Organ Function Damage Research Articles

Analyzing intra-abdominal pressures and outcomes in patients undergoing laparotomy

Background: Despite the abundance of knowledge, IAH still remains strangely under-diagnosed. A national postal questionnaire in United Kingdom reported that despite widespread awareness of IAH and the ACS, many intensive care units never measure the IAP. The aim was to evaluate the effects of intra-abdominal hypertension and to assess whether intra-abdominal pressure is a predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing laparotomy. Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in Department of General Surgery, Kamineni Hospitals, L. B. Nagar, Hyderabad, India on patients undergoing emergency and elective laparotomy, over a period of 2 years from October 2012 to October 2014. The study included 51 patients who underwent laparotomy. IAP was measured preoperatively and then post-operatively at 0, 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours. If IAP remained below 12 mmHg, measurement was discontinued after 24 hours. Duration of ICU and hospital stay, occurrence of burst abdomen, new organ function damage, need for ventilatory support and mortality in patients undergoing laparotomy were noted as outcomes. Results: At admission, an overall 65% incidence of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) was observed. In this group of 33 patients, CVS dysfunction was seen in 11 patients (33.3%), Respiratory dysfunction was seen in 9 patients (27.2%) and renal dysfunction was seen in 11 patients (33.3%). At 24 hours improvement was seen in all organ dysfunctions. Number of patients with CVS, respiratory and renal dysfunction in this group of 33 patients at 24 hours was 5 (15%), 4 (12%) and 6 (18%) respectively. This signifies that along with decrease in incidence of IAH, there is concomitant decrease in incidence of organ dysfunctions and morbidity. Conclusions: Raised intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing laparotomy. Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) has detrimental effect on various organ systems and decompression leads to improvement in all the parameters.

Muramyl Dipeptide Enhances Thermal Injury–Induced Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Organ Function Injury in Rats

The bacterial infection following thermal injury is a very important factor of excessive inflammatory response and multiple organ damage. Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) is the key structure of gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria triggering the innate immune system. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of MDP on thermal injury-induced inflammatory responses, organ function injury, and mortality in rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawlay rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, scald group, and MDP group. Scald group only suffered 20% total body surface area third-degree thermal injury. Muramyl dipeptide 5 mg·kg was administered through the femoral vein at 24 h after thermal injury in the MDP group. Plasma inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An additional 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups to observe the survival rate in 72 h. Plasma levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interferon-γ, and high-mobility group box 1; the white blood cell counts; the serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine; and the activity of lung tissue myeloperoxidase significantly increased after thermal injury alone. Compared with the scald group, MDP led to more serious inflammatory responses and organ function damage and higher mortality (P < 0.05, respectively). These data indicate that MDP exacerbates thermal injury-induced inflammatory cytokine production, accompanied by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and high mortality in rats.

Association between early life exposure to famine and damaging the liver and kidney function

To examine how early life exposure to famine would impact on liver and kidney functions and related chronic metabolic diseases during adulthood. A random cluster sampling method was adopted in Anhui province, 2011 from a physical examination center, in a first-class hospital. 4 252 study subjects were born between 1957 and 1963. According to the time of birth:the study subjects were divided into three groups, respectively: 1957-1958 (983 persons as pre-famine), 1959-1961 (1 247 persons as exposed to famine) or 1962-1963(2 022 persons as controls, also the post-famine). Variances between groups AST, ALT, r-GGT, differences in the levels of SCr, UA, UREA and the change trend were compared. ALT,IBIL, TBIL, SCr, UREA were statistically different (P < 0.05) among subjects born in the different years. r-GGT, ALT, AST, ALB, SCr were statistically different (P < 0.05) among males born in different years so as the r-GGT, AST, ALB, GLB, TP, SCr, UA, UREA in females (P < 0.05). r-GGT, ALT, ALB, SCr differences statistically significant (P < 0.05) and r-GGT, AST, ALB, GLB, TP, SCr, UA, UREA in females were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05). Early life poor nutrition could lead to developmental disorders, organ function damage in liver and kidney function during adulthood. Women appeared to have balanced diet nutrition during pregnancy which was far important in the prevention on adulthood chronic metabolic diseases.

Importance of salivary gland focus score in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome

To explore the correlation between labial salivary gland focus score (FS) and severity of Sjögren's syndrome patients. From January 2009 to December 2010, a total of 77 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were recruited to undergo minor salivary gland biopsy, Schirmer's test, unstimulated whole salivary flow, organ function and serological test. Focus score was calculated for all biopsy samples. And the correlation between focus score and serological test and organ function damage was evaluated. Their pathological examinations revealed focal lymphocytic sialadenitis (n = 62), 10 cases with non-specific or sclerosing chronic sialadenitis (n = 10) and normal features (n = 5). Among 62 cases with focal lymphocytic sialadenitis, 46 cases had FS ≥ 1 and another 16 FS < 1. The median FS was 2.4 ± 2.5 . FS ≥ 1 was strongly associated with unstimulated whole salivary flow rates and ocular staining score (P < 0.05), but not significantly with dry mouth or eyes. FS was significantly correlated with serum immunoglobin G (IgG), immunoglobin M (IgM) and rheumatoid factor level (P < 0.05). Those with positive anti-SSA had higher FS level than those with negative anti-SSA antibody (P < 0.05). In addition, FS level was not significantly associated with organ function damage. Prior to determining FS, distinguishing focal lymphocytic sialadenitis from other types of sialadenitis is essential in assessing salivary gland biopsy. And the FS level might be associated with disease activity and positive anti-SSA. No correlation exists between FS and organ function damage.

Stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases

Much progress has been made in the field of haemopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) for severe autoimmune disorders. Theoretical considerations, animal data and anecdotal evidence suggested some time ago that intensive immunoablation followed by autologous HSCT could restore normal immune reactivity in patients with severe autoimmune disorders. Based on a concept statement issued in 1995, two European societies, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) began collecting phase I/II trial data in an international collaborative network. Sufficient information from more than 350 patients allows a preliminary assessment with level three evidence. Autologous HSCTs can induce remissions in all disease categories tested so far. Remissions can be transient or durable. HSCTs are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment-related mortality (TRM) is near 10% at 1 year and is associated with the intensity of the conditioning and the stage of the disease at the time of transplant. Marked inter-disease differences exist. There are few data available in haematological autoimmune diseases, more in systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Patient selection has been recognized as a crucial element from the phase I–II trials. Patients with advanced disease, severely compromised organ function or irreversible organ damage should not be considered as candidates for HSCT. Prospective randomized studies should now determine the value of HSCT compared to standard therapy. Such trials are ongoing for patients with systemic sclerosis (ASTIS trial – Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation International Scleroderma Trial) or are planned for patients with multiple sclerosis (ASTIMS trial – Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation International Multiple Sclerosis Trial) and rheumatoid arthritis (ASTIRA trial – Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation International Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial). More phase II data are needed for other indications such as SLE and JIA.