Objective To explore the clinical, MRI features and relation of them in children with transverse myelitis. Methods We analyse retrospectively the clinical and MRI features of 10 patients with transverse myelitis. Results 6 patients with prodromal period had lower limbs and quadriplegia. Most of them had dysfunction of superficial sense and sphincter, and the former was light and recovered quickly. The T2WI in all 10 patients shows high intensity, with blurry border. Only 4 patients of them had light augmentation on spinal cord. We found no relationship of the traumatic range or augmentation of spinal cord and the prognosis (P0.05). Conclusion In children with transverse myelitis, the T2WI is the most sensitive, credible and differential non-traumatic examinational procedure. It seems that children patients have different features compared to adults. For children patients, they have slight sensory disturbance and recover quickly. Not all patients show augmentation on spinal cord. It may has the South North regional difference.

ABSTRACT:To understand the species distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM ) in Fujian Province of China , we collected clinical Mycobacterium isolates in the Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital from 2009 to 2012 .A total of 6 362 clinical My‐cobacteria isolates were identified as 5 713 (89 .8% ) M .tuberculosis complex and 649 (10 .2% ) NTM strains by conventional identification method .Then ,by means of hsp65‐and rpoB‐PCR‐RFLP methods ,649 NTM strains were identified as 24 spe‐cies or complex of NTM ,in which the top three species or complex with the highest occurrence frequency were M .intracellular , M .avium and M .abscessus ,accounting for 48 .5% ,21 .3% and 12 .5% respectively .The prevalence rate of NTM was 10 .2%among Mycobacterium culture‐positive patients .There are lots of NTM species infecting human being ,and the most prevalence NTM species was M .avium complex accounting for 67 .8% in Fujian Province .

We evaluated clinical application effect of gene chip for detection of rifampin (RFP) and isoniazid (INH) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).Rifampin and isoniazid drug-resistance gene loci were detected by gene chip with sputum specimens from smear-positive tuberculosis patients and clinical strains,comparing the results of detection.BACTEC MGIT 960 drug susceptibility test results were used as control to evaluate the detection performance of gene chip.The sequences of the polymerase chain reaction products of the rpoB,katG and inhA genes from 999 strains identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis were determined to confirm the mutations by DNA sequencing.Results showed that 100 cases were identified as nontuberculous mycobacteria by gene chip in the 1 108 cases of smear-positive samples.Among the rest 1 008 samples,there were only 9 cases of microarray results different from BACTEC MGIT960 culture-positive strains,achieving the coincidences of 99.1％.Compared with BACTEC MGIT 960 drug susceptibility test results,the gene chip method displayed a concordance of 98.1 ％ and 94.5 ％ for RFP and INH respectively in the 999 strains.Compared with the DNA sequencing method,the accuracy of gene chip method was 99.6％ for rifampin resistance and 99.8％ for isoniazid resistance.It's concluded that the gene chip technology can quickly and accurately detect rifampin and isoniazid resistance in MTB and can be used directly for the detection of sputum samples.

The Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus (M.chelonae/abscessus) complex belongs to the rapidly growing genus Mycobacterium (RGM).It is one of the most important pathogenic members of Mycobacterium leading to nosocomial infections and outbreaks.It includes members of M.chelonae,M.immnunogenum,M.abscessus,M.massiliense,and M.bolletii.In order to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of the M.chelonae/abscessus complex in China and to conduct the molecular methods for species identification of M.chelonae/abscessus,we collected clinical M.chelonae/abscessus complex strains identified by phenotypic tests.Members were verified by sequencing of 16S rRNA,Species and subspecies were identified by hsp65 and rpoB PCR RFLP methods.In total,27 clinical specimens were identified as Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus complex by phenotypic tests.16s rRNA gene sequence analysis of all 27 clinical samples shared over 99.7％ similarity with M.chelonae and M.abscessus.Species identification with hsp65 PCR-RFLP and rpoB PCR-RFLP revealed that 18 specimens were M.abscessus and 4 were M.absecces.The remaining 5 samples displayed a pattern that failed to match any previously reported pattern.Thus,this might represent a novel species that is part of the Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus complex.We identified that a majority of the chronic lung infection in China is caused by the M.chelonae/abscessus complex.Specifically,the M.abscessus species might be the most infectious,while other species in the complex can still cause infection.Interestingly,there may be a novel or previously unidentified species that is a part of the complex.Finally,we show that species identification can be carried out more accurately by combined use of hsp65 and rpoB PCR-RFLP.

