Predictive value of diaphragm ultrasound for mechanical ventilation outcome in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)is often combined with respiratory failure,which increases the patient's morbidity and mortality.Diaphragm ultrasound(DUS)has developed rapidly in the field of critical care in recent years.Studies with DUS monitoring diaphragm-related rapid shallow breathing index have demonstrated important results in guiding intensive care unit patients out of the ventilator.Early prediction of the indications for withdrawal of non-invasive ventilator and early evaluation of patients to avoid or reduce disease progression are very important.AIM To explore the predictive value of DUS indexes for non-invasive ventilation outcome in patients with AECOPD.METHODS Ninety-four patients with AECOPD who received mechanical ventilation in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,and they were divided into a successful ventilation group(68 cases)and a failed ventilation group(26 cases)according to the outcome of ventilation.The clinical data of patients with successful and failed noninvasive ventilation were compared,and the independent predictors of noninvasive ventilation outcomes in AECOPD patients were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.RESULTS There were no significant differences in gender,age,body mass index,complications,systolic pressure,heart rate,mean arterial pressure,respiratory rate,oxygen saturation,partial pressure of oxygen,oxygenation index,or time of inspiration between patients with successful and failed mechanical ventilation(P>0.05).The patients with successful noninvasive ventilation had shorter hospital stays and lower partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO_(2))than those with failed treatment,while potential of hydrogen(pH),diaphragm thickening fraction(DTF),diaphragm activity,and diaphragm movement time were significantly higher than those with failed treatment(P<0.05).pH[odds ratio(OR)=0.005,P<0.05],PaCO_(2)(OR=0.430,P<0.05),and DTF(OR=0.570,P<0.05)were identified to be independent factors influencing the outcome of mechanical ventilation in AECOPD patients.CONCLUSION The DUS index DTF can better predict the outcome of non-invasive ventilation in AECOPD patients.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Tigecycline in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infection

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy and safety of tigecycline in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)combined with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection.Methods:113 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD combined with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection were recruited between January 2021 and January 2023,and given tigecycline treatment.The total effective rate,lung function indexes,related biochemical index levels,and the incidence rate of adverse reactions were observed after the treatment.Results:After the treatment,100 patients were cured,1 case with apparent effect,2 cases were effective,10 cases were ineffective,and the total effective rate was 91.15%.The post-treatment CRP(21.22±3.35 mg/L),PCT(3.18±1.11 ng/L),CRE(76.36±9.24μmol/L),and ALT(37.76±6.99 U/L)were significantly improved as compared to the pre-treatment(P<0.05).After treatment,10 cases of vomiting(8.85%),13 cases of nausea(11.50%),4 cases of diarrhea(3.53%),1 case of abdominal pain(0.88%),and 2 cases of allergy(1.77%)were observed in 113 patients.Conclusion:Tigecycline therapy for patients with acute exacerbation of COPD combined with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection not only has significant therapeutic efficacy but also has a high degree of safety.

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.

Palliative care for end-stage liver disease and acute on chronic liver failure:A systematic review

