Impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on coronavirus disease 2019: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Many studies have revealed a link between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NA-FLD)and coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),making understanding the relationship between these two conditions an absolute requirement.AIM To provide a qualitative synthesis on the currently present data evaluating COVID-19 and NAFLD.METHODS This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the guidelines pro-vided by preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and the questionnaire utilized the population,intervention,comparison,and outcome framework.The search strategy was run on three separate databases,PubMed/MEDLINE,Scopus,and Cochrane Central,which were systematically searched from inception until March 2024 to select all relevant studies.In addition,ClinicalTrials.gov,Medrxiv.org,and Google Scholar were searched to identify grey literature.RESULTS After retrieval of 11 studies,a total of 39282 patients data were pooled.Mortality was found in 11.5%and 9.4%of people in NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups.In all,23.2%of NAFLD patients and 22%of non-NAFLD admissions diagnosed with COVID-19 were admitted to the intensive care unit,with days of stay varying.Ventilatory support ranged from 5%to 40.5%in the NAFLD cohort and from 3.1%to 20%in the non-NAFLD cohort.The incidence of acute liver injury showed significance.Clinical improvement on days 7 and 14 between the two classifications was significant.Hospitalization stay ranged from 9.6 days to 18.8 days and 7.3 days to 16.4 days in the aforementioned cohorts respectively,with 73.3%and 76.3%of patients being discharged.Readmission rates varied.CONCLUSION Clinical outcomes except mortality consistently showed a worsening trend in patients with NAFLD and concomitant COVID-19.Further research in conducting prospective longitudinal studies is essential for a more powerful conclusion.

Cooling System Design Optimization of an Enclosed PM Traction Motor for Subway Propulsion Systems

This paper presents the design optimization of a self-circulated ventilation system for an enclosed permanent magnet(PM)traction motor utilized in the propulsion systems for subway trains.In order to analyze accurately the machine's inherent cooling capacity when the train is running,the ambient airflow and the related heat transfer coefficient(HTC)are numerically investigated considering synchronously the bogie installation structure.The machine is preliminary cooled with air ducts set on the motor shell,and the fluidic-thermal field distributions with only the shell air duct cooling are numerically calculated.During simulations,the HTC obtained in the former steps is applied to the external surface of the machine to model the inherent cooling characteristic caused by the train movement.To reduce the temperature rise and thus guarantee the motor's working reliability,an internal self-circulated air cooling system is proposed according to the machine temperature distribution.The air enclosed in the end-caps is driven by the blades mounted on both sides of the rotor core and forms two air circuits to bring the excessive power losses generated in the heating components to cool regions.The fluid flow and temperature rise distributions of the cooling system's structural parameters are further improved by the Taguchi method in order to confirm the efficacy of the internal air cooling system.

Systematic review on the risk-benefit ratio of morphine for acute heart failure

Objective:To evaluate morphine's risk-benefit profile in the treatment of acute heart failure.Method:Different electronic databases,including PubMed,MEDLINE,Cochrane Library,and Google Scholar,as well as clinicaltrails.gov,were searched for articles published between 2012 and 2022.The risk of bias in the present study was evaluated by employing randomized controlled trials(RCTs)checklist that assesses the effectiveness of new interventions through random assignment of participants to different treatment groups.The two-part tool was used to address the five specific domains such as selection bias,performance bias,detection bias,attrition bias,and selective reporting bias.Evaluation of the quality of diagnostic accuracy studies was conducted using the RevMan software(version 5.4),a quality assessment tool.Results:A total of 13 studies were included in the present review,in which there were 5 retrospective studies,3 randomized-control studies,2 prospective studies,1 multicenter pharmacodynamics study,1 multicenter cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study,and 1 open-label,cross-over study.The mortality of acute heart failure patients treated with morphine was higher compared to those without morphine.Conclusions:Acute heart failure patients who do not receive morphine have a lower mortality rate compared to those who receive morphine.Considering the adverse effects,including mortality associated with morphine,there is a pressing need for further research to explore alternative and effective treatment options in acute heart failure.

