2016年 · 第129卷第14期

The occurrence of infections and mortality in critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are as high as 53.9%and 30.0%, respectively.^[1]In the United States, the number of patients who died from hospital-acquired infections exceeds 100,000 and the single-item cost is as high as 25 billion USD^[2]per year. A study has demonstrated that colonization of conditional exogenous pathogens within the gut is an important pathologic basis of hospital-acquired infections in critically ill ICU patients.^[3]The gut is inhabited by the largest variety of bacteria. On one hand, commensal bacteria can inhibit intestinal colonization of conditional exogenous pathogens, and on the other hand, intestinal bacterial flora plays important roles in immunity, metabolism and nourishment. Here, we address the composition of intestinal bacteria, the mechanism underlying decolonization of pathogens in the gut, change in the intestinal micro-ecological environment under pathologic conditions, and maintenance of the ability of the gut in decolonizing pathogenic microbiota.

Over the years, the mechanical ventilation (MV) strategy has changed worldwide. The aim of the present study was to describe the ventilation practices, particularly lung-protective ventilation (LPV), among brain-injured patients in China.

This study was a multicenter, 1-day, cross-sectional study in 47 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across China. Mechanically ventilated patients (18 years and older) with brain injury in a participating ICU during the time of the study, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, postoperation with intracranial tumor, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, intracranial infection, and idiopathic epilepsy, were enrolled. Demographic data, primary diagnoses, indications for MV, MV modes and settings, and prognoses on the 60^th day were collected. Multivariable logistic analysis was used to assess factors that might affect the use of LPV.

A total of 104 patients were enrolled in the present study, 87 (83.7%) of whom were identified with severe brain injury based on a Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 points. Synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) was the most frequent ventilator mode, accounting for 46.2% of the entire cohort. The median tidal volume was set to 8.0 ml/kg (interquartile range [IQR], 7.0-8.9 ml/kg) of the predicted body weight; 50 (48.1%) patients received LPV. The median positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was set to 5 cmH₂O (IQR, 5-6 cmH₂O). No PEEP values were higher than 10 cmH₂O. Compared with partially mandatory ventilation, supportive and spontaneous ventilation practices were associated with LPV. There were no significant differences in mortality and MV duration between patients subjected to LPV and those were not.

Among brain-injured patients in China, SIMV was the most frequent ventilation mode. Nearly one-half of the brain-injured patients received LPV. Patients under supportive and spontaneous ventilation were more likely to receive LPV.

ClinicalTrials.org NCT02517073 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02517073.

Stress index at post-recruitment maneuvers could be a method of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. However, airway pressure (P_aw) stress index may not reflect lung mechanics in the patients with high chest wall elastance. This study was to evaluate the P_aw stress index on lung mechanics and the correlation between P_aw stress index and transpulmonary pressure (P_L) stress index in acute respiratory failure (ARF) patients.

Twenty-four ARF patients with mechanical ventilation (MV) were consecutively recruited from July 2011 to April 2013 in Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China and Ospedale S. Giovanni Battista-Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy. All patients underwent MV with volume control (tidal volume 6 ml/kg) for 20 min. PEEP was set according to the ARDSnet study protocol. The patients were divided into two groups according to the chest wall elastance/respiratory system elastance ratio. The high elastance group (H group, n= 14) had a ratio ≥30%, and the low elastance group (L group, n= 10) had a ratio <30%. Respiratory elastance, gas-exchange, P_aw stress index, and P_L stress index were measured. Student's t-test, regression analysis, and Bland-Altman analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Pneumonia was the major cause of respiratory failure (71.0%). Compared with the L group, PEEP was lower in the H group (5.7 ± 1.7 cmH²O vs. 9.0 ± 2.3 cmH_2O, P < 0.01). Compared with the H group, lung elastance was higher (20.0 ± 7.8 cmH_2O/L vs. 11.6 ± 3.6 cmH₂O/L, P < 0.01), and stress was higher in the L group (7.0 ± 1.9 vs. 4.9 ± 1.9, P = 0.02). A linear relationship was observed between the P_aw stress index and the P_L stress index in H group (R² = 0.56, P < 0.01) and L group (R² = 0.85, P < 0.01).

