Characterization of immunomodulatory factors and cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis.

As immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used, a series of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported, including immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (ICI-pneumonitis). The incidence of ICI-pneumonitis is higher in reality than in clinical trials. The diagnosis is challenging, mainly based on clinical and imaging features, and requires the exclusion of other causes.

Case Report: Treatment for steroid-refractory immune-related myocarditis with tofacitinib.

Introduction: Immune therapy has ushered in a new era of tumor treatment, at the expense of immune-related adverse events, including rare but fatal adverse cardiovascular events, such as myocarditis. Steroids remain the cornerstone of therapy for immune-related myocarditis, with no clear consensus on additional immunosuppressive treatment for steroid-refractory cases yet.

Case Report: Here, we report a patient with stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma who developed immune-related myocarditis in the fourth course of therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The diagnostic value of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related specific proteins GRP78 and CHOP in patients with sepsis: a diagnostic cohort study.

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening disease with high mortality. Early diagnosis is critical as early treatment improves outcomes. The protein levels of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) activation, were reported increasing rapidly and continuously in the serum of patients with sepsis.

Changes in the Cardiac Index Induced by Unilateral Passive Leg Raising in Spontaneously Breathing Patients: A Novel Way to Assess Fluid Responsiveness.

Background: Evaluation of fluid responsiveness in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is crucial. This study was to determine whether changes in the cardiac index (CI) induced by a unilateral passive leg raising (PLR) test in spontaneously breathing patients can estimate fluid responsiveness.

Methods: This was a prospective study, and 40 patients with spontaneous breathing activity who were considered for volume expansion (VE) were included.

Myositis-myasthenia gravis overlap syndrome complicated with myasthenia crisis and myocarditis associated with anti-programmed cell death-1 (sintilimab) therapy for lung adenocarcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved clinical outcomes with a number of advanced malignancies. However, diverse immune-related adverse events (iRAEs) occurred with the widespread use of ICIs, some of which are rarely and life-threatening. Here we report a 66-year-old patient with lung adenocarcinoma who received two doses of sintilimab, a human monoclonal antibody against programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), experienced a fatal storm of iRAEs.

A Prospective Multicenter Clinical Observational Study on Vancomycin Efficiency and Safety With Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.

Background: Vancomycin is a first-line antibiotic used for the treatment of severe gram-positive bacterial infections. Clinical guidelines recommend that the vancomycin trough concentration be 10-15 mg/L for regular infections and 15-20 mg/L for severe infections. We investigated whether increasing the vancomycin concentration would result in better clinical outcomes with sustainable adverse effects (AEs) in the Chinese population.

COL11A1 is overexpressed in recurrent non-small cell lung cancer and promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion and drug resistance.

Collagen type XI α1 (COL11A1), a minor fibrillar collagen, has been demonstrated to be involved in cell proliferation, migration and the tumorigenesis of many human malignancies. Previous studies have shown that COL11A1 may be a valuable diagnostic marker for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, its biological function in NSCLC progression remains largely unclear.

SKA1 regulates the metastasis and cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer.

Currently, chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs including cisplatin is the most effective therapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, the efficacy of chemotherapy is limited due to commonly developed drug resistance. Spindle and kinetochore-associated complex subunit 1 (SKA1) is part of a complex essential for stabilizing the attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores and for maintaining the metaphase plate during mitosis.

Increased plasma levels of heparin-binding protein in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Introduction: Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is an antimicrobial protein stored in neutrophil granules and plays a role in endothelial permeability regulation. The aim was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of measuring HBP in patients with acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods: Plasma HBP was collected from 78 patients with ALI/ARDS, 28 patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE) and 20 healthy volunteers at enrollment.

Pentraxin 3 in the assessment of ventilator-associated pneumonia: an early marker of severity.

Objectives: The aim was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of measuring pentraxin 3 (PTX3) together with C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Background: The PTX3 values increase rapidly during multiple inflammatory conditions, but little is known about its characteristics in VAP.

Methods: Measurement of PTX3 and CRP levels in plasma from 136 consecutive patients receiving mechanical ventilation > 48 h in a prospective single center study.

Copeptin in the assessment of acute lung injury and cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Backgrounds: Copeptin has been studied as an excellent predictor of outcome in a variety of diseases, its value is even superior to that of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in heart failure, but little is known about its characteristics in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury (ALI). We sought to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of copeptin together with N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) in patients with ARDS/ALI or cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE).

Methods: Measurement of copeptin and NT-proBNP levels in plasma from 121 consecutive patients with either ARDS/ALI or CPE enrolled in a prospective single center study.