Relevance of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Early Diagnosis of Leptospirosis.

Aim and background: Leptospirosis is common in India, especially in the southern states. Mortality is high among untreated cases. Diagnosis of leptospirosis remains a challenge in India as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is more sensitive than Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is not widely available. This study aimed to find out the difference in diagnostic yield with PCR and IgM in early leptospirosis. Materials and methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 67 adults with laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis (IgM, PCR, or both) who presented within 7 days of symptom onset and were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The difference in the diagnostic yield with PCR and IgM ELISA was studied. Results: About 77.6% of the patients tested positive by PCR and 55.2% tested positive by IgM. There was a statistically significant difference in the detection of leptospirosis by PCR and IgM (p-value = 0.036). In the subgroup of patients who presented within 3 days of onset of symptoms, PCR positivity was 90.32% whereas IgM positivity was only 25.8%. Conclusion: Our study showed that the sensitivity of leptospira PCR is significantly higher than IgM in the first week of illness. It also showed that among the subset of patients who died, a majority were detected only by PCR. Since PCR is not widely available, leptospirosis remains underdiagnosed and mortality from the same is underestimated. Polymerase chain reaction, if routinely done along with IgM for all suspected cases of leptospirosis that present within the first week of illness helps in prompt diagnosis and treatment. How to cite this article: Sreevalsan TV, Chandra R. Relevance of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Early Diagnosis of Leptospirosis. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(3):290-293.

Improvement of the nutritional support management system for patients in intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional support for patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) is an important part of clinical treatment and care, but there are significant implementation difficulties. AIM: To introduce a modified nutritional support management system for ICU patients based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling. METHODS: The division of functions, personnel training, system construction, development of an intelligent decision-making software system, quality control, and improvement of the whole process were carried out to systematically manage nutritional support for ICU patients. RESULTS: Following the implementation of the whole process management system, the scores of ICU medical staff's knowledge, attitudes/beliefs, and practices regarding nutritional support were comprehensively enhanced. The proportion of hospital bed-days of total enteral nutrition (EN) in ICU patients increased from 5.58% to 11.46%, and the proportion of EN plus parenteral nutrition increased from 42.71% to 47.07%. The rate of EN initiation within 48 h of ICU admission increased from 37.50% to 48.28%, and the EN compliance rate within 72 h elevated from 20.59% to 31.72%. After the implementation of the project, the Self-rating Anxiety Scale score decreased from 61.07 ± 9.91 points to 52.03 ± 9.02 points, the Self-rating Depression Scale score reduced from 62.47 ± 10.50 points to 56.34 ± 9.83 points, and the ICU stay decreased from 5.76 ± 2.77 d to 5.10 ± 2.12 d. CONCLUSION: The nutritional support management system based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling achieved remarkable results in clinical applications in ICU patients.

The Effect of Video Call with Family Members on Physiological Parameters of Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study.

Aim and background: There are not enough studies on the direct effect of virtual patient visits on patients' vital signs in intensive care. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of video calls made between conscious patients and their families on the patient's vital signs and to determine the level of satisfaction. Materials and methods: The research was carried out quasi-experimentally. Study data were collected from 135 patients and their relatives. The data were collected from the vital signs monitoring form and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Satisfaction with the video call was measured with a score scale between 0 and 5. Video calls were conducted by an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse every day between 13:00 and 15:00 for 5 days. Physiological parameters were measured 30 minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after the video calls. Results: The mean patient pulse rate (PR) value was 92.04 ± 12.87, respiratory rate (RR) value was 22.89 ± 3.63, and GCS total score was 14.01 ± 0.12 during the call. There was a statistically significant difference between these values measured during the video calls and the values measured before and after the interview (p < 0.00). The mean score of patient satisfaction with the video call was 4.80 ± 0.44; for relatives, the mean score was 4.87 ± 0.33. Conclusion: This study revealed that video calls with family members affected PR, RR, and GCS of patients hospitalized in ICU. Clinical significance: Video calls can be implemented in all ICUs where visits are restricted. This practice is well recognized by both families and patients. How to cite this article: Uysal N, Vaizoglu D. The Effect of Video Call with Family Members on Physiological Parameters of Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(10):732-736.

