ObjectiveTo explore the correlation of serum lipocalin-2 (LCN2) with inflammation and the predictive value of LCN2 for detecting acute kidney injury (AKI) in acute pancreatitis (AP).MethodsNighty-one patients with AP, who were admitted to Bazhong Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 2016 and June 2018, were enrolled in the present study. Clinical paramaters were analyzed between patients with AKI (n=29) and patients without AKI (n=62). The correlation of serum LCN2 with inflammation was assessed with Pearson’s correlation analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) for serum LCN2 predicting AKI in AP patients was assessed.ResultsCompared with the patients without AKI, the patients with AKI showed increased serum levels of C-reactive protein [(64.8±10.5) vs. (148.3±21.6) mg/L], procalcitonin [(3.5±2.3) vs. (4.8±3.9) μg/L], urea nitrogen [(5.5±2.1) vs. (6.6±2.8) mmol/L], creatinine [(80.3±28.1) vs. (107.3±30.8) μmol/L], interleukin-6 [(10.1±3.7) vs. (16.2±4.6) pg/mL], and LCN2 [(155.0±37.6) vs. (394.8±53.1) mg/mL], as well as decreased level of calcium [(2.6±1.3) vs. (2.0±1.0) mmol/L], the differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05). The serum level of LCN2 was correlated with C-reactive protein (r=0.694, P<0.05), interleukin-6 (r=0.762, P<0.05), and procalcitonin (r=0.555, P<0.05) in patients with AP. The ROC AUC of LCN2 for predicting AKI was 0.844 (P<0.05) , with a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 81.4% when the cut-off value was 210.2 ng/mL.ConclusionsSerum LCN2 concentration is elevated in patients with AKI. In patients with AP, serum LCN2 level is positively correlated with C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin. It can be regarded as a reliable indicator for predicting AKI.
ObjectivesTo investigate the efficacy and safety of Hou Gu Mi Xi (HGMX) in patients with nonorganic gastrointestinal disorders (NOGD) from the aspect of dietary therapy.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial was performed. Patients with NOGD and spleen qi deficiency (SQD) syndrome were randomly assigned into HGMX or placebo group. Each received 30 g/day HGMX or placebo for one year. The outcomes included SQD scores, body weight, body mass index (BMI), gastrin-17, and adverse events (AEs) between HGMX and placebo groups, or subgroups divided by NOGD type or helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, at the 0th, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 26th, or 52nd weeks’ follow-up.ResultsThe reduction of SQD scale score was found in the HGMX group compared with the placebo group at 4th week (MD=−9.40, 95%CI −18.53 to −0.27, P=0.044), 8th week (MD=−10.07, 95%CI −19.66 to −0.48, P=0.04), 26th week (MD=−12.45, 95%CI −22.31 to −2.59, P=0.014) and 52th week (MD=−17.25, 95%CI −28.53 to −5.97, P=0.003), respectively. In the subgroup analyses, HGMX showed significant efficacy in Hp-negative patients with the detailed reduction of SQD scale score being (MD=−15.20, 95%CI −28.16 to −2.24, P=0.022), (MD=−17.91, 95%CI −31.22 to −4.59, P=0.009) and (MD=−20.38, 95%CI −35.43 to −5.32, P=0.008) at the 8th, 26th and 52nd week, respectively, and in patients with chronic nonatrophic gastritis with the detailed reduction being (MD=−13.02, 95%CI −24.75 to −1.29, P=0.03), (MD=−12.43, 95%CI −24.36 to −0.5, P=0.041) and (MD=−15.90, 95%CI −30.72 to −1.08, P=0.036) at the 2nd, 26th and 52nd week, respectively, and in patients with functional gastrointestinal disease with the reduction being (MD=−18.22, 95%CI −35.75 to −0.69, P=0.042) at the 52nd week. However, no significant efficacy was found in Hp-positive patient at any time. HGMX was not associated with changes in weight, BMI, or gastrin-17. No AEs were reported in the HGMX group.ConclusionsHGMX improves SQD symptoms in patients with NOGD, especially Hp-negative patients, and has a good safety profile.