ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors affecting the occurrence of infectious complications after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and to establish a risk prediction Nomogram model. MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of 429 primary gastric cancer patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer at the Second Department of General Surgery of Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020 were retrospectively collected to explore the influencing factors of infectious complications using multivariate logistic regression analyses, and to construct a prediction model based on the results of the multivariate analysis, and then to further validate the differentiation, consistency, and clinical utility of the model. ResultsOf the 429 patients, infectious complications occurred in 86 cases (20.05%), including 53 cases (12.35%) of pulmonary infections, 16 cases (3.73%) of abdominal infections, 7 cases (1.63%) of incision infections, and 10 cases (2.33%) of urinary tract infections. The results of multivariate logistic analysis showed that low prognostic nutritional index [OR=0.951, 95%CI (0.905, 0.999), P=0.044], long surgery time [OR=1.274, 95%CI (1.069, 1.518), P=0.007], American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA) grade Ⅲ–Ⅳ [OR=9.607, 95%CI (4.484, 20.584), P＜0.001] and alcohol use [OR=3.116, 95%CI (1.696, 5.726), P＜0.001] were independent risk factors for the occurrence of infectious complications, and a Nomogram model was established based on these factors, with an area under the ROC of 0.802 [95%CI (0.746, 0.858)]; the calibration curves showed that the probability of occurrence of infectious complications after radical gastrectomy predicted by the Nomogram was in good agreement with the actual results; the decision curve analysis showed that the Nomogram model could obtain clinical benefits in a wide range of thresholds and had good practicality.ConclusionsClinicians need to pay attention to the perioperative management of gastric cancer patients, fully assess the patients’ own conditions through the prediction model established by prognostic nutritional index, surgery time, ASA grade and alcohol use, and take targeted interventions for the patients with higher risks, in order to reduce the risk of postoperative infectious complications.
Bacterial biofilms are associated with at least 80% of human bacterial infections. The clinical treatment of biofilm infection is still arduous, and therefore many new treatment options are under study, such as probiotics and their derivatives, quorum sensing inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides, phage therapy, organic acids, light therapy, and plant extracts. However, most of these schemes are not mature, and it is important to develop new research directions of anti-biofilms.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of limited internal fixation combined with a hinged external fixator in the treatment of peri-elbow bone infection. Methods The clinical data of 19 patients with peri-elbow bone infection treated with limited internal fixation combined with a hinged external fixator between May 2018 and May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 15 males and 4 females with an average age of 44.6 years (range, 28-61 years). There were 13 cases of distal humerus fractures and 6 cases of proximal ulna fractures. All the 19 cases were infected after internal fixation of fracture, and 2 cases were complicated with radial nerve injury. According to Cierny-Mader anatomical classification, 11 cases were type Ⅱ, 6 cases were type Ⅲ, and 2 cases were type Ⅳ. The duration of bone infection was 1-3 years. After primary debridement, the bone defect was (3.04±0.28) cm, and the antibiotic bone cement was implanted into the defect area, and the external fixator was installed; 3 cases were repaired with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, and 2 cases were repaired with lateral brachial fascial flap. Bone defects repair and reconstruction were performed after 6-8 weeks of infection control. The wound healing was observed, and white blood cell (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reaction protein (CRP) were reexamined regularly after operation to evaluate the infection control. X-ray films of the affected limb were taken regularly after operation to observe the bone healing in the defect area. At last follow-up, the flexion and extension range of motion and the total range of motion of the elbow joint were observed and recorded, and compared with those before operation, and the function of the elbow joint was evaluated by Mayo score. Results All patients were followed up 12-34 months (mean, 26.2 months). The wounds healed in 5 cases after skin flap repair. Two cases of recurrent infection were effectively controlled by debridement again and replacement of antibiotic bone cement. The infection control rate was 89.47% (17/19) in the first stage. Two patients with radial nerve injury had poor muscle strength of the affected limb, and the muscle strength of the affected limb recovered from grade Ⅲ to about grade Ⅳ after rehabilitation exercise. During the follow-up period, there was no complication such as incision ulceration, exudation, bone nonunion, infection recurrence, or infection in the bone harvesting area. Bone healing time ranged from 16 to 37 weeks, with an average of 24.2 weeks. WBC, ESR, CRP, PCT, and elbow flexion, extension, and total range of motions significantly improved at last follow-up (P<0.05). According to Mayo elbow scoring system, the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 89.47%. ConclusionLimited internal fixation combined with a hinged external fixator in the treatment of the peri-elbow bone infection can effectively control infection and restore the function of the elbow joint.
