ABSTRACT
Background: Early identification and diagnosis of sepsis are very important because timely and appropriate treatment can improve the survival outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical signi?cance of serum cystatin C level in sepsis. Materials and Methods: The levels of serum cystatin C, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The patients with sepsis were followed up for 30 days to record their survival conditions. Results: The expression level of cystatin C was remarkably elevated in patients with sepsis compared with that in healthy controls. The serum cystatin C level was significantly correlated with the SOFA score and CRP, PCT, and creatinine levels in patients with sepsis. The patients in death group had a markedly higher level of serum cystatin C than those in survival group. The area under curve (AUC) of cystatin C for assessing the 30-day mortality rate of sepsis patients was 0.765. Conclusion: The serum cystatin C level is elevated in patients with sepsis and it may serve as a biomarker for early diagnosis of sepsis and possess promising effects in assessing the severity of sepsis and the prognosis of patients.
ABSTRACT
Acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH) is an important clinical problem that is often monitored and studied with expensive devices such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. These devices are not readily available in economically underdeveloped regions of the world, emergency departments, and emergency zones. We have developed a less expensive tool for non-contact monitoring of ACH. The system measures the magnetic induction phase shift (MIPS) between the electromagnetic signals on two coils. ACH was induced in 6 experimental rabbits and edema was induced in 4 control rabbits by stereotactic methods, and their intracranial pressure and heart rate were monitored for 1 h. Signals were continuously monitored for up to 1 h at an exciting frequency of 10.7 MHz. Autologous blood was administered to the experimental group, and saline to the control group (1 to 3 mL) by injection of 1-mL every 5 min. The results showed a significant increase in MIPS as a function of the injection volume, but the heart rate was stable. In the experimental (ACH) group, there was a statistically significant positive correlation of the intracranial pressure and MIPS. The change of MIPS was greater in the ACH group than in the control group. This high-sensitivity system could detect a 1-mL change in blood volume. The MIPS was significantly related to the intracranial pressure. This observation suggests that the method could be valuable for detecting early warning signs in emergency medicine and critical care units.