Objective To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of the serum procalcitonin ( PCT ) level in the non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome ( AIDS ) immunocompromised critically ill patients suspected to have infection. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in the non-AIDS immunocompromised patients who were admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University during January 2011 to December 2014. Demographic characteristics, underlying disease, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ( APACHEⅡ) score at admission, and clinical records including baseline and peak levels of temperature, white blood count ( WBC ), PCT, and survival rate within 28 days, infection focus, infectious agents ( bacterial, fungi or mixed infection ), and the severity of infection ( sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock ) were recorded. Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curve was plotted, and the diagnostic and protective value of above parameters was evaluated. Results A total of 98 patients ( 43 male and 55 female ) were enrolled in the study with a median age of 44 ( 28, 52 ) years old and a median APACHEⅡscore of 17 ( 11, 20 );47 with malignant hematological tumor, 45 with autoimmune diseases, and 6 post solid organ transplantation. Among them 53 patients ( 54.1%) died within 28 days. Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed as systemic inflammatory response syndrome ( SIRS ) without infection. Among 71 patients with infection, 45 were diagnosed as bacterial infection, 10 with fungal infection, and 16 with mixed infection. Sepsis was diagnosed in 7 patients, severe sepsis in 32 patients , and septic shock in 32 patients .①There was no statistical significance in the baseline and peak levels of PCT and WBC, or baseline level of temperature between the groups of SIRS patients without infection and infected patients. The peak level of temperature was significantly higher in the patients with infection as compared with that of the SIRS without infection patients [℃:39.4 ( 38.9, 40.0 ) vs. 38.8 ( 37.8, 39.2 ), Z=-3.268, P=0.001 ]. It was showed by subgroup analysis that in patients with hematological malignant disease or autoimmune diseases, higher level of body temperature was found in infection group compared with non-infection SIRS group [℃:39.5 ( 39.0, 40.0 ) vs. 39.0 ( 38.4, 39.4 ), Z=-2.349, P=0.019;39.0 ( 38.4, 39.5 ) vs. 38.2 ( 37.0, 38.9 ), Z=-2.221, P=0.026 ].②The baseline level of PCT (μg/L ) were 0.54 ( 0.20, 4.19 ), 2.78 ( 0.50, 9.54 ), 1.00 ( 0.45, 6.89 ), and 0.22 ( 0.07, 1.86 ) in non-infection SIRS patients or the patients with bacterial, fungal, and mixed infection, respectively. The peak level of PCT (μg/L ) were 4.19 ( 1.95, 13.42 ), 12.37 ( 3.82, 45.89 ), 1.82 ( 0.49, 17.86 ), and 5.14 ( 2.66, 12.62 ), respectively, in each subgroup. When the comparison was conducted among the patients with different infectious agent, the baseline level of PCT in patients with bacterial infection was significantly higher than that in SIRS patients without infection ( P=0.026 ) and mixed infection patients ( P=0.001 ), and the peak level of PCT was significantly higher than that in the SIRS patients without infection ( P=0.009 ) and the patients with fungal infection ( P=0.016 ). ROC curve showed that the higher value was found in the baseline and peak levels of PCT for diagnosis of septic shock in all patients [ area under ROC curve ( AUC ) of baseline level = 0.681±0.054, P = 0.001; AUC of peak level = 0.690±0.054, P=0.002 ], and the same value was also found in the baseline and peak levels of PCT for diagnosis of bacterial infection in the patients with malignant hematological tumor ( AUC of baseline level=0.687±0.080, P=0.008;AUC of peak level=0.697±0.079, P=0.021 ).③The peak level of PCT (μg/L ) were 4.05 ( 0.53, 31.22 ), 5.78 ( 2.14, 16.68 ), and 11.64 ( 2.94, 58.14 ) in subgroup of patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock, respectively, and they showed no statistical significance among subgroups ( P>0.05 ). A high serum level of peak PCT strongly indicated the presence of septic shock ( AUC=0.646±0.060, P=0.019 ), especially in the subgroup of patients with systemic autoimmune disease ( AUC=0.689±0.081, P=0.035 ).④The peak level of PCT (μg/L ) in the APACHEⅡ>18 group ( 38 cases ) was significantly higher than that of APACHEⅡ≤18 group [ 60 cases, PCT (μg/L ):11.64 ( 3.36, 39.39 ) vs. 4.42 ( 1.32, 14.70 ), P=0.016 ];there was a certain correlation between the peak level of PCT and the severity of the disease.⑤The peak level of PCT in death group was significantly higher than that of the survival group [μg/L:9.07 ( 3.05, 33.09 ) vs. 4.19 ( 1.26, 14.61 ), P=0.043 ]. ROC curve showed that the peak level of PCT might be valuable in predicting the prognosis in immunocompromised patients ( AUC=0.619±0.057, P=0.043 ). Conclusions The serum level of PCT is found to be a reliable marker for the diagnosis of bacterial infection in immunocompromised critical patients, especially in those with hematologic malignancy. Additionally, PCT provides a useful tool for evaluating the severity of infection and the prognosis of critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Calcium sulfate/poly amino acid compound materials carrying triple anti-tuberculosis drugs have been proved to have excellent slow release performance based on our preliminary studies on the physical and chemical properties and the release properties of the compound materials.OBJECTIVE: To observe the slow release performance of the calcium sulfate/poly(amino acid) compound material carrying triple anti-tuberculosis drugs in a rabbit model of spinal tuberculosis.METHODS: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were used to make L4-5 spinal tuberculosis models and divided into two groups in a random way following removal of tuberculosis lesions. Calcium sulfate/poly amino acid compound material carrying isoniazide, rifampicin, pyrazinamide or calcium sulfate/poly(amino acid)compound material with no drugs was implanted into the defect in the experimental or control group,respectively. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after implantation, the concentrations of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide in the defect region, including the bone tissue, adjacent psoas major and inferior vena cava,were measured.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the experimental group, the isoniazid levels in the damaged bone tissue and psoas major were kept in minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 8 weeks after implantation and in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at the end of 12 weeks after implantation, while its level in the vein was kept in MBC at 2 weeks and in MIC at 8 weeks. The rifampicin levels in the bone tissue and psoas major were kept in MBC at 4 weeks after implantation and in the MIC at 8 weeks after implantation, while its level in the vein was kept MIC at 4 weeks.The pyrazinamide levels in the damaged bone tissue and psoas major were kept in MBC at 8 weeks after implantation and in the MIC until 8 weeks after implantation, while its level in the vein was kept MIC at 8 weeks. In the control group,there were no levels of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide in the damaged bone tissue, adjacent psoas major and inferior vena cava in comparison with the baseline. These results show that isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide in the defect region can achieve sustained slow release in the rabbit model of spinal tuberculosis after implantation of the calcium sulfate/poly(amino acid) compound material carrying triple anti-tuberculosis drugs. In addition, the local drug concentration and duration in the defect region are better than those in the blood.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of Antituberculotic?loaded bone cement (ATLBC) prepared by mix?ing the anti?TB drugs Rifampicin (RFP), Isoniazid (INH), Pyrazinamid (PZA), Moxifloxacin (MFX) with Palacos R PMMA bone cement in Total Joint Arthroplasty treatment for Joint Tuberculosis. Methods Forty grams of Palacos R bone cement powder without antibiotics was mixed with 1 or 2 grams of RFP, INH, PZA and MFX respectively. According to ISO 5833:2002 stan?dard, 8 groups of ATLBC standard test specimen were prepared as experiment group and Palacos R PMMA bone cement with?out antibiotics was prepared as control group. Physical properties (such as the average dough time, curing time, maximum tem?perature), mechanical strength (such as the compressive strength, the bending resistance strength, the modulus of elasticity) and the concentrations of eluant drug in different time points of ATLBC were detected. Results In RFP (1 g), RFP (2 g), INH (1 g) and INH (2 g) group, the average dough time and curing time were longer than those in control group, which exceeded the standard scope of ISO, while the average maximum temperature was significantly lower than that in control group. The INH ( 1 g) group and INH (2 g) group hardened after mixing for 14 days. The RFP (1 g) group and RFP (2 g) group hardened after mixing for 30 days. Twenty minutes after mixing and hardening, the compressive strength, bending resistance strength and modulus of elastic?ity were significantly lower than the specified values of ISO standard. The physical properties and mechanical strength in PZA ( 1 g) group, PZA (2 g) group, MFX (1 g) group, MFX (2 g) group and control group were in accordance with the specified values of ISO standard, and they hardened after 20 minutes. In RFP (1 g) group, RFP (2 g) group, INH (1 g) group, INH (2 g) group, PZA (1 g) group, PZA (2 g) group, MFX (1 g) group and MFX (2 g) group, the concentration of eluant could maintain for 3 days, 7 days, 90 days, 90 days, 45 days, 60 days, 60 days and 60 days respectively. Conclusion RFP and INH mixing with Palacos R PMMA bone cement can hinder the aggregation of bone cement so they are unsuitable for preparing ATLBC. PZA and MFX mixing with Palacos R PMMA bone cement do not affect the physical properties of bone cement, with excellent mechanical strength and elu?tion properties. Because the minimal inhibitory concentration of PZA is higher and its antimicrobial activity maintains shorter time, while MFX maintains longer time in antimicrobial activity, it's more suitable for the preparation of ATLBC.

