Development of a Decision Aid for Family Surrogate Decision Makers of Critically Ill Patients Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy in ICU:A User-Centered Design for Rapid Prototyping

Objectives Renal replacement therapy(RRT)is increasingly adopted for critically ill patients diagnosed with acute kidney injury,but the optimal time for initiation remains unclear and prognosis is uncertain,leading to medical complexity,ethical conflicts,and decision dilemmas in intensive care unit(ICU)settings.This study aimed to develop a decision aid(DA)for the family surrogate of critically ill patients to support their engagement in shared decision-making process with clinicians.Methods Development of DA employed a systematic process with user-centered design(UCD)principle,which included:(i)competitive analysis:searched,screened,and assessed the existing DAs to gather insights for design strategies,developmental techniques,and functionalities;(ii)user needs assessment:interviewed family surrogates in our hospital to explore target user group's decision-making experience and identify their unmet needs;(iii)evidence syntheses:integrate latest clinical evidence and pertinent information to inform the content development of DA.Results The competitive analysis included 16 relevant DAs,from which we derived valuable insights using existing resources.User decision needs were explored among a cohort of 15 family surrogates,revealing four thematic issues in decision-making,including stuck into dilemmas,sense of uncertainty,limited capacity,and delayed decision confirmation.A total of 27 articles were included for evidence syntheses.Relevant decision making knowledge on disease and treatment,as delineated in the literature sourced from decision support system or clinical guidelines,were formatted as the foundational knowledge base.Twenty-one items of evidence were extracted and integrated into the content panels of benefits and risks of RRT,possible outcomes,and reasons to choose.The DA was drafted into a web-based phototype using the elements of UCD.This platform could guide users in their preparation of decision-making through a sequential four-step process:identifying treatment options,weighing the benefits and risks,clarifying personal preferences and values,and formulating a schedule for formal shared decision-making with clinicians.Conclusions We developed a rapid prototype of DA tailored for family surrogate decision makers of critically ill patients in need of RRT in ICU setting.Future studies are needed to evaluate its usability,feasibility,and clinical effects of this intervention.

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on mood and sleep quality in menopausal women

BACKGROUND Hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment strategy for the management of symptoms in naturally menopausal women.However,some patients report experiencing adverse effects.AIM To analyze the effects of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal female patients.METHODS A total of 152 menopausal female patients admitted to the Gynecology Department of the Ganzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2021 and December 2023 were divided into the observation group(n=76,conventional treatment+hormone replacement therapy)and the control group(n=76,conventional treatment only)via random casting.The improvement observed in the following items were compared between the groups:Kupperman menopausal index(KMI),emotional state[The Positive and Negative Affect Scale(PANAS)],sleep quality[Self-Rating Scale of Sleep(SRSS)],treatment effectiveness,and treatment safety.RESULTS The modified KMI and SRSS scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group after three rounds of treatment.The improvement in the PANAS score observed in the observation group was greater than that observed in the control group(P<0.05).The total treatment effectivity rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(86.84%vs 96.05%,χ2=4.121,P=0.042).The incidence rate of adverse reactions in the two groups was comparable(6.58%vs 9.21%,χ2=0.361,P=0.547).CONCLUSION Hormone replacement therapy effectively improved the clinical symptoms,actively channeled negative emotions,and improved the quality of sleep in menopausal patients,indicating its effectiveness and safety.

Management of regional citrate anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy:guideline recommendations from Chinese emergency medical doctor consensus

Continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)is widely used for treating critically-ill patients in the emergency department in China.Anticoagulant therapy is needed to prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circulation during CRRT.Regional citrate anticoagulation(RCA)has been shown to potentially be safer and more effective,and is now recommended as the preferred anticoagulant method for CRRT.However,there is still a lack of unified standards for RCA management in the world,and there are many problems in using this method in clinical practice.The Emergency Medical Doctor Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association(CMDA)organized a panel of domestic emergency medicine experts and international experts of CRRT to discuss RCA-related issues,including the advantages and disadvantages of RCA in CRRT anticoagulation,the principle of RCA,parameter settings for RCA,monitoring of RCA(mainly metabolic acid-base disorders),and special issues during RCA.Based on the latest available research evidence as well as the paneled experts'clinical experience,considering the generalizability,suitability,and potential resource utilization,while also balancing clinical advantages and disadvantages,a total of 16 guideline recommendations were formed from the experts'consensus.

