ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effectiveness of Chinese medicine with that of integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of pneumonia. MethodsThe electronic medical record (EMR) of patients with pneumonia who were admitted to the Classical Department of Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 29, 2012 to June 17, 2022 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they were treated with antimicrobial drugs on the basis of Chinese medicine treatment. The non-exposed group was the traditional Chinese medicine group, and the exposed group was the integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs group. Propensity score matching method was used to balance possible confounding factors. COX regression analysis was performed on the matched cohort to compare death rates among the groups, and Kaplan-Meier curve was drawn to evaluate the survival probability during hospitalization. The proportion of maximum oxygen concentration and duration of fever remission were compared between the two groups. ResultsThis study included a total of 898 cases, with the majority (over 95%) falling within the range of mild to moderate severity. After propensity score matching,180 patients remained in each group, among whom the baseline characteristics were comparable. The primary outcome indicators showed that the risk of death during hospitalization was same in the integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs group and in the Chinese medicine group (HR=1.52, 95%CI 0.36 to 6.39, P=0.566), the subgroup analysis was consistent with the overall trend of the results, and the differences were not statistically significant. The results indicate that during the hospitalization, the overall and subgroup mortality rates were similar between the two groups. The treatment effectiveness on the disappearance of major symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum production, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain were comparable in both groups. The secondary outcome indicators showed that there was no statistical significance in the comparison of the proportion of maximum oxygen therapy concentration and the stable duration of fever remission between the two groups. ConclusionIn the treatment of patients with mainly mild to moderate pneumonia, the effectiveness of the Chinese medicine group and the integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs group in the hospitalization mortality, the disappearance of major symptoms, the proportion of maximum oxygen therapy concentration and the stable duration of fever remission are similar. Chinese medicine has a positive significance in reducing the use of antimicrobials in patients with pneumonia.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin, D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), white blood cell (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in diagnosis and prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP).MethodsThis was a prospective observational study. One hundred and seventy-seven candidates were divided into 3 groups: SCAP group including 61 SCAP patients, CAP group including 56 patients with normal community-acquired pneumonia group and HP group including 60 healthy people. Initial level of above biomarkers was compared and analyzed in the three groups. Then the efficiency of diagnosing and predicting the outcome of SCAP by single and combined index were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Meanwhile the patients in SCAP group were divided into two groups according to the CEA level named CEA increasing group and normal group, between which the differences in prognosis and biomarker level were compared.ResultsThe initial level of all biomarkers increased in two pneumonia groups and exceeded the HP group (P< 0.01) while between SCAP and CAP groups, all indexes in SCAP group were higher than the CAP group (P< 0.001). The areas under the ROC of CEA, ferritin, D-dimer, CRP, WBC and united respectively were 0.800, 0.834, 0.769, 0.898, 0.756 and 0.956. The sensitivity of united index was 91.8% while specificity was 90.5%. Among SCAP group, only CEA level made sense to predict the prognosis (P< 0.01). There were significant differences in intubation rate, mortality, length of RICU stay and FDP, D-dimer between CEA increasing group and normal group (P< 0.05).ConclusionsHigh level CEA, ferritin, D-dimer, CRP and WBC have significant value in diagnosis of SCAP. And the combined index has higher diagnostic value than single one. SCAP with increased CEA level indicates more serious condition and poor prognosis.
ObjectiveTo describe the imaging and clinical features of vaccinia virus induced pneumonia by long-term follow-up.MethodsThe clinical data, imaging features and long-term follow-up of 5 patients with vaccinia virus pneumonia admitted to Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were analyzed.ResultsAll the 5 patients were male, aged between 21 and 54 years. The latent period of the disease was 2 to 5 days. All the patients had fever and pneumonia, while 3 of them had herpes. Two patients with severe pneumonia showed extensive patchy and nodular shadows in both lungs. Chest CT findings of the other three patients showed scattered small nodules in both lungs. All patients were followed up by telephone every half a year for 3 years. The prognosis of all patients was good. The patients reported in the English literature were clinically clustered, with fever, vomiting and rash as the main symptoms.ConclusionsVaccinia virus may cause different clinical symptoms through different transmission routes, and its infectivity is strong. Biological protection should be strengthened in laboratory and working environment.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to construct a Nomogram predictive model to assess the prognosis of patients with viral pneumonia complicated by diabetes mellitus.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data from patients with viral pneumonia who visited our hospital from January 2023 to February 2024 and divided them into diabetes and non-diabetes groups based on the presence of diabetes. Clinical data were collected and intergroup differences were analyzed. Subsequently, factors with statistical significance (P<0.05) were selected for univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis in the diabetes group to identify risk factors affecting patient survival. Based on the regression analysis results, a linear model was constructed to predict the survival risk of patients. Additionally, calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) were plotted to assess the predictive accuracy and clinical net benefit of the model.ResultsThe study found significant intergroup differences in age (age), cough, dyspnea, respiratory rate at admission, heart rate, body temperature, and laboratory test results (including blood glucose Glu, glycated hemoglobin HbA1c, neutrophil ratio Neu, C-reactive protein Crp, etc.). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis confirmed that age (age), B-type natriuretic peptide (Bnp), neutrophil ratio (Neu), and lactate (Lac) are independent risk factors affecting the survival of patients with viral pneumonia and diabetes.The constructed nomogram prediction model was evaluated. The calibration curve demonstrated a high degree of consistency between the predicted probabilities and actual outcomes, with a non-significant Hosmer-Lemeshow test result (P>0.05). Decision curve analysis further showed that the model yielded no significant clinical net benefit at extreme probability thresholds, whereas it provided substantial clinical net benefit across all other threshold ranges. Collectively, these findings indicate that the model exhibits high predictive accuracy and holds significant value for clinical application. ConclusionsAge, serum B-type natriuretic peptide, neutrophil ratio, and lactate are independent risk factors for the survival of patients with viral pneumonia complicated by diabetes. The Nomogram predictive model constructed based on these factors has clinical value for prognosis assessment.
