Clinical features of patients with malignant tumor-related pyogenic liver abscess / 临床肝胆病杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical features of malignant tumor-related pyogenic liver abscess (PLA), and to provide a basis for early judgment of disease progression and timely and effective treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 371 patients with PLA who were admitted to the Second Affiliated of Air Force Medical University, from March 2005 to July 2018, among whom 34 patients with malignant tumor-related PLA were enrolled as tumor group, and after matching for time and at a ratio of 1∶2, 70 patients without malignant tumor-related PLA were enrolled as non-tumor group. Clinical features were compared between the two groups. The group t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results In the tumor group, there were 22 patients with hepatobiliary tumor (64.7%), 7 patients with gastrointestinal tumor (20.6%), and 5 patients with non-gastrointestinal tumor (14.7%). Compared with the non-tumor group, the tumor group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with a history of abdominal surgery (44.1% vs 7.1%, χ 2 =20.142, P 16 (44.1% vs 15.7%, χ 2 =9.846, P =0.002). Compared with the non-tumor group in terms of laboratory examination, the tumor group had a significantly lower level of albumin [(27.2±5.2) g/L vs (30.8±2.6) g/L, t =-3.131, P =0.002] and a significantly higher level of total bilirubin [54(13~313) μmol/L vs 33(7~96) μmol/L, U =1 816.0, P < 0.001]. Escherichia coli was the main pathogen in the tumor group (23.5%), while Klebsiella pneumonia was the main pathogen in the non-tumor group (23.5%), and compared with the non-tumor group, the tumor group had a significantly higher proportion of patients infected with more than two types of bacteria (11.8% vs 2.8%). Radiological examination showed that the tumor group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with multiple abscesses than the non-tumor group (47.1% vs 24.3%, χ 2 =5.479, P =0.019). Compared with the non-tumor group, the tumor group had a significantly longer mean length of hospital stay ( U =1 728.5, P < 0.001) and a significantly higher treatment failure rate ( P =0.005). Conclusion Patients with malignant tumor-related PLA often have hepatobiliary tumor, with Escherichia coli as the main pathogen. Abscesses at multiple sites are common, and patients tend to have a poor prognosis. Appropriate antibiotics combined with percutaneous drainage should be used in clinical practice, and for the high-risk population, the threshold for surgical intervention can be lowered to reduce mortality.

Clinical features of culture-negative liver abscess / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and prognosis of culture-negative liver abscess (CNLA) versus culture-positive liver abscess (CPLA), and to provide a reference for early diagnosis and effective treatment. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 371 patients with liver abscess who were admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from 2005 to 2018, among whom 145 (39.1%) had positive results of pathogen test (CPLA group) and 226 (60.9%) had negative results (CNLA group). The two groups were compared in terms of clinical features, laboratory examination, imaging data, and prognosis. The t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed or approximately normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the CNLA group, the CPLA group had a significantly older age (t=-3.464, P=0.001) and a significantly higher proportion of patients with diabetes (χ2=17.362, P＜0.001) or cardiovascular disease (χ2=10.827, P=0.001), and compared with the CPLA group, the CNLA group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with AIDS (χ2=4.354, P=0.037). Compared with the CNLA group, the CPLA group had significantly greater increases in leukocyte count, percentage of neutrophils, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and total bilirubin (U=20393, 19711, 18586, 19349, and 18496, all P＜0.05), a significantly greater reduction in albumin (t=3.348, P=0.001), and a significantly higher proportion of patients with a baseline APACHE Ⅱ score of ≥16 (χ2=9.550, P=0.002). Compared with the CNLA group, the CPLA group had a significantly higher proportion of tumors with a diameter of ＞5 cm (χ2=53.61, P＜0.001). In the CNLA group, 19.9% of the patients were treated with anti-infective therapy alone, while for both groups, anti-infective therapy combined with ultrasound- or CT-guided percutaneous drainage was the main treatment method. There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay, recurrence rate, and mortality rate between the two groups (all P＞0.05). ConclusionCompared with CPLA patients, CNLA patients tend to have a younger age and are less likely to develop severe inflammatory response and liver insufficiency, with a smaller diameter of abscess which is less likely to be treated by percutaneous drainage, while there is no significant difference in prognosis between CPLA patients and CNLA patients.

