ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of fibrinogen and other serological indicators in the management of patients with bronchiectasis. Methods Basic information, serological indicators such as blood routine items, biochemical, blood coagulation, and inflammation index of 121 patients with bronchiectasis in Nanjing Jinling Hospital and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from July 2021 to June 2023 were collected. The value of fibrinogen and other serological indicators in identifying patients with acute exacerbation and severely impaired lung function (FEV1%pred<60%) was evaluated. Results The levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen were higher in the patients with acute exacerbation and in the FEV1%pred<60% group, negatively correlated with FEV1%pred. While the level of albumin was higher in the patients of the stable group and FEV1%pred≥60% group, and positively correlated with FEV1%pred. Compared with leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, C-reactive protein and albumin, fibrinogen demonstrated the best recognition ability for the patients with FEV1%pred<60% (AUC=0.839). The sensitivity of identifying patients with FEV1%pred<60% was 91.18% and the specificity was 71.26% when the level of fibrinogen was over 3.35 g/L. Conclusions Leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, C-reactive protein, albumin and fibrinogen have shown certain application value in recognition of patients with bronchiectasis in acute exacerbation stage and FEV1%pred<60%. These serological indicators may be helpful in precision treatment and individual management of patients with bronchiectasis.
ObjectiveTo explore the anticoagulant strategy of adjusting the dose of warfarin at different stages after mechanical valve replacement of mitral valve.MethodsClinical data of a total of 302 patients, including 76 males and 226 females, with an average age of 50.1±10.1 years, who underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement in the Chinese adult cardiac surgery database from 2013 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the dose adjustment strategy of taking warfarin, the patients were divided into a D group (adjusting warfarin dose in days) and a W group (adjusting warfarin dose in weeks) to evaluate the anti-coagulation effect of warfarin.ResultsThe total follow-up time was 423277 d (1159.7 years). There was no significant difference in the overall anticoagulant strength, and the warfarin dose adjusted in days was better in the early postoperative period (P<0.05), especially in patients over 60 years. It was better to adjust warfarin dose in weeks in the middle and long periods (P<0.05), especially in patients ≤40 years. In terms of the stability of anticoagulation, it was better to adjust the dosage of warfarin in weeks (P<0.05). It was better to adjust the dosage of warfarin in weeks for early, middle- and long-term anticoagulant therapy after operation (P<0.05), especially in the females aged >40 and ≤50 years.ConclusionWithin the target range of international normalized ratio (1.5-2.5), the anticoagulant strategy of adjusting warfarin dose in days after mechanical valve replacement of mitral valve can achieve a better anticoagulant strength, and adjusting the dosage of warfarin in weeks is better in the middle- and long-term after operation. In general, the anticoagulant effect is more stable in the short term when warfarin dose is adjusted on a weekly basis.
Objective To investigate the clinical features of interstitial lung disease (ILD) complicated with severe Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Methods The patients with interstitial lung disease complicated with severe Pneumocystis pneumonia who were admitted to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from September 2017 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Laboratory examinations, imaging features, complications and mortality data were used to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients. Results A total of 17 patients admitted to the RICU were finally enrolled in this study. 16 of the 17 patients had a history of corticoids therapy, and none of the 17 patients had received prophylaxis before the onset of PCP; 58.8% (10/17) of them were ILD secondary to connective tissue disease, and 41.2% (7/17) were idiopathic ILD; all patients were tested positive for P. jirovecii with polymerase chain reaction and/or next-generation metagenomic sequencing in sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or serum; all patients developed respiratory failure (oxygenation index: 146.8±66.4 mm Hg) after onset; within 24 hours of admission, the pneumonia severity index score was 91.9±20.1 and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score was 16.1±3.0; imaging findings showed diffuse ground-glass opacity in both lungs on the basis of the original ILD; all patients were treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and corticoids, 52.9% (9/17) patients were treated with TMP-SMX + caspofungin + clindamycin; 70.6% (12/17) patients were treated with mechanical ventilation; 76.5% (13/17) patients during hospitalization complicated bacterial infection, 9 cases (52.9%) had viral infection. The 28-day mortality was 64.7% (11/17), and the 90-day mortality was 82.4% (14/17), as of telephone follow-up (July 2022) the overall mortality was 88.2% (15/17). Conclusions ILD patients with severe PCP are progressing rapidly. The clinical manifestations are severe which are the same as acute exacerbation of ILD, with poor prognosis.
