Comparison of sensitivity and specificity of serum poly-C avid ribonuclease activity and C-reactive protein concentration in detection of mild and severe acute pancreatitis.

The aim of this study was to compare diagnostic performance of C-reactive protein (CRP) and poly-C avid ribonuclease (P-RNase) levels in the prediction of a severe clinical course of acute pancreatitis (AP). The study included 36 patients with mild and 20 with severe AP. CRP concentration was measured by an immunonephelometric method and P-RNase activity by the rate of polycytidylate hydrolysis at pH 7.8. At the time of admission, both P-RNase and CRP levels were significantly increased in all patients when compared to healthy subjects (29.2 vs. 18.7 U/l and 91.1 vs. 2.89 mg/l; p < 0.001). Up to days 3 and 4 a further increase in P-RNase was observed. On the other hand, the increase in CRP continued only through days 2 and 3 (p < 0.001). Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) differed significantly with respect to P-RNase levels on all days studied; whereas CRP levels differed significantly on days 2-5 but did not differ at admission. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve function analysis yielded the best sensitivity of SAP detection for P-RNase, equaling 72.2%, at the cut-off point value 65.3 U/l on day 3 after admission. The sensitivity of CRP for detection of SAP was 85.0% at 125.7 mg/l on the 2nd day after admission. Both parameters studied were significantly associated with the severity of the AP clinical course; however, on days 1 and 2 post-admission, P-RNase was more specific for detection of SAP than CRP (94.4% vs. 77.1% on the 1st day and 94.4% vs. 55.5% on the 2nd day). In conclusion, P-RNase has shown an excellent performance for early differentiation of acute necrotizing pancreatitis.     

Nutritional outcome and pneumonia in critical care patients randomized to gastric versus jejunal tube feedings. The Critical Care Research Team.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nutritional status, gastric colonization, and rates of nosocomial pneumonia in ICU patients randomized to gastric tube feeding vs. patients fed by an endoscopically placed jejunal tube. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective study. SETTING: Medical and surgical ICUs at Boston City Hospital; surgical ICU at University Hospital. PATIENTS: Of the 38 study patients, 19 were randomized to gastric tube feeding and 19 were randomized to an endoscopically placed jejunal tube. The two groups were similar in age, sex, race, underlying disease, and type of surgery. RESULTS: The two patient groups were similar in number of days fed, duration of ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, days of antibiotic therapy, and days with fever. Compared with the gastric group, the jejunal group had more patients with circulatory shock on admission (79% vs. 68.4%), higher admission Acute Physiology Score (24.0 vs. 21.7), and fewer patients with pneumonia at randomization (26.3% vs. 31.6%). The jejunal group received a significantly higher percentage of their daily goal caloric intake (p = .05), and had greater increases in serum prealbumin concentrations (p < .05) than the patients with gastric tube feeding. Although the jejunal tube group had more days of diarrhea (3.3 +/- 6.6 vs. 1.8 +/- 2.9), this difference was not statistically significant. Nosocomial pneumonia was diagnosed clinically in two (10.5%) patients in the gastric tube group and in no patients in the jejunal tube group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients fed by jejunal tube received a significantly higher proportion of their daily goal caloric intake, had a significantly greater increase in serum prealbumin concentrations, and had a lower rate of pneumonia than patients fed by continuous gastric tube feeding.     

Impairment of humoral regulation of exocrine pancreatic function in chronic pancreatitis