Liver replacement therapy with extracorporeal blood purification techniques current knowledge and future directions

Clinically,it is highly challenging to promote recovery in patients with acute liver failure(ALF)and acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF).Despite recent advances in understanding the underlying mechanisms of ALF and ACLF,standard medical therapy remains the primary therapeutic approach.Liver transplantation(LT)is considered the last option,and in several cases,it is the only intervention that can be lifesaving.Unfortunately,this intervention is limited by organ donation shortage or exclusion criteria such that not all patients in need can receive a transplant.Another option is to restore impaired liver function with artificial extracorporeal blood purification systems.The first such systems were developed at the end of the 20th century,providing solutions as bridging therapy,either for liver recovery or LT.They enhance the elimination of metabolites and substances that accumulate due to compromised liver function.In addition,they aid in clearance of molecules released during acute liver decompensation,which can initiate an excessive inflammatory response in these patients causing hepatic encephalopathy,multiple-organ failure,and other complications of liver failure.As compared to renal replacement therapies,we have been unsuccessful in using artificial extracorporeal blood purification systems to completely replace liver function despite the outstanding technological evolution of these systems.Extracting middle to high-molecular-weight and hydrophobic/protein-bound molecules remains extremely challenging.The majority of the currently available systems include a combination of methods that cleanse different ranges and types of molecules and toxins.Furthermore,conventional methods such as plasma exchange are being re-evaluated,and novel adsorption filters are increasingly being used for liver indications.These strategies are very promising for the treatment of liver failure.Nevertheless,the best method,system,or device has not been developed yet,and its probability of getting developed in the near future is also low.Furthermore,little is known about the effects of liver support systems on the overall and transplant-free survival of these patients,and further investigation using randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses is needed.This review presents the most popular extracorporeal blood purification techniques for liver replacement therapy.It focuses on general principles of their function,and on evidence regarding their effectiveness in detoxification and in supporting patients with ALF and ACLF.In addition,we have outlined the basic advantages and disadvantages of each system.

Eff ects of continuous renal replacement therapy on infl ammation-related anemia, iron metabolism and prognosis in sepsis patients with acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND:This study aims to evaluate the eff ect of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)on inflammation-related anemia,iron metabolism,and the prognosis in sepsis patients with acute kidney injury(AKI).METHODS:Sepsis patients with AKI were prospectively enrolled and randomized into the CRRT and control groups.The clinical and laboratory data on days 1,3 and 7 after intensive care unit(ICU)admission were collected.The serum interleukin(IL)-6,hepcidin,erythropoietin,ferritin,and soluble transferrin receptor(sTfR)were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score and 28-day mortality were recorded.Data were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test(categorical variables),and Mann-Whitney U-test or t-test(continuous variables).RESULTS:The hemoglobin and serum erythropoietin levels did not signifi cantly diff er between the CRRT and control groups though gradually decreased within the first week of ICU admission.On days 3 and 7,the serum IL-6,hepcidin,ferritin,and red blood cell distribution width significantly decreased in the CRRT group compared to the control group(all P<0.05).On day 7,the serum iron was significantly elevated in the CRRT group compared to the control group(P<0.05).However,the serum sTfR did not signifi cantly diff er between the groups over time.In addition,the SOFA scores were signifi cantly lower in the CRRT group compared to the control group on day 7.The 28-day mortality did not signifi cantly diff er between the control and CRRT groups(38.0%vs.28.2%,P=0.332).CONCLUSION:CRRT might have beneficial effects on the improvement in inflammationrelated iron metabolism and disease severity during the fi rst week of ICU admission but not anemia and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients with AKI.