To explore the application of protein fingerprint technique and differential diagnosis in bacteriological negative pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia ,60 patients with bacteriological negative pulmonary tuberculosis ,60 patients with pneumonia ,and 60 healthy volunteers were selected from known clinical cases .Surface strengthening laser desorption ioniza-tion time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI ToF Ms) and protein chip technology were applied to detect serum proteins ,and analyze their protein peaks by Ciphergen protein chip 3 .1 .1 software .Comparison of the serum protein fingerprinting data from the pool of 180 patients and healthy volunteers showed significant difference in 5 protein peaks (1 028 .49 ,4 796 .56 ,7 564 .77 , 8 048 .02 ,and 11 526 .75 m/z) identified between pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia (P<0 .01) .The total effective rate of the 5 protein peaks as a diagnosis model for differential diagnosis of bacteriological negative pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia was 84 .2% (101/120) ,the specificity was 82 .5% (52/63) ,the sensitivity was 85 .9% (49/57) ,the positive pre-dictive value was 86 .7% (52/60) ,and the negative predictive value was 81 .7% (49/60) .The total effective rate of the diagno-sis model for differential diagnosis of bacteriological negative pulmonary tuberculosis ,pneumonia and healthy volunteers was 89 .4% (161/180) .The specificity was 100% (60/60) ,the sensitivity was 84 .2% (101/120) ,the positive predictive value was 100% (101/101) ,and the negative predictive value was 75 .9% (60/79) .Protein fingerprinting technology is advanta-geous of being a simple method ,quick detection ,and requires less amount of sample .It is an effective means to screening the tuberculosis specific markers .We found the good diagnosis model through the detection of serum protein by protein fingerprint-ing technology .

Objective To optimize the experimental system of dual molecular beacon to rapidly detect My-cobacterium tuberculosis and its resistant strains.Methods Fluorescence quantitative PCR was carried out by selecting different magnesium ion concentration,annealing temperature and primer concentration respectively. Finally,the optimum reaction conditions were obtained.Results In order to ensure the efficiency of amplifica-tion and no non-specific amplification,the final selection of the best conditions were as follows,the concentra-tion of Mg2+was 3.0 mmol/L,annealing temperature was 60 ℃,and the concentration of primers was 0.3 mmol/L.Conclusion The optimal condition of dual molecular beacon experiment was established,which en-sured that the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by molecular beacon quantitative PCR had the advanta-ges,such as simple operation,rapid speed,high sensitivity(the minimum detection limit was 1 CFU/mL)and specificity(only Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex including drug-resistant strains could be detected),good reproducibility(coefficient of variation was < 5%)and other advantages.The study provides the necessary conditions for the dual molecular beacon detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with nocardiosis, so as to improve the diagnosis and treatment of nocardia infection in the future.Methods:From May 2016 to October 2020, 24 patients with nocardiosis in Xiangya Hospital, Central South University were enrolled, and their clinical data including clinical features, laboratory examinations, imaging findings, diagnosis and treatment process, and outcome were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 24 patients with nocardiosis, 18 cases (75.0%) were males, and the median age was 54.5 years.Twenty-three patients had underlying diseases, of which the most common disease was antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-related vasculitis (16.7%(4/24)). Of nine species of Nocardia identified from the 24 patients, Nocardia farcinica was the most common species (seven cases). The lesion sites were mainly lungs (70.8%(17/24)), skin and soft tissues (42.0%(10/24)), brain (25.0%(6/24)) and blood system (17.0%(4/24)). There were 12 cases (50.0%) of patients with more than two lesion sites. The clinical manifestations, imaging examinations and laboratory tests of the 24 patients were not specific. The diagnosis depended on the etiology. Nineteen patients received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-based combination therapy, and two were discontinued due to adverse reactions of sulfa drugs. After treatment, 19 cases (79.2%) were improved and five cases (20.8%) died. Conclusions:Patients with nocardiosis often have atypical clinical manifestations, and multiple organs are easily affected.Early and accurate identification and rapid and effective anti-biotic therapy are the keys to improve the overall prognosis of these patients.