AIM: To elicit the role of cholecistokinin (CCK), biogenic amines, bile acids (BA) in development of functional pancreatic insufficiency (PI) in chronic pancreatitis (CP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood concentrations of CCK, serotonin and acetylcholin, fecal concentration of elastase (E-1), BA spectrum in the blood and duodenal content were studied in 46 CP patients (20 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis--AP and 26 patients with biliary pancreatitis--BP) and 15 healthy controls. RESULTS: In AP patients E-1 fell to 78.4 +/- 6.3 mcg/g (severe exocrine PI), while in BP patients E-1 was 170.0 +/- 28.9 mcg/g. CCK in AP and BP decreased to 0.33 +/- 0.03 and 0.45 +/- 0.03 ng/ml, respectively (control--1.60 +/- 0.02 ng/ml, respectively, p < 0.05). AP and BP patients had a rise in the absolute concentration and percentage of the total fraction of the taurodioxicholanic acids to 10.2 +/- 1.6 and 15.0 +/- 2.3%, respectively, (control 9.5 +/- 1.2%) in duodenal bile. The concentration of glycocholic acid fell to 24.1 +/- 1.6 and 23.7 +/- 3.7%, respectively, (control--36.4 +/- 2.4%, p < 0.05). AP patients had more significant decrease of taurocholic acid--to 4.5 +/- 0.7% (control--9.2 +/- 0.7%, p < 0.05). In the peripheral blood of AP patients there was an elevated basal level of serotonin and acetylcholine in the presence of low cholinesterase activity. After meal, acetylcholine concentration lowered in high secretion of serotonin. CONCLUSION: Depending on severity of destructive changes in the pancreas, AP and BP patients had different degree of exocrine insufficiency which may be secondary to the absence of acetylcholine rise in the blood after meal. Alterations in the composition of the conjugates of cholic and taurodioxicholanic BA lead to alterations of CCK blood concentration and, therefore, to changes in exocrine pancreatic secretion. Imbalance between serotonin and acetylcholine levels after meal evidences for defects in conventional regulatory interrelations. Decreased threshold of nociceptors activation in simultaneous enhancement of afferent nociceptive flows may entail pain syndrome in CP.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase inhibitors (statins) in peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Statins have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties by virtue of their CRP lowering effects in hemodialysis patients. However, whether statins have an anti-inflammatory effect in PD patients is unknown. DESIGN: All prevalent PD patients at our center were reviewed. Eligible (257) patients were categorized into 2 groups: those on statin therapy (n = 137) and those not on statins (n = 120). Data were abstracted for hemoglobin, albumin, phosphates, cholesterol, CRP, Kt/V, and erythropoietin dose, along with relevant clinical data. RESULTS: The two groups had similar concentrations of hemoglobin, albumin, and phosphates. They were also matched for dialysis adequacy and duration of dialysis but the statin group patients were older (57 +/- 13 vs 52 +/- 17 years, p = 0.01). Serum cholesterol was lower in the statin group (4.74 +/- 1.05 vs 5.02 +/- 1.17 mmol/L, p < 0.05). Single-point (14 +/- 13 vs 19 +/- 18 mg/L, p < 0.02) and serially measured CRP (9 +/- 7.4 vs 12 +/- 10 mg/L, p < 0.02) levels were significantly lower in the statin group despite increased comorbidity (0.84 vs 0.54, p < 0.02) and greater incidence of diabetes mellitus (52% vs 25%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Statin therapy is associated with low single-point and serially measured CRP levels in PD patients, thereby suggesting that their anti-inflammatory properties persist in PD. These data have implications for considering statin therapy in PD patients as an anti-inflammatory agent in addition to a cholesterol lowering drug.     

CRP在急性胰腺炎诊断中的临床价值研究

目的：动态监测急性胰腺炎（AP）患者外周血C-反应蛋白（CRP）水平,探讨CRP对AP的早期诊断与病情评估的参考价值。方法：分别检测75例SAP患者和75例MAP患者入院后第1、3、5、7、9天外周血CRP水平,并进行分析比较。结果：MAP组患者CRP高峰值出现在住院第3天,第7天开始下降,14天后恢复正常。而SAP组患者住院第1天即可出现CRP显著增高,且下降速度缓慢,在后期CRP仍可维持在一个较高水平。入院第1天,SAP组血清CRP水平均显著高于MAP组（P〈0.01）。轻症与重症组（无并发症或有并发症）之间患者血清CRP水平差异均有高度显著性（P〈0.01）。结论：动态监测CRP可作为AP早期诊断、疾病严重程度评估及预后判断的一个独立的衡量指标,值得临床推广应用。     

The effects of acute phase proteins on serum albumin,transferrin and haemoglobin in haemodialysis patients

