Objective To analyze the expression changes of peripheral blood triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) during the progression of sepsis, and to explore the utility of soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) and membrane-bound TREM-1 on myeloid cells in disease stratification of sepsis. Methods Sepsis patients, septic shock patients, and healthy controls were enrolled from West China Hospital of Sichuan University between June to December 2022. Membrane-bound TREM-1 expression on peripheral blood myeloid cells was detected by flow cytometry, and serum sTREM-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The diagnostic performance of TREM-1-related parameters for discriminating sepsis from septic shock was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. Results A total of 72 samples were collected. Among them, there were 10 healthy controls, 28 sepsis patients, and 34 septic shock patients. Peripheral blood sTREM-1, TREM-1+ granulocytes, and TREM-1+ monocytes showed significant differences among the sepsis, septic shock, and healthy control groups (P<0.05). For discriminating sepsis from septic shock, sTREM-1 yielded a sensitivity of 62.1% and a specificity of 88.9%; TREM-1+ granulocytes had a sensitivity of 65.5% and a specificity of 77.8%; and TREM-1+ monocytes had a sensitivity of 65.5% and a specificity of 66.7%. The combined model of the three indicators generated a predicted probability with an area under the curve of 0.881 [95% confidence interval (0.785, 0.978)], a sensitivity of 93.1%, and a specificity of 66.7%. Conclusions The expression of membrane-bound TREM-1 on peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes, as well as serum sTREM-1, differs during sepsis progression and demonstrates auxiliary value in identifying disease stratification of sepsis. These parameters may serve as laboratory indicators for assessing the severity of sepsis.
ObjectiveTo find out the diagnostic power and correlation between platelet-related parameters and inflammatory indicators in acute pancreatitis patients with different severity.MethodsA total of 88 patients with acute pancreatitis diagnosed in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2019 to August 2019 were enrolled in the retrospective study, including 58 mild acute pancreatitis patients and 30 severe acute pancreatitis patients. The patients’ platelet-related parameters and inflammatory indicators were collected. The platelet parameters and inflammatory indicators in different severity acute pancreatitis groups were compared and the diagnostic power and correlation were analyzed.ResultsThe platelet count and plateletcrit of the severe group were lower than those of the mild group, the difference was statistically significant (Z=–5.502, –3.673; P<0.001). The immature platelet fraction, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume and platelet-large cell ratio levels of the severe group were higher than those of the mild group (Z=–4.217, –2.998, –3.754, –3.816; P<0.05). Platelet-related parameters platelet count, immature platelet fraction, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet-large cell ratio, plateletcrit and inflammatory indicators procalcitonin, interleukin-6 showed good diagnostic power with areas under under receiver operating characteristic curves greater than 0.75 in differentiating the severity of acute pancreatitis. Correlation analysis showed that immature platelet fraction was positively correlated with procalcitonin and interleukin-6 levels in patients with acute pancreatitis (rs=0.457, 0.385; P<0.05).ConclusionsImmature platelet fraction is correlated with the severity of acute pancreatitis, and positively correlated with the levels of inflammatory indicators procalcitonin and interleukin-6.
Objective To summarize the online practice teaching experience in laboratory medicine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, and explore a new practice teaching mode of laboratory medicine which can provide a reference for improving the efficiency and quality of laboratory medicine education. Methods From June 8th, 2020 to June 30th, 2020, an online questionnaire survey was conducted in teachers and students who participated in online internship teaching and learning during the COVID-19 epidemic to evaluate the effect of online internship teaching and compare the advantages and disadvantages of online and offline internships. ResultsA total of 65 valid questionnaires were collected from 35 students and 30 teachers. There was no statistically significant difference in the satisfaction scores of intern students between online and offline internships [median (minimum, maximum): 100 (80, 100) vs. 100 (80, 100), P>0.05]. Among the teachers surveyed, 90.0% thought that the pre-teaching preparation for online internship teaching was more complicated and time-consuming, 60.0% thought that the online teaching was more difficult, and 63.3% thought that online internship could not achieve the expected results. Both the teachers and students believed that online and offline internships had their own advantages and disadvantages, and they could learn from each other. Conclusions The present online practice model cannot replace the traditional offline practice. A diversified practice model combining online and offline can help further develop and improve medical laboratory practice teaching.