Analysis of Factors Causing Skin Damage in the Application of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter in Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the related factors of skin damage caused by peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in cancer patients. METHODS: It was a retrospective analysis of 202 cancer patients admitted to our hospital from February 2014 to July 2019. 50 cases of PICC-related skin damage and 152 cases of non-skin damage were studied. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for PICC-related skin damage, including cancer patients with catheter-related skin damage and patients without skin damage. RESULTS: 50 patients with PICC skin damage (19 males and 31 females) and 152 patients without skin damage (62 males and 90 females) were retrospectively analyzed. The skin damage rate was 24.8%. The analysis of variance results showed that many factors are related to PICC catheter-related skin damage, including hormones (χ 2/Z = 4.468, P < 0.05), body mass index (BMI) (χ 2/Z = -2.443, P < 0.05), days with tube (χ 2 = 26.230, P < 0.05), chemotherapy cycle (χ 2/Z = 25.638, P < 0.05), and self-care ability (χ 2/Z = -1.968, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that hormones (odds ratio (OR) = 3.896, P=0.045), BMI (OR = 1.129, P=0.017), days with tube (OR = 0.419, P=0.013), and chemotherapy cycle (OR = 3.302, P=0.028) are independent factors affecting PICC-related skin damage. CONCLUSION: The independent influencing factors of skin damage during PICC catheterization are hormones, BMI, number of days with tube, and chemotherapy cycle.

Flaccidoside II ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Flaccidoside II (FLA II), the primary active constituent from Anemone flaccida rhizome, was proven to exert therapeutic effect against collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). In this study, a research based on the CIA mouse model was carried out in order to elucidate its therapeutic mechanisms preliminarily. The mice were immunized with porcine type-II collagen to induce CIA and administrated intragastrically with FLA II daily from day 7-42 of the first collagen immunization. The arthritis scores as reflected by the severity of paw swelling and erythema were significantly reduced in FLA II (32 mg/kg) from day 33 onwards. On day 42, the joints of FLA II-treated mice exhibited obvious reductions of inflammatory cells infiltration, synovial hyperplasia and bone destruction. When the concentration of FLA II was no less than 40 nmol/ml, the treatment notably inhibited T and B lymphocyte proliferative responses. As compared to the model group, in FLA II groups, the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α) were significantly decreased while those of Th2 type cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were clearly enhanced. In addition, FLA II treatment showed little regulatory effect on the levels of Th1 type cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2). The severity of mice CIA was improved by FLA II, further confirming its potential value for the safe treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The main mechanisms likely involve the inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and the modulation of Th1/Th2-related cytokine balance in CIA.

Predictive risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation after surgery for stanford type A acute aortic dissection / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

To identify the predictors of prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients undergoing surgery for stanford type A acute aortic dissection. Methods 202 patients who underwent surgery for acute aortic dissection type A from May 2009 to May 2016 were divided into two groups based on their mechanical ventilation time after surgery, including 70 patients with mechanical ventilation 48 hours or more(group A), 132 patients with mechanical ventilation less than 48 hours (group B). Univariate and multivariate analysis(logistic regression) were used to identify the predictive risk factors. Results The mechanical ventilation time was(146. 8 ±78. 5)h and(21. 7 ±9. 5)h in group A and group B respectively. Overall inhospital mortality was 8. 6％ and 2. 3％. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that BMI(OR = 5. 956, 95％ CI: 2. 585 - 13. 723, P =0. 000), CPB time(OR =1. 108, 95％CI: 1. 052 -1. 166, P =0. 000), DHCA(OR =4. 562, 95％ CI: 1. 250 - 16. 640, P =0. 022), red blood cell transfusion intraoperative and in 24 hours postoperatively(OR =2. 625, 95％ CI: 1. 515 -4. 549, P =0. 001) were the independent predictors for prolonged mechanical ventilation. Conclusion The incidence of prolonged mechanical ventilation is high after surgery for stanford type A acute aortic dissection. It can be predicted based on above factors, for patients with these risk factors, more perioperative care strategies are needed in order to shorten the mechanical ventilation time.

An optical sensing composite for cysteine detection using up-conversion nanoparticles and a rhodamine-derived chemosensor: Construction, characterization, photophysical feature and sensing performance.

In this paper, we reported an optical sensing composite for cysteine detection. A chemosensor derived from rhodamine 6G was synthesized and characterized. To minimize its photobleaching, up-conversion nanocrystals ß-NaYF4:Yb(3+)/Er(3+) were prepared and modified with α-cyclodextrin, serving as excitation host. Under 980nm laser excitation, emission of these up-conversion nanocrystals overlapped well with the absorption of our chemosensor. Energy transfer between them was analyzed and confirmed by emission decay analysis. Job's analysis suggested that the complexation equilibrium between our chemosensor and cysteine was a simple one with binding stoichiometry of 1:1. A sensing system was constructed with up-conversion nanocrystals (modified with α-cyclodextrin) and this chemosensor. Emission "turn-on" effect was observed only for cysteine but immune to other competing amino acids and thiols, showing a good selectivity.

[Risk factors for nosocomial bloodstream infections in a neonatal intensive care unit].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors for nosocomial blood-stream infection (BSI) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: Clinical data from the neonates admitted to the NICU in the St. Louis Children's Hospital in Washington University School of Medicine between January 2005 and December 2006 were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: A total of 1 290 neonates were included. Overall, 175 nosocomial BSIs occurred. Catheter-related BSIs accounted for 62.3% (109 cases). The incidence of nosocomial BSI was 4.22 per 1 000 patient-days. Logistic regression analysis revealed that low gestational age, low Apgar scores at 5 minutes, use of central venous catheter (CVC), and longer CVC use were risk factors for the development of nosocomial BSI. In the subgroup of neonates with CVC, mechanical ventilation was an additional independent risk factor for BSI. CONCLUSIONS: Catheter-related BSI is the major source of nosocomial BSI in the NICU. Prematurity, low Apgar scores at birth and prolonged CVC use are risk factors for the development of BSI.