Objective To investigate the changes of serum homocysteine (Hcy) level before and after treatment in patients with colorectal cancer,and provide the reference for clinical therapeutic efficacy and prognosis.Methods Enzymatic circling assay was used to measure the serum Hcy levels in 50 controls and 58 patients with colorectal cancer before and after treatment with a.follow-up of 12 months.The changes of Hcy aud the relationship between Hcy and therapeutic efficacy or prognosis were analyzed.Results Scrum Hcy level in patients with colorectal cancer was significantly higher than that in controls [(16.90±5.35) μmol/L vs (10.23±3.06) μmol/L] (P ＜ 0.01),and it was closely associated with TNM stage.Serum Hcy level in patients of stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ was significantly higher than that of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ [(18.49±5.13) μmol/L vs (15.20±4.86) μmol/L] (P ＜ 0.05).The Hcy level in patients at the end of treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment [(13.39±4.98) μmol/L vs (16.90±5.35) μmol/L] (P ＜ 0.01),and the Hcy level after the treatment for 3 month was significantly lower than that at the end of treatment [(10.23±3.17) μmol/L] (P ＜ 0.05).The Hcy level in patients with recurrence during 12 months after operation was significantly higher than that without recurrence [(17.18±4.82) μmol/L vs (12.36±3.19) μmol/L] (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Serum level of Hcy might be a useful marker for predicting therapeutic efficacy and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the expression of fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) and related inflammatory factors in the serum of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A case control study was conducted. The patients with AECOPD admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from November 2016 to January 2020 were enrolled. The patients were divided into mild group [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (FEV1/FVC) < 0.70, FEV1 percentage in predicted value (FEV1%) ≥ 80%], moderate group (FEV1/FVC < 0.70, 50% ≤ FEV1% < 80%), and severe group (FEV1/FVC < 0.70, 30% ≤ FEV1% < 50%) based on their lung function test results, with 20 patients in each group, and 20 patients with normal pulmonary function who underwent elective non-thoracic surgery such as gastrointestinal surgery and orthopedics surgery in the same period were selected as controls. The demographic data, FEV1/FVC, FEV1%, FVC, maximum mid-expiratory flow percentage in predicted value (MMEF%), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score were recorded respectively. Serum levels of FGF7, interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between TNF-α and lung function.Results:Compared with the normal pulmonary function group, the levels of FEV1/FVC, FEV1%, MMEF% and 6MWT in the mild, moderate and severe groups were significantly decreased, and the SGRQ scores were increased, the indicators continued to deteriorate with the aggravation of the disease, the statistical differences were found between severe group and normal pulmonary function group [FEV1/FVC: 0.39±0.09 vs. 0.81±0.04, FEV1%: (38.80±6.28)% vs. (109.58±13.80)%, MMEF%: (0.34±0.14)% vs. (2.69±0.99)%, 6MWT (m): 279.00±41.61 vs. 402.85±53.97, SGRQ scores: 34.95±6.71 vs. 2.60±2.06, all P < 0.05]. Compared with the normal pulmonary function group, the levels of FGF7 in the mild, moderate and severe groups were significantly lowered (ng/L: 6.31±2.65, 6.10±1.39, 6.64±1.77 vs. 8.29±3.51, all P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found among the mild, moderate and severe groups (all P > 0.05). Compared with the normal pulmonary function group, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly increased in the mild, moderate and severe groups, and TNF-α increased with the aggravation of the disease, the statistical difference was found between severe group and normal pulmonary function group (ng/L: 7.42±2.28 vs. 3.83±0.92, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in IL-1β level between the normal pulmonary function group and the mild, moderate, severe groups. Correlation analysis showed that TNF-α was negatively correlated with FEV1/FVC and FEV1% ( r values were -0.350 and -0.527, respectively, both P < 0.01). Conclusion:In AECOPD patients, serum FGF7 was decreased, while IL-6 and TNF-α were increased; however, with the aggravation of the disease, there was no significant change in the level of FGF7 in the peripheral blood, but the TNF-α level might be increased, accompanied by severe damage of small airway function.