Effect of preoperative inspiratory muscle training on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is the most prevalent disease worldwide and places a great burden on the health and economic welfare of patients.Cardiac surgery is an important way to treat cardiovascular disease,but it can prolong mechanical ventilation time,intensive care unit(ICU)stay,and postoperative hospitalization for patients.Previous studies have demonstrated that preoperative inspiratory muscle training could decrease the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications.AIM To explore the effect of preoperative inspiratory muscle training on mechanical ventilation time,length of ICU stay,and duration of postoperative hospitalization after cardiac surgery.METHODS A literature search of PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,EMBASE,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,WanFang,and the China Science and Technology journal VIP database was performed on April 13,2022.The data was independently extracted by two authors.The inclusion criteria were:(1)Randomized controlled trial;(2)Accessible as a full paper;(3)Patients who received cardiac surgery;(4)Preoperative inspiratory muscle training was implemented in these patients;(5)The study reported at least one of the following:Mechanical ventilation time,length of ICU stay,and/or duration of postoperative hospitalization;and(6)In English language.RESULTS We analyzed six randomized controlled trials with a total of 925 participants.The pooled mean difference of mechanical ventilation time was-0.45 h[95%confidence interval(CI):-1.59-0.69],which was not statistically significant between the intervention group and the control group.The pooled mean difference of length of ICU stay was 0.44 h(95%CI:-0.58-1.45).The pooled mean difference of postoperative hospitalization was-1.77 d in the intervention group vs the control group[95%CI:-2.41-(-1.12)].CONCLUSION Preoperative inspiratory muscle training may decrease the duration of postoperative hospitalization for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.More high-quality studies are needed to confirm our conclusion.

Wind-Thermal Environmental Characteristic of Multi-Variable Passive Enhanced Natural Ventilation System for High and Large Space Building

Natural ventilation effects in high and large space buildings of tropical areas greatlya ffect the air conditioning energy consumption.Aiming at nearly zero energy building design,thisp aper mainly contributes to provide theoretical basis and reference for thermal comfortable air conditioning system design of high and large space buildings.Taking a theatre in Hainan as study object,a newly composite enhanced natural ventilation system is proposed by integrating theu nderground tunnel-based earth to air heat exchange system and the solar chimney.Ventilationq uantity,air velocity and air temperature field,human vertical temperature gradient differenceu nder24simulation working conditions are considered and analyzed by using ANSYS Fluent.Fort he underground tunnel,results show that Group Two with double underground tunnels and side airs upply location shows its advantages in cooling effects and air supply uniformity.Then for the solar chimney,results show that the solar radiation intensity contributes to larger difference int ransmission power and leads to different cooling effects.On the whole,the system under workingc ondition No.7with120m long,side air supply,double underground tunnel and20m high,1mw ide,0.6°absorber plate angle solar chimney shows its priority in better comprehensive performance.

Determination of Effectiveness of Energy Management System in Buildings

Building Energy Management Systems(BEMS)are computer-based systems that aid in managing,controlling,and monitoring the building technical services and energy consumption by equipment used in the building.The effectiveness of BEMS is dependent upon numerous factors,among which the operational characteristics of the building and the BEMS control parameters also play an essential role.This research develops a user-driven simulation tool where users can input the building parameters and BEMS controls to determine the effectiveness of their BEMS.The simulation tool gives the user the flexibility to understand the potential energy savings by employing specific BEMS control and help in making intelligent decisions.The simulation is developed using Visual Basic Application(VBA)in Microsoft Excel,based on discrete-event Monte Carlo Simulation(MCS).The simulation works by initially calculating the energy required for space cooling and heating based on current building parameters input by the user in the model.Further,during the second simulation,the user selects all the BEMS controls and improved building envelope to determine the energy required for space cooling and heating during that case.The model compares the energy consumption from the first simulation and the second simulation.Then the simulation model will provide the rating of the effectiveness of BEMS on a continuous scale of 1 to 5(1 being poor effectiveness and 5 being excellent effectiveness of BEMS).This work is intended to facilitate building owner/energy managers to analyze the building energy performance concerning the efficacy of their energy management system.

