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To explore the relationship between social status perception, professional identity, and work engagement among nurses involved in blood purification, and to provide a theoretical basis for improving the professional identity and work engagement of blood purification nurses. A convenient sampling method was used to distribute questionnaires to 81 nurses specializing in blood purification in Beijing. The MacArthur scale was used to verify the social status perception of the study subjects. General situation questionnaires, nurse professional identity rating scales, and work engagement scales were used to investigate the study subjects. The higher the level of the hospital where the nurse works, the higher their perception of their social status; social status perception has a positive correlation with professional identity among nurses involved in blood purification; social status perception plays a partial mediating role between work engagement and professional identity among nurses involved in blood purification. Attention should be paid to the psychological care of nurses specializing in blood purification, and at the same time, positive publicity should be raised for the profession of nursing specializing in blood purification, to enhance nurses' professional pride and social status perception, thereby improving the professional cognition and work recognition of nurses involved in blood purification, and providing better nursing services for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate and predict mortality risks among pediatric patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with HLH diagnosed at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University between January 2012 and April 2023. Patients were divided into a death group and a survival group based on their outcomes. Risk factors for mortality were analyzed using a lasso-logistic regression model. This study included 142 pediatric patients with HLH, with a median age of 40.5 (14.75–84) months, of whom 78 (54.93%) were male. The overall mortality rate was 34.51%. Through lasso-logistic regression analysis, five independent prognostic factors were identified: concurrent central nervous system involvement, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome involving three or more organs, platelet count ≤ 42.5 × 109/L, activated partial thromboplastin time ≥ 54.05 s, and the utilization of blood purification in conjunction with the HLH-94/2004 treatment protocol. The predictive value of the lasso-logistic regression model is better than that of the traditional logistic regression model (AUC: 0.906 vs 0.811, P = 0.001). Subsequently, a lasso-logistic regression-based predictive model incorporating these identified risk factors was developed. Our lasso-logistic regression-based prediction model may help to identify high-risk patients with HLH early, thereby enabling the timely initiation of appropriate treatment interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model for predicting the likelihood of coagulation in patients undergoing anticoagulant-free hemodialysis (HD). Anticoagulant-free HD technique is necessary in patients with contraindications to systemic therapy. Coagulation is a complication of this technique. Unfortunately, no predictive model is currently available to assess the risk of coagulation in anticoagulant-free HD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from 299 HD sessions involving 164 patients who underwent anticoagulant-free HD between January 2022 and June 2023. To identify the risk factors for coagulation in anticoagulant-free HD, a univariate analysis was performed on 18 independent variables. Logistic regression was used to establish predictive models by identifying factors contributing to coagulation in anticoagulant-free HD. A calibration curve was drawn using regression coefficients and 1,000 bootstrap repetitions to validate our model internally. The performance of the prediction model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic, area under the curve (AUC), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The incidence of coagulation in patients on anticoagulant-free HD was 35.1%. Logistic regression analysis showed that platelet (PLT), hematocrit (HCT) levels, dialysate type, and age were risk factors for coagulation in anticoagulant-free HD patients (p < 0.05). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed p = 0.29, and the AUC is 0.76 (95% CI 0.70–0.80). The optimal critical value was 0.40, yielding a sensitivity of 61.0%, a specificity of 80.4%, and a Youden index of 0.41. Conclusion: In anticoagulant-free HD, there were numerous risk factors and a 35.1% occurrence of coagulation. The constructed coagulation risk prediction model exhibited good predictive and clinical utility and could serve as a reference for the initial assessment and screening of coagulation risk in anticoagulant-free HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: No specific triglyceride-lowering therapy is recommended in patients with hypertriglyceridemia-associated acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP), primarily because of the lack of quality evidence. This study aimed to describe practice variations in triglyceride-lowering therapies for early HTG-AP patients and assess whether more rapid triglyceride decline is associated with improving organ failure. Methods: This is a multicentre, prospective cohort study recruiting HTG-AP patients with elevated plasma triglyceride (> 11.3 mmol/L) admitted within 72 h from the onset of symptoms. Patients were dichotomised on study day 3 into either target reaching (plasma triglyceride ≤ 5.65 mmol/L) or not. The primary outcome was organ failure-free days (OFFD) to 14 days of enrolment. The association between target-reaching and OFFD was modelled. Additionally, the slope in plasma triglyceride over the first three days in response to treatment was calculated, and its association with OFFD was assessed as a sensitivity analysis. Results: Among the 300 enrolled patients, 211 underwent exclusive medical treatment, and 89 underwent various blood purification therapies. Triglyceride levels were available in 230 patients on study day 3, among whom 122 (53.0%) had triglyceride levels of ≤ 5.65 mmol/l. The OFFD was not different between these patients and those in whom plasma triglyceride remained > 5.65 mmol/L [median (IQR): 13 (10–14) vs. 14 (10–14), p = 0.46], even after adjustment for potential confounders. For the decline slopes, there was no significant change in OFFD with a steeper decline slope [risk difference, − 0.088, 95% CI, − 0.334 to 0.158, p = 0.48]. Conclusions: Triglyceride-lowering therapies vary greatly across centres. More rapid triglyceride decline was not associated with improving incidence and duration of organ failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Seraph® 100 Microbind® Affinity Filter is a biomimetic adsorbent device that can remove pathogens from the blood. Case Presentation: Here, we report the successful use of the Seraph® 100 to treat both a SARS-CoV-2 reinfection leading to severe COVID-19 pneumonia as well as subsequent secondary lung infections including Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa multidrug-resistant bacteria. To our knowledge, this 46-year-old black male is the first patient in which four treatments with this pathogen adsorber, one for a viral and three for different bacterial infections, have been successfully used. Conclusion: The Seraph® 100 can be easily and successfully used in conjunction with standard (anti-infective) treatment.

