Background and objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients, especially those with sepsis. Persistently low human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression in monocytes reflects the decreased function of antigen-presenting cells, contributing to poor outcomes in sepsis. This study aimed to establish an association between AKI and HLA-DR expression in monocytes of patients with sepsis. Materials and Methods: We detected HLA-DR expression in monocytes and measured plasma levels of S100A12, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), advanced glycation end products (AGE), and soluble receptor for AGE (sRAGE) from septic patients and healthy controls. Results: HLA-DR expression in monocytes was decreased in patients with AKI than in those without AKI (29.8 ± 5.0% vs. 53.1 ± 5.8%, p = 0.005). Compared with AKI patients, the mean monocyte HLA-DR expression in patients with end-stage renal disease was increased without statistical significance. There were no differences in the AGE/sRAGE ratio and plasma levels of S100A12, HMGB1, AGE, and sRAGE between patients with and without AKI. Conclusions: Compared with septic patients without AKI, patients with AKI had significantly lower HLA-DR expression in monocytes. The role of hemodialysis in monocyte HLA-DR expression needs further studies to explore.

Patients with cancer are eligible for hospice care when their life expectancy is 180 days or shorter. This study investigated the prognostic factors of patients with cancer and sepsis who were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) to assist with clinical decisions of hospice care. A series of 279 patients admitted to the medical ICU with cancer and sepsis were included. Another series of 109 patients with cancer and sepsis admitted to the other medical ICU in the different branch of our hospital was included to verify the results. Among 279 patients, the 30-, 90-, and 180-day mortality rates were 47.3%, 72.0%, and 81.0%, respectively. APACHE II score and the cancer control status (controlled or remission (CR), active newly diagnosed (AND) and active recurrent or progressive (ARP)) were significant predictors of 30- and 90-day mortality(30-day: AND(odds ratio: 5.66; 95% confidence interval: 2.12-15.15), ARP(6.24; 2.92-13.33), APACHE II( 1.07; 1.03-1.11); 90-day: AND(4.78; 1.91-11.99), ARP( 24.03; 11.11-51.99), APACHE II( 1.07; 1.02-1.19)) and were associated with a poor 180-day outcome. The 180-day mortality were significantly different among the patients with different cancer control status in the series of 279 patients (CR: 29.8%; AND: 69.4%; and ARP: 98.9 %) and that of 109 patients (46.4%; 96.8%; and 94.0%). APACHE II score and the cancer control status may be the prognostic factors for critically ill patients with cancer and sepsis, and they may be helpful for evaluating hospice care.

Both atrial fibrillation (AF) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are risk factors for ischemic stroke. Previous studies suggested that OSA is associated with AF in individuals who have not had a stroke. For better secondary prevention of stroke, this study determined the association between OSA and AF among patients with ischemic stroke. This cross-sectional study recruited consecutive patients with subacute ischemic stroke admitted for neurorehabilitation. The baseline and clinical data were collected, and standard polysomnography was performed in a sleep center. The 47 women and 111 men enrolled in this study were divided into two groups according to the presence of AF. The AF group (n = 26) had a significantly older age (72.2 versus 60.1 years, P = .016), significantly more disability (Barthel index: 35 versus 45, P = .045), and marginally higher mean oxygen desaturation (6.7% versus 5.6%, P = .079) compared to the non-AF group. The two groups did not significantly differ in sex, body mass index, prevalence of hyperthyroidism, and other parameters of OSA. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that mean desaturation was significantly associated with AF after adjusting for age, neck circumference, Barthel index and high-density lipoprotein level (odds ratio = 1.19 (95% confidence interval 1.05-1.35), P = .008). Nocturnal hypoxia due to OSA is an independent predictor of AF in patients with subacute ischemic stroke. The use of overnight pulse oximeter to assess nocturnal hypoxia and predict paroxysmal AF in patients with cryptogenic stroke needs further evaluation. A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 667.

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is required to maintain life for patients with sepsis-related acute lung injury but can cause diaphragmatic myotrauma with muscle damage and weakness, known as ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD). Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) plays a crucial role in inducing inflammation and apoptosis. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was proven to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, HIF-1α and LMWH affect sepsis-related diaphragm injury has not been investigated. We hypothesized that LMWH would reduce endotoxin-augmented VIDD through HIF-1α. C57BL/6 mice, either wild-type or HIF-1α–deficient, were exposed to MV with or without endotoxemia for 8 h. Enoxaparin (4 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously 30 min before MV. MV with endotoxemia aggravated VIDD, as demonstrated by increased interleukin-6 and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 levels, oxidative loads, and the expression of HIF-1α, calpain, caspase-3, atrogin-1, muscle ring finger-1, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II. Disorganized myofibrils, disrupted mitochondria, increased numbers of autophagic and apoptotic mediators, substantial apoptosis of diaphragm muscle fibers, and decreased diaphragm function were also observed (p < 0.05). Endotoxin-exacerbated VIDD and myonuclear apoptosis were attenuated by pharmacologic inhibition by LMWH and in HIF-1α–deficient mice (p < 0.05). Our data indicate that enoxaparin reduces endotoxin-augmented MV-induced diaphragmatic injury, partially through HIF-1α pathway inhibition.

Objective: Periodic leg movement in sleep (PLMS) is common among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The PLMS frequency changes after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration. This study investigated the effects of two PLMS diagnostic criteria on PLMS prevalence and the restless leg syndrome (RLS) detection rate in patients with OSA before and after CPAP titration. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with OSA who received polysomnography (PSG) and successful CPAP titration from December 2012 to December 2014. Their clinical variables and sleep parameters were evaluated using the PLMS diagnostic criteria: PLMS index (PLMI) ≥5 and ≥15. PLMS prevalence and the RLS detection rate were analyzed according to the PLMI before and after CPAP. Results: In patients with OSA with a PLMI of ≥5 and ≥15 after PSG with CPAP titration, the PLMS prevalence was 20.1% (76/378) and 4.5% (17/378), respectively, which revealed CPAP titration increased PLMI. Moreover, in terms of PLMI ≥5 and ≥15, PSG with CPAP titration led to significantly higher PLMS prevalence than PSG alone (20.1% vs 7.1% and 4.5% vs 0.8%, respectively; both P<0.001). PLMI ≥5 also demonstrated a higher RLS detection rate than PLMI ≥15 did (69.2% vs 15.4%; P=0.016). Conclusion: In patients with OSA, CPAP titration increases PLMS prevalence and the PLMI regardless of whether PLMI is ≥5 or ≥15. The use of the current diagnostic criteria, PLMI ≥15, for PLMS may lead to underestimation of PLMS prevalence and the RLS detection rate in patients with OSA.