ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an effective predictor of mortality in patients with for various conditions. To date, there are no previous studies on NLR as a prognostic marker for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA), especially on admission to the emergency department (ED). METHODS: From January 2013 to December 2015, 102 patients diagnosed with PLA in the ED were included. Clinico-radiological and laboratory results, including NLR, were evaluated as variables. NLR was calculated as absolute neutrophil count/absolute lymphocyte count. To evaluate the prognosis of PLA, data on hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and development of septic shock were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed. RESULTS: Among 102 patients, 10 (9.8%) died, 14 (13.7%) were admitted to the ICU, and 15 (14.7%) developed septic shock during hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed NLR as an independent factor in predicting death [odds ratio (OR), 1.4; p = 0.020], ICU admission (OR, 1.4; p = 0.021), and development of septic shock (OR, 1.6; p = 0.041). NLR showed an excellent predictive performance for death (areas under the ROC curves [AUC], 0.941; cut-off value, 19.7; p < 0.001), ICU admission (AUC, 0.946; cut-off value, 16.9; p < 0.001), and development of septic shock (AUC, 0.927; cut-off value, 16.9; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: NLR was positively associated with poor prognosis of PLA; elevated NLR could predictor of high risk of death, ICU admission, and development of septic shock. Emergency physicians should consider NLR for the prognosis of PLA and early aggressive treatment, especially in patients with NLR > 16.9.
Subject(s)
Emergency Service, Hospital , Liver Abscess, Pyogenic/immunology , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Neutrophils/metabolism , Adult , Aged , Area Under Curve , Biomarkers/metabolism , Feasibility Studies , Female , Hospital Mortality , Humans , Leukocyte Count , Liver Abscess, Pyogenic/metabolism , Liver Abscess, Pyogenic/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , ROC Curve , Retrospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
This experiment investigated whether (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) (5-20 mg/kg, p.o.) has hypnotic effects and/or enhances pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors and whether these effects are mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. EGCG prolonged sleeping time induced by pentobarbital (42 mg/kg, i.p.) and reduced sleeping latency induced by pentobarbital similarly to muscimol (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.), a GABA(A) receptor agonist in mice. EGCG also increased sleeping rate and sleeping time when co-administered with pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, i.p.) at a subhypnotic dosage. In addition, EGCG and pentobarbital increased chloride (Cl(-)) influx in primary cultured cerebellar cells. EGCG and pentobarbital decreased GABA(A) receptors α-subunit expression and had no effect on the expression of ß- and γ-subunits and of glutamic acid decarboxylase in the hippocampus of rats. In conclusion, the EGCG enhancement of Cl(-) influx may play an important role in pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors.
Subject(s)
Catechin/analogs & derivatives , Chloride Channels/metabolism , Chlorides/metabolism , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Pentobarbital/pharmacology , Sleep/drug effects , Animals , Catechin/pharmacology , Cells, Cultured , Cerebellum/cytology , Cerebellum/drug effects , Cerebellum/metabolism , Glutamate Decarboxylase/metabolism , Hippocampus/drug effects , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Muscimol/pharmacology , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptors, GABA/metabolismABSTRACT
This experiment was designed to know whether (-)-epigallocatethin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) counteracts caffeine-induced hyperactivity, and its potential mechanisms in mice. EGCG inhibited methamphetamine-induced, cocaine-induced and caffeine-induced horizontal hyperlocomotion and rearing activity. EGCG also inhibited hyperlocomotion and rearing activity induced by apomorphine, a D1/D2-like agonist. Moreover, EGCG inhibited climbing behavior, a typical stereotyped behavior induced by stimulation of dopamine receptors through the activation of those receptors by apomorphine. From this experiment, we suggest that EGCG inhibits hyperactivity induced by psychostimulants including caffeine, in part by modulating dopaminergic transmission, and these inhibitory effects of EGCG counteract the stimulant actions of caffeine in green tea.
Subject(s)
Caffeine/toxicity , Catechin/analogs & derivatives , Central Nervous System Stimulants/toxicity , Hyperkinesis/prevention & control , Animals , Catechin/pharmacology , Hyperkinesis/chemically induced , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Receptors, Dopamine D1/drug effects , Receptors, Dopamine D1/metabolism , Receptors, Dopamine D2/drug effects , Receptors, Dopamine D2/metabolism , Stereotyped Behavior/drug effects , Tea/chemistryABSTRACT
This study was designed to determine whether (-)-epigallocatethin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) could reverse caffeine-induced anxiogenic-like effects in animals. In mice, EGCG antagonized the caffeine-induced reduction in both the open arm entry number and time-spent in open arm on elevated plus-maze. In addition, EGCG also antagonized the caffeine-induced reduction in both the central zone distance and central zone time-spent on an open field apparatus, respectively. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded from the rat anterior cerebral cortex. Caffeine increased the power density-ratios of fast (FW: 8.00-20.00 Hz) and slow (SW: 0.75-8.00 Hz) frequency spectrum bands in these EEG recordings. However, EGCG reduced the caffeine-induced increase of FW/SW ratios. Thus, EGCG reverses caffeine-induced anxiogenic-like effects. We also provide additional evidence that the EEG FW/SW (or SW/FW) ratios can be a useful tool for the prediction of anxiogenic and/or anxiolytic effects in an animal model.