• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2012

Purpose: Early identification of neonatal sepsis is a global issue because of limitations in diagnostic procedures. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of neutrophil CD64 and C-reactive protein (CRP) as a single test for the early detection of neonatal sepsis. Methods: A prospective study enrolled newborns with documented sepsis (n=11), clinical sepsis (n=12) and control newborns (n=14). CRP, neutrophil CD64, complete blood counts and blood culture were taken at the time of the suspected sepsis for the documented or clinical group and at the time of venipuncture for laboratory tests in control newborns. Neutrophil CD64 was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: CD64 was significantly elevated in the groups with documented or clinical sepsis, whereas CRP was not significantly increased compared with controls. For documented sepsis, CD64 and CRP had a sensitivity of 91% and 9%, a specificity of 83% and 83%, a positive predictive value of 83% and 33% and a negative predictive value of 91% and 50%, respectively, with a cutoff value of 3.0 mg/dL for CD64 and 1.0 mg/dL for CRP. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves for CD64 index and CRP were 0.955 and 0.527 ($P$ <0.01), respectively. Conclusion: These preliminary data show that diagnostic accuracy of CD64 is superior to CRP when measured at the time of suspected sepsis, which implies that CD64 is a more reliable marker for the early identification of neonatal sepsis as a single determination compared with CRP.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.166-173
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• 2018

Purpose: Many traumatic patients die from sepsis and multiple organ failure. Early recognition of post-traumatic sepsis in traumatic patients will help improve the prognosis. Recently, procalcitonin (PCT), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and lactic acid have emerged as predictive factors. Our study aims to explore the significance of PCT, MIF and lactic acid as a predictor of posttraumatic-sepsis in trauma patients. Methods: This study was conducted on prospective observational study patients who visited an emergency medical center in a university hospital from March 2014 to February 2016. We measured the white blood cells, c-reactive protein (CRP), lactic acid, PCT, and MIF with serum taken from the patient's blood within 1 hour of the occurrence of the trauma. The definition of post-traumatic sepsis was defined as being part of systemic inflammation response syndrome criteria with infections within a week. Results: A total of 132 patients were analyzed, wherein 74 patients were included in the low injury severity score (ISS) group (ISS <15) and 58 patients were included in the high ISS group (ISS ${\geq}15$). The mean PCT, MIF, and lactic acid levels were higher in the high ISS group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, 38 patients were included in the early sepsis group and 94 patients were included in the non-sepsis group. The mean MIF levels were higher in the sepsis group than the non-sepsis group (p<0.05) and there were no significant differences in the initial CRP, lactic acid, and PCT levels in these two groups. Conclusions: MIF may be considered as a predictive factor for sepsis in trauma patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.569-577
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• 2017

Sepsis is a syndrome characterized by systemic inflammatory responses to a severe infection. Acute hyper-inflammatory reactions in the acute phase of sepsis have been considered as a primary reason for organ dysfunction and mortality, and advances in emergency intervention and improved intensive care management have reduced mortalities in the early phase. However it has been recognized that increased deaths in the late phase still maintain sepsis mortality high worldwide. Patients recovered from early severe illness are unable to control immune system with sepsis-induced immunosuppression such as immunological tolerance, exhaustion and apoptosis, which make them vulnerable to nosocomial and opportunistic infections ultimately leading to threat to life. Based on strategies to reverse immunosuppression, recent developments in sepsis therapy are focused on molecules having immune enhancing activities. These efforts are focused on defining and revising the immunocompromised status associated with long-term mortality.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2016

Sepsis is the life-threatening response to infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. In the current study, the effect of orally administered D-glucose on the mortality and the blood glucose level induced by D-Galactosamine (GaLN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis was examined in ICR mice. After various amounts of D-glucose (from 1 to 8 g/kg) were orally fed, sepsis was induced by injecting intraperitoneally (i.p.) the mixture of GaLN /LPS. Oral pre-treatment with D-glucose dose-dependently increased the blood glucose level and caused a reduction of sepsis-induced mortality. The oral post-treatment with D-glucose (8 g/kg) up to 3 h caused an elevation of the blood glucose level and protected the mortality observed in sepsis model. However, D-glucose post-treated at 6, 9, or 12 h after sepsis induction did not affect the mortality and the blood glucose level induced by sepsis. Furthermore, the intrathecal (i.t.) pretreatment once with pertussis toxin (PTX; $0.1{\mu}g/5ml$) for 6 days caused a reduction of D-glucose-induced protection of mortality and hyperglycemia. Furthermore, once the hypoglycemic state is continued up to 6 h after sepsis initiated, sepsis-induced mortality could not be reversed by D-glucose fed orally. Based on these findings, it is assumed that the hypoglycemic duration between 3 and 6 h after the sepsis induction may be a critical time of period for the survival. D-glucose-induced protective effect against sepsis-induced mortality appears to be mediated via activating PTX-sensitive G-proteins in the spinal cord. Finally, the production of hyperglycemic state may be critical for the survival against the sepsis-induced mortality.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.455-467
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• 2013

Purpose: This study investigated some extent of nurses' knowledge level of sepsis in the intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: A total of 178 nurses from 5 ICUs at one hospital were asked to complete a structured questionnaire from September 10, 2012 to September 17, 2012. The questionnaire was composed of 30 items invented by Robson and colleagues and based on the guidelines published by Dellinger and colleagues. Independent t-test and ANOVA with post-hoc test were used for statistical analyses. Results: The mean score about sepsis of ICU nurses was $25.1{\pm}3.3$, and the average percentage who got correct answers was 83.8%. Of the participants, 25.3% thought they knew about understood sepsis well, and 89.1% wanted to have a sepsis screening tool. Conclusion: The ICU nurses' knowledge level on sepsis was low. Continuing education for ICU nurses is, therefore, required. For this, the development of educational programs and screening tools about sepsis should be preceded.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.521-525
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• 2015