Hongwei Huang,1 Jiacheng Mo,2 Gui Jiang,2 Zheng Lu1 1Intensive Care Unit, Guangxi Hospital Division of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530022, People’s Republic of China; 2Intensive care unit, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zheng Lu, Intensive Care Unit, Guangxi Hospital Division of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530022, People’s Republic of China, Email iculuzheng@163.comPurpose: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and cost-efficiency of blood purification (BP) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) through single-center data.Patients and Methods: A total of 155 SAP patients were collected and followed up for 6 months. The participants were divided into control (49 cases) and BP group (106 cases) according to whether they received BP treatment or not. The primary outcomes were 6-month mortality, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed based on various factors such as gender, age, etiology, SOFA score, JSS score, and creatinine value on day 1.Results: There were significant differences in all baseline data between BP and control groups (p< 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the mortality, length of hospital stay, hospital costs and infection aggravation rate the in outcome data for 6-months (all p< 0.05). BP was not considered a death factor in any adjusted models, with p-values ranging from 0.81 to 0.93. The results of subgroup analysis after PSM showed that BP mode had no significant impact on prognostic indicators, but the length of ICU stay and total costs were significantly increased (all p< 0.001). There was no significant difference in mortality among the cases that did not require early intervention after 6 months (p=0.487). However, the patients in BP group had longer ICU stays (p=0.001) and higher hospitalization costs (p< 0.001) compared to the control group.Conclusion: The utilization of BP therapy did not decrease the 6-month mortality in SAP patients. Additionally, BP therapy has a significant impact on the duration of ICU stay or hospitalization expenses. However, the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of this therapy are unsatisfactory, and early intervention does not enhance survival benefits. Furthermore, there was no substantial variation in survival benefits between continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) alone and compound BP.Keywords: severe acute pancreatitis, blood purification, long-term efficacy, cost-efficiency

Sepsis is responsible for approximately 5.3 million deaths globally each year. Here, we constructed hierarchical chitin microspheres loaded with MOF‐919 (Ch/metal–organic frameworks [MOFs]) for the rapid and efficient removal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in complex blood environments. Furthermore, abundant active sites on MOF‐919(Sc) also enable a record‐high adsorption capacity of 9.56 mg/g in biomass‐based adsorbents due to the coordination interactions between endotoxin and MOF‐919(Sc). The LPS level of sepsis rabbits was less than 2 EU/mL (clearance rate >95%) after 90‐min hemoperfusion, showing no adverse effect on the rabbit organs. Additionally, compared to the commonly used LPS scrubber Toraymyxin (polymethyl methacrylate), the chitin adsorbent is significantly more cost‐effective and environmentally friendly. The preparation strategy for hierarchical porous microspheres offers notable advantages in designability, recyclability, and renewability, providing a new approach to sepsis treatment and promising prospects for the biomedical application of sustainable biomass materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Polymyxin‐B direct hemoperfusion (PMX‐DHP) is an endotoxin adsorption column‐based blood purification therapy. Since one of the most potent effects of PMX‐DHP is blood pressure elevations, it may be the most effective when it is introduced at the time when the need for vasopressors is the greatest, which, in turn, may reduce mortality.A multicenter retrospective study was conducted at 24 ICUs in Japan. In each ICU, the 20 most recent consecutive cases of septic shock treated with PMX‐DHP were analyzed. The duration between the time of the peak vasopressive agent dose, expressed as the noradrenaline equivalent dose (NEq), and the time of PMX initiation was evaluated. The primary outcome was 28‐day mortality, and a multivariable analysis was performed to investigate factors associated with mortality.A total of 480 septic shock patients were included in the analysis. Among all patients, the 28‐day mortality group was older, more severely ill, and had a higher body mass index. The NEq peak and NEq on PMX‐DHP initiation were both higher in deceased patients. Regarding the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation from the NEq peak, −4 << 4 h had more survivors (229/304, 75.3%) than ≤−4 h (50/75, 66.7%) and ≥4 h (66/101, 65.4%) (p = 0.085). When −4 << 4 h was assigned as a reference, the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation from the NEq peak of ≤−4 h had an odds ratio of 1.96 (1.07–3.58), p = 0.029, while ≥4 h had an odds ratio of 1.64 (0.94–2.87), p = 0.082 for 28‐day mortality, in the multivariable regression analysis. A spline curve of the relationship between the probability of death and the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation from the NEq peak showed a downward convex curve with a nadir at timing = 0. The odds ratios of the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation other than −4 << 4 h were significantly higher in an older age, male sex, lower BMI, more severe illness, and higher oxygenation.The induction of PMX‐DHP at the time of the peak vasopressor dose correlated with lower mortality. PMX‐DHP is one of the options available for elevating blood pressure in septic shock, and its initiation either too early or late for shock peak may not improve the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the changes in serum renin angiotensin aldosterone (RAAS) system indicators and serum high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1), soluble myeloid cell trigger receptor-1 (sTREM-1), and Toll like receptor-4 (TLR4) levels in patients with sepsis complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI) after intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) and continuous blood purification (CBP) treatment. Methods: 107 patients with sepsis combine with AKI admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to June 2023 were selected. Patients were divided into intermittent group (n=53, receiving IHD treatment) and continuous group (n=54, receiving CBP treatment) according to the random number table method. The RAAS system indexes, serum sTREM-1, HMGB1, TLR4, renal function and immune function indexes were compared between two groups. Results: After treatment, the renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (ALD), angiotensin I (AngI), sTREM-1, HMGB1, TLR4, urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) in two groups decreased, and those in continuous group were lower than those in intermittent group (P<0.05). After treatment, CD8 decreased in both groups, and continuous group was lower than than in intermittent group. CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8" increased, and continuous group were higher than those in intermittent group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with IHD treatment, CBP treatment of sepsis combine with AKI, which can further improve renal function, improve immune function, regulate RAAS system indexes and serum sTREM-1, HMGB1, TLR4 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood purification therapy for patients overloaded with metabolic toxins or drugs still needs improvement. Blood purification therapies, such as in hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis can profit from a combined application with nanoparticles. Summary: In this review, the published literature is analyzed with respect to nanomaterials that have been customized and functionalized as nano-adsorbents during blood purification therapy. Liposomes possess a distinct combined structure composed of a hydrophobic lipid bilayer and a hydrophilic core. The liposomes which have enzymes in their aqueous core or obtain specific surface modifications of the lipid bilayer can offer appreciated advantages. Preclinical and clinical experiments with such modified liposomes show that they are highly efficient and generally safe. They may serve as indirect and direct adsorption materials both in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatment for patients with renal or hepatic failure. Apart from dialysis, nanoparticles made of specially designed metal and activated carbon have also been utilized to enhance the removal of solutes during hemoadsorption. Results are a superior adsorption capacity and good hemocompatibility shown during the treatment of patients with toxication or end-stage renal disease. In summary, nanomaterials are promising tools for improving the treatment efficacy of organ failure or toxication. Key Messages: (i) The pH-transmembrane liposomes and enzyme-loaded liposomes are two representatives of liposomes with modified aqueous inner core which have been put into practice in dialysis. (ii) Unmodified or physiochemically modified liposomal bilayers are ideal binders for lipophilic protein-bound uremic toxins or cholestatic solutes, thus liposome-supported dialysis could become the next-generation hemodialysis treatment of artificial liver support system. (iii) Novel nano-based sorbents featuring large surface area, high adsorption capacity and decent biocompatibility have shown promise in the treatment of uremia, hyperbilirubinemia, intoxication, and sepsis. (vi) A major challenge of production lies in avoiding changes in physical and chemical properties induced by manufacturing and sterilizing procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular histones are crucial damage-associated molecular patterns involved in the development and progression of multiple critical and inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis, pancreatitis, trauma, acute liver failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, vasculitis and arthritis. During