Enzyme replacement therapy in two patients with classic Fabry disease from the same family tree:Two case reports

BACKGROUND The pathophysiology of Fabry disease(FD)-induced progressive vital organ damage is irreversible.Disease progression can be delayed using enzyme replacement therapy(ERT).In patients with classic FD,sporadic accumulation of globotriaosylceramide(GL-3)in the heart and kidney begins in utero;however,until childhood,GL-3 accumulation is mild and reversible and can be restored by ERT.The current consensus is that ERT initiation during early childhood is paramount.Nonetheless,complete recovery of organs in patients with advanced FD is challenging.CASE SUMMARY Two related male patients,an uncle(patient 1)and nephew(patient 2),presented with classic FD.Both patients were treated by us.Patient 1 was in his 50s,and ERT was initiated following end-organ damage;this was subsequently ineffective.He developed cerebral infarction and died of sudden cardiac arrest.Patient 2 was in his mid-30s,and ERT was initiated when the patient was diagnosed with FD,during which the damage to vital organs was not overtly apparent.Although he had left ventricular hypertrophy at the beginning of this treatment,the degree of hypertrophy progression was limited to a minimal range after>18 years of ERT.CONCLUSION We obtained discouraging ERT outcomes for older patients but encouraging outcomes for younger adults with classic FD.

Attributable Causes of Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer in China:Reproductive Factors,Oral Contraceptives and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Objective： To provide an evidence-based, consistent assessment of the burden of breast cancer attributable to reproductive factors （RFs, including nulliparity, mean number of children, age at first birth and breastfeeding）, use of oral contraceptives （OCs, restricted to the age group of 15-49 years）, and hormone replacement therapy （HRT）, as well as of the burden of ovarian cancer attributable to the mean number of children in China in 2005. Methods： We derived the prevalence of these risk factors and the relative risk of breast and ovarian cancer from national surveys or large-scale studies conducted in China. In the case of RFs, we compared the exposure distributions in 2001 and counterfactual exposure. Results： Exposure of RFs in 2002 was found to account for 6.74% of breast cancer, corresponding to 9,617 cases and 2,769 deaths, and for 2.78% of ovarian cancer （712 cases, 294 deaths）. The decrease in mean number of children alone was responsible for 1.47% of breast cancer and 2.78% of ovarian cancer. The prevalence of OC use was 1.74% and the population attributable fraction （PAF） of breast cancer was 0.71%, corresponding to 310 cases and 90 deaths. The PAF of breast cancer due to HRT was 0.31%, resulting in 297 cases and 85 deaths. Conclusion： RFs changes in China contributed to a sizable fraction of breast and ovarian cancer incidence and mortality, whereas HRT and OCs accounted for relatively low incidence of breast cancer in China.

Effects of plasma exchange combined with continuous renal replacement therapy on acute fatty liver of pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) in the third trimester or early postpartum period can lead to fatal liver damage. Its traditional therapy is not very effective in facilitating hepatic recovery. The safety and effect of plasma exchange (PE)in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) (PE+CRRT) for AFLP still needs evaluation.METHODS: Five AFLP patients with hepatic encephalopathy and renal failure were subjected to PE+CRRT in our department from 2007 to 2012. Their symptoms, physical signs and results were observed, and all relevant laboratory tests were compared before and after PE+CRRT.RESULTS: All the 5 patients were well tolerated to the therapy. Four of them responded to the treatment and showed improvement in clinical symptoms/signs and laboratory results and they were cured and discharged home after the treatment One patient succeeded in bridging to transplantation for slowing down hepatic failure and its complications process after2 treatment sessions. Intensive care unit stay and hospital stay were 9.4 (range 5-18) and 25.0 days (range 11-42), respectively.CONCLUSION: PE+CRRT is safe and effective and should be used immediately at the onset of hepatic encephalopathy and/or renal failure in patients with AFLP.

restosterone replacement therapy for late-onsel lypogonadism： current trends in Korea

Testosterone levels in men older than 40 years can decrease at a rate of 1%-2% per year, and reports show that more than 50% of 80-year-old men have testosterone levels consistent with hypogonadism. Late-onset hypogonadism （LOH） is a clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age and characterized by typical symptoms of serum testosterone deficiency. In recent decades, the concept of LOH in ageing men has become familiar in European countries and the United States. It is also a topic of interest and debate throughout Korea. However, most of the data regarding advantages or disadvantages of testosterone replacement therapy （TRT） as treatment for LOH have been primarily obtained from studies on Western populations; therefore, studies of the effects of TRT in Asian men, who may have different serum testosterone compared to Western men, are needed. TRT is commonly prescribed in Korea, despite the paucity of studies on the effects of TRT in Asian populations. Data from various TRT studies based on Korean have shown its efficacy in increasing serum testosterone levels and improving subjective symptoms as assessed by questionnaires. Currently, patches and short-acting intramuscular injections are displaced by gels and long-acting formulations. However, to prevent overdiagnosis and overtreatment, indication for TRT should include both low testosterone levels and symptoms and signs of hypogonadism.

