Objective To evaluate systematically the effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin ( PCT) -guided therapy in comparison with standard therapy in patients with suspected or confirmed severe bacterial infections in intensive care unit ( ICU) . Methods Five randomized controlled trials ( 927 patients) were included for statistical analysis by the cochrane collaboration′s RevMan5. 0 software. Results PCT-guided therapy was associated with a significant reduction in duration of antibiotic therapy [ MD =- 2. 01, 95% CI ( - 2. 37, - 1. 64) , P lt;0. 00001] , but the mortality [ OR =1. 11, 95% CI ( 0. 83, 1. 49) ,P =0. 47] and length of ICU stay[ MD = 0. 49, 95% CI( - 1. 44, 2. 42) , P = 0. 62] were not significantly different. Conclusions An algorithmbased on serial PCT measurements would allow a more judicious use of antibiotics than currently traditional treatment of patients with severe infections in ICU. It can reduce the use of antibiotics and appears to be safe.
Objective To explore the value of quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score and blood markers in differentiating and predicting emergency heat stroke from sepsis, and to construct a rapid differentiation model. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including heat stroke patients and sepsis patients admitted to the Chongqing Emergency Medical Center between January 2021 and December 2024. The qSOFA score and blood marker indicators at admission were collected, with the “final diagnosis (sepsis or heat stroke) within 48 hours after admission” as the study endpoint. The logistic regression analysis method was selected to screen for independent predictive factors, construct a joint prediction model, and evaluate the discriminant efficacy using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic. Results A total of 133 sepsis patients and 66 heat stroke patients were included. The qSOFA score showed differentiation ability in univariate analysis (P=0.002), but had no independent predictive value after adjusting for diabetes, age, and gender (P=0.565). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and monocyte count (MONO) were independent predictive factors (P<0.05). The combined prediction model of PCT, CRP, and MONO (AUC=0.984) showed higher discriminatory efficacy than PCT (AUC=0.809), CRP (AUC=0.886), and MONO (AUC=0.671). Conclusions The prediction model constructed by combining PCT, CRP, and MONO has good efficiency in differentiating sepsis from heat stroke, providing a reliable clinical decision-making tool for early accurate differentiation in the emergency department.
Objective To evaluate the effects and safety of procalcitonin(PCT)-guided algorithms of antibiotic therapy in critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Literatures in English and Chinese concerning randomized controlled trials(RCTs) on PCT-guided algorithms of antibiotic therapy in critically ill patients was retrieved by electronic and manual search. All related data were extracted. Meta-analysis was conducted using the statistical software RevMan 5.3 on the basis of strict quality evaluation. Results Eight RCTs involving 2708 ICU patients were included, with 1360 patients in the PCT-guided group and 1348 patients in the control group. Compared with the control group, PCT-guided algorithms were associated with a significant reduction in the duration of antibiotic therapy (MD -2.44 days, 95%CI -3.25 to -1.62, P < 0.00001), and the occurrence of adverse reaction of antibiotics was also lower (RR=0.74, 95%CI 0.56 to 0.97, P=0.03), however the mortality exhibited no difference between the PCT-guided group and the control group (RR=1.00, 95%CI 0.89 to 1.13, P=0.99). Conclusion PCT-guided algorithms can shorten the duration of antibiotic therapy and reduce the occurrence of adverse reaction in critically ill patients without significant effect on mortality.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of procalcitonin-to-albumin (PAR) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).MethodsA retrospective study was carried on patients diagnosed with ARDS from December 2016 to March 2018. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to identify the cutoff value of PAR. The association of PAR and 28-day mortality was evaluated using univariate and multivariable Cox regression.ResultsIn the final analysis, there were a total of 255 patients included. Of whom 164 (64.3%) was male, 91 (35.7%) was female and the mean age was 52.1±14.5 years old. The 28-day mortality of all the patients was 32.9% (n=84). ROC curve revealed that the cutoff value of PAR was 0.039 (specificity: 0.714, sensitivity: 0.702) and area under the curve was 0.793 (95%CI: 0.735 - 0.850, P<0.001). The following variables were considered for multivariable adjustment: age, body mass index, pneumonia, aspiration, sepsis, surgery, PaO2/FiO2, red blood cell counts and PAR (P<0.01 in univariate analysis). After multivariable analysis, only age (HR: 1.033, 95%CI: 1.009 - 1.059, P=0.008), PaO2/FiO2 (HR: 0.992, 95%CI: 0.985 - 1.000, P=0.044) and PAR (HR: 4.899, 95%CI: 2.148 - 11.174, P<0.001) remained independently associated with 28-day mortality (P<0.05).ConclusionHigh PAR predicts a poor outcome in ARDS patients, therefore it appears to be a prognostic biomarker of outcomes in patients with ARDS.
