0.91±0.60, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum cytokine expressions at different time points of resuscitation between the low MAP group and the high MAP group (all P > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that there was a strong linear correlation between MAP and mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 in the middle MAP group (r value was 0.766, 0.719, 0.692, respectively, all P < 0.01), but had no correlation with IL-4 (r = 0.361, P = 0.059). Fitting linear regression analysis showed an increase in 1 mmHg per MAP, the expression of TNF-α mRNA increased by 0.027 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.023-0.031, P < 0.001], IL-6 mRNA increased by 0.021 (95%CI = 0.017-0.024, P < 0.001), and IL-10 mRNA increased by 0.049 (95%CI = 0.041-0.058, P < 0.001). Conclusions When patients with traumatic hemorrhagic shock received restrict fluid resuscitation at MAP of 65-70 mmHg, the effect of reducing systemic inflammatory response and improving hemodynamics is better than the target MAP at 60-65 mmHg or 70-75 mmHg. It is suggested that 65-70 mmHg may be an ideal target MAP level for restrictive fluid resuscitation.

Objective: To investigate the changing laws of rest energy expenditure (REE) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and the intervention effect for nutritional support. Methods: A prospective randomized control trial was conducted. Fifty-eight critically ill patients who were expected to be able to receive sustained enteral and (or) parenteral nutrition for more than 7 days admitted to ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from December 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled. The patients were divided into REE group (n = 29) and HBREE group (n = 29) according to the random number table. On the 1st to 7th day after ICU admission, the indirect calorimetry and the Harris-Benedict (HB) formula were used to obtain the REE and HBREE values, and nutritional support was given according to REE and HBREE values respectively. The data of hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb), prealbumin (PA), C-reactive protein (CRP), oxygenation index (OI) on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and discharged day, and insulin dosage, vasopressor time, mechanical ventilation time, the length of ICU stay, and 28-day mortality were collected. Results: ① At the beginning, the REE level was high, and then decreased gradually with the extension of hospitalization, and the decline was obvious on the 2nd to 3rd day (kJ/d: 7 088.38±559.41, 6 751.34±558.72 vs. 7 553.44±645.55, both P < 0.05), and was stable from the 5th day, the changing laws showed high at first, then the low, the first rapid decline, then the slow decline, and then reached the steady, there was a 2-day plateau in the middle. During the first 2 days, the REE value was significantly higher than the HBREE value (kJ/d: 7 553.44±645.55 vs. 6759.21±668.14, 7 088.38±559.41 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, both P < 0.01); on the 3rd, 4th day, the REE value was almost the same as the HBREE value (kJ/d: 6 751.34±558.72 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, 6 568.03±760.19 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, both P > 0.05). After that, the REE value was significantly lower than the HBREE value (kJ/d: 6 089.55±560.70 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, 5 992.55±501.82 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, 5 860.84±577.59 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, all P < 0.01). ② After the initiation of nutritional support, Hb in the REE group (the first 3 days) and HBREE group (the first 7 days) all increased slowly in the early stage. It increased obviously on the 5th day in the REE group. Compared with the REE group, Hb increased more slowly in the HBREE group, however, there was no difference between the two groups at the time of discharge (g/L: 113.75±17.28 vs. 110.86±15.35, P > 0.05). PA and OI all enhanced significantly on the 3rd day since the nutritional support was initiated, but the daily increase of the REE group was significantly higher than that of the HBREE group [3rd day, PA (mg/L): 110.38±27.65 vs. 96.28±18.06, OI (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 259.29±49.36 vs. 231.74±28.02, both P < 0.05]. The Alb and CRP in the REE group began to improve on the 3rd day, while the index in the HBREE group was delayed on the 5th day, overall, at the time of discharge, the PA, CRP and OI were lower in the HBREE group than in the REE group [PA (mg/L): 252.28±56.94 vs. 295.86±57.26, CRP (mg/L): 73.14±17.63 vs. 56.52±14.91, OI (mmHg): 353.59±70.36 vs. 417.52±71.58, all P < 0.01]. ③ The vasopressor was used in both groups for less than 3 days, but the REE group was shorter (days: 2.26±0.82 vs. 2.95±1.22, P < 0.05), the insulin dosage in the HBREE group was much more than that in the REE group (U: 101.97±21.05 vs. 84.59±22.21, P < 0.01); compared with the REE group, the time of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay in the HBREE group were longer (hours: 113.07±25.96 vs. 93.41±27.25, days: 10.41±3.11 vs. 8.45±2.44, both P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the 28-day mortality between the REE group and HBREE group (17.24% vs. 24.14%, P > 0.05). Conclusions Indirect calorimetry can more accurately grasp the changing laws of REE in critically ill patients. Nutritional support with REE value can make relevant nutritional indicators as good as possible, and reduce insulin dosage, shorten vasopressor use time, the length of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation time, but does not change the 28-day mortality.

