Development and validation of a nomogram to predict postsurgical intra-abdominal infection in blunt abdominal trauma patients: A multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal infection is a common complication of blunt abdominal trauma. Early detection and intervention can reduce the incidence of intra-abdominal infection and improve patients' prognoses. This study aims to construct a clinical model predicting postsurgical intra-abdominal infection after blunt abdominal trauma.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective analysis of 553 patients with blunt abdominal trauma from the Department of General Surgery of 7 medical centers (2011-2021). A 7:3 ratio was used to assign patients to the derivation and validation cohorts. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether intra-abdominal infection occurred after blunt abdominal trauma. Multivariate logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were used to select variables to establish a nomogram. The nomogram was evaluated, and the validity of the model was further evaluated by the validation cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 113 were diagnosed with intra-abdominal infection (20.4%). Age, prehospital time, C-reactive protein, injury severity score, operation duration, intestinal injury, neutrophils, and antibiotic use were independent risk factors for intra-abdominal infection in blunt abdominal trauma patients (P < .05). The area under the receiver operating curve (area under the curve) of derivation cohort and validation cohort was 0.852 (95% confidence interval, 0.784-0.912) and 0.814 (95% confidence interval, 0.751-0.902). The P value for the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was .135 and .891 in the 2 cohorts. The calibration curve demonstrated that the nomogram had a high consistency between prediction and practical observation. The decision curve analysis also showed that the nomogram had a better potential for clinical application. To facilitate clinical application, we have developed an online at https://nomogramcgz.shinyapps.io/IAIrisk/.

CONCLUSION

The nomogram is helpful in predicting the risk of postoperative intra-abdominal infection in patients with blunt abdominal trauma and provides guidance for clinical decision-making and treatment.

[Concordant systemic and local eosinophilia relates to poorer disease control in patients with nasal polyps]

Objective: To explore whether blood and polyp tissue eosinophil numbers are independent risk factors for poor disease control in patients with nasal polyp. Methods: By using the electronic medical records database and manual evaluation, 183 nasal polyp patients who had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery at least one year prior to the study with complete data of tissue specimens, baseline blood routine test, nasal endoscopy and sinus computed tomography, were identified and recruited to assess disease control based on the criteria of a European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2012 (EPOS 2012). Multiple logistic regression model was used to determine the association between blood and tissue eosinophil numbers and risk of poor disease control by adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. Results: We broke down the cohort into 4 groups according to blood (0.3×10⁹/L) and tissue (10%) eosinophils. The patients without eosinophilic inflammation represented the largest group (41.5%). The group with concordant blood and tissue eosinophilia represented the second largest (31.2%), and the patients with isolated tissue (15.3%) or blood (12.0%) eosinophilia were relatively rare. Multiple logistic regression models found blood eosinophil count and tissue eosinophil percentage were independently associated with increased risk for poor disease control after adjustments for covariates related to poor treatment outcome. Furthermore, subjects with concordant blood and tissue eosinophilia had a higher risk for poor disease control than those with isolated blood or tissue eosinophilia. Conclusion: Concordant blood and tissue eosinophilia relates to a higher likelihood of poor disease control than isolated blood or tissue eosinophilia after adjustment of potential confounders in nasal polyp patients.

[Efficacy of acellular dermis matrix combined with cervical strap muscle as a composite tissue flap for the treatment of laryngeal cancer]

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of acellular dermis matrix combined with cervical strap muscle (ADM-CSM) as a composite tissue flap for repairing the laryngeal defect after partial laryngectomy. Methods: The medical records of 33 patients with laryngeal cancer who were diagnosed and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2014 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients consisted of 32 males and 1 female with age range from 39 to 76 years. Laryngeal defects were repaired with ADM-CSM in 14 patients (2 for supraglottic laryngeal cancer, 12 for glottic laryngeal cancer) and with CSM fascial flaps in 19 patients (3 for supraglottic laryngeal cancer, 16 for glottic laryngeal cancer). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the 3-year overall survival and local control rate. The functions of voice and swallowing after operation were evaluated by voice handicap index-30 (VHI-30) and MD Anderson dysphagia inventory. Univariate logistic regression analysis, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the variables between the two groups. Results: The incidence of laryngeal stenosis was 2/14 in ADM-CSM group and 4/19 in CSM group. In the ADM-CSM group, 3-year overall survival and local control rates were 92.9% and 85.7%, respectively. In the CSM group, 3-year overall survival and local control rates were 78.9% and 84.2%, respectively. The time of operation(3 h vs. 4 h, Z=193.5, P<0.05), time of retaining the feeding tube(14 d vs. 17 d, Z=206.0, P<0.05), and length of stay(18.5 d vs. 22.1 d, t=-2.62, P<0.05) in the ADM-CSM group were significantly less than those in the CSM group. The quality of voice in the CSM group was better than that in the ADM-CSM group (66.85±27.65 vs.45.80±23.19, t=2.19, P<0.05), while swallowing function in the ADM-CSM group was better than that in the ACSM group (80.00[60.00, 80.00]vs.60.00[40.00, 80.00], Z=48.0, P<0.05). Conclusion: ADM-CSM is user-friendly control and safe composite tissue flap for repairing the laryngeal defect after partial laryngectomy, with less scar hyperplasia and higher satisfaction of swallowing function after operation.

[Studies of hypoxic rat brain mitochondrial transcription activity in vitro]

AIM

To explore the effects of acute and chronic hypoxia on brain mitochondrial transcription activity in vitro of rats.

METHODS

Animal grouping: Wistar rats were randomized into acute hypoxic group (AH), chronic hypoxic group (CH) and the control. Mitochondrial transcription activity in vitro was measured in each group respectively as well as mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase activity, and effects of environmental ATP concentration on mitochondrial transcription activity in vitro was observed.

RESULTS

Brain mitochondrial transcription activity and F0F1-ATPase activity were marked depressed in AH while partly reversed in CH, and they were linearly related. Mitochondrial transcription activity in vitro was affected by ATP concentration diphasely.

CONCLUSION

Acute hypoxia may impair brain mitochondria energy metabolism by way of depressing mitochondrial transcription and then partially recover during chronic hypoxia. And mitochondrial transcription in vitro might be precisely regulated by ATP concentration.