Beta 2-microglobulin is an independent risk marker of acute kidney injury in adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The role of beta2-microglobulin (ß2-MG) in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis patients has been poorly studied. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis patients and identify risk factors that predict AKI development. METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study conducted at a single-center involved 938 patients diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, who were divided into AKI  group and non-AKI group. Patient data were collected and analyzed using univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression to identify potiential risk factors associated with AKI occurrence.   RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, 486 were male (51.9%), the median age was 37 years (interquartile range, 28.0, 52.0), 58.4% experienced AKI. Mechanical ventilation (8.0% vs. 0.8%) and vasopressor support (21.7% vs. 4.1%) occurred at significantly higher rates in the AKI group compared to the non-AKI group, with significantly higher in-hospital mortality (5.5% vs. 1.3%) and 28-day mortality (12.8% vs. 5.4%). When ß2-MG was used as a continuous variable, multifactorial analysis showed that ß2-MG, transplantation, and vasopressor support were independently associated with risk for the development of AKI. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of morbidity and mortality in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicated by AKI remains high. Monitoring levels of ß2-MG may provide clinicians with timely indicators of changes in renal function,  facilitating adjustments to treatment strategies.

The study on role of endothelial cell autophagy in rats with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.

Sepsis often causes acute kidney injury (AKI). Autophagy of renal tubular epithelial cells is considered a cytoprotective mechanism in septic AKI; however, the role of autophagy of renal endothelial cells is uninvestigated. The current study examined whether autophagy was induced by sepsis in renal endothelial cells and whether induction of autophagy in these cells attenuated the degree of AKI. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used as a model of sepsis in rats. Four experimental groups included: sham, CLP alone, CLP + rapamycin (RAPA), and CLP + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), where RAPA was used as an activator of autophagy. CLP increased renal LC3-II protein levels with an additional transient increase by RAPA at 18 h. In addition, CLP induced autophagosome formation in renal endothelial cells had an additional increase induced by RAPA. Interestingly, the levels of bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI), an endothelial cell-specific protein in the kidney, were also increased by CLP, albeit it was transiently downregulated by RAPA at 18 h. Serum thrombomodulin increased and renal vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin decreased following CLP, and these changes were attenuated by RAPA. The renal cortex exhibited and inflammatory tissue damage after CLP, and RAPA alleviated these histopathological injuries. The current findings indicate that autophagy was induced by sepsis in renal endothelial cells, and upregulation of autophagy in these cells alleviated endothelial injury and AKI. In addition, BAMBI was induced by sepsis in the kidney, which may play a role in regulating endothelial stability in septic AKI.

Epidemiology of sepsis in Beijing from 2012 to 2018: analysis of hospital homepage databases derived from the Beijing Public Health System.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of sepsis in secondary and tertiary hospitals in Beijing, China between 2012 and 2018 using information derived from the Beijing Public Health System. METHODS: The Beijing Public Health System accessed hospital homepage databases and identify patients who diagnosed sepsis or associated condition according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification codes. There are 125 hospitals involved in this study, including 61 secondary hospitals, accounting for 49.2%, and 63 tertiary hospitals, accounting for 50.8%. Patients were stratified by age as minors (0-17 years old), adults (18-64 years old), seniors (65-84 years old), and the elderly (≥ 85 years old). Patient's demographic information, treatments, outcomes, and all-cause hospitalization cost were evaluated. RESULTS: This study involved 8,597 patients. Patients treated in tertiary hospitals or received blood transfusion decreased with age, while patients who were male, received ventilation, or took Traditional Chinese Medicine, and in-hospital mortality and hospitalization cost, increased with age. There were 2,729 (31.7%) deaths in this study. A slight increase in in-hospital mortality occurred from 2012 to 2018. Median hospitalization cost for all patients was ¥29,453 (15,011, 65,237). Hospitalization cost showed no significant change from 2012 to 2016, but increased in 2017 and 2018. CONCLUSION: Sepsis is associated with high mortality and cost. From 2012 to 2018, in-hospital mortality and hospitalization cost of sepsis in Beijing increased significantly with age, and slightly by year.

