Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels and poor neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest (CA) patients supported by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).Methods:This retrospective analysis was conducted on adult CA patients treated with VA-ECMO at Hangzhou First People's Hospital Affiliated to Westlake University School of Medicine, and Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from December 2018 to February 2024. General clinical data and serial serum NSE levels at 24, 48, and 72 h after ECMO initiation were collected. Based on the Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) at discharge, patients were divided into poor neurological outcome group (CPC 3-5) and good neurological outcome group (CPC 1-2). Differences in serum NSE levels between the two groups were compared. The accuracy of serum NSE levels at three time points in predicting poor neurological outcomes in CA patients was assessed via receiver operating characteristic curves, and the optimal cut-off values were determined by the Youden index. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between serum NSE levels and poor neurological outcomes. Subgroup analysis was based on age, sex, location of CA, and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).Results:A total of 120 eligible CA patients were included, with 88 patients (73.3%) having poor neurological outcomes at discharge. Serum NSE levels at 24, 48, and 72 h after ECMO initiation were higher in the poor outcome group compared to the good outcome group (all P<0.05). The serum NSE level at 72 h had the highest accuracy in predicting poor outcomes, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85-0.96), and a cut-off value of 42.0 μg/L. The AUCs for 24 and 48 h were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69-0.86) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80-0.94), with cut-off values of 70.6 μg/L and 64.5 μg/L, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the serum NSE level at 72 h was associated with poor outcomes ( P<0.05), and an NSE level >42.0 μg/L was an independent risk factor for poor outcomes ( OR=20.29, 95% CI: 2.90-92.15). Subgroup analysis showed that serum NSE level at 72 h was an independent risk factor for poor neurological outcomes in CA patients aged<60 years old, male or female, out-of-hospital or in-hospital CA, and whether to perform ECPR (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Elevated serum NSE levels at 72 h after VA-ECMO initiation are associated with poor neurological outcomes in CA patients, with the cut-off value of 42.0 μg/L.

Objective:Postoperative neurosurgical bacterial meningitis (PNBM) has been frequently reported, but fewer studies have focused on the contemporaneous comparison of clinical features of PNBM caused by different pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to simultaneously investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PNBM by Gram-positive bacterial(GPB) or Gram-negative bacterial (GNB) infection.Methods:Inpatients with PNBM at our institution were recruited between February 2013 and October 2023. These PNBM patients were categorized into two groups: GPB infection and GNB infection. Data from electronic medical records were collected and analyzed.Results:A total of 401 patients with PNBM were finally included, with 78 (19.5%) having GPB infections and 323 (80.5%)having GNB infection. The average age of the patients was 56 years, and 55.1% were male. Compared to the GPB group, PNBM patients with GNB infection had significantly higher SOFA and APACHE Ⅱ scores, higher proportions of hyperthermia (body temperature>39°C) and altered consciousness, increased ratios of postoperative cerebral hemorrhage or intracranial aneurysm, as well as greater needs for ICU treatment and mechanical ventilation (all P <0.05). The proportions of inflammatory indicators such as blood CRP and PCT≥2 ng/mL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL) were significantly higher in the GNB group (all P<0.05). In contrast, The concentrations of hemoglobin and albumin were substantially lower in this group(both P <0.05). Additionally, the cerebrospinal fluid in the GNB group showed significantly higher nucleated cell counts, protein concentration, and adenosine deaminase concentration, and but lower glucose level (all P <0.001). A total of 426 bacterial strains were isolated, with 343 strains (80.5%) being GNB and 83 strains (19.5%) being GPB. Among these, 25 (6.2%) patients had 2 or more gram-positive or gram-negative bacterial infections. The proportions of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and intrathecal treatment were higher in the GNB group (80.5% vs. 68.7%, 36.5% vs. 2.6%, respectively), while the ratio of correct empirical antibiotic treatment was significantly lower (30.3% vs. 80.0%) (all P <0.05). In terms of outcomes, the length of stay in the ICU was significantly longer in the GNB group [(median (interquartile range, IQR): 11.5 (5.25,22.75) vs. 17.0 (9.0,30.0), P <0.01)], and the rate of septic shock (9.3% vs. 2.6%), poor prognosis (GCS≤8 at discharge) (65.9% vs. 32.1%), and 28-day hospital mortality rate (34.4% vs. 10.3%) were significantly higher compared to the GPB group (all P <0.05). However, there were no differences in 7-day hospital mortality and total hospitalization time. Conclusions:Gram-negative bacterial infections are more prevalent than Gram-positive bacterial infections in PNBM, and they are also associated with more severe symptoms, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid findings, higher severity, and more treatment difficulty. Despite comparable short-term (7-day) mortality rates between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections, Gram-negative bacterial infections result in higher medium- to long-term (14-day and 28-day) case-fatality rates among patients with post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis and are associated with overall poorer prognosis, warranting greater attention from clinicians.