Bacteremia and sepsis are common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with incorrect or delayed diagnoses being associated with increased mortality. New tests or markers that allow a more rapid and less costly detection of bacteremia and sepsis have been investigated. The aim of this study was to clarify the cutoff value of the neutrophillymphocyte ratio (NLR) according to procalcitonin (PCT) level in the decision-making processes for bacteremia and sepsis. In addition, other white blood cell subgroup parameters, which are assessed in all hospitals, for bacteremia and sepsis were explored. This retrospective study included 1,468 patients with suspected bacteremia and sepsis. Patients were grouped according to the following PCT criteria: levels <0.05 ng/ml (healthy group), 0.05-0.5 ng/ml (local infection group), 0.5-2 ng/ml (systemic infection group), 2-10 ng/ml (sepsis group), and >10 ng/ml (sepsis shock group). One important finding of this study, which will serve as a baseline to measure future progress, is the presence of many gaps in the information on pathogens that constitute a major health risk. In addition, clinical decisions are generally not coordinated, compromising the ability to assess and monitor a situation. This report represents the first study to determine the limits of the use of NLR in the diagnosis of infection or sepsis using a cutoff value of <5 when sufficient exclusion criteria are used.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2021

Background: The diagnosis and prediction of prognosis are important in patients with sepsis, and presepsin is helpful. In this study, we aimed to examine the usefulness of presepsin in predicting the prognosis of sepsis in Korea. Methods: Patients diagnosed with sepsis according to the sepsis-3 criteria were recruited into the study and classified into surviving and non-surviving groups based on in-hospital mortality. A total of 153 patients (32 and 121 patients with sepsis and septic shock, respectively) were included from July 2019 to August 2020. Results: Among the 153 patients with sepsis, 91 and 62 were in the survivor and non-survivor groups, respectively. Presepsin (p=0.004) and lactate (p=0.003) levels and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (p<0.001) were higher in the non-survivor group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed poor performances of presepsin and lactate in predicting the prognosis of sepsis (presepsin: area under the curve [AUC]=0.656, p=0.001; lactate: AUC=0.646, p=0.003). The SOFA score showed the best performance, with the highest AUC value (AUC=0.751, p<0.001). The prognostic cutoff point for presepsin was 1,176 pg/mL. Presepsin levels higher than 1,176 pg/mL (odds ratio [OR], 3.352; p<0.001), higher lactate levels (OR, 1.203; p=0.003), and higher SOFA score (OR, 1.249; p<0.001) were risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Presepsin levels were higher in non-survivors than in survivors. Thus, presepsin may be a valuable biomarker in predicting the prognosis of sepsis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.314-319
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• 2023

Sepsis is a life-threatening multi-organ dysfunction with high mortality caused by the body's improper response to microbial infection. No new effective therapy has emerged that can adequately treat patients with sepsis. We previously demonstrated that interferon-β (IFN-β) protects against sepsis via sirtuin 1-(SIRT1)-mediated immunosuppression. Another study also reported its significant protective effect against acute respiratory distress syndrome, a complication of severe sepsis, in human patients. However, the IFN-β effect cannot solely be explained by SIRT1-mediated immunosuppression, since sepsis induces immunosuppression in patients. Here, we show that IFN-β, in combination with nicotinamide riboside (NR), alleviates sepsis by blocking endothelial damage via SIRT1 activation. IFN-β plus NR protected against cecal ligation puncture-(CLP)-induced sepsis in wild-type mice, but not in endothelial cell-specific Sirt1 knockout (EC-Sirt1 KO) mice. IFN-β upregulated SIRT1 protein expression in endothelial cells in a protein synthesis-independent manner. IFN-β plus NR reduced the CLP-induced increase in in vivo endothelial permeability in wild-type, but not EC-Sirt1 KO mice. IFN-β plus NR suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced up-regulation of heparinase 1, but the effect was abolished by Sirt1 knockdown in endothelial cells. Our results suggest that IFN-β plus NR protects against endothelial damage during sepsis via activation of the SIRT1/heparinase 1 pathway.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.53-57
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• 2016

Severe sepsis or septic shock is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response to infectious pathogens. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating complication of severe sepsis, from which patients have high mortality. Advances in treatment modalities including lung protective ventilation, prone positioning, use of neuromuscular blockade, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, have improved the outcome over recent decades, nevertheless, the mortality rate still remains high. Timely treatment of underlying sepsis and early identification of patients at risk of ARDS can help to decrease its development. In addition, further studies are needed regarding pathogenesis and novel therapies in order to show promising future treatments of sepsis-induced ARDS.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.245-249
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• 2000

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the important causes of neonatal sepsis and listerial neonatal infection manifests in two forms : Early-onset sepsis syndrome, associated with spontaneous abortion, still birth, preterm labor, granulomatosis infantiseptica, respiratory distress, sepsis, hemodynamic compromise and late-onset listerosis mainly associated with meningitis. Cases of neonatal listerosis reported in Korea have been rare and all were full term newborns. We, herein, report a case of early-onset sepsis due to L. monocytogenes in a extremely low birth weight infant who were born in a critical condition and succumbed in the second day of life despite the intensive care.