Early recognition of sepsis is a key factor to improve survival to this disease in surgical patients, since it allows prompt control of the infectious source. Combining pro-inflammatory and ...immunosupression biomarkers could represent a good strategy to improve sepsis detection. Here we evaluated the combination of procalcitonin (PCT) with gene expression levels of HLA-DRA to detect sepsis in a cohort of 154 surgical patients (101 with sepsis and 53 with no infection). HLA-DRA expression was quantified using droplet digital PCR, a next-generation PCR technology. Area under the receiver operating curve analysis (AUROC) showed that the PCT/HLA-DRA ratio outperformed PCT to detect sepsis (AUROC CI95%, p): PCT: 0.80 0.73-0.88, <0.001; PCT/HLA-DRA: 0.85 0.78-0.91, <0.001. In the multivariate analysis, the ratio showed a superior ability to predict sepsis compared to that of PCT (OR CI 95%, p): PCT/HLA-DRA: 7.66 1.82-32.29, 0.006; PCT: 4.21 1.15-15.43 0.030. Multivariate analysis was confirmed using a new surgical cohort with 74 sepsis patients and 21 controls: PCT/HLA-DRA: 34.86 1.22-995.08, 0.038; PCT: 5.52 0.40-75.78, 0.201. In conclusion, the combination of PCT with HLA-DRA is a promising strategy for improving sepsis detection in surgical patients.
OBJECTIVES:To quantify immunological dysfunction in surgical patients with presence/absence of sepsis using a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) transcriptomic analysis. The study also ...aims to evaluate this approach for improving identification of sepsis in these patients.
BACKGROUND:Immune dysregulation is a central event in sepsis. Quantification of the expression of immunological genes participating in the pathogenesis of sepsis could represent a new avenue to improve its diagnosis.
METHODS:Expression of 6 neutrophil protease genes (MMP8, OLFM4, LCN2/NGAL, LTF, PRTN3, MPO) and also of 5 genes involved in the immunological synapse (HLA-DRA, CD40LG, CD3E, CD28, ICOS) was quantified in blood from 101 surgical patients with sepsis, 53 uninfected surgical patients, and 16 blood donors by using ddPCR. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) and multivariate regression analysis were employed to test individual genes and gene ratios to identify sepsis, in comparison with procalcitonin.
RESULTS:Sepsis-induced overexpression of neutrophil protease genes and depressed expression of immunological synapse genes. MMP8/HLA-DRA, LCN2/HLA-DRA outperformed procalcitonin in differentiating between patients with sepsis and surgical controls in the AUROC analysisLCN2/HLA-DRA0.90 (0.85–0.96), MMP8/HLA-DRA0.89 (0.84–0.95), procalcitonin0.80 (0.73–0.88) (AUROC, confidence interval 95%), and also in the multivariate analysisLCN2/HLA-DRA8.57 (2.25–32.62); MMP8/HLA-DRA8.03 (2.10–30.76), procalcitonin4.20 (1.15–15.43) odds ratio (confidence interval 95%). Gene expression levels of HLA-DRA were an independent marker of hospital mortality.
CONCLUSIONS:Quantifying the transcriptomic ratios MMP8/HLA-DRA, LCN2/HLA-DRA by ddPCR is a promising approach to improve sepsis diagnosis in surgical patients.
Amyand hernia is a rare entity that is generally an unexpected intraoperative finding. The decision to perform prophylactic appendectomy, must take into account individual factors that may increase ...morbidity in a short, medium or long term future.
Colonic perforation as complication of acute diverticulitis is a relatively frequent pathology and generally very symptomatic. Nevertheless, when it occurs in the mesenteric border the course can be ...indolent.
To minimize the ischemia-reperfusion injury that occurs to the liver with the current method of preservation and transplantation, we have used an extracorporeal circuit to preserve the liver with ...normothermic, oxygenated, sanguineous perfusion. In this study, we directly compared preservation by the standard method of simple cold storage in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution with preservation by perfusion.
Porcine livers were harvested from large white sows weighing between 30 and 50 kg by the standard procedure for human retrieval. The livers were preserved for 24 hr by either cold storage in UW solution (n=5) or by perfusion with oxygenated autologous blood at body temperature (n=5). The extracorporeal circuit used included a centrifugal pump, heat exchanger, and oxygenator. Both groups were then tested on the circuit for a 24 hr reperfusion phase, analyzing synthetic function, metabolic capacity, hemodynamics, markers of hepatocyte and reperfusion injury, and histology.
Livers preserved with normothermic perfusion were significantly superior (P=0.05) to cold-stored livers in terms of bile production, factor V production, glucose metabolism, and galactose clearance. Cold-stored livers showed significantly higher levels of hepatocellular enzymes in the perfusate and were found to have significantly more damage by a blinded histological scoring system.
Normothermic sanguineous oxygenated perfusion is a superior method of preservation compared with simple cold storage in UW solution. In addition, perfusion allows the possibility to assess viability of the graft before transplantation.
Liposarcoma tumors only represent 0.1% of all cancers, but they are the more common of retroperitoneal sarcomas. It has a great tendency for local recurrence, mainly the dedifferentiated variety, but ...its complete resection can provide a 5-year survival of 70%. In this report, we present a case of a giant dedifferentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma that did not affect any neighboring organ and that was successfully treated by means of complete surgical resection.
The aim of the study is to try and find out the state of surgical training in Spain and to determine whether it meets the objectives of the Program.
The results of two surveys carried out on ...Residents and General Surgery Tutors by the Spanish Surgeons Association, based on the conclusions of the XXVII Congreso Nacional de Cirugía. The questions formulated referred to general aspects of the Service and specific ones related to access, teaching activity, surgery, research and personal perspectives. The responses were defined, adjusted and categorised as quantitative and qualitative variables. The statistics program G Stat 2.0 was used for processing and the descriptive presentation of the results.
The surveys were sent to 626 Residents and 142 Tutors, with a response rate of 19% and 29%, respectively. First year residents predominated (32%) compared to later years, with an R-5 response index of 7.2%. A total of 91% knew the speciality Program well, and 76% were satisfied with the training received.
The results obtained as regards surgical activity agree with those established in the Program, both in the number of procedures and in their progression throughout the Residency, although it is not possible to ensure its uniformity. The functions and accreditation of the Tutors which are one of the main foundations of the training process are pending specific regulations.
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