In the present study, the effects of C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin on serum albumin, transferrin and haemoglobin (Hb) were assessed to investigate the relationship between inflammation, hypoalbuminaemia and anaemia in haemodialysis patients. A total of 117 patients who were followed at three haemodialysis units in Kocaeli were enrolled. The mean age was 47.83 +/- 16.85 years. The median time on dialysis was 26 (minimum 1, maximum 209) months. Serum CRP albumin and ferritin concentrations were measured in our laboratory and transferrin, urea reduction ratio (URR) and Kt/V were calculated. There was significant inverse correlation between serum CRP level and albumin (p<0.001), serum CRP and Hb (p<0.001), and serum transferrin and ferritin (p<0.05). There was significant positive correlation between serum albumin and Hb (p<0.001), serum CRP and ferritin (p<0.05), and transferrin and URR (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that inflammation is a contributor in the development of hypoalbuminaemia and anaemia in haemodialysis patients as well as malnutrition and inadequate dialysis.     

Diagnosis and follow-up of infections in intensive care patients: value of C-reactive protein compared with other clinical and biological variables

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diagnostic and prognostic values of C-reactive protein (CRP) dosage in critically ill patients. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Medical intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of 74 patients admitted to the ICU. INTERVENTION: CRP measurements at admission and every 4 days thereafter. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: At admission, 28 patients (38%) had microbiologically proven infections. Compared with uninfected patients, their mean +/- SD CRP level was 191 +/- 123 vs. 83 +/- 91 mg/L (p < .0001), respectively, white blood cell count was 15.3 +/- 7.5 vs. 11.4 +/- 5.3 G/L (p = .01), and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was present for 96% vs. 67% (p = .008). No threshold value could be identified to discriminate between these two populations. Multivariate analysis retained CRP and SIRS as the only variables independently associated with the presence of an infection. The combination of CRP > or = 50 mg/L with SIRS was identified as the best model to diagnose infection at admission. This multivariate model performed better than temperature, CRP alone, and white blood cell count. Among the 28 infected patients, 10 recovered; CRP values decreased significantly in this population as compared with patients with persistent infection (-130 +/- 110 vs. 12 +/- 97 mg/L, respectively; p = .004). A CRP decrease > or = 50 mg/L between admission and day 4 was the best cutoff value to diagnose recovery (sensitivity 89%, specificity 79%). CONCLUSION: CRP in combination with SIRS was useful to diagnose infection in ICU patients; a CRP decrease > or = 50 mg/L between admission and day 4 was the best predictor of recovery.     

Biochemical indices to evaluate nutritional support for malignant disease

Malignant diseases are often complicated by malnutrition, and nutritional support is often indicated. Nutritional support should be evaluated primarily by improved clinical outcome. During nutritional support as artificial nutrition, monitoring is of paramount importance.

Several biochemical markers are frequently used to monitor nutritional status. Most widely used are serum levels of albumin, transferrin, and transthyretin which are subnormal in malnutrition. Unfortunately, monitoring nutritional support by biochemical indices in malignant disease is complicated by the pathophysiology of cancer related malnutrition. Systemic inflammation is central in this context as it perturbs most of the traditional biochemical indices, and is inversely correlated to survival. In addition, systemic inflammation explains variations in body composition. Thus, the most important biochemical index to be measured in malignant disease is the assessment of systemic inflammatory response, preferably by high-resolution CRP, and if normal, common biochemical indices such as albumin, transferrin or transthyretin might be used. Preferentially, indices with high turnover should be used. IGF-1 is an index well suited for assessing nutrition support in conventional malnutrition, but its use in malignant disease is still unproved. If APPR is prevalent, methods detecting changes in body composition, performance or physical activity might offer better options to evaluate nutritional support.     