Successful Treatment of Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia caused by Chlamydia Psittaci: a Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Community acquired pneumonia is a common and deadly condition, which remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia is responsible for less than 5% of community-acquired pneumonia with a fatality rate of 1%. Nonetheless, it is underestimated due to low awareness of the disease and atypical clinical presentation in a majority of the cases. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing can help us diagnose and clarify the etiology in time. METHODS: We reported a case of an 85-year-old man who presented with intermittent fever and cough with wheezing for 4 days and did a review of related literature. RESULTS: The patient was admitted to our department due to severe CAP and multiple organ dysfunction. After admission, we applied an empirical antibiotic strategy, performed intubation and invasive ventilation, fluid resuscitation, vasoactive drugs and supportive care. On the third day of admission, metagenomic next-generation sequencing results of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid suggested Chlamydia psittaci. We made a diagnosis of sever Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia and adjusted antibiotics to minocycline combined with azithromycin two days after admission. The patient was successfully cured with a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Detecting the pathogen as early as possible and achieving accurate diagnosis are essential in infected patients. We can benefit from careful application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

Ulinastatin Improves Renal Microcirculation by Protecting Endothelial Cells and Inhibiting Autophagy in a Septic Rat Model.

INTRODUCTION: Increased permeability of the renal capillaries is a common consequence of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is a strictly endothelial-specific adhesion molecule that can control the permeability of the blood vessel wall. Additionally, autophagy plays an important role in maintaining cell stability. Ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor, attenuates the systemic inflammatory response and visceral vasopermeability. However, it is uncertain whether ulinastatin can improve renal microcirculation by acting on the endothelial adhesion junction. METHODS: We observed the effect of ulinastatin in a septic rat model using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) to evaluate the perfusion of the renal cortex and medulla. Male adult Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture and divided into the sham, sepsis, and ulinastatin groups. Ulinastatin (50,000 U/kg) was injected into the tail vein immediately after the operation. The CEUS was performed to evaluate the renal microcirculation perfusion at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after the operation. Histological staining was used to evaluate kidney injury scores. Western blot was used to quantify the expression of VE-cadherin, LC3II, and inflammatory factors (interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) in kidney tissue, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected serum inflammatory factors and kidney function and early kidney injury biomarker levels. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, ulinastatin reduced the inflammatory response, inhibited autophagy, maintained the expression of VE-cadherin, and meliorated cortical and medullary perfusion. CONCLUSION: Ulinastatin effectively protects the adhesion junction and helps ameliorate the perfusion of kidney capillaries during sepsis by the inhibition of autophagy and the expression of inflammatory factors.

Risk predictive role of hypernatremia for occurrence of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Septic acute kidney injury (AKI), identified when sepsis and AKI present concurrently, is a syndrome of acute function impairment and organ damage, which accounts for ~50% AKI in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 591 patients who were diagnosed with sepsis and admitted to the ICU of Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2009 to December 2014. According to the concentration of serum sodium, the 591 patients were further divided into 3 groups: normal group, hyponatremia group, and hypernatremia group. RESULTS: The arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2, P=0.014), concentration of sodium (Na+, P<0.001), and chloride ion (Cl-, P<0.001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN, P<0.001), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) score (P<0.001), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (P<0.001), and Glasgow score (P<0.001) showed significant differences. The SOFA score [P=0.040; odds ratio (OR) =1.261], body mass index (BMI, P=0.041; OR =1.229), P content (P=0.032; OR =7.180) and creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB, P=0.006; OR =1.168) may be risk factors for occurrence of AKI in patients with hypernatremia. The AKI (P<0.001; OR =6.850) and P content (P=0.027; OR =3.676) may be risk factors for death in patients with hypernatremia. The Na+ suggested a predictive ability for AKI (P<0.001; area under the curve (AUC): 0.586) but not for death (P=0.104). CONCLUSIONS: Hypernatremia is independently associated with an increased risk and has a predictive ability of AKI in patients with sepsis.

Japanese encephalitis following liver transplantation: A rare case report.

BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a serious public health concern with a high mortality rate in many Asian countries. For many years, JE virus (JEV) was considered the major cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Although most JE cases are asymptomatic, the case fatality rate approaches 30%, and approximately 30%-50% of survivors have long-term neurological sequelae. To the best of our knowledge, JEV infection has never been reported following liver transplantation. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a woman who underwent liver transplantation for autoimmune liver disease but presented with fever and neurological symptoms 13 d after transplantation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed JEV infection, and positive immunoglobulin M antibody to JEV in blood and cerebrospinal fluid confirmed JE. The patient was treated with antiviral agents, immune regulation, and organ function support. No neurological sequelae were present after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Imaging and lumbar puncture examination should be performed as soon as possible in patients with fever and central nervous system symptoms after liver transplantation, and the possibility of atypical infection should be considered, which is helpful for early diagnosis and improved prognosis.

Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine the clinical profile of critically ill patients with septic acute kidney injury (AKI) and to investigate clinical characteristics associated with the outcome of patients. Methods: Data from 582 critically ill patients were collected and retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: without AKI development and with AKI development. Baseline characteristics, laboratory, and other clinical data were compared between these two groups, and correlations between the characteristics and AKI development were examined. Patients with AKI development were further divided into two groups according to the survival outcome, and variables associated with the outcome were determined. Results: AKI was developed in 54.12% (n = 315) of patients, and these patients had blood pressure, SOFA score, APACHE II score, GCS, and various blood chemistry and hematology characteristics significantly different from the patients without AKI. Demographic characteristics (e.g. age and weight) were comparable between the two groups of patients. Among the 315 patients with AKI, 136 of them died during the study period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the outcome of patients was associated with lung infection, coagulation system dysfunction, staphylococcus aureus infection, and use of various treatments (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and the use of mechanical ventilation) after AKI development. Conclusion: AKI occurred in approximately half of the critically ill patients admitted to ICU. The site and type of infections, as well as the use of vasopressor agents, were associated with the outcome.

P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2-directed resuscitation does not improve prognosis compared with SvO2 in severe sepsis and septic shock: A prospective multicenter randomized controlled clinical study.

PURPOSES: The present study examined the value of P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2 compared with ScvO2 as a target for clinical resuscitation of severe sepsis/septic shock. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 228 patients were randomly divided into a P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2-targeted and a ScvO2-targeted therapy group. The effects on hemodynamics, interventional intensity, and outcome were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2-targeted therapy group was significantly higher at 3 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 3 days (P < .05). The P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2 of the ScvO2-targeted therapy group was significantly higher at each time point after resuscitation (P < .05). However, the CVP, lactate, urine output, ScvO2, and P(v-a)CO2 were not significantly improved. The P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2-targeted therapy group used a smaller fluid volume and required fewer red blood cell transfusions and vasoactive drugs, but these results were also not significant. There were no differences between 28-day and 60-day mortality, APACHEII and SOFA scores, ICU length of stay, residence length of stay, number of days free of vasoactive drugs, or number of ventilator-free days. Post hoc tests revealed no significant differences between these two groups in 28-day survival. CONCLUSION: P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2-directed resuscitation did not improve prognosis compared with ScvO2 in severe sepsis and septic shock. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01877798.

[Changes in plasma cholesterol level and risk factors of death in patients with sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of change in plasma cholesterol level in patients with sepsis, and to explore its relationship with prognosis and its clinical significance. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted. 568 patients with sepsis admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from August 2013 to August 2015 were enrolled, and 475 patients without sepsis hospitalized in the same period served as the control. The basic clinical data of the two groups were collected, and the results of blood fat and biochemical parameters were compared. The patients with sepsis were divided into death group and survival group, and risk factors influencing the prognosis of patients with sepsis were analyzed with multivariate logistic model regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with non-sepsis patients, the levels of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the patients with sepsis were significantly lower [TC (mmol/L): 2.5±1.2 vs. 3.4±1.4, t = 4.274, P = 0.021; HDL-C (mmol/L): 1.6±0.9 vs. 2.5±0.8, t = 3.413, P = 0.018], and that of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) showed no statistically significant difference (mmol/L: 1.9±0.9 vs. 2.1±0.9, t = 0.749, P = 0.614). In the patients with sepsis, the patients in death group (n = 227) were older than those of the survival group (n = 341, years: 74.3±15.5 vs. 65.5±17.5, t = 4.037, P = 0.012), serum creatinine (SCr) was higher than that of survival group (µmol/L: 251.0±115.6 vs. 167.4±108.7, t = 3.254, P = 0.023), the levels of plasma TC, HDL-C and LDL-C were significantly lower than those of survival group [TC (mmol/L): 2.2±1.6 vs. 2.9±1.1, t = 3.057, P = 0.023; HDL-C (mmol/L): 1.4±0.8 vs. 1.9±0.8, t = 4.692, P = 0.016; LDL-C (mmol/L): 1.7±0.7 vs. 2.0±0.8, t = 2.541, P = 0.038]; there was no significant difference in the proportion of male, body mass index (BMI), based disease, intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization time, the severity of the disease and other biochemical indexes between two groups. With single factor analysis with indicators of statistical significance as a covariate into binary logistic regression equation, the results show that age was the risk factor of death in patients with sepsis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.024, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.010-1.048, P = 0.009], and TC was the protective factor on the prognosis of patients with sepsis (OR = 0.747, 95%CI = 0.682-0.811, P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma cholesterol levels in patients with sepsis were significantly lowered, and the levels in death group was significantly lower than that in the survival group. TC may be used as a clinical indicator to assess the outcome of patients with sepsis.

