objective:To observe the effect of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy on patients with acute respiratory failure after gastrointestinal operation under general anesthesia and its efficacy on prognosis.Methods:Totally 107 patients with acute respiratory failure after gastrointestinal operation under general anesthesia in ICU of our hospital were selected from January 2017 to June 2019. Patients were randomly divided into the HFNC group ( n=57) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) group ( n=50). The changes of pH, PaO 2, PaCO 2, PaO 2/FiO 2, SpO 2, heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) before and after oxygen treatment were compared. The differences of comfort level, duration of oxygen treatment, re-intubation rate, 48-h pulmonary infection rate, incidence of anastomotic fistula, length of stay in ICU, length of hospital stay, hospitalization cost, and 28-day mortality were compared between the two groups. The t test of two independent samples was used for the comparison of normal measurement data. Non-normal data were expressed by median (quartile), fractional count data by case number (percentage), and comparison between the two groups by Chi-square test. Results:PaO 2, PaCO 2, PaO 2/FiO 2 and SpO 2 were not significantly different after 2-h oxygen therapy. PH of the HFNC group was lower than that of the NIV group (7.39 ± 0.04 vs. 7.42 ± 0.03), PaO 2, PaCO 2, PaO 2/FiO 2 and SpO 2 were higher than that of the NIV group [ (89.22 ± 8.70) vs. (84.99± 9.76) mmHg, (41.3 ± 3.43) vs. (39.34 ± 4.21) mmHg, (250.07 ± 18.34) vs. (237.89±19.38) mmHg, (96.14 ± 2.19) vs. (94.78 ± 2.76)%, P <0.05]; pH, PaO 2, PaCO 2, PaO 2 /FiO 2 and SpO 2 were significantly higher in the HFNC group than those in the NIV group [ (7.39 ± 0.04) vs. (7.36 ± 0.04) ; (97.2 ± 12.45) vs. (93.82 ± 12.54) mmHg; (40.84 ± 5.22) vs. (45.10 ± 6.40) mmHg; (277.16 ± 13.98) vs. (248.86 ± 12.81) mmHg, (98.14 ± 1.64)% vs. (95.48 ± 2.71) %] after 12 h oxygen treatment. The HR, RR and IAP of the HFNC group were lower than those of the NIV group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P <0.05). The duration of oxygen therapy in the HFNC group was shorter than that in the NIV group [(32.01 ± 7.57) vs. (40.88 ± 8.89) h], the reintubation rate was lower than that in the NIV group (1.75% vs. 12%), the pulmonary infection rate within 48 h oxygen therapy was lower than that in the NIV group (8.78% vs.30%), and the length of stay in ICU was shorter than that in the NIV group [(5.61 ± 1.73) vs. (7.60 ± 2.31) d], and the hospitalization cost was lower than that in the NIV group ( t = 4.822, P <0. 05). Conclusions:HFNC can improve the oxygenation index of patients with hypoxemia after gastrointestinal operation under general anesthesia, reduce oxygen treatment time, reduced reintubation rate, reduce pulmonary infection rate within 48 h, and improve the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical correlations between mechanical power (MP) and lung ultrasound score (LUS), and analyze their evaluation value of prognosis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods Patients with moderate to severe ARDS, who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of the Lianyungang Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2017 to March 2019 were enrolled. The MP and LUS were recorded 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after ICU admission. The patients were divided into death group and survival group according to the 28-day prognosis. The trends of MP and LUS in the two groups and their differences between groups were analyzed. Then the MP and LUS were analyzed by bivariate correlation analysis, and their correlations with acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHEⅡ), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2), and blood lactate (Lac) were also analyzed. The predictive value of MP and LUS 0 hour and 72 hours in ICU for 28-day mortality in patients with moderate to severe ARDS was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results At the end, 83 patients were enrolled, with 32 died and 51 survived in 28-day. The Lac level, APACHEⅡ and SOFA in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group, while PaO2/FiO2 was significantly lower than the survival group, and the other baseline indicators were not statistically significant between the two groups. As the treatment time increased, the MP and LUS of the survival group showed a significant decrease trend, while the death group showed a significant upward trend. The MP and LUS of the death group 0, 24, 48, 72 hours after ICU admission were significantly higher than those of the survival group [MP (J/min): 20.97±3.34 vs. 17.20±4.71, 21.56±3.48 vs. 16.87±3.85, 22.72±2.97 vs. 16.13±3.52, 25.81±3.46 vs. 15.24±3.78; LUS: 19.17±3.31 vs. 16.27±4.28, 20.28±3.65 vs. 15.27±3.23, 21.53±4.32 vs. 13.63±3.71, 23.94±3.82 vs. 12.53±2.94, all P < 0.05]. There was a significant positive correlation between MP and LUS 0, 24, 48, 72 hours after ICU admission (r value was 0.547, 0.577, 0.754, and 0.783, respectively, all P < 0.01). The MP and LUS at 0 hour of ICU admission were significantly positively correlated with SOFA and PaO2/FiO2 (r value was 0.421, 0.450, and 0.409, 0.536, respectively, all P < 0.01), but no correlation with Lac and APACHEⅡ was found. The ROC curve analysis showed that the MP and LUS at 0 hour and 72 hours had predictive value for the 28-day mortality [the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of MP was 0.836, 0.867; and the AUC of LUS was 0.820, 0.891, all P < 0.01]. Conclusions There was a significant correlation between MP and LUS in patients with moderate to severe ARDS. The MP and LUS could be used early to evaluate the 28-day prognosis of patients with moderate to severe ARDS.