In the ARF patients with MV, P_aw stress index can substitute for P_L to guide ventilator settings.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02196870 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02196870).

Previous studies have suggested that β1-receptor blockers benefit septic shock patients. This study aimed to determine whether β1-receptor blockers benefit tissue perfusion in sepsis and to identify parameters to reduce the risk of this drug in sepsis.

Consecutive septic shock patients were recruited from the Intensive Care Unit of Peking Union Medical College Hospital within 48 h of diagnosis. All patients were hemodynamically stable and satisfactorily sedated with a heart rate (HR) >100 beats/min. Esmolol therapy achieved the target HR of 10-15% lower than the baseline HR. Clinical and physiological data of patients were collected prospectively within 1 h prior to esmolol therapy and 2 h after achieving the targeted HR.

Sixty-three patients were recruited. After esmolol therapy, blood pressure was unaltered, whereas stroke volume (SV) was increased compared with before esmolol therapy (43.6 ± 22.7 vs. 49.9 ± 23.7 ml, t = -2.3, P = 0.047). Tissue perfusion, including lactate levels (1.4 ± 0.8 vs. 1.1 ± 0.6 mmol/L, t = 2.6, P = 0.015) and the central venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference (5.6 ± 3.3 vs. 4.3 ± 2.2 mmHg, t = 2.6 P = 0.016), was also significantly decreased after esmolol therapy. For patients with increased SV (n = 42), cardiac efficiency improved, and esmolol therapy had a lower risk for a decrease in cardiac output (CO). Therefore, pretreatment cardiac systolic and diastolic parameters with (n = 42)/without (n = 21) an increase in SV were compared. Mitral lateral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSElat) in patients with increased SV was significantly higher than that in those without increased SV (1.3 ± 0.3 vs. 1.1 ±0.2 cm, t = 2.4, P = 0.034).

SV of septic shock patients is increased following esmolol therapy. Although CO is also decreased with HR, tissue perfusion is not worse. MAPSElat can be used to predict an increase in SV before esmolol use.

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01920776; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01920776?term=NCT01920776&amp;rank=l.

Early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) has become an important therapeutic management in early salvage stage of septic shock. However, splenic organs possibly remained hypoperfused and hypoxic despite fluid resuscitation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of EGDT on hepatic perfusion in septic shock patients.

A prospective observational study was carried out in early septic shock patients who were admitted to Intensive Care Unit within 24 h after onset and who met all four elements of the EGDT criteria after treatment with the standard EGDT procedure within 6 h between December 1, 2012 and November 30, 2013. The hemodynamic data were recorded, and oxygen metabolism and hepatic functions were monitored. An indocyanine green clearance test was applied to detect the hepatic perfusion. The patients' characteristics were compared before treatment (T0), immediately after EGDT (T1), and 24 h after EGDT (T2). This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.org, NCT02060773.

Twenty-one patients were included in the study; however, the hepatic perfusion data were not included in the analysis for two patients; therefore, 19 patients were eligible for the study. Hemodynamics data, as monitored by pulse-indicator continuous cardiac output, were obtained from 16 patients. There were no significant differences in indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR) and 15-min retention rate (R15) at T0 (11.9 ± 5.0%/min and 20.0 ± 13.2%), T1 (11.4 ± 5.1%/min and 23.6 ± 14.9%), and T2 (11.0 ± 4.5%/min and 23.7 ± 15.3%) (all P > 0.05). Both of the alterations of ICG-PDR and R15 showed no differences at T0, T1, and T2 in the patients of different subgroups that achieved different resuscitation goal numbers when elected (P > 0.05).

There were no hepatic perfusion improvements after EGDT in the early phase of patients with septic shock.

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02060773 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02060773).

Despite its high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality, sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is still poorly understood. The aim of this prospective and observational study was to investigate the clinical significance of calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8) in serum and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in diagnosing SAE and predicting its prognosis.

Data of septic patients were collected within 24 h after Intensive Care Unit admission from July 2014 to March 2015. Healthy medical personnel served as the control group. SAE was defined as cerebral dysfunction in the presence of sepsis that fulfilled the exclusion criteria. The biochemical indicators, Glasgow Coma Scale, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score II, TRAF6 in PBMC, serum S100A8, S100β, and neuron-specific enolase were evaluated in SAE patients afresh. TRAF6 and S100A8 were also measured in the control group.