Driving pressure in mechanical ventilation:A review

Driving pressure(ΔP)is a core therapeutic component of mechanical ventilation(MV).Varying levels ofΔP have been employed during MV depending on the type of underlying pathology and severity of injury.However,ΔP levels have also been shown to closely impact hard endpoints such as mortality.Considering this,conducting an in-depth review ofΔP as a unique,outcome-impacting therapeutic modality is extremely important.There is a need to understand the subtleties involved in making sureΔP levels are optimized to enhance outcomes and minimize harm.We performed this narrative review to further explore the various uses ofΔP,the different parameters that can affect its use,and how outcomes vary in different patient populations at different pressure levels.To better utilizeΔP in MV-requiring patients,additional large-scale clinical studies are needed.

Practice and analysis of recycling non-drinking water from air-condition and reverse-osmosis system into rainwater collection system

This paper is based on the rainwater collection project in the retrofit of the Dongyi teaching block in Zhejiang University Xixi Campus.The analysis incorporates the local meteorological data, recycling water utilization, and precipitation adjustment.The rainwater collection system in this program also adds the condensation water from the heating, ventilation and air conditioning （ HVAC） system and the concentration from the reverse-osmosis system used for watering greens and supplying waterscapes.By calculating, the quantity of the HVAC condensation water in summer is 3.48 m3/d, and the quantity of the reverse-osmosis concentrated water is 198 to 396 L/d.This method solves the water shortage caused by high evaporation in summer and low precipitation in winter.Supported by empirical monitoring data, the proposed method significantly increases the economic efficiency of the system during the summer period.

A hybrid ventilation scheme applied to bidirectional excavation tunnel construction with a long inclined shaft

The breakage and bending of ducts result in a difficulty to cope with ventilation issues in bidirectional excavation tunnels with a long inclined shaft using a single ventilation method based on ducts.To discuss the hybrid ventilation system applied in bidirectional excavation tunnels with a long inclined shaft,this study has established a full-scale computational fluid dynamics model based on field tests,the Poly-Hexcore method,and the sliding mesh technique.The distribution of wind speed,temperature field,and CO in the tunnel are taken as indices to compare the ventilation efficiency of three ventilation systems(duct,duct-ventilation shaft,duct–ventilated shaft-axial fan).The results show that the hybrid ventilation scheme based on duct-ventilation shaft–axial fan performs the best among the three ventilation systems.Compared to the duct,the wind speed and cooling rate in the tunnel are enhanced by 7.5%–30.6%and 14.1%–17.7%,respectively,for the duct-vent shaft-axial fan condition,and the volume fractions of CO are reduced by 26.9%–73.9%.This contributes to the effective design of combined ventilation for bidirectional excavation tunnels with an inclined shaft,ultimately improving the air quality within the tunnel.

Experimental and numerical simulation study on forced ventilation and dust removal of coal mine heading surface

In order to study the problems of unreasonable airflow distribution and serious dust pollution in a heading surface,an experimental platform for forced ventilation and dust removal was built based on the similar principles.Through the similar experiment and numerical simulation,the distribution of airflow field in the roadway and the spatial and temporal evolution of dust pollution under the conditions of forced ventilation were determined.The airflow field in the roadway can be divided into three zones:jet zone,vortex zone and reflux zone.The dust concentration gradually decreases from the head to the rear of the roadway.Under the forced ventilation conditions,there is a unilateral accumulation of dust,with higher dust concentrations away from the ducts.The position of the equipment has an interception effect on the dust.The maximum error between the test value and the simulation result is 12.9%,which verifies the accuracy of the experimental results.The research results can provide theoretical guidance for the application of dust removal technology in coal mine.