Effects of prostaglandin E combined with continuous renal replacement therapy on septic acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND The effects of prostaglandin E(PGE)combined with continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)on renal function and inflammatory responses in patients with septic acute kidney injury(SAKI)remain unclear.AIM To investigate the effects of PGE combined with CRRT on urinary augmenter of liver regeneration(ALR),urinary Na+/H+exchanger 3(NHE3),and serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with SAKI.METHODS The clinical data of 114 patients with SAKI admitted to Yichang Second People's Hospital from May 2017 to January 2019 were collected.Fifty-three cases treated by CRRT alone were included in a control group,while the other 61 cases treated with PGE combined with CRRT were included in an experimental group.Their urinary ALR,urinary NHE3,serum inflammatory cytokines,renal function indices,and immune function indices were detected.Changes in disease recovery and the incidence of adverse reactions were observed.The 28-d survival curve was plotted.RESULTS Before treatment,urinary ALR,urinary NHE3,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),serum creatinine(SCr),CD3+T lymphocytes,CD4+T lymphocytes,and CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio in the control and experimental groups were approximately the same.After treatment,urinary ALR and NHE3 decreased,while BUN,SCr,CD3+T lymphocytes,CD4+T lymphocytes,and CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio increased in all subjects.Urinary ALR,urinary NHE3,BUN,and SCr in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group,while CD3+T lymphocytes,CD4+T lymphocytes,and CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-18,and high sensitivity C-reactive protein in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The time for urine volume recovery and intensive care unit treatment in the experimental group was significantly shorter than that in the control group(P<0.05),although there was no statistically significant difference in hospital stays between the two groups.The total incidence of adverse reactions did not differ statistically between the two groups.The 28-d survival rate in the experimental group(80.33%)was significantly higher than that in the control group(66.04%).CONCLUSION PGE combined with CRRT is clinically effective for treating SAKI,and the combination therapy can significantly improve renal function and reduce inflammatory responses.

Prevalence of hypothyroidism and effect of thyroid hormone replacement therapy in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease:A population-based study

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is currently considered as the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.Risk factors for NAFLD have been well-described,including obesity,type 2 diabetes mellites(T2DM),dyslipidemia(DLP)and metabolic syndrome.Hypothyroidism has been identified as an independent risk factor for the development of NAFLD,although the literature is inconsistent AIM To evaluate the prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with NAFLD,assess if it is an independent risk factor and explore the effect of thyroxine replacement therapy.METHODS Our cohort’s data was obtained using a validated,large,multicenter database(Explorys Inc,Cleveland,OH,United States)aggregated from pooled outpatient and inpatient records of 26 different healthcare systems,consisting of a total of 360 hospitals in the United States,and utilizing Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms for coding.We evaluated a cohort of patients with hypothyroidism and NAFLD.Multivariate analysis was performed to adjust for confounding risk factors including hypertension(HTN),T2DM,DLP,obesity and metabolic syndrome.SPSS version 25,IBM Corp was used for statistical analysis,and for all analyses,a 2-sided P value of<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Exclusion criteria were limited to age<18 years.RESULTS Among the 37648180 included individuals in this database who are above the age of 18 years,there were a total of 2320 patients with NAFLD(6.16 per 100000)in the last five years(2015-2020),amongst which 520 patients(22.4%)had hypothyroidism.Baseline characteristics of patients in this database are described in Table 1.Patients with NAFLD were also more likely to have obesity,T2DM,DLP,HTN,and metabolic syndrome(Table 2).While males and females were equally affected,patients in the age group 18-65 years as well as Caucasians seem to be at a higher risk.There was an increased risk of NAFLD among patients with hypothyroidism(OR=1.587).Furthermore,thyroid hormone replacement was not associated with a decreased risk for developing NAFLD(OR=1.106,C=0.952-1.285,P=0.303).CONCLUSION Hypothyroidism seems to be an independent risk factor for the development of NAFLD.Thyroid hormone replacement did not provide a statistically significant risk reduction.Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of thyroid hormone replacement and assess if being euthyroid while on thyroid replacement therapy affects development and/or progression of NAFLD.