Liver fibrosis/cirrhosis is the outcome of the progression of chronic hepatitis B and is associated with liver events and long-term prognosis. Effective antiviral therapy can delay or even reverse disease progression. Therefore, assessment of liver fibrosis degree before and during treatment is of great importance in initiating antiviral therapy, developing therapeutic regimens, and monitoring antiviral effects and complications. The semi-quantitative histological scoring system is widely acknowledged in the assessment of liver fibrosis degree and is an important basis for the initiation of antiviral therapy for hepatitis B, as well as a method commonly used for efficacy surveillance. Morphological and structural quantitative methods provide objective histological assessment of liver fibrosis and may cover the shortage of conventional semi-quantitative scoring system. Non-invasive methods for the assessment of liver fibrosis may reduce but not completely substitute liver histological examinations; a consensus has not been reached on their cut-off values to make decisions to initiate antiviral therapy, but such non-invasive methods can provide rich information on therapeutic effect and long-term prognosis.

BACKGROUND:It has been shown that neural stem cells can differentiate into neurons,astrocytes,and oligodendrocytes.Mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles have also been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier to reach sites of central nervous injury and promote neural repair.However,it is not clear whether neuron-derived extracellular vesicles promote the differentiation of neural stem cells in a direction that is beneficial for neurogenesis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether neuron-derived extracellular vesicles facilitate neural stem cell differentiation towards neurogenesis. METHODS:Neurons and neural stem cells were extracted from neonatal SD rat cerebral cortex by trypsin digestion.Cell supernatants of neurons were collected.Neuron-derived extracellular vesicles were extracted.Neural stem cells cultured for 10 days were co-cultured with neuron-derived extracellular vesicles or PBS for 7 days.Immunoblotting,immunofluorescence,and RT-qPCR were used to detect proteins specifically expressed by neurons,neural stem cells,oligodendrocytes,and astrocytes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The neural stem cells co-cultured with neuron-derived extracellular vesicles showed high expression of neuron-specific proteins and oligodendrocyte-specific proteins including β3-tubulin,neurofilament 200 and myelin basic protein,and low expression of astrocyte-specific protein glial fibrillary acidic protein.These results suggest that neuron-derived extracellular vesicles can promote the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons and oligodendrocytes and prevent the differentiation of neural stem cells into astrocytes.