Ambulatory medicine is an important way to shorten the average length of hospital stay, reduce the cost of medical treatment, and enhance the efficient of diagnosis and treatment, providing patients with efficient, fast and convenient medical services. In combination with the developmental practice of ambulatory medicine of the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, this paper analyzes the operation and management mode and the innovative development process of ambulatory medicine. Through discussion, this paper gains a deeper understanding of ambulatory medicine, and confirms that in order to ensure the efficient and safe operation of ambulatory medicine, it is necessary to formulate specific norms and unified standards to promote the development of this new medical service mode.
Objective To investigate the colonization, risk factors and prognosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii (P.jirovecii) colonization in patients with Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). Methods The patients with Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis who were admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from March 2019 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction/next-generation metagenomic sequencing were used to detect the colonization of P. jirovecii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and then to investigate the colonization rate, risk factors and outcome of P. jirovecii in PAP patients. Results A total of 25 patients were included in the study, of which 7 were colonized by P. jirovecii (28.0%). The rate of using antibiotics before admission in the colonizing group was significantly higher than that in the non-colonizing group (85.7% vs 33.3%, P=0.030). Total blood lymphocytes (1.4×109/L vs. 1.8×109/L, P=0.048), CD3+T cells (0.83×109/L vs. 1.34×109/L, P=0.010), CD4+T cells (0.48×109/L vs. 0.85×109/L, P=0.010) were significantly lower than those in the non-colonizing group, lactate dehydrogenase (469.9 U/L vs. 277.3 U/L, P=0.005) was significantly higher than those in the non-colonizing group. A higher proportion of colonizing group required combination therapy (57.1% vs. 11.1%, P=0.032); but there was no significant difference in the percentage of whole-lung ground-glass opacification, lung function, oxygen index and outcome. Lactate dehydrogenase was positively correlated with the percentage of whole-lung ground-glass opacification of PAP, but negatively correlated with oxygen index, percentage of predicted forced vital capacity and percentage of predicted diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide. Conclusions The colonization rate of P. jirovecii in PAP patients was high. Reduced lymphocyte count in peripheral blood of PAP patients and antibiotic use before diagnosing were risk factors for P. jirovecii colonization.
ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value and safety of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound in peripheral pulmonary nodules.MethodsThe clinical imaging, surgical and pathological data of 60 patients with 76 peripheral pulmonary nodules who underwent electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsy in the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from June 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis rate and complications were analyzed and summarized. The 76 pulmonary nodules were divided into a small pulmonary nodules group (10 nodules, diameter≤1 cm) and a pulmonary nodules group (1 cm<diameter≤3 cm, 66 nodules) according to diameter. The two groups were compared in terms of operation and diagnosis rate.ResultsPulmonary nodules diameter was 1.8±0.6 cm, operation time 29.8±8.6 min, navigation 2.9±0.9 times, biopsy 9.5±1.9 pieces. In the 76 pulmonary nodules, 55 were confirmed by pathology, with a total diagnosis rate of 72.4%, including 32 of malignant lesions and 23 of benign lesions. In the 76 pulmonary nodules, 59 had grade 0 hemorrhage, 17 had grade 1 hemorrhage, and none had grade 2 or more serious hemorrhage. Eight patients developed pneumothorax after surgery, and the degree of lung compression was less than 30%, which was improved after symptomatic treatment with oxygen inhalation. The operation time in the small pulmonary nodules group was significantly longer than that in the pulmonary nodules group, and there was no significant difference in diagnosis rate or complications between the two groups.ConclusionElectromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound is a safe and effective method for the diagnosis of periphery pulmonary nodules, and it also has a high diagnostic rate for small pulmonary nodules (≤1 cm), which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.