Plasma exchange alone versus combination with intravenous immunoglobulin/methylprednisolone pulse therapy in severe systemic rheumatic diseases: a retrospective study.

Background: For severe systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs), therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) may be applied as a rescue therapy; it usually combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or intravenous methylprednisolone pulse (IVMP) in severe SRDs. However, the necessity of this combination treatment strategy in SRDs remains uncertain.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of TPE alone versus TPE combined with IVIG/IVMP in treating severe SRDs.

Myocardial strain is regulated by cardiac preload in the early stage of sepsis.

Background: Owing to a lack of data, this study aimed to explore the effect of cardiac preload on myocardial strain in patients with sepsis.

Methods: A total of 70 patients with sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary teaching hospital in China from January 2018 to July 2019 and underwent transthoracic echocardiography were enrolled. Echocardiographic data were recorded at ICU admission and 24 h later.

Efficiency of therapeutic plasma exchange in critically ill systemic rheumatologic diseases: A single-center 9-year experience.

Introduction: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), an effective method to eliminate harmful soluble mediators associated with tissue injury, serves as a crucial intervention for systemic rheumatologic diseases (SRDs). However, its value in critically ill SRDs remains uncertain. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the efficacy of TPE in SRDs.

Safety and outcome of early enteral nutrition in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Objective: To explore the benefits and risks of early enteral nutrition (EN) in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Methods: A single center retrospective review was performed including patients receiving ECMO for more than 24 h from May 2014 to July 2021.

Results: A total of sixty-five patients were enrolled, of which thirty-six patients (55.

Prognosis of hepatitis E infection in patients with chronic liver disease: A meta-analysis.

In individuals with underlying chronic liver disease (CLD), hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a potential trigger of acute-on-chronic liver failure. In this systematic review, seven electronic databases were searched. Pooled incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation method.

Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in antiviral treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Long-term antiviral treatments are associated with a significantly lower hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients by reducing HBV DNA concentrations. However, it is still controversial whether antiviral strategies affect HCC development in antiviral treatment-naïve CHB patients. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of HCC in antiviral treatment-naïve CHB patients who were treated with Entecavir (ETV) and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) and compare the efficacy of two treatment regimens in HCC reduction.

[Effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on intestinal function in rabbits after cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

Objective: To investigate the effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (HS) on intestinal mucosal barrier after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cardiac arrest (CA) rabbits.

Methods: Forty-four male New Zealand rabbits were divided into sham operation group (Sham group, n = 12), post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) group (n = 16) and H2S intervention group (PCAS+NaHS, n = 16) according to random number table method. The rabbit model of PCAS was established by tracheal clamping and suffocation, and CPR was started at 5 minutes after CA.

[Several issues on the epidemiology of Zika virus disease].

Zika virus belongs to Aedes mosquito-borne flavivirus. In response to the current cluster of congenital malformations (microcephaly) and other neurological complications (Guillain-Barré Syndrome) that could be linked to Zika virus infection, WHO declares that Zika virus is of global public health importance. Data sources were from peer review articles and WHO documents.