Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of plasma the soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST, renamed as presepsin) in early diagnosis of sepsis patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods A total of 110 patients with AKI in intensive care unit(ICU)of Wuhu Hospital Affiliated to East China Normal University from January 2021 to December 2022 were prospectively selected. The patients were divided into AKI stage 1 group (n=34), AKI stage 2 group (n=36) and AKI stage 3 group (n=40) according to the staging criteria defined byKidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) in 2012, and 53 non-AKI patients in the same period were selected as the control group. The patients were further divided into non-sepsis group and sepsis group according to whether combined sepsis or not. Plasma Presepsin levels were recorded in all the patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of Presepsin inearly sepsis in AKI patients, and the optimal cutoff value was found using Jorden index. Results The level of Presepsin in the sepsis group was higher than that in non-sepsis group (P < 0.05). In non-sepsis patients, the level of Presepsin increased gradually with the aggravation of renal function injury (P < 0.05). The level of Presepsin in stage 3 AKI group was higher than that in non-AKI group (P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis results showed that thearea under the curve (AUC) of Presepsin level for diagnosing sepsis in stage 1 AKI group, stage 2 AKI group and stage 3 AKI group was smaller than that in non-AKI group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Presepsin can be used as a marker for early diagnosis of sepsis in AKI patients, but different thresholds should be used according to the severity of renal impairment.

As aging societies enter worldwide, the elderly population is increasing year by year, and visual and cognitive impairment have thus become important global issues, imposing a significant socioeconomic burden worldwide. In recent years, a large number of studies have shown a strong association between visual and cognitive impairments, with patients with visual impairment being more likely to experience cognitive decline, especially dementia. In addition, there is also evidence that improving visual acuity has a significant effect on cognitive function, and that by improving visual function, the development of cognitive decline and dementia can be delayed, which provides new ideas for public health efforts to delay and mitigate cognitive decline and dementia by improving visual function. The possible mechanisms underlying the association between visual and cognitive impairment remain unclear and need to be studied further.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of lateral prone position ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: A prospective control study was conducted. A total of 75 patients with moderate to severe ARDS admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Jingxian Hospital in Anhui province from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as the research objects. According to the envelope method, the patients were divided into the lateral prone position ventilation group (38 cases) and the traditional prone position ventilation (PPV) group (37 cases), using lateral prone position ventilation and traditional PPV, respectively. The mechanical ventilation parameters were set according to the ARDS treatment guidelines and lung protective ventilation requirements in both groups, and the time of prone position for the first 3 times was not less than 16 hours per day. General data of patients were recorded, including heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), airway resistance and lung static compliance (Cst) before prone position (T0), 1 hour (T1), 4 hours (T2), 8 hours (T3), and before the end of prone position (T4), oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂) before the first prone position (t0) and 12 hours (t1), 24 hours (t2), 48 hours (t3), and 72 hours (t4) after the intensive care unit (ICU) admission, as well as the incidence of pressure injury (PI) and vomiting, tracheal intubation time, and mechanical ventilation time. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the effects of different prone positions on patients before and after the prone position. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), underlying diseases, HR, MAP, pH value, PaO₂/FiO₂, blood lactic acid (Lac), arterial blood pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) and other general information between the two groups. The HR (intergroup effect: F = 0.845, P = 0.361; time effect: F = 1.373, P = 0.247; interaction: F = 0.245, P = 0.894), MAP (intergroup effect: F = 1.519, P = 0.222; time effect: F = 0.169, P = 0.954; interaction: F = 0.449, P = 0.773) and airway resistance (intergroup effect: F = 0.252, P = 0.617; time effect: F = 0.578, P = 0.679; interaction: F = 1.467, P = 0.212) of T0-T4 between two groups showed no significant difference. The Cst of T0-T4 between the two groups showed no significant difference in the intergroup effect (F = 0.311, P = 0.579) and the interaction (F = 0.364, P = 0.834), while the difference in the time effect was statistically significant (F = 120.546, P < 0.001). The PaO₂/FiO₂ of t0-t4 between the two groups showed no significant difference in the intergroup effect (F = 0.104, P = 0.748) and the interaction (F = 0.147, P = 0.964), while the difference in the time effect was statistically significant (F = 17.638, P < 0.001). The group factors and time