Interleukin-10 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist distinguish between patients with sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)

Early serum biomarkers to characterise different phenotypes of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation: a systematic scoping review

Background

Lung transplantation (LUTX) is often complicated by primary graft dysfunction (PGD). Plasma biomarkers hold potential for PGD phenotyping and targeted therapy. This scoping review aims to collect the available literature in search of serum biomarkers for PGD phenotyping.

Methods

Following JBI and PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review searching MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library for papers reporting the association between serum biomarkers measured within 72 h of reperfusion and PGD, following International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines. We extracted study details, patient demographics, PGD definition and timing, biomarker concentration, and their performance in identifying PGD cases.

Results

Among the 1050 papers screened, 25 prospective observational studies were included, with only nine conducted in the last decade. These papers included 1793 unique adult patients (1195 double LUTX, median study size 100 (IQR 44-119)). Most (n=21) compared PGD grade 3 to less severe PGD, but only four adhered to 2016 PGD definitions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and the multiplex bead array technique were utilised in 23 and two papers, respectively. In total, 26 candidate biomarkers were identified, comprising 13 inflammatory, three endothelial activation, three epithelial injury, three cellular damage and two coagulation dysregulation markers. Only five biomarkers (sRAGE, ICAM-1, PAI-1, SP-D, FSTL-1) underwent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, yielding a median value of 0.58 (0.51-0.78) in 406 patients (276 double LUTX).

Conclusions

Several biomarkers exhibit promise for future studies aimed at PGD phenotyping after LUTX. To uncover the significant existing knowledge gaps, further international prospective studies incorporating updated diagnostic criteria, modern platforms and advanced statistical approaches are essential.

Plasma interleukin responses as predictors of outcome stratification in patients after major trauma: a prospective observational two centre study

Background and objectives

There is a need to develop objective risk stratification tools to define efficient care pathways for trauma patients. Biomarker-based point of care testing may strengthen existing clinical tools currently available for this purpose. The dysregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of organ failure is well recognised. This study was carried out to evaluate whether blood concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-6:IL-10 ratios in the early stages of the illness are significantly different in patients with worsening organ function.

Materials and methods

In this prospective observational cohort study, plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 on days 1, 3 and 5 were measured in 91 major trauma patients using a multiplexed cytometric bead array approach. A composite measure of adverse outcome - defined as SOFA ≥ 2 or mortality at 7 days, was the primary outcome. IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations in early samples (days 1, 3 & 5) in patients who developed SOFA ≥ 2 on day 7 were compared against those who did not. Similar composite outcome groups at day 5 and in groups with worsening or improving SOFA scores (ΔSOFA) at days 7 and 5 were undertaken as secondary analyses.

Results

Stratification on day 7, 44 (48%) patients showed adverse outcomes. These adverse outcomes associated with significantly greater IL-6 concentrations on days 1 and 5 (Day 1: 47.65 [23.24-78.68] Vs 73.69 [39.93 - 118.07] pg/mL, P = 0.040 and Day 5: 12.85 [5.80-19.51] Vs 28.90 [8.78-74.08] pg/mL; P = 0.0019). Similarly, IL-10 levels were significantly greater in the adverse outcome group on days 3 and 5 (Day 3: 2.54 [1.76-3.19] Vs 3.16 [2.68-4.21] pg/mL; P = 0.044 and Day 5: 2.03 [1.65-2.55] Vs 2.90 [2.00-5.06] pg/mL; P <0.001). IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were also significantly elevated in the adverse outcome groups at day 3 and day 5 when stratified on day 5 outcomes. Both IL-6 and IL-6:IL-10 were found to be significantly elevated on days 1 and 3 when stratified based on ΔSOFA at day 5. This significance was lost when stratified on day 7 scores.

Conclusions

Early IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations are significantly greater in patients who develop worsening organ functions downstream. These differences may provide an alternate biomarker-based approach to strengthen risk stratification in trauma patients.