Malnutrition-inflammation score is a useful tool in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) is a quantitative assessment tool based on Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and predicts mortality and morbidity in maintenance hemodialysis patients. However, there are not enough data about the use of MIS in peritoneal dialysis (PD). In this study, relationships between MIS and prospective hospitalization indices, risk of developing peritonitis, anemia indices, and laboratory and anthropometric parameters were analyzed and compared with SGA in PD. METHODS: 50 PD patients (M/F 26/24, age 45.2 +/- 14.9 years, mean PD duration 30.8 +/- 23.1 months) were included. The same physician performed the SGA and MIS evaluations. Clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric parameters were measured. RESULTS: 18 patients were classified as SGA-A (without malnutrition), 24 as SGA-B (with moderate malnutrition), and 8 as SGA-C (with severe malnutrition). Increment in MIS was concordant with SGA groups A to C (p < 0.0001). Peritonitis rate, number of hospitalizations, total number of hospitalization days, erythropoietin requirements, C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin levels were positively correlated with MIS (p < 0.0001). Midarm muscle circumference (p = 0.04), albumin (p < 0.0001), prealbumin (p = 0.001), creatinine (p = 0.04), hemoglobin (p = 0.003), transferrin (p < 0.0001), and cholesterol (p = 0.009) were negatively correlated with MIS. Correlation coefficients of hospitalization indices, peritonitis rate, anemia indices, erythropoietin requirements, albumin, prealbumin, CRP, and anthropometric parameters were higher with MIS than with SGA. In logistic regression analysis, a higher MIS was independently associated with a higher risk of future hospitalization (p = 0.029, odds ratio 2.14, confidence interval 1.082-4.146). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that MIS significantly correlated with clinical, nutritional, inflammatory, and anthropometric parameters and anemia indices in PD patients, and that those correlations were stronger than those with SGA.     

Nutritional status during the acute stage of spinal cord injury

This study was designed to help clinicians establish objective guidelines for meeting the nutritional requirements of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients during their initial hospitalizations. The nutritional status of 51 SCI patients treated between 1983 and 1986 was assessed at two, four, and eight weeks after injury. Nutrient deficiencies such as albumin (100% of patients), carotene (62%), transferrin (37%), ascorbate (25%), thiamine (24%), folate (20%), and copper (11%) were documented most frequently at two weeks postinjury. There was an average of 2.0, 1.6, and 1.2 nutrient abnormalities per patient at two, four, and eight weeks postinjury, respectively. Although most depressed nutrient parameters improved with time, diet-dependent plasma proteins such as albumin and transferrin remained low throughout the entire eight-week period. Mean body weight declined 1.3 +/- 3.9 kg during the first two weeks, 2.0 +/- 4.4 kg between two and four weeks, and 0.4 +/- 2.0 kg between four and eight weeks after injury. Significant findings also included a strong correlation between plasma albumin, ascorbate, and carotene levels and maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (p less than .05). Although nutrient status usually improved with time and was not definitely associated with an increased risk of secondary medical complications, prudence dictates that these deficiencies should be prevented by appropriate intervention.     

急性胰腺炎患者血清TNF-a和CRP水平的测定及其临床意义

目的探讨TNF-a、CRP变化在急性胰腺炎的临床意义。方法测定轻症急性胰腺炎和重型急性胰腺炎患者入院第1、4、7、14天时血清TNF-a和CRP水平，并与健康人对照。结果入院时和入院后重症急性胰腺炎血清TNF-a和CRP水平均高于轻症急性胰腺炎，而后者又均高于健康组（P＜0．05），且血清TNF-a含量和CRP含量变化呈正相关（r=0.7124,P＜0．05）。结论血清TNF-a和CRP水平变化与AP病情变化密切相关，联合检测有助于了解病情发展。     

4种血清标志物联合检测对急性胰腺炎的诊断和预后判断的价值

目的探讨血液淀粉酶(AMY)、脂肪酶(LPS)、C-反应蛋白(CRP)和白细胞介素6(IL-6)联合检测对急性胰腺炎(AP)的诊断和预后判断的价值。方法检测50例急性胰腺炎患者,包括28例轻型急性胰腺炎(MAP)患者和22例重型急性胰腺炎(SAP)患者入院时以及50例非胰腺炎急腹症(NAA)患者入院时和50例健康者的血清AMY、LPS、CRP和IL-6的水平,并检测50例AP患者入院后第3、5、7天血清CRP和IL-6的水平。结果入院时AP患者AMY、LPS和CRP水平明显高于NAA患者和健康对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),SAP患者IL-6水平明显高于健康组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),NAA患者AMY、CRP和IL-6水平明显高于健康对照组(P<0.01),但NAA患者LPS水平和健康组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。SAP患者CRP和IL-6水平明显高于MAP患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),但SAP患者AMY和LPS水平和MAP患者差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。入院后SAP组CRP和IL-6水平最高值均出现于第3天,SAP患者CRP和IL-6水平均明显高于同期MAP患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),SAP患者和MAP患者治疗后第7天CRP和IL-6水平均明显低于同组入院时水平,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。联合检测AMY、LPS、CRP和IL-6敏感性、特异性和诊断符合率均明显高于单项检测,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论 AMY、LPS、CRP和IL-6联合检测有助于AP的早期诊断、病变程度的判断、治疗效果的观察及预后判断。     