Energy Design and Optimization of Greenhouse by Natural Convection

This study addresses the pressing need for energy-efficient greenhouse management by focusing on the innovative application of natural ventilation.The primary objective of this study is to evaluate various ventilation strategies to enhance energy efficiency and optimize crop production in agricultural greenhouses.Employing advanced numerical simulation tools,the study conducts a comprehensive assessment of natural ventilation’s effectiveness under real-world conditions.The results underscore the crucial role of the stack effect and strategic window positioning in greenhouse cooling,providing valuable insights for greenhouse designers.Our findings shed light on the significant benefits of optimized ventilation and also offer practical implications for improving greenhouse design,ensuring sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.The study demonstrated energy savings in cooling from November to April,with a maximum saving of 680 kWh in March,indicating the effectiveness of strategically positioning windows to leverage the stack effect.This approach enhances plant growth and reduces the need for costly cooling systems,thereby improving overall energy efficiency and lowering operational expenses.

Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia with inhaled antibiotics

The direct delivery of inhaled antibiotics to the respiratory tract has been a subject of enduring interest among medical practitioners and researchers due to the associated favorable pharmacokinetics.This interest has been particularly pronounced in the context of critically illpatients,wherehealthcare-associatedpulmonary infections represent a significant challenge,driving continued exploration of inhaled antibiotics for intubated patients.Recent high-level evidence has shown a very promising application in the field of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention.^([1]).

Influences of the Fresh Air Volume on the Removal of Cough-Released Droplets in a Passenger Car of a High-Speed Train Using CFD

The spread and removal of pollution sources,namely,cough-released droplets in three different areas(front,middle,and rear areas)of a fully-loaded passenger car in a high-speed train under different fresh air flow volume were studied using computational fluid dynamics(CFD)method.In addition,the structure of indoor flow fields was also analysed.The results show that the large eddies are more stable and flow faster in the air supply under Mode 2(fresh air volume:2200m3/h)compared to Mode 1(fresh air volume:1100m3/h).By analysing the spreading process of droplets sprayed at different locations in the passenger car and with different particle sizes,the removal trends for droplets are found to be similar under the two air supply modes.However,when increasing the fresh air flow volume,the droplets in the middle and front areas of the passenger car are removed faster.When the droplets had dispersed for 60s,Mode 2 exhibited a removal rate approximately 1%–3%higher than Mode 1 for small and medium-sized droplets with diameters of 10 and 50μm.While those in the rear area,the situation is reversed,with Mode 1 slightly surpassing Mode 2 by 1%–3%.For large droplets with a diameter of 100μm,both modes achieved a removal rate of over 96%in all three regions at the 60 s.The results can provide guidance for air supply modes of passenger cars of high-speed trains,thus suppressing the spread of virus-carrying droplets and reducing the risk of viral infection among passengers.