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features, risk factors and prognosis of IPA combined with lung infection, aiming to further improve clinicians' understanding and diagnosis and treatment of it.Methods:Patients with IPA admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2013 to October 2021 were retrospectively enrolled, and their clinical data was collected from the electronic medical record, including demographic information, clinical characteristics, biochemical indicators, auxiliary examination, microbial data and prognostic indicators. Patients were divided into two groups of IPA with pulmonary infection and IPA alone, and the clinical features, risk factors and prognosis of IPA patients with pulmonary infection were compared and analyzed in comparison with IPA patients alone.Results:A total of 156 IPA patients were finally recruited, with an average age of (67.12±12.89) years old and a main male proportion of 69.20%. Among them, there were 86 cases (55.13%) with IPA with pulmonary infection and 70 cases (44.87%) with IPA alone. Half of the IPA patients with pulmonary infection were mixed with one pathogen. The main pathogen of mixed infection was bacteria (82.72%), whereas acinetobacter baumannii accounted for the most common pathogen(25.93%, 42/162). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that mechanical ventilation ( OR 4.89, 95% CI 2.23-10.70) and prior neutropenia ( OR 6.41, 95% CI 1.33-30.93) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of IPA with pulmonary infection. Compared with IPA alone, IPA patients with pulmonary infection were more likely to develop septic shock(69.80% vs. 32.90%, P <0.05), and have longer lengthes of hospital stay [16.00(8.00,36.50) vs.13.50 (7.00,20.50)] and ICU stay[11.50(6.00,31.25) vs.8.50(1.75,11.00)], and mechanical ventilation days [12.00(6.75, 25.25) vs.8.00(2.00,10.00)], as well as a higher 28-day mortality (55.80% vs.35.70%) and in-hospital mortality (64.00% vs. 35.70%). Conclusions:IPA patients with pulmonary infection accounts for more than half of IPA patients. The main respiratory etiology of IPA with pulmonary infection is acinetobacter baumannii. The independent risk factors of IPA patients with pulmonary infection are mechanical ventilation and neutropenia. The prognosis of IPA patients with pulmonary infection is worse than patients with IPA alone, which is worthy for the attention of physicians.

Objective To analyze the correlation of serum creatinine(Cr)/cystatin C(Cys C)ratio and monocyte/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C)ratio with hypertension complicated with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods A total of 200 hypertension patients with concomi-tant CHD admitted in our hospital from August 2021 to August 2023 were recruited and served as the observation group,and another 100 patients with hypertension during the same period served as the control group.Based on the number of vascular lesions,the patients in the observation group were divided into single-,double-and multi-vessel disease subgroups(104,75 and 21 cases).According to their Gensini score(＜30,30-90,＞90),they were also assigned into mild,moderate and severe stenosis subgroup(98,78 and 24 cases).After the fasting venous blood sam-ples were harvested from all subjects,the serum levels of Cys C,Cr and HDL-C were measured,and monocyte count was calculated,and Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation of serum Cr/Cys C ratio and monocyte/HDL-C ratio with number and severity of cor-onary artery lesions.Results The observation group had significantly higher Cr and Cys C levels,monocyte count and monocyte/HDL-C ratio,while lower Cr/Cys C ratio and HDL-C level than the control group(P＜0.01).The conditions of above indicators were more severe in the multi-vessel lesion subgroup than the single-and double-vessel lesion subgroups(P＜0.05).Similar re-sults were observed in the severe stenosis subgroup when compared with the mild and moderate stenosis subgroups(P＜0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that the Cr/Cys C ratio was negatively correlated with the number of coronary artery lesions and the severity of coronary ar-tery stenosis(r=-0.743,P＜0.05;r=-0.673,P＜0.05),and the monocyte/HDL-C ratio was positively correlated with the number of coronary artery lesions and the degree of coronary artery stenosis(r=0.692,P＜0.05;r=0.611,P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum Cr/Cys C ratio and monocyte/HDL-C ratio are closely associated with hypertension combined with concomitant CHD.And the Cr/Cys C ratio is negatively correlated with the severity of the disease,and the monocyte/HDL-C ratio is positively correlated with the severity of the disease in the patients.

