Ascites is the most common complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. This condition results in a severely impaired quality of life, excessive healthcare use, recurrent hospitalizations and significant morbidity and mortality. While loop diuretics and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are commonly employed for symptom relief, our understanding of their impact on survival remains limited. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of ascites is crucial for its optimal management. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is increasingly believed to play a pivotal role in the formation of cirrhotic ascites, as RAAS overactivation leads to a reduction in urine sodium excretion then a decrease in the ability of the kidneys to excrete water. In this review, the authors provide an overview of the pathogenesis of cirrhotic ascites, the challenges associated with current pharmacologic treatments, and the previous attempts to modulate the RAAS, followed by a description of some emerging targeted RAAS agents with the potential to be used to treat ascites.

Ascites is the most common complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. This condition results in a severely impaired quality of life, excessive healthcare use, recurrent hospitalizations and significant morbidity and mortality. While loop diuretics and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are commonly employed for symptom relief, our understanding of their impact on survival remains limited. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of ascites is crucial for its optimal management. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is increasingly believed to play a pivotal role in the formation of cirrhotic ascites, as RAAS overactivation leads to a reduction in urine sodium excretion then a decrease in the ability of the kidneys to excrete water. In this review, the authors provide an overview of the pathogenesis of cirrhotic ascites, the challenges associated with current pharmacologic treatments, and the previous attempts to modulate the RAAS, followed by a description of some emerging targeted RAAS agents with the potential to be used to treat ascites.

Ascites is the most common complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. This condition results in a severely impaired quality of life, excessive healthcare use, recurrent hospitalizations and significant morbidity and mortality. While loop diuretics and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are commonly employed for symptom relief, our understanding of their impact on survival remains limited. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of ascites is crucial for its optimal management. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is increasingly believed to play a pivotal role in the formation of cirrhotic ascites, as RAAS overactivation leads to a reduction in urine sodium excretion then a decrease in the ability of the kidneys to excrete water. In this review, the authors provide an overview of the pathogenesis of cirrhotic ascites, the challenges associated with current pharmacologic treatments, and the previous attempts to modulate the RAAS, followed by a description of some emerging targeted RAAS agents with the potential to be used to treat ascites.