OBJECTIVE: To invstigate the influence of femoral neck area on larger anteversion angle of lag screw guide pin initial placement in proximal femoral intertrochanteric fracture treated with intramedullary nail. METHODS: From June 2014 to June 2016, 60 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures were treated with intramedullary nail, including 27 males and 33 females with an average age of 75 years old ranging from 49 to 88 years old. The lateral images of femoral neck were divided into areas during operation. The anteversion angle of lag screw guide pin of proximal femoral nail was observed at the time of initial insertion. The incidence of normal and larger was counted and the angle index of influencing factors was recorded. RESULTS: Among 60 patients, the screw guide pins of 23 cases were in the central region of the femoral neck and the anteversion angle was normal;screw guide pins of 37 cases were in the front area of the femoral neck, leading to larger anteversion angle. The single factor analysis showed that the independent variables influence factors of larger anteversion were internal collection of the affected limb, internal rotation of the affected limb, hip elevation and screw guide pin level(<0.05). The multi-factor regression analysis showed that the anteversion angle larger was significantly related to the internal rotation of the affected limb and screw guide pin level, and the screw guide pin level was the most relevant(=0.030). CONCLUSIONS The internal rotation of the affected limb and screw guide pin level may affect the anteversion angle of femoral neck when lag screw guide pin initial insertion, cause it to be too large and the screw guide pin level is the main influencing factor.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical and serological characteristics in rehabilitated patients with common novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19).Methods:A total of 165 patients with common COVID-19 were enrolled in this retrospective study, in which clinical data was collected from February 23 to March 15, 2020 in Leishenshan Hospital(Wuhan, China). The patients with COVID-19 were divided into elderly group and non-elderly group according to their age, and the differences in the clinical and serological metabolic characteristics between these two groups were analyzed.Results:49.7% patients were over 60 years old. The most common clinical symptoms were fever, cough, and fatigue, followed by muscle soreness. Expectoration and digestive tract symptoms were rare. Dyspnea occurred more frequently in the elderly group than in non-elderly group(47.56% vs 25.30%, P<0.01). Hypertension was the most common concomitant disease(accounting for 29.1%)followed by diabetes. Hypertension was more common in the elderly group than in non-elderly group(41.46% vs 16.86%, P<0.01), but without significant difference in diabetes between the two groups. The counts of leukocytes and lymphocytes in all patients were in the normal range, and no difference was observed between the groups. The comparison of serological indicators showed that serum creatinine in the elderly group was higher than that in the non-elderly group( P<0.01)while serum albumin, glomerular filtration rate, and serum calcium were lower in the elderly group. After serum albumin correction, the levels of albumin corrected calcium in all patients were in the normal range, without significant difference between these two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups when the length of hospital stay was taken as the index of outcome [(34.01±10.24) vs(30.97±10.51)d, P>0.05]. Conclusion:Fever, cough, and fatigue are the most common clinical symptoms in patients with ordinary COVID-19. The elderly are more likely to develop dyspnea. The blood routine and metabolic characteristics in patients with common COVID-19 are normal, but serum albumin level is more likely to decrease in elderly patients with COVID-19.

