OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and clinical significance of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1), Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines in multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: A total of 76 MM patients treated in the Tengzhou Central People's Hospital from May 2021 to May 2023 were collected as MM group, and 48 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination during the same period were included as control group. The expression of PD-1 on the surface of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and the levels of serum Th1 cytokines ［interleukin (IL) -2, interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)］, Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) and Th17 cytokines (IL-17) were detected in the two groups. Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship between PD-1, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines and clinical stage and immune typing of MM patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the related factors affecting the efficacy of chemotherapy in MM patients, and the factors were tested for multicollinearity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the predictive value of PD-1, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines in chemotherapy efficacy of MM patients. RESULTS: The levels of CD4⁺T PD-1, CD8⁺T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in the MM group were higher than those in the control group, while the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were lower (all P <0.001). The levels of CD4⁺T PD-1, CD8⁺T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in R-ISS stage III patients were higher than those in stage II and I patients, and the levels in stage II patients were higher than those in stage I patients (all P <0.05). The IL-2 level in R-ISS stage III patients was lower than that in stage II and I patients, and IL-2 level in R-ISS stage II patients was lower than that in stage I patients (all P <0.05). The levels of CD4⁺T PD-1, CD8⁺T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in IgG patients were higher than those in IgA, light chain, and non secretory patients, while the level of IL-2 was lower (all P <0.05). Correlation analysis showed that CD4⁺T PD-1, CD8⁺T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 were positively correlated with R-ISS staging in MM patients (r =0.623, 0.635, 0.728, 0.330, 0.742, 0.412), and negatively correlated with immune classification (r =-0.664, -0.756, -0.642, -0.479, -0.613, -0.323). IL-2 was negatively correlated with R-ISS staging in MM patients (r =-0.280), and positively correlated with immune classification (r =0.483). The levels of CD4⁺T PD-1, CD8⁺T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in the non-remission group were higher than those in the remission group, while the level of IL-2 was lower (all P <0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increased CD4⁺T PD-1, CD8⁺T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 were risk factors for the efficacy of chemotherapy in MM patients (OR >1, P <0.05), while the increased IL-2 was a protective factor (OR < 1, P <0.05). The results of multicollinearity test showed that the tolerance of the seven factors included was between 0.714-0.885, and the variance inflation factor was between 1.130-1.400. There was no multicollinearity. The ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve for the combined prediction of chemotherapy efficacy in MM patients by the above 7 factors was 0.942, with specificity of 0.741 and sensitivity of 0.909. CONCLUSION The expression levels of PD-1 on the surface of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and serum Th2 and Th17 cytokines in MM patients are high, while Th1 cytokines are low. PD-1, Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines are related to clinical stage and immune classification of MM patients. The combined detection of these indicators can help predict the chemotherapy efficacy of MM patients.
Humans ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism* ; Multiple Myeloma/blood* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Th17 Cells/metabolism* ; Th1 Cells/metabolism* ; Th2 Cells/metabolism* ; Female ; Male ; Interleukin-10 ; Interferon-gamma ; Middle Aged ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Interleukin-6 ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in the elderly. METHODS: In this study, elderly patients with atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab for at least 16 weeks in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2021 to October 2023 were retrospectively collected. Clinical indicators were compared before, during and after treatment, including pruritus numerical rating score (PNRS), eczema area and severity index (EASI), dermatology life quality index (DLQI) score, and the incidence of adverse events was recorded. The expression of interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peripheral blood were compared before treatment and after 16 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 90 elder patients with atopic dermatitis were included, EASI, PNRS and DLQI scores all showed a gradual downward trend during the treatment period, which was manifested as a rapid decline in the first 4 weeks after starting treatment, and then the decline gradually leveled off. The results of point-to-point comparison showed that EASI, PNRS and DLQI scores in 4 weeks after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.001); In the 16th week after treatment, the scores of the above therapeutic indicators were further reduced, and the difference was statistically significant compared with the 4th week (P < 0.01); The EASI score was significantly lower at each time point than the previous time point, indicating that the patients' skin lesions continued to improve significantly. The overall efficacy of dupliumab was evaluated. After 4 weeks of treatment, 62.89% of patients achieved EASI-50 (EASI score decreased by ≥50%), and 74.4% of patients' DLQI score decreased by ≥4 points. After 16 weeks of treatment, 57.8% of the patients achieved EASI-75, 32.2% achieved EASI-90, and the PNRS and DLQI scores of all the patients decreased by ≥4 points. After 16 weeks of treatment, the expression levels of IL-4 and IL-6 were (31.62±6.23) ng/L and (14.36±2.25) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.001), and the expression level of IFN-γ was (15.37±3.14) ng/L, which was higher than before treatment (P < 0.001).The main adverse reactions were conjunctivitis (2 cases), injection site reaction (3 cases) and multiple bacterial folliculitis of the back (2 cases), which could be alleviated by symptomatic treatment, and no serious adverse reactions occurred. CONCLUSION Dupilumab has shown good efficacy in the treatment of elderly atopic dermatitis, which can effectively improve clinical symptoms such as itching and skin lesions, improve the quality of life of patients, and no serious adverse reactions occurred during treatment, so it is safe and worthy of clinical promotion.