BACKGROUND End stage liver disease(ESLD)represents a growing health concern characterized by elevated morbidity and mortality,particularly among individual ineligible for liver transplantation.The demand for palliative care(PC)is pronounced in patients grappling with ESLD and acute on chronic liver failure(ACLF).Unfortunately,the historical underutilization of PC in ESLD patients,despite their substantial needs and those of their family caregivers,underscores the imperative of seamlessly integrating PC principles into routine healthcare practices across the entire disease spectrum.AIM To comprehensively investigate the evidence surrounding the benefits of incorporating PC into the comprehensive care plan for individuals confronting ESLD and/or ACLF.METHODS A systematic search in the Medline(PubMed)database was performed using a predetermined search command,encompassing studies published in English without any restrictions on the publication date.Subsequently,the retrieved studies were manually examined.Simple descriptive analyses were employed to summarize the results.RESULTS The search strategies yielded 721 references.Following the final analysis,32 fulllength references met the inclusion criteria and were consequently incorporated into the study.Meticulous data extraction from these 32 studies was undertaken,leading to the execution of a comprehensive narrative systematic review.The review found that PC provides significant benefits,reducing symptom burden,depressive symptoms,readmission rates,and hospital stays.Yet,barriers like the appeal of transplants and misconceptions about PC hinder optimal utilization.Integrating PC early,upon the diagnosis of ESLD and ACLF,regardless of transplant eligibility and availability,improves the quality of life for these patients.CONCLUSION Despite the substantial suffering and poor prognosis associated with ESLD and ACLF,where liver transplantation stands as the only curative treatment,albeit largely inaccessible,PC services have been overtly provided too late in the course of the illness.A comprehensive understanding of PC's pivotal role in treating ESLD and ACLF is crucial for overcoming these barriers,involving healthcare providers,patients,and caregivers.

Eff ects of early standardized enteral nutrition on preventing acute muscle loss in the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND:To investigate the eff ects of early standardized enteral nutrition(EN)on the crosssectional area of erector spine muscle(ESMcsa),plasma growth diff erentiation factor-15(GDF-15),and 28-day mortality of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)patients with invasive mechanical ventilation(MV).METHODS:A total of 97 AECOPD patients with invasive MV were screened in the ICUs of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang.The conventional EN group(stage Ⅰ)and early standardized EN group(stage Ⅱ)included 46 and 51 patients,respectively.ESMcsa loss and GDF-15 levels on days 1 and 7 of ICU admission and 28-day survival rates were analyzed.RESULTS:On day 7,the ESMcsa of the early standardized EN group was significantly higher than that of the conventional EN group,while the plasma GDF-15 levels were significantly lower than those in the conventional EN group(ESMcsa:28.426±6.130 cm^(2) vs.25.205±6.127 cm^(2);GDF-15:1661.608±558.820 pg/mL vs.2541.000±634.845 pg/mL;all P<0.001).The 28-day survival rates of the patients in the early standardized EN group and conventional EN group were 80.40%and 73.90%,respectively(P=0.406).CONCLUSION:ESMcsa loss in AECOPD patients with MV was correlated with GDF-15 levels,both of which indicated acute muscular atrophy and skeletal muscle dysfunction.Early standardized EN may prevent acute muscle loss and intensive care unit-acquired weakness(ICU-AW)in AECOPD patients.

Clinical study of NFNC in the treatment of acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with respiratory failure

BACKGROUND Most patients with acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)have respiratory failure that necessitates active correction and the improvement of oxygenation is particularly important during treatment.High flow nasal cannula(HFNC)oxygen therapy is a non-invasive respiratory aid that is widely used in the clinic that improves oxygenation state,reduces dead space ventilation and breathing effort,protects the loss of cilia in the airways,and improves patient comfort.AIM To compare HFNC and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in the treatment of patients with AECOPD.METHODS Eighty AECOPD patients were included in the study.The patients were in the intensive care department of our hospital from October 2019 to October 2021.The patients were divided into the control and treatment groups according to the different treatment methods with 40 patients in each group.Differences in patient comfort,blood gas analysis and infection indices were analyzed between the two groups.RESULTS After treatment,symptoms including nasal,throat and chest discomfort were significantly lower in the treatment group compared to the control group on the 3rd and 5th days(P<0.05).Before treatment,the PaO_(2),PaO_(2)/FiO_(2),PaCO_(2),and SaO_(2)in the two groups of patients were not significantly different(P>0.05).After treatment,the same indicators were significantly improved in both patient groups but had improved more in the treatment group compared to the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the white blood cell count,and the levels of C-reactive protein and calcitonin in patients in the treatment group were significantly higher compared to patients in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION HFNC treatment can improve the ventilation of AECOPD patients whilst also improving patient comfort,and reducing complications.HFNC is a clinically valuable technique for the treatment of AECOPD.