Predicting sepsis using a combination of clinical information and molecular immune markers sampled in the ambulance

Sepsis is a time dependent condition. Screening tools based on clinical parameters have been shown to increase the identification of sepsis. The aim of current study was to evaluate the additional predictive value of immunological molecular markers to our previously developed prehospital screening tools. This is a prospective cohort study of 551 adult patients with suspected infection in the ambulance setting of Stockholm, Sweden between 2017 and 2018. Initially, 74 molecules and 15 genes related to inflammation were evaluated in a screening cohort of 46 patients with outcome sepsis and 50 patients with outcome infection no sepsis. Next, 12 selected molecules, as potentially synergistic predictors, were evaluated in combination with our previously developed screening tools based on clinical parameters in a prediction cohort (n = 455). Seven different algorithms with nested cross-validation were used in the machine learning of the prediction models. Model performances were compared using posterior distributions of average area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and difference in AUCs. Model variable importance was assessed by permutation of variable values, scoring loss of classification as metric and with model-specific weights when applicable. When comparing the screening tools with and without added molecular variables, and their interactions, the molecules per se did not increase the predictive values. Prediction models based on the molecular variables alone showed a performance in terms of AUCs between 0.65 and 0.70. Among the molecular variables, IL-1Ra, IL-17A, CCL19, CX3CL1 and TNF were significantly higher in septic patients compared to the infection non-sepsis group. Combing immunological molecular markers with clinical parameters did not increase the predictive values of the screening tools, most likely due to the high multicollinearity of temperature and some of the markers. A group of sepsis patients was consistently miss-classified in our prediction models, due to milder symptoms as well as lower expression levels of the investigated immune mediators. This indicates a need of stratifying septic patients with a priori knowledge of certain clinical and molecular parameters in order to improve prediction for early sepsis diagnosis.Trial registration: NCT03249597. Registered 15 August 2017.

The predictive utility of cytokines, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein among febrile pediatric hematology and oncology patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

Severe sepsis and septic shock are life-threatening for pediatric hematology and oncology patient receiving chemotherapy. Th1/Th2 cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) are all thought to be associated with disease severity. The aim of this study was to prospectively verify the utility of Th1/Th2 cytokines and compare them with PCT and CRP in the prediction of adverse outcomes. Data on patients were collected from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020. Blood samples were taken for Th1/Th2 cytokine, CRP, and PCT measurements at the initial onset of infection. Severe infection (SI) was defined as severe sepsis or septic shock. Th1/Th2 cytokine levels were determined by using flow cytometric bead array technology. In total, 7,735 febrile episodes were included in this study. For SI prediction, the AUCs of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were 0.814, 0.805 and 0.624, respectively, while IL-6 and IL-10 had high sensitivity and specificity. IL-6 > 220.85 pg/ml and IL-10 > 29.95 pg/ml had high odds ratio (OR) values of approximately 3.5 in the logistic regression. Within the subgroup analysis, for bloodstream infection (BSI) prediction, the AUCs of IL-10 and TNF-α were 0.757 and 0.694, respectively. For multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) prediction, the AUC of CRP was 0.606. The AUC of PCT for mortality prediction was 0.620. In conclusion, IL-6 and IL-10 provide good predictive value for the diagnosis of SI. For children with SI, IL-10 and TNF-α are associated with BSI, while CRP and PCT are associated with MODS and death, respectively.

Monitoring of the Forgotten Immune System during Critical Illness-A Narrative Review

Immune organ failure is frequent in critical illness independent of its cause and has been acknowledged for a long time. Most patients admitted to the ICU, whether featuring infection, trauma, or other tissue injury, have high levels of alarmins expression in tissues or systemically which then activate innate and adaptive responses. Although necessary, this response is frequently maladaptive and leads to organ dysfunction. In addition, the counter-response aiming to restore homeostasis and repair injury can also be detrimental and contribute to persistent chronic illness. Despite intensive research on this topic in the last 40 years, the immune system is not routinely monitored in critical care units. In this narrative review we will first discuss the inflammatory response after acute illness and the players of maladaptive response, focusing on neutrophils, monocytes, and T cells. We will then go through commonly used biomarkers, like C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and pancreatic stone protein (PSP) and what they monitor. Next, we will discuss the strengths and limitations of flow cytometry and related techniques as an essential tool for more in-depth immune monitoring and end with a presentation of the most promising cell associated markers, namely HLA-DR expression on monocytes, neutrophil expression of CD64 and PD-1 expression on T cells. In sum, immune monitoring critically ill patients is a forgotten and missing piece in the monitoring capacity of intensive care units. New technology, including bed-side equipment and in deep cell phenotyping using emerging multiplexing techniques will likely allow the definition of endotypes and a more personalized care in the future.