Humans ; Dermatitis, Atopic/blood* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; Interleukin-4/blood* ; Retrospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Interferon-gamma/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of thread-dragging therapy on gangrene of non-ischemic diabetic foot ulcers (NIDFU). METHODS: A total of 136 patients with NIDFU were recruited from the Department of Peripheral Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 21, 2021 and February 1, 2023, and randomized into an intervention group and a control group, with 68 cases in each group. Both groups received basic treatment. The intervention group was treated with thread-dragging therapy, while the control group was treated with debridement combined with routine dressing changes after surgery. Both groups were treated continuously for 2 months. The amputation rates and changes in the ulcer area were compared between the groups. The inflammatory response index including peripheral white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophil percentage (NEUT%), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the ulcer areas in the intervention group were significantly smaller than that of the control group (8.50±3.88 cm² vs. 10.11±4.61 cm², P<0.05). The amputation rates of the two groups were not statistically significant (4.4% vs. 5.9%, P>0.05). Differences of WBCs count, CRP, and ESR before and after therapy in the intervention group were better than the control group (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in changes of NEUT%, PCT, and IL-6 between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Thread-dragging therapy may be effective in the treatment of NIDFU, with the additional advantages of less tissue damage after healing. (Registration No. ChiCTR2100047496).
Humans ; Diabetic Foot/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Gangrene/therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism* ; Amputation, Surgical ; Wound Healing ; Treatment Outcome ; Interleukin-6/blood*

OBJECTIVES: Patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD) have a high incidence of cardiac involvement, which often presents insidiously and can progress rapidly, making it one of the leading causes of death. Multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides a comprehensive quantitative evaluation of myocardial injury and is emerging as a valuable tool for detecting cardiac involvement in CTD. This study aims to investigate the correlations between CMR features and serological biomarkers in CTD patients, assess their potential clinical value, and further explore the impact of pre-CMR immunotherapy intensity on CMR-specific parameters, thereby evaluating the role of CMR in the early diagnosis of CTD-related cardiac involvement. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 72 consecutive CTD patients who underwent CMR at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between September 2019 and March 2024. Clinical data, serological markers, and CMR parameters were collected. Differences in CMR parameters were compared between CTD patients with positive and negative serological markers. Correlations between serological biomarkers and CMR parameters were analyzed, with subgroup analyses performed for different CTD subtypes. Logistic regression (univariate and multivariate) was applied to explore the effects of pre-CMR immunotherapy intensity on CMR parameters, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine cutoff values. RESULTS: In differential analyses, CTD patients with elevated interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 levels exhibited significantly higher myocardial T₂ values compared with those with normal levels (P=0.014, P=0.012). Elevated IL-10 was associated with a higher prevalence of microvascular lesions on CMR (P=0.038). Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and T₂ values (r=0.371, P=0.009). ROC analysis indicated that when the hs-cTnT threshold was 0.01 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting elevated left ventricular T₂ values were 85.71% and 61.11%, respectively [area under the curve (AUC)=0.767, P=0.001]. hs-cTnT and creatine kinase (CK) were also positively correlated with native T₁ values (r=0.371, P=0.009; r=0.364, P=0.032). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) showed a positive correlation with the percentage of the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (r=0.236, P=0.047). Conversely, hs-cTnT correlated negatively with global radial strain (GRS) (r=-0.297, P=0.034), while CK correlated negatively with both GRS and global circumferential strain (GCS) (r=-0.292, P=0.022; r=-0.282, P=0.027). Among patients with elevated hs-cTnT, the cumulative glucocorticoid dose prior to CMR was negatively associated with elevated T₂ values (OR=0.997, P=0.018), and this correlation remained significant after adjusting for duration of steroid use (OR=0.997, P=0.044). ROC analysis showed that when the cumulative glucocorticoid dose did not exceed 613 mg/mL (prednisone equivalent), the sensitivity and specificity for predicting elevated T₂ values were 90.48% and 77.78%, respectively (AUC=0.862, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Several inflammatory