Long-term outcomes of pediatric liver transplantation in acute liver failure vs end-stage chronic liver disease:A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND Children with acute liver failure(ALF)who meet the criteria are eligible for super-urgent transplantation,whereas children with end-stage chronic liver disease(ESCLD)are usually transplanted electively.Pediatric liver transplantation(PLT)in ALF and ESCLD settings has been well described in the literature,but there are no studies comparing the outcomes in these two groups.AIM To determine if there is a difference in post-operative complications and survival outcomes between ALF and ESCLD in PLT.METHODS This was a retrospective observational study of all primary PLTs performed at a single center between 2000 and 2019.ALF and ESCLD groups were compared for pretransplant recipient,donor and operative parameters,and post-operative outcomes including graft and patient survival.RESULTS Over a 20-year study period,232 primary PLTs were performed at our center;195 were transplanted for ESCLD and 37 were transplanted for ALF.The ALF recipients were significantly older(median 8 years vs 5.4 years;P=0.031)and heavier(31 kg vs 21 kg;P=0.011).Living donor grafts were used more in the ESCLD group(34 vs 0;P=0.006).There was no difference between the two groups concerning vascular complications and rejection,but there were more bile leaks in the ESCLD group.Post-transplant patient survival was significantly higher in the ESCLD group:1-,5-,and 10-year survival rates were 97.9%,93.9%,and 89.4%,respectively,compared to 78.3%,78.3%,and 78.3%in the ALF group(P=0.007).However,there was no difference in 1-,5-,and 10-year graft survival between the ESCLD and ALF groups(90.7%,82.9%,77.3%vs 75.6%,72.4%,and 66.9%;P=0.119).CONCLUSION Patient survival is inferior in ALF compared to ESCLD recipients;the main reason is death in the 1st year post-PLT in ALF group.Once the ALF children overcome the 1st year after transplant,their survival stabilizes,and they have good long-term outcomes.

Risk factors for progression to acute-on-chronic liver failure during severe acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection results in different severities of liver injury. The risk factors related to progression to hepatic decompensation(HD) and acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF) in patients with severe acute exacerbation(SAE) of chronic HBV infection remain unknown.AIM To identify risk factors related to progression to HD and ACLF in compensated patients with SAE of chronic HBV infection.METHODS The baseline characteristics of 164 patients with SAE of chronic HBV infection were retrospectively reviewed. Independent risk factors associated with progression to HD and ACLF were identified. The predictive values of our previously established prediction model in patients with acute exacerbation(AE model) and the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) score in predicting the development of ACLF were evaluated.RESULTS Among 164 patients with SAE, 83(50.6%) had compensated liver cirrhosis(LC),43 had progression to HD without ACLF, and 29 had progression to ACLF within 28 d after admission. Independent risk factors associated with progression to HD were LC and low alanine aminotransferase. Independent risk factors for progression to ACLF were LC, high MELD score, high aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels, and low prothrombin activity(PTA). The area under the receiver operating characteristic of the AE model [0.844, 95%confidence interval(CI): 0.779-0.896] was significantly higher than that of MELD score(0.690, 95%CI: 0.613-0.760, P < 0.05) in predicting the development of ACLF.CONCLUSION In patients with SAE of chronic HBV infection, LC is an independent risk factor for progression to both HD and ACLF. High MELD score, high AST, and low PTA are associated with progression to ACLF. The AE model is a better predictor of ACLF development in patients with SAE than MELD score.