Objective To investigate the effect of periodontal mechanical treatment on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and carotid artery matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression in chronic periodontitis(CP) SD rats with atherosclerosis (As).Methods Forty-four six-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group(group A),As group (group B),As + CP group (group C).According to different periodontal interventions,group C was randomly subdivided into four groups:natural process group (C 1),the periodontal mechanical treatment group (C2),the periodontal mechanical treatment + local drugs group(C3),and the periodontal mechanical treatment + local and system drugs group(C4).Each group received the appropriate treatment and periodontal interventions.Serum IL-6 levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorrbent assay (ELISA).MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in the proximal aorta were examined by immunohistochemistry.Results The gray value of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was basically the same in all groups.Compared with group A,the gray value of MMP-2 and MMP-9 of group B and C were decreased.C1 group showed the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and fibrous cap.Compared with group B (126.4 ± 2.0,124.8 ± 2.8),the gray value of group C1 (101.3 ± 2.4,101.2 ± 4.1) was significantly weaker(P ＜ 0.05).The staining depth of MMP-2 and MMP-9 of groups C1,C2,C3 and C4 were sequentially decreased,and the differences of gray value were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).The levels of serum IL-6 in groups B and C1 increased gradually with time and became significantly higher than that of group A(P ＜ 0.01).The levels of serum IL-6 in groups C2,C3,and C4 increased gradually and reached the peak 5 weeks after the establishment of model (P ＜ 0.001).After that,the levels of serum IL-6 decreased gradually and was lower than baseline.The levels of serum IL-6 in groups C3 and C4 were significantly lower than that in group C2 7 weeks after the establishment of model(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions In rats with periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases,chronic periodontal inflammation may significantly increase the severity of As and promote the formation of atherosclerotic plaque.Mechanical periodontal therapy may cause short-term systemic inflammation and then reduce vascular inflammation in long term.With supplement use of local and systemic antibiotics,the mechanical periodontal therapy may get the vascular disease and systemic inflammation improved.

Objective To establish chronic periodontitis model in SD rats,and to investigate the effect of oral intervention on atherosclerosis.Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups,group A(normal control),group B(atherosclerosis,As) and group C(chronic periodontitis,CP).Group C was further divided into group C1(natural process),group C2(simple mechanical treatment),group C3 (systemic antibiotics),group C4-1(teeth extraction) and group C4-2(teeth extraction+systemic antibiotics),each group consisted of 7 rats.Every group received oral intervention.Serum interleukin(IL)-6 levels were detected in five different time points(1,3,5,7,9 weeks after a successful modeling) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.All animals were killed after 24 weeks.Matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2,9 in the proximal aorta was detected by immuno histochemistry.Results The levels of serum IL-6 in groups B and C1 increased gradually with time and became significantly higher than that in group A(P＜0.01).Levels of serum IL-6 were increased gradually in each intervention group(C2,C3,C4-1,C4-2) and reached its peak at 5 weeks after modeling[C2:(62.3 ± 14.3) ng/L,C3:(58.2±8.7) ng/L,C4-1:(127.0±29.9) ng/L,C4-2:(120.6± 23.1) ng/L].Compared with group B,group C4-1 and C4-2 increased most significantly(P＜0.01).Levels of serum IL-6 decreased gradually.Eventually,group C2[(28.6± 8.1) ng/L],C3[(40.8 ± 15.1) ng/L] and C4-2 [(32.7± 11.1) ng/L] were significantly lower than group B(P＜0.05),and in group C2 IL-6 was the lowest.Although levels of serum of IL-6 significantly decreased in group C4-1[(72.8± 16.4) ng/L],but remained the highest.Immunohistochemistry showed that MMP-2,9 were expressed in group B,C 1 and C4-1,and significantly higher than in group A(183.0±2.0,181.3 ± 2.0),the gray value differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).Group C4-1 (123.1 ±2.9,121.0± 3.2) was the strongest,group B (126.4±2.0,124.8 ±2.8)and C1 (140.0±2.2,139.7±3.2) were decreased (P＜0.01).While group C2(169.3±3.4,169.7±2.3),C3 (149.0±1.7,145.1±2.5) and C4-2(157.7± 1.2,155.8±2.7) were significantly lower than group C1(P＜0.01),and group C2 was close to normal.Conclusions Periodontitis could increase the risk of atherosclerosis in rats with chronic periodontitis.Periodontal mechanical treatment and teeth extraction may increase the risk of As in the short time.However,the risk would gradually reduce in a long time.