ObjectiveTo explore the natural changes of procalcitonin (PCT) in the early period after pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsA prospective and observational study was done on patients below 3 years of age, who underwent cardiac surgery involving CPB, with the risk adjustment of congenital heart surgery (RACHS) score of 2 to 5 and free from active preoperative infection or inflammatory disease. Blood samples for measurement of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) were taken before surgery and daily for 7 days in postoperative period. Infections and complications within 7 days after operation were investigated. According to the presence or absence of infection and complications within 7 days after operation, the enrolled children were divided into an infection+complications group, a simple infection group, a simple complication group, and a normal group.Results Finally, 429 children with PICU stay≥ 4 days were enrolled, including 268 males and 161 females, with a median age of 8.0 (0.7, 26.0) months. There were 145 children in the simple infection group, 38 children in the simple complication group, 230 children in the normal group and 16 children in the infection+complications group. The levels of PCT, CRP and WBC were significantly higher after CPB. CRP and WBC peaked on the second postoperative day (POD) and remained higher than normal until POD7. PCT peaked on POD1 and would generally decrease to normal on POD5 if without infection and complications. Age, body weight, RACHS scores, the duration of CPB and aortic cross-clamping time were correlated with PCT level. There was a statistical difference in PCT concentration between the simple infection group and the normal group on POD 3-7 (P<0.01) and a statistical difference between the simple complication group and the normal group on POD 1-7 (P<0.01). A statistical difference was found between the simple infection group and the simple complication group in PCT on POD 1-5 (P<0.05).ConclusionWBC, CRP and PCT significantly increase after CPB in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. The factors influencing PCT concentration include age, weight, RACHS scores, CPB and aortic cross-clamping time, infection and complications.
ObjectiveTo study the clinical value of procalcitonin (PCT), WBC count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in diagnosis of common bile duct stones with acute bile duct infection and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).MethodsA total of 80 patients with bile duct stones were retrospectively analyzed, which were divided into two groups, SIRS group (n=40) and non-SIRS group (n=40). The numerical value of PCT, WBC count, and CRP were detected on 1, 4, and 7 day after admission, and calculated the score of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) on 1 day after admission. Then analyzed the clinical value of PCT, WBC count, and CRP in diagnosis of common bile duct stones with acute bile duct infection and SIRS.ResultsEach area under the ROC curve of PCT, CRP, and WBC count were 0.81, 0.78, and 0.72, respectively, with significant difference (P<0.05). The PCT, CRP, and WBC count had a certain accuracy in diagnosis of common bile duct stones with acute bile duct infection and SIRS. The positive-relationship between PCT, CRP, WBC count and APACHE Ⅱ score was significant (r=0.91, P<0.01; r=0.88, P<0.01; r=0.69, P<0.01).ConclusionTo detect the numerical value of PCT, WBC count, and CRP had significant clinical value in diagnosis of common bile duct stones with acute bile duct infection and SIRS.
