Factors associated with adherence to low-tidal volume strategy for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome and their impacts on outcomes: an observational study and propensity analysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting adherence to the low-tidal volume (LTV) strategy in acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and their impacts on outcomes. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 111 patients with ALI/ARDS admitted to six intensive care units between March 2010 and February 2011. The patients were divided into the LTV group, which received a TV ≤7.5 mL/kg predicted body weight (PBW), and the non-LTV group, which received a TV >7.5 mL/kg PBW. We studied the association of selected clinical factors and adherence to the LTV strategy, and evaluated their impacts on 28-day mortality and 1-year mortality by the propensity-match process. RESULTS: Adherence to the LTV strategy was only 44%, which was related to lung injury severity (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15, P=0.038), muscle relaxant use (OR: 3.28, P=0.031), and depth of sedation (OR: 0.65, P=0.008). Propensity score-based analysis showed that the LTV group had modestly better 28-day survival (P=0.081) and 1-year survival (P=0.067) than the non-LTV group. Moreover, muscle relaxant use was strongly associated with reducing the risk of death at both 28 days (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.122, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.027-0.542, P=0.006) and 1 year ([HR]: 0.111, 95% [CI]: 0.030-0.408, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Adherence to the LTV strategy was strongly associated with the lung injury score, muscle relaxant use, and depth of sedation. Propensity score-based analysis showed that the use of LTV ventilation and muscle relaxants reduced 28-day and 1-year mortality in ALI/ARDS patients.

Comparison of physiological responses to spontaneous breathing trials with a T-tube and low-level pressure support.

Previous studies have shown that spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) with a T-tube or low-level pressure support are comparable. However, low-level pressure support may overestimate the ability of a patient to sustain spontaneous breathing, resulting in premature extubation. Understanding factors contributing to different responses by patients to the two SBT methods aids in clarifying the limitation of using low-level pressure support for SBT. We performed a prospective observational study in 80 consecutive adult patients with mechanical ventilation to identify the factors contributing to different responses of a patient to the two SBT methods. The 80 patients underwent both a T-tube trial and pressure support ventilation of 6 cmH2O (PS-6) on the day of extubation. Stratified analysis was used to evaluate the effects of age, respiratory compliance and resistance, PaO2/FiO2 ratio and underlying disease on post-SBT responses. Comparing the responses to a T-tube trial and PS-6, the patients with old age, poor pulmonary compliance (≤40 ml/cmH2O) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had a higher heart rate (difference [95% CI]: 4 [0,8], 5 [2,9], 5 [0,10] beats/minute, respectively) and systolic blood pressure (10 [4,16], 11 [5,16], 7 [0,13] mmHg, respectively) after the T-tube trial. In conclusion, this research shows that old age and impaired respiratory mechanics contribute to different responses to spontaneous breathing trials with a T-tube and low-level pressure support. Further studies are needed to compare the effectiveness of the two SBT methods in predicting successful extubation in such patient groups.

Skin and soft-tissue infection caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Taiwan, 1997-2008.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical, microbiological, and pathological characteristics and the outcomes of skin and soft-tissue infection (SSTI) caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Medical records of 50 patients with SSTI caused by NTM identified from 2005 to 2008 and 63 patients previously reported in a medical centre from 1997 to 2004 were reviewed. The annual incidence (per 100,000 outpatients and in-patients) ranged from 0·57 in 2005, 0·38 in 2007, to 1·1 in 2008, with an average of 0·62/100,000. From 1997 to 2008, the average incidence was 1·39/100,000 patients. The average annual incidence of SSTI caused by NTM was 0·62/100,000 outpatients and in-patients during 2005 and 2008. Of the total of 113 patients identified during the 12-year period, patients infected with Mycobacterium fortuitum and M. marinum were younger than those infected with M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) (36 and 44 years vs. 55 years, P=0·004 and P=0·056, respectively), and were more likely to have previous invasive procedures than those infected with MAC and M. abscessus (81·8% and 72·0% vs. 27·8% and 54·8%, P=0·007), and less likely to have associated immunosuppression (9·1% and 24% vs. 66·7% and 45·2%, P=0·006). Granuloma was more often observed in immunocompetent patients (60·1% vs. 40%, P=0·019), and in M. marinum-infected specimens (78·3%). There were significant differences in the demographic and clinical features of patients with NTM SSTI, including immunosuppression, trauma experience, and depth of tissue infections.

Hepatitis C virus infection increases hepatitis risk during anti-tuberculosis treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection on clinically significant transaminase elevation during short-course anti-tuberculosis treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective observation study. RESULTS: During standard anti-tuberculosis treatment of 295 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and normal baseline liver biochemical tests, 25 (8.5%) developed hepatitis and had a significantly higher mortality rate (32% vs. 7%, OR 6.22, 95%CI 2.0-17.6, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that HCV co-infected individuals were more likely to develop transaminase elevations (OR 3.43, 95%CI 1.14-10.35, P = 0.03) than those without HCV co-infection. They also had a longer duration of transaminase elevation than controls (43.3 +/- 40.4 vs. 13.5 +/- 8.6 days, P = 0.01). Co-infection with HBV was not associated with a higher rate of hepatitis but was associated with later onset (102 +/- 68.7 vs. 37.0 +/- 31.9 days, P = 0.01), higher peak alanine aminotransferase level and slower recovery (55.5 +/- 62.9 vs. 15.4 +/- 10.8 days, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Even with normal baseline liver biochemical tests, HCV co-infection had a higher incidence and longer exacerbations of hepatitis during anti-tuberculosis treatment. We suggest that screening for HCV infection before starting anti-tuberculosis treatment is helpful in planning the frequency of follow-up visits.