Effect of low-dose glucocorticoid on corticosteroid insufficient patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of critical illness-related corticosteroid insuffi ciency(CIRCI) and the effect of low-dose glucocorticoid on prognosis of CIRCI in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).METHODS: Since January 2010 to December 2012, 385 patients, who met the criteria of AECOPD, were enrolled in the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of the First People's Hospital and Municipal Central Hospital of Xiangtan City. The AECOPD patients complicated with CIRCI screened by an adrenalcorticotrophic hormone test within 12 hours after admission to ICU were divided into a treatment group(n=32) and a control group(n=31) for a prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trial. Hydrocortisone(150 mg/d) or normal saline was injected intravenously for 7 days. The patients were followed up for 28 days after injection. The endpoint included 28-day survival time, non-shock time, ICU stay and the period of non-mechanical ventilation. The markers ofinfl ammation C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6 and procalcitonin were measured at baseline and 7 days after treatment. The variables were analyzed by Student's t test, the non-parametric statistical test, the Chi-square test or the Kaplan-Meier method with SPSS18.0 statistic software. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically signifi cant.RESULTS: Totally 63 patients were diagnosed with CIRCI by an adrenalcorticotrophic hormone test and the prevalence rate was 16.4%. The shock rate of the AECOPD patients complicated with CIRCI was higher than that of the AECOPD patients without CIRCI(23.8% vs. 8.7%, P<0.01). KaplanMeier analysis revealed that the 28-day survival time of the treatment group was obviously longer than that of the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, shock-free days within 28 days was longer in the treatment group(18.2±9.5 vs. 25.8±4.1, P<0.05). Treatment with low-dose glucocorticoid obviously decreased the markers ofinfection and inflammation(P<0.01), such as C-reactive protein(13.2±5.5 mg/L vs. 8.3±3.1 mg/L for the control group; 13.5±5.9 mg/L vs. 5.1±2.3 mg/L for the treatment group), tumor necrosis factor-α(26.1±16.2 g/L vs. 17.5±11.7 g/L for the control group; 25.0±14.8 g/L vs. 10.4±7.8 g/L for the treatment group) and procalcitonin(3.88 g/L vs. 2.03 g/L for the control group; 3.77 g/L vs. 1.26 g/L for the treatment group). Furthermore, the markers in the treatment group decreased more obviously than those in the control group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of CIRCI was higher in the patients with AECOPD in the department of critical medicine, and low-dose glucocorticoid treatment for one week reduced the 28-day mortality, shock time and markers ofinfection and infl ammation.

Application of fiberoptic bronchscopy in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during sequential weaning of invasive-noninvasive mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND:Early withdrawal of invasive mechanical ventilation(IMV) followed by noninvasive MV(NIMV) is a new strategy for changing modes of treatment in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD) with acute respiratory failure(ARF).Using pulmonary infection control window(PIC window) as the switch point for transferring from invasive to noninvasive MV,the time for early extubation can be more accurately judged,and therapy efficacy can be improved.This study aimed to prospectively investigate the clinical effectiveness of fiberoptic bronchscopy(FOB) in patients with AECOPD during sequential weaning of invasive-noninvasive MV.METHODS:Since July 2006 to January 2011,106 AECOPD patients with ARF were treated with comprehensive medication and IMV after hospitalization.Patients were randomly divided into two groups according to whether fiberoptic bronchoscope is used(group A,n=54) or not(group B,n=52) during sequential weaning from invasive to noninvasive MV.In group A,for sputum suction and bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL),a fiberoptic bronchoscope was put into the airway from the outside of an endotracheal tube,which was accompanied with uninterrupted use of a ventilator.After achieving PIC window,patients of both groups changed to NIMV mode,and weaned from ventilation.The following listed indices were used to compare between the groups after treatment:1) the occurrence time of PIC,the duration of MV,the length of ICU stay,the success rate of weaning from MV for the first time,the rate of reventilatJon and the occurrence rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP);2) the convenience and safety of FOB manipulation.The results were compared using Student's f test and the Chi-square test.RESULTS:The occurrence time of PIC was(5.01 ±1.49) d,(5.87±1.87) d in groups A and B,respectively(P<0.05);the duration of MV was(6.98±1.84) d,(8.69±2.41) d in groups A and B,respectively(P<0.01);the length of ICU stay was(9.25±1.84) d,(11.10±2.63) d in groups A and B,respectively(P<0.01);the success rate of weaning for the first time was 96.30%,76.92%in groups A and B,respectively(P<0.01);the rate of reventilation was 5.56%,19.23%in groups A and B,respectively(P<0.05);and the occurrence rate of VAP was 3.70%,23.07%in groups A and B,respectively(P<0.01).Moreover,it was easy and safe to manipulate FOB,and no side effect was observed.CONCLUSIONS:The application of FOB in patients with AECOPD during sequential weaning of invasive-noninvasive MV is effective in ICU.It can decrease the duration of MV and the length of ICU stay,increase the success rate from weaning MV for the first time,reduce the rate of reventilation and the occurrence rate of VAP.In addition,such a method is convenient and safe in patients of this kind.