the past decade, the physiopathologic mechanisms of histone-mediated hyperinflammation, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation activation, neuroimmune injury and organ dysfunction in diseases have been systematically elucidated. Emerging preclinical evidence further shows that anti-histone strategies with either their neutralizers (heparin, heparinoids, nature plasma proteins, small anion molecules and nanomedicines, etc.) or extracorporeal blood purification techniques can significantly alleviate histone-induced deleterious effects, and thus improve the outcomes of histone-related critical and inflammatory animal models. However, a systemic evaluation of the efficacy and safety of these histone-targeting therapeutic strategies is currently lacking. In this review, we first update our latest understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of histoneinduced hyperinflammation, endothelial dysfunction, coagulopathy, and organ dysfunction. Then, we summarize the latest advances in histone-targeting therapy strategies with heparin, anti-histone antibodies, histone-binding proteins or molecules, and histone-affinity hemoadsorption in pre-clinical studies. Finally, challenges and future perspectives for improving the clinical translation of histone-targeting therapeutic strategies are also discussed to promote better management of patients with histone-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of fractionated plasma separation and adsorption combined with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (FPSA-CVVH) treatment in patients with acute bipyridine herbicide poisoning.Methods A retrospective analysis of 18 patients with acute bipyridine herbicide poisoning was conducted, of which 9 patients were poisoned by diquat and 9 patients by paraquat. All patients underwent FPSA-CVVH treatment. The serum cytokine levels in pesticide-poisoned patients were assessed. The efficacy of FPSA-CVVH in eliminating cytokines, the 90-d survival rate of poisoned patients, and adverse reactions to the treatment were observed.Results Fourteen patients (77.8%) had acute kidney injuries and 10 (55.6%) had acute liver injuries. The serum cytokine levels of high mobility group protein B-1 (HMGB-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β) were significantly elevated. A total of 41 FPSA-CVVH treatment sessions were administered. After a single 8-h FPSA-CVVH treatment, the decreases in HMGB-1, IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, and MIP-1β were 66.0%, 63.5%, 73.3%, 63.7%, 53.9%, and 54.1%, respectively. During FPSA-CVVH treatment, one patient required a filter change due to coagulation in the plasma component separator, and one experienced a bleeding adverse reaction. The 90-d patient survival rate was 50%, with 4 patients with diquat poisoning and 5 patients with paraquat poisoning, and both liver and kidney functions were restored to normal.Conclusion Cytokine storms may play a significant role in the progression of multiorgan dysfunction in patients with acute bipyridine herbicide poisoning. FPSA-CVVH can effectively reduce cytokine levels, increase the survival rate of patients with acute bipyridine herbicide poisoning, and decrease the incidence of adverse events.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of integrated blood purification on haemodynamics and oxygen metabolism in children with severe sepsis.MethodsClinical data of 12 children with severe sepsis admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of our hospital between October 2021 and June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with integrated blood purification, and changes in haemodynamic parameters, including heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and cardiac output, and oxygen metabolism parameters (blood lactic acid, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and oxygen extraction rate) were observed before and after treatment.ResultsThe heart rate (134[106,160] vs 111[101,128], p = 0.037), central venous pressure (9[7,10] vs 8[7,9], p = 0.04), stroke output (28[18,43] vs 21[15,31], p = 0.01), blood lactate (3.3[2,4] vs 2.5[1.3,3.6], p = 0.015), oxygen consumption (165.99[121.44,230.31] vs 124.18[82.51,162.86], p = 0.041) and oxygen extraction rate (38.83[31.87,44.62] vs 28.67[21.05,32.72], p = 0.019) were decreased, whereas systolic blood pressure (97[83,104] vs 107[94,116], p = 0.033) and central venous oxygen pressure (32[29, 37] vs 39[34,46], p = 0.005) were increased in the children after treatment compared with before treatment. There were no statistically significant differences in diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, arterial oxygen pressure and oxygen delivery before and after treatment (all p > 0.05).ConclusionIntegrated blood purification can improve haemodynamic and oxygen metabolism parameters in children with severe sepsis, with a high value in clinical application.

With the rising number of patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, the treatment of this therapy's complications is of growing concern to intensivists and neurologists. We used extracorporeal cytokine adsorption as an add-on therapy in a patient suffering from immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Interleukin-6 level, which as a readily available parameter is generally used to evaluate course of disease, was rapidly reduced using this method. The patient made a full recovery and is still in hematological remission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Rhabdomyolysis describes a syndrome characterized by muscle necrosis and the subsequent release of creatine kinase and myoglobin into the circulation. Myoglobin elimination with extracorporeal hemoadsorption has been shown to effectively remove myoglobin from the circulation. Our aim was to provide best practice consensus statements developed by the Hemoadsorption in Rhabdomyolysis Task Force (HRTF) regarding the use of hemadsorption for myoglobin elimination. Methods A systematic literature search was performed until 11th of January 2023, after which the Rhabdomyolysis RTF was assembled comprising international experts from 6 European countries. Online conferences were held between 18th April − 4th September 2023, during which 37 consensus questions were formulated and using the Delphi process, HRTF members voted online on an anonymised platform. In cases of 75 to 90% agreement a second round of voting was performed. Results Using the Delphi process on the 37 questions, strong consensus (> 90% agreement) was achieved in 12, consensus (75 to 90% agreement) in 10, majority (50 to 74%) agreement in 13 and no consensus ( 10,000 ng/ml should be considered for extracorporeal myoglobin removal by hemoadsorption; (3) Hemoadsorption should ideally be started within 24 h of admission; (4) If myoglobin cannot be measured then hemoadsorption may be indicated based on clinical picture and creatinine kinase levels; (5) Cartridges should be replaced every 8–12 h until myoglobin levels

Abstract The evidence supporting additional hemoperfusion (HP) with cytokine adsorbents for improving clinical outcomes in severe to critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients remains limited. We compared severe to critical COVID-19 patients who received additional HP with a cytokine adsorbent to matched cases receiving standard medical treatment (SMT). The primary outcome was hospital mortality. In our study, we matched 45 patients who received additional HP 1:1 with the SMT group based on key clinical parameters. The hospital mortality rates did not differ between the groups (33% vs 38%, p = 0.83). The HP group had a significantly shorter ICU stay (22 vs 32 days; p = 0.017) and reduced mechanical ventilation duration (15 vs 35 days; p

Abstract Background Extracorporeal blood purification has been widely used in intensive care medicine, nephrology, toxicology, and other fields. During the last decade, with the emergence of new adsorptive blood purification devices, hemoadsorption has been increasingly applied during CPB in cardiac surgery, for patients at different inflammatory risks, or for postoperative complications. Clinical evidence so far has not provided definite answers concerning this adjunctive treatment. The current systematic review aimed to critically assess the role of perioperative hemoadsorption in cardiac surgery, by summarizing the current knowledge in this clinical setting. Methods A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane library, and the database provided by CytoSorbents was conducted on June 1st, 2023. The search terms were chosen by applying neutral search keywords to perform a non-biased systematic search, including language variations of terms “cardiac surgery” and “hemoadsorption”. The screening and selection process followed scientific principles (PRISMA statement). Abstracts were considered for inclusion if they were written in English and published within the last ten years. Publications were eligible for assessment if reporting on original data from any type of study (excluding case reports) in which a hemoadsorption device was investigated during or after cardiac surgery. Results were summarized according to sub-fields and presented in a tabular view. Results The search resulted in 29 publications with a total of 1,057 patients who were treated with hemoadsorption and 988 control patients. Articles were grouped and descriptively analyzed due to the remarkable variability in study designs, however, all reported exclusively on CytoSorb® therapy. A total of 62% (18/29) of the included articles reported on safety and no unanticipated adverse events have been observed. The most frequently reported clinical outcome associated with hemoadsorption was reduced vasopressor demand resulting in better hemodynamic stability. Conclusions The role of hemoadsorption in cardiac surgery seems to be justified in selected high-risk cases in infective endocarditis, aortic surgery, heart transplantation, and emergency surgery in patients under antithrombotic therapy, as well as in those who develop a dysregulated inflammatory response, vasoplegia, or septic shock postoperatively. Future large randomized controlled trials are needed to better define proper patient selection, dosing, and timing of the therapy.