Nomogram to predict severe retinopathy of prematurity in Southeast China

AIM:To define the predictive factors of severe retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)and develop a nomogram for predicting severe ROP in southeast China.METHODS:Totally 554 infants diagnosed with ROP hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and hospitalized in Taizhou Women and Children’s Hospital were included.Clinical data and 43 candidate predictive factors of ROP infants were collected retrospectively.Logistic regression model was used to identify predictive factors of severe ROP and to propose a nomogram for individual risk prediction,which was compared with WINROP model and Digirop-Birth model.RESULTS:Infants from the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University(n=478)were randomly allocated into training(n=402)and internal validation group(n=76).Infants from Taizhou Women and Children’s Hospital were set as external validation group(n=76).Severe ROP were found in 52 of 402 infants,12 of 76 infants,and 7 of 76 infants in training group,internal validation group,and external validation group,respectively.Birth weight[odds ratio(OR),0.997;95%confidence interval(CI),0.996-0.999;P<0.001],multiple births(OR,1.885;95%CI,1.013-3.506;P=0.045),and non-invasive ventilation(OR,0.288;95%CI,0.146-0.570;P<0.001)were identified as predictive factors for the prediction of severe ROP,by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis.For predicting severe ROP based on the internal validation group,the areas under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)was 78.1(95%CI,64.2-92.0)for the nomogram,32.9(95%CI,15.3-50.5)for WINROP model,70.2(95%CI,55.8-84.6)for Digirop-Birth model.In external validation group,AUC of the nomogram was also higher than that of WINROP model and Digirop-Birth model(80.2 versus 51.1 and 63.4).The decision curve analysis of the nomogram demonstrated better clinical efficacy than that of WINROP model and Digirop-Birth model.The calibration curves demonstrated a good consistency between the actual severe ROP incidence and the predicted probability.CONCLUSION:Birth weight,multiple births,and noninvasive ventilation are independent predictors of severe ROP.The nomogram has a good ability to predict severe ROP and performed well on internal validation and external validation in southeast China.

Lung ultrasound score evaluation of the effect of pressure-controlled ventilation volume-guaranteed on patients undergoing laparoscopicassisted radical gastrectomy

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy(LARG)is the standard treatment for early-stage gastric carcinoma(GC).However,the negative impact of this proce-dure on respiratory function requires the optimized intraoperative management of patients in terms of ventilation.AIM To investigate the influence of pressure-controlled ventilation volume-guaranteed(PCV-VG)and volume-controlled ventilation(VCV)on blood gas analysis and pulmonary ventilation in patients undergoing LARG for GC based on the lung ultrasound score(LUS).METHODS The study included 103 patients with GC undergoing LARG from May 2020 to May 2023,with 52 cases undergoing PCV-VG(research group)and 51 cases undergoing VCV(control group).LUS were recorded at the time of entering the operating room(T0),20 minutes after anesthesia with endotracheal intubation(T1),30 minutes after artificial pneumoperitoneum(PP)establishment(T2),and 15 minutes after endotracheal tube removal(T5).For blood gas analysis,arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO_(2))and partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO_(2))were observed.Peak airway pressure(P_(peak)),plateau pressure(Pplat),mean airway pressure(P_(mean)),and dynamic pulmonary compliance(C_(dyn))were recorded at T1 and T2,1 hour after PP establishment(T3),and at the end of the operation(T4).Postoperative pulmonary complications(PPCs)were recorded.Pre-and postoperative serum interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS Compared with those at T0,the whole,anterior,lateral,posterior,upper,lower,left,and right lung LUS of the research group were significantly reduced at T1,T2,and T5;in the control group,the LUS of the whole and partial lung regions(posterior,lower,and right lung)decreased significantly at T2,while at T5,the LUS of the whole and some regions(lateral,lower,and left lung)increased significantly.In comparison with the control group,the whole and regional LUS of the research group were reduced at T1,T2,and T5,with an increase in PaO_(2),decrease in PaCO_(2),reduction in P_(peak) at T1 to T4,increase in P_(mean) and C_(dyn),and decrease in Pplat at T4,all significant.The research group showed a significantly lower incidence of PPCs than the control group within 3 days postoperatively.Postoperative IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αsignificantly increased in both groups,with even higher levels in the control group.CONCLUSION LUS can indicate intraoperative non-uniformity and postural changes in pulmonary ventilation under PCV-VG and VCV.Under the lung protective ventilation strategy,the PCV-VG mode more significantly improved intraop-erative lung ventilation in patients undergoing LARG for GC and reduced lung injury-related cytokine production,thereby alleviating lung injury.