ObjectiveTo investigate the level of serum long non-coding RNA antisense non-coding RNA INK4 locus (LncRNA ANRIL) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and to analyze the diagnostic value of serum LncRNA ANRIL level in UC. MethodsA total of 143 UC patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology from February 2015 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, and 145 healthy people with normal physical examination in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology were selected as the control group. The relationship between serum LncRNA ANRIL level and PCT/IL-17 level was analyzed, the serum levels of LncRNA ANRIL, PCT, and IL-17 were compared between the two groups, and their diagnostic value for UC was explored.ResultsThe disease degree of 143 UC patients: 41 cases were mild, 59 cases were moderate, and 43 cases were severe; endoscopic grade: 38 cases were grade Ⅰ, 65 cases were grade Ⅱ, and 40 cases were grade Ⅲ. Compared with the control group, the serum levels of LncRNA ANRIL, PCT, and IL-17 were increased in the UC group (P<0.05); the levels of serum LncRNA ANRIL, PCT, and IL-17 in the UC group increased gradually with the increase of disease severity and endoscopic grade (P<0.05). The serum levels of LncRNA ANRIL were positively correlated with the levels of PCT and IL-17 in the UC patients (r=0.596, P<0.001; r=0.492, P<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of serum LncRNA ANRIL level in the diagnosis of UC was 0.851, the cut-off value was 1.29, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.5% and 83.4%, respectively. The AUC of serum LncRNA ANRIL combined with PCT in the diagnosis of UC was 0.898, the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 81.8% and 87.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and diagnostic value of combination of LncRNA ANRIL and PCT were higher than that of serum LncRNA ANRIL alone (Z=2.102, P=0.036). ConclusionsThe serum level of LncRNA ANRIL in UC patients is increased, which has a certain diagnostic value, and it combines with PCT can better predict UC.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of serum proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM) for diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP). MethodsA prospective study was carried out in eighty-nine patients with clinically suspected diagnosis of VAP who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation between June 2014 and July 2015.The patients were divided into a VAP group (n=52) and a non-VAP group (n=37) according to clinical and microbiological culture results.The levels of serum pro-ADM were measured by sandwich ELISA on 1st, 3rd and 5th day of VAP suspicion.The diagnostic value of pro-ADM for VAP was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. ResultsOn 1st day, 3rd day and 5th day, the pro-ADM levels [3.10(2.21, 4.61) nmol/L, 3.01(2.04, 4.75)nmol/L and 1.85(1.12, 3.54)nmol/L, respectively] in the VAP group were significantly higher than those in the non-VAP group [1.53(1.07, 2.24)nmol/L, 1.52(1.05, 2.17) nmol/L and 1.26(1.02, 2.17) nmol/L, respectively] (all P < 0.05).For diagnosis of VAP, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for pro-ADM on 1st, 3rd and 5th were 0.896 (95%CI 0.799-0.940), 0.863(95%CI 0.791-0.935) and 0.651 (95%CI 0.538-0.765), respectively.When using 2.53 nmol/L as the best cutoff on 1st day, pro-ADM had 84.6% sensitivity and 86.5% specificity.When using 2.40 nmol/L as the best cutoff on 3rd day, pro-ADM had 82.7% sensitivity and 83.8% specificity. ConclusionSerum level of pro-ADM in the diagnosis of VAP has good sensitivity and specificity, which may be used as a marker to diagnose VAP early.
Objective To explore the clinical significances of serum procalcitonin ( PCT) and Creactive protein( CRP) in diagnosis and severity assessment of sepsis. Methods A total of 72 patients with different severities of sepsis admitted to Wenzhou Second People’s Hospital from June 2005 to September 2007, including 22 cases of sepsis, 26 cases of severe sepsis, and 24 cases of sepsis shock. Meanwhile, twenty non-sepsis patients were enrolled as control group. The differences of serum PCT and CRP levels, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ ( APACHEⅡ) scores and sepsis related organ failure assessment ( SOFA) scores were compared in controls and the septic patients with different severities and different prognosis. Results The PCT levels of patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and sepsis shock were significantly higher than that in the non-sepsis group [ ( 1. 51 ±1. 57) , ( 5. 62 ±3. 78) and ( 13. 56 ±8. 16) vs ( 0. 12 ± 0. 33) μg/L, P lt;0. 05 or P lt; 0. 01, respectively] . The CRP level, APACHEⅡ and SOFA were also increased in septic patients compared to control and progressively elavated by the severities of sepsis patients ( P lt; 0. 05 or P lt; 0. 01) , however, CRP levels were not significant different ( P gt; 0. 05) . The PCT levels, APACHEⅡ and SOFA of the patients with good prognosis were lower than those with poor prognosis( all P lt; 0. 01) , but the CRP levels was not significant different( P gt;0. 05) . Conclusion The serumlevel of PCT is superior to serumlevel of CRP in severity classification and prognosis assessment.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) for tuberculous pleural effusion. MethodsWe electronically searched CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, The Cochrane Library and EMbase from inception to April, 2013, to collect the literature about the diagnostic value of PCT for tuberculous pleural effusion compared with gold standard (positive outcomes of mycobacterium tuberculosis culture). Two reviewers screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. MetaDiSc 1.4 were used to conduct the meta-analysis. ResultsEight studies were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.63 (95%CI 0.58 to 0.68) and 0.76 (95%CI 0.70 to 0.81), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 2.72 (95%CI 1.48 to 5.02) and 0.49 (95%CI 0.29 to 0.82), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 5.77 (95%CI 1.89 to 17.58). And the SROC AUC was 0.79. Heterogeneity was mainly derived from the QUADAS score and Begg's test showed there was no presence of publication bias. ConclusionPCT is a potential marker in the diagnosis of benign and tuberculous pleural effusion, which can be used to determine diagnosis identification of tuberculous pleural effusion.