factors were tested separately, and there were no significant differences in the HR, MAP, airway resistance, Cst, PaO₂/FiO₂ between the two groups at different time points (all P > 0.05). The Cst at T1-T4 and PaO₂/FiO₂ at t1-t4 in the two groups were significantly higher than those at T0/t0 (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the tracheal intubation time [days: 6.75 (5.78, 8.33) vs. 7.00 (6.30, 8.45)] and mechanical ventilation time [days: 8.30 (6.70, 9.20) vs. 7.40 (6.80, 8.75)] between the lateral prone position ventilation group and the traditional PPV group (both P > 0.05). However, the incidences of PI [7.9% (3/38) vs. 27.0% (10/37)] and vomiting [10.5% (4/38) vs. 29.7% (11/37)] in the lateral prone position ventilation group were significantly lower than those in the traditional PPV group (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both lateral prone position ventilation and traditional PPV can improve Cst and oxygenation in patients with moderate to severe ARDS. The two types of prone position have little influence on HR, MAP and airway resistance of patients, and there is no difference in the influence on tracheal intubation time and mechanical ventilation time of patients. However, the lateral prone position ventilation mode can reduce the incidence of PI and vomiting, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
Humans ; Respiration, Artificial ; Prone Position ; Prospective Studies ; Lung ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/therapy* ; Respiration ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of hypothermia in patients with acute renal injury (AKI) receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and to compare the effects of different heating methods on the incidence of hypothermia in patients with CRRT. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. AKI patients with CRRT who were admitted to the department of critical care medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital) from January 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled as the study subjects. Patients were divided into dialysate heating group and reverse-piped heating group according to randomized numerical table method. Both groups were provided with reasonable treatment mode and parameter setting by the bedside physician according to the patient's specific condition. The dialysis heating group used the AsahiKASEI dialysis machine heating panel to heat the dialysis solution at 37 centigrade. The reverse-piped heating group used the Barkey blood heater from the Prismaflex CRRT system to heat the dialysis solution, and the heating line temperature was set at 41 centigrade. The patient's temperature was then continuously monitored. Hypothermia was defined as a temperature lower than 36 centigrade or a drop of more than 1 centigrade from the basal body temperature. The incidence and duration of hypothermia were compared between the two groups. Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of hypothermia during CRRT in AKI patients. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients with AKI treated with CRRT were eventually enrolled, including 37 in the dialysate heating group and 36 in the reverse-piped heating group. The incidence of hypothermia in the dialysis heating group was significantly lower than that in the reverse-piped heating group [40.5% (15/37) vs. 69.4% (25/36), P < 0.05], and the hypothermia occurred later than that in the reverse-piped heating group (hours: 5.40±0.92 vs. 3.35±0.92, P < 0.01). Patients were divided into hypothermic and non-hypothermic groups based on the presence or absence of hypothermia, and a univariate analysis of all indicators showed a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in hypothermic patients (n = 40) compared with the non-hypothermic patients [n = 33; mmHg (1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa): 77.45±12.47 vs. 94.42±14.51, P < 0.01], shock, administration of medium and high doses of vasoactive drug (medium dose: 0.2-0.5 μg×kg^-1×min^-1, high dose: > 0.5 μg×kg^-1×min^-1) and CRRT treatment were significantly increased [shock: 45.0% (18/40) vs. 6.1% (2/33), administration of medium and high doses of vasoactive drugs: 82.5% (33/40) vs. 18.2% (6/33), administration of CRRT (mL×kg^-1×h^-1): 51.50±9.38 vs. 38.42±10.97, all P < 0.05], there were also significant differences in CRRT heating types between the two groups [in the hypothermia group, the main heating method was the infusion line heating, which was 62.5% (25/40), while in the non-hypothermia group, the main heating method was the dialysate heating, which was 66.7% (22/33), P < 0.05]. Including the above indicators in a binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis, it was found that shock [odds ratio (OR) = 17.633, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.487-209.064], mid-to-high-dose vasoactive drug (OR = 24.320, 95%CI was 3.076-192.294), CRRT heating type (reverse-piped heating; OR = 13.316, 95%CI was 1.485-119.377), and CRRT treatment dose (OR = 1.130, 95%CI was 1.020-1.251) were risk factors for hypothermia during CRRT in AKI patients (all P < 0.05), while MAP was protective factor (OR = 0.922, 95%CI was 0.861-0.987, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AKI patients have a high incidence of hypothermia during CRRT treatment, and the incidence of hypothermia can be effectively reduced by heating CRRT treatment fluids. Shock, use of medium and high doses of vasoactive drug, CRRT heating type, and CRRT treatment dose are risk factors for hypothermia during CRRT in AKI patients, with MAP is a protective factor.