Objective:To explore the timing of sequential noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) following endotracheal intubation mechanical ventilation (ETI-MV) in aged patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP).Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted. The SCAP patients aged ≥ 75 years old admitted to respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from July 2017 to August 2019 were enrolled. SCAP was diagnosed according to the criteria of Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in adults in China (2016) published by Chinese Thoracic Society. ETI-MV was initially performed as respiratory support after RICU admission. Sequential NIPPV was performed immediately following extubation when the patients exhibited pulmonary infection abated (PIA) window. The gender, age, underlying diseases, and body temperature, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) after RICU admission, as well as acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score, improved pneumonia score of British Thoracic Society (confusion, uremia, respiratory, blood pressure, age 65 years, CURB-65), and pneumonia severity index (PSI) score within 24 hours after RICU admission were recorded. The duration and times of ETI, the incidences of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and aspiration, the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), the length of RICU and hospital stay and RICU prognosis were also recorded. The patients were divided into the ETI ≤ 7 days group and the ETI > 7 days group according to the duration of ETI, and the clinical data were compared between the two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors of aged patients with SCAP whose ETI was more than 7 days, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of risk factors. Results:Fifty aged patients with SCAP were enrolled, with 24 patients in the ETI ≤ 7 days group and 26 in the ETI > 7 days group. Univariate analysis showed that compared with the patients with ETI ≤ 7 days, the incidences of concurrent cerebrovascular diseases [46.2% (12/26) vs. 16.7% (4/24)], VAP [61.5% (16/26) vs. 16.7% (4/24)] and aspiration [69.2% (18/26) vs. 25.0% (6/24)] were significantly increased in patients with ETI > 7 days (all P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that VAP and aspiration were independent risk factors of ETI > 7 days in the aged SCAP patients [VAP: odds ratio ( OR) = 4.852, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.076-21.877, P = 0.040; aspiration: OR = 5.903, 95% CI was 1.474-23.635, P = 0.012]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of VAP for predicting ETI > 7 days in aged patients with SCAP was 0.724, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) and Youden index were 61.54%, 83.33%, 80.00%, 66.67%, 3.69, 0.46 and 0.45, respectively. Similarly, the AUC of aspiration was 0.721, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, PLR, NLR and Youden index were 69.23%, 75.00%, 75.00%, 69.23%, 2.77, 0.41 and 0.44, respectively. Analysis of prognostic indicators showed that compared with patients with ETI ≤ 7 days, the reintubation rate and RICU mortality were significantly increased in patients with ETI > 7 days [53.8% (14/26) vs. 4.2% (1/24), 38.5% (10/26) vs. 12.5% (3/24), both P < 0.05]. Moreover, the patients with ETI > 7 days had significantly prolonged total duration of MV, the length of RICU stay and total hospital stay as compared with the patients with ETI ≤ 7 days [total duration of MV (days): 23.8±11.8 vs. 11.3±3.1, length of RICU stay (days): 30.6±14.1 vs. 16.0±5.1, total length of hospital stay (days): 33.0±14.9 vs. 20.2±6.1, all P < 0.01]. Conclusions:Sequential NIPPV performed immediately following extubation within 7 days in the aged SCAP patients might reduce the mortality and shorten the duration of MV. The prolonged ETI duration because of the VAP or aspiration would lead to a reduced function of sequential NIPPV and an increased mortality of the aged patients with SCAP.