Value of refined care in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND Under physiological conditions,sputum produced during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)can move passively with the cilia in the airway;the sputum is gradually excreted from the depth of the airways through the stimulation of the coughing reflex on the sensory nerve on the surface of the airway.However,when the sputum is thick,the cough is weak,or the tracheal cilia are abnormal,sputum accumulation may occur and affect the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lung.Furthermore,the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in sputum may cause or aggravate the symptoms of pulmonary infection in patients,which is the main factor leading to AECOPD.Therefore,promoting effective drainage of sputum and maintaining airway opening are key points requiring clinical attention.AIM To explore the effect of refined nursing strategies in patients with AECOPD and dysphagia.METHODS We selected 126 patients with AECOPD and difficulty of expectoration at our hospital,and divided them into a refined care group and a routine care group,with 63 cases each,using a random number table.The two groups of patients were treated with expectorant,anti-infection,oxygen inhalation,and other basic treatment measures;patients in the refined care group were given refined nursing intervention during hospitalization,and the routine care group received conventional nursing intervention.The differences in sputum expectoration,negative pressure suction rate,blood gas parameters,dyspnea score measured through the tool developed by the Medical Research Council(MRC),and quality of life were compared between the two groups.RESULTS After 7 d of intervention,the sputum expectoration effect of the refined care group was 62.30%,the effective rate was 31.15%,and the inefficiency rate was 6.56%.The sputum expectoration effect of the routine care group was 44.07%,the effective rate was 42.37%,and the inefficiency rate was 13.56%.The refined care group had better sputum expectoration than the routine care group(P<0.05).The negative pressure suction rate in the refined care group was significantly lower than that of the routine care group during the treatment(22.95%vs 44.07%,P<0.05).Before the intervention,the arterial oxygen saturation(PaO2)and arterial carbon dioxide saturation(PaCO2)values were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05);the PaO2 and PaCO2 values in the refined care group were comparable to those in the routine care group after 7 d of intervention(P>0.05).Before the intervention,there was no significant difference in the MRC score between the two groups(P>0.05);the MRC score of the refined care group was lower than that of the routine care group after 7 d of intervention,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Before intervention,there was no significant difference in the symptoms,activities,disease impact,or St.George’s Respiratory questionnaire(SGRQ)total scores between the two groups(P>0.05).After 7 days of intervention,the symptoms,activities,and total score of SGRQ of the refined care group were higher than those of the routine care group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).CONCLUSION AECOPD with thick sputum,weak coughing reflex,and abnormal tracheal cilia function will lead to sputum accumulation and affect the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lung.Patients with AECOPD who have difficulty expectorating sputum may undergo refined nursing strategies that will promote expectoration,alleviate clinical symptoms,and improve the quality of life.