Humans ; Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy ; Incidence ; Prospective Studies ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Dialysis Solutions

Objective: To investigate the incidence and treatment of perioperative anemia in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms in Hubei Province. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 7 474 patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms in 62 hospitals in 15 cities (state) of Hubei Province in 2019 were collected in the form of network database. There were 4 749 males and 2 725 females. The median age of the patients was 62 years (range: 17 to 96 years). The hemoglobin value of the first time in hospital and the first day after operation was used as the criterion of preoperative anemia and postoperative anemia. Anemia was defined as male hemoglobin <120 g/L and female hemoglobin <110.0 g/L, mild anemia as 90 to normal, moderate anemia as 60 to <90 g/L, severe anemia as <60 g/L. The t test and χ² test were used for inter-group comparison. Results: The overall incidence of preoperative anemia was 38.60%(2 885/7 474), and the incidences of mild anemia, moderate anemia and severe anemia were 25.09%(1 875/7 474), 11.37%(850/7 474) and 2.14%(160/7 474), respectively. The overall incidence of postoperative anemia was 61.40%(4 589/7 474). The incidence of mild anemia, moderate anemia and severe anemia were 48.73%(3 642/7 474), 12.20%(912/7 474) and 0.47%(35/7 474), respectively. The proportion of preoperative anemia patients receiving treatment was 26.86% (775/2 885), and the proportion of postoperative anemia patients receiving treatment was 14.93% (685/4 589). The proportions of preoperative anemia patients in grade ⅢA, grade ⅢB, and grade ⅡA hospitals receiving treatment were 26.12% (649/2 485), 32.32% (85/263), and 29.93% (41/137), and the proportions of postoperative anemia patients receiving treatment were 14.61% (592/4 052), 22.05% (73/331), and 9.71% (20/206). The proportion of intraoperative blood transfusion (16.74% (483/2 885) vs. 3.05% (140/4 589), χ²=434.555, P<0.01) and the incidence of postoperative complications (17.78% (513/2 885) vs. 14.08% (646/4 589), χ²=18.553, P<0.01) in the preoperative anemia group were higher than those in the non-anemia group, and the postoperative hospital stay in the preoperative anemia group was longer than that in the non-anemia group ((14.1±7.3) days vs. (13.3±6.2) days, t=5.202, P<0.01). Conclusions: The incidence of perioperative anemia in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms is high. Preoperative anemia can increase the demand for intraoperative blood transfusion and affect the short-term prognosis of patients. At present, the concept of standardized treatment of perioperative anemia among gastrointestinal surgeons in Hubei Province needs to be improved.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anemia/epidemiology* ; Blood Transfusion ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the effects of different connection schemes of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on arterial pressure (PA), venous pressure (PV), and transmembrane pressure (TMP), and to provide a theoretical basis for choosing a suitable connection scheme.Methods:① In vitro study: the different connection schemes of CRRT and ECMO were simulated and divided into 6 schemes according to the connection between CRRT and ECMO circuits at different positions. Scheme A: connected to the front and back points of the oxygenator; scheme B: connected to the points behind and in front of the oxygenator; scheme C: connected to the points in front of the oxygenator and in front of the centrifugal pump; scheme D: connected to the points behind the oxygenator and in front of the centrifugal pump; scheme E: connected to the points in front of the oxygenator and the return catheter; scheme F: connected to the points after the oxygenator and the return catheter. Each set of ECMO circuits was measured 5 times under each connection scheme and different flow rates (2, 3, 4, 5, 5.5 L/min). Six ECMO circuits for a total of 30 measurements, and the PA, PV, and TMP of the 6 schemes were compared. ② In vivo study: the patients who were treated with ECMO combined with CRRT in the department of critical care medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College from August 2017 to August 2021 changed the connection scheme due to high PA or PV (from scheme A or B to scheme E or F) were retrospectively analyzed. The changes of PA and PV before and after changing the scheme were compared. Results:① In vitro study results: there was no significant difference in PA between schemes A and B, C and D, E and F under different ECMO blood flow (2-5.5 L/min). The PA of schemes C and D was the lowest, followed by schemes E and F. PV of scheme B was higher than that of scheme A under different ECMO blood flow (2-5.5 L/min). There was no significant difference in PV between schemes C and D, E and F under high ECMO blood flow (3-5.5 L/min), and the absolute value of PV was lowest in schemes E and F. Compared with schemes A and B [partial PA > 300 mmHg (1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa) at high flow rate], C and D (partial PV > 350 mmHg at high flow rate), schemes E and F were more reasonable connection schemes. TMP was negative in schemes C and D at ECMO blood flow of 5 L/min and 5.5 L/min (mmHg; 5 L/min: scheme C was -29.14±11.42, scheme D was -42.45±15.70; 5.5 L/min: scheme C was -35.75±13.21, scheme D was -41.58±15.42), which indicated the presence of dialysate reverse filtration. Most of the differences in TMP among schemes A, B, E, and F under