ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Critical illness induces immune disorders associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Torque Teno Virus (TTV), from the Anelloviridae family, are proposed as a biomarker to measure the level of immunosuppression. Our objective was to describe the kinetics of TTV DNA loads and their association with critical-illness related complications. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal study in 115 brain-injured patients from a prospective cohort, collected endotracheal and blood samples at three time points (T1, T2, T3) during the two weeks post-admission in intensive care unit, and measured viral DNA loads using the TTV R-gene® kit (Biomerieux) and a pan-Anelloviridae in house qRT-PCR. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected in the blood of 69, 71, and 64% of brain-injured patients at T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Time-associated variations of TTV and Anellovirus (AV) DNA loads were observed. Using a linear mixed-effects model, we found that HAP and ARDS were associated with lower blood AV DNA loads. CONCLUSION: Our results show that HAP or ARDS in critically ill patients are associated to changes in AV DNA loads, and should be evaluated further as a biomarker of immune disorders leading to these complications.
ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: In over two-thirds of deaths, nutrition is a determining factor. Nutritional condition and dietary recommandations are unspecified in the haemophilia treatment. Aim of this study was to examine the food consumption and dietary behaviour in affected patients before and after a nutrition consultation. PATIENTS, METHODS: Data were assessed via questionnaires and compared between 38 patients with haemophilia (PwH) and 20 controls without haemophilia. Furthermore, in a randomised controlled trial 11 patients with haemophilia (PwH-I) took part in an adapted nutrition consultation and were supervised over six months as opposed to 12 patients with haemophilia (PwH-O) without intervention. PwH were compared to controls more pleased with their weight (53 vs. 40%), used more nutrition consultations in the past (53 vs. 15%) and consumed more dairy products (40 vs. 15%) and fruits (45 vs. 30%). RESULTS: After nutrition consultation PwH-I were better informed about their own blood values than PwH-O. The nutrition rated high in both groups, but PwH-I were more mindful of the feeling of satiety (9 vs. 36%) compared to PwH-O (33 vs. 17%). Moreover, PwH-I ate less under stress and/or out of boredom, showed a higher satisfaction regarding their weight and increased the liquid intake (55 vs. 73%), which remained unchanged in PwH-O with 42%. Compared to PwH-O, PwH-I ate more roughage, low-fat food, fish and fruits, therefore consuming less coffee/tea. CONCLUSION: Food consumption and dietary behaviour are similar between patients with haemophilia and controls without haemophilia. A nutrition consultation affected the food consumption and dietary behaviour in patients with haemophilia positively and can consequently contribute to preservation of health and prevention of nutritional diseases.
