Lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio is associated with outcome in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND The lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio(LWR)is a blood marker of the systemic inflammatory response.The prognostic value of LWR in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure(HBV-ACLF)remains unclear.AIM To explore whether LWR could stratify the risk of poor outcomes in HBV-ACLF patients.METHODS This study was conducted by recruiting 330 patients with HBV-ACLF at the Department of Gastroenterology in a large tertiary hospital.Patients were divided into survivor and non-survivor groups according to their 28-d prognosis.The independent risk factors for 28-d mortality were calculated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.Patients were divided into low-and high-LWR groups according to the cutoff values.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed according to the level of LWR.RESULTS During the 28-d follow-up time,135 patients died,and the mortality rate was 40.90%.The LWR level in non-surviving patients was significantly decreased compared to that in surviving patients.A lower LWR level was an independent risk factor for poor 28-d outcomes(hazard ratio=0.052,95%confidence interval:0.005-0.535).The LWR level was significantly negatively correlated with the Child-Turcotte-Pugh,model for end-stage liver disease,and Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B-ACLF II scores.In addition,the 28-d mortality was higher for patients with LWR<0.11 than for those with LWR≥0.11.CONCLUSION LWR may serve as a simple and useful tool for stratifying the risk of poor 28-d outcomes in HBVACLF patients.

Role of ammonia in predicting the outcome of patients with acuteon- chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND High venous ammonia(VA)values have been proven to be a part of the mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)as well as acute hepatitis.Moreover,VA has been associated with poor prognosis and high mortality in these clinical settings.However,the role of ammonia in acuteon-chronic liver failure(ACLF)has not yet been clearly established.AIM To assess the role of VA in predicting the outcome of cirrhotic patients with ACLF in a tertiary care center.METHODS We performed a retrospective observational study including consecutive patients with LC hospitalized for acute non-elective indications such as ascites,hepatic encephalopathy(HE),upper gastrointestinal bleeding,or bacterial infections that fulfilled the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver(APASL)criteria for ACLF.The study was conducted in“St.Spiridon”University Hospital,Iasi,Romania,a tertiary care center,between January 2017 and January 2019.The APASL ACLF Research Consortium(AARC)score was calculated and ACLF grade was established accordingly.West-haven classification was used for HE.Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 22.0.RESULTS Four hundred and forty-six patients were included,aged 59(50-65)years,57.4%men.Child-Pugh,model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)and AARC scores were 11(10-12),19.13±6.79,and 7(6-8),respectively.66.4%had ACLF grade I,31.2%ACLF grade II,and 2.5%ACLF grade III.HE was diagnosed in 83.9%,34%grade I,37.2%grade II,23.5%grade III,and 5.3%grade IV.Overall mortality was 7.8%.VA was 103(78-148)μmol/L.Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed good accuracy for the prediction of in-hospital mortality for the AARC score[Area under the curve(AUC)=0.886],MELD score(AUC=0.816),VA(AUC=0.812)and a fair accuracy for the Child-Pugh score(AUC=0.799).Subsequently,a cut-off value for the prediction of mortality was identified for VA(152.5μmol/L,sensitivity=0.706,1-specificity=0.190).Univariate analysis found acute kidney injury,severe HE(grade III or IV),VA≥152.5μmol/L,MELD score≥22.5,Child-Pugh score≥12.5,and AARC score≥8.5 to be associated with inhospital mortality.Multivariate analysis identified AARC score≥8.5 and venous ammonia≥152μmol/L to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.CONCLUSION VA could be used as an inexpensive predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with ACLF.Patients with both ACLF and VA>152.5μmol/L have a high risk for a poor outcome.

Studies on carbon budget score remarkable progress

On 23 November, 2006, a key CAS research project on carbon budget passed the review by a panel of experts under the joint

Diabetes Is Not Associated with Increased 10-week Mortality Risk in Patients with Cryptococcal Meningitis

Background:Diabetes is a risk factor for acquisition of cryptococcal meningitis(CM).However,the effects of diabetes on outcomes of CM patient have not been fully studied.Methods:In this retrospective study,49 diabetic CM patients and 98 non-diabetic CM patients from January 2008 to December 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University were included by propensity score-matched method(1:2).Demographic characteristics,symptoms,and clinical assay parameters between the two groups were compared.Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess factors associated with 10-week mortality.Results:The mean age of diabetic patients was 58.2±13.8 years;71.4%(35/49)were more than 50 years old and 46.9%were male.No difference in symptoms was found between diabetic and non-diabetic CM patients.The Charlson comorbidity score was higher in the diabetic group(1.9 vs.0.7,P<0.001).CM patients with diabetes had higher white blood cells count(106/L,111.0(18.0–242.5)vs.50.0(10.0–140.0),P=0.034)in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF),lower CSF India ink positivity(40.8%vs.60.2%,P=0.039),and Cryptococcus culture positivity(42.9%vs.60.2%,P=0.047).The overall 10-week survival rate was 79.7%in diabetic patients vs.83.2%in non-diabetic patients(log-rank P=0.794).Conclusion:Diabetic CM patients have higher CSF glucose and Charlson comorbidity score,but lower CSF India ink and culture positivity than non-diabetic CM patients.No difference in 10-week mortality was found between patients with and without diabetes.Other comorbidities may have a greater effect on prognosis.