Metabolism and clinical interest of serum transthyretin (prealbumin) in dialysis patients.

Chronic renal failure is responsible for an increase in serum concentrations of transthyretin. Elevated serum transthyretin during renal insufficiency is secondary to the lack of retinol-binding protein degradation in renal tubules and to the subsequent increase in the fraction of transthyretin bound to retinol-binding protein. In both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients, serum transthyretin was demonstrated to be a reliable marker of nutritional status, exhibiting significant relationships with energy and protein intakes as well as with fat stores and lean body mass. Serum transthyretin levels less than 300 mg/l were shown to be associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. The predictive value of transthyretin was shown to be independent of serum albumin. Regular measurements of both serum albumin and transthyretin make it possible to detect patients whose prognosis is compromised by malnutrition and in whom an active nutritional therapy must be undertaken. Simultaneous measurements of inflammatory markers such as serum C-reactive protein are required to evaluate the role of inflammation in serum albumin and transthyretin variations. These low-cost protein parameters should be incorporated in the regular assessment of dialysis patients and measured every 1 to 3 months.     

The role of visceral protein markers in protein calorie malnutrition.

Despite substantial evidence of the crucial role protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) plays in the occurrence of complications, increased length of stay, and cost of care in hospitalized populations, no standard approach for screening and monitoring the nutritional status of patients initially and throughout admission currently exists. Recognizing that there is a growing public and professional recognition of the importance of malnutrition, a large patient population (30-55%) at risk for PCM, and an even larger population experiencing declining nutritional status during hospitalization, this study examined the feasibility of a full-scale study to assess the value of two biochemical markers, transthyretin and albumin, for detecting and monitoring PCM in hospitalized patients. It was demonstrated that these two markers do provide important information predictive of outcomes for those they identify at risk for PCM. The patients who entered the study with or developed low transthyretin and albumin experienced poorer health outcomes and higher costs of care. Their discharge occurred in an early phase of recovery, with significant implications for after-discharge care. The full-scale study must consider severity of illness and other confounders during randomization and, preferably, be conducted in institutions that currently do not use transthyretin for nutrition assessment.     

Serum matrix metalloproteinase 9 as a marker for the assessment of severe acute pancreatitis

Previous studies have shown that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) degrades basement membrane components in inflammation, but the change of serum MMP-9 level in the progression of acute pancreatitis remains unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the value of MMP-9 as a prognostic marker in acute pancreatitis. The prospective study included 10 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and 10 patients with mild acute pancreatitis. The study also enrolled 10 healthy individuals as control. The serum MMP-9 level, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) level and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score were measured at 1 hr and 48 hrs after admission. APACHEII scores and serum MMP-9, TNF-alpha and CRP levels were significantly increased in patients with SAP compared to those with mild acute pancreatitis and control subjects at 1 hr after admission (p < 0.01). When the states of illness were improved, the levels of the above-mentioned markers were decreased in patients with SAP at 48 hrs after admission (1 hr vs 48 hrs, p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Furthermore, significant positive correlation was found between serum MMP-9 level and serum TNF-alpha level, serum CRP level or APACHEII score in patients at 1 hr after admission (MMP-9/TNF-alpha, r = 0.956; MMP-9/CRP, r = 0.935; MMP-9/APACHE II score, r = 0.957; p < 0.01). These results suggest that MMP-9 is involved in the deterioration of SAP and serum MMP-9 level is a valuable assessment marker for the severity of SAP.     