Objective To report 9 HIV-negative patients with talaromycosis marueffei (TSM)complicated by Sweet syndrome,and to analyze the relationship of the anti-interferon-γ (anti-IFN-γ)autoantibody with TSM complicated by Sweet syndrome.Methods HIV-negative patients with TSM complicated by Sweet syndrome were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between 2013 and 2018.Their clinical and laboratory data were analyzed retrospectively.Meanwhile,19 HIV-positive patients with TSM and 107 health checkup examinees served as controls.Anti-IFN-γ autoantibody was detected in peripheral blood samples of the patients and controls.Results A total of 9 HIV-negative patients with TSM (5 males and 4 females) were included in this study,and the age of onset ranged from 38 to 60 years.The 9 patients all presented with disseminated infections,manifesting as long-term irregular fever,multiple lymph node enlargement,cough,emaciation and anemia.All of the 9 patients met the diagnostic criteria for classical Sweet syndrome,and microbiological examination of Sweet syndrome lesions was negative.Besides Talaromyces marneffei,6 patients also were infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria,4 with varicella-zoster virus,and 2 with Salmonella.All the 9 HIV-negative patients with TSM were positive for anti-IFN-γ autoantibody,while the 107 healthy controls and 19 HIV-positive patients with TSM were negative for anti-IFN-γ autoantibody.Conclusion Anti-IFN-γ autoantibody may be associated with HIV-negative TSM complicated by Sweet syndrome.

Objective:To investigate whether Lycopi Herba can serve as a viable alternative to Alismatis Rhizoma in the treatment of heart failure (HF) through network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques.Methods:TCMSP database was used to filter active components of Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma. SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict potential targets. HF-related targets were collected from databases such as GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET. Venny 2.1.0 was used to draw a Venn diagram illustrating the intersection of targets between Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma and HF. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established using the String database, and key targets for the treatment of HF with Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma were selected using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software to construct a component-intersection target network. The intersection targets were then analyzed for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways using Metascape. Molecular docking techniques were used to evaluate the affinity between active components and key targets.Results:Lycopi Herba primarily targeted pivotal proteins such as HMGCR and CYP27B1, while Alismatis Rhizoma had a broader target spectrum, including PPARA, JAK2, among others. Shared key targets between the two included HMGCR and ESR1, which were primarily involved in cholesterol synthesis and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Enrichment pathway analysis showed similarities in steroid metabolism between the two; Alismatis Rhizoma, however, was more likely to act through protein phosphorylation regulation and modulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway for HF treatment. A unique target for Lycopi Herba in treating HF was CHRM4, indicating its potential for blood pressure regulation and myocardial protection.Conclusions:Both Lycopi Herba and Alismatis Rhizoma exhibit certain commonalities in the treatment of HF, but Alismatis Rhizoma has a wider range of targets and signaling pathways, implying more extensive therapeutic potential. However, considering the nephrotoxicity of Alismatis Rhizoma, Lycopi Herba could be considered as an alternative treatment for HF, especially in patients with renal insufficiency or in the early stages of HF.