Diagnosis and treatment of an elderly patient with 2019-nCoV pneumonia and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Gansu Province:A case report

BACKGROUND In December 2019,the first patient with 2019-novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV)was reported in Wuhan,China,and the disease spread rapidly across the country and surrounding countries within 2 mo.As of February 29,2020,a total of 91 confirmed cases had been reported in Gansu Province.This case report of the diagnosis and treatment of an elderly patient with 2019-nCoV pneumonia complicated by acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Gansu Province aims to provide a better reference for the treatment of patients in the future.CASE SUMMARY The patient,a 94-year-old female,lived in Maiji District of Tianshui,Gansu Province,China.On January 30,2020,she was admitted to the Fourth People’s Hospital of Tianshui after 9 d of close contact with a patient with 2019-nCoV pneumonia.She was subsequently admitted to Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine for isolation and transferred to Tianshui Gansu Provincial Hospital of Infectious Diseases on February 3,2020 for treatment.Upon initial examination,her body temperature was 36.7°C,pulse was 80,breathing was 20,and blood pressure was 130/80 mmHg.She was conscious with normal development and normal nutrition.The pharynx was not red,and bilateral tonsils were not red and swollen.The lungs sounded slightly coarse with no dry or wet rales.The first symptoms were cough and fatigue on 2 February.The patient was hospitalized for 12 d.After active treatment,she was discharged on February 14 with a good prognosis.CONCLUSION A history of exposure to the affected area or patient is a major cause of 2019-nCoV infection,and population clustering is a high risk factor for transmission.Patients may not necessarily have respiratory system symptoms as the only clinical manifestation but may also have concomitant or first onset digestive symptoms.Attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.Nucleic acid testing is extremely important and needs to be repeated several times.Laboratory and auxiliary examination indicators during the first week of admission are extremely important.It is feasible to carry out dynamic and continuous index monitoring,which can predict and guide the prevention and treatment of multiple organ dysfunction and the prognosis of the disease.

Helmet-based noninvasive ventilation for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A case report

BACKGROUND Noninvasive ventilation(NIV)reduces intubation rates,mortalities,and lengths of hospital and intensive care unit stays in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Helmet-based NIV is better tolerated than oronasal mask-based ventilation,and thus,allows NIV to be conducted for prolonged periods at higher pressures with minimal air leaks.CASE SUMMARY A 73-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of COPD stage 4 was admitted to our medical intensive care unit with chief complaints of cough,sputum,and dyspnea of several days’duration.For 10 mo,he had been on oxygen at home by day and had used an oronasal mask-based NIV at night.At intensive care unit admission,he breathed using respiratory accessory muscles.Hypercapnia and signs of infection were detected,and infiltration was observed in the right lower lung field by chest radiography.Thus,we diagnosed AECOPD by communityacquired pneumonia.After admission,respiratory distress steadily deteriorated and invasive mechanical ventilation became necessary.However,the patient refused this option,and thus,we selected helmet-based NIV as a salvage treatment.After 3 d of helmet-based NIV,his consciousness level and hypercapnia recovered to his pre-hospitalization level.CONCLUSION Helmet-based NIV could be considered as a salvage treatment when AECOPD patients refuse invasive mechanical ventilation and oronasal mask-based NIV is ineffective.

Definition and classification of acute-on-chronic liver diseases

Patients with chronic liver diseases(CLDs)develop acute liver injury and/or acute decompensation under the attack of various precipitants and present with significantly elevated alanine aminotransferase and/or total bilirubin levels,liver failure,or acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis,which is called acute-on-CLD(AoCLD).AoCLD accounts for the majority of patients hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology or Infectious Diseases.AoCLD is complicated by various clinical types,the severity of the disease,and may pose a high risk of death.To date,the definition of AoCLD is still vague,and a consensus concept of the clinical classification is lacking.This review aimed to define the concept and clinical types of AoCLD based on related studies and the literature.