Long-term oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation does not improve serum albumin levels in hemodialysis patients

Metabolic acidosis, a frequent event in hemodialysis patients, has been implicated as a potential cause of protein-energy malnutrition. Unfortunately, correction of metabolic acidosis by means of high bicarbonate concentration in the dialysate does not seem to lead to significant changes in nutritional parameters. The project was a single-arm, open-label, 12-month pilot study at a university-based tertiary care center aimed at evaluating whether correction of metabolic acidosis through long-term oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation improves serum albumin levels and other nutritional parameters in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Twenty highly acidotic hemodialysis patients patients were invited to consume an oral supplementation of sodium bicarbonate (1 g, thrice daily), for 12 months. Patients were followed at baseline and every month, until month 12. At each follow-up visit, dry body weight, BMI, blood pressure, presence of edema, venous bicarbonate, and serum albumin were measured. Total lymphocyte count, fasting total cholesterol and C-reactive protein were assessed every 2 months. At baseline and at 12 months, the subjective global assessment of nutritional status and the protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance normalized to actual body weight were determined. Plasma bicarbonate level rose from 18.1 +/- 2.7 to 22.1 +/- 4.5 mmol/l after 10 months (p = 0.001). Mean serum albumin levels were 3.8 +/- 0.2 mg/dl at baseline and 3.9 +/- 0.2 at the end of the study. Repeated measure ANOVA showed that there was no significant effect of bicarbonate treatment on serum albumin levels (p = 0.29), dry weight (p = 0.1), serum total cholesterol (p = 0.97), total lymphocyte count (p = 0.69), or C-reactive protein (p = 0.85). Mean subjective global assessment score was 4.53 +/- 0.37 at baseline and 4.58 +/- 0.54 at 12 months (p = 0.1). Mean nPNA (g/kg/day) was 0.86 +/- 0.05 at baseline and 0.85 +/- 0.08 at month 12. The present study demonstrates that long-term oral sodium bicarbonate at the dose of 1 gram thrice daily has no significant effect on nutritional status of HD patients.     

Circulating cytokines in predicting development of severe acute pancreatitis

Introduction

Severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early prediction of severe AP is needed to improve patient outcomes. The aim of the present study was to find novel cytokines or combinations of cytokines that can be used for the early identification of patients with AP at risk for severe disease.

Methods

We performed a prospective study of 163 nonconsecutive patients with AP, of whom 25 had severe AP according to the revised Atlanta criteria. Admission serum levels of 48 cytokines and growth factors were determined using Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine Assay 21-plex and 27-plex magnetic bead suspension panels. Admission plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine and calcium were measured for comparison. In subgroup analyses, we assessed the cytokine profiles of patients with severe AP (n = 14) who did not have organ dysfunction (OD) upon admission (modified Marshall score <2).

Results

Of 14 cytokines elevated in the severe AP group, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels were independent prognostic markers of severe AP. IL-6, HGF and a combination of them predicted severe AP with sensitivities of 56.0%, 60.0% and 72.0%, respectively, and specificities of 90.6%, 92.8% and 89.9%, respectively. The corresponding positive likelihood ratio (LR+) values were 5.9, 8.3 and 7.1, respectively. The predictive values of CRP, creatinine and calcium were comparable to those of the cytokines. In subgroup analyses of patients with severe AP and without OD upon admission, we found that IL-8, HGF and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels predicted the development of severe AP, with G-CSF being the most accurate cytokine at a sensitivity of 35.7%, a specificity of 96.1% and a LR+ of 9.1.

Conclusions

IL-6 and HGF levels upon admission have prognostic value for severe AP which is similar to levels of CRP, creatinine and calcium. Although IL-6 and HGF, as either single or combined markers, were not perfect in identifying patients at risk for severe AP, the possibility that combining them with novel prognostic markers other than cytokines might improve prognostic accuracy needs to be studied. The accuracy of IL-8, HGF and G-CSF levels in predicting severe AP in patients without clinical signs of OD upon admission warrants larger studies.     

The prognostic value of nutritional and inflammatory indices in critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure.