Of the 57 enrolled patients, 29 were diagnosed with SAE. The S100A8 and TRAF6 concentrations in SAE patients were both significantly higher than that in no-encephalopathy (NE) patients, and higher in NE than that in controls (3.74 ± 3.13 vs. 1.08 ± 0.75 vs. 0.37 ± 0.14 ng/ml, P< 0.01; 3.18 ± 1.55 vs. 1.02 ± 0.63 vs. 0.47 ± 0.10, P< 0.01). S100A8 levels of 1.93 ng/ml were diagnostic of SAE with 92.90% specificity and 69.00% sensitivity in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the area under the curve was 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76-0.95). TRAF6-relative levels of 1.44 were diagnostic of SAE with 85.70% specificity and 86.20% sensitivity, and the area under the curve was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88-0.99). In addition, S100A8 levels of 2.41 ng/ml predicted 28-day mortality of SAE with 90.00% specificity and 73.70%sensitivity in the ROC curve, and the area under the curve was 0.88. TRAF6 relative levels of 2.94 predicted 28-day mortality of SAE with 80.00% specificity and 68.40% sensitivity, and the area under the curve was 0.77. Compared with TRAF6, the specificity of serum S100A8 in diagnosing SAE and predicting mortality was higher, although the sensitivity was low. In contrast, the TRAF6 had higher sensitivity for diagnosis.

Peripheral blood levels of S100A8 and TRAF6 in SAE patients were elevated and might be related to the severity of SAE and predict the outcome of SAE. The efficacy and specificity of S100A8 for SAE diagnosis were superior, despite its weak sensitivity. S100A8 might be a better biomarker for diagnosis of SAE and predicting prognosis.

It is unclear that how to decide the calcium infusion rate during continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) with regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA). This study aimed to assess the determinants of calcium infusion rate during CVVH with RCA in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

A total of 18 patients with AKI requiring CVVH were prospectively analyzed. Postdilution CVVH was performed with a fixed blood flow rate of 150 ml/min and a replacement fluid flow rate of 2000 ml/h for each new circuit. The infusion of 4% trisodium citrate was started at a rate of 29.9 mmol/h prefilter and adjusted according to postfilter ionized calcium. The infusion of 10% calcium gluconate was initiated at a rate of 5.5 mmol/h and adjusted according to systemic ionized calcium. The infusion rate of trisodium citrate and calcium gluconate as well as ultrafiltrate flow rate were recorded at 1,2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after starting CVVH, respectively. The calcium loss rate by CVVH was also calculated.

Fifty-seven sessions of CVVH were performed in 18 AKI patients. The citrate infusion rate, calcium loss rate by CVVH, and calcium infusion rate were 31.30 (interquartile range: 2.70), 4.60 ± 0.48, and 5.50 ± 0.35 mmol/h, respectively. The calcium infusion rate was significantly higher than that of calcium loss rate by CVVH (P < 0.01). The correlation coefficient between the calcium and citrate infusion rates, and calcium infusion and calcium loss rates by CVVH was -0.031 (P > 0.05) and 0.932 (P < 0.01), respectively. In addition, calcium infusion rate (mmol/h) = 1.77 + 0.8× (calcium loss rate by CVVH, mmol/h).

The calcium infusion rate correlates significantly with the calcium loss rate by CVVH but not with the citrate infusion rate in a fixed blood flow rate during CVVH with RCA.

There has been no external validation of survival prediction models for severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy in China. The aim of study was to compare the performance of multiple models recently developed for patients with ARDS undergoing ECMO based on Chinese single-center data.