Objective:To explore the relevance of a new comprehensive respiratory mechanics parameter, elastic power, to the 28-day prognosis of ARDS patients.Methods:Patients with ARDS hospitalized for at least 48 h with invasive mechanical ventilation in five intensive care units in three local hospitals in Lianyungang City from June 2018 to June 2022 were included in the study. Their baseline data and respiratory mechanics parameters were collected. Elastic power, mechanical power, driving pressure and lung compliance are calculated according to the corresponding formulae. The prognostic risk factors of ARDS patients were analysed using COX multi-factor regression, and the predictive value of EP/Cst on the 28-day prognosis of ARDS patients was evaluated based on ROC curve analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curve.Results:There was no significantly difference in tidal volume and PEEP settings between the patients in the ARDS survivor and death groups ( P> 0.05). However, the differences in respiratory rate, plateau pressure, driving pressure, lung compliance, mechanical work, elastic work, EP/cst and MP/cst between the two groups were significantly different (all P< 0.01). Multifactorial COX regression analysis showed that EP/cst ( HR=1.211, 95% CI:1.091-1.323) and RR ( HR=1.209, 95% CI:1.046-1.339) were strongly associated with a more severe degree of illness and a worse prognosis in ARDS. And the cumulative survival rate at 28 d was significantly lower in the high Cst-EP group than in the low Cst-EP group (50.00% vs. 82.40%, P < 0.01). Conclusions:The new respiratory mechanics parameters EP and EP/Cst can assess the severity of ARDS with a good predictive effect on patient prognosis at 28 days.

Objective:To evaluate the value of lung ultrasound score (LUS) on predicting weaning outcome in patients with intro-abdominal infection (IAI) undergoing mechanical ventilation.Methods:Patients with IAI undergoing mechanical ventilation admitted to Research Institute of General Surgery of East War Zone Hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang from January to December in 2018 were included. The patients who satisfied weaning criteria were enrolled in the weaning process, which included spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) and extubation. They were divided into SBT success group and SBT failure group according to whether passed 120-minute SBT or not. LUS scores before and after SBT were compared between the two groups. The patients in the SBT success group were extubated, and they were divided into successful extubation group and failed extubation group for sub-group analysis according to whether re-intubation was needed in 48 hours after extubation. LUS score before extubation (at the end of SBT) and 48 hours after extubation (48 hours after extubation in the successful extubation group or before re-intubation in the failed extubation group) were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of LUS score before SBT for SBT failure and LUS score before extubation for the failure.Results:A total of 76 patients with IAI undergoing mechanical ventilation were included. Twenty-three patients had duration of mechanical ventilation less than 48 hours, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tracheotomy or automatic discharge were excluded, and 53 patients were enrolled. SBT was failed in 9 patients, and successfully performed in 44 patients, of whom 23 patients with successful extubation, and 21 with failed extubation. The LUS scores before and after SBT in the SBT failure group were significantly higher than those in the SBT success group (before SBT: 13.22±1.99 vs. 10.79±1.64, t = -3.911, P = 0.000; after SBT: 19.00±1.12 vs. 13.41±1.86, t = -8.665, P = 0.000). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of LUS score before SBT for predicting SBT failure was 0.82 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.67-0.98, P = 0.002]. When the optimum cut-off value was 12.5, the sensitivity was 66.7%, and the specificity was 84.1%. Sub-group analysis showed that the LUS scores before and after extubation in the failed extubation group were significantly higher than those in the successful extubation group (before extubation: 14.19±1.60 vs. 12.69±1.81, t = -2.881, P = 0.006; after extubation: 16.42±1.59 vs. 12.78±1.54, t = -7.710, P = 0.000). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of LUS score before extubation for predicting the failure was 0.81 (95% CI was 0.69-0.92, P = 0.000). When the optimum cut-off value was 13.5, the sensitivity was 80.0%, and the specificity was 65.2%. Conclusion:LUS score can effectively predict SBT outcome, risk of re-intubation after extubation in patients with IAI undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Objective:To identify the clinical correlations between the cross-sectional area loss of the erector spinae muscle (ESMcsa Loss) and serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in mechanically ventilatied patients in ICU. In addition, to investigate their diagnostic value for ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) and their predictive value for 60-day survival in mechanically ventilated patients.Methods:Ninety-two patients with acute respiratory failure, who required mechanical ventilation therapy, were randomly selected among hospitalized patients from June 2018 to November 2019. The serum GDF-15 level was detected by ELISA, the total cross-sectional area of the right and left erector spinae muscles was calculated by CT images, and the patient's muscle strength was assessed using the British Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle strength score on day 1 and day 7. The patients were divided into the ICU-AW group and the non-ICU-AW