Factors influencing postembolization syndrome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing first transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Context: Postembolization syndrome (PES) is the most common complication in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). PES was defined as fever, nausea and/or vomiting, and abdominal pain and these symptoms develop within 1-3 days after TACE. However, few studies have explored the factors influencing PES in patients with TACE for the first time.

Transesophageal echocardiography instead or in addition to transthoracic echocardiography in evaluating haemodynamic problems in intubated critically ill patients.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) performed by intensivists is increasingly used in critically ill patients. However, TEE is usually not the preferred monitoring tool, especially when transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) appears to have addressed the clinical problems. As a result, it remains largely unknown whether TEE is a clinically valuable replacement or supplement for TTE as a primary tool in evaluating haemodynamic problems in critically ill surgical patients.

Early Immunoparalysis Was Associated with Poor Prognosis in Elderly Patients with Sepsis: Secondary Analysis of the ETASS Study.

Purpose: Although immune dysfunction has been investigated in adult septic patients, early immune status remains unclear. In this study, our primary aim was to assess early immune status in adult patients with sepsis stratified by age and its relevance to hospital mortality.

Patients And Methods: A post hoc analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted; 273 patients whose immune status was evaluated within 48 hours after onset of sepsis were enrolled.

Biliary tract external drainage improves inflammatory mediators and pathomorphology of the intestine, liver, and lung in septic rats.

Background: To investigate the effect of biliary tract external drainage (BTED) on inflammatory mediators and pathomorphism of intestine, liver, and lung in septic rats.

Method: 48 SD rats (n = 8 per group) were randomized into six groups: control, sepsis, sepsis plus BTED, normal bile (obtained from eight healthy rats), and septic bile infusion for 6 hours respectively to test the effects of BTED bile infusion on cytokines' expression and tissue injury in the intestine, liver, and lung of septic/normal rats. Co-cultivation of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) with bile for 12 hours was performed to evaluate the potential cytotoxicity of septic bile.

miR‑23a downregulation modulates the inflammatory response by targeting ATG12‑mediated autophagy.

Autophagy, part of the innate immune defense mechanisms, is activated during the initial phase of septic insult. Previous studies indicated that micro (mi)RNAs are additionally involved in the host response to sepsis; however, the association between miRNAs and autophagy during this process is not fully understood. To study the role of miRNA (miR)‑23a in autophagy initiated by sepsis, macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharides, in addition to blood samples from patients, were evaluated for miR‑23a expression levels.

Effect of Systolic Cardiac Function on Passive Leg Raising for Predicting Fluid Responsiveness: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Passive leg raising (PLR) represents a "self-volume expansion (VE)" that could predict fluid responsiveness, but the influence of systolic cardiac function on PLR has seldom been reported. This study aimed to investigate whether systolic cardiac function, estimated by the global ejection fraction (GEF) from transpulmonary-thermodilution, could influence the diagnostic value of PLR.

Methods: This prospective, observational study was carried out in the surgical Intensive Care Unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from December 2013 to July 2015.

The pivotal role of HIF-1α in lung inflammatory injury induced by septic mesenteric lymph.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) plays an essential role in hypoxia and inflammatory response. Oxygen metabolic dysfunction and cascade amplification of inflammatory response are prominent pathophysiological characteristics in sepsis induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we started with septic mesenteric lymph injection model to investigate whether HIF-1α played a role in the pathogenesis of ALI induced by septic lymph.

Inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Signaling Pathway Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Rats.

Background: An acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is still one of the major challenges in critically ill patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) on ARDS in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS rat model.

Methods: Thirty-six rats were randomized into three groups: control, LPS, and LPS + JNK inhibitor.

Klotho: a novel and early biomarker of acute kidney injury after cardiac valve replacement surgery in adults.

Klotho is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in a model of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced in rats by ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the sensitivity and specificity of serum Klotho for early detecting clinical AKI are unknown. This prospective study evaluated the significance of serum Klotho for early detection of postoperative AKI among adult patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement surgery.

Fungal infection in patients after liver transplantation in years 2003 to 2012.

Background: Fungal infections after liver transplantation have received considerable interests because of their association with substantial morbidity and mortality. This study investigated risk factors of fungal infection after liver transplantation.

Material/methods: Retrospective analysis was performed based on clinical data from 120 patients with fungal infection after liver transplantation from January 1, 2003 to May 30, 2012.

[The study of the risk factors of fungal infection after liver transplantation].

Objective: To explore the risk factors of fungal infection so as to provide rationales for the prevention of fungal infection after liver transplantation.

Methods: The clinical data of 94 cases of fungal infections after liver transplantation from January 1, 2003 to November 30, 2010 at our hospital were collected as the infective group. A total of 603 liver transplant patients without fungal infections during the same period were selected as the control group.

Early lactate clearance as a reliable predictor of initial poor graft function after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Background: Initial poor graft function (IPGF) following orthotopic liver transplantation is a major determinant of postoperative survival and morbidity. Lactate clearance is a good marker of liver function. In this study, we investigated the clinical utility of early lactate clearance as an early and accurate predictor for IPGF following liver transplantation.

[Evaluation of the implant sites of palatal implants using cone beam computed tomography].

Objective: To investigate the vertical bone height and the bone density of the palate for implants placement using cone beam CT(CBCT) and to provide references to the safe and stable placement of palatal implants.

Methods: Three-dimensional reformatting images were reconstructed with the selected CBCT scanning data of 34 patients aged 18 to 35 yeras, by means of EZ implant software. The vertical bone height was measured at 20 interesting sites of palate.

Immunotherapy improves immune homeostasis and increases survival rate of septic patients.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of immunotherapy on septic patients with Ulinastatin plus Thymosin-alpha(1).

Methods: Seventy postoperative septic patients were divided into two groups at random: the immunotherapy group (n equal to 36) and the conventional therapy group (n=34). Patients in the immunotherapy group received intravenous Ulinastatin of 200 000 U, 3 times per day for 3 days, Ulinastatin of 100 000 U, 3 times per day for 4 days, and subcutaneous injection of Thymosin-alpha(1) of 1.

[Evaluation of the effect of maxillary anterior teeth morphology on torque using cone beam dental computed tomography].

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of labial surface contours and collum angles of the maxillary anterior teeth on torque.

Methods: 206 extracted maxillary teeth were selected, including 77 central incisors, 68 lateral incisors and 61 canines. All specimens were scanned by cone beam dental computed tomography (CT).

[The study of the mechanism of the effect of heparin on tissue perfusion of sepsis patients].

Objective: To assess the role of heparin administration in the early stage of sepsis and its mechanism of action.

Methods: This was a prospective study. One hundred and nineteen patients were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into control group (64 cases) and therapy group (55 cases).

[The drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria of nosocomial infections in surgical intensive care unit].

Objective: To investigate the drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria of nosocomial infections in the surgical intensive care unit.

Methods: The drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria of nosocomial infections in the SICU in our hospital from January 2001 to December 2004 were analyzed.

Results: The average nosocomial infections rate was 11.