[Clinical analysis on combined medication in patients of acute pancreatitis in real world].

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics and regular pattern of the medicine in common use and combined medication in patients of acute pancreatitis in real world. METHOD: Collect the information of 5 433 acute pancreatitis patients in 19 grade IIIA general hospitals in China, analysis by descriptive statistics and association rule. RESULT: In the 5 433 patients of acute pancreatitis, the glycyrrhizic acid injection and somatostatin are the frequency top used Chinese traditional and western medication. Glycyrrhizic acid injection, somatostatin and insulin are the frequency top used drug combination pattern. CONCLUSION: The Chinese and western integrative medicine drug use pattern are accord with the clinical guideline of acute panceatitis. The hepatic and renal function, blood routine and coagulation function should be monitored when the medicines are used.

[The clinical analysis of 419 severe sepsis patients in intensive care unit].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and mortality risk factors of severe sepsis patients admitted into intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: The clinical data of 419 severe sepsis patients admitted to an adult ICU of Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed and evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent risk factors for the death of patients with severe sepsis during ICU stay. RESULTS: Overall ICU mortality was 43.9% (184/419), and the respiratory tract was the most common site of infection (50.8%), followed by infection of the gastrointestinal tract and abdominal cavity (27.8%), and hematogenous infection (4.3%). Gram-negative bacteria were the most common pathogens [46.0%(214/465)]. Iatrogenic infections accounted for 53.7% (225/419) of the enrolled patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that age [odds ratio(OR)=0.003, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.015-1.056, P=0.000], vasoactive drug application (OR=3.251, 95%CI 1.562-6.768, P=0.002), failure of 3 or more organs (OR=2.452, 95%CI 1.015-5.924, P=0.046), and iatrogenic infection (OR=1.775, 95%CI 0.981-3.221, P=0.046) were independent risk factors for ICU mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Severe sepsis is a common cause of ICU admission. Patients with risk factors for high mortality should be carefully monitored, and aggressive treatment should be administered.

Correlation between different Chinese medicine syndromes and changes in microcirculation in septic shock patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between different Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes and variations in microcirculation in septic shock patients. METHODS: seventy Septic shock patients were divided into four groups: heat damaging qi-yin group (HDQY, 23 cases); yin exhaustion and yang collapse group (YEYC, 26 cases); excessive heat in Fu organ group (EHFO, 10 cases); and heat damaging nutrient-blood group (HDNB, 11 cases). Sublingual microcirculation parameters were observed by sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging and scored by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and parameters of microcirculation perfusion variations and prognoses were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with those with qi-yin heat damage, perfused vessel density (PVD) in other groups decreased dramatically (P<0.05), and APACHE II scores increased significantly (P<0.05). In addition, the recovery time was prolonged substantially (P<0.05), and the mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2) decreased (P<0.05). Blood lactic acid increased significantly (P<0.05), and the mixed SVO decreased (P<0.05), in the YEYC group. Compared with the thermal injury camp blood group, sublingual microcirculation parameter variations showed no obvious difference in the YEYC and EHFO groups (P>0.05). There were significant positive correlations between CM syndromes and APACHE II scoring in different groups (r=0.512, P<0.05). There were negative correlations between PVD and APACHE II scoring (r=-0.378, P=0.043), the proportion of perfused vessels (PPV) and APACHE II scoring (r=-0.472, P=0.008), as well as between the microvascular flow index (MFI) and APACHE II scoring (r=-0.424, P=0.023) in different patients. CONCLUSION: Sublingual microcirculation may serve as a clinical diagnostic parameter of the patient condition, as well as being a prognostic indicator.