Role of diaphragmatic ultrasound in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Assessing diaphragm function status is vital for diagnosing and treating acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Diaphrag-matic ultrasound has become increasingly important due to its non-invasive nature,absence of radiation exposure,widespread availability,prompt results,high accuracy,and repeatability at the bedside.The diaphragm is a crucial respiratory muscle.Decline or dysfunction of the diaphragm can lead to dyspnea and even respiratory failure in AECOPD patients.In this editorial,we comment on an article,retrospectively analyzed ninety-four acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who received mechanical ventilation from January 2022 to December 2023.The study found that the diaphragm thickening fraction,an index from diaphragm ultrasound,can better predict the outcome of non-invasive ventilation in patients with AECOPD.The value of non-invasive ventilation in treating respiratory failure caused by AECOPD has been widely acknowledged.Diaphragmatic dysfunction diagnosed with ultrasound is asso-ciated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and weaning times and higher mortality.

Effect of early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation on function and quality of life in sepsis patients

BACKGROUND Sepsis,as a non-limiting host infection disease,can be accompanied by serious complications such as organ failure,which seriously threatens patient quality of life.AIM To investigate the effect of early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in patients evacuated from mechanical ventilation with sepsis.METHODS A total of 80 patients with sepsis who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected and divided into the observation group(n=40)and the control group(n=40)according to the random number table method.The observation group was treated with early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation,and the control group was treated with a conventional treatment regimen.Cardiac function indexes(central venous pressure,cardiac troponin I,B-type brain natriuretic peptide),lung function indicators(diaphragmatic mobility,changes in central venous oxygen saturation,oxygenation index),and quality of life(Quality of Life Evaluation Scale)were compared between the two groups after treatment.RESULTS After treatment,the central venous pressure,diaphragm mobility,central venous oxygen saturation,oxygenation index,and Quality of Life Evaluation Scale scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The observation group was less than that of the control group for other parameters,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation can effectively enhance cardiac and pulmonary function and improve the quality of life in patients evacuated from mechanical ventilation with sepsis.

Brain protective effect of dexmedetomidine vs propofol for sedation during prolonged mechanical ventilation in non-brain injured patients

BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine and propofol are two sedatives used for long-term sedation.It remains unclear whether dexmedetomidine provides superior cerebral protection for patients undergoing long-term mechanical ventilation.AIM To compare the neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine and propofol for sedation during prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients without brain injury.METHODS Patients who underwent mechanical ventilation for>72 h were randomly assigned to receive sedation with dexmedetomidine or propofol.The Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale(RASS)was used to evaluate sedation effects,with a target range of-3 to 0.The primary outcomes were serum levels of S100-βand neuron-specific enolase(NSE)every 24 h.The secondary outcomes were remifentanil dosage,the proportion of patients requiring rescue sedation,and the time and frequency of RASS scores within the target range.RESULTS A total of 52 and 63 patients were allocated to the dexmedetomidine group and propofol group,respectively.Baseline data were comparable between groups.No significant differences were identified between groups within the median duration of study drug infusion[52.0(IQR:36.0-73.5)h vs 53.0(IQR:37.0-72.0)h,P=0.958],the median dose of remifentanil[4.5(IQR:4.0-5.0)μg/kg/h vs 4.6(IQR:4.0-5.0)μg/kg/h,P=0.395],the median percentage of time in the target RASS range without rescue sedation[85.6%(IQR:65.8%-96.6%)vs 86.7%(IQR:72.3%-95.3),P=0.592],and the median frequency within the target RASS range without rescue sedation[72.2%(60.8%-91.7%)vs 73.3%(60.0%-100.0%),P=0.880].The proportion of patients in the dexmedetomidine group who required rescue sedation was higher than in the propofol group with statistical significance(69.2%vs 50.8%,P=0.045).Serum S100-βand NSE levels in the propofol group were higher than in the dexmedetomidine group with statistical significance during the first six and five days of mechanical ventilation,respectively(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine demonstrated stronger protective effects on the brain compared to propofol for long-term mechanical ventilation in patients without brain injury.