Optimal indicator for changing the filter during the continuous renal replacement therapy in intensive care unit patients with acute kidney injury:A crossover randomized trial

BACKGROUND:The study aims to investigate an optimal indicator for changing the filter during the continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)in intensive care unit(ICU)patients with acute kidney injury(AKI).METHODS:Patients with AKI requiring CRRT in an ICU were randomly divided into two groups for crossover trial,i.e.,groups A and B.Patients in the group A were firstly treated with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration(CVVH),followed by continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration(CVVHDF).Patients in the group B were firstly treated with CVVHDF followed by CVVH.Delivered doses of solutes with different molecular weights at the indicated time points between groups were compared.A correlation analysis between the delivered dose and pre-filter pressure(P_(PRE))and transmembrane pressure(P_(TM))was performed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were constructed to evaluate the accuracy of P_(TM) as an indicator for filter replacement.RESULTS:A total of 50 cases were analyzed,27 in the group A and 23 in the group B.Delivered doses of different molecular-weight solutes significantly decreased before changing the filter in both modalities,compared with those at the initiation of treatment(all P<0.05).In the late stage of CRRT,the possible rebound of serum medium-molecular-weight solute concentration was observed.P_(TM) was negatively correlated with the delivered dose of medium-molecular-weight solute in both modalities.The threshold for predicting the rebound of serum concentration of medium-molecularweight solute by P_(TM) was 146.5 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 k Pa).CONCLUSIONS:The filter can be used as long as possible within the manufacturer’s safe use time limits to remove small-molecular-weight solutes.P_(TM) of 146.5 mm Hg may be an optimal indicator for changing the filter in CRRT therapies to remove medium-molecular-weight solutes.

Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Serum Complement (C3, C4) and Immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM) Levels in Post-menopausal Women

Serum C3, C4, IgG and IgM levels were evaluated in healthy post-menopausal women receiving short-term hormone replacement therapy （HRT） regimens and in untreated women. Serum C3, C4, IgM and IgG levels were assessed in 54 women receiving HRT therapy （CEE 0.625 mg＋MPA 2.5 mg/day）, and in 54 control women not receiving HRT. The results showed that the mean serum C3 and C4 levels were significantly higher in women receiving HRT than those untreated women （P〈0.01）. There was significant difference in IgG and IgM levels between two groups. It was concluded that HRT might be involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases through inflammatory mechanisms, as suggested by increased serum levels of C3 and C4.

Replacement Therapy for Hemophilia Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: Report of Three Cases

Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive inherited bleeding disorder.Despite the improved treatment in recent years with the advent of replacement therapies,the progression of atherosclerosis is not slowed down after the reduction of clotting factors in hemophilia.As life expectancy increases,more hemophilia patients will suffer from age-related cardiovascular diseases.Since cardiac surgery needs heparinization and cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB),it is extremely challenging to balance hemostasis and coagulation in patients with hemophilia.Here we report three cases of hemophilia patients who underwent cardiac surgery successfully.

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on endothelial function in menopausal women

Objective To observe the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on endothelial function in menopausal women. Methods A total of 30 menopausal women were treated with 2.5 mg of Tibolone (Livial) daily. At the same time,30 women with natural menopause without any treatment served as the control group. Endothelium-dependent (EDD),endothelium-independent (NID) vasodilatation function,and estradiol (E2) were examined by the non-invasive high-resolution ultrasonography before the treatment and at 12th,24th,36th and 48th week of treatment,respectively. Results After hormone treatment,E2 increased significantly and EDD was improved significantly (P<0.05),and E2 was positively related with EDD (r=0.8092,P<0.001). No change of EDD was observed in the control group whereas a significant increase was observed in the treatment group. Conclusion Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation dysfunction is prominent in menopausal women. Tibolone can help improve the condition.