Objective To evaluate the characteristics of a rat model of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)induced by combined factors,and to investigate the correlation of myocardial strain parameters to myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis.Methods Eight WKY rats and eight spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)served as control groups and were fed normal feed until the end of the experiment.Thirty-two SHR rats were equally divided into SHR+S,SHR+F,SHR+SF,and SHR+Combined groups,and fed high-salt,high-fat,high-salt-fat,or high-salt-fat-sugar feed,respectively,in combination with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin for 30 weeks.After modeling,the heart weight/body weight(HW/BW)ratio,systolic blood pressure(SBP),and diastolic blood pressure(DBP)were measured.Echocardiography was performed to measure the left ventricular(LV)end-diastolic internal diameter(LVIDd),LV anterior wall thickness(LVAWd),LV posterior wall thickness(LVPWd),LV ejection fraction(LVEF),isovolumetric diastolic time(IVRT),and peak early diastolic passive filling velocity(E)/early diastolic mitral annular velocity(e').Speckle tracking echocardiography was conducted to determine the global longitudinal strain(GLS)and strain rate(GLSr),global radial strain(GRS)and strain rate(GRSr),as well as the global circumferential strain(GCS)and strain rate(GCSr).Serum was collected and analyzed for triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),glucose(GLU),and glycated serum protein(GSP).ELISA were used to measure serum B-type brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ),and galectin-3(Gal-3).Myocardial tissue was subjected to HE and Masson staining for cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibrosis,and the cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area(CSA)and collagen volume fraction(CVF)were calculated.Additionally,the correlation of myocardial strain parameters to CSA and CVF was analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,in model groups,especially the SHR+combined group,HW/BW,SBP,DBP,serum indexes(TC,TG,LDL-C,GLU,GSP,BNP,AngⅡ,and Gal-3)and echocardiographic parameters(LVIDd,LVAWd,LVPWd,IVRT,and E/e')were significantly up-regulated.Absolute values of speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters(GLS,GLSr,GRS,GRSr,GCS,and GCSr)were decreased considerably.HE and Masson staining of myocardial tissues suggested marked cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis,and significant increases were observed in CSA and CVF(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that GLSr,GCS,and GCSr were strongly linked to CSA,and GLS,GLSr,and GCSr were strongly linked to CVF(P＜0.01).Conclusions A rat model of HFpEF induced by hypertension and dysregulation of glucolipid metabolism replicated the basic characteristics of HFpEF in terms of etiology,clinical features,and myocardial pathological changes,and might be a reliable animal model of metabolic syndrome-related HFpEF.Moreover,myocardial strain indices were closely related to myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis and might indirectly reflect subtle myocardial lesions and dysfunction.

Objective:To investigate the features of the brain structural network in patients with postpartum depression (PPD).Methods:This cross-sectional study included PPD patients who visited the mental health counseling clinic after delivery at the Jiangsu University Affiliated Yixing Hospital from June 2013 to September 2022 (PPD group). Matched non-PPD postpartum women based on age, years of education, and body mass index who came for postpartum follow-up (non-PPD postpartum group), and non-pregnant women who visited the hospital or underwent physical examinations during the same period (non-pregnant group) were also included. Demographic data and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were collected for all three groups. The brain was partitioned into 90 regions using an anatomical template to construct the brain structural network. Network-based statistics (NBS) were applied to further screen and construct subnetworks. The efficacy of the subnetworks in identifying PPD was evaluated through multivariable logistics regression models and receiver operating characteristic curves. A comparison of the connectivity strength of white matter tracts and topological attributes of brain structural network parameters was conducted using independent samples t-tests, and the results were corrected using the false discovery rate (FDR) method. Results:(1) A total of 116 subjects were included, with 40 in the non-pregnant group, 40 in the non-PPD postpartum group, and 36 in the PPD group. PPD group had higher Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores than the non-pregnant and non-PPD postpartum groups [(18.0±4.1) scores vs. (2.5±1.2) and (6.1±2.1) scores, F=340.40; t=24.65,10.60 and 16.16 in pairwise comparison; all P<0.001]. (2) Compared to the non-pregnant group, there was a decrease in the connectivity strength of nine white matter tracts within the brain structural network of the postpartum group (including