Association Between Blood PLT and RBC Related Indices and Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Platelet (PLT) and red blood cell (RBC) have been demonstrated to play a critical role in inflammatory processes. This study aimed to evaluate the association of blood PLT and RBC related parameters with the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and also to investigate the role of these indices in differentiating among RA patients with different disease activity. METHODS: Clinical data from RA patients were retrospectively analyzed. RA patients were divided into inactive group and active group according to DAS28-CRP. The relationship between blood PLT and RBC counts-related indices and DAS28-CRP was detected by Spearman correlation. ROC curve was used to assess the diagnostic value of these indices in differentiating active RA from inactive RA. RESULTS: Active RA patients exhibited higher level of PLT counts but significantly lower levels of RBC counts, hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells-platelet ratio (RPR) and hemoglobin-platelet ratio (HPR) compared with inactive RA. PLT counts were positively but RBC counts, Hb, RPR and HPR were negatively related with DAS28-CRP. CONCLUSION: Blood PLT and RBC related indices were significantly associated with RA disease activity. These indices may be used to distinguish active RA from inactive RA.

Plasma fibrinogen, D-dimer, and fibrin degradation product as biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aimed to assess the association of coagulation-related indicators such as plasma fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer, and fibrin degradation product (FDP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the disease activity. Data from 105 RA patients and 102 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were collected in the retrospective study. Disease activity score in 28 joints based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) was used to divide RA patients into low activity group (DAS28-CRP ≤ 2.7) and active group (DAS28-CRP > 2.7). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to determine area under the curve (AUC). The association between plasma FIB, D-dimer, and FDP and DAS28-CRP was evaluated by spearman correlation. Logistical regression analysis was used to identify the independent variables associated with RA disease activity. RA patients showed higher levels of plasma FIB, D-dimer, and FDP than the controls (P < 0.01). Plasma FIB, D-dimer, and FDP were also increased in active groups of RA patients than those in inactive groups (P < 0.001). ROC curve analyses revealed that the AUC of D-dimer was higher than erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and rheumatoid factor (RF), and that of FDP was higher than RF in RA patients. In addition, the optimal cut-off value of plasma FIB, D-dimer, and FDP for RA diagnosis was 286 mg/dL, 470 µg/L, and 1.45 mg/L, respectively. Spearman analysis showed that plasma FIB, D-dimer, and FDP were positively related with DAS28-CRP (P < 0.001) in RA patients. Logistical regression analysis showed that D-dimer (odds ratio 2.862, 95% confidence interval 1.851-5.426, P < 0.001) was an independent variable associated with RA disease activity. FIB, D-dimer, and FDP were increased in RA patients and positively correlated with the disease activity of RA. D-dimer may act as a novel inflammatory indice for indicating disease activity in RA patients.

Parallel Validation of the NG-Test Carba 5 and the Xpert Carba-R for Detection and Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Causing Bloodstream Infections.

The rapid detection and characterization of carbapenemases in isolates of Enterobacterales are crucial for precise antibiotic administration and infection control. This article reports the findings from a parallel evaluation of the NG-Test Carba 5 (NG Biotech, Guipry, France) and Xpert Carba-R (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA) assays in the detection and differentiation of five carbapenemases [imipenem-resistant phenotype (IMP), Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase, New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM), oxacillin-hydrolyzing ß-lactamase (OXA)-48-like, and Verona integron-encoded metallo-ß-lactamase] or the genes that encode them. A total of 122 isolates recovered from blood cultures and 106 positive blood culture broth (BCB) specimens, including 134 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 54 Escherichia coli, 27 Enterobacter cloacae, 8 Klebsiella oxytoca, 2 Klebsiella aerogenes, and 3 Citrobacter freundii, were collected from two tertiary hospitals (Xi'an, China). Using PCR sequencing techniques, 89 isolates and 29 BCB specimens were determined to be Enterobacterales harboring carbapenem-resistance genes. In comparison to the PCR sequencing results, the specificities with both the NG-Test Carba 5 and Xpert Carba-R assays were 100%; the sensitivities were 92.1% and 100%, respectively, for recovered isolates and 79.3% and 100% for BCB specimens. The NG-Test Carba 5 missed eight NDM, four OXA-48-like, and one IMP ß-lactamases in specimens containing two or three carbapenemase types. In summary, the NG-Test Carba 5 assay may yield false-negative results if isolates or BCB specimens contain two or three carbapenemases.

