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Previous studies and the concentration-dependent antibacterial actions of daptomycin suggested that a high dose would be needed for difficult-to-treat infections in burn patients. Here, we evaluated the effects of administration of low and high doses of daptomycin in patients with severe burn injuries. The study retrospectively analyzed 10 patients with severe burn injuries, using pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) evaluations of daptomycin doses given to combat serious infections. Daptomycin was administered as a single dose or by multiple doses intravenously at a standard dose of 6 mg/kg/d or a high dose of 12 mg/kg/d for 7 to 14 days. The serum concentrations of daptomycin from patients were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Burn injury patients treated with high-dose daptomycin had a linear PK profile and a negative correlation between the AUC0–24 and Baux score (R2 = .953 and R2 = .801). The Cmax, AUC0–24, and t(h)½ increased significantly compared with patients given a standard dose. The efficacy of daptomycin against Staphylococcus aureus showed significantly higher rates of (AUC0–24)/MIC and Cmax/MIC after high-dose daptomycin compared with the standard dose, reflected in a significant correlation between a high dose and the Baux score (r = .976, P < .001). Positive S. aureus cultures from two of three high-dose and none of two daptomycin low-dose patients converted from positive to negative after therapy. No serious adverse events or discontinuation of the drug occurred during the treatment period. Daptomycin doses up to 12 mg/kg/d were well tolerated in Chinese patients with severe burn injuries, which were complicated by infections with S. aureus.

Background There is a lack of large-scale epidemiological data on the clinical practice of enteral nutrition (EN) feeding in China. This study aimed to provide such data on Chinese hospitals and to investigate factors associated with EN delivery. Methods This cross-sectional study was launched in 118 intensive care units (ICUs) of 116 mainland hospitals and conducted on April 26, 2017. At 00:00 on April 26, all patients in these ICUs were included. Demographic and clinical variables of patients on April 25 were obtained. The dates of hospitalization, ICU admission and nutrition initiation were reviewed. The outcome status 28 days after the day of investigation was obtained. Results A total of 1953 patients were included for analysis, including 1483 survivors and 312 nonsurvivors. The median study day was day 7 (IQR 2–19 days) after ICU entry. The proportions of subjects starting EN within 24, 48 and 72 h after ICU entry was 24.8% (84/352), 32.7% (150/459) and 40.0% (200/541), respectively. The proportion of subjects receiving > 80% estimated energy target within 24, 48, 72 h and 7 days after ICU entry was 10.5% (37/352), 10.9% (50/459), 11.8% (64/541) and 17.8% (162/910), respectively. Using acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) 1 as the reference in a Cox model, patients with AGI 2–3 were associated with reduced likelihood of EN initiation (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.353–0.599; p

Background Nutrition therapy is recognized as one of the most significant treatment aspects for burn patients. However, data were limited regarding the actual nutrition practices in patients with severe burn injury. This study aims to explore the measured energy expenditure (MEE) changes in severe burn patients and to evaluate the precision of commonly used predictive formulas for estimating predictive energy expenditure (PEE) in burn patients. Methods A prospective multicenter trial was conducted in the intensive care units in the hospitals enrolling the severely burned patients. Data on MEE and PEE were collected and analyzed. Results Forty-three patients were enrolled from 3 hospitals. All the patients had severe burns. MEE was measured by metabolic cart, and the MEE on the seventh day after severe burns was as high as 65 kcal/kg, which was 267% of the basal metabolic rate. The presence of hypermetabolism was sustained throughout the 21-day afterburn and decreased gradually to 34 kcal/kg thereafter until 4 weeks after injury. Wound percentage after skin-grafting therapy, time course of burn injury, the existence of severe sepsis, and blood infection were significantly associated with higher MEE. Compared with PEE and MEE, Toronto formula could estimate patients' energy requirements with more accuracy; Curreri and Pennisi formula both significantly overestimated the patient's energy expenditure, whereas underestimation occurred with the Harris-Benedict formula. Conclusions Severe burn patients were hypermetabolic at the early stage and sustained this status over a long time. The Toronto formula was the unbiased method to predict energy expenditure.