biomarkers demonstrate correlations with specific CMR parameters, with hs-cTnT showing the strongest associations across multiple indices. Elevated hs-cTnT suggests a high likelihood of cardiac involvement in CTD patients. Furthermore, pre-CMR immunotherapy intensity significantly influences the specificity of T₂ mapping, indicating its importance in interpreting CMR results. These findings provide critical insights for clinicians in the early recognition, timely intervention, and disease evaluation. Future research should further explore the role of CMR in the assessment of CTD-related cardiac assessment of CTD-related cardiac involvement. Future studies should further explore the role of CMR in evaluating CTD cardiac manifestations and its integration with other clinical data to optimize patient management.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Connective Tissue Diseases/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; ROC Curve ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Troponin T/blood*

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major chronic respiratory condition with high morbidity and mortality, imposing a serious economic and public health burden. The World Health Organization ranks COPD among the top 4 chronic diseases worldwide. Zangsiwei Qingfei Mixture (ZSWQF), a novel Tibetan herbal formulation independently developed by our research team, has shown therapeutic potential for chronic respiratory diseases. This study aims to evaluate the effects of aerosolized ZSWQF on cigarette smoke-induced COPD in mice and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty C57 mice were randomly divided into a Control group, a COPD group, and a ZSWQF group. The Control group received saline aerosol inhalation without cigarette smoke exposure; both the COPD group and the ZSWQF group were exposed to cigarette smoke, with the former receiving saline inhalation and the latter treated with ZSWQF aerosol. White blood cell (WBC) count was performed using a fully automatic blood cell analyzer. Serum, alanine transaminase (ALT), and serum creatinine (SCr), as well as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BALF cell classification was determined using a hematology analyzer. Lung function was assessed with a small animal pulmonary function system, including airway resistance (RI) and cyclic dynamic compliance (CyDN). Lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), and mean linear intercept (MLI) and destruction index (DI) were calculated to evaluate morphological changes. Network pharmacology was applied to identify disease-related and ZSWQF-related targets, followed by intersection and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and enrichment analysis of biological functions and pathways. Primary type II alveolar epithelial cell (AEC II) from SD rats were isolated and divided into a Control group, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, a normal serum group, a water extract of ZSWQF (W-ZSWQF) group, a ZSWQF containing serum group, and a MLN-4760 [angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 inhibitor]. Western blotting was performed to assess protein expression of ACE, p38 [a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)], phospho (p)-p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p-ERK1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B alpha (IκBα), p-IκBα, and p-p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κBp65). RESULTS: WBC counts were significantly higher in the COPD group than in controls (P<0.01) and decreased following ZSWQF treatment (P<0.05). No significant intergroup differences were found in organ weights, ALT, or SCr (all P>0.05). Serum and BALF levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, as well as total BALF cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, were elevated in the COPD group compared with controls and reduced by ZSWQF treatment (P<0.05). COPD mice exhibited increased RI, decreased CyDN, marked alveolar congestion, inflammatory infiltration, thickened septa, and higher MLI and DI values versus controls (P<0.05); ZSWQF treatment significantly reduced MLI and DI (P<0.05). Network pharmacology identified 151 potential therapeutic targets for ZSWQF against COPD, with key nodes including TNF, IL-6, protein kinase B (Akt) 1, albumin (ALB), tumor protein p53 (TP53), non-receptor tyrosine kinase (SRC), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT) 3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and beta-catenin (CTNNB1). Enrichment analysis indicates involvement of cancer-related, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, calcium, and MAPK signaling pathways. Western blotting results showed that compared with the LPS group, AEC II treated with ZSWQF-containing serum exhibited decreased expression of ACE, p-p38/p38, p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, p-JNK/JNK, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-NF-κBp65, while ACE2 expression was upregulated, consistent with the MAPK/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway regulation predicted by network pharmacology. CONCLUSIONS Aerosolized ZSWQF provides protective effects in COPD mice by reducing airway inflammation and remodeling.