A retrospective case study was performed, including twenty-three severe ARDS patients who received ECMO from January 2009 to July 2015. The PRESERVE (Predicting death for severe ARDS on VV-ECMO), ECMOnet, Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival Prediction (RESP) score, a center-specific model developed for inter-hospital transfers receiving ECMO, and the classical risk-prediction scores of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) were calculated. In-hospital and six-month mortality were regarded as the endpoints and model performance was evaluated by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

The RESP and APACHE II scores showed excellent discriminate performance in predicting survival with AUC of 0.835 (95%confidence interval [CI], 0.659-1.010, P = 0.007) and 0.762 (95% CI, 0.558-0.965, P = 0.035), respectively. The optimal cutoff values were risk class 3.5 for RESP and 35.5 for APACHE II score, and both showed 70.0% sensitivity and 84.6% specificity. The excellent performance of these models was also evident for the pneumonia etiological subgroup, for which the SOFA score was also shown to be predictive, with an AUC of 0.790 (95% CI, 0.571-1.009, P = 0.038). However, the ECMOnet and the score developed for externally retrieved ECMO patients failed to demonstrate significant discriminate power for the overall cohort. The PRESERVE model was unable to be evaluated fully since only one patient died six months postdischarge.

The RESP, APCHAE II, and SOFA scorings systems show good predictive value for intra-hospital survival of ARDS patients treated with ECMO in our single-center evaluation. Future validation should include a larger study with either more patients' data at single-center or by integration of domestic multi-center data. Development of a scoring system with national characteristics might be warranted.

Osteoporosis is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent clinical and biological researches have increasingly delineated the biomolecular pathways of bone metabolism regulation in COPD. We extended this work by examining the specific association and potential contribution of the osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) axis to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in advanced COPD. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships of serum OPG, RANKL, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) with bone turnover in men with very severe COPD.

Pulmonary function, T-score at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN), serum OPG, RANKL, soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-I and II (sTNFR-I, sTNFR-II), osteocalcin (OC), and β-CrossLaps (βCL) levels were measured in 45 men with very severe stage COPD and 36 male non-COPD volunteers. COPD patients and healthy controls were compared using an independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. The Pearson coefficient was used to assess the relationships between variables.

OPG and OC were lower in male COPD patients than in control subjects whereas RANKL, serum βCL, TNF-α, and its receptors were higher. OPG directly correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted (r = 0.46, P < 0.005), OC (r = 0.34, P < 0.05), LS (r = 0.56, P < 0.001), and FN T-score (r = 0.47, P < 0.01). In contrast, serum RANKL inversely associated with LS and FN T-score (r = -0.62, P < 0.001 and r = -0.48, P < 0.001) but directly correlated with βCL (r = 0.48, P < 0.001). In addition, OPG was inversely correlated with RANKL (r = -0.39, P < 0.01), TNF-α (r = -0.56, P < 0.001), and sTNFR-I (r = -0.40, P < 0.01).

Our results suggest that serum OPG and RANKL levels are inversely associated with bone loss in men with advanced stage COPD.

Aspergillosis infection is common in the patients with insufficient immunity. The role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet), and eomesodermin (EOMES) in mediating T lymphocytes differentiation in response to Aspergillus fumigatus infection in immunocompromised rats was investigated in this study.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) of immunosuppressive twenty male rats were established and sacrificed at 24 h (n = 5), 48 h (n = 5), 72 h (n = 5), and 96 h (n = 5) after A. fumigatus infection. In addition, control (n = 5), cyclophosphamide (CTX) (n = 5), and aspergillosis (n = 5) group were also established the tissues and pathology of lung tissue was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. CD8⁺ T-cells was sorted by flow cytometry. Serum mTOR, S6K, T-bet, and EOMES were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Histology of lung tissue indicated severe lung tissue injury including infiltration of inflammatory cells, alveolar wall damage or degradation, blood congestion, and hemorrhage in the CTX, IPA, and CTX + IPA rats. Hyphae were seen in the IPA, and CTX + IPA groups. The proportion of CD8⁺ T-cells was significantly increased in the animals of CTX + IPA. Memory CD8⁺ T-cells was significantly increased in early stage (24 h and 48 h, P < 0.001), but decreased in the late phase of fungal infection (72 h and 96 h) in the animals of CTX + IPA. In addition, at early stage of fungal infection (24 h and 48 h), serum mTOR (P < 0.001), S6K (P < 0.001), and T-bet (P < 0.05) was significantly higher, while EOMES was significantly lower (P < 0.001), in CTX + IPA group than that in control, CTX alone or IPA alone group. Conversely, serum mTOR, S6K, T-bet, and EOMES showed opposite changed in the late stage (72 h and 96 h). Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that mTOR and S6K were significantly correlated with T-bet (r = 0.901 and 0.91, respectively, P < 0.001), but negatively and significantly correlated with EOMES (r = -0.758 and -0.751, respectively, P < 0.001).

mTOR may regulate transcription factors of EOMES and T-bet, and by which mechanism, it may modulate lymphocytes differentiation in animals with immune suppression and fungal infection.

