Causative Microorganisms Isolated from Patients with Intra-Abdominal Infections and Their Drug Resistance Profiles: An 11-Year (2011-2021) Single-Center Retrospective Study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of causative microorganisms recovered from patients with intra-abdominal infections (IAIs).@*METHODS@#A total of 2,926 bacterial and fungal strains were identified in samples collected from 1,679 patients with IAIs at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2011 and 2021. Pathogenic bacteria and fungi were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using the VITEK 2 compact system and the Kirby-Bauer method. AST results were interpreted based on the M100-Ed31 clinical breakpoints of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.@*RESULTS@#Of the 2,926 strains identified, 49.2%, 40.8%, and 9.5% were gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and fungi, respectively. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent pathogen in intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients; however, a significant decrease was observed in the isolation of E. coli between 2011 and 2021. Specifically, significant decreases were observed between 2011 and 2021 in the levels of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli (from 76.9% to 14.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (from 45.8% to 4.8%). Polymicrobial infections, particularly those involving co-infection with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, were commonly observed in IAI patients. Moreover, Candida albicans was more commonly isolated from hospital-associated IAI samples, while Staphylococcus epidermidis had a higher ratio in community-associated IAIs. Additionally, AST results revealed that most antimicrobial agents performed better in non-ESBL-producers than in ESBL-producers, while the overall resistance rates (56.9%-76.8%) of Acinetobacter baumanmii were higher against all antimicrobial agents than those of other common gram-negative bacteria. Indeed, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, S. epidermidis, and S. aureus were consistently found to be susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin, and linezolid. Similarly, C. albicans exhibited high susceptibility to all the tested antifungal drugs.@*CONCLUSION@#The distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of the causative microorganisms from patients with IAIs were altered between 2011 and 2021. This finding is valuable for the implementation of evidence-based antimicrobial therapy and provides guidance for the control of hospital infections.

Long-term outcome of 48 unoperated adult patients with Ebstein's anomaly / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To analyze the long-term outcome of unoperated Ebstein's anomaly (EA) patients aged over 18 years, and to evaluate the related factor of outcomes. Methods: The data of 48 unoperated EA patients from March 2004 to December 2008 in the First Hospital of Tsinghua University, were analyzed. The clinical data of the patients were collected, and patients received regular echocardiography, ECG and chest X-ray examinations. Septal leaflet attachment ratio (SLAr) was calculated based on transthoracic echocardiography imagines. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to SLAr: SLAr<0.45 (n=18), 0.45≤SLAr≤0.60 (n=21) and SLAr>0.60 (n=9). Chest X-ray was used for measurement of cardiothoracic ratio (CTR). Kaplan Meier survival curve was used to calculate the long-term survival rate. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of death. Results: There were 19 males, and the mean age at diagnosis was (21.3±11.1) years. Forty-two patients (87.5%) were complicated with arrhythmia, including W-P-W syndrome (n=4), supraventricular tachycardia (n=16), right bundle branch block (n=37), and atrial fibrillation (n=2). The mean duration of follow-up was (148.8±16.8) months, the follow-up rate was 100% with no loss-to-follow up. Nine cases (18.8%) died during follow-up: 6 cases (12.5%) died of cardiac origin, including 3 cases of heart failure, 1 case of arrhythmia, and 2 cases of sudden death; 1 case died of accident; 2 cases died from unknown causes. During the follow-up period, the survival rates were 17/18, 19/21 (90.5%) and 3/9 in the SLAr<0.45, 0.45≤SLAr≤0.60 and SLAr>0.60 group, respectively. According to Kaplan-Meier survival curve, the 5-year survival rates among the three groups were 100%, 100% and 78%, respectively. The 10-year survival rates among the three groups were 94%, 95% and 44%, respectively. Decreased activity tolerance and heart failure were found in 7 patients (6 patients in SLAr>0.60 group and 1 patient in 0.45≤SLAr≤0.60 group). Two patients had cerebrovascular embolism. There were 3 cases with tachyarrhythmia lasting more than 24 hours. Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of death was higher in patients with SLAr>0.60 than in patients with SLAr<0.45 (HR=12.375, 95%CI 1.692-22.146, P=0.015); the risk of death in patients with CTR≥0.65 was 1.306 times higher than that in patients with CTR<0.65 (HR=1.306, 95%CI 0.417-12.754, P=0.038). Conclusions: EA patients often combines with arrhythmia. For unoperated EA patients, SLAr>0.60 and CTR≥0.65 are risk factors of death. EA patients with arrhythmia should be actively treated with drugs or radiofrequency ablation.