Objective To explore independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in critical patients with pulmonary infection and sepsis, and build a prediction model. Methods Patients diagnosed with pulmonary infection and sepsis in the MIMIC-Ⅲ database were analyzed. The CareVue database was the training cohort (n=934), and the Metavision database was the external validation cohort (n=687). A COX proportional hazards regression model was established to screen independent risk factors and draw a nomogram. We conducted internal cross-validation and external validation of the model. Using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, Calibration chart, and decision curve analysis, we detected the discrimination, calibration, and benefit of the model respectively, comparing with the SOFA scoring model. Results Age, SOFA score, white blood cell count≤4×109/L, neutrophilic granulocyte percentage (NEU%)>85%, platelet count (PLT)≤100×109/L, PLT>300×109/L, red cell distribution width >15%, blood urea nitrogen, and lactate dehydrogenase were independent risk factors. The areas under the ROC curve of the model were 0.747 (training cohort) and 0.708 (external validation cohort), respectively, which was superior to the SOFA scoring model in terms of discrimination, calibration, and benefit. Conclusion The model established in this study can accurately and effectively predict the risk of the disease mortality, and provide a visual assessment method for early identification of high-risk patients.
Objective To develop a novel prediction model based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate for early identification of high-risk central nervous system (CNS) infection patients in the emergency setting. Methods Patients diagnosed with CNS infections admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine of West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2023 were retrospectively selected. Patients were classified into a survival group and a death group according to their 28-day survival status, and clinical characteristics were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of 28-day mortality, which were subsequently used to construct a nomogram. Results A total of 173 patients were included, comprising 135 in the survival group and 38 in the death group. Multivariate analysis identified the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅳ (APACHE Ⅳ) score [odds ratio (OR)=1.027, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.002, 1.055), P=0.034], CSF lactate [OR=1.147, 95%CI (1.025, 1.286), P=0.018], and interleukin-6 [OR=1.002, 95%CI (1.001, 1.004), P=0.002] as independent predictors of 28-day mortality. The integrated model combining APACHE Ⅳ score, CSF lactate, and interleukin-6, demonstrated superior predictive performance compared with the APACHE Ⅳ score alone (P=0.020), and showed good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow P=0.50). Conclusions This tool may provide a useful instrument for emergency physicians to assess the 28-day mortality risk in patients with CNS infections, potentially facilitating early and targeted interventions for high-risk individuals. However, as the findings of this study are derived from a single-center retrospective dataset, the clinical applicability of this model requires further external validation through large-scale, prospective, multicenter studies to evaluate its generalizability.
Objective To explore the vascular access infection (VAI) incidence of hemodialysis patients during the the maximum spread of the COVID-19 epidemic (epidemic period) compared with the corresponding period with no local cases of COVID-19 (control period). Methods A single-center, retrospective study was carried out. Adult patients who underwent hemodialysis at the Department of Blood Purification Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University during the epidemic period between December 7, 2022 and February 23, 2023 and the control period between December 7, 2020 and February 23, 2021 were selected. The incidence of local access site infection (LASI) and access related bloodstream infection (ARBSI) in included patients were observed and compared. ResultsA total of 1 401 patients were included. Among them, there were 737 cases during the epidemic period and 664 cases during the control period. There was no statistically significant difference in the age, gender, and duration of catheterization among patients of different periods and pathway types (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of LASI between the epidemic period and the control period (χ2=1.800, P=1.180). There was a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of ARBSI between the epidemic period and the control period [χ2=4.610, relative risk (RR)=2.575, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.053, 6.298), P=0.032]. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of LASI and ARBSI at different stages in patients with arteriovenous fistula and unnel-cuffed catheters (TCC) (P＞0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the incidence of LASI [χ2=4.898, RR=3.832, 95%CI (1.058, 13.885), P=0.027] and ARBSI [χ2=7.150, RR=4.684, 95%CI (1.333, 16.460), P=0.005] among non cuffed catheters (NCC) patients at different stages. TCC patients might experience LASI (P<0.05) during the epidemic period and ARBSI (P<0.05) during the control period compared with the arteriovenous fistula patients; both central venous catheterization and NCC patients might experience LASI and ARBSI during the control period (P<0.05). Conclusion Targeting COVID-19 prevention may be associated with the reduction of vascular access infection in hemodialysis patients, in particular in NCC patients.
A acute partial obstructive hepatocholangitis model by selective ligation and injection of E coli into left hepatic bile duct was successfully founded in rat. Using parameters including mortality, mitochondrial glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and ornithine carbamoytransferase activity, pathological observation and blood culture of bacteria, we evaluated the model. The authors emphasize that this models is superior to the wole-bile-duct-challenged cholangitis model, which is characterized by liver injury.