Ascites is the most common complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. This condition results in a severely impaired quality of life, excessive healthcare use, recurrent hospitalizations and significant morbidity and mortality. While loop diuretics and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are commonly employed for symptom relief, our understanding of their impact on survival remains limited. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of ascites is crucial for its optimal management. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is increasingly believed to play a pivotal role in the formation of cirrhotic ascites, as RAAS overactivation leads to a reduction in urine sodium excretion then a decrease in the ability of the kidneys to excrete water. In this review, the authors provide an overview of the pathogenesis of cirrhotic ascites, the challenges associated with current pharmacologic treatments, and the previous attempts to modulate the RAAS, followed by a description of some emerging targeted RAAS agents with the potential to be used to treat ascites.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury in children with biliary atresia after liver transplantation.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinical data of 115 children with biliary atresia who received liver transplantation for the first time in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from December 2018 to November 2020 were collected.The patients were divided into AKI group ( n=39) and non-AKI group ( n=76) according to the diagnostic criteria of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes(KDIGO). The differences of clinical indicators between the two groups were compared, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for statistically significant variables ( P<0.05) to further determine the independent risk factors for AKI after liver transplantation. The measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and t-test was used for comparison between groups.Measurement data with non-normal distribution were represented by M( Q1, Q3), and Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups.Count data were expressed as cases and percentage, and comparisons between groups were made using Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. Results:The incidence of AKI in biliary atresia patients after liver transplantation was 33.9%. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in age ( OR=0.721, 95% CI: 0.553-0.938, P=0.014), preoperative infection ( OR=3.307, 95% CI: 1.294-8.468, P=0.013), PELD score ( OR=1.065, 95% CI: 1.031-1.101, P<0.001), serum creatinine numerical value ( OR=0.745, 95% CI: 0.657-0.858, P<0.001), intraoperative red blood cell transfusion ( OR=1.034, 95% CI: 1.028-1.051, P<0.001) and intraoperative plasma transfusion ( OR=1.055, 95% CI: 1.025-1.086, P=0.002) between the AKI group and the non-AKI group ( P< 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on the selected indicators by univariate analysis, and the results showed that preoperative infection ( OR=3.763, 95% CI: 1.185-11.945, P=0.025) and low serum creatinine ( OR=0.685, 95% CI: 0.570-0.823, P<0.001), intraoperative red blood cell transfusion ( OR=1.033, 95% CI: 1.015-1.056, P=0.028) was independently associated with postoperative AKI ( P<0.05). The inpatient treatment time in ICU and in hospital between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative infection, low creatinine numerical value and intraoperative red blood cell transfusion are independent risk factors for postoperative AKI in children with biliary atresia. AKI may prolong the time in ICU and in hospital.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological data of maternal sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU), analyze the common causes, outcomes of maternal sepsis, and the risk factors of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria.Methods:A retrospective cohort study. Maternal sepsis cases admitted to ICUs of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, and Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2008 to September 2022 were enrolled. The following data were recorded: demographic characteristics, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) during infection, infection time, infection sites, invasive intervention measures before infection, microbial culture results, blood routine test during infection, body temperature, and clinical outcomes caused by infection. According to the time of sepsis occurrence, the patients were divided into pre-ICU sepsis group and ICU sepsis group, and the causes of sepsis in the two groups were analyzed. According to whether MDR occurred, the patients were divided into MDR group and non-MDR group, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of MDR bacteria infection in obstetrics with sepsis.Results:160 patients were enrolled, among which 104 cases of sepsis happened before ICU and 56 cases of sepsis happened during ICU, 53 cases were with MDR bacteria and 107 cases were without MDR bacteria. The median age of the patients was 30.5 (28.0, 34.0) years old, the median temperature was 38.8 (38.2, 39.5) ℃, and the median white blood cell count (WBC) was 17.2 (13.2, 21.3)×10 9/L, the median SOFA score was 5.0 (3.0, 8.0), and 130 cases (81.2%) were referred from other hospitals. The main infection sites were uterine cavity in 64 cases (40.0%), lung in 48 cases (30.0%), abdominal and pelvic cavity in 30 cases (18.8%), urinary system in 27 cases (16.9%). Sepsis led to hysterectomy in 6 cases (3.8%), stillbirth in 8 cases (5.0%), and neonatal death in 2 cases (1.3%). The main surgical intervention measures were cesarean section (44 cases, accounting for 27.5%), followed by exploratory laparotomy (19 cases, 11.9%). The median length of ICU stay was 5.0 (3.0, 10.0) days, and the median hospital length was 14.0 (10.0, 20.8) days. Intrauterine infection was the primary cause of sepsis happened during ICU, accounting for 50.0% (28/56), of which postpartum hemorrhage accounted for 85.7% (24/28). The proportion of diabetes [28.3% (15/53) vs. 14.0% (15/107)], intrauterine operation [41.5% (22/53) vs. 23.4% (25/107)], intrauterine infection [50.9% (27/53) vs. 34.6% (37/107)] and bacteremia [18.9% (10/53) vs. 2.8% (3/107)] in the MDR group were significantly higher than those in the non-MDR group (all P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.348, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.006-5.480, P = 0.048] and intrauterine operation ( OR = 2.541, 95% CI was 1.137-5.678, P = 0.023) were independent risk factors for MDR bacterial infection in obstetrics with sepsis. Conclusions:Intrauterine infection is the common cause of maternal sepsis in ICU, and postpartum hemorrhage is the common cause of secondary intrauterine infection in ICU. MDR bacteria can lead to serious clinical outcomes. Diabetes and intrauterine operation are independent risk factors for MDR bacteria' infection.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of the total bakkenolides from P.tricholobus on improving hypoxia tolerance in mice. Methods Mice normobaric pressure hypoxia model and oxygen glucose deprivation model in PC12 cells were established, and the effects of PTB on survival time, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, brain and heart superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities, brain tissue pathological changes and cell survival were observed. Results The total bakkenolides from P.tricholobus had prolonged the survival time of mice in confined spaces, increased the activity of SOD and GSH, reduced the production of lipid peroxidation, decreased the degree of anaerobic glycolysis, protected the structure and function of neural cells, and improved the survival rate of OGD-treated cells. Conclusion The total bakkenolides from P.tricholobus could promote the hypoxia tolerance in mice which might be related to scavenging oxygen free radicals, inhibiting lipid peroxidation reaction and protecting the structures and functions of nerve cells.