Effect of ivabradine in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with heart failure

Objective: To observe the effectiveness and safety of ivabradine in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and heart failure. Methods:Patients who were admitted to hospital with AECOPD during the period from August 2017 to July 2018. Then those both had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF) and a resting heart rate>70 beats/min were enrolled. A total of 86 cases were screened and completed, which were randomly divided into two groups for treatment. The control group(41 cases) received standard treatments, such as oxygen, anti-infection, anti-spasmodic, hormone, diuretic, ACEI/ARB, recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP), etc. The bisoprolol was given 2.5~5 mg orally once a day to control heart rate, and the test group(45 cases) was further treated with ivabradine 2.5~5 mg orally twice a day on the basis of the control group. The average heart rate, cardiac function, lung function, and 6-minute walking test were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, the average heart rate of the test group was lower than the control group, and the heart rate control rate(<70 beats/min%) of the test group was superior to the control group. The level of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in test group was significantly lower than that in control group. The distance of the 6-minute walking test in e test group was significantly longer than that in control group. Conclusion: Ivabradine combined with bisoprolol could help patients with AECOPD and heart failure to further reduce the heart rates, improve heart function and exercise tolerance. Moreover, the therapeutic safety was acceptable during the short term.

The Importance of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Peripheral Blood Eosinophilia in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with Acute Exacerbation: Recent Studies

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic, progressive respiratory disease and the third leading cause of respiratory disease mortality. The diagnosis of COPD is changed to acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) when respiratory symptoms become worse, beyond normal day-to-day variations and severely enough that changes in medication are required. Both neutrophils to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and peripheral blood eosinophilia (PBE) are rapid and relatively inexpensive tests that can be easily applied in the clinical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of AECOPD patients. Furthermore, current studies found that NLR and PBE had a higher accuracy rate than other traditional markers (Leukocyte count and C-reactive protein) for the diagnosis and management of AECOPD. Besides, recent studies determined that NLR and PBE can be used for prediction of future exacerbations in COPD patients. This review aims to explore the current knowledge about the significance of NLR and PBE in AECOPD patients.

Effects of Suhuang Zhike Capsule on Pulmonary Function, Blood Gas Analysis Index, Serum PCT and CRP Expression in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Suhuang Zhike Capsule on pulmonary function, blood gas analysis index, serum PCT and CRP expression in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: A total of 88 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xuancheng People's Hospital of Anhui Province from December 2014 to December 2016 were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group, with 44 cases in each group. The control group was given routine clinical treatment, and the observation group was given Suhuang Zhike Capsule on the basis of the treatment method of the control group. After 7 days' treatment, the improvement of lung function indexes were observed and evaluated before and after treatment(forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV_1), forced expiratory volume occupancy in the 1^(st) second percentage of vital capacity(FEVl/FVC), peak expiatory flow(PEF)), blood gas analysis index(Arterial oxygen partial pressure(PaO_2) and arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressure(PaCO_2), oxygenation index(OI)) and serum cytokine levels(procalcitonin(PCT) and C reactive protein(CRP). RESULTS: The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P < 0.05). The FEV_1, FEV_1/FVC and PEF in 2 groups were significantly increased after the treatment(P < 0.05), and the above lung function indexes in the observation group were significantly higher than the control group(P < 0.05). PaO_2 and OI were significantly increased after the treatment(P < 0.05), PaCO_2 was significantly decreased after the treatment(P < 0.05), and the improvement of above blood gas analysis indexes were significantly superior of the observation group than the control group(P < 0.05). The serum PCT and CRP levels in 2 groups were significantly decreased after the treatment(P < 0.05), and the improvement in the observation group were more significant than that in the control group(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Suhuang Zhike Capsule can inhibit serum inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, improve blood gas analysis indicators, and improve lung functions.

Diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein for bacterial infections in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta-analysis