group according to the MRC-score on the 7th day of ICU admission. The correlations between plasma GDF-15 level, ESMcsa loss, and MRC score on day 7 were investigated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the predictive value of serum GDF-15, ESMcsa loss, and ESMcsa loss ratio on day 7 of mechanically ventilated patients in the diagnosis of ICU acquired muscle weakness. Moreover, the predictive value of GDF-15 and ESMcsa loss ratio on the 90-day survival status of the patients was assessed using survival curves.Results:Ninety-two patients were enrolled. According to whether the MRC-score on the 7th day was less than 48, 49 cases were included in the ICU-AW group and 43 cases in the non-ICU-AW group. The mechanical ventilation time, length of ICU stay and length of hospital stay in the ICU-AW group were higher than those in the non-ICU-AW group, and there were no significant differences in other baseline indicators. There were no significant differences in serum GDF-15, ESMcsa and MRC-score between the two groups on day 1. The GDF-15 level in the ICU-AW group was significantly higher than that in the non-ICU-AW group while ESMcsa and MRC-score were significantly lower than those in the non-ICU-AW group on day 7 [GDF-15 (pg/mL): 2529.53±625.67 vs. 1614.21±567.18; ESMcsa (cm 2): 23.76±6.85 vs. 29.15±6.5; MRC-1score: 41.10±3.35 vs. 51.23±2.84; all P <0.001]. ESMcsa loss and ESMcsa loss ratio were significantly positively correlated with serum GDF-15 levels on day 7 ( r = 0.2355 and 0.3192, respectively). ESMcsa loss and ESMcsa loss ratio were significantly negatively correlated with MRC-score ( r = -0.3072 and -0.3527, respectively). The ROC curve analysis showed that plasma GDF-15 level, ESMcsa loss, and ESMcsa loss ratio on day 7 had predictive value for ICU-AW diagnosis in mechanically ventilated patients [Areas under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.904, 0.835, and 0.889, all P <0.001]. The 60-day survival curve demonstrated that the survival rate was 60.0% in the high GDF-15 group, while was 77.8% in the low GDF-15 group; and was 60.0% in the high ESMcsa loss ratio group, while was 80.0% in the low ESMcsa loss ratio group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:There was a significant correlation between the cross-sectional area loss of the erector spinae muscle and the increase of serum GDF-15 level after 7 days of mechanical ventilation in ICU, suggesting the acute muscle wasting and skeletal muscle hypofunction, which has certain diagnostic value for ICU-AW, and can predict the 60-day survival status of mechanically ventilated patients in ICU.

Objective To investigate the application of peripheral perfusion index (PPI) in early diagnosis and goal-directed therapy of septic shock, and to provide reference for the early clinical diagnosis and treatment of septic shock. Methods A prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. Adult patients with sepsis admitted to emergency medical department and intensive care unit (ICU) of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang City in Jiangsu Province from January 2013 to December 2016 were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 46). The PPI group was defined using PPI < 1.4 as diagnosis of septic shock standard, and PPI > 2 as treatment guide target. Control group was defined according to the traditional diagnostic criteria of shock which systolic blood pressure was less than 90 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) or systolic blood pressure value decrease> 40 mmHg baseline and bundle treatment was performed. The volume of fluid resuscitation, organ dysfunction, the sequential organ failure score (SOFA), acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHE Ⅱ) score,continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) time, mechanical ventilation (MV) time, the length of ICU stay and 28-day mortality were observed. Results There were 39 and 27 septic shock patients in PPI group and control group respectively. The diagnostic criteria of traditional septic shock with blood pressure as "gold standard", the sensitivity of PPI < 1.4 for septic shock was 94.3%, the specificity was 28.2%, the authenticity was 66.3%, the positive predictive value was 64.1%, the negative predictive value was 78.6%, the positive likelihood ratio was 1.31, the negative likelihood ratio was 0.18. The per capita fluid replacement within 24 hours in the PPI group was significantly higher than that in the control group (mL: 4 601±1 250 vs. 3 458±1 006, P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the per capita volume of the patients diagnosed as septic shock (mL: 4 596±1 320 vs. 4 205±1 058, P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the PPI group treated patients within 48 hours with less vascular active drugs (cases: 6 vs. 15), APACHE Ⅱand SOFA score were lower (48 hours: APACHE Ⅱ was 10.2±2.1 vs. 12.0±3.2; 72 hours: SOFA was 5.1±1.8 vs. 6.0±2.1, APACHE Ⅱ was 8.9±1.8 vs. 9.8±2.2), the period of CRRT and the length of ICU stay were shorter [the period of CRRT (days): 3.0±0.9 vs. 3.6±1.4, the length of ICU stay (days): 5.2±2.1 vs. 6.3±2.9), the difference was statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the liver and kidney function index, arterial blood lactic acid (Lac), MV time (days: 3.3±1.4 vs. 3.5±1.2) and 28-day mortality (15.22% vs. 19.57%) between two groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusions The inadequacy of microcirculatory perfusion by oximetry-derived PPI is more sensitive to the diagnosis of septic shock than hypotension of systemic circulation. With PPI guiding the fluid resuscitation of septic shock patients, vasopressors can be withdrawn earlier and the duration of the CRRT and ICU can be decreased.