Animals ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/etiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Network Pharmacology ; Smoke/adverse effects* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Administration, Inhalation ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Lung/drug effects* ; Interleukin-6/blood*

OBJECTIVES: Keloids are fibrotic skin disorders characterized by excessive collagen deposition and a high recurrence rate, closely associated with inflammatory mediators. However, existing epidemiological studies are limited by confounding factors and reverse causality, making it difficult to establish causation. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between circulating cytokines and keloids using Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS: Significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with circulating cytokines (exposures) and keloids (outcomes) were extracted from genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary datasets. Eligible SNPs were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). Exposure data were derived from a cytokine GWAS including 8 293 Finnish participants, and outcome data from a keloid GWAS based on the UK Biobank. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method served as the primary analytical approach to estimate causal effects, supplemented by weighted median (WME), MR-Egger regression, and other sensitivity analyses. Horizontal pleiotropy was assessed using MR-Egger regression and the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test, while Cochran's Q test evaluated heterogeneity. Leave-one-out analysis was used to verify robustness and consistency. A reverse MR analysis was also conducted, with keloid as the exposure and cytokines as outcomes, to rule out reverse causation. RESULTS: IVW analysis identified significant positive causal associations between two cytokines and keloids-macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) [odds ratio (OR)=2.081, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.219 to 3.552, P=0.007] and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (OR=1.673, 95% CI 1.036 to 2.701, P=0.035). Conversely, stem cell factor (SCF) showed a negative causal relationship with keloids (OR=0.518, 95% CI 0.269 to 0.998, P=0.049). Results from the MR-Egger and weighted median analyses were consistent with IVW findings. No evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was observed (P>0.05). Except for interleukin-6 (P=0.014), no heterogeneity was detected in other cytokines. Leave-one-out analysis further confirmed the robustness of the causal associations. In reverse MR analysis, keloids were causally related only to β-nerve growth factor (beta-NGF) (OR=1.048, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.095, P=0.039), with no heterogeneity or pleiotropy detected in most cytokines (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS MIF and MCP-1 exhibit positive causal associations with keloid formation, while SCF shows a negative causal relationship. These findings provide new evidence for the causal involvement of inflammatory cytokines in keloid pathogenesis and offer potential molecular targets for developing novel keloid therapies.