Inflammation is supposed to play a key role in the pathophysiological processes of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IIRI), and Candida albicans in human gut commonly elevates inflammatory cytokines in intestinal mucosa. This study aimed to explore the effect of C. albicans on IIRI.

Fifty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups according to the status of C. albicans infection and IIRI operation: group blank and sham; group blank and IIRI; group cefoperazone plus IIRI; group C. albicans plus cefoperazone and IIRI (CCI); and group C. albicans plus cefoperazone and sham. The levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and diamine oxidase (DAO) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to evaluate the inflammation reactivity as well as the integrity of small intestine. Histological scores were used to assess the mucosal damage, and the C. albicans blood translocation was detected to judge the permeability of intestinal mucosal barrier.

The levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum and intestine were higher in rats undergone both C. albicans infection and IIRI operation compared with rats in other groups. The levels of DAO (serum: 44.13 ± 4.30 pg/ml, intestine: 346.21 ± 37.03 pg/g) and Chiu scores (3.41 ± 1.09) which reflected intestinal mucosal disruption were highest in group CCI after the operation. The number of C. albicans translocated into blood was most in group CCI ([33.80 ± 6.60] ×10² colony forming unit (CFU)/ml).

Intestinal C. albicans infection worsened the IIRI-induced disruption of intestinal mucosal barrier and facilitated the subsequent C. albicans translocation and dissemination.

Aberrant expression of ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) plays a critical role in tumor development and progression. We systematically summarized the latest research progress on the role and mechanisms of TET1 in cancer biology.

Relevant articles published in English from 1980 to April 2016 were selected from the PubMed database. The terms "ten-eleven translocation 1," "5mC," "5hmC," "microRNA," "hypoxia," and "embryonic stem cell" were used for the search.

Articles focusing on the role and mechanism of TET1 in tumor were reviewed, including clinical and basic research articles.

TET proteins, the key enzymes converting 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, play vital roles in DNA demethylation regulation. Recent studies have shown that loss of TET1 is associated with tumorigenesis and can be used as a potential biomarker for cancer therapy, which indicates that TET1 serves as tumor suppressor gene. Moreover, besides its dioxygenase activity, TET1 could induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition and act as a coactivator to regulate gene transcription, such as developmental regulator in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and hypoxia-responsive gene in cancer. The regulation of TET1 is also correlated with microRNA in a posttranscriptional modification process. Hence, it is complex but critical to comprehend the mechanisms of TET1 in the biology of ESCs and cancer.

TET1 not only serves as a demethylation enzyme but also plays multiple roles during tumorigenesis and progression. More studies should be carried out to elucidate the exact mechanisms of TET1 and its associations with cancer before considering it as a therapeutic tool.

A 16-year-old girl was administered to our hospital because of primary amenorrhea and solid pelvic mass. She was 158 cm tall and weighed 55 kg. There was no evidence of acanthosis nigricans, acne, hirsutism, goiter, cushingoid features, or Turners stigmata. Examination of secondary sexual characteristics revealed that the breast was small and poorly developed (Tanner's Stage II). Pubic hair was absent while the external genitalia was of female type and had no evidence of clitoromegaly. Ultrasonography of the pelvis showed a solid mass diameter about 9 cm in right adnexal area, a normal uterus with endometrium of 3 mm, and left ovary 1.5 cm x 1.0 cm. Her serum hormonal assay revealed a low estradiol level of 0.155 nmol/L (normal range: 0.200-0.790 nmol/L in follicular phase) in the background of elevated luteinizing hormone level of 25.47 U/L (normal range: 2.12-10.89 U/L in follicular phase), follicle-stimulating hormone level of 51.36 U/L (normal range: 3.85-8.78 U/L in follicular phase), and testosterone level of 3.97 nmol/L (normal range: 0.35-2.60 nmol/L). She was found to have normal progesterone level of 3.77 nmol/L (0.98-4.83 nmol/L in follicular phase) and serum prolactin level of 12.47 ng/ml (3.34-26.72 ng/ml). Serum tumor markers were detected before operation and the results were as following: CA 125 34.20 U/ml, (normal range: 0-35.00 U/ml), CA 199 34.11 U/ml (normal range: 0-39.00 U/ml), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) >1210.0 ng/ml (normal range: 0-7.0 ng/ml), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) 12.81 U/L (normal range: 0-2.90 U/L), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) 204 U/L (normal range: 109-245 U/L). She did not give any history of abdominal pain, nausea or vomit, no hormonal intake, radiation exposure, chemotherapy, or any central nervous symptoms such as headache or visual disturbances. She has no significant trauma or surgical procedure history. There was no history of childhood tuberculosis or any congenital abnormality or hereditary disease in her family.

