Pcv-aCO and procalcitonin levels for the early diagnosis of bloodstream infections caused by gram-negative bacteria.

Background: The central venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference (Pcv-aCO) is a biomarker for tissue perfusion, but the diagnostic value of Pcv-aCO in bacteria bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by gram-negative (GN) bacteria remains unclear. This study evaluated the expression levels and diagnostic value of Pcv-aCO and procalcitonin (PCT) in the early stages of GN bacteria BSI.

Methods: Patients with BSI admitted to the intensive care unit at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital between August 2014 and August 2017 were enrolled.

Red blood cell distribution width: A severity indicator in patients with COVID-19.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) was frequently assessed in COVID-19 infection and reported to be associated with adverse outcomes. However, there was no consensus regarding the optimal cutoff value for RDW. Records of 98 patients with COVID-19 from the First People's Hospital of Jingzhou were reviewed.

Predictive Value of Prognostic Nutritional Index on COVID-19 Severity.

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been described as a simple risk-stratified tool for several diseases. We explored the predictive role of the PNI on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. A total of 101 patients with COVID-19 were included in this retrospective study from January 2020 to March 2020.

Role of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: The therapeutic role of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains controversial.

Methods: We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials investigating the use of NMBA in ARDS patients from inception to July 2019. Relative risk (RR) was calculated for the incidence of barotrauma and mortality using the random-effect or fixed-effect model according to heterogeneity analysis.

Efficacy of vitamin C in patients with sepsis: An updated meta-analysis.

Previous studies have suggested the beneficial effects of vitamin C in patients with sepsis. However, the results could not be reproduced in the subsequent studies. This meta-analysis aimed to reevaluate the value of vitamin C treatment in patients with sepsis.

Joint effects of uric acid and lymphocyte count on adverse outcomes in elderly patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Objectives: Increased uric acid and decreased lymphocyte count are common in elderly patients or those with heart failure, which were prognostic markers. We aimed to investigate the joint effect of uric acid and lymphocyte count for risk stratification in elderly patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Methods: Uric acid to lymphocyte ratio was calculated as serum uric acid (mg/dL)/lymphocyte count (×10/L).

The cardiothoracic ratio: a neglected preoperative risk-stratified method for patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Objectives: It is common for patients with rheumatic heart disease to have an enlarged heart. We investigated the prognostic value of cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) in patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Methods: A total of 1772 patients were divided into 4 groups based on the quartiles of preoperative CTR: <0.

Does training improve diagnostic accuracy and inter-rater agreement in applying the Berlin radiographic definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome? A multicenter prospective study.

Background: Poor inter-rater reliability in chest radiograph interpretation has been reported in the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), although not for the Berlin definition of ARDS. We sought to examine the effect of training material on the accuracy and consistency of intensivists' chest radiograph interpretations for ARDS diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a rater agreement study in which 286 intensivists (residents 41.

Value of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes Urine Output Criteria in Critically Ill Patients: A Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Urine output (UO) is an essential criterion of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definition and classification system for acute kidney injury (AKI), of which the diagnostic value has not been extensively studied. We aimed to determine whether AKI based on KDIGO UO criteria (KDIGOUO) could improve the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, compared with KDIGO serum creatinine criteria (KDIGOSCr).

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the database of a previous study conducted by China Critical Care Clinical Trial Group (CCCCTG), which was a 2-month prospective cohort study (July 1, 2009 to August 31, 2009) involving 3063 patients in 22 tertiary Intensive Care Units in Mainland of China.

Prevalence, risk factors, clinical course, and outcome of acute kidney injury in Chinese intensive care units: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been recognized as a major healthcare problem affecting millions of patients worldwide. However, epidemiologic data concerning AKI in China are still lacking. The objectives of this study were to characterize AKI defined by RIFLE criteria, assess the association with hospital mortality, and evaluate the impact of AKI in the context of other risk factors.

[A survey of present situation of general intensive care unit in second grade hospitals and construction of intensive care network in Guangdong province].

Objective: To investigate the present situation of general intensive care unit (ICU) in second grade hospitals, and to establish intensive care network for the Department of Public Health of Guangdong province in Guangdong province.

Methods: Data from ICU of 26 hospitals in Guangdong were collected through questionnaire concerning different aspects of critical care medicine.

Results: (1) ICU size was (10.

[Efficacy and safety of coupled plasma filtration adsorption combined with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration for multiple organ dysfunction syndrome patients with acute liver failure].

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA) combined with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) for the treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) patients with acute liver failure (ALF), and to evaluate the effect of CPFA plus CVVF on inflammatory mediators in these patients.

Methods: A total of 38 cases of 11 MODS patients with ALF (male 6, female 5) were treated with CPFA plus CVVH, and the following clinical indicators including changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygen index (PaO(2)/FiO(2)), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, IL-8, biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function, parameters of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score, and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score were determined before and after the treatment. The degree of improvement in clinical symptoms, feasibility, tolerance toward CPFA plus CVVH, therapy-related adverse reactions and security were simultaneously evaluated.