Aiming at the current situation of high cost, huge volume, complex operation and difficulty in real application of pulse analyzer, this study designs and implements a portable pulse detection system based on IoT. The design utilizes Raspberry Pi 3B+, STM32 series MCU and cloud server to collect, store, display and recognize pulse signals at CUN, GUAN and CHI. The system is small in size and low in cost, which can be connected with cloud server through network to make full use of resources. The experimental results show that the recognition accuracy of the main feature points of the pulse signal by the portable pulse analyzer is higher than 97%, which has a broad prospect of development and application.
Computers ; Heart Rate

Objective:To understand the vancomycin dose, therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM) situation and therapeutic effect of children after liver transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the data of 98 children who received intravenous vancomycin treatment after liver transplantation were conducted in the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2017 to June 2019, including demographic data, vancomycin dose, serum trough concentration, drug-related adverse reactions and clinical outcome data.Results:A total of 98 children received intravenous vancomycin treatment and at least one steady-state TDM blood sample was collected.Among them, 53 cases (54.1%) were male, and the median age was 9 months(5 months to 14 years old). The median first daily dose of vancomycin treatment was 50(30-60)mg/(kg·d), and the median duration of treatment was 14(3-54)days.Only 27.5%(27/98)of the children′s initial trough concentration reached the target concentration (10-20 mg/L), while 26 cases(26.5%) did not reach the target after adjusting the treatment.Six children(6.1%)had renal toxicity caused by vancomycin, and two children had skin rash.The effective treatment rate accounted for 51.7%(15/29). The initial trough concentrations of vancomycin in the effective and ineffective groups were(5.92±3.82)mg/L and(10.43±5.37)mg/L, respectively.The difference was statistically significant ( P=0.041). Conclusion:The rate of intravenous vancomycin in children after liver transplantation is low, and the dose needs to be adjusted individually.

Objective:To explore the effect of the care and nursing practice plan based on the timing theory in primary caregivers of infants with infantile spasms.Methods:From July 2019 to June 2020, 80 infants with infantile spasm and 80 primary caregivers in the Department of Neurology of Hunan Children's Hospital were selected as the research object. All infants with infantile spasms were numbered according to the time of admission. The odd-numbered infants were admitted to the First Department of Neurology as the observation group, and the even-numbered children were admitted to the Second Department of Neurology as the control group, with 40 infants and 40 primary caregivers in each group. The control group carried out conventional treatment and nursing, and the observation group implemented a care and nursing practice plan based on the timing theory on the basis of the control group. Before and after the intervention, the Caring Ability Inventory (CAI) , Family Caregiver Task Inventory (FCTI) , Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) , and Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) were used to evaluate the caring ability, caregiving ability, care load of the primary caregivers of the two groups of infants, and the cognition function of the two groups of infants.Results:After the intervention, the total CAI scores of the primary caregivers in the observation group were higher than those before intervention and those in the control group after the intervention, and the total scores of FCTI and CBI were lower than those before intervention and those in the control group after the intervention, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . After the intervention, the developmental quotient (DQ) values of the five energy areas of GDS in the observation group were higher than those before the intervention, and the DQ values of the three energy areas of gross motor, fine motor, and language were higher than those of the control group after the intervention, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The care and nursing practice plan based on the timing theory can improve the caring ability and caregiving ability of the main caregivers of children with infantile spasms, reduce the care load, and improve the cognitive function of the children.