In critically ill patients suffering from acute respiratory failure, weaning from ventilatory assistance is a key survival factor in intensive care units (ICU). The aim of this study was to provide deeper insight into laboratory methods allowing improved monitoring of that critical period. Eighty-three ICU patients (mean age 63.9 years), classified according to the Second Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation criteria, were submitted to mechanical ventilation, antibiotherapy and nutritional support. Weaning attempts required degressive pressure support ventilation. The biological status of the patients was assessed by the serial measurement of inflammatory (C-reactive protein and alpha1-acid glycoprotein) and of nutritional (albumin and transthyretin) indicators whose aggregation yields a prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index (PINI). Statistical analyses compared ventilatory and biological data recorded on admission and at the time of extubation. Results showed that vital capacity and plasma concentrations of albumin and transthyretin rose, whereas rapid shallow breathing index, C-reactive protein and PINI values declined during the tested period. Persistent low transthyretin concentrations were predictive of lethality while increased values were associated with improved ventilatory performances. The PINI scoring formula worked as an independent predictor of the weaning trial outcome. The study underlined the value of the PINI system for the successful management of the weaning procedure.     

超声评估肾阻力指数联合血液指标对急性胰腺炎并发急性肾损伤的预测价值

目的 探讨超声评估肾阻力指数（RRI）联合血液指标对急性胰腺炎（AP）并发急性肾损伤（AKI）的预测价值。方法 选取2021年6月~2024年1月期间安徽省第二人民医院收治的AP患者,根据其入院7d内是否发生AKI分为AKI组和未AKI组。收集患者基本信息、病情评分和实验室指标,采用超声评估RRI。采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析AKI危险因素,绘制受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析RRI联合血液指标的预测价值。结果 共筛选出145例患者符合纳入标准,发生AKI37例,未发生AKI患者108例。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：Cys C（OR=5.458,95%CI：1.275~23.369）、CRP（OR=5.296,95%CI：1.676~16.734）、RRI（OR=6.114,95%CI：2.966~12.602）是AP患者并发AKI的危险因素（P<0.05）。ROC曲线分析结果显示：Cys C、CRP、RRI预测AP患者并发AKI的曲线下面积（areas under curve,AUC）分别为0.648（95%CI：0.540~0.756,P=0.011）、0.777（95%CI：0.694~0.859,P<0.001）、0.802（95%CI：0.710~0.893,P<0.001）,三者联合预测AP患者并发AKI的AUC最高,为0.909,灵敏度为96.55%,特异度为72.41%。结论 Cys C、CRP、RRI均为AP并发AKI的危险因素,而三者均有一定的预测价值,三者联合预测AP患者并发AKI的价值更高。     

Reference distributions for the negative acute-phase serum proteins, albumin, transferrin and transthyretin: a practical, simple and clinically relevant approach in a large cohort

Inflammation is associated with diverse clinical conditions accompanied by characteristic changes in serum levels of the acute-phase proteins that can be used to stage the inflammatory process and evaluate the impact of treatment. Some acute-phase proteins increase during inflammation, while others, such as albumin, transferrin, and transthyretin, decrease. The current study reports reference ranges for serum levels of albumin, transferrin, and transthyretin based on a cohort of over 124,000 Caucasian individuals from northern New England, tested in our laboratory between 1986 and 1998. Measurements were standardized against CRM 470 (RPPHS) and analyzed using a previously validated statistical approach. Individuals with laboratory evidence of inflammation (C-reactive protein of 10 mg/L or higher) were excluded. The levels of all three analytes varied by age, generally rising until the second or third decade of life and then decreasing thereafter. Albumin and transthyretin levels were higher during midlife among males as compared to females; the maximum being at 25 years for albumin (5%) and 35 years for transthyretin (16%). In contrast, above the age of 10 years, transferrin levels were increasingly higher among females (7% at 20 years). When values were expressed as multiples of the age- and gender-specific median levels, the resulting distributions fitted a log-Gaussian distribution. When patient data are normalized in this manner, the distribution parameters can be used to assign a corresponding centile to an individual's measurement simplifying interpretation. The ultimate interpretation of an individual's measurement relies upon the clinical setting.