Objective:To explore the diagnosis process and treatment experience of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with heparin resistance (HR).Methods:The medical team of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang admitted 2 severe COVID-19 patients with HR in intensive care unit (ICU) during their support to the designated hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Lianyungang City in November 2021. The clinical features, laboratory examinations, imaging features, treatment and prognosis of the two patients were analyzed.Results:Both severe COVID-19 patients received mechanical ventilation, 1 patient was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Both patients were complicated with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and HR phenomenon under routine dose anticoagulant therapy. The maximum daily dose of unfractionated heparin exceeded 35 000 U (up to 43 200 U), the 2 patients failed to meet the standard of anticoagulation treatment, and the course of disease was prolonged. After that, argatroban was given 0.4 μg·kg -1·min -1 combined with anticoagulant therapy, the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of patients undergoing ECMO could be maintained at 55-60 seconds and the activated coagulation time (ACT) of them could be maintained at 180-200 seconds. After ECMO support or later sequential mechanical ventilation, both patients recovered and were discharged, and deep venous thrombosis was also effectively controlled. Conclusion:HR phenomenon often occurs during the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients, the anticoagulation regimen should be adjusted in time, and the anticoagulation effect combined with argatroban is clear.

Objective:To analyze the differentially expressed gene (DEG) in rats with sepsis-induced exogenous acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and explore the early diagnosis and protective mechanism of sepsis-induced ARDS at the transcriptome level.Methods:Twelve 6 to 8 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced sepsis-induced ARDS model group (model group, intraperitoneal injection of LPS 15 mg/kg) and control group (intraperitoneal injection of the same volume of normal saline), with 6 rats in each group. RNA was extracted from the left lung tissue of the two groups, and the paired-end sequencing mode of the illumina Hiseq sequencing platform was used for high-throughput sequencing. The DESeq2 software was used to screen DEG with | log 2 (fold change, FC) | ≥ 3 and P < 0.001. Gene ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed on DEG. STRING and CytoScape software were used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and screen key genes. The peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of 20 septic patients admitted to the emergency and critical care medical department of Lianyungang First People's Hospital from March to November 2021 and 20 age-matched healthy people in the same period were isolated and extracted, and the key genes were verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results:A total of 286 DEG were screened, including 202 up-regulated genes and 84 down-regulated genes. GO enrichment analysis showed that DEG was mainly involved in biological processes such as neutrophil chemotaxis migration, antibacterial humoral response, host immune response, and humoral immune response. KEGG analysis showed that DEG mainly played a biological role through interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway. In PPI analysis, a total of 262 node proteins were screened, and the interaction relationship was 852 edges. The first 15 key genes were IL-6, TNF, IL-10, IL-1β, chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1), CXCL10, chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3), CXCR2, CXCL9, chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7), CXCL11, CCL1, CXCL13, CCL12, and CCL22. Five representative key genes were performed on PBMC of blood samples from septic ARDS patients and healthy controls by RT-qPCR. The results showed that their expression was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls [IL-6 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 2.803±1.081 vs. 0.951±0.359, TNF mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 2.376±0.799 vs. 1.150±0.504, CXCL10 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 2.500±0.815 vs. 1.107±0.515, CXCR3 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.655±0.628 vs. 0.720±0.388, CCL22 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.804±0.878 vs. 1.010±0.850, all P < 0.05], and the trends were consistent with the RNA-Seq results. Conclusion:Biological processes such as chemotactic migration and degranulation of inflammatory cells, cytokine immune response, and signal pathways such as CXCL10/CXCR3 and IL-17 play important roles in the occurrence and development of sepsis-related exogenous ARDS, which would provide new ideas and targets for further study of lung injury mechanisms and clinical prevention and treatment.