Objective To explore the influence of interleukin-2 receptor antagonists(IL-2Ra) on the morbidity and prognosis of new onset diabetes after transplantation(NODAT)in liver transplant recipients. Methods Pre-and post-operative clinical data of 879 nondiabetic patients who underwent a liver transplantation between April 2001 and December 2016 were retrospectively studied. All the enrolled patients were divided into IL-2Ra and non-IL-2Ra groups according to the use of IL-2Ra. Transient-NODAT(T-NODAT)and Persistent-NODAT(P-NODAT)were defined according to whether NODAT would be existed continuously. The impacts of IL-2Ra on the cumulative incidence as well as the risk of NODAT and T-NODAT were analyzed through comparison between patients who used IL-2Ra or not. And influence of IL-2Ra on the long-term survival of NODAT patients was further analyzed. Results Among 879 patients,177(32.24%)from the IL-2Ra group(n=549)developed NODAT and 29.38%(n=52)of the NODAT reversed,while 131(39.70%)from the non-IL-2Ra group(n=330)developed NODAT and 26.72%(n=35)of the NODAT reversed. After adjusting for 18 possible confounding factors,the IL-2Ra group had significantly decreased cumulative incidence of NODAT over the non-IL-2Ra group(adjusted P=0.028). COX regression analyses showed that IL-2Ra was a protective factor against NODAT development(HR 0.774;95% CI 0.616-0.973; P=0.028), while the use of IL-2Ra and the reverse of NODAT did not significantly related. In addition, long-term survival of the NODAT patients were far better in the IL-2Ra group(adjusted P=0.001). Conclusion IL-2Ra significantly reduces the risk of NODAT in liver transplant recipients and is beneficial to the long-term survival of NODAT patients.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (OBV/PTV/r) 25/150/100 mg once daily combined with dasabuvir 250mg, twice daily in non-cirrhotic Chinese adult patients with newly diagnosed and treated chronic HCV genotype 1b infection. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase 3 clinical trial was conducted in mainland China, Korea, and Taiwan.Safety and efficacy of OBV/PTV/r plus DSV administered for 12 weeks were evaluated in a newly diagnosed and treated (interferon alpha /pegylated interferon alpha) and ribavirin non-cirrhotic adults with chronic HCVgenotype 1b infection. Patients randomly received OBV/PTV/r plus DSV for 12 weeks (Group A), or placebo for 12 weeks (Group B) followed by an open-label phase of OBV/PTV/r plus DSV for 12 weeks. Sustained response (SVR12) rate obtained at 12 weeks and (SVR24) 24 weeks after discontinuation of treatment, and the incidence of adverse events and laboratory abnormalities after double-blind and open-label phase treatment were assessed. Results: A total of 410 cases of Chinese patients were included and randomly assigned to group A and B (with 205 cases in each group) in a 1:1 ratio. The rates of SVR12 and SVR24 were 99% (95% CI: 94.8% - 99.8%) in the newly diagnosed patients in group A (205 patients) and the rates of SVR12 and SVR24 were 100% in treated patients (95% CI: 96.3% - 100%). Different baseline characteristics had no effect on SVR12 and SVR24 rates. Most of the adverse events occurred were mild, asymptomatic, and≥ 3 laboratory abnormalities during treatment were rare, including elevation of alanine aminotransferase (2 cases in double-blind stage A group), aspartate aminotransferase (Double-blind stage A (3 cases) and total bilirubin (1 case in open-label phase B group); however, those mild adverse events could be recovered after drug withdrawal or discontinuation. only1 person discontinued drugs due to adverse events (Group B, open-label phase). Conclusion The 12 weeks treatment course of OBV/PTV/r combined with DSV produced 99% ~ 100% rates of SVR12 and SVR24 in non-cirrhotic Asian adult patients with newly diagnosed and treated chronic HCV genotype 1b infection, and the tolerance and safety were good.