Humans ; Keloid/blood* ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Cytokines/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Chemokine CCL2/genetics* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors/genetics* ; Male ; Stem Cell Factor/blood* ; Female ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of inflammatory indicator and serum cystatin C (Cys C) for the prognosis of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI). METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted. Patients with SA-AKI admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects. General patient data, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), inflammatory indicator, and serum Cys C levels were collected. The 28-day survival status of the patients was observed. A multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors affecting the poor prognosis of SA-AKI patients. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to evaluate the predictive efficacy of each risk factor for the prognosis of SA-AKI patients. RESULTS: A total of 111 SA-AKI patients were included, with 65 patients (58.6%) in the survival group and 46 patients (41.4%) in the death group. The SOFA score, APACHE II score, interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and serum Cys C levels in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group [SOFA score: 15.00 (14.00, 17.25) vs. 14.00 (11.00, 16.00), APACHE II score: 26.00 (23.75, 28.00) vs. 23.00 (18.50, 28.00), IL-6 (ng/L): 3 731.00±1 573.61 vs. 2 087.93±1 702.88, PCT (μg/L): 78.19±30.35 vs. 43.56±35.37, hs-CRP (mg/L): 266.50 (183.75, 326.75) vs. 210.00 (188.00, 273.00), serum Cys C (mg/L): 2.01±0.61 vs. 1.62±0.50, all P < 0.05]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that SOFA score [odds ratio (OR) = 1.273, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.012-1.600, P = 0.039], IL-6 (OR = 1.000, 95%CI was 1.000-1.001, P = 0.043), PCT (OR = 1.018, 95%CI was 1.002-1.035, P = 0.030), and Cys C (OR = 4.139, 95%CI was 1.727-9.919, P = 0.001) were independent risk factors affecting the 28-day prognosis of SA-AKI patients. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of SOFA score, IL-6, PCT, and Cys C in predicting the 28-day prognosis of SA-AKI patients were 0.682 (95%CI was 0.582-0.782, P = 0.001), 0.753 (95%CI was 0.662-0.843, P < 0.001), 0.765 (95%CI was 0.677-0.854, P < 0.001), and 0.690 (95%CI was 0.583-0.798, P = 0.001), respectively. The combined predictive value of these four indicators for the prognosis of SA-AKI patients were superior to that of any single indicator, with an AUC of 0.847 (95%CI was 0.778-0.916, P < 0.001), a sensitivity of 95.7%, and a specificity of 56.9%. CONCLUSION The combination of SOFA score, IL-6, PCT, and Cys C provides a reliable predictive value for the prognosis of SA-AKI patients.
Humans ; Acute Kidney Injury/mortality* ; APACHE ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cystatin C/blood* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Logistic Models ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Procalcitonin/blood* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sepsis/mortality*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) on vascular endothelium in patients with sepsis. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on adult patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital from December 2022 to December 2023. Patients were randomly divided into conventional treatment group and GAG intervention group. Both groups were treated according to the 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines. The GAG intervention group was additionally treated with GAG (2 mL of sulodexide intramuscular injection once daily for 7 days) on the basis of conventional treatment. Venous blood was collected from patients at 0, 6, 24, 48, 72 hours and 7 days after enrollment to detect serum vascular endothelial glycocalyx [heparan sulfate (HS) and syndecan-1 (SDC-1)], inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6)], and coagulation markers [prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), antithrombin-III (AT-III), fibrinogen (Fib), D-Dimer], and to perform acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) scores. The prognosis of patients (length of hospital stay, ICU and 28-day mortality) was observed. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to evaluate the value of HS in predicting the prognosis of sepsis patients, and the correlation between endothelial glycocalyx degradation products and various clinical indicators was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 50 adult patients with sepsis meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled, with 25 in the conventional treatment group and 25 in the GAG intervention group. In terms of degradation products of endothelial glycocalyx, compared to baseline, both groups showed an increasing trend in HS and SDC-1 levels post-treatment. However, the GAG intervention group exhibited significantly lower HS levels at 72 hours and 7 days, as well as lower SDC-1 levels at 6, 24, 48, 72 hours and 7 days compared to the conventional group. Among the surviving patients, the HS levels at 72 hours and SDC-1 levels at 6 hours of treatment in the GAG intervention group were significantly reduced compared to the conventional treatment group. In terms of severity score, compared with before treatment, the GAG intervention group showed a significant decrease in APACHE II, SOFA, and ISTH scores after 7 days of treatment. The SOFA scores of the GAG intervention group after 48 hours and 7 days of treatment were significantly lower than those of the conventional treatment group. In terms of inflammatory indicators, compared with before treatment, the