The predictive value of heparin-binding protein for bacterial infections in patients with severe polytrauma.

Introduction: Heparin-binding protein is an inflammatory factor with predictive value for sepsis and participates in the inflammatory response through antibacterial effects, chemotaxis, and increased vascular permeability. The role of heparin-binding protein in sepsis has been progressively demonstrated, but few studies have been conducted in the context of polytrauma combined with bacterial infections. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of heparin-binding protein for bacterial infections in patients with severe polytrauma.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts in-Hospital Mortality in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Objectives: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is gaining popularity as a low-cost biomarker of inflammation and outcome prediction. Intracerebral hemorrhage has high mortality and disability, which strongly influences societal development. This study aimed to research whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio can predict hospital mortality in patients with severe intracerebral hemorrhage.

Risk factors and predictive model of adrenocortical insufficiency in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background: Neuroendocrine dysfunction after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has received increased attention due to its impact on the recovery of neural function. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence and risk factors of adrenocortical insufficiency (AI) after TBI to reveal independent predictors and build a prediction model of AI after TBI.

Methods: Enrolled patients were grouped into the AI and non-AI groups.

Amiodarone and/or lidocaine for cardiac arrest: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Introduction: Although available studies have not demonstrated that antiarrhythmic drugs could increase long-term survival or survival with favorable neurological outcome, some studies have shown that the rate of hospital admission is higher with amiodarone or lidocaine than with placebo. To study the effects of antiarrhythmic drugs during cardiac arrest, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy of amiodarone and/or lidocaine.

Methods: We searched studies from inception until Jan 21, 2020.

Hypothyroidism and Adverse Endpoints in Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study investigated the relationship strength between hypothyroidism and cardiovascular and renal outcomes in diabetic patients. The electronic databases PubMed, EmBase, and Cochrane library were screened for relevant studies published before November 2018. The outcomes included major cardiovascular events (MACEs), all-cause mortality, cardiac death, stroke, diabetic nephropathy (DN), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Altered levels of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is closely associated with marked inflammation. Although alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (α-MSH) exerts powerful anti-inflammatory effects, changes in endogenous α-MSH levels following TBI remain poorly understood. We investigated the changes of α-MSH levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of post-TBI patients and the association of these changes with the severity of TBI and inflammation.

Self-assembly of gelators confined within the nano-scale interlayer space of organo-montmorillonite.

The self-assembly of low molecular weight gelators confined within the nano-scale interlayer space of organo-montmorillonite is likely to be different from that under normal conditions (bulk space). Four kinds of gelators, 1-methyl-2,4-bis(N'-n-octadecylureido) benzene (MBB18), 1-methyl-2,4-bis(N'-n-dodecylureido)benzene (MBB12), bis(4'-stearamido phenyl) methane (BSM18) and bis(4'-octanamido phenyl)methane (BOM8), were used to investigate gelation of organic solvents confined within the nano-scale interlayer space of organo-montmorillonite. The possible morphologies of these gelators aggregates confined within the nano-scale space of organo-montmorillonite will be discussed in comparison with that in bulk space by employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Gelation of microemulsions and release behavior of sodium salicylate from gelled microemulsions.

A novel gelled microemulsion was prepared in the presence of the low molecular weight gelator N-stearine-N'-stearyl-L-phenylalanine at a very low concentration. It is completely different from the conventional microemulsion-based gels (MBGs) usually formed by polymeric gelling agents, such as gelatin, agar and kappa-carrageenan. The microemulsion consists of i-propyl myristate, Tween 80, propylene glycol and water.