Discovery of cytochrome P450 enzymes-inhibiting components in traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

With the widespread use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the integration of TCM and western medicine, drug-drug interaction(DDI) is considered as a major cause of therapeutic failures and side effects. Cytochrome P450 enzymes(CYPs) are responsible for large number of drug metabolism. CYP3 A4 and CYP2 D6, two important CYP isoforms, are responsible for about 80% drug metabolism of CYPs super family. The inhibition of CYPs is likely to be the most common factor leading to adverse DDI. Therefore, it is of great significance to predict potential CYP3 A4 and CYP2 D6 inhibitors to prevent the DDI. A fast and low-cost me-thod for calculating and predicting CYP inhibiting components was established in this paper, namely support vector machine(SVM) and molecular docking technology which are used to predict and screen drugs. Firstly, 12 qualitative models of two targets were established by using SVM, and the optimal model was selected to predict the compounds in traditional Chinese medicine database(TCMD). Then, molecular docking technology was used to establish docking model. By analyzing the key amino acids involved in drug-target interactions and combining with SVM model, potential inhibitors of CYP3 A4 and CYP2 D6 were found. From the computational results, astin D and epiberberine exhibited inhibition effect on CYP3 A4 and CYP2 D6, respectively. Astin D was only found in astins family from Aster tataricus, while epiberberine was considered to be the active constituent of Coptidis Rhizoma. Therefore, for the risk of DDI, extra attention should be paid to the source of these potential inhibitors, Asteris Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma. This computational method provides technical support for discovering potential natural inhibitors of CYPs from Chinese herbs by using SVM and molecular docking model, and it is also helpful to recognize the CYPs-mediated DDI existing in TCM, providing research ideas for further pharmacovigilance of integrated therapy.

Overall Evaluation and Management of 8 Instruments in Emergency Laboratory Using 6σ Quality Standard / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To evaluate and improve overall quality detection of 8 instruments in emergency laboratory using 6σ quality standard.Methods In 2017,collected both internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assessment (EQA) data of 46 assay items from 8 instruments in their laboratory,and then calculated their σ values and total allowed errors ac cording to CLIA'88 standards.By comparison of their quality goal index (QGI) between first and second half year of 2017,successfully elevated assayquality using strategy (man,machine,material,method,measurment and enviroment).Results For all 46 assay items (except NT-proBNP without second EQA data),made better improvement of detection of 34 (75.6 ％ of 6σ qualified),38(84.4％ of 5σ qualified),40(88.9％ of 4σ qualified),44 (97.8％ of 3σ qualified) and 1 (2.2％ of 2～3σ qualified) items,respectively whereas there were 27 (58.7％ of 6σ qualified),30 (65.2％ of 5σ qualified),35 (76.1％ of 4σ qualified),41 (89.1％ of 3σ qualified) and 5 (10.9％ of 2～3σ qualified) items before improvement.Conclusion Using 6σ quality standard,could make more progress in the laboratory for many respects:fast and accurate clinical reports,reducing reinspection rate,and increasing patient's satisfactory,etc.

Treatment of dry eye with artificial tears gel combined with diclofenac sodium eye drops / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To study on the clinical curative effect of artificial tear gel combined with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops for the treatment of xeroma. Methods 62 cases of patients from March 2014 to December 2015 were grouped and treated with different methods, After the treatment, the content of the evaluation index was statistically analyzed. Results The treatment of artificial tear gel combined with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops total effective rate of treatment was 93.55% in the control group than the treatment with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops 80.65% (P<0.05); the cure rate of the observation group, fluorescein staining rate, the normal rate of tear secretion, tear normal rate was better than the control group (P<0.05); all have statistical significance. Conclusion Xeroma were treated by artificial tears treatment gel combined with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops, higher cure rate and total effective rate of treatment can be obtained, has a high therapeutic value, Worthy of clinical popularization and Application.

Treatment of dry eye with artificial tears gel combined with diclofenac sodium eye drops / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To study on the clinical curative effect of artificial tear gel combined with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops for the treatment of xeroma. Methods 62 cases of patients from March 2014 to December 2015 were grouped and treated with different methods, After the treatment, the content of the evaluation index was statistically analyzed. Results The treatment of artificial tear gel combined with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops total effective rate of treatment was 93.55% in the control group than the treatment with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops 80.65% (P<0.05); the cure rate of the observation group, fluorescein staining rate, the normal rate of tear secretion, tear normal rate was better than the control group (P<0.05); all have statistical significance. Conclusion Xeroma were treated by artificial tears treatment gel combined with Diclofenac Sodium Eye Drops, higher cure rate and total effective rate of treatment can be obtained, has a high therapeutic value, Worthy of clinical popularization and Application.

Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Operation of Ebstein's Anomaly: A Retrospective Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ebstein's anomaly (EA) has various spectrums in clinical and anatomic features. This study aimed to report the experience of two-dimensional intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (2D-ITEE) during the EA surgery and to analyze the characteristics of the tricuspid valve (TV) by comparing the data from 2D-ITEE with the results from the surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>2D-ITEE data of 164 patients with EA who were operated in the First Hospital of Tsinghua University between July 2004 and April 2014 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. 2D-ITEE was applied in all patients. Downward displacement distances were measured, and the numbers of downward displacement or absent leaflets were compared with that of the surgery and with that of the two-dimensional-transthoracic echocardiogram (2D-TTE). Data comparison was performed using the Chi-square test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The anterior leaflet partial or total downward displacement was 37.76 ± 17.50 mm in 54 cases, absent in one patient; septal leaflet downward displacement was 29.07 ± 12.34 mm in 134 cases, absent in 17 cases; and posterior leaflet downward displacement was 43.18 ± 19.16 mm in 115 cases, absent in 34 cases. Statistically, there was no significant difference between the results from 2D-ITEE and that of 2D-TTE. The consistency rates of 2D-ITEE with operation for septal and posterior leaflets were 93.2% and 96.1%, respectively, while the rate for anterior was only 40.1%, which was significantly different. Color Doppler flow image showed severe regurgitation in 150 cases and moderate in 14 cases. After surgical correction, moderate regurgitation of TV was found in 58 cases with 2D-ITEE, repair was performed again until the effect was satisfied. No complication occurred relating to the use of 2D-ITEE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>2D-ITEE could help diagnose anterior leaflet, evaluate the effect of TV repair, increase operational success rate, and reduce complication.</p>

Clinical Observation of Edaravone Combined with Butyl Phthalide in the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To observe clinical efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with butyl phthalide in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS:258 AIS patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 129 cases in each group. Both groups were given routine treatment as antiplatelet,improving microcirculation,controlling blood pressure,lowering blood glucose,regulating blood lipid,keeping plaque stable,nourishing brain cells. Control group was additionally given Butyl phthalide capsules orally,200 mg,tid. Observation group was additionally given Edaravone injection 30 mg added into Sodium chloride injection 100 ml,ivgtt,bid,on the basis of control group. Both groups continuously received 14 days of treatment. The serum inflammatory factor,miR-222 and neurologic impairment score of 2 groups were observed before treatment,7,14 d after treatment. Clinical efficacies and the occurrence of ADR were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS:There was no statistical significance in the serum inflammatory factor,miR-222 and neurologic impairment score between 2 groups before treatment(P>0.05). The serum inflammatory factor and neurologic impairment score of 2 groups were decreased significant-ly 7,14 d after treatment,while serum levels of miR-222 were increased significantly;the observation group was significantly bet-ter than the control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). Total effective rate of observation group was 92.2%,which was significantly higher than that of control group (69.8%),with statistical significance (P<0.05). No obvious ADR was found in 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS:Edaravone combined with butyl phthalide is effective in the treatment of AIS,and can significantly de-crease serum inflammatory factor level,promote the expression of miR-222 and improve neurologic function with good safety.

The role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and calcineurin in TNF-α-induced myocardial hypertrophy

We investigated whether Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and calcineurin (CaN) are involved in myocardial hypertrophy induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The cardiomyocytes of neonatal Wistar rats (1-2 days old) were cultured and stimulated by TNF-α (100 μg/L), and Ca2+ signal transduction was blocked by several antagonists, including BAPTA (4 µM), KN-93 (0.2 µM) and cyclosporin A (CsA, 0.2 µM). Protein content, protein synthesis, cardiomyocyte volumes, [Ca2+]i transients, CaMKIIδB and CaN were evaluated by the Lowry method, [³H]-leucine incorporation, a computerized image analysis system, a Till imaging system, and Western blot analysis, respectively. TNF-α induced a significant increase in protein content in a dose-dependent manner from 10 µg/L (53.56 µg protein/well) to 100 μg/L (72.18 µg protein/well), and in a time-dependent manner from 12 h (37.42 µg protein/well) to 72 h (42.81 µg protein/well). TNF-α (100 μg/L) significantly increased the amplitude of spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients, the total protein content, cell size, and [³H]-leucine incorporation in cultured cardiomyocytes, which was abolished by 4 µM BAPTA, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator. The increases in protein content, cell size and [³H]-leucine incorporation were abolished by 0.2 µM KN-93 or 0.2 µM CsA. TNF-α increased the expression of CaMKIIδB by 35.21% and that of CaN by 22.22% compared to control. These effects were abolished by 4 µM BAPTA, which itself had no effect. These results suggest that TNF-α induces increases in [Ca2+]i, CaMKIIδB and CaN and promotes cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, we hypothesize that the Ca2+/CaMKII- and CaN-dependent signaling pathways are involved in myocardial hypertrophy induced by TNF-α.

Calcineurin contributed to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether calcineurin (CaN) contribute to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The protein content was assayed with lowry's method. The cardiomyocytes volumes were measured by computer photograph analysis system. The protein synthesis was assayed with [3H]-leucine incorporation method. [Ca2+]i transient was measured by Till image system by cell-loading Fura-2/AM. The expression of CaN was determined by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) (CsA (0.2 micromol/L), a selective CaN inhibitor, significantly suppressed the increase of protein content, [3H]-leucine incorporation and cell size induced by TNF-alpha. (2) CsA (0.2 micromol/L) significantly suppressed the elevation of the amplitude of the spontaneous Ca2+ transients induced by TNF-alpha in cultured ventricular myocytes from the neonatal rat. (3) TNF-alpha significantly increased the expression of CaN.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ca(2+) -CaN signaling pathway are involved in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by TNF-alpha in rats.</p>