different ECMO blood flow (2-5.5 L/min) were statistically significant, and the absolute value of mean fluctuation was 9.89-49.55 mmHg, all within the normal range. ② In vivo study results: a total of 10 patients who changed the connection scheme (from scheme A or B to E or F) due to high PA or PV were enrolled, including 8 males and 2 females; 7 cases of venous-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) and 3 cases of venous-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO), all used continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) mode. After changing the scheme, both PA and PV decreased significantly as compared with those before changing [PA (mmHg): 244.00±22.58 vs. 257.20±21.92, PV (mmHg): 257.20±18.43 vs. 326.40±15.41, both P < 0.01], and PV decreased more significantly than PA [difference (mmHg): 69.20±6.55 vs. 13.20±5.45, P < 0.01]. Conclusion:For patients treated with ECMO in combination with CRRT, the scheme of connecting the access line of CRRT to the pre-oxygenator or post-oxygenator and connecting the return line to the point of the return catheter can significantly reduce PA and PV and maintains normal CRRT operation even running high-flow ECMO.

Objective:To summarize the treatment process of rapid decrease in blood flow due to centrifugal pump dysfunction during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and its related thinking.Methods:On September 25, 2021, the ECMO treatment of a 14-year-old boy with severe mycoplasma pneumonia, severe viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) admitted to the department of critical care medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College was analyzed.Results:Oxygenation of the child was difficult to maintain under invasive mechanical ventilation, and lung consolidation progressed seriously. After evaluation, venous-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) was implemented, then oxygenation was improved. In the 120th hour after VV-ECMO establishment, the blood flow sudden decreased, the speed was 3 822 r/min, while the flow was only 0.2 L/min, more over there was no change in the flow when the speed was increased. Before that, the ECMO speed was 3 530 r/min, and the flow was up to 3.4 L/min and stable. After rapid screening, it was determined that the centrifugal pump was dysfunction. ECMO was successfully replaced and the flow was satisfactory.Conclusions:At present, most ECMO centers do not routinely monitor the pressure before and after the pump. There is a lack of visual and quantitative techniques or indicators to judge the pump's function, and there is also a lack of corresponding clinical experience in treatment. This paper summarizes the investigation and treatment process of ECMO pump dysfunction of this case to provide reference.

Objective:To observe the application effect of high-flow nasal canula oxygen therapy (HFNC) after extubation in patients with mechanical ventilation (MV) in the intensive care unit (ICU).Methods:A prospective study was conducted. From January 2018 to June 2020, 163 MV patients admitted to Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College were enrolled, and they were divided into HFNC group (82 cases) and traditional oxygen therapy group (81 cases) according to the oxygen therapy model. The patients included in the study were given conventional treatment according to their condition. In the HFNC group, oxygen was inhaled by a nasal high-flow humidification therapy instrument. The gas flow was gradually increased from 35 L/min to 60 L/min according to the patient's tolerance, and the temperature was set at 34-37 ℃. The fraction of inspiration oxygen (FiO 2) was set according to the patient's pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2) and SpO 2 was maintained at 0.95-0.98. A disposable oxygen mask or nasal cannula was used to inhale oxygen in the traditional oxygen therapy group, and the oxygen flow was 5-8 L/min, maintaining the patient's SpO 2 at 0.95-0.98. The differences in MV duration before extubation, total MV duration, intubation time, reintubation time, extubation failure rate, ICU mortality, ICU stay, and in-hospital stay were compared between the two groups, and weaning failure were analyzed. Results:There was no significant differences in MV duration before extubation (days: 4.33±3.83 vs. 4.15±3.03), tracheal intubation duration (days: 4.34±1.87 vs. 4.20±3.35), ICU mortality [4.9% (4/82) vs. 3.7% (3/81)] and in-hospital stay [days: 28.93 (15.00, 32.00) vs. 27.69 (15.00, 38.00)] between HFNC group and traditional oxygen therapy group (all P > 0.05). The total MV duration in the HFNC group (days: 4.48±2.43 vs. 5.67±3.84) and ICU stay [days: 6.57 (4.00, 7.00) vs. 7.74 (5.00, 9.00)] were significantly shorter than those in the traditional oxygen therapy group, the reintubation duration of the HFNC group was significantly longer than that of the traditional oxygen therapy group (hours: 35.75±10.15 vs. 19.92±13.12), and the weaning failure rate was significantly lower than that of the traditional oxygen therapy group [4.9% (4/82) vs. 16.0% (13/81), all P < 0.05]. Among the reasons for weaning failure traditional oxygen therapy group had lower ability of airway secretion clearance than that of the HFNC group [8.64% (7/81) vs. 0% (0/82), P < 0.05], there was no statistically differences in the morbidity of heart failure, respiratory muscle weakness, hypoxemia, and change of consciousness between the two groups. Conclusion:For MV patients in the ICU, the sequential application of HFNC after extubation can reduce the rate of weaning failure and the incidence of adverse events, shorten the length of ICU stay.