Clinical features of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess versus Escherichia coli liver abscess / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of the two most common types of pyogenic liver abscess in clinical practice, Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) and Escherichia coli liver abscess (ECLA), and to provide a reference for early diagnosis and effective treatment. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 371 patients with liver abscess who were admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from March 2005 to July 2018, among whom 145 patients tested positive for pathogen. KPLA patients and ECLA patients were compared in terms of clinical features, laboratory examination, radiological examination, and prognosis. The t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors for prognosis. ResultsAmong the 145 patients that tested positive for pathogen, 66 tested positive for Klebsiella pneumonia and 42 tested positive for Escherichia coli. Compared with the KPLA patients, the ECLA patients tended to have an older age (t=-2.25, P=0.027), biliary diseases (χ2=10.019, P=0.002), a history of abdominal surgery (χ2=27.481, P＜0.001), tumor (χ2=17.745, P＜0.001), and a significantly higher proportion of individuals with recurrent liver abscess (χ2=13745, P＜0.001). KPLA was often observed in patients with diabetes (χ2=17.505, P＜0.001). As for laboratory examination, compared with the KPLA patients, the ECLA patients had a significant increase in total bilirubin (U=880.000, P=0.001) and significant reductions in albumin (t=-2.625, P=0.010) and platelet count (U=1719.000, P=0.036). Radiological examination showed that there was a higher proportion of patients with multiple liver abscess in ECLA (χ2=23.372, P＜0.001), while KPLA often had an abscess diameter of ＞5 cm (χ2=7.637, P=0.006). As for complications, the ECLA patients were more likely to develop pulmonary infection (χ2=18857, P＜0.001) and emphysema (P=0.013). ECLA patients were more likely to have multidrug-resistant organisms, and most patients were treated with antibiotics combined with ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage in both groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score on admission (odds ratio=0.049, 95% confidence interval: 0.026-0.266, P＜0.001) was an influencing factor for prognosis. ConclusionECLA is commonly seen in elderly patients with biliary diseases, with easy recurrence, multiple abscesses on radiological examination, and a high proportion of pulmonary infection and emphysema. There is a high positive rate of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases produced by ECLA, and therefore, antibiotics should be used reasonably in the early stage.

Application of metagenomic next generation sequencing in infectious diseases / 中华临床感染病杂志

Almost all pathogens have DNA or RNA genomes.Theoretically, genomes of pathogens can be effectively detected by sequencing technology , it would be of value for etiological diagnosis of infectious diseases.The next generation sequencing ( NGS) emerged in 2005, the advantages of low cost , high efficiency and high accuracy make it a favorable technical platform for clinical identification of microorganisms.As a new sequencing technique , metagenomic next generation sequencing ( mNGS) has great potential in improving the accuracy and efficiency of pathogenic diagnosis , especially in the areas where conventional diagnostic methods have limitations.This article introduces the common platforms and principle of the high throughput sequencing , reviews the clinical applications and the advantages of mNGS in identification of different pathogenic microorganisms , and reflects on its limitations and seeks possible solutions.

Kaempferol attenuates acute lung injury in mice induced by swine-origin influenza A H9 N2 virus via down-regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国病理生理杂志

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate whether kaempferol protects against acute lung injury induced by swine -origin influenza A H9N2 virus via down-regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway .METHODS:BALB/c mice were used to estab-lish the animal model of acute lung injury by nasal inoculation of swine-origin influenza A H9N2 virus.After the interven-tion with kaempferol , the pulmonary edema was evaluated by determining the lung wet weight /dry weight ( W/D) ratio, the pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed , the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and MDA content in the homogenate of the lung tissues were detected .NF-κB P65 levels were determined by Western blot , and the NF-κB P65 and NF-κB P50 nuclear translocation in the nuclear extracts from mouse lung tissue homogenate was detec-ted by ELISA .RESULTS:Treatment with kaempferol decreased the morality of infected mice , and significantly prolonged the survival time of the infected mice .Kaempferol also relieved the pathological changes of the lung tissues , the lung W/D ratio and the lung index in swine-origin influenza A H9N2 virus-infected mice.Treatment with kaempferol significantly de-creased the infiltration of inflammatory cells including macrophages , lymphocytes and neutrophils in the BALF .The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1βand MDA and the activity of MPO were also decreased .Treatment with kaempferol also significantly increased the SOD activity .NF-κB P65 levels were decreased , and the NF-κB P65 and NF-κB P50 nuclear translocation in the nuclear extracts from the mouse lung tissue homogenate were also decreased by treatment with kaempferol .CONCLU-SION:The protective effect of kaempferol on the mice with acute lung injury induced by swine -origin influenza A H9N2 vi-rus is related to suppression of the oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by down-regulation of NF-κB signaling path-way.