Objective:The clinical diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein(CRP)for bacterial infections in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)is still controversial.This study evaluated its accuracy through Meta-analysis.Methods:Studies on the diagnostic value of CRP for bacterial infections in AECOPD were searched form Web of Science,PubMed,Cochrane library,EMBASE,WANFANG DATA,CNKI and China Biology Medicine disc.The included studies were evaluated according to QUADAS-2 assessment tool.Stata 12.0 software was used for meta analyses to summarize the sensitivity and the specificity of the included studies,and the heterogeneity test was conducted.The symmetric receiver operating characteristic curves(SROC)was drawn and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated,and the funnel plot was drawn to determine publication bias.Results:664 studies were initially identified,20 of which met the inclusion criteria(9 in English and 11 in Chinese).Meta-analysis results showed that the summary sensitivity and specificity of CRP in diagnosing bacterial infections in AECOPD were 0.84,95%CI(0.77-0.90)and 0.76,95%CI(0.67-0.82),respectively.The AUC of SROC was 0.87,95%CI(0.83-0.89).Conclusion:CRP has high accuracy,sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing AECOPD bacterial infections from non-bacterial infection.

Effects of low molecular weight heparin on the function of blood coagulation and serum levels of TNF-α, CK-MB, CRP of patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory failur

Objective:To study the effects of low molecular weight heparin on the function of blood coagulation and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory failure.Methods:A total of 80 patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory failure in our hospital from June 2014 to October 2016 were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided into the control group (n=40) and the treatment group (n=40) randomly. The control group were treated with conventional treatment, the treatment group were treated with the conventional treatment combined with low molecular weight heparin. The two groups were treated for 7 d. The D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen (FBG), pro thrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), TNF-α, CK-MB and CRP of the two groups before and after treatment were compared.Results:There were no significantly differences of the blood levels of D-D, FBG, PT and TT of the two groups before treatment. After treatment, the blood levels of D-D and FBG of the two groups were significantly lower than before treatment, and that of the treatment group were significantly lower than the control group, the PT and TT of the two groups were significantly higher than before treatment, and that of the treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. There were no significantly differences of the serum levels of the TNF-α, CK-MB and CRP of the two groups before treatment. After treatment, the serum levels of the TNF-α, CK-MB and CRP of the two groups were significantly lower than before treatment, and that of the treatment group were significantly lower than the control group.Conclusion:Low molecular weight heparin can significantly reduce the inflammatory factors of the patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory failure, can alleviath the patients conditions and reduce the myocardial damage.

Utilising network pharmacology and molecular dockingtoexplore the mechanism of Sangbaipi Decoction in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To explore themechanism of Sangbaipi Decoction(SBPD)in the treatment of acute exacer-bation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods The active compounds of SBPD and targets of those active compounds were collectedfrom the TCMSP database.Then we built the AECOPD target database by OMIM,GeneCards,PharmGKB and DrugBank.The intersectional targets arethep-otentialtargets of SBPD in the treatment ofAECOPD.We built"Potential Active Compounds-Drug-AECOPDTargets"Network via Cytoscape software.Weconstruct the Protein-Protein Inter-action(PPI)network through STRING database.We analyze the PPI network and“Potential Active Compounds-Drug-AECOPD Targets”Network via CytoNCA,then we got the core targets and key active compounds of SBPDin the treatment ofAE-COPD.TheGeneOntology(GO)function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment on the intersection targets were analyzed by R software.The key active compounds is molecularly docked with the core target protein receptors through AutoDock Vina soft-ware,and the 2D ligand-protein interaction diagramsare drawn through LigPlot 2.2 software.ResultsThere were 109 active compounds,205 targets of SBPD.2837 targetsrelated to AECOPD were picked out.157 intersectional targets were obtained from the two datas.We get 3 coretargets(TP53,JUN,VEGFA)and five key active compounds(quercetin,luteolin,kaempferol,wogonin,arachidonic acid)of SBPD.The GO function enrichment analysis showed that 2552 entries(P<0.05),of which there were 2261 biological processes(BP)items,and 84 related items of cell composition(CC),and 207 molecular function(MF)items.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that 167 signaling path-ways(P<0.05),mainly including IL 17 signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway.The molecular dock-ing structure shows that the key active compounds of SBPD have good affinities with the core targets.ConclusionSBPD may treatAECOPD by anti-inflammatory,anti-oxidation,airway mucus secretion reduction,and pulmonary vascular remodeling reduction.