[The clinical significance of determining the severity and prognosis by monitoring the changes in sublingual microcirculation in patients with severe sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of dynamic monitoring of changes in the sublingual microcirculation in patients with severe sepsis to determine the degree of severity of the clinical condition and prognosis. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. Sixty--five patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) in Beijing Friendship Hospital were enrolled from June 2010 to December 2010, among whom there were 30 cases of sepsis, 35 cases of severe sepsis. The severe sepsis patients received the early goal--directed resuscitation; and at 0 (before treatment), 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours after resuscitation, the technology of sidestream dark--field was used to measure the sublingual total vessel density (TVD), perfusing vessel density (PVD), proportion of perfused vessels (PPV), microvascular flow index (MFI) of sublingual microcirculation in patients and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEII) score, ICU days and 28--day mortality were recorded. Thirty healthy individuals were enrolled as the control group. RESULTS: The sublingual PPV and MFI were significantly lower in sepsis patients than those of the control group [PPV: (73.60 ± 16.77)% vs. (85.17 ± 7.60)%; MFI: 3.23 ± 0.77 vs. 3.78 ± 0.35, both P < 0.05]; PVD, PPV, MFI in severe sepsis patients were not only significantly lower than those of the sepsis group {PVD[mm/mm²]: 7.53 ± 4.38 vs.12.15 ± 2.88; PPV: (49.13 ± 33.74)% vs. (73.60 ± 16.77)%; MFI: 2.21 ± 1.41 vs. 3.23 ± 0.77, all P < 0.05}. After the early goal--directed fluid resuscitation, the sublingual microcirculation was improved significantly compared with that before treatment (0 hour), and they were remarkably apparent at 12 hours {TVD[mm/mm²]: 5.76 ± 2.25 vs. 6.72 ± 4.37; PVD [mm/mm²]: 7.57 ± 1.77 vs. 5.48 ± 4.39; PPV:(69.47 ± 19.24)% vs. (34.55 ± 30.82)%; MFI: 3.17 ± 0.49 vs. 1.55 ± 1.14, all P < 0.05}. Compared with the sepsis group, APACHEII score of the severe sepsis group was elevated (24.77 ± 7.45 vs. 19.30 ± 10.36, but P>0.05), the length of stay in ICU (days) was longer (20.60 ± 19.87 vs. 10.33 ± 9.53, P < 0.05), and the 28--day mortality was higher (45.71% vs. 36.36%, but P>0.05). In the severe sepsis group, compared with the survival group (19 cases), the sublingual microcirculation in the non-survival group (16 cases) PVD, PPV, MFI were significantly decreased{PVD[mm/mm²]:6.70 ± 5.15 vs. 8.53 ± 3.13; PPV: (44.23 ± 37.71)% vs. (54.96 ± 28.41)%; MFI: 1.89 ± 1.65 vs. 2.58 ± 0.98, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01}, but APACHEII score and length of stay in ICU (days) were not significantly different (23.19 ± 6.46 vs. 20.31 ± 6.03; 16.13 ± 10.90 vs. 19.19 ± 9.90, both P > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that: PPV showed a significant negative correlation with the prognosis of the patients (r = -0.374, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sequential monitoring of the sublingual microcirculation in patients with severe sepsis can be used to determine the disease severity, and to forecast the outcome of the patient.

[Effect of Qishen Huoxue Granule for auxiliary treatment of critical cases of acute kidney injury].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of Qishen Huoxue Granules (QHG) for auxiliary treatment of critical patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: Fifty-two AKI patients came from critical care medical department of Beijing Friendship Hospital were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (25 patients) was treated with QHG (consisted of Radix Astragali, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, Radix Paeoniae rubra, Flos Carthami, and Radix Angelicae sinensis, etc., 10 g/bag, administered via gastric perfusion, 3 times per day, 10 g in each time) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT); Group B (27 cases) was treated only by CRRT, all for 14 days. Besides, mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs were applied in case of necessary. The time of renal function recovery, days in ICU, 28-day mortality, changes of serum Cystatin C concentration as well as the time of mechanical ventilation (T-V) and vasoactive drugs application (T-D) in patients, who received corresponding treatment were observed. RESULTS: The renal function recovery time in Group A was markedly earlier than that in Group B (P < 0.05), with concentration of serum Cystatin C began to decrease from day 10. T-V and T-D in Group A were markedly shorter than those in Group B, respectively (P < 0.05). No significantly statistical difference between the two groups for days in ICU and 28-day mortality was found (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: QHG shows favorable prospect in treating critical AKI patients, it can significantly accelerate the renal function recovery time, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs application.