Reflecting on ICU patient's dignity using Taylor's Emancipatory Reflection Model.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients not only require life-sustaining treatments but also the preservation of their psychological well-being and dignity, and ICU nurses face heavy work pressure, focusing more on life-sustaining treatments for patients, while the patient's psychological experiences are often overlooked. This article aims to explore the issue of nurse-led patient dignity preservation in the ICU from China. Reflection is a process of deep thinking and examining one's actions, experiences, perspectives, or emotions. It involves retrospectively reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating past events to gain insights, understanding, and personal growth. Through reflection, individuals can consider whether their actions align with their values and goals and whether they can learn valuable lessons from them. This article discusses the preservation of patient dignity in the ICU from China based on Taylor's Emancipatory Reflection Model, which involves four steps: constructing, deconstructing, confronting, and reconstructing. The process of reflection incorporates theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Comfort Theory, and the style of Paternalistic Decision-making. This study is of great significance in enhancing Chinese nurse's attention to patient dignity, improving the inpatient experience of ICU patients, and enhancing the quality of nursing practice by critically examining current nursing practices in China and providing improvement recommendations.

Clinical observation of neutralizing antibody DXP-604 for treatment critical COVID-19 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant.

From January to March 2022, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta (B.1.617.2) infection was prevalent in Yuzhou and Zhengzhou. DXP-604 is a broad-spectrum antiviral monoclonal antibody, which has excellent viral neutralization ability in vitro and a long half-life in vivo, with good biosafety and tolerability. Preliminary results showed that DXP-604 can accelerate recovery from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in hospitalized patients with mild to moderate clinical symptoms. However, the efficacy of DXP-604 has not been fully studied in high-risk severe patients. Here, we prospectively enrolled 27 high-risk patients, two groups were divided, in addition to receiving standard of care (SOC), 14 of them additionally received the neutralizing antibody DXP-604 therapy, and another 13 intensive care unit (ICU) patients simultaneously underwent SOC as a control group matched for age, gender, and clinical type. The results revealed lower C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, lactic dehydrogenase and neutrophil counts, and higher lymphocyte and monocyte counts from Day 3 post-DXP-604 treatment compared with SOC treatment. Besides, thoracic CT images showed improvements in lesion areas and degrees, along with changes in blood inflammatory factors. Moreover, DXP-604 reduced the invasive mechanical ventilation and mortality of high-risk SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. The ongoing clinical trials of DXP-604 neutralizing antibody will clarify its utility as a new attractive countermeasure for high-risk COVID-19.

Factors Affecting the Relationship Between Stress and Anxiety in Critically Ill Patients: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

This study aimed to examine the factors affecting the relationship between stress and anxiety in critically ill patients. A cross-sectional research paradigm was employed to enroll patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a medical university hospital. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the data. A total of 90 ICU patients were included in this study; 56 were men and 34 were women. The patients' mean age was 65.3 years. Only the emotional responses dimension of illness was significantly positively correlated with stress. However, the emotional responses dimension of illness representation, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation system (APACHE) score, age, and education level were significantly positively correlated with anxiety. Nevertheless, treatment control was significantly negatively correlated with anxiety. Overall, illness representations (emotional responses and treatment control), APACHE score, age, and education were important predictors of anxiety, with an explanatory power of 37.9%. We recommend that for clinically relevant practice, besides focusing on ICU patients' illness representation, attention should also be paid to their individual characteristics, such as differences in age and education levels.

Optimization strategy of antibiotic dosing regimen in intensive care unit patients with augmented renal clearance / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

The incidence of augmented renal clearance (ARC) in intensive care patients (ICU) is exceptionally high, and these patients are often co-morbid with infection. The occurrence of ARC will significantly increase the clearance rate of antibiotics, making it difficult for conventional doses to reach effective therapeutic concentrations and affect the patient's anti-infective treatment effect and prognosis. It can be seen that it is crucial to formulate a reasonable dosing regimen for ICU patients with ARC. Regrettably, few reports in China about the adjustment strategy of antibiotic dosing regimens for ARC patients. Therefore, this article reviews the domestic and foreign literature for reference to provide evidence for medical personnel to adjust the dose of antibacterial drugs for such patients.