Background: Rhabdomyolysis describes a syndrome characterized by muscle necrosis and the subsequent release of creatine kinase and myoglobin into the circulation. Myoglobin elimination with extracorporeal hemoadsorption has been shown to effectively remove myoglobin from the circulation. Our aim was to provide best practice consensus statements developed by the Hemoadsorption in Rhabdomyolysis Task Force (HRTF) regarding the use of hemadsorption for myoglobin elimination. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed until 11th of January 2023, after which the Rhabdomyolysis RTF was assembled comprising international experts from 6 European countries. Online conferences were held between 18th April − 4th September 2023, during which 37 consensus questions were formulated and using the Delphi process, HRTF members voted online on an anonymised platform. In cases of 75 to 90% agreement a second round of voting was performed. Results: Using the Delphi process on the 37 questions, strong consensus (> 90% agreement) was achieved in 12, consensus (75 to 90% agreement) in 10, majority (50 to 74%) agreement in 13 and no consensus (< 50% agreement) in 2 cases. The HRTF formulated the following recommendations: (1) Myoglobin contributes to the development of acute kidney injury; (2) Patients with myoglobin levels of > 10,000 ng/ml should be considered for extracorporeal myoglobin removal by hemoadsorption; (3) Hemoadsorption should ideally be started within 24 h of admission; (4) If myoglobin cannot be measured then hemoadsorption may be indicated based on clinical picture and creatinine kinase levels; (5) Cartridges should be replaced every 8–12 h until myoglobin levels < 10,000 ng/ml; (6) In patients with acute kidney injury, hemoadsorption can be discontinued before dialysis is terminated and should be maintained until the myoglobin concentration values are consistently < 5000 ng/ml. Conclusions: The current consensus of the HRTF support that adjuvant hemoadsorption therapy in severe rhabdomyolysis is both feasible and safe and may be an effective method to reduce elevated circulating levels of myoglobin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence supporting additional hemoperfusion (HP) with cytokine adsorbents for improving clinical outcomes in severe to critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients remains limited. We compared severe to critical COVID-19 patients who received additional HP with a cytokine adsorbent to matched cases receiving standard medical treatment (SMT). The primary outcome was hospital mortality. In our study, we matched 45 patients who received additional HP 1:1 with the SMT group based on key clinical parameters. The hospital mortality rates did not differ between the groups (33% vs 38%, p = 0.83). The HP group had a significantly shorter ICU stay (22 vs 32 days; p = 0.017) and reduced mechanical ventilation duration (15 vs 35 days; p < 0.001). Additionally, the incidence of pulmonary complications (20% vs 42%; p = 0.04), sepsis (38% vs 64%; p = 0.02), and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) (13% vs 33%; p = 0.046) were significantly lower in the HP group. In conclusion, among severe to critical COVID-19 patients, additional HP with a cytokine adsorbent did not improve hospital mortality. However, it reduced ICU length of stay, mechanical ventilator days, and incidences of lung complications, sepsis, and DIC. Trial registration: TCTR20231002006. Registered 02 October 2023 (retrospectively registered). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in children with sepsis, chronic kidney disease, poisoning or other conditions. Wasp stings are recognized as an important etiology. Several retrospective studies have investigated AKI after wasp stings in adults, but research on children remains limited. Methods: The study included 48 children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome after wasp stings. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, management and clinical outcomes were collected, and analyzed to identify early indicators or risk factors for AKI. Results: 20 children (41.7%) developed AKI, and 28 (58.3%) did not. Serum creatine levels elevated mostly within 24 h from stings in children with AKI (16/20, 80%). Compared with non-AKI group, AKI group exhibited more cases with cola-colored urine, jaundice, and had higher sting numbers/body surface area (BSA) and higher revised sequential organ failure assessment scores (rSOFA) as well as higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin (cTnI), creatine kinase (CK), and longer prothrombin time (PT). Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis identified cola-colored urine as a potential early risk factor for AKI. Conclusions: The AKI group exhibited higher sting numbers/BSA, higher levels of CRP, ALT, AST, TBIL, LDH, cTnI, and CK, as well as longer PT (p < 0.05). Our findings also suggest that cola-colored urine may serve as an early indicator or potential risk factor for AKI after wasp stings in children, which is very easy to identify for first aiders or pediatricians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hemadsorption with new sorbent cartridges is an emerging extracorporeal blood purification technique. Flow distribution inside the sorbent is one of the main issues concerning the device's performance and optimal sorbent utilization. In this experiment, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of vibration during adsorption by measuring the removal of vancomycin. Methods: In this experimental study, 1,000 mL of saline with 10 g of vancomycin was circulated in a closed circuit (set flow of 250 mL/min) simulating a hemadsorption blood run using HA380 minimodule cartridge containing 75 g of wet resin. This vibration model was implemented with a damping head device installed in front of the adsorption cartridge during the experiment. The kinetics of the vancomycin were assessed by removal ratio over 120 min. Results: We found no difference between the two models. Adsorption with and without vibration did not differ significantly for partial reduction ratios, overall amount of adsorbed molecule, or adsorption kinetics. Conclusion: The current design and structure of the minimodule cartridge demonstrated no difference in small-middle solute removal. Further improvement with the addition of mechanical vibration to the device was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extracorporeal blood purification has been widely used in intensive care medicine, nephrology, toxicology, and other fields. During the last decade, with the emergence of new adsorptive blood purification devices, hemoadsorption has been increasingly applied during CPB in cardiac surgery, for patients at different inflammatory risks, or for postoperative complications. Clinical evidence so far has not provided definite answers concerning this adjunctive treatment. The current systematic review aimed to critically assess the role of perioperative hemoadsorption in cardiac surgery, by summarizing the current knowledge in this clinical setting. Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane library, and the database provided by CytoSorbents was conducted on June 1st, 2023. The search terms were chosen by applying neutral search keywords to perform a non-biased systematic search, including language variations of terms "cardiac surgery" and "hemoadsorption". The screening and selection process followed scientific principles (PRISMA statement). Abstracts were considered for inclusion if they were written in English and published within the last ten years. Publications were eligible for assessment if reporting on original data from any type of study (excluding case reports) in which a hemoadsorption device was investigated during or after cardiac surgery. Results were summarized according to sub-fields and presented in a tabular view. Results: The search resulted in 29 publications with a total of 1,057 patients who were treated with hemoadsorption and 988 control patients. Articles were grouped and descriptively analyzed due to the remarkable variability in study designs, however, all reported exclusively on CytoSorb® therapy. A total of 62% (18/29) of the included articles reported on safety and no unanticipated adverse events have been observed. The most frequently reported clinical outcome associated with hemoadsorption was reduced vasopressor demand resulting in better hemodynamic stability. Conclusions: The role of hemoadsorption in cardiac surgery seems to be justified in selected high-risk cases in infective endocarditis, aortic surgery, heart transplantation, and emergency surgery in patients under antithrombotic therapy, as well as in those who develop a dysregulated inflammatory response, vasoplegia, or septic shock postoperatively. Future large randomized controlled trials are needed to better define proper patient selection, dosing, and timing of the therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) techniques has led to increased application in clinical practice but also inconsistencies in nomenclature and misunderstanding. In November 2022, an international consensus conference was held to establish consensus on the terminology of EBP therapies. It was agreed to define EBP therapies as techniques that use an extracorporeal circuit to remove and/or modulate circulating substances to achieve physiological homeostasis, including support of the function of specific organs and/or detoxification. Specific acute EBP techniques include renal replacement therapy, isolated ultrafiltration, hemoadsorption, and plasma therapies, all of which can be applied in isolation and combination. This paper summarizes the proposed nomenclature of EBP therapies and serves as a framework for clinical practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sepsis is responsible for approximately 5.3 million deaths globally each year. Here, we constructed hierarchical chitin microspheres loaded with MOF‐919 (Ch/metal–organic frameworks [MOFs]) for the rapid and efficient removal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in complex blood environments. Furthermore, abundant active sites on MOF‐919(Sc) also enable a record‐high adsorption capacity of 9.56 mg/g in biomass‐based adsorbents due to the coordination interactions between endotoxin and MOF‐919(Sc). The LPS level of sepsis rabbits was less than 2 EU/mL (clearance rate >95%) after 90‐min hemoperfusion, showing no adverse effect on the rabbit organs. Additionally, compared to the commonly used LPS scrubber Toraymyxin (polymethyl methacrylate), the chitin adsorbent is significantly more cost‐effective and environmentally friendly. The preparation strategy for hierarchical porous microspheres offers notable advantages in designability, recyclability, and renewability, providing a new approach to sepsis treatment and promising prospects for the biomedical application of sustainable biomass materials.

Abstract Background In the last decades, several adjunctive treatments have been proposed to reduce mortality in septic shock patients. Unfortunately, mortality due to sepsis and septic shock remains elevated and NO trials evaluating adjunctive therapies were able to demonstrate any clear benefit. In light of the lack of evidence and conflicting results from previous studies, in this multidisciplinary consensus, the authors considered the rational, recent investigations and potential clinical benefits of targeted adjunctive therapies. Methods A panel of multidisciplinary experts defined clinical phenotypes, treatments and outcomes of greater interest in the field of adjunctive therapies for sepsis and septic shock. After an extensive systematic literature review, the appropriateness of each treatment for each clinical phenotype was determined using the modified RAND/UCLA appropriateness method. Results The consensus identified two distinct clinical phenotypes: patients with overwhelming shock and patients with immune paralysis. Six different adjunctive treatments were considered the most frequently used and promising: (i) corticosteroids, (ii) blood purification, (iii) immunoglobulins, (iv) granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor and (v) specific immune therapy (i.e. interferon-gamma, IL7 and AntiPD1). Agreement was achieved in 70% of the 25 clinical questions. Conclusions Although clinical evidence is lacking, adjunctive therapies are often employed in the treatment of sepsis. To address this gap in knowledge, a panel of national experts has provided a structured consensus on the appropriate use of these treatments in clinical practice.

Background: In the last decades, several adjunctive treatments have been proposed to reduce mortality in septic shock patients. Unfortunately, mortality due to sepsis and septic shock remains elevated and NO trials evaluating adjunctive therapies were able to demonstrate any clear benefit. In light of the lack of evidence and conflicting results from previous studies, in this multidisciplinary consensus, the authors considered the rational, recent investigations and potential clinical benefits of targeted adjunctive therapies. Methods: A panel of multidisciplinary experts defined clinical phenotypes, treatments and outcomes of greater interest in the field of adjunctive therapies for sepsis and septic shock. After an extensive systematic literature review, the appropriateness of each treatment for each clinical phenotype was determined using the modified RAND/UCLA appropriateness method. Results: The consensus identified two distinct clinical phenotypes: patients with overwhelming shock and patients with immune paralysis. Six different adjunctive treatments were considered the most frequently used and promising: (i) corticosteroids, (ii) blood purification, (iii) immunoglobulins, (iv) granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor and (v) specific immune therapy (i.e. interferon-gamma, IL7 and AntiPD1). Agreement was achieved in 70% of the 25 clinical questions. Conclusions: Although clinical evidence is lacking, adjunctive therapies are often employed in the treatment of sepsis. To address this gap in knowledge, a panel of national experts has provided a structured consensus on the appropriate use of these treatments in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is the leading cause of patient admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Most of the sepsis patients experience multi-organ failure, such as respiratory and kidney failure, that require specific support. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is one of the modalities performed in the ICU to help ameliorate cytokine levels, maintain fluid balance, and remove toxins. CRRT allows early ventilator weaning, a reduction in vasopressor or inotropic administration, and early discharge from the ICU. We report an experience of initiating an early CRRT in a patient with septic shock and acute kidney injury with fluid overload. During CRRT, the patient showed significant improvement in ventilation, hemodynamic, and fluid balance. However, the CRRT had to be discontinued due to limited resources and the infection rebounded. The patient in this case study died on the 14th day following admission. Early CRRT may be an effective therapy in septic shock patients; however, it requires continuous application that may not be possible in low-resource setting. Alternatively, sustained low-efficiency daily dialysis (SLEDD) has no major disadvantages compared to CRRT and may be a feasible option [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript investigates the role of extracorporeal blood purification techniques in managing septic hyperinflammation, a critical aspect of sepsis characterized by an uncontrolled immune response leading to multiorgan dysfunction. We provide an overview of sepsis, focusing on the dynamics of immune response, the involvement of neutrophils, and the role of the endothelium in the disease's progression. It evaluates the effectiveness of various blood purification methods, including high-cut-off membranes, high-volume hemofiltration, adsorption techniques, and albumin dialysis, in removing cytokines and endotoxin and improving hemodynamic stability. Despite some very promising results, we conclude that the current evidence does not strongly support these techniques in significantly improving survival rates in septic patients, clearly underlining the need for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the impact of continuous blood purification in conjunction with reduced glutathione on endotoxin levels, inflammatory mediators and the severity of liver injury in septic shock patients. Methods: A cohort of 100 septic shock patients admitted at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, China between May 2020 and May 2023 were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into study and control groups, each comprising 50 patients. Both groups received standard interventions. In addition, control group underwent continuous blood purification, while study group received reduced glutathione therapy for two weeks. Acute physiology score + age point + chronic health point (APACHE II) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores, intensive care unit (ICU) and mechanical ventilation duration, oxygenation levels, 28-day mortality, organ injury, serum endotoxin levels, inflammatory markers, as well as serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamate aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined before and after treatment. Adverse events during treatment were documented. Results: Both groups exhibited a significant decrease in APACHE II and SOFA scores, with greater decreases observed in study group (p < 0.05). The study group had shorter ICU stays and mechanical ventilation durations. The groups had no significant differences in 28-day mortality or organ injury (p > 0.05). Study group demonstrated significantly lower levels of endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), procalcitoninogen (PCT), ALT and AST in comparison to control group (p < 0.05). Adverse reactions were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Combining continuous blood purification with reduced glutathione therapy reduces endotoxin and inflammatory mediator levels, mitigates liver injury and supports patient recovery in septic shock, with a favorable safety profile. Future studies to accommodate the diverse profiles of septic shock patients from multiple centers will be needed to validate the outcomes of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of blood purification therapy is to remove uremic toxins, and middle molecules (MMs) are a specific target. An MM is defined as a solute that passes through the glomerulus with a molecular weight in the range of 0.5–58 kDa, and new classifications of "small-middle 0.5–15 kDa," "medium-middle 15–25 kDa," and "large-middle 25–58 kDa" were proposed. In Japan, the removal of α1-microglobulin (αMG) in the large-middle range has been the focus, but a new theory of removal has been developed, emphasizing the antioxidant effect of αMG as a physiological function. Clinical proof of this mechanism will lead to further development of blood purification therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis and septic shock are associated with high mortality, with diagnosis and treatment remaining a challenge for clinicians. Their management classically encompasses hemodynamic resuscitation, antibiotic treatment, life support, and focus control; however, there are aspects that have changed. This narrative review highlights current and avant-garde methods of handling patients experiencing septic shock based on the experience of its authors and the best available evidence in a context of uncertainty. Following the first recommendation of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, it is recommended that specific sepsis care performance improvement programs are implemented in hospitals, i.e., "Sepsis Code" programs, designed ad hoc, to achieve this goal. Regarding hemodynamics, the importance of perfusion and hemodynamic coherence stand out, which allow for the recognition of different phenotypes, determination of the ideal time for commencing vasopressor treatment, and the appropriate fluid therapy dosage. At present, this is not only important for the initial timing, but also for de-resuscitation, which involves the early weaning of support therapies, directed elimination of fluids, and fluid tolerance concept. Finally, regarding blood purification therapies, those aimed at eliminating endotoxins and cytokines are attractive in the early management of patients in septic shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is characterized by a violent cytokine storm-driven inflammation and is associated with a predisposition to severe disease. The treatment strategy for HTG-AP consists mainly of conventional symptomatic and lipid-lowering treatments. For early-stage HTG-AP, blood purification (BP) can rapidly and effectively reduce serum triglyceride and inflammatory cytokine levels, block the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and improve patient outcomes. Currently, the primary modalities for BP in patients with HTG-AP include plasma exchange, hemoperfusion, and hemofiltration. When using BP to treat patients with HTG-AP, a comprehensive analysis incorporating the elevated lipid levels and severity of the patient’s condition contributes to the selection of different treatment modes. Moreover, the timing of the treatment is also imperative. Early intervention is associated with a better prognosis for patients with HTG-AP requiring lipid-lowering treatment.

We aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of blood purification technology based on cytokine adsorption in the treatment of sepsis. Sixty patients with sepsis were randomly divided into control (n = 30) and experimental (n = 30) groups. Both groups were given routine treatment and continuous venovenous hemofiltration, and on this basis, the experimental group received acrylonitrile/sodium methacrylate (AN69ST) blood purification. The levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, white blood cell count, albumin, platelets, total bilirubin, creatinine, lactic acid, and APACE II score, as well as secretion of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were compared. The hospitalization time, mechanical ventilation (MV) time, drug use time, and mortality were analyzed. After treatment, the secretion levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased, and other indicators were significantly improved compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05), especially in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The hospitalization time, MV time, and drug use time in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05), and the mortality was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, blood purification technology based on cytokine adsorption can significantly improve various indicators of sepsis patients, reduce hospitalization time, reduce mortality, and improve the prognosis.