BACKGROUND. Data are limited on the impact of neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) treatment on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus RNA shedding. METHODS. In this multicenter, retrospective study, data were collected from adults hospitalized with A(H7N9) infection during 2013–2017 in China. We compared clinical features and A(H7N9) shedding among patients with different NAI doses and combination therapies and evaluated factors associated with A(H7N9) shedding, using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS. Among 478 patients, the median age was 56 years, 71% were male, and 37% died. The median time from illness onset to NAI treatment initiation was 8 days (interquartile range [IQR], 6–10 days), and the median duration of A(H7N9) RNA detection from onset was 15.5 days (IQR, 12–20 days). A(H7N9) RNA shedding was shorter in survivors than in patients who died (P < .001). Corticosteroid administration (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .50-.77]) and delayed NAI treatment (HR, 0.90 [95% CI, .91-.96]) were independent risk factors for prolonged A(H7N9) shedding. There was no significant difference in A(H7N9) shedding duration between NAI combination treatment and monotherapy (P = .65) or between standard-dose and double-dose oseltamivir treatment (P = .70). CONCLUSIONS. Corticosteroid therapy and delayed NAI treatment were associated with prolonged A(H7N9) RNA shedding. NAI combination therapy and double-dose oseltamivir treatment were not associated with a reduced A(H7N9) shedding duration as compared to standard-dose oseltamivir.

This study examines the clinical utility of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an indicator of myocardial dysfunction and mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock.We designed a prospective cohort study in an intensive care unit, and 53 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were included. Data were used to determine a relationship between NGAL and the development of myocardial dysfunction and mortality. These associations were determined by the Mann-Whitney test, multiple logistic regression, plotting the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Kaplan-Meier curves and Spearman test.The High NGAL group had higher need for inotropic/vasopressor support (92% vs. 52%, p=0.0186), higher incidence of regional wall motion abnormalities (46% vs. 13%, p=0.0093), higher B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (p=0.0197), higher cardiac troponin I (cTnI) level (p=0.0016), lower ejection fraction (EF) (p0.0001) and higher mortality (p=0.0262) compared to the Low NGAL group. Patients with High NGAL were more likely to manifest electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities (p=0.042) and demonstrate clinical myocardial dysfunction (p=0.0186) as evidenced by clinical or radiological evidence of pulmonary edema as compared to those with Low NGAL group. NGAL, BNP, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, cTnI, and PaOHigh plasma NGAL correlates with high mortality and myocardial dysfunction in severe sepsis and septic shock.

Immune disorders are common in critically ill patients. Catecholamines play a crucial role in theimmune regulation and modulation. Immune cells can synthesize catecholamines and express adrenergic receptors. Catecholamine has a wide-ranging regulatory effect on innate immunity such as neutrophils, monocyte macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and lymphocyte-mediated acquired immunity. Catecholamines exert different immunomodulatory effects by binding to α receptors, β receptors, and dopamine receptor subtypes on immune cells. In-depth study of the effect and mechanism of catecholamine on immune function in critically ill patients will provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of immune dysfunction in critical illness.

Nutrition therapy is considered an important treatment of burn patients. The aim of the study was to delineate the nutritional support in severe burn patients and to investigate association between nutritional practice and clinical outcomes. Severe burn patients were enrolled (n 100). In 90 % of the cases, the burn injury covered above 70 % of the total body surface area. Mean interval from injury to nutrition start was 2·4 (sd 1·1) d. Sixty-seven patients were initiated with enteral nutrition (EN) with a median time of 1 d from injury to first feed. Twenty-two patients began with parenteral nutrition (PN). During the study, thirty-two patients developed EN intolerance. Patients received an average of about 70 % of prescribed energy and protein. Patients with EN providing