Application of visual placement of a nasojejunal indwelling feeding tube in intensive care unit patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Background: Compared with nasogastric nutrition, nasojejunal nutrition may prevent some complications of critically ill patients by maintaining better nutritional status, and blind placement of nasojejunal dwelling feeding tubes is widely used. However, the visual placement seems to be safer and more effective than the blind placement, and is still seldom reported. Objective: We tried to develop visual placement of a nasojejunal feeding tube in intensive care unit patients. Methods: A total of 122 patients receiving mechanical ventilation were admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and received the placement of nasojejunal feeding tubes. These patients were randomly and evenly assigned into two groups, one group receiving visual placement of nasojejunal dwelling feeding tubes and another group receiving blind placement. Actual tube placement was confirmed by X-ray. The primary outcome included the success rates of first placement of feeding tubes. The secondary outcome included the time of tube placement, complications, the total cost, heart rates and respiratory rates. Results: The primary outcome showed that the success rates of first placement were 96.70% (59 cases/61 cases) in the visual placement group, and two cases failed due to pyloric stenosis and gastroparesis. The success rates were 83.6% (51 cases/61 cases) in the blind placement group and 10 cases failed due to either wrong placement or retrograde tube migration. The success rates in the visual placement group were higher than that in the blind placement group (P = 0.015). The secondary outcome showed that the time of tube placement in the visual placement group was shorter than that in the blind placement group (P < 0.0001). The cost of tube placement in the visual placement group was higher than that in the blind placement group (P < 0.0001). The statistical differences in complications, heart and respiratory rates were insignificant between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with the blind placement, the visual placement shortened the time of nasojejunal tube placement and increased success rates of first placement. The visual placement was more efficient, easy to operate, safe, and has potential clinical applications.

Risk Factors for Mortality and Antimicrobial Regimens in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infections: A Six-Year Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Limited data are available on the characteristics, risk factors, and antimicrobial treatment of critically ill pediatric patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections. This study was to identify the risk factors for 30-day mortality in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients with CRE infections and compare the clinical outcomes of different antimicrobial regimens. Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study was performed on patients admitted to the PICU with positive CRE cultures between January 2016 and December 2021. Results: For the 56 patients, the overall 30-day mortality was 50% (n=28). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that pediatric critical illness score (PCIS; HR = 0.879; 95% CI, 0.827-0.935; P < 0.001) and serum albumin levels (HR = 0.921; 95% CI, 0.860-0.987; P = 0.019) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. At the same time, there was no significant difference in 30-day mortality (42.9% versus 45.5%, P = 0.854) or clinical efficiency rate (53.4% versus 40.9%, P = 0.374) between with and without polymyxin B therapy. Conclusion: The study revealed PCIS and serum albumin levels were the independent mortality-related risk factors of CRE infections in critically ill pediatric patients. Treatment with polymyxin B could not reduce 30-day mortality. Future prospective cohort studies are needed to investigate the optimal antimicrobial regimens for CRE infection in PICU patients.

Relative Hypoglycemia is Associated with Delirium in Critically Ill Patients with Diabetes: A Cohort Study.

Purpose: Critically ill patients with premorbid diabetes can suffer from relative hypoglycemia (RHG), falling below the normal blood glucose (BG) target. However, these events have not been well defined or studied. In the present study, we aimed to explore the incidence and clinical significance of RHG events in critically ill patients with diabetes. Patients and methods: Patients with a history of diabetes who stayed in the intensive care unit (ICU) for more than three days with at least 12 BG recordings were retrospectively included in the study. A BG level > 30% below the estimated average according to patient hemoglobin A1c measured at admission was defined as a single RHG event. Outcomes were compared between patients with and those without RHG events. Results: In total, 113 patients were included in the final analysis. RHG was detected in 73 patients (64.6%). Those who experienced RHG events had a significantly higher incidence of ICU delirium. They also had a higher risk of 28-day mortality, but this was not statistically significant. However, patients with a higher frequency of RHG events did have a significantly higher risk of overall mortality (57.1% for more than four events vs 15.4% for three to four events, P=0.006 and 15.1% for one to two events, P=0.003). Conclusion: In conclusion, RHG is a common finding in critically ill patients with diabetes and is associated with mortality and the occurrence of delirium.

