Prognostic Assessment of COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit by Machine Learning Methods: Model Development and Validation.

Background: Patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) have a high mortality rate, and methods to assess patients' prognosis early and administer precise treatment are of great significance.

Objective: The aim of this study was to use machine learning to construct a model for the analysis of risk factors and prediction of mortality among ICU patients with COVID-19.

Methods: In this study, 123 patients with COVID-19 in the ICU of Vulcan Hill Hospital were retrospectively selected from the database, and the data were randomly divided into a training data set (n=98) and test data set (n=25) with a 4:1 ratio.

Two novel mutations in the BCKDHB gene that cause maple syrup urine disease.

Background: Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare metabolic disorder of autosomal recessive inheritance caused by decreased activity of branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKD). Mutations in the three genes (BCKDHA, BCKDHB and DBT) are associated with MSUD. Here, we describe the presenting symptoms, clinical course and gene mutation analysis of a Chinese boy with MSUD.

Correlation study of cough variant asthma and mycoplasma pneumonia infection in children.

Cough variant asthma (CVA), as one of bronchitis diseases, features with repeated cough. In clinics, CAV does not show significant abnormal signs, therefore antibiotic therapy can hardly achieve satisfactory treatment effect. With the development of scientific technologies, the correlation between mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and CVA has become a hot research topic in clinics.

Roles of T-cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin Domain Genes and Toll-like Receptors in Wheezy Children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia.

Background: The study aimed to explore possible factors influencing wheezing in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).

Methods: The study included 84 children with MPP, who were divided into two groups: wheezy group (n=40) and non-wheezy group (n=44), along with 30 age-matched healthy controls. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain gene (Tim) 1, 3 and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, 4 were evaluated using RT-PCR.

α-1-Acid glycoprotein as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and monitoring the prognosis of sepsis.

Objective: To explore the value of α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) for the early diagnostic and prognostic assessment of patients with sepsis.

Methods: Eighty-five patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and 192 patients with sepsis were enrolled. White blood cell counts and serum levels of AGP, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were tested on the day of admission to intensive care unit (ICU; day 1) and the following days 3, 5, 7, and 10.

Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in Shandong province, China.

Objectives: To summarize the clinical and biochemical data, mutation analysis, treatment, outcome and the follow-up data of patients with BH4 deficiency from 2004 to 2012 in Shandong province, China.

Methods: We analyzed the clinical, biochemical and treatment data of 40 patients with BH4 deficiency. Urinary neopterin and biopterin were analyzed.

Heliox as a driving gas to atomize inhaled drugs on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a common condition, which affects not only the quality of life of patients but also their prognosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of an inhaled salbutamol sulfate solution and an inhalation suspension of the glucocorticoid budesonide that were atomized with heliox to treat patients with AECOPD.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with AECOPD were divided into a treatment group (He/O2 = 70%/30%) and a control group (N2/O2 = 70%/30%).

Prognosis and weaning of elderly multiple organ dysfunction syndrome patients with invasive mechanical ventilation.

Background: Elderly multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation have poor prognosis in intensive care units (ICUs). We studied the usefulness of four commonly used severity scores and extrapulmonary factors that affected weaning to predict outcome of such patients.

Methods: Clinical data of 197 patients on admission to ICUs (from January 2009 to June 2012) were used retrospectively.

Analysis of the severity and prognosis assessment of aged patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a retrospective study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a prevalent and potentially life-threatening infection, and has poor prognosis in aged patients. The objective of this study was to compare the potential of admission N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) levels and scoring models [CURB-65, Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores] to predict outcomes for aged patients with CAP admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to explore the prognostic factors.

Methods: Clinical data of the patients were collected retrospectively, whose CURB-65, PSI, APACHE II scores were calculated and in whom measurements of proBNP was performed.

Value of soluble TREM-1, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein serum levels as biomarkers for detecting bacteremia among sepsis patients with new fever in intensive care units: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (sTREM-1), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels for differentiating sepsis from SIRS, identifying new fever caused by bacteremia, and assessing prognosis when new fever occurred.

Methods: We enrolled 144 intensive care unit (ICU) patients: 60 with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and 84 with sepsis complicated by new fever at more than 48 h after ICU admission. Serum sTREM-1, PCT, and CRP levels were measured on the day of admission and at the occurrence of new fever (>38.