Effects of pulmonary surfactant combined with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS)is one of the most common diseases in neonatal intensive care units,with an incidence rate of about 7%among infants.Additionally,it is a leading cause of neonatal death in hospitals in China.The main mechanism of the disease is hypoxemia and hypercapnia caused by lack of surfactant AIM To explore the effect of pulmonary surfactant(PS)combined with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on keratin-14(KRT-14)and endothelin-1(ET-1)levels in peripheral blood and the effectiveness in treating NRDS.METHODS Altogether 137 neonates with respiratory distress syndrome treated in our hospital from April 2019 to July 2021 were included.Of these,64 control cases were treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and 73 observation cases were treated with PS combined with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.The expression of KRT-14 and ET-1 in the two groups was compared.The deaths,complications,and PaO_(2),PaCO_(2),and PaO_(2)/FiO_(2)blood gas indexes in the two groups were compared.Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)analysis was used to determine the diagnostic value of KRT-14 and ET-1 in the treatment of NRDS.RESULTS The observation group had a significantly higher effectiveness rate than the control group.There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of neonatal mortality and adverse reactions,such as bronchial dysplasia,cyanosis,and shortness of breath.After treatment,the levels of PaO_(2)and PaO_(2)/FiO_(2)in both groups were significantly higher than before treatment,while the level of PaCO_(2)was significantly lower.After treatment,the observation group had significantly higher levels of PaO_(2)and PaO_(2)/FiO_(2)than the control group,while PaCO_(2)was notably lower in the observation group.After treatment,the KRT-14 and ET-1 levels in both groups were significantly decreased compared with the pre-treatment levels.The observation group had a reduction of KRT-14 and ET-1 levels than the control group.ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of KRT-14 was 0.791,and the AUC of ET-1 was 0.816.CONCLUSION Combining PS with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation significantly improved the effectiveness of NRDS therapy.KRT-14 and ET-1 levels may have potential as therapeutic and diagnostic indicators.

Effects of acetylcysteine on micro-inflammation and pulmonary ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)is a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,often characterized by increased morbidity and mortality.In traditional Chinese medicine,AECOPD is linked to phlegm-heat and blood-stasis,presenting symptoms like thick sputum,fever,and chest pain.It has been shown that acetylcysteine inhalation in conjunction with conventional therapy significantly reduced inflammatory markers and improved lung function parameters in patients with AECOPD,suggesting that acetylcysteine may be an important adjunctive therapy for patients with phlegm-heat-blood stasis type AECOPD.AIM To investigate the effect of acetylcysteine on microinflammation and lung ventilation in patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD.METHODS One hundred patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD were randomly assigned to two groups.The treatment group received acetylcysteine inhalation(10%solution,5 mL,twice daily)along with conventional therapy,whereas the control group received only conventional therapy.The treatment duration was 14 d.Inflammatory markers(C-reactive protein,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-alpha)in the serum and sputum as well as lung function parameters(forced expiratory volume in one second,forced vital capacity,and peak expiratory flow)were assessed pre-and post-treatment.Acetylcysteine inhalation led to significant reductions in inflammatory markers and improvements in lung function parameters compared to those in the control group(P<0.05).This suggests that acetylcysteine could serve as an effective adjunct therapy for patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD.RESULTS Acetylcysteine inhalation significantly reduced inflammatory markers in the serum and sputum and improved lung ventilation function parameters in patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis type AECOPD compared with the control group.These differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The study concluded that acetylcysteine inhalation had a positive effect on microinflammation and lung ventilation function in patients with this type of AECOPD,suggesting its potential as an adjuvant therapy for such cases.CONCLUSION Acetylcysteine inhalation demonstrated significant improvements in reducing inflammatory markers in the serum and sputum,as well as enhancing lung ventilation function parameters in patients with phlegm-heat and bloodstasis type AECOPD.These findings suggest that acetylcysteine could serve as a valuable adjuvant therapy for individuals with this specific type of AECOPD,offering benefits for managing microinflammation and optimizing lung function.