The effects of long-term low-dose hormone replacement therapy on blood pressure and vasoactive factors in postmenopausal women

Objective:To investigate the effects of long-term low-dose hormone replacement therapy(HRT)on blood pressure,the plasma renin activity(PRA),plasma angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)leveland serum nitric oxide(NO)concentration in postmenopausal women.Methods:A total of 140 postmenopausal women were selected from the medical staff of thePeking Union Medical College Hospital.Of these,63 subjects who had been treated with low-dose sex hormone for over 5(5-32)years were set up as HRT group,and 77 age-matched sub-jects who had never received HRT were designed as control group.The levels of serum estradiol(E_2),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)and nitric oxide(NO),the concentration of plasma an-giotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ),plasma rennin activity(PRA)and the blood pressure were evaluated inthese two groups.Results:The serum level of estradiol in HRT group was significantly higher than that in con-trol group(median,interquartile range;124.0 pmol/L,113.4 vs.78.2 pmol/L,121.8)(P<0.05)and systolic blood pressure in HRT groups was significantly lower than that in control group[(126.7±14.4)mmHg vs.(132.4+19.8)mmHg](P<0.05).Diastolic blood pressure[(79.7±7.9)mmHg vs.(79.6±10.4)mmHg],the serum level of FSH[(54.4±18.9)IU/L vs.(60.4±24.4)IU/L],the plasma level of PRA(median,interquartile range;0.14 pg/L/hr,0.11vs.0.12 pg/L/hr,0.10),AngⅡ(median,interquartile range;46.0,31.1 pg/ml vs.44.4,33.0pg/ml)and serum level of NO(median,interquartile range;63.8 μmol/L,58.9 vs.56.0 μmol/L,94.8)showed no significant difference between HRT and control groups(P>0.05).Conclusions:Long-term low-dose HRT decreased the systolic blood pressure,but showed noeffects on the diastolic blood pressure,plasma level of AngⅡ,PRA,and serum level of NO inpostmenopausal women.

Study and observation of ultrasound on hemorheology of continuous renal replacement therapy in ICU

Objective: To observe the influence of bedside ultrasound on Hemodynamics of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy,and explore the clinical value of bedside ultrasound technique in acute kidney injury (AKI) Patients with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and capacity management. Methods 311 cases of AKI patients with CRRT were divided randomly into Observe group and Control group. the observe group was used bedside ultrasound technique, by monitoring tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), internal diameter of inferior vena cava (IVC), respiratory variation index of the inferior vena cava internal diameter (RVI) and left vertical Tei index changes. Meanwhile, each parameter change was mediated by ultrasound detection from before, to 30min, 6h, 12h, 36h, 48h after of CRRT to sustain liquid balance in observe group, however, central venous pressure (CVP) change was modulated in control group. The difference of kidney length in pre-CRRT were examined to exclude, and of renal aortic diameter, renal resistance index (RRI)and renal blood flow in post-48h of CRRT were compared in two groups. Results Renal length, Renal parenchyma thickness and Echo strength of renal parenchyma weren't different statistically in pre-CRRT of two groups(P>0.05). In observe group, the RVI level was started to increase significantly and IVC internal diameter to decrease at 6h, which would tend to stable at 36h(F=27.746 and 15.446 respectively);the TAPSE level was gradual ascending and Tei index was descending at 12h with a stable tendency at 24h of CRRT(F=36.213 and 17.127 respectively), and there was difference statistical among time of obvious change in TAPSE, IVC internal diameter, RVI and Tei index(P<0.05);In control group, there was no difference statistical among each time in CVP(F=2.189, P>0.05). Compared with control group, renal aortic diameter and renal blood flow were increased significantly(t=2.356 and 2.075), RRI was decreased obviously in observe group(t=2.244), which was different in statistics (P<0.05). Conclusion the application of bedside ultrasound technique in AKI patient's capacity management with CRRT was more effective and evaluated the kidney perfusion.