This research aimed to clarify the importance of targeted nursing combined with nutritional intervention in pyemia patients treated with blood purification. According to nursing methods, patients were divided into a control group (CG, n = 50) and an experimental group (EG, n = 50). All patients underwent continuous blood purification therapy and were observed for 14 days. The CG received conventional nursing measures, while the EG received targeted nursing combined with nutritional interventions. After the intervention, serum calcium and phosphorus levels were lower (P < 0.05), and the levels of serum albumin, prealbumin, total plasma protein, transferrin, and fibronectin were higher (P < 0.05) in the EG compared to the CG. The incidence of complications, including hypotension, malnutrition, and chest distress, was lower in the EG than in the CG (P < 0.05). Additionally, bodily pain, physical functioning, social functioning, and mental health scores were higher in the EG than in the CG (P < 0.05). In summary, applying targeted nursing combined with nutritional intervention can effectively improve the nutritional status of pyemia patients treated with blood purification, reduce the incidence of complications, and elevate their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) therapies have shown promise as potential rescue treatments for patients with septic shock. However, precise evidence regarding their effectiveness is lacking. This case-control study aimed to evaluate the 28-day survival benefit of a resin cartridge-based EBP therapy compared to conventional therapies in patients with septic shock. Materials and methods: The study sample was collected retrospectively from the medical records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between 2015 and 2020. The study included patients with septic shock aged =18 years who had ICU stays >96 h and excluded those lost to follow-up by 28 days or readmitted. First, 28-day survival was compared between EBP patients and 1:1 matched conventionally treated controls. Second, the EBP patients were evaluated for clinical and laboratory improvements within 72 h of EBP therapy. Results: Of 3742 patients, 391 were included in this study, of whom 129 received EBP therapy and had a 28-day survival rate of 44%, compared to 262 matched controls who received conventional therapy alone and had a survival rate of 33% (p = 0.001, log-rank = 0.05, number needed to treat = 8, and odds ratio = 1.7). After receiving EBP therapy for 72 h, improvements were observed in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (p < 0.05), shock indices (p < 0.05), partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood to the fraction of inspiratory oxygen concentration ratios (p < 0.001), vasopressor requirements (p < 0.001), pH (p < 0.05), lactate levels (p < 0.001), and C-reactive protein levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that administering resin cartridge-based EBP therapy to patients with septic shock may improve their survival compared to conventional therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe rhabdomyolysis frequently results in acute kidney injury (AKI) due to myoglobin accumulation with the need of kidney replacement therapy (KRT). The present study investigated whether the application of Cytosorb® (CS) led to an increased rate of kidney recovery in patients with KRT due to severe rhabdomyolysis. Adult patients with a myoglobin-concentration >10,000 ng/ml and KRT were included from 2014 to 2021. Exclusion criteria were chronic kidney disease and CS-treatment before study inclusion. Groups 1 and 2 were defined as KRT with and without CS, respectively. The primary outcome parameter was independence from KRT after 30 days. Propensity score (PS) matching was performed (predictors: myoglobin, SAPS-II, and age), and the chI²-test was used. 35 pairings could be matched (mean age: 57 vs. 56 years; mean myoglobin: 27,218 vs. 26,872 ng/ml; mean SAPS-II: 77 vs. 76). The probability of kidney recovery was significantly (p = .04) higher in group 1 (31.4 vs. 11.4%, mean difference: 20.0%, odds ratio (OR): 3.6). Considering patients who survived 30 days, kidney recovery was also significantly (p = .03) higher in patients treated with CS (61.1 vs. 23.5%, mean difference: 37.6%, OR: 5.1). In conclusion, the use of CS might positively affect renal recovery in patients with severe rhabdomyolysis. A prospective randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemoperfusion is a technique for the extracorporeal elimination of endogenous and exogenous toxins and harmful mediators by adsorption. It can be used as a stand-alone device, as part of a heart-lung machine or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or, as is currently the case, integrated into a kidney replacement procedure. In the meantime, various suppliers offer devices with different technologies. Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the benefits, risks and evidence of the different systems, how they work and for which indications they are approved in Germany. Method: To achieve this goal, a narrative assessment of the existing literature and guidelines for different indications was performed. The focus was on in vivo studies. Results: In principle, a distinction must be made in adsorption techniques between pure adsorption and the combination as adsorption and kidney replacement therapy. The adsorbers available in Germany include Cytosorb®, HA-330, Seraph®-100 and Toraymyxin. Combined procedures (adsorption and kidney replacement) are offered with coupled plasma filtration and adsorption (CPFA) and oXiris®. Most adsorbers have been developed for cytokine and endotoxin removal in patients with sepsis; however, to date, no randomized controlled trial (RCT) has demonstrated a survival benefit when using hemoperfusion. Therefore, the S3 guidelines for treatment of sepsis and the surviving sepsis campaign guidelines advise against its routine use. When the corona pandemic began, hemoperfusion was considered as a promising therapeutic approach. Cytosorb®, Seraph®-100, and oXiris® received emergency approval by the FDA to be used in critically ill patients with COVID-19, so questions arose about the appropriateness and importance of its use; however, the data generated did not show positive results, so its use cannot be recommended routinely either. In addition, they are not mentioned as a treatment option in the current guidelines. The use of adsorption procedures in patients with liver failure and rhabdomyolysis has only been rudimentarily studied, so any evidence is currently lacking. The only adsorber that has CE approval in Germany for both applications is Cytosorb®. In the next few years, studies will have to follow that investigate the efficacy and thus either justify or refute the use in clinical routine. Hemoperfusion procedures are used in the heart-lung machine as part of cardiac surgery for either cytokine or anticoagulant adsorption. No congruent data are available to support the use for the elimination of cytokines. If emergency cardiac surgery is required in a patient with pre-existing anticoagulation, hemoperfusion procedures can be used to prevent bleeding complications. Cytosorb® has CE approval for this indication. All available techniques are nonselective adsorption processes, so that adsorption of known and unknown substances can occur. Unintentional adsorption of drugs, such as various anti-infective agents is a relevant risk, especially when used in patients with sepsis. Discussion: Various adsorption systems can eliminate different known and unknown substances. Currently, there is a lack of evidence for all indications and systems to justify their routine use except in clinical trials. Future clinical trials should evaluate the potential benefits but also dangers, so that in the meantime the routine use can be justified or a recommendation against the use can be given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive and updated systematic review with network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess the outcome benefits of various blood purification modalities for adult patients with severe infection or sepsis. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a search of PubMed, MEDLINE, clinical trial registries, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases with no language restrictions. STUDY SELECTION: Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. DATA EXTRACTION: The primary outcome was overall mortality. The secondary outcomes were the length of mechanical ventilation (MV) days and ICU stay, incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), and kidney replacement therapy requirement. DATA SYNTHESIS: We included a total of 60 RCTs with 4,595 participants, comparing 16 blood purification modalities with 17 interventions. Polymyxin-B hemoperfusion (relative risk [RR]: 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57–0.86) and plasma exchange (RR: 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42–0.91) were associated with low mortality (very low and low certainty of evidence, respectively). Because of the presence of high clinical heterogeneity and intransitivity, the potential benefit of polymyxin-B hemoperfusion remained inconclusive. The analysis of secondary outcomes was limited by the scarcity of available studies. HA330 with high-volume continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), HA330, and standard-volume CVVH were associated with shorter ICU stay. HA330 with high-volume CVVH, HA330, and standard-volume CVVH were beneficial in reducing MV days. None of the interventions showed a significant reduction in the incidence of AKI or the need for kidney replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our NMA suggests that plasma exchange and polymyxin-B hemoperfusion