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors of blood stream infections after orthopedic surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria in patients with blood stream infections (BSI) after orthopedic surgery, so as to provide reference and basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 6 348 orthopedic patients admitted for surgery between January 2017 and December 2019. There were 3 598 males and 2 750 females. Their age ranged from 18 to 98 years, with an average of 66 years. The data of patients were collected, and the risk factors of BSI were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. The distribution of BSI pathogenic bacteria, the results of drug sensitivity test, the incidence of BSI in patients after orthopedic surgery in different years, and the common sites of BSI secondary infection were summarized. RESULTS: BSI occurred in 106 (1.67%) of 6 348 patients after orthopedic surgery. There were 71 cases (66.98%) of secondary infection. The mortality of postoperative BSI patients was 1.89%, and the difference was significant when compared with that of non-postoperative BSI patients (0.24%) ( χ 2=5.313, P=0.021). The incidences of BSI in 2017, 2018, and 2019 were 1.18%, 1.53%, and 2.17%, respectively, showing an increasing trend year by year (trend χ 2=6.610, P=0.037). Statistical analysis showed that the independent risk factors for BSI after orthopedic surgery ( P<0.05) included the trauma, length of hospital stay≥14 days, emergency surgery, postoperative leukocyte counting<4×10 9/L, level of hemoglobin≤90 g/L, albumin≤30 g/L, the time of indwelling ureter>24 hours, use of deep vein catheter insertion, and merging other site infection. Blood culture showed 56 strains (52.83%) of Gram-positive bacteria, 47 strains (44.34%) of Gram-negative bacteria, and 3 strains (2.83%) of fungi. The top three pathogenic bacteria were coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS; 36 strains, 33.96%), Escherichia coli (16 strains, 15.09%), and Staphylococcus aureus (15 strains, 14.15%). The detection rates of extended-spectum ß-lactamases producing strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 56.25% (9/16) and 44.44% (4/9), respectively. The detection rates of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus and CNS were 46.67% (7/15) and 72.22% (26/36), respectively. CONCLUSION: Postoperative BSI in orthopedic patients is caused by multiple factors. Preventive measures should be taken according to related risk factors and perioperative risk assessment should be strengthened. Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli are the most common pathogenic bacteria in BSI after orthopedic surgery. The infection rate and drug-resistant bacteria are increasing year by year. Therefore, drug resistance monitoring should be strengthened.

Impact of Combined Theory-Based Intervention on Psychological Effects and Physical Activity among Chinese Adolescents.

PURPOSE: The current study was intended to assess the effect of a facilitated behavioral intervention based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) on psychological constructs and physical activity among adolescents over a period of eight weeks. METHODS: Students (n = 51, 12 ± 0.3 years of age) in the seventh grade at a junior middle school in China were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention group (n = 24) and the control group (n = 27). Both groups were pre- and post-tested with the related psychological constructs of the extended TPB, along with behavioral measures of the Physical Activity Scale and ActiGraph accelerometer (model wGT3X-BT). The intervention group took part in 45 min classes once per week for 8 weeks, including five indoor theoretical courses and three outdoor basketball matches. The control group was not required to make any change to their normal school day. Also, 2 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare the differences between the two groups, and then t-test was employed to compare the independent and paired differences. RESULTS: Significant increases in pre-post subjective norms (SN) (p = 0.041, Cohen's d = 0.62), perceived behavior control (PBC) (p = 0.023, Cohen's d = 0.72), exercise intention (EI) (p = 0.043, Cohen's d = 0.61), and self-efficacy (SE) (p = 0.035, Cohen's d = 1.36) were observed in the intervention group. In addition, participants in the intervention group increased their exercise frequency (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.25) and intensity (p = 0.028, Cohen's d = 0.68), especially their time spent on light intensity physical activity (light-PA%; p = 0.031, Cohen's d = 0.68), and their percentage of sedentary time (SB%) was also reduced (from 68% ± 10% to 58% ± 7%, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.17). Furthermore, the intervention group showed significantly better performance in PBC (p = 0.032, Cohen's d = 0.62), EI (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.32), SE (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.15), SB% (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.22), light-PA% (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.12), and total physical activity (TPA) (p = 0.015, Cohen's d = 0.72) compared to the control group at the post-test. No significant pre post differences were observed for any psychological or behavioral variables in the control group, except for exercise frequency, but the values were still lower than those in the intervention group after the 8-week intervention (3.70 ± 0.72 versus 3.92 ± 0.83). CONCLUSION: The combined theory-based intervention was effective at improving psychological constructs and physical activity among seventh-grade adolescents in 8 weeks.

Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology of Invasive Group B Streptococcus Disease among Infants, China.

Invasive group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of illness and death among infants globally. We conducted prospective and retrospective laboratory-based surveillance of GBS-positive cultures from infants <3 months of age in 18 hospitals across China during January 1, 2015-December 31, 2017. The overall incidence of GBS was 0.31 (95% CI 0.27-0.36) cases/1,000 live births; incidence was 0-0.76 cases/1,000 live births across participating hospitals. The case-fatality rate was 2.3%. We estimated 13,604 cases of GBS and 1,142 GBS-associated deaths in infants <90 days of age annually in China. GBS isolates were most commonly serotype III (61.5%) and clonal complex 17 (40.6%). Enhanced active surveillance and implementation of preventive strategies, such as maternal GBS vaccination, warrants further investigation in China to help prevent these infections.

Disease burden and antimicrobial resistance of invasive group B streptococcus among infants in China: a protocol for a national prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a cause of neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis that can lead to neurological sequelae in infants less than 3 months of age. The GBS disease burden is not known in China, therefore it cannot receive major attention. The main objectives of this study are the evaluation of the incidence of neonatal GBS infection, GBS case-fatality ratio, its serotypes and genotypes, bacterial resistance, clinical treatment and outcomes in China. METHODS: We are conducting a nation-wide, population-based, multi-center, prospective, observational cohort study in China from May 2016 to December 2017. Eighteen large urban tertiary care hospitals from 16 provinces were selected that cover the eastern, southern, western, northern and central regions of China. Meanwhile, we retrospectively collected data and GBS strains from January 2015 to April 2016 from selected hospitals. The incidence rate per 1000 live births will be defined as the total number of confirmed GBS cases born in the selected hospitals divided by the number of live births in the hospitals during the study period. All GBS cases detected in selected hospitals will be used to calculate the case-fatality ratio and for the typing analysis. GBS isolates will be serotyped using the Strep-B-Latex® rapid latex agglutination test for serotyping of Group B streptococci. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) will be performed by sequencing the internal fragments of seven house-keeping genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility will be tested per interpretive standards established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The presence of the common resistance genes ermA, ermB, mefA, tetI, tetO and tetM will be tested by PCR. DISCUSSION: We are conducting the first national study to estimate the invasive GBS disease burden and antimicrobial resistance of GBS among infants in China. Study findings will provide important evidence for improving clinical practice to ensure timely diagnosis of GBS disease and decisions for preventive measures. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance will promote the rational use of antimicrobials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov on June 13, 2016. It was granted a registration number of "NCT02812576".

Probiotics may delay the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by restoring the gut microbiota structure and improving intestinal endotoxemia.

Gut-derived bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and subsequent hepatic toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation have been recognized to be involved in the onset of diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but little is known about the variation of LPS and TLR4 during the progression of NAFLD. Probiotics were able to inhibit proliferation of harmful bacteria and improve gastrointestinal barrier function. However, it's unclear whether LPS/TLR4 is involved in the protection effect of probiotics on NAFLD. In this study, we described characteristic of gut microbiota structure in the progression of NAFLD, and we also analyzed the relationship between gut microbiota and LPS/TLR4 in this process. Furthermore, we applied probiotics intervention to investigate the effect of probiotics on gut flora structure, intestinal integrity, serum LPS, liver TLR4 and liver pathology. Our results showed that serum LPS and liver TLR4 were highly increased during progression of NAFLD, with gut flora diversity and gut mircobiological colonization resistance (B/E) declining. Furthermore, probiotics could improve gut microbiota structure and liver pathology. Probiotics could also downregulate serum LPS and liver TLR4. Our results suggested that both gut flora alteration and endotoxemia may be involved in the progression of NAFLD. Probiotics may delay the progression of NAFLD via LPS/TLR4 signaling.