Efficacy of Ulinastatin Combined with Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in the Treatment of Sepsis Acute Kidney Injury and Its Effects on Systemic Inflammation, Immune Function and miRAN Expression

Objective: To research the effectiveness of ulinastatin in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy in treating sepsis acute kidney injury and its effect on systemic inflammation, immune function and miRAN expression. Methods: The 84 patients who were diagnosed with sepsis complicated by acute kidney injury in our hospital between May 2020 and June 2022 were chosen and randomly assigned to the study group (n = 42) and the control group (n = 42). Ulinastatin in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy was administered to the study group, whereas the control group was administered with continuous renal replacement therapy alone. Both groups’ clinical effects were observed. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), IgG, IgA, IgM, expression levels of miR-233 and miR-10a were compared among both the groups, pre-, and post-treatment. Results: The study group’s overall effectiveness rate was higher that is 95.24%, in comparison to the control group’s 78.57%, and this difference was statistically significant (P α, hs-CRP, VCAM-1, and miR-233 and miR-10a expression levels in both the study and control groups were decreased, however, the study group had reduced levels in comparison to the control group, with statistically significant differences (P P Conclusion: Ulinastatin in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy for treating sepsis acute kidney injury exhibits a positive effect and can significantly improve the systemic inflammation and immune function in patients.

Recovery after acute kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy in patients with left ventricular assist device: A metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury(AKI)is a common and severe complication after left ventricular assist device(LVAD)implantation with an incidence of 37%;13%of which require kidney replacement therapy(KRT).Severe AKI requiring KRT(AKI-KRT)in LVAD patients is associated with high short and long-term mortality compared with AKI without KRT.While kidney function recovery is associated with better outcomes,its incidence is unclear among LVAD patients with severe AKI requiring KRT.AIM To identify studies evaluating the recovery rates from severe AKI-KRT after LVAD placement,which is defined by regained kidney function resulting in the discontinuation of KRT.Random-effects and generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian-Laird were used to combine the effect estimates obtained from individual studies.METHODS A total of 268 patients from 14 cohort studies that reported severe AKI-KRT after LVAD were included.Follow-up time ranged anywhere from two weeks of LVAD implantation to 12 mo.Kidney recovery occurred in 78%of enrollees at the time of hospital discharge or within 30 d.Overall,the pooled estimated AKI recovery rate among patients with severe AKI-KRT was 50.5%(95%CI:34.0%-67.0%)at 12 mo follow up.Majority(85%)of patients used continuous-flow LVAD.While the data on pulsatile-flow LVAD was limited,subgroup analysis of continuous-flow LVAD demonstrated that pooled estimated AKI recovery rate among patients with severe AKI-KRT was 52.1%(95%CI:36.8%-67.0%).Metaregression analysis did not show a significant association between study year and AKI recovery rate(P=0.08).There was no publication bias as assessed by the funnel plot and Egger's regression asymmetry test in all analyses.RESULTS A total of 268 patients from 14 cohort studies that reported severe AKI-KRT after LVAD were included.Follow-up time ranged anywhere from two weeks of LVAD implantation to 12 mo.Kidney recovery occurred in 78%of enrollees at the time of hospital discharge or within 30 d.Overall,the pooled estimated AKI recovery rate among patients with severe AKI-KRT was 50.5%(95%CI:34.0%-67.0%)at 12 mo follow up.Majority(85%)of patients used continuous-flow LVAD.While the data on pulsatile-flow LVAD was limited,subgroup analysis of continuous-flow LVAD demonstrated that pooled estimated AKI recovery rate among patients with severe AKI-KRT was 52.1%(95%CI:36.8%-67.0%).Metaregression analysis did not show a significant association between study year and AKI recovery rate(P=0.08).There was no publication bias as assessed by the funnel plot and Egger's regression asymmetry test in all analyses.CONCLUSION Recovery from severe AKI-KRT after LVAD occurs approximately 50.5%,and it has not significantly changed over the years despite advances in medicine.

Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetics of Nafamostat Mesylate during Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is the preferred dialysis modality in critical care settings for patients with hemodynamic instability. Nafamostat mesylate (NM) is an anticoagulant commonly used (mainly in Japan) during CRRT in patients with high bleeding risk. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of NM during CRRT. Patients undergoing CRRT therapy and using NM as the anticoagulant in the intensive care unit were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected from the CRRT circuit just after blood removal, just before and after the membrane for CRRT, and from the filtrates after the membrane. NM concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. NM was detected in the intracorporeal circulation during CRRT in some cases, and liver enzymes were severely elevated in almost all of the cases. Coagulation time was prolonged even before the initiation of NM administration in these cases and may be associated with liver damage. This study suggests that NM dosage should take into account liver damage assessed by elevated liver enzymes.