Objective To investigate the application of Critical Care Chest Ultrasonic Examination (CCUE)-plus (CCUE-plus) in the etiological diagnosis in patieuts with dyspnea and/or hemodynamic instability caused by abdominal abnormalities.Methods Patients who suffered from dyspnea and/or hemodynamic instability in the Department of Critical Care Medicine,Xiangya Hospital,Central South University from September 2013 to September 2016 were recruited in this study.A total of 255 consecutive patients completed CCUE within 2hrs of admission.If the diaphragm could not be seen in the routine phrenic points according to Bedside Lung Ultrasound Evaluation (BLUE) protocol,it would be found along midaxillary line and defined m-point.The 59 patients with altered diaphragmatic position (m-point was more than 2 cm higher than phrenic point) received sequential abdominal ultrasonography.The latter ultrasonographic findings were compared with CT results.Results There were 42 (71.19％) cases with positive findings of abdominal ultrasonography,including 18 cases of seroperitoneum,16 cases of intestinal obstruction and 8 cases combined.Compared with 56 patients who applied with CT exam,the abdominal ultrasonography revealed a sensitivity of 76.7％ and a specificity of 100.0％ to diagnose seroperitoneum (AUCRoc 0.917);whereas the sensitivity was 75.0％ and the specificity was 90.9％ (AUCRoc 0.778) to diagnose intestinal obstruction.Moreover,there were 44 (74.58％) patients with normal left ventricular systolic function;more than three quarters (46/59,77.97％) patients had pulmonary consolidation.Conclusion In patients with dyspnea and/or hemodynamic instability caused by abdominal abnormalities and altered diaphragmatic position in BLUE protocol,CCUE-plus protocol has a high positive predictive value of more than 90％ in abdominal abnormality.The findings of abdominal ultrasonography may change therapeutic target from cardio-pulmonary optimization to relief of intestinal obstruction or drainage of seroperitoneum.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation among the morphological characteristics and the spica yield of various germplasm of Prunella vulgaris.