Background Evidence concerning the efficacy and safety of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with influenza A (H7N9) has been was limited to case reports. Our study is aimed to investigate the current application, efficacy and safety of ECMO in for severe H7N9 pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the Chinese population. Methods A multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted at 20 hospitals that admitted patients with avian influenza A (H7N9) viral pneumonia patients’ admission from 9 provinces in China between October 1, 2016, and March 1, 2017. Data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, including general conditions, outcomes and ECMO management, were analysed. Then, successfully weaned and unsuccessfully weaned groups were compared. Results A total of 35 patients, aged 57 ± 1 years, were analysed; 65.7% of patients were male with 63% mortality. All patients underwent invasive positive pressure ventilation (IPPV), and rescue ventilation strategies were implemented for 23 cases (65.7%) with an average IPPV duration of 5 ± 1 d, PaO2/FiO2 of 78 ± 23 mmHg, tidal volume (VT) of 439 ± 61 ml and plateau pressure (Pplat) of 29 ± 8 cmH2O pre-ECMO. After 48 h on ECMO, PaO2 improved from 56 ± 21 mmHg to 90 ± 24 mmHg and PaCO2 declined from 52 ± 24 mmHg to 38 ± 24 mmHg. Haemorrhage, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and barotrauma occurred in 45.7%, 60% and 8.6% of patients, respectively. Compared with successfully weaned patients (n = 14), the 21 unsuccessfully weaned patients had a longer duration of IPPV pre-ECMO (6 ± 4 d vs. 2 ± 1 d, P

This study examines the clinical utility of the increased lactate/albumin ratio as an indicator of multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock.We designed a prospective cohort study in an intensive care unit, and 54 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were included. Data were used to determine a relationship between lactate/albumin ratio and the development of MODS and mortality. These associations were determined by the Mann-Whitney test, multiple logistic regression, plotting the receiver operating characteristic curve and Spearman test.Lactate/albumin ratio level was higher in MODS patients on day 1 (median [interquartile range, or IQR], 2.295 [1.818-3.065]; n = 30, P.0001) than in those without (median [IQR], 1.550 (1.428-1.685); n = 24), and on day 2, (median [IQR], 1.810 [1.377-2.448]; n = 26, P = .0022) it was higher than in those without (median [IQR], 1.172 (1.129-1.382); n = 23) on day 2. We found that lactate/albumin ratio was an independent predictor of the development of MODS (odds ratio, 5.5; P = .033; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-26.1) during intensive care unit stay. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that lactate/albumin ratio could predict MODS (0.8458) and mortality (0.8449). Furthermore, the higher the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, the more lactate/albumin ratio was discovered on day 1 (r = 0.5315, P.0001) and day 2 (r = 0.5408, P.0001), whereas the lower partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, the more lactate/albumin ratio was illustrated on day 1 (r = -0.5143, P.0001) and day 2 (r = -0.5420, P.0001).Increased lactate/albumin ratio correlates with the development of MODS and mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

This study examines the clinical utility of increased neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an indicator of mortality and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in severe sepsis and septic shock.We designed a prospective cohort study in an intensive care unit, and 123 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were included. Data were used to determine a relationship between NGAL and the development of MODS and mortality. These associations were determined by the Mann-Whitney U test, log-rank test, Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, and plotting the receiver operating characteristic curve.Patients with high NGAL (75th percentile) had increased risk of mortality and MODS compared with patients with low NGAL (log-rank test, P0.05). There were 39 patients (32%) with mortality during follow-up at 12 months, 10 patients (8%) with MODS on day 1, and 37 patients (30%) on day 7. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that high NGAL could predict mortality (0.6385) during intensive care unit stay. After adjustment for confounding risk factors chosen by backward elimination by Cox regression analysis, high NGAL remained an independent predictor of mortality and MODS (hazard ratios, 2.128 [95% confidence interval, 1.078-4.203; P = 0.030] and 1.896 [95% confidence interval, 1.012-3.552; P = 0.046], respectively).High plasma NGAL independently predicts mortality and MODS in severe sepsis and septic shock.

A 76-year-old man with a 30-year history of gout was admitted for chronic renal failure and the articular pain at the right foot. He was noted to have multiple hard swelling. The swelling developed over 10 years, progressively increasing in size. Physical examination revealed that there were multiple large firm tophi on the hands, both olecranon processes, and feet (Figure 1A). Figure 1. ( A ) Multiple large subcutaneous tophi are seen in the feet. ( B ) 3D CT images of the right foot demonstrating extensive tophi (dorsal view). Laboratory investigations showed: serum uric acid 728.0 μmol/l (155.0–428.0 μmol/l), urea 10.3 mmol/l (2.8–8.2 mmol/l) and creatinine 213.3 μmol/l (35.0–104.0 μmol/l). Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) …