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.

Research progress on the relationship between low-density neutrophils and infectious diseases / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

Neutrophils play an important role in infectious diseases by clearing pathogens in the early stages of the disease and damaging the surrounding tissues along with the disease progress. Low-density neutrophils (LDNs) are a crucial and distinct subpopulation of neutrophils. They are a mixture of activated and degranulated normal mature neutrophils and a considerable number of immature neutrophils prematurely released from the bone marrow. Additionally, they may be involved in the occurrence and development of diseases through the changes in phagocytosis, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the enhancement of the ability to produce neutrophils extracellular traps and immunosuppression. We summarizes the role of LDNs in the pathogenesis and their correlation with the severity of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), AIDS, and tuberculosis.

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.

Mechanism of gamma-chain cytokines in regulating the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 in CD8+ T cells of chronic hepatitis B patients / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of gamma-chain (γC) cytokines in regulating the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) in CD8+ T cells of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. MethodsA total of 23 CHB patients who attended Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, from January to May, 2017, were enrolled. Peripheral blood was collected from all patients, and Ficoll density gradient centrifugation was used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were stimulated with interleukin-7 (IL-7), interleukin-15 (IL-15), and interleukin-21, respectively, and then anti-γC antibody and/or anti-IL-7Rα, anti-IL-2Rβ, and anti-IL-21R were added to the culture solution. After 96 hours of culture, flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of TIM-3, interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon-γ (IFNγ) and the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) in CD8+ T cells. A one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference t-test were used for comparison of continuous data. ResultsThe CD8+ T cells stimulated by IL-7 and IL-15 had a significantly higher percentage of TIM-3-positive CD8+ T cells than those without stimulation (t=9.966 and 9074, P＜0.05), as well as significantly higher expression levels of IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ and phosphorylation levels of STAT-5 and STAT-1 (all P＜0.05). Stimulation with anti-IL-7Rα and anti-γC antibody significantly reduced the elevated expression levels of TIM-3, IL-2, and IL-10 in the IL-7 stimulation group (t=5.537, 6.224, and 4.500, P＜0.05). Stimulation with anti-IL-2Rβ alone or in combination with anti-γC antibody significantly reduced the expression levels of TIM-3 and IL-2 and the phosphorylation level of STAT-1 in the IL-15 stimulation group (P ＜0.05). ConclusionIL-7 and IL-15 can upregulate the expression of TIM-3 in CD8+ T cells of CHB patients, possibly via the γC receptor-mediated STAT-cytokine signaling pathway.

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.

IN VITRO EVALUATION ON THE EFFECTS OF PLANT PROTEIN MAP30 AGAINST HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 / 解放军医学杂志

To evaluate the inhibitive effect of plant protein MAP30 (momordica anti-HIV protein of 30kDa), AZT (3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine) , ACV (acyclovir) and IFN-?2a (interferon-?2a) against HIV-1 in vitro, MT4 was used as the target cell and the inhibitive effects of these drugs on HIV-1 P24 expression were investigated by ELISA. The inhibitory effect of these drugs on HIV-1-induced cytopathy was also evaluated. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC 50) of MAP30 was 0.9?mol/L. In comparison, the IC 50 for AZT , a commonly used anti-HIV drug, was 0.7?mol/L. The cytopathic effect induced by HIV-1 was also inhibited by MAP30 and AZT. ACV and IFN-?2a showed little effect on HIV-1. All these results strongly indicated that plant protein MAP30 could obviously inhibit HIV-1 replication in vitro.