Fluid challenge is a common diagnostic method to help the physician determine fluid responsiveness, which is an important component of fluid management in critically ill patients.^[1]Raising legs of a patient induces the transfer of a variable amount of blood (approximately 200-300 ml) contained in the venous reservoir from the limb to central venous compartment. According to Franck-Starling curve, this transient increase of preload might lead to an increase in cardiac output (CO) in future responders resulting from their preload-reserve status. Many clinical studies have validated passive leg raising (PLR), and the advantage of PLR is attractive in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Recently, PLR has been suggested as a simple and potential method to predict fluid responsiveness, which is similar to an "auto-fluid challenge" without a drop of fluid.^[2]However, one study revealed poor application of PLR in the real world.^[3]We acknowledged that the lack of education on PLR would result in the current practice. On the other hand, the application of PLR might be not simple in clinical practice, and the holy grail of fluid responsiveness still needs to be discovered.^[4]The standard of PLR has not been established, and some questions of PLR merit discussion.

To the Editor: Acne inversa (AI; OMIM: 142690) is a painful chronic follicular disease, characterized by recurrent draining sinuses and abscesses with subsequent scarring and chronic seepage, predominantly in skin folds that carry terminal hairs and apocrine glands. It mainly affects the scalp, neck, the axillae, perineum, and inframammary regions. AI significantly affects patients' quality of life because of the chronic and recurrent nature of symptoms as well as the lack of satisfying treatment options.

To the Editor: The symptoms of cerebral fat embolism (CFE) are often a triad of acute respiratory failure, unconsciousness, and petechial rash after a symptom-free interval of 12-24 h following trauma. Although cases of CFE have been reported since the 1960s, to our knowledge, a few reports have discussed the beneficial effects of corticosteroids for CFE treatment though corticosteroids are generally believed to have preventative effects. Here, we report a case of CFE in a 63-year-old woman who had fractures of the right tibia and fibula without cranial trauma. We gave her intravenous injections of dexamethasone for 11 days starting from the 1^stday of trauma, and the patient experienced good recovery.

To the Editor: A 60-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department with a new-onset sudden palpitation and precordial discomfort that occurred several times a day. Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) of a right bundle-branch block (RBBB) pattern (245 beats/min) was documented, which was reversed into a sinus rhythm after synchronized cardioversion. Subsequent 12-lead electrocardiogram revealed a normal sinus rhythm with T-wave inversion in leads V4 to V6 and ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3 (78 beats/min). He had been diagnosed with diabetes about 10 years ago which was well treated. There was no family history of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy or either signs or symptoms of heart disease. Myocardial enzyme levels, including troponin I, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, and myoglobin, were within normal level. The level of serum C-reactive protein and D-dimer was normal. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography presented a normal left ventricular (LV) global systolic function (an end diastolic/systolic volume of 150/66 ml, an ejection fraction of 57%), an LV pseudoaneurysm (apex, 4.2 cm × 2.6 cm) [Figure 1], and normal morphological right ventricle (RV). Coronary angiography showed normal coronary arteries.

In the article titled, "Interventional Therapy for Bilateral Acute Renal Artery Embolism Caused by Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation" published in pages 1244-1245, issue 10, vol. 129 ofChinese Medical Journal^[1], the ratification number of the grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China under the section "Financial support and sponsorship" is written incorrectly as "81355392" instead of "81370437".