METHODThe various P. vulgaris germplasm from all over the country were investigated by analysis of correlation analysis, path analysis and principle component analysis in a randomized block experiment.

RESULTThe 6 morphological characteristics were greatly different from each other in various germplasm. The spica yield per plant had a very significantly positive correlation with the number of spica per plant and fresh leaves weight per plant, meanwhile the correlation between the spica yield per plant and spica length was very significantly. Three principal components which accounted for 87.533% of total variance were extracted from the principal component analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe strong growth potential, the number of spica per plant and spica length were main factors for the selection of high yield breeding of P. vulgaris.

Genetic Variation ; Principal Component Analysis ; Prunella ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

OBJECTIVEThe contents of bererine, palmatine and glycyrrhizin acid in Banxiaxiexintang decoction of different combinations were determined by PR-HPLC.

METHODA Shim-pack CLC-ODS column was used with a mobile phase of CH3CN-H2O (31:69; 0.005 moL.L-1 -pentanesulfonic acid sodium salt, H3PO4: pH 3.0) for bererine andpalmatine, which were detected at the wavelength of 275 nm. A YWG-C18 column was used with a mobile phase of CH3OH-H2O-HAc(62:37:1) for glycyrrhizin acid which was detected at the wavelength of 260 nm.

RESULTEach herbs' combination influences the contents of the 3 components.

CONCLUSIONThe experiment is an attempt to study the comical foundation of traditional Chinese prescription.

Berberine ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether central venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference (Pcv-aCO(2)) could still be used as a goal of fluid resuscitation in septic patients who already had ScvO2 greater than 70% after early resuscitation. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed on 56 septic patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a single University Hospital, who already had ScvO2 greater than 70% after early resuscitation. They were divided into two groups, based on whether the patients' initial Pcv-aCO2 was less than 6 mmHg (low gap group) or greater than or equal to 6 mmHg (high gap group). The following data were collected at 0, 12, and 24 hours (T(0), T(12), T(24)) after study inclusion: hemodynamic indices [mean blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), central venous pressure (CVP)], perfusion-related indexes [ScvO(2), Pcv-aCO2, serum lactate (Lac), Lac clearance rate], organ function- related indices [oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO(2)), serum creatinine (SCr), creatine kinase (CK-MB)], APACHE II score, SOFA score, and 24 hours amounts of fluid infusion. RESULTS: Twenty patients (42.9%) with initial Pcv-aCO(2) ≥ 6 mmHg were included in the high gap group and another thirty-two patients were included in the low gap group. At T12 and T24, ScvO(2) and CO were significantly higher, and Lac and SCr were significantly lower in low gap patients than high gap patients (P<0.05). At T(12) and T(24), Lac clearance rate was significantly higher (P<0.05), and 24-hours amounts of fluid infusion was significantly less [(3449.47 ± 695.41) mL vs (4070.66 ± 757.43) mL, P= 0.002] for the low gap group than for the high gap group, as well as the descrease of SOFA score at T(24) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference of APACHE II score between the 2 groups (P<0.05). CO and Pcv-aCO(2) values were inversely correlated (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION Septic patients targeting only ScvO(2) may still have inappropriate tissue perfusion, especially when Pcv-aCO2 ≥6 mmHg, which indicates insufficient resuscitation. When ScvO(2) > 70% has achieved after early resuscitation, Pcv-aCO2 can still be used as a goal of fluid resuscitation in septic patients .
Adult ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Central Venous Pressure ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sepsis ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Severity of Illness Index ; Vena Cava, Superior