Genitourinary infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria at a university hospital in Taiwan, 1996-2008.

Genitourinary infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are rarely reported. The medical records of all patients with genitourinary NTM infections treated at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1996-2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen patients were identified, of whom 10 (67%) were male. More than two-thirds of patients had underlying conditions, the most common of which was chronic renal disease. Only one patient had AIDS. Acid-fast smears of urine were negative in all patients. Eleven isolates were available for further confirmation by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common (n = 5, 33%), followed by both Mycobacterium abscessus (n = 2; 13%) and Mycobacterium fortuitum (n = 2; 13%). Of the 12 patients receiving anti-NTM treatment, only four received adequate prescribed regimens and none died of NTM infections. Two patients died of refractory urosepsis before the urinary NTM infections were diagnosed. The clinical characteristics of the 15 patients were also compared with 43 previously reported patients with genitourinary tuberculosis. Patients with genitourinary NTM infections were more likely to report constitutional symptoms, seek medical help within 1 month after the onset of symptoms and develop leukocytosis. Patients with genitourinary tuberculosis were more likely to have ureteral strictures and abnormal chest radiographs associated with active or inactive tuberculosis. Although rare, genitourinary NTM infections pose a significant threat to life and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of genitourinary infections, especially when patients are unresponsive to conventional antibiotic treatment.

Invasive infections caused by non-Aspergillus moulds identified by sequencing analysis at a tertiary care hospital in Taiwan, 2000-2008.

The clinical and microbiological characteristics of 103 patients with cultures positive for non-Aspergillus moulds in the period 2000 to 2008 were described. Among these patients, 27 had proven or probable invasive infections caused by Fusarium (n = 12), Paecilomyces (n = 7), Zygomycetes (n = 5) and Scedopsorium species (n = 3). The incidence of invasive infections caused by these moulds has not increased during the study period. Lung was the most common infection site and disseminated disease was observed in three leukaemic patients. The overall mortality rate was 40.7%, and was highest in cases zygomycosis. Antifungal susceptibility varied considerably among species. Amphotericin B and posaconazole demonstrated greatest activity against these moulds.

Candida glabrata fungaemia in intensive care units.

Candidaemia is increasingly important in intensive care units (ICUs). Compared with Candida albicans fungaemia, the impact of C. glabrata fungaemia on ICU patients is not well-known. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features, the antifungal susceptibility and the treatment outcomes of C. glabrata fungaemia in ICU patients. The medical records of ICU patients with candidaemia between 2000 and 2005 were reviewed retrospectively, and antifungal susceptibility testing was performed for isolates of C. glabrata. Among 147 episodes of candidaemia occurring in adult ICUs, C. glabrata was the second most common species and accounted for 45 (30%) episodes of candidaemia. The incidence of C. glabrata fungaemia was 1.3/1000 ICU admissions. Fluconazole resistance was found in 11% of C. glabrata isolates. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 58%. Therapeutic regimens containing amphotericin B were associated with better outcome. Despite higher fluconazole resistance, C. glabrata candidaemia was not associated with greater mortality than non-glabrata candidaemia in the ICU setting.

[Pathologic effect of lipid-lowering and vessel-softening medication in adult and aged rats].

The Wistar's male rats of six months and fifteen months of age were divided randomly into three groups: the Lipid-lowering and Vessel-softening medication (LVM) group, the vitamin E group and the control group. The rat aorta in morphology was observed to study the effects of these medication. The results showed that in the LVM group, the thickening of aorta intima with age was postponed, the thickening ratio of intima to tunica media was reduced, the reduction of smooth muscle cells was inhibited, while the synthesis of collagen fibril and the formation of plaque were also inhibited and the perfection of artery intima was protected.

[An analysis of blood cell pouring on the tongue surface in 3032 healthy persons].

This paper deals with the utilizing laser frequency multiplexing technique and Doppler effect, successfully to build up LDB-1 type of laser microcirculation blood flow meter. It was used to carry on a determination for blood cell pouring amount on tongue surface in 3032 healthy persons. The results were shown as follows. The average tongue blood cell pouring amount of healthy persons was 4.74 +/- 0.50, in which the male was 4.82 +/- 0.50, and the female was 4.66 +/- 0.49. Apparently, there was a great difference between them (P less than 0.01). Following the increase of age, the tongue blood cell pouring amount was gradually decreased. The average blood cell pouring amount of a group of 1-9 years old was 6.14 +/- 0.79, of over 60 years old was 3.89 +/- 0.39 (P less than 0.01). In the light red tongue, the average tongue blood cell pouring amount was 4.95 +/- 0.93, which was considered to be the highest; in the purple tongue, it was 3.96 +/- 0.44 which was considered the lowest. The average pouring amount in the red tongue was 4.94 +/- 0.77, and in the light white tongue was 4.21 +/- 0.52. The more red the tongue showed, the greater the tongue blood cell pouring amount would be; whereas, the more purple the tongue showed, the lower the tongue blood cell pouring amount would be. It obviously indicated that the tongue blood cell pouring amount would be. It obviously indicated that the tongue blood cell pouring amount could correctly reflect the different tongue characters and tongue blood circulation condition.