Perioperative glycemic status is linked to postoperative complications in non-intensive care unit patients with type-2 diabetes: a retrospective study.

Background: Perioperative hyperglycemia is a risk factor for postoperative complications in the general population. However, it has not been clarified whether perioperative hyperglycemia increases postoperative complications in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Therefore, we aimed to analyze the relationship between perioperative glycemic status and postoperative complications in non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) hospitalized patients with T2D. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 1217 patients with T2D who were admitted to the non-ICU in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Relationships between clinical characteristics including perioperative glycemic status and postoperative complications were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Perioperative glycemic status was evaluated by calculating the mean, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV) of blood glucose (BG) measurements in preoperative and postoperative periods for three contiguous days before and after surgery, respectively. Postoperative complications were defined as infections, delayed wound healing, postoperative bleeding, and/or thrombosis. Results: Postoperative complications occurred in 139 patients (11.4%). These patients showed a lower BG immediately before surgery (P = 0.04) and a higher mean postoperative BG (P = 0.009) than those without postoperative complications. There were no differences in the other perioperative BG parameters including BG variability and the frequency of hypoglycemia. The multivariate analysis showed that BG immediately before surgery (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]), 0.91 (0.85-0.98), P = 0.01) and mean postoperative BG (1.11 (1.05-1.18), P < 0.001) were independently associated with postoperative complications. Conclusion: Perioperative glycemic status, that is, a low BG immediately before surgery and a high mean postoperative BG, are associated with the increased incidence of postoperative complications in non-ICU patients with T2D.

Is the amino acid pattern in medical nutrition therapy crucial for successfully attenuating muscle mass loss in adult ICU patients? Secondary analysis of a RCT.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We hypothesized that in long-term immobilized intensive care unit (ICU) patients, both the quantity and quality of protein nutrition are vital in supporting muscle mass maintenance. Hence, the aim of this secondary analysis of our recently performed RCT was to calculate the intake of individual amino acids and to evaluate the potential associations of amino acid patterns with muscle mass loss during the ICU stay. METHODS: Clinical and nutritional data were collected from a recent RCT conducted in long-term immobilized, critically ill patients receiving medical nutrition therapy with either 1.8 g (interventional group) or 1.2 g (standard group) of protein/amino acids per kg body weight per day over 4 weeks. Intake of the individual amino acids as well as the sum scores of the indispensable, conditionally indispensable, and dispensable amino acids were calculated for all patients, both group specific (n = 21 in each group) and in total (n = 42), based on the detailed nutrition protocols; inter-group differences were analyzed by t-tests. Linear regression models were used to test the effects of individual amino acids and the sum scores on the extent of skeletal muscle loss by measuring the quadriceps muscle layer thickness during the study period. The significance level was adjusted for multiple testing according to the Bonferroni procedure (α = 0.002). RESULTS: In both groups, the proportion of indispensable amino acids was approximately 41% of the total exogenous protein supply, with the proportion of enteral administration slightly over 50%. The intake of conditionally indispensable amino acids (glutamine, tyrosine, cysteine, histidine, and arginine) accounted for 17% and 18% of the total amino acids in the interventional and standard groups, respectively; glutamine (5% of total amino acids) was exclusively administered enterally. The intake of dispensable amino acid varied widely, with glutamic acid, proline, and asparagine/aspartic acid representing the highest proportions (10%, 8%, and 8% of total amino acids, respectively). For all amino acids, no statistically significant association was observed between the quantitative intake and the skeletal muscle changes after terminating the intervention phase. CONCLUSION: This secondary analysis of the RCT conducted in routine clinical practice did not support our working hypothesis that the amino acid patterns of medical nutrition therapy have a statistically significant impact on the skeletal muscle loss in long-term immobilized ICU patients. Due to the limited variety of enteral/parenteral products used in this single-center study, the calculated amino acid patterns showed only small differences. Larger multi-center trials with adequate power are needed to evaluate the potential effects of the individual amino acids or defined amino acid patterns on the muscle protein metabolism in further detail. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (http://www.drks.de); DRKS-ID: DRKS00013594.

Corrigendum: Application of visual placement of a nasojejunal indwelling feeding tube in intensive care unit patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1022815.].

