Prognostic value of CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs as a valuable biomarker for patients with sepsis in ICU.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a common complication of infections, burns, traumas, surgeries, poisonings, and post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The present study aimed to investigate prognostic value of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of patients with sepsis. METHODS: Periphery blood from 28 patients diagnosed with sepsis was collected on day 1 and 7 after hospitalization in the ICU of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital between December 2013 to April 2014. The blood was used for analyses of Treg ratio using flow cytometry and for analyses of blood routine test, C-reactive protein (CRP), bilirubin, procalcitonin (PCT), and coagulation. APACHE II and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were also investigated. The results were compared between two outcome groups of survival or death to evaluate prognostic value for sepsis. RESULTS: The patients had an average age of 60.36±15.03 years, APACHE II score 16.68±7.00, and SOFA score 7.18±3.78. Among the 28 patients, 12 had severe trauma (42.9%), 10 had septic shock (35.7%), and 9 (32.2%) died. The median ratio of Tregs was 2.10% (0.80%, 3.10%) in the survival group vs. 1.80% (1.15%, 3.65%) in the death group (Z=-0.148, P=0.883) on day 1; however it was significantly changed to 0.90% (0.30%, 2.80%) vs. 5.70% (2.60%, 8.30%) (Z=-2.905, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: With better prospects for clinical application, dynamic monitoring of Tregs ratio in peripheral blood has potential value in predicting prognosis of sepsis.

[Synthesis and crystal structure of a porous coordination polymer [Nd2 (C6H8O4)3 (H2O)2]n x n (4,4'-bpy)].

A novel porous coordination polymer [Nd2 (C6H8O4)3 (H2O)2]n x n (4,4'-bpy) was synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis reaction of hexyl acid, 4,4'-bpy with NdCl3 x XH2O. The structure was characterized by elemental analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray single crystal analysis. The crystal data are of an orthorhombic crystal system, Pbcn space group. Crystallographic data are: a = 2.201 2 nm(6), b = 0.777 8 nm(2), c = 1.972 4 nm(5), alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees, V = 337.70 nm(15)3, Z = 4, D(c) = 1.796 g x cm(-3), mu = 3.108 mm(-1), F(000) = 1 800, R = 0.043 0 and wR2 = 0.056 0. X-ray analysis reveals that three-dimensional porous nets were formed between Nd3+ and Nd3+ by carboxyl of hexyl acid.

Determination of mercury in biological tissues by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with an in-situ concentration technique.

A method has been described for the determination of total mercury by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) using an in-situ concentration technique with a Pd-Zr coating and a chemical modifier. The characteristic mass, which gives an integrated absorbance of 0.0044 s, was found to be 42 pg and an absolute detection limit (3sigma) of 33 pg was obtained with the proposed modifier. The total mercury values in standard reference materials, including Mussel (GBW08571), Bovine liver (GBW08306), Peach leaf (GBW08501) and Tea leaf (GBW080001), were determined using the proposed method, and the results were consistent with reference values. The method had been successfully applied to the determination of mercury in biological tissue samples with a recovery range of 94-105%.