Enteral tube feeding is usually a relatively straightforward method of nutritional support,which is very common in critical patients.The fourmost common methods of enteral tube feeding are nasogastric tubes,nasojejunal tubes,gastrostomy and nesteostomy at present.Identifying the at-risk patient with careful monitoring is crucial,and should be facilitated by a multiprofessional team.This article mainly reviewed the recent progress of tube feeding in severe cases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changing laws of rest energy expenditure (REE) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and the intervention effect for nutritional support. METHODS: A prospective randomized control trial was conducted. Fifty-eight critically ill patients who were expected to be able to receive sustained enteral and (or) parenteral nutrition for more than 7 days admitted to ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from December 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled. The patients were divided into REE group (n = 29) and HBREE group (n = 29) according to the random number table. On the 1st to 7th day after ICU admission, the indirect calorimetry and the Harris-Benedict (HB) formula were used to obtain the REE and HBREE values, and nutritional support was given according to REE and HBREE values respectively. The data of hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb), prealbumin (PA), C-reactive protein (CRP), oxygenation index (OI) on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and discharged day, and insulin dosage, vasopressor time, mechanical ventilation time, the length of ICU stay, and 28-day mortality were collected. RESULTS: (1) At the beginning, the REE level was high, and then decreased gradually with the extension of hospitalization, and the decline was obvious on the 2nd to 3rd day (kJ/d: 7 088.38±559.41, 6 751.34±558.72 vs. 7 553.44±645.55, both P < 0.05), and was stable from the 5th day, the changing laws showed high at first, then the low, the first rapid decline, then the slow decline, and then reached the steady, there was a 2-day plateau in the middle. During the first 2 days, the REE value was significantly higher than the HBREE value (kJ/d: 7 553.44±645.55 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, 7 088.38±559.41 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, both P < 0.01); on the 3rd, 4th day, the REE value was almost the same as the HBREE value (kJ/d: 6 751.34±558.72 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, 6 568.03±760.19 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, both P > 0.05). After that, the REE value was significantly lower than the HBREE value (kJ/d: 6 089.55±560.70 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, 5 992.55±501.82 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, 5 860.84±577.59 vs. 6 759.21±668.14, all P < 0.01). (2) After the initiation of nutritional support, Hb in the REE group (the first 3 days) and HBREE group (the first 7 days) all increased slowly in the early stage. It increased obviously on the 5th day in the REE group. Compared with the REE group, Hb increased more slowly in the HBREE group, however, there was no difference between the two groups at the time of discharge (g/L: 113.75±17.28 vs. 110.86±15.35, P > 0.05). PA and OI all enhanced significantly on the 3rd day since the nutritional support was initiated, but the daily increase of the REE group was significantly higher than that of the HBREE group [3rd day, PA (mg/L): 110.38±27.65 vs. 96.28±18.06, OI (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 259.29±49.36 vs. 231.74±28.02, both P < 0.05]. The Alb and CRP in the REE group began to improve on the 3rd day, while the index in the HBREE group was delayed on the 5th day, overall, at the time of discharge, the PA, CRP and OI were lower in the HBREE group than in the REE group [PA (mg/L): 252.28±56.94 vs. 295.86±57.26, CRP (mg/L): 73.14±17.63 vs. 56.52±14.91, OI (mmHg): 353.59±70.36 vs. 417.52±71.58, all P < 0.01]. (3) The vasopressor was used in both groups for less than 3 days, but the REE group was shorter (days: 2.26±0.82 vs. 2.95±1.22, P < 0.05), the insulin dosage in the HBREE group was much more than that in the REE group (U: 101.97±21.05 vs. 84.59±22.21, P < 0.01); compared with the REE group, the time of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay in the HBREE group were longer (hours: 113.07±25.96 vs. 93.41±27.25, days: 10.41±3.11 vs. 8.45±2.44, both P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the 28-day mortality between the REE group and HBREE group (17.24% vs. 24.14%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Indirect calorimetry can more accurately grasp the changing laws of REE in critically ill patients. Nutritional support with REE value can make relevant nutritional indicators as good as possible, and reduce insulin dosage, shorten vasopressor use time, the length of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation time, but does not change the 28-day mortality.