Efficacy and safety of telbivudine alone and combined with adefovir for the treatment of nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B in patients with high-level hepatitis B virus load / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy of telbivudine monotherapy and telbivudine combination therapy with adefovir in patients with nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B, high-level hepatitis B virus (HBV) load and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positivity, and to explore the relationship between treatment regimen adherence and treatment outcomes.</p><p><b>METODS</b>A retrospective study was performed with 123 HBeAg-positive, high-level viral load (HBV DNA≥10(7) copies/ml), nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. Fifty-three of the patients received combination therapy with telbivudine and adefovir dipivoxil,while 70 patients received the telbivudine monotherapy. All patients were tested for rates of conversion to HBV DNA-negative status,alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, HBeAg seroconversion, drug resistance, and side effects at treatment weeks 12, 24, and 48. Treatment regimen adherence was assessed through self-reporting, and interviews were used to explore the relationships to treatment outcomes. The chisquare test, t test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of HBV DNA negative conversion in the combination group at treatment weeks 12, 24 and 48 were 62.3% (33/53), 88.7% (47/53) and 94.3% (50/53) and were significantly different from those in the monotherapy group at weeks 12 and 24.The rates of ALT normalization were significantly different between the two groups at treatment week 12 (94.3% vs. 77.1%). The rate of HBeAg seroconversion in the combination group at treatment week 48 was 39.6%, and significantly different than that of the monotherapy group. The rates of drug-resistance in the combination and monotherapy groups at treatment week 48 were 3.8% and 11.4%, and the proportion of non-adherence to the treatment regimen was 53.3%, which significantly affected treatment outcome. No side effects occurred in either treatment group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Telbivudine combination treatment with adefovir was more effective than telbivudine monotherapy and elicited a low drug resistance rate in nucleos(t)idenaive chronic hepatitis B patients with high-level HBV load and HBeAg-positivity. Adherence to the therapy regimen was a key factor influencing treatment outcomes.</p>

Comparative analysis between ischemic colitis and ulcerative colitis / 中华消化杂志

Objective To study the differences of clinical and histopathologic features between ischemic colitis (IC) and ulcerative colitis (UC), which can make for the differential diagnosis and treatments. Methods Comparative analysis were focused on the clinical and histopathologic data of IC patients (20 cases) and UC patients (30 eases). Results The onset duration of IC [(5±7) d] was significantly shorter than that of UC [(953±1354) d]. IC patients tended to have history of cadiovascular diseases or abdominal surgery (65%). The typical clinical manifestations of IC were sudden onset of abdominal pain (85%), hematochezia (60%)and diarrhea (50%), but UC usually presented with abdominal pain (83%), diarrhea (63%), bloody mucopurulent stool (57%) and tenesmus (20%). Colonoscopy showed longitudinal ulceration (60%)on the mesenteric side, the segmental lesions usually involved only 1/4-1/2 of the perimeter of the lumen (80%), and the boundary of lesions was clear (75%) in IC patients. On the contrary, the ulcer of UC was usually map-like (43%), the lesions usually involved the entire lumen (90%), and the pseudopolyp (37%) was another colonoscopic feature of UC. The histopathologic study revealed that dilation and hyperaemia of vessels (90%) were common in IC. Severe edema of mucosa (95%) was usually presented in IC, and the thickened vascular wall (50%) was the histopathologic characteristic of IC.Crypt abscesses (47%) usually appeared in UC. Conclusions The histopathologic characteristics and differences of colonoscopic findings and clinical features provide strong bases for the differentialdiagnosis between IC and UC.

Influences of Ca~(2+) antagonist on the mRNA levels of L-type Ca_(2+) channel and Na~+ -Ca~(2+) exchanger in the atria of hypertensive rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To investigate the mRNA changes of L-type Ca~(2+) channel ?_(1C) subunit (CaL-?_(1C)) and Na~+-Ca~(2+) exchanger (NCX) in the atria of renovascular hypertensive rats. METHODS: Two-kidney one-clip Goldblatt hypertensive Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups 1 week after operation, HD group was treated with 250 mg/d diltiazem, LD group was treated with 50 mg/d diltiazem, control group (C group) was treated with vehicle. After 4 weeks treatment, semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to estimate the mRNA changes of CaL-?_(1C) and NCX, and GAPDH was used as internal control. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure in LD group was comparable with C group, and that in HD group was decreased to normal level after diltiazem treatment. In C group, CaL-?_(1C) mRNA level were 2.5, 2.4 and 2.1 times of S, HD and LD group, and NCX mRNA level were 1.9, 1.6 and 2.1 times of S, HD and LD group. There were no significant difference in the mRNA level of CaL-?_(1C) and NCX among S, HD and LD group. CONCLUSION: The mRNA levels of CaL-?_(1C) and NCX are upregulated in the atria of hypertensive rats. Ca~(2+) antagonist inhibits their upregulation independent of blood pressure.