may provide potential benefits for adult patients with severe infection or sepsis/septic shock when compared with standard care alone, but most comparisons were based on low or very low certainty evidence. The therapeutic effect of polymyxin-B hemoperfusion remains uncertain. Further RCTs are required to identify the specific patient population that may benefit from extracorporeal blood purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is characterized by a violent cytokine storm-driven inflammation and is associated with a predisposition to severe disease. The treatment strategy for HTG-AP consists mainly of conventional symptomatic and lipid-lowering treatments. For early-stage HTG-AP, blood purification (BP) can rapidly and effectively reduce serum triglyceride and inflammatory cytokine levels, block the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and improve patient outcomes. Currently, the primary modalities for BP in patients with HTG-AP include plasma exchange, hemoperfusion, and hemofiltration. When using BP to treat patients with HTG-AP, a comprehensive analysis incorporating the elevated lipid levels and severity of the patient's condition contributes to the selection of different treatment modes. Moreover, the timing of the treatment is also imperative. Early intervention is associated with a better prognosis for patients with HTG-AP requiring lipid-lowering treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is often a consequence of a dysregulated immune response; therefore, immunomodulation by extracorporeal cytokine removal has been increasingly used as an adjuvant therapy, but convincing data are still missing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adjunctive hemoadsorption (HA) on clinical and laboratory outcomes in patients with ARDS. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science (PROSPERO: CRD42022292176). The population was patients receiving HA therapy for ARDS. The primary outcome was the change in PaO2/FiO2 before and after HA therapy. Secondary outcomes included the before and after values for C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and norepinephrine (NE) doses. Results: We included 26 publications, with 243 patients (198 undergoing HA therapy and 45 controls). There was a significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio following HA therapy (MD = 68.93 [95%-CI: 28.79 to 109.06] mmHg, p = 0.005) and a reduction in CRP levels (MD = −45.02 [95%-CI: −82.64; −7.39] mg/dL, p = 0.026) and NE dose (MD = −0.24 [95%-CI: −0.44 to −0.04] μg/kg/min, p = 0.028). Conclusions: Based on our findings, HA resulted in a significant improvement in oxygenation and a reduction in NE dose and CRP levels in patients treated with ARDS. Properly designed RCTs are still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been largely investigated in various biomedical fields on the basis of their excellent physical properties and drug delivery performance. However, application capacities of CNTs in blood-contacting medical devices are given due attention though there have been increasingly accumulated experimental data showing promising potentials. Herein, we collected and showed research evidence that strong interactions of CNTs to plasm proteins are attractive and valuable features holding great application potentials for medical devices and implants used in blood-contacting environments, while blood compatibility has been a big challenge faced by this kind of devices. This review introduces the strong and nonspecific plasm protein adsorptions of CNTs due to their high purity of carbon composition and nanostructures, followed by discussions on the implication of these interactions to blood coagulation and complement activation, aiming to sort out and provide insights into the application potentials of CNTs in blood-contacting medical devices and implants in the context of anti-thrombosis and blood purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) can be technically challenging in critically ill children in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This study was done to characterize the indications, technical aspects, safety, and outcomes of TPE in critically ill children admitted to PICU. Subjects and Methods: This was a retrospective study by analyzing the electronic medical records of 33 critically ill children (1 month–18 years of age) who underwent TPE in PICU. Results: A total of 33 patients underwent 122 TPE sessions. The most common diagnosis for TPE was acute liver failure (48.48%). Invasive mechanical ventilator (MV) and renal replacement therapy (RRT-continuous RRT [CRRT]/intermittent hemodialysis) were needed in 72.7%. Vasoactive support was needed in 63.6%, of whom 76% needed ≥2 vasoactive medications. Organ dysfunction of ≥3 organs was seen in 66.6%. One patient was also on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Survival to intensive care unit discharge was 59.3%. Mortality was highest for liver failure (9/16: 56%), followed by sepsis with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (40%). TPE without needing dialysis had a survival rate of 75%, while TPE with CRRT had a survival rate of 45%. Survival with ≥3 organ dysfunction was 36.3%. Factors associated with increased mortality were MV (P = 0.0115), need for vasoactive medications (P = 0.0002), organ dysfunction (P = 0.005), and specific indications (P = 0.0458). Complications were noted in 2.4%. Conclusions: TPE can be performed safely in critically ill children in combination with RRT and ECMO. The need for MV, multiple vasoactive medications, liver failure, sepsis, and higher number of organ failures were significantly associated with mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective The aim of the study is to investigate whether the multistage draining cannula strategy inserted via the femoral vein and with blood return to the jugular vein can improve the therapeutic efficiency in patients with vena cava drainage disorder compared to traditional hemodialysis therapy. Design This study was approved by the Review Board of the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (No. B2022-380), and the need for obtaining signed informed consent was waived for this retrospective analysis. Patients Two adult patients with acute vena cava reflux disorder were analyzed retrospectively in the study. Interventions To minimize recirculation, a multistage draining cannula strategy in a suitable position inserted via the femoral vein and with blood return to the jugular vein was used in patients with vena cava obstruction. Measurements and Main Results Study endpoints included vasopressors equivalent dose, ICU outcome and other clinical outcomes. The results showed that blood purification based on dual-cannula in jugular-femoral venous was able to improve the hemodynamic state, reduce the vasopressors dosage and improve the outcome for critically ill patients with acute vena cava reflux disorder. Conclusions Blood purification therapy with dual-cannula in jugular-femoral venous may be an effective and feasible strategy for patients with acute superior or inferior vena cava “obstruction”.

Background Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are the most commonly used class of antihypertensive drugs in China. Despite the high mortality rate of severe CCBs poisoning, few relevant reports on its clinical characteristics can be found currently. Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of acute CCBs poisoning and the value of blood purification therapy by summarizing the clinical manifestations and treatment results of 11 patients with acute CCBs poisoning. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted with regard to the clinical presentation, scores for condition assessment, treatment process and prognosis of 11 patients who presented to the Emergency Department, Peking University Third Hospital for acute CCBs poisoning from January 2019 to June 2022. Results Of the 11 patients, 3 were female and 8 were male. The average age was (39.8±18.0) years and the median interval between drug administration and consultation was 2.25 (6.58) hours. The main clinical manifestations at presentation were shock (9 cases, 9/11) , nausea and vomiting (5 cases, 5/11) , dizziness (4 cases, 4/11) , fatigue (3 cases, 3/11) , tachycardia (3 cases, 3/11) , bradycardia (2 cases, 2/11) , syncope (1 case, 1/11) and lethargy (1 case, 1/11) . Ten patients arrived at the ED with a clear consciousness (with a Glasgow Coma Score of 15 points) . In addition to conventional treatment, 6 of the patients received blood purification treatment, including hemoperfusion, plasma exchange and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) in 2 cases, hemoperfusion combined with CVVH in 2 cases, and hemoperfusion alone in 2 cases. Four of these 6 patients also received extracorporeal membrane pulmonary oxygenation therapy. The blood concentration of CCBs decreased after the first blood purification treatment, and the percentage of decrease was higher for nifedipine (40.00%-63.64%) than for amlodipine and verapamil (9.09%-26.67%) . Nine of the 11 patients survived at discharge. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHEⅡ) score at admission was 10 (25) points. The median Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) at admission was 3 (1) points. Two of the 8 patients with a PSS score of 3 points at admission died, and two of the 5 patients with an APACHEⅡ score ≥15 points at admission died. Conclusion Clarity of consciousness at the early stage of shock is a more common manifestation of acute CCBs poisoning. Hemoperfusion may play a more effective role in acute nifedipine poisoning than in acute amlodipine and verapamil poisoning. The APACHEⅡ score may be superior to the PSS score in predicting the prognosis of death in acute poisoning of CCBs.