Objective To investigate the use of glucocorticoids in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hospitals in Zhejiang Province and to provide a reference for guiding clinical use of SCAP patients. Methods To draw up a questionnaire with reference to the Chinese and international guidelines, and to investigate the knowledge of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) related guidelines and the use of glucocorticoids in patients with SCAP by doctors in hospitals above secondary level in Zhejiang Province by Email. Then the valid questionnaire was analyzed. Results In June 2016, 340 questionnaires were distributed, and all were returned after 2 months, with 333 of valid; 333 doctors from 45 ICUs in Zhejiang Province participated in the survey. ① The knowledge of CAP-related guidelines in ICU doctors: 79.58% (265/333) of the doctors had read the CAP guidelines, and those who work over 10 years had a higher reading rate than those with 1-5 years and 6-10 years [93.07% (94/101) vs. 74.00% (111/150), 73.17% (60/82), both P < 0.05]. Post-graduates and above had higher reading rates than undergraduates [85.35% (134/157) vs. 74.43% (131/176), P < 0.05]. Senior doctors had higher reading rates than the junior and intermediate doctors [93.07% (94/101) vs. 71.43% (80/112), 75.83% (91/120), both P < 0.05]. The rate of understanding the clinical application of glucocorticoids was 13.81% (46/333). The doctors who work over 10 years and the seniorshad a relatively high awareness rate, 23.76% (24/101) and 20.79% (21/101) respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the awareness rate between doctors with different degrees and different levels of hospitals. ② For the use of glucocorticoids in different causes of pneumonia, 44.74% (149/333) of doctors routinely used glucocorticoids in severe viral pneumonia. The proportion of glucocorticoids used in severe bacterial pneumonia, severe fungal pneumonia, severe pneumocystis pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe pneumonia were 22.82% (76/333), 9.31% (31/333), 22.52% (75/333) and 18.32% (61/333), respectively. ③ The way of glucocorticoid usage: 79.58% (265/333) of doctors chose methylprednisolone, 4.20% (14/333) chose hydrocortisone, 1.20% (4/333) chose dexamethasone, and 15.02% (50/333) had not use glucocorticoids. The proportion of physicians who chose to use glucocorticoids within 24 hours of admission and 1-7 days after admission were 52.65% (149/283) and 47.35% (134/283), respectively. Glucocorticoids were used more in doctors with lower academic qualifications and hospitals within 24 hours. The undergraduate degree was 61.39% (97/158), and the second-grade class hospital was 67.50% (27/40). Among the doctors who chose methylprednisolone, 60.75% (161/265) prescribe the dose ≤80 mg/d;79.15% (224/283) chose the course of ≤7 days. The number of years of work, education, professional title and hospital grade had no significant effect on the choice of methylprednisolone and the course of treatment. Conclusions ICU doctors of 45 hospitals in Zhejiang Province have a high degree of heterogeneity in the understanding of the use and guidelines of glucocorticoids in SCAP. It is necessary to strengthen the ICU doctor's study of clinical guidelines at home and abroad and to develop a glucocorticoid use plan according to the specific conditions of patients, so that SCAP patients can benefit more.

Objective:To assess the value of spiral CT in diagnosis and treatment of chronic otitis media.Methods:The spiral CT findings of 74 cases including 93 ears proved by operation and pathology were studied.Results:The lesions such as the disruption of the ossicular chain showed in spiral CT or three-dimensional image were in accord with those seen in the operation,the accuracy was 95.7%,the disruption of the ossicular chain and bony erosion in the tympanic cavity and antrum were severe in the typeⅢ chronic otitis media.Conclusion:Spiral CT is helpful to diagnose and definite the chronic otitis media,three-dimensional image can provide valuable information for surgery.