MicroRNA-217 regulates interstitial pneumonia via IL-6

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of miRNA-217 in pulmonary macrophages, blood mononuclear cells and serum in patients with interstitial pneumonia, and the role of miRNA-217 in interstitial pneumonia. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens from 29 patients with interstitial pneumonia and 23 healthy people (controls) in the same period were collected. Lung macrophages were isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and were cultured. The expression of miRNA-217 and IL-6 mRNA in lung macrophages, blood mononuclear cells and serum samples were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The IL-6 protein expression levels in lung macrophages, blood mononuclear cells and serum samples were detected by Western Blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas IL-6 is a direct target gene of miRNA-217 was analyzed by double-luciferase reporter assay. The results showed that IL-6 was up-regulated, whereas miRNA-217 was down-regulated in lung macrophages, blood mononuclear cells and serum samples in patients with interstitial pneumonia (P < 0.05). IL-6 was suggested to be the target gene of miRNA-217 by double-luciferase reporter assay. We speculate that the upregulation of IL-6 expression in lung macrophages, blood mononuclear cells and serum in patients with interstitial pneumonia may be related to the down-regulation of miRNA-217 expression, which may mediate interstitial pneumonia through IL-6

Effectiveness of enteral feeding protocol on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: A before and after study.

Enteral nutrition (EN) feeding protocol was proposed to have positive impact on critically ill patients. However, current studies showed conflicting results. The present study aimed to investigate whether enteral feeding protocol was able to improve clinical outcomes in critically ill patients.A before (stage 1) and after (stage 2) interventional study was performed in 10 tertiary care hospitals. All patients expected to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for over three days were potentially eligible. Clinical outcomes such as 28-day mortality, ICU length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), and nosocomial infection were compared between the two stages.A total of 410 patients were enrolled during the study period, including 236 in stage 1 and 174 in stage 2. EN feeding protocol was able to increase the proportion of EN in day 2 (41.8±22.3 vs. 50.0±28.3%; p = 0.006) and day 6 (70.3±25.2 vs. 77.6±25.8%; p = 0.006). EN percentages tended to be higher in stage 1 than that in stage 2 on other days, but statistical significance was not reached. There was no difference in 28-day mortality between stage 1 and 2 (0.14 vs. 0.14; p = 0.984). Implementation of EN feeding protocol marginally reduced ICU length of stay (19.44±18.48 vs. 16.29±16.19 days; p = 0.077). There was no difference in the duration of MV between stage a and stage 2 (14.24±14.49 vs. 14.51±17.55 days; p = 0.877).The study found that the EN feeding protocol was able to increase the proportion of EN feeding, but failed to reduce 28-day mortality, incidence of nosocomial infection or duration of MV

Multivariable Logistic regression model showing independent predictors of 28-day mortalit.

<p>Multivariable Logistic regression model showing independent predictors of 28-day mortalit.</p

Enteral nutrition tolerance score.

<p>Enteral nutrition tolerance score.</p

Comparisons of baseline characteristics of subjects enrolled in the two stages (continuous variables).

<p>Comparisons of baseline characteristics of subjects enrolled in the two stages (continuous variables).</p

Missing pattern of some important variables.

<p>Missing pattern of some important variables.</p

Comparisons of the percentage (%) of estimated energy goal reached from day 1 to day 7.

<p>Comparisons of the percentage (%) of estimated energy goal reached from day 1 to day 7.</p

Comparisons of baseline characteristics of subjects enrolled in the two stages (categorical variables).

<p>Comparisons of baseline characteristics of subjects enrolled in the two stages (categorical variables).</p