Clinical and biological markers for predicting ARDS and outcome in septic patients

Sepsis is a common cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with a high mortality. A panel of biomarkers (BMs) to identify septic patients at risk for developing ARDS, or at high risk of death, would be of interest for selecting patients for therapeutic trials, which could improve ARDS diagnosis and treatment, and survival chances in sepsis and ARDS. We measured nine protein BMs by ELISA in serum from 232 adult septic patients at diagnosis (152 required invasive mechanical ventilation and 72 had ARDS). A panel including the BMs RAGE, CXCL16 and Ang-2, plus PaO₂/FiO₂, was good in predicting ARDS (area under the curve = 0.88 in total septic patients). Best performing panels for ICU death are related to the presence of ARDS, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, and pulmonary/extrapulmonary origin of sepsis. In all cases, the use of BMs improved the prediction by clinical markers. Our study confirms the relevance of RAGE, Ang-2, IL-1RA and SP-D, and is novel supporting the inclusion of CXCL16, in BMs panels for predicting ARDS diagnosis and ARDS and sepsis outcome.

(R)-Ketamine ameliorates lethal inflammatory responses and multi-organ injury in mice induced by cecum ligation and puncture

AIMS

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction syndrome arising from infection-induced uncontrolled systemic inflammatory responses. Patients surviving severe sepsis also exhibit increased mortality due to enhanced vulnerability to infections. In this study, we examined whether (R)-ketamine could prevent against lethal sepsis-induced systemic inflammation and inflammatory organ injury.

MAIN METHODS

Septic model was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery on adult mice. (R)-ketamine (10 or 15 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally (i.p.) 24 h before and/or immediately after CLP.

KEY FINDINGS

Combined prophylactic and therapeutic use of (R)-ketamine (10 mg/kg), as well as either prophylactic or therapeutic use of (R)-ketamine at a single dose of 15 mg/kg did not reduce 14-day mortality after CLP. However, combined prophylactic and therapeutic use of (R)-ketamine (15 mg/kg) significantly increased 14-day survival rate, attenuated sepsis-induced marked drop in the rectal temperature and increase in the plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines [i.e., interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1β, and IL-10] 12 h after CLP. Furthermore, (R)-ketamine alleviated sepsis-induced increase in the organ injury markers such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), myocardial kinase (CK-MB), and creatinine 24 h after CLP. Moreover, the increased lung wet/dry weight ratio, pulmonary morphological injury and the pulmonary levels of inflammatory cytokines were also attenuated by (R)-ketamine.

SIGNIFICANCE

Combined prophylactic and therapeutic use of (R)-ketamine could attenuate systemic inflammation and inflammatory multi-organ injury in mice after CLP-induced lethal sepsis. Therefore, (R)-ketamine would be a potential prophylactic and therapeutic drug for patients prone to sepsis.

Effect of Paroxetine Combined with Probiotics in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Complicated with Gastrointestinal Dysfunction and Liver Cancer

BACKGROUND

To explore the effect of paroxetine combined with probiotics in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with gastrointestinal dysfunction and liver cancer and its effect on nutritional status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

96 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with gastrointestinal dysfunction and liver cancer were selected as subjects from March 2018 to March 2021. They were randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 48 cases in each group. The control group was treated with probiotics, and the observation group was combined with paroxetine on the basis of the control group. After 4 weeks of treatment, the gastrointestinal mucosal function, nutritional status, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, and the safety were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The levels of D-lactic acid, PCT, and endotoxin in the observation group were (1.75 ± 0.38), (4.39 ± 0.79), and (0.20 ± 0.06), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (2.69 ± 0.46), (7.84 ± 1.32), and (0.29 ± 0.08) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the nutritional status TP, ALB, Hb, PA, and TLC levels of the observation group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The HAMA and HAMD scores in the observation group were (5.76 ± 1.06) and (8.94 ± 1.26), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (10.69 ± 2.21) and (13.42 ± 2.34) (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistical significance in the incidence of nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, chest arthralgia, palpitation, anaesthesia, dizziness, and drowsiness between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Paroxetine combined with probiotics could help to improve the gastrointestinal mucosal function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with gastrointestinal dysfunction and liver cancer, improve the nutritional status of patients, and reduce anxiety and depression, and the drug was safe and worthy of promotion and application.

