Objective To investigate the relationship between the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods The clinical data of 285 adult patients with CAP admitted from November 2014 to August of 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The severity of CAP was evaluated by pneumonia severity index (PSI) score. Meanwhile, 60 cases with qualified medical examination were collected as a healthy control group. The distributions of PSI score, RDW, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil percentage (NEU%) were described in the patients with different risk degree. The correlation analysis of various indicators were analyzed by Spearman correlation. The threshold of RDW(%) was calculated through the construction of the general linear regression equation. The risk factors of PSI score were analyzed with multiple linear regression. Results The higher the risk stratification, the higher the distribution of PSI scores, RDW, PCT, CRP and NEU% were. RDW was positively correlated with PCT, CRP, and NEU% (r values were 0.417, 0.252, 0.318, respectively, P<0.05). PSI score was positively correlated with RDW, PCT, CRP, and NEU% (r values were 0.537,0.598, 0.557, 0.482, respectively, P<0.05). RDW was positively correlated with PSI score (r=0.537, P<0.05). The thresholds of RDW(%) were 14.514 and 19.041. Multiple linear regression showed that RDW, PCT, CRP and NEU% were all influential factors of PSI scores and explained 46.9% of the total mutation rate. Conclusion RDW is correlated with the severity of CAP, and can predict the severity of CAP.
Objective To study the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream inflammatory factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy controls, and to reveal the effect and significance of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of COPD. Methods Forty patients with acute exacerbation COPD (AECOPD) who were hospitalized from November 2016 to May 2017 were recruited in the AECOPD group, and recruited in the stable COPD group when they entered the stable stage. Forty healthy individuals were recruited in the control group. General information and peripheral blood were collected from each subject. The levels of NLRP3 mRNA and caspase-1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by real-time PCR. The levels of IL-18 and IL-1β were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The levels of NLRP3 mRNA, IL-18 and IL-1β in the AECOPD patients were significantly higher than those in the stable COPD group [2.11±0.77, 12.79 (7.10, 43.13) pg/ml, 17.02 (8.36, 52.21) pg/ml vs. 1.60±0.44, 10.66 (6.32, 18.59) pg/ml, 13.34 (7.07, 16.89) pg/ml, all P<0.05] . The levels of NLRP3 mRNA, IL-18 and IL-1β in the AECOPD patients were significantly higher than those in the control group [2.11±0.77, 12.79 (7.10, 43.13) pg/ml, 17.02 (8.36, 52.21) pg/mlvs. 1.00±0.49, 6.29 (4.73, 7.93) pg/ml, 5.93 (4.81, 9.67) pg/ml, all P<0.05]. The levels of NLRP3 mRNA, IL-18 and IL-1β were significantly higher in the stable COPD group than the control group [1.60±0.44, 10.66 (6.32, 18.59) pg/ml, 13.34 (7.07, 16.89) pg/mlvs. (1.00±0.49, 6.29 (4.73, 7.93) pg/ml, 5.93 (4.81, 9.67) pg/ml, all P<0.05]. Correlation analysis showed that the plasma IL-18 level was positive correlated with leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage in the AECOPD group (r=0.372, P<0.05;r=0.386, P<0.05). The expression of NLRP3 mRNA in the AECOPD group and stable COPD group were positively correlated with the CAT score (r=0.387, P<0.05;r=0.399, P<0.05) . Conclusion NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in the inflammatory response in COPD patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the stability of the fixation technique for the crossed rods consisting of occipital plate and C2 bilateral lamina screws by biomechanical test.MethodsSix fresh cervical specimens were harvested and established an atlantoaxial instability model. The models were fixed with parallel rods and crossed rods after occipital plate and C2 bilateral laminae screws were implanted. The specimens were tested in the following sequence: atlantoaxial instability model (unstable model group), under parallel rods fixation (parallel fixation group), and under crossed rods fixation (cross fixation group). The range of motion (ROM) of the C0-2 segments were measured in flexion-extension, left/right lateral bending, and left/right axial rotation. After the test, X-ray film was taken to observe the internal fixator position.ResultsThe biomechanical test results showed that the ROMs in flexion-extension, left/right lateral bending, and left/right axial rotation were significantly lower in the cross fixation group and the parallel fixation group than in the unstable model group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the cross fixation group and the parallel fixation group in flexion-extension and left/right lateral bending (P>0.05). In the left/right axial rotation, the ROMs of the cross fixation group were significantly lower than those of the parallel fixation group (P<0.05). After the test, the X-ray film showed the good internal fixator position.ConclusionThe axial rotational stability of occipitocervical fusion can be further improved by crossed rods fixation when the occipital plate and C2 bilateral lamina screws are used.