Association of Frailty With the Risk of Mortality and Resource Utilization in Elderly Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The associations of frailty with the risk of mortality and resource utilization in the elderly patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) remain unclear. To address these issues, we performed a meta-analysis to determine whether frailty is associated with adverse outcomes and increased resource utilization in elderly patients admitted to the ICU. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through August 2021 to identify the relevant studies that investigated frailty in elderly (≥ 65 years old) patients admitted to an ICU and compared outcomes and resource utilization between frail and non-frail patients. The primary outcome was mortality. We also investigated the prevalence of frailty and the impact of frailty on the health resource utilization, such as hospital length of stay (LOS) and resource utilization of ICU. Results: A total of 13 observational studies enrolling 64,279 participants (28,951 frail and 35,328 non-frail) were finally included. Frailty was associated with an increased risk of short-term mortality (10 studies, relative risk [RR]: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.45-1.98), in-hospital mortality (five studies, RR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.55-1.93), and long-term mortality (six studies, RR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.44-2.42). Subgroup analysis showed that retrospective studies identified a stronger correlation between frailty and hospital LOS (three studies, MD 1.14 d; 95% CI: 0.92-1.36). Conclusions: Frailty is common in the elderly patients admitted to ICU, and is associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospital LOS. Trial registration: This study was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020207242).

Medical high-protein nutrition therapy and loss of muscle mass in adult ICU patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The degradation of muscle mass and loss of functional proteins due to catabolism are associated with adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. While an adequate supply of protein within a medical nutrition concept is suggested to minimize proteolysis, the specificities on appropriate dosage and timing are still under debate. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of two different quantities of protein as part of a standardized energetically controlled nutrition therapy for the preservation of muscle mass in the later phase of critical illness. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 42 critically ill patients (age 65 ± 15; 12 females; SAPS 45 ± 11; TISS 20 ± 7; SOFA-score 7 ± 3). The subjects were randomly assigned to either the intervention (1.8 g protein/kg body weight [BW]/d) or standard (1.2 g protein/kg BW/d) group. Nutrient supply via enteral and/or parenteral nutrition was calculated based on the individual energy expenditure measured by indirect calorimetry and target protein content. Quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) was observed through sonography at inclusion, and during the follow-up period, two and four weeks after inclusion. The measurement points were fixed on two sides at the midpoint and two-thirds between the anterior superior iliac spine and top of the patella. The data were analyzed descriptively wherein chi-squared tests or unpaired two-samle t-tests checked group differences. Daily changes in muscle mass were estimated using a linear mixed model. All data are shown as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). RESULTS: Actual protein intake reached 1.5 ± 0.5 g and 1.0 ± 0.5 g/kg BW/d in the intervention and standard group, respectively. Mean values of all measurements of QMLT at inclusion (day 13 ± 2 after ICU admission) were 13.5 ± 7.4 mm and 13.4 ± 7.1 mm in the intervention and standard group, respectively (P = 0.967). In both the groups, QMLT decreased over time (P < 0.001), while the estimated mean values of daily QMLT changes were -0.15 ± 0.08 mm (intervention) and -0.28 ± 0.08 mm (standard) without significant between-group differences (intervention effect, P = 0.368; time x intervention effect, P = 0.242). Illness scores and clinical outcomes showed no group differences. CONCLUSION: In this single-center trial the increased amounts of protein (1.5 g vs. 1.0 g/kg BW/d) provided through medical nutrition therapy in the late phase of critical illness did not achieve a statistically significant impact on the loss of muscle mass in long-term immobilized ICU patients. Larger multi-center trials are needed to evaluate whether observed numerical differences in muscle mass could be a true finding, and will translate into improved clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (http://www.drks.de/), DRKS-ID: DRKS00013594.

Some Suggestions from PK/PD Principles to Contain Resistance in the Clinical Setting-Focus on ICU Patients and Gram-Negative Strains.