Dynamic monitoring of kidney injury status over 3 days in the intensive care unit as a sepsis phenotype associated with hospital mortality and hyperinflammation

Background

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) often worsens with the deterioration of a patient's condition. Therefore, we hypothesized that monitoring AKI dynamically from day 1 to day 3 was potential to predict hospital mortality. Specifically, we explored whether monitoring AKI dynamically in the intensive care unit (ICU) could be a sepsis phenotype predictive of mortality. A new classification was established based on the change in the AKI stage from admission day 1 and day 3. We compared the hospital mortality, cytokines, and immune response pattern between each group.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 523 patients with sepsis, and we calculated the AKI stages on day 1 and day 3 admission to ICUs.

Among these 523 people, 388 of them were assigned to normal, improved, and deteriorated groups according to the changes in the AKI stages. 263 of which did not develop AKI on day 1 and day 3 (normal group). The AKI stage improved in 68 patients (improved group) and worsened in 57 (deteriorated group). We compared the mortality rates between the groups, and identified the relationship between the dynamic AKI status, immune response patterns, and cytokine levels.

Results

The hospital mortality rate in the deteriorated group was higher than that in the non-deteriorated group (combination of normal and improved group) (p = 0.004). Additionally, according to the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the non-deteriorated group had a distinct hospital survival curve (p = 0.004). Furthermore, both the overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-α and decreased monocyte expression of human leukocyte antigen-DR were present in the deteriorated group.

Conclusions

The deteriorated group was associated with a higher hospital mortality rate, potentially resulting from an abnormal inflammatory response. Worsening AKI in the first 3 days of ICU admission may be a sepsis phenotype predictive of hospital mortality.

The TNF-α (-238 G/A) polymorphism could protect against development of severe sepsis

Primary responses in sepsis-mediated inflammation are regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Variations in the cytokine genes might modify their transcription or expression, plasma cytokines levels and response to sepsis. Activation protein-1 (AP-1) and NF-κB regulate cytokines gene expression in sepsis. A total of 90 severely septic and 91 non-infected patients were prospectively studied. IL-1α (-889 C/T), IL-1β (+3954 C/T), IL-6 (-174 G/C), TNF-α (-238 G/A), TNF-α (-308G/A), IL-8 (-251A/T) and IL-10 (-1082 G/A) SNPs, plasma IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) levels, and AP-1 and NF-κB gene expression by neutrophils were assessed. A allele carriers of TNF-α (-238 G/A) SNP were less frequent among septic patients. IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and MCP-1 levels were higher, and AP-1 and NF-κB gene expressions lower in septic patients. Sepsis was independently associated with higher fibrinogen, neutrophils counts and IL-8 levels, lower prothrombin, absence of the variant A allele of the TNF-α (-238 G/A) SNP, and haemodynamic failure. Death was independently associated with a higher APACHE II score, higher IL-8 levels, and the diagnosis of sepsis. TNF-a (-238 G/A) SNP could protect against sepsis development. Higher IL-8 levels are predictive of sepsis and mortality.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign: Basic/Translational Science Research Priorities

Objectives:

Expound upon priorities for basic/translational science identified in a recent paper by a group of experts assigned by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

Data Sources:

Original paper, search of the literature.

Study Selection:

By several members of the original task force with specific expertise in basic/translational science.

Data Extraction:

None.

Data Synthesis:

None.

Conclusions:

In the first of a series of follow-up reports to the original paper, several members of the original task force with specific expertise provided a more in-depth analysis of the five identified priorities directly related to basic/translational science. This analysis expounds on what is known about the question and what was identified as priorities for ongoing research. It is hoped that this analysis will aid the development of future research initiatives.