GAG intervention group showed a significant decrease in IL-6 levels after 48 hours of treatment. With the prolongation of treatment time, the CRP levels of both groups of patients showed a significant downward trend, and at 7 days of treatment, the CRP level in the GAG intervention group was significantly lower than that in the conventional treatment group. In terms of coagulation function, with prolonged treatment time, PT and APTT of both groups of patients showed an increasing trend, while Fib showed a decreasing trend. The GAG intervention group showed a significant prolongation of PT after 72 hours of treatment compared to the conventional treatment group. In terms of prognosis, there were no statistically significant differences in ICU and 28-day mortality rates between the two groups. The GAG intervention group had significantly shorter hospital stays than the conventional treatment group. ROC curve analysis showed that HS, CRP, APTT, IL-6, APACHE II, SOFA, and ISTH scores were predictive factors for the prognosis of sepsis patients (all P < 0.05). Compared to a single indicator, the combined detection of multiple indicators has a higher value in predicting the prognosis of sepsis patients [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.911, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.817-1.000], with a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 91.9%. Correlation analysis showed that HS was significantly negatively correlated with Fib, PT, TNF-α, IL-6, and PCT (r values were -0.338, -0.396, -0.288, -0.319, and -0.340, all P < 0.05), while HS was significantly positively correlated with D-Dimer and CRP (r values were 0.347 and 0.354, both P < 0.05); SDC-1 was significantly negatively correlated with Fib, PT, APTT, TNF-α, IL-6, and ISTH scores (r values were -0.314, -0.294, -0.408, -0.353, -0.289, -0.287, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Early glycocalyx degradation can occur in sepsis patients. GAG have a protective effect on,the vascular endothelium, reducing the severity of sepsis and providing organ protection. HS, CRP, APTT, IL-6, APACHE II score, SOFA score, and ISTH score are independent predictive factors for the prognosis of sepsis patients. The combination of HS and the above indicators can significantly improve the accuracy of prediction.
Humans ; Sepsis/blood* ; Glycocalyx/drug effects* ; Glycosaminoglycans/pharmacology* ; Prospective Studies ; Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism* ; Syndecan-1/blood* ; Male ; Female ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Heparitin Sulfate/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood* ; Procalcitonin/blood*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interaction between α-amylase (α-AMS) and inflammatory response in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and their predictive value for prognosis. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Patients with mechanical ventilation who were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2020 to June 2023 were enrolled, and the patients were divided into VAP group and non-VAP group according to whether VAP occurred. VAP patients were stratified into mild [acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) < 10 scores], moderate (APACHE II were 10-20 scores), and severe (APACHE II > 20 scores) groups based on the APACHE II. All patients were followed up for 28 days. In addition, healthy subjects who underwent health examination in our hospital at the same time were selected as the healthy control group. Baseline data including gender, age, mechanical ventilation mode, mechanical ventilation time, underlying diseases, drug use, and laboratory test indicators were collected. The serum levels of α-AMS, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory factors were analyzed and compared. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between serum α-AMS and inflammatory factors. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of poor prognosis in patients with VAP. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of α-AMS on the poor prognosis of patients with VAP. RESULTS: A total of 100 mechanically ventilated patients were enrolled, including 60 cases in the VAP group and 40 cases in the non-VAP group. Among the patients with VAP, there were 24 cases in the mild group, 20 cases in the moderate group, and 16 cases in the severe group. A total of 44 patients survived at 28 days, while 16 died. Additionally, 100 healthy individuals were included as the healthy control group. Serum levels of α-AMS, IL-6, TNF-α and CRP in the VAP group were significantly higher than those in the non-VAP group and the healthy control group, while the levels of α-AMS, IL-6, TNF-α and CRP in the non-VAP group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group. There were statistically significant differences in serum α-AMS, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP levels and APACHE II scores among VAP patients with different disease severities, and the levels of the above indicators in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the moderate group and mild group, and the levels of the above indicators in the moderate VAP group were significantly higher than those in the mild group. Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum α-AMS was positively correlated with IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, and APACHE II scores (r values were 0.404, 0.392 and 0.493, 0.493, all P < 0.01). Univariate analysis showed that age, mechanical ventilation, diabetes mellitus, ventilation time, ventilation position, prophylactic use of antimicrobial drugs, and serum α-AMS, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, and APACHE II scores were correlated with the prognosis of VAP patients (all P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.340, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.119-1.605], tracheostomy (OR = 3.050, 95%CI was 1.016-9.157), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.379, 95%CI was 1.102-1.724), and ventilation time ≥ 7 days (OR = 2.557, 95%CI was 1.163-5.623) and serum α-AMS (OR = 1.428, 95%CI was 1.098-1.856), IL-6 (OR = 1.543, 95%CI was 1.005-2.371), TNF-α (OR = 2.228, 95%CI was 1.107-4.485), CRP (OR = 1.252, 95%CI was 1.131-1.387), APACHE II scores (OR = 1.422, 95%CI was 1.033-1.957) were independent influencing factors for the 28-day prognosis of patients with VAP (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that serum α-AMS, IL-6, TNF-α and CRP exhibited significant predictive performance on the prognosis of patients with VAP. The best cut-off value for α-AMS had a sensitivity of 81.3%, specificity of 75.0%, and an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.791, which was significantly higher than those of inflammatory markers IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP (P < 0.05). The combined parameter diagnostic performance was significantly better than those of individual parameters (P < 0.05), with the highest diagnostic performance when combined, corresponding to an AUC of 0.868 (95%CI was 0.798-0.938), sensitivity of 87.5%, and specificity of 79.5%. CONCLUSIONS VAP in mechanically ventilated patients can lead to an increase in the levels of peripheral blood α-AMS and inflammatory factors, and there is an interaction between α-AMS and inflammatory markers in severe VAP patients. These markers are closely related to the severity of the disease and prognosis and have significant implications for predicting patient outcomes.
Humans ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; alpha-Amylases/blood* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Male ; Female ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism* ; APACHE ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Intensive Care Units ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood* ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and its prognosis in patients with severe craniocerebral injury. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted. Patients with severe craniocerebral injury admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xingtai Medical College from January 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled as the study subjects. Patients were divided into VAP group and non-VAP group based on the occurrence of VAP. VAP patients were further stratified into low-risk group [sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score 0-5], moderate-risk group (SOFA score 6-8), and high-risk group (SOFA score ≥ 9). General data, serological indicators [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)], and 28-day prognosis (with mortality as the endpoint event) were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for VAP and 28-day mortality. Linear regression was applied to analyze the correlations between risk factors and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients with severe craniocerebral injury were enrolled, including 49 in the VAP group and 91 in the non-VAP group. The primary cause of injury was traffic accidents, followed by falls and heavy object impacts. Among VAP patients, 38 survived and 11 died within 28 days; 112 were classified as low-risk, 25 as moderate-risk, and 12 as high-risk. Significant differences were observed in age, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, serum albumin levels, and frequency of sputum suction among different subgroups. Serologically, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and STAT3 mRNA expression levels in the VAP group were significantly higher than those in the non-VAP group. Deceased VAP patients exhibited higher IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and STAT3 mRNA levels compared to survivors. These biomarkers progressively increased from low-risk to high-risk subgroups. Multivariate Logistic regression identified age [odds ratio (OR) were 0.328 and 0.318], BMI (OR were 0.340 and 0.268), hypertension (OR were 0.275 and 0.245), diabetes (OR were 0.319 and 0.307), hyperlipidemia (OR were 0.228 and 0.235), smoking history (OR were 0.255 and 0.240), length of hospital stay (OR were 0.306 and 0.230), duration of mechanical ventilation (OR were 0.247 and 0.219), frequency of sputum suction (OR were 0.325 and 0.228), IL-1β (OR were 0.231 and 0.259), TNF-α (OR were 0.308 and 0.235), IL-6 (OR were 0.298 and 0.277), and STAT3 (OR were 0.259 and 0.265) as independent risk factors for both VAP occurrence and 28-day mortality (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that serum albumin levels were negatively correlated with VAP occurrence and mortality (all P < 0.01), while other factors showed positive correlations (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Age, BMI, length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, frequency of sputum suction, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking history, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway activation are significantly associated with VAP development and poor prognosis in patients with severe craniocerebral injury, providing a scientific basis for targeted clinical interventions.
Humans ; Risk Factors ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Craniocerebral Trauma/complications* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Male ; Female ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/blood* ; Interleukin-1beta/blood* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Logistic Models