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for post-thymectomy myasthenic crisis (PTMC) and prolonged mechanical ventilation, in myasthenia gravis patients who underwent extended thymectomy.
MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 79 patients including 38 males and 41 females who experienced PTMC and required mechanical ventilation in Daping Hospital between June 2008 and November 2014. Single factor analysis and multivariate analysis were conducted.
ResultsMorbidity of PTMC was 20.6% (79/384). Result of single-factor analysis showed that postoperative pneumonia was one of the main reasons of prolonged mechanical ventilation (P < 0.05). Result of multiple-factor analysis showed that the operation time was positively correlated with mechanical ventilation time (P < 0.05). The risk factor of prolonged mechanical ventilation time in PTMC was not associated with sex, age, disease history, myasthenic crisis history, Osserman classification, dosage of pyridostigmine before and after the operation, surgical approach, bleeding volume, other therapies besides mechanical ventilation (P > 0.05).
ConclusionMechanical ventilation is one the main therapy of PTMC, operation time, and postoperative pneumonia are the main factors to prolong mechanical ventilation time. In order to decrease morbidity of PTMC and shorten mechanical ventilation time, the operation time should be controlled and pulmonary infection should be avoided.
Objective
To investigate the etiology of pleural effusions.
Methods
All adult patients with pleural effusions of unknown etiology admitted to this hospital between January 2011 and December 2013 were investigated. The etiological data of these patients with pleural effusion were retrospectively reviewed.
Results
During the 3-year period, 1 541 patients eventually were included in this study. The most frequent cause of pleural effusions was bacterial infection (38.7%), followed by malignancy (23.7%), congestive heart failure (13.1%), and tuberculosis (10.7%). The etiology of 120 patients (7.8%) remained uncertain.
Conclusions
The most frequent cause of pleural effusion is bacterial infection, followed by malignancy, cardiac failure, and tuberculosis. These four etiologies account for over 85 percent of all pleural effusions.
ObjectiveTo discuss the risk factors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with severe pneumonia.MethodsData of 80 patients with severe pneumonia admitted in our ICU were analyzed retrospectively, and they were divided into two groups according to development of ARDS, which was defined according to the Berlin new definition. The age, gender, weight, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health EvaluationⅡscore, lactate, PSI score and LIPS score, etc. were collected. Statistical significance results were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis after univariate analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to analyze the predictive value of the parameter for ARDS after severe pneumonia.ResultsForty patients with severe pneumonia progressed to ARDS, there were 4 moderate cases and 36 severe cases according to diagnostic criteria. Univariate analysis showed that procalcitonin (t=4.08, P<0.001), PSI score (t=10.67, P<0.001), LIPS score (t=5.14, P<0.001), shock (χ2=11.11, P<0.001), albumin level (t=3.34, P=0.001) were related to ARDS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LIPS ［odds ratio (OR) 0.226, 95%CI=4.62-5.53, P=0.013］ and PSI (OR=0.854, 95%CI=132.2-145.5, P=0.014) were independent risk factors for ARDS. The predictive value of LIPS and PSI in ARDS occurrence was significant. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of LIPS was 0.901, the cut-off value was 7.2, when LIPS ≥7.2, the sensitivity and specificity were both 85.0%. AUC of PSI was 0.947, the cut-off value was 150.5, when PSI score ≥150.5, the sensitivity and specificity were 87.5% and 90.0% respectively.ConclusionsPSI and LIPS are independent risk factors of ARDS in patients with severe pneumonia, which may be references for guiding clinicians to make an early diagnosis and treatment plan.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of influenza pneumonia from 2014 to early 2018.MethodsThe general information, clinical symptoms, laboratory examination and treatment of 69 patients with influenza pneumonia from October 2014 to March 2018 were collected. The clinical characteristics of 32 patients with influenza pneumonia from 2017 to 2018 were compared with 37 patients with influenza pneumonia from 2014 to 2016. The prognostic factors of influenza pneumonia were also investigated.ResultsThe median patient age was 68 (55-78) years, and 41 cases (59.4%) were men in 69 patients. The five most common comorbidities were hypertension (44.9%), diabetes (23.3%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17.4%), coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (13.0%), and chronic kidney disease (10.1%). The median levels of fasting blood glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin in the patients with influenza pneumonia in 2017-2018 were significantly higher than those in the same period of 2014-2016, which were respectively 7.1 (5.4 - 8.3)mmol/L vs. 5.2 (4.5 - 7.3)mmol/L (P=0.017), 213.0 (98.0 - 320.5)U/L vs. 178 (98.0 - 280.0)U/L (P=0.049), 65.5 (15.4 - 139.8)mg/L vs. 45.5 (14.1 - 75.3)mg/L (P=0.050), 0.66 (0.24 - 1.58)μg/L vs. 0.17 (0.11 - 0.43)μg/L (P=0.004). The proportion of bacterial infection, septic shock, acute renal failure and mortality in the patients with influenza pneumonia in 2017-2018 was higher than that in the 2014-2016 group, which were respectively 40.6% vs. 18.9% (P=0.047), 21.9% vs. 5.4% (P=0.043), 21.9% vs. 2.7% (P=0.035), 31.3% vs. 5.4% (P=0.005). Multivariate analysis showed that numbers of lymphocytes, blood urea nitrogen, and procalcitonin were independent risk factors for mortality in the patients with influenza pneumonia. The odds ratio was respectively 0.001 (95%CI 0.00 - 0.200), 1.342 (95%CI 0.996 - 1.808), 1.113. (95%CI 1.006 - 1.230).ConclusionsCompared with the patients with influenza pneumonia in 2014-2016, the patients in 2017-2018 have higher levels of fasting blood glucose and lactate dehydrogenase, and are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infection, septic shock, and acute renal failure. Decreased lymphocytes, elevated blood urea nitrogen, and elevated procalcitonin are independent risk factors for death in patients with influenza pneumonia.
ObjectiveTo compare the value of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHEⅡ) scores, the pneumonia severity index (PSI) scores), the CURB-65 scores, and serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentration in prediction of prognosis for inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and discuss the influence factors.MethodsRetrospective analysis was conducted based on the APACHEⅡ scores, the CURB-65 scores, the PSI scores and PCT concentration of hospitalized CAP patients admitted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2015 and December 2016, and within 24 hours of their admission. The end point of this study was the clinical outcome of hospitalization (recovery, improvement, exacerbation or death). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and binary logistic regression models were used to assess the ability of prognostic evaluation and determine the boundary value, to screen risk factors that influence deterioration and death in CAP patients.ResultsTwo hundred and thirty-five CAP patients were enrolled with 146 males and 89 females at an average age of (60.4±18.1) years old. All patients were divided into 2 groups: improving recovery group had 205 cases, and deteriorating group had 30 cases. The rank of areas under the ROC curve for predicting the deterioration and death risk of CAP, from big to small were APACHEⅡ(0.889), PSI (0.850), CURB-65 (0.789), and PCT (0.720). APACHEⅡ score over 11 points and PSI score over 91 points were optimal cut-off values for the prognostic assessment. Moreover, the logistic regression analysis revealed that APACHEⅡ score and PCT were independent risk factors of deterioration and death in CAP patients.ConclusionsThe better predictability of clinic outcome of CAP is APACHEⅡ score, PSI score, CURB-65 score, and PCT respectively in order, while the APACHEⅡ score and PCT concentration were independent risk factors for exacerbation and mortality in CAP patients. The predictive ability of a single PCT measurement is limited. The combination of APACHEⅡ score and PCT may increase specificity, but reduce sensitivity.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), identify the high-risk factors which promoted the disease progression into severe or critical cases, and provide clinical guidance.MethodsNinety-six cases of clinically diagnosed coronavirus disease 2019 were collected and analyzed from General Hospital of the Yangtse River Shipping from January 20 to February 14, 2020. According to clinical classification, those cases were divided into two groups: mild group, including common and mild cases, and severe group including severe and critical cases.ResultsThere were more than half of patients ages>60 years old and severe or critical illness (61.5%, 56.3%), and obese patients accounts for 45.8%, the complication of hypertension accounts for 52.1%. The average time from onset to hospitalization was (6.1±2.6) days, and the average hospitalization days were (15.7±6.3) days. Compared with the mild group, the number of male patients in the severe group was more (57.4% vs. 35.7%, P<0.05), the numbers of elderly patients were larger (77.8% vs. 40.5%, P<0.01), and more obese peoples (55.6% vs. 33.3%, P<0.05). Cough symptom was more common in clinical presentation in the severe group (81.5% vs. 61.9%, P< 0.05). Patients with the complication of hypertension or diabetes occupied a higher proportion in the severe group, which were 64.8% vs. 35.7% and 35.2% vs. 14.3% (P< 0.05), respectively. And the rate of hypoxemia in admission of the severe group was significantly higher (79.6% vs. 9.5%, P< 0.01).ConclusionsThe cases of ages>60 years old and severe or critical illness in coronavirus disease 2019 occupy a higher proportion, and the complication of hypertension accounts for high proportion. Men, ages>60 years old, obese, coughing symptoms, with hypertension and / or diabetes, hypoxemia upon admission are high risk factors for progression into severe and critical cases.