The value of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and citrullinated alpha enolase peptide-1 antibody in diagnosis, classification, and prognosis for patients with sepsis

We examined the blood concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and citrullinated alpha enolase peptide-1 (CEP-1) antibody in sepsis patients to evaluate their potential diagnostic, classified and prognostic utility together with C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6).Sixty-nine patients admitted at the emergency department with sepsis were studied, on admission, their demographic and clinical information were recorded. Blood levels of CRP, PCT, IL-6, NGAL, and CEP-1 antibody were measured. Relationships between sequential [sepsis-related] organ failure assessment score and blood biomarkers, between acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score and blood biomarkers were investigated. Additionally, the mutual correlation among CRP, PCT, IL-6, NGAL, and CEP-1 antibody were investigated. Diagnostic and predictive values for clinical outcomes for biomarkers were assessed by receiver operator characteristic curve.Sixty-nine participants (38 sepsis, 31 septic shock) were compared with 40 healthy controls. The levels of CRP, PCT, IL-6, and NGAL were significantly higher in sepsis patients ([59.49 ± 48.88]; 0.71, [0.13-11.72]; 60.46, [33.26-201.20]; 265.61, [185.79-500.96], respectively) compared with healthy controls ([2.05 ± 1.85]; 0.02, [0.02-0.03]; 12.08, [7.22-16.84]; 19.73, [7.66-34.39], respectively) (P < .001). CRP, PCT, IL-6, and NGAL had better discriminatory performance with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of (0.98; 0.98; 0.90; 0.97, respectively), 95% confidence interval (CI) = ([0.95; 1.00]; [0.96; 1.00]; [0.84; 0.96]; [0.94; 1.00], respectively) (P < .001), with a cut off value of (8.02 mg/L [Se = 88.40%, Sp = 100.00%]; 0.06 ng/mL [Se = 94.20%, Sp = 75.00%]; 30.63 pg/mL [Se = 78.30%, Sp = 95.00%]; 95.72 ng/mL [Se = 99.00%, Sp = 92.00%], respectively). Between the sepsis group and septic shock group, PCT and NGAL were significantly higher in septic shock group (2.44, [0.49-20.36]; 294.65 [203.34-1262.47], respectively) compared with sepsis group (0.41, [0.11-2.63]; 219.94, [146.38-385.24], respectively) (P < .05). Between survivors group and nonsurvivors group, PCT was obviously elevated in nonsurvivors group (2.47, [0.70-12.49]) compare with survivors group (0.41, [0.11-8.16]) (P < .05), with an AUC of 0.69, 95% CI = (0.57; 0.81) (P < .05), while CEP-1 antibody was decreased in nonsurvivors group (14.03, [4.94-17.17]) contrast to survivors group (18.78, [8.08-39.72]) (P < .05), with an AUC of 0.67, 95% CI = (0.54; 0.80) (P < .05). Additionally, CEP-1 antibody demonstrated a negative correlation with either sequential [sepsis-related] organ failure assessment score (r = -0.31, P < .05) or PCT (r = -0.27, P < .05).As CRP, PCT, and IL-6, NGAL was valuable in sepsis diagnosis. With a classificatory value, PCT and NGAL correlated with the degree severity of sepsis. PCT and CEP-1 antibody were meaningful in sepsis prognosis. CEP-1 antibody may be a protective factor for sepsis.

The surviving sepsis campaign: basic/translational science research priorities

Objectives

Expound upon priorities for basic/translational science identified in a recent paper by a group of experts assigned by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

Data sources

Original paper, search of the literature.

Study selection

This study is selected by several members of the original task force with specific expertise in basic/translational science. Data extraction and data synthesis are not available.

Conclusions

In the first of a series of follow-up reports to the original paper, several members of the original task force with specific expertise provided a more in-depth analysis of the five identified priorities directly related to basic/translational science. This analysis expounds on what is known about the question and what was identified as priorities for ongoing research. It is hoped that this analysis will aid the development of future research initiatives.