The main mechanisms of sepsis induced organ damage are microcirculation dysfunction, host immune response imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, etc. As one of the most metabolically active organs in the human body, the retina can be damaged in sepsis. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of patients with sepsis have changes such as slow retinal blood flow, exudation, hemorrhage, and retinal microaneurysm formation, which are far higher than clinicians' expectations. For individuals, the importance of the eyeball has always surpassed this organ itself. Even the slight deterioration of visual ability may be closely related to daily activities. However, the ICU physicians are mainly concerned with the dysfunction of the "large" organs, it is only noticed when the patient has an irreversible visual impairment. In addition, the eyes can also "reflect" the severity of the disease and predict the prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to re-understand and pay more attention to this organ in sepsis. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, possible pathogenic factors, pathogenesis, and treatment of septic retinal and optic nerve injury, to raise the concern about "eyeball" injury in septic patients.

Objective:To investigate the role and mechanism of splenic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in sepsis-induced adrenal injury (SAI).Methods:Thirty male C57 mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into normal control group ( n = 5), sham operation group (Sham group, n = 5), sepsis model group [cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) group, n = 10] and sepsis+splenectomy group (CLPS group, n = 10). The sepsis model of mice was reproduced by CLP method. In Sham group, only the cecum was opened and separated, then closed, without CLP. In CLPS group, the spleen was removed before CLP. In normal control group, no challenge was given. After 24 hours, the rats were sacrificed by anesthesia, and peripheral blood, spleen, bone marrow, and bilateral adrenal glands were harvested. The pathological of adrenal gland was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining under optical microscope. The ratio of MDSCs in peripheral blood, spleen and bone marrow was determined by flow cytometry. The expressions of MDSCs surface antigen CD11b, Gr-1 and interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β) mRNA in adrenal tissue were measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Western Blot was used to detect the expressions of mammalian rapamycin target protein (mTOR) pathway related proteins including total mTOR (T-mTOR), phosphorylation of mTOR (p-mTOR) and caspase-3. Results:The adrenal cortex and medulla of the normal control group and Sham group were intact and the structure was clear under optical microscope, while in the CLP group, the adrenal gland showed edema, cortical hemorrhage and cell edema. Compared with the CLP group, the adrenal tissue injury was significantly reduced in the CLPS group. Compared with the normal control group and Sham group, MDSCs ratio in the peripheral blood was significantly increased and significantly reduced in the spleen in the CLP group, but there was no significant difference in bone marrow, the expression levels of CD11b, Gr-1, IL-6, IL-1β mRNA and caspase-3 protein were increased significantly and p-mTOR protein expression was significantly decreased in adrenal tissue, there was no significant difference in the expression of T-mTOR protein. Compared with the CLP group, in the CLPS group, the MDSCs ratio in the peripheral blood was significantly decreased (0.143±0.011 vs. 0.324±0.023, P < 0.01), the expression levels of CD11b, Gr-1, IL-6 , IL-1β mRNA and caspase-3 protein in adrenal gland were significantly decreased [CD11b mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 2.90±0.56 vs. 5.74±0.13, Gr-1 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 2.71±0.14 vs. 4.59±0.46, IL-6 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 2.44±0.64 vs. 5.17±1.04, IL-1β mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 3.58±0.52 vs. 4.44±0.26, caspase-3 protein (caspase-3/GAPDH): 0.05±0.01 vs. 0.13±0.02, all P < 0.01], the p-mTOR protein expression was significantly increased (p-mTOR/GAPDH: 0.61±0.11 vs. 0.27±0.04, P < 0.01). Conclusions:The spleen is the major source of MDSCs in SAI. Splenectomy can attenuate SAI by reducing mobilization of MDSCs and activating the mTOR signaling pathway.