The containment of the phenomenon of resistance towards antimicrobials is a priority, especially in preserving molecules acting against Gram-negative pathogens, which represent the isolates more frequently found in the fragile population of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units. Antimicrobial therapy aims to prevent resistance through several actions, which are collectively known as "antimicrobial stewardship", to be taken together, including the application of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) principles. PK/PD application has been shown to prevent the emergence of resistance in numerous experimental studies, although a straight translation to the clinical setting is not possible. Individualized antibiotic dosing and duration should be pursued in all patients, and even more especially when treating intensive care unit (ICU) septic patients in whom optimal exposure is both difficult to achieve and necessary. In this review, we report on the available data that support the application of PK/PD parameters to contain the development of resistance and we give some practical suggestions that can help to translate the benefit of PK/PD application to the bedside.

[Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness].

Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness is a common neuromuscular complication of critical illness that is considered to be associated with prolonged duration on mechanical ventilation and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In addition, nutrition and metabolic alternations, which are commonly seen in patients in the ICU, may further accelerate muscle wasting and increase the incidence of ICU-acquired weakness. The clinical features of ICU-acquired weakness include acute generalized muscle weakness that develops after the onset of critical illness. Diaphragmatic dysfunction, post-extubation dysphagia, and functional decline also are common in patients with ICU-acquired weakness. As the recovery of these physical functions is lengthy and difficult, a multidisciplinary team management is recommended. This mini-review was conducted to provide a scientific overview for ICU-acquired weakness, including its definition, etiology, diagnosis/screening, impacts, and potential intervention strategies. We hope that increasing the understanding of frontline staff will promote the timely planning and implementation of related screenings and interventions to enhance the functional recovery of patients receiving care in the ICU.

The influencing factors of thirst among intensive care unit patients / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of thirst among intensive care unit patients. Methods A total of 354 intensive care unit patients were selected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, and the occurrence of thirst was investigated with the general information questionnaire, xerostomia inventory in the first 48 hours in ICU. The relationship of general information and clinical data was analyzed. Results Thirst was common in patients with ICU.Logistic regression analysis showed that age,personal history,past medical history,balance quantity of 24 hours, diuretic, vasoactive drugs, oxygen way, serum sodium concentration, osmotic pressure, PaO2were independent factors of thirst. Conclusions The conditions of thirst in different patients are different and are affected by many factors.Interventions should be taken aimed at the influencing factors to improve the intervention quality.

Influence of core body temperature on Tryptophan metabolism, kynurenines, and estimated IDO activity in critically ill patients receiving target temperature management following cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Temperature control improves neurological prognosis in comatose cardiac arrest (CA) survivors. Previous reports demonstrate that most affected patients show signs of significant systemic inflammation. In an effort to better characterize potential temperature-related effects on key inflammatory pathways, we investigate the course of Tryptophan (Trp) levels, Tryptophan catabolites (including kynurenines) and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-activity in post CA patients. MATERIAL/METHODS: In an observational blinded endpoint analysis, a total of n=270 serial samples from 20 post CA patients (63.1±16.6 yrs., 45% shockable rhythm, mean time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) 26.6±16.0min) treated with target temperature management (TTM) were analyzed. Core body temperatures, course of Trp, Trp catabolites (incl. kynurenines), and estimated IDO-activity were followed up for a maximum of 7 days after ROSC. Patients were followed up until hospital discharge or death and functional outcome was recorded. RESULTS: Over the 7-day observational interval, marked changes in Trp serum levels and IDO-activity were noted. In general, Trp serum levels but not IDO-activity seemed to parallel with the course of core body temperature. In explorative analyses, a correlation of Trp (rho=0.271 (95%-CI: 0.16-0.38, p<0.0001) and IDO-activity (rho=-0.155, 95%-CI: -0.27 to -0.037, p=0.01) with core body temperature was observed. Linear mixed effect models revealed a positive significant association of core body temperature with Trp serum levels (Likelihood ratio test χ(2)=6.35, p=0.012). In patients with good (vs. unfavorable) outcome, a tendency toward higher Trp serum levels, lower IDO-activity, and lower Kynurenic acid levels was noted. CONCLUSIONS: We observed significant changes in Trp catabolism and IDO-activity that appeared temperature associated in post CA patients. Under hypothermia, decreased serum levels of Trp and increased IDO-activity were noted. We speculate from our data that IDO-induction during hypothermia contributes to the previously described increased susceptibility to infection or sepsis under reduced temperatures.