Increased circulatory Krebs cycle metabolites in sepsis is associated with increased interleukin-6 release and worse survival.

Objective: Recent studies have proposed that Krebs cycle metabolites may serve as potential biomarkers for prognosis in sepsis. However, whether these metabolites are associated with disease severity and can be applied to improve the effectiveness of current prognosis assessment in sepsis remains unclear and is explored in this study.

Methods: This prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in medical intensive care units (ICUs).

Clinical applications of immunoglobulin G against different individual species for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis among at-risk populations.

-specific IgG is often used as a diagnostic test for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), but few studies have evaluated the performance and serology of IgGs from species other than . In this study, we evaluated the serology and performance of different species-specific IgG antibodies in patients with CPA and at-risk populations and whether different species-specific IgGs could be of clinical utility and aid in the diagnosis of CPA caused by all . A total of 187 participants were included between 2020 and 2022 (12 with CPA, 75 with old tuberculosis [TB], 45 with active TB and 55 with bronchiectasis).

Seroprevalence and prognostic value of Aspergillus-specific IgG among non-neutropenic invasive pulmonary aspergillosis patients: a prospective multicenter study.

Background: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of Aspergillus-specific IgG (Asp-IgG) for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in non-neutropenic non-hematologic patients.

Methods: Between November 2019 and February 2022, we recruited 40 non-neutropenic, non-hematologic IPA patients from Taiwan and measured serum Asp-IgG levels using Phadia, Thermofisher. A positive Asp-IgG test was defined as a level > 40 mgA/L.

Impact of Abnormal Ankle Brachial Index on Sepsis Survival: One-Year Prospective Study Results.

Background: Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LE-PAD) has been linked to unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes. The impact of potentially undiagnosed LE-PAD, suspected by abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI), on the survival of sepsis patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remains uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study and recruited adult patients admitted to the ICU with a primary diagnosis of sepsis (defined by a quick Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment score of ≥ 2) between November 23, 2017 and July 22, 2018.

Immunometabolic features of natural killer cells are associated with infection outcomes in critical illness.

Immunosuppression increases the risk of nosocomial infection in patients with chronic critical illness. This exploratory study aimed to determine the immunometabolic signature associated with nosocomial infection during chronic critical illness. We prospectively recruited patients who were admitted to the respiratory care center and who had received mechanical ventilator support for more than 10 days in the intensive care unit.

Incidence of and Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury During Antituberculosis Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study and Literature Review.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is occasionally detected in patients receiving anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment. This prospective cohort study is the first to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and renal outcomes of AKI during anti-TB treatment.

Methods: This study was conducted from January 1, 2016, to May 31, 2018.

Impact of ventilator settings during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on clinical outcomes in influenza-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Patients with influenza-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vv-ECMO) support have a high mortality rate. Ventilator settings have been known to have a substantial impact on outcomes. However, the optimal settings of mechanical ventilation during vv-ECMO are still unknown.

The global burden of cognitive impairment in people with HIV.

Objective: While life expectancies of people with HIV (PWH) have increased through the successes of antiretroviral treatment, cognitive impairment remains a pressing concern. Prevalence estimates vary worldwide as different definitions for cognitive impairment are used and resource availability differs across geographical settings. We aim to explore this heterogeneity and estimate the global cognitive impairment burden in PWH.

Effectiveness of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Biopsy Combined With Tissue Culture for the Diagnosis of Sputum Smear-Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Background: Microorganisms of tuberculosis (TB) are frequently difficult to identify from the airway specimen; therefore, lung biopsy for further histologic and microbiologic study is required. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy (EBUS-TBB) is used for the diagnosis of pulmonary malignancy, but is rarely in the TB population. The purpose of this study was to verify the effectiveness and safety of EBUS-TBB with histologic study and tissue culture in the diagnosis of sputum smear-negative pulmonary TB.

Establishing Aspergillus-Specific IgG Cut-Off Level for Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Diagnosis: Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: -specific IgG (-IgG) cut-off level in diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) remains unknown.

Methods: We prospectively recruited participants with clinical suspicion of CPA in three centers in Taiwan during 2019 June to 2020 August. Serum -specific IgG (-IgG) (Phadia, Uppsala, UPPS, Sweden) was examined.

Functional Status After Pulmonary Rehabilitation as a Predictor of Weaning Success and Survival in Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation.

Comprehensive rehabilitation programs are recommended for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) to facilitate functional recovery and ventilator weaning, but whether the functional status after rehabilitation influences outcome has not been clearly evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the association between post-rehabilitation functional status and weaning and survival outcome in PMV patients. We retrospectively enrolled PMV patients admitted to the respiratory care center (RCC), a post-ICU weaning facility with protocolized rehabilitation program, from January 2016 through December 2017.

Highly Sensitive Magnesium-Doped ZnO Nanorod pH Sensors Based on Electrolyte-Insulator-Semiconductor (EIS) Sensors.

For highly sensitive pH sensing, an electrolyte insulator semiconductor (EIS) device, based on ZnO nanorod-sensing membrane layers doped with magnesium, was proposed. ZnO nanorod samples prepared via a hydrothermal process with different Mg molar ratios (0-5%) were characterized to explore the impact of magnesium content on the structural and optical characteristics and sensing performance by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and photoluminescence (PL). The results indicated that the ZnO nanorods doped with 3% Mg had a high hydrogen ion sensitivity (83.

Exploring Volatile Organic Compounds in Breath for High-Accuracy Prediction of Lung Cancer.

(1) Background: Lung cancer is silent in its early stages and fatal in its advanced stages. The current examinations for lung cancer are usually based on imaging. Conventional chest X-rays lack accuracy, and chest computed tomography (CT) is associated with radiation exposure and cost, limiting screening effectiveness.