Critical Illness ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Nutritional Support ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial

Objective To evaluate the use of nasojejunal tube in early enteral nutrition in severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) patients under mechanical ventilation.Methods STBI patients requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College admitted in 2013 were randomly divided into the jejunal tube group (n =15) and gastric tube group (n =19).We compared the 2 groups in terms of the tolerable beginning time of enteral nutrition (EN),the time before reaching target feeding volume,the incidences of gastrointestinal complications and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) during EN,mechanical ventilation time,ICU hospital stay,and 28-day mortality rate.Results The tolerable beginning time of EN [(51.73 ± 9.16) hours vs.(81.11 ± 11.82) hours,t =7.920,P ＜0.05] and the time required to reach target feeding volume [(87.27 ± 9.99) hours vs.(152.05 ± 28.74) hours,t =8.320,P ＜ 0.05] in the jejunal tube group were significantly shorter than those in the gastric tube group.In the process of EN,compared with the gastric tube group,the incidences of gastric retention (6.7％ vs.57.9％,x2 =10.937,P ＜ 0.05),reflux (0％ vs.36.8％,x2 =9.566,P ＜ 0.05),vomiting (20.0％.vs.63.2％,x2 =6.642,P＜0.05),aspiration (6.7％ vs.42.1％,x2 =6.087,P＜0.05),VAP (33.3％ vs.73.7％,x2 =5.536,P ＜ 0.05) in the jejunum tube group were significantly lower.The mechanical ventilation time [(10.73 ± 4.68) days vs.(15.74 ± 2.54) days,t =3.730,P＜0.05] and the ICU hospital stay [(13.60 ± 4.80) days vs.(17.42 ± 4.05) days,t =2.497,P ＜0.05] of the jejunum tube group were significantly shorter than those of the gastric tube group.Comparison of 28-day mortality rate between the two groups revealed no statistically significant difference.Conclusion Early implementation of EN via nasojejunal tube in mechanically ventilated STBI patients can alleviate feeding intolerance,shorten the beginning time of EN and the time required to reach target feeding volume,reduce the incidence of complications,and shorten mechanical ventilation time and hospital stay in ICU.

Objective To describe an improved percutaneous tracheostomy combined with conventional tracheostomy technique with result of less trauma and fewer complications, and to explore its application in the patients for whom conventional tracheostomy is difficult to perform.Methods A prospective study was conducted.Fifty-seven hospitalized patients, in whom ordinal tracheostomy was difficult to perform, and admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2013 to December 2014 were enrolled.According to the random digital table method, the patients were divided into small incision combined with percutaneous tracheostomy group (small puncture incision group, n =25) and conventional tracheostomy group (n =32).Amount of blood loss, postoperative bleeding, incision size, operation time and wound healing time were compared between the groups.Results Compared with traditional surgical tracheostomy group, the blood loss and postoperative bleeding were decreased [blood loss (mL): 11.36 ± 4.25 vs.23.72 ± 7.29, t =-7.201, P =0.000;postoperative bleeding (mL):11.60 ± 6.57 vs.26.77 ± 10.77, t =-5.834, P =0.000], incision size was smaller (cm: 2.20 ±0.63 vs.4.06 ± 1.19,t =-6.806, P =0.000), and operation time and wound healing time were shortened [operative time (minutes): 18.16 ±3.61 vs.29.09±6.77, t =-7.001, P =0.000;incision healing time (days): 4.96± 1.59 vs.7.19±2.35, t =-3.975,P =0.000] in small puncture incision group.Conclusion Compared with the traditional method, small incision puncture tracheostomy is less time consuming, with fewer traumas, and fewer intraoperative and postoperative complications.