left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus-left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus-right amygdala, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus-left insula, left insula-left lentiform nucleus, left insula-left hippocampus, left hippocampus-right amygdala, left hippocampus-left precuneus, left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus-right amygdala, and right amygdala-right hippocampus) (all P<0.05, FDR corrected). No increased connection strengths were observed. There were no significant differences in the connection strengths of these nine tracts between the non-PPD and PPD groups. (3) A characteristic subnetwork for the maternal group was successfully constructed based on the nine tracts, which exhibited typical small-world properties (σ>1). Compared to the non-PPD maternal group, the characteristic path length in the PPD group was increased [(3.904±0.328) vs. (4.130±0.433), t=－2.58], and global efficiency was decreased [(0.361±0.036) vs. (0.331±0.053), t=2.91] (both P<0.05). Local property comparisons showed that the node efficiency values for the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, left insula, left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, left hippocampus, right hippocampus, right amygdala, left precuneus and left putamen in the PPD group were significantly reduced [(0.273±0.023) vs. (0.267±0.030), t=0.98; (0.299±0.035) vs. (0.276±0.041), t=2.64; (0.265±0.019) vs. (0.258±0.025), t=1.38; (0.318±0.028) vs. (0.305±0.031), t=1.92; (0.312±0.027) vs. (0.302±0.031), t=1.50; (0.322±0.030) vs. (0.298±0.026), t=3.71; (0.356±0.040) vs. (0.338±0.056), t=1.62; (0.346±0.028) vs. (0.331±0.036), t=1.74; all P<0.05]. However, only the differences in node efficiency values for the left insula and right amygdala remained significant after FDR correction (corrected P=0.041 and 0.003). (4) Global efficiency, as well as node efficiency for the left insula and right amygdala, demonstrated good value for identifying PPD [areas under the curve (AUC) and their 95% CI were 0.827 (0.732-0.922), 0.741 (0.628-0.854), and 0.761 (0.653-0.867), respectively], with even better performance when combined [0.897 (0.828-0.969)]. (5) In the PPD group, global efficiency ( r=－0.43, P=0.008), node efficiency for the left insula ( r=－0.39, P=0.019), and node efficiency for the right amygdala ( r=－0.42, P=0.011) were all negatively correlated with EPDS scores. Conclusion:Aberrations in global efficiency, node efficiency for the left insula, and node efficiency for the right amygdala may serve as characteristic neuroimaging biomarkers for PPD.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and case selection of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by viral pneumonia.Methods:These patients who were continuously admitted in the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from December 2017 to June 2019 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. All subjects accepted NIPPV as the initial intervention and they were divided into the NIPPV failure group and NIPPV success group according to the requirement of endotracheal intubation (ETI). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for NIPPV failure. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of risk factors for NIPPV failure in these patients.Results:Forty-three patients were studied in this experiment. The success rate of NIPPV was 62.8% (27/43), and the failure rate was 37.2% (16/43). Compared with the NIPPV success group, the incidence of nosocomial infection [44% (7/16) vs 0 (0/27), χ 2 =11.082, P<0.05] and mortality rate [50% (8/16) vs 7% (2/27), χ 2 =7.965, P<0.05] were significantly increased in the NIPPV failure group. The univariate analysis indicated that the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEⅡ) score, the ratio of early concurrent bacterial or fungal infections, and the proportion of patients with insufficient NIPPV at the early 72 h were significantly higher in the NIPPV failure group (all P<0.05). Meanwhile, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that the baseline APACHEⅡ score ( OR=1.941, 95% CI:1.159-3.249, P=0.012), the rate of early concurrent bacterial or fungal infections ( OR=8.602, 95% CI:1.267-58.416, P=0.028), and insufficient use of NIPPV at the early 72 h ( OR=10.06, 95% CI:1.592-63.527, P=0.014) were independent risk factors associated with NIPPV failure. The ROC curve showed the area under curve (AUC), the sensitivity, and the specificity was 0.748, 62.5%, and 74.1% respectively, which demonstrates that that APACHE Ⅱ score at admission was the most predictive factor of NIPPV failure. For the observed indicator without enough NIPPV treatment within 72 h, the AUC, the sensitivity, and the specificity was 0.714, 68.8%, and 74.1%, respectively. And for the observed indicator with concurrent bacterial or fungal infections, the AUC, the sensitivity and the specificity is 0.707, 56.3% and 85.2%, respectively. Conclusions:Early use of enough NIPPV in patients with ARDS caused by viral pneumonia can significantly decrease ETI and mortality rates. However, NIPPV should not be conducted in patients suffered from severe ARDS or early concurrent bacterial or fungal infections.