Objective To evaluate the correlation between serum procalcitonin concentration and systemic inflam-matory response syndrome (SIRS)score in patients with bacterial bloodstream infection.Methods In January-De-cember,2012,96 patients with bacterial bloodstream infection in a hospital were selected as trial group,and these patients were divided into three groups(group A,B and C)according to SIRS score;84 patients without bacterial in-fection was as control group,PCT concentration of all patients were detected,and the correlation between PCT con-centration and SIRS score was analyzed.Results Among 96 patients with bacterial bloodstream infection,7 (7.29%)died (4 were in group B and 3 in group C);there was no death case in control group.PCT concentration in control group,group A,B and C of trial group were (0.28±0.09)ng/mL,(0.63±0.13)ng/mL,(3.68±1.01)ng/mL,and(7.45±1.53)ng/mL,respectively,the difference between each group was significant(P<0.01).Pairwise comparison of four groups showed statistical difference (P<0.001).Spearman correlation analysis on PCT concen-tration and SIRS score was conducted,correlation coefficient r=0.874(P<0.001)suggested positive correlation be-tween serum PCT concentration and SIRS score.Conclusion PCT concentration in patients with bacterial blood-stream infection and SIRS score is positively correlated,PCT concentration and SIRS score can be used as two mark-ers for assessing the extent and prognosis of bacterial bloodstream infection.

Objective To investigate the activities associated with nurses’occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and the source patients’infection status during blood collection process,so as to provide a basis for developing occupational exposure prevention strategies.Methods Data about occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens during blood collection process in a hospital from August 2011 to September 2013 were monitored.Results A total of 89 times of bloodborne ex-posure occurred among HCWs,including 75 times of arterial blood collection and 14 venous blood collection.The top three procedures of occupational exposures were rebounding of needles after needles were pulled out (28.09%,n=25),concen-trated cleaning up of rubbish at the end of blood collection (20.22%,n=18),and touching blood and body fluids by skin and mucous membrane (14.61%,n=13).48.31% (n=43)source patients infected with at least hepatitis B virus,hepati-tis C virus ,hepatitis E virus,Treponema pallidum,and human immunodeficiency virus ,51.69%(n=46)source patients were not infected ,after proper handling,none of nurses were infected during blood collection .Conclusion Developing safe blood-withdraw needle,putting sharp instrument into sharp instrument container,wearing gloves,and intensifying training of standard and occupational precaution are important strategies for the reducing of the occurrence of bloodborne exposure of clinical nurses during blood collection process .

Objective To investigate the current status of nurses'' needlestick injuries during venous blood sampling, evaluate effective prevention strategies.Methods A stratified cluster sampling method was used to investigate clinical nurses in China by questionnaire, contents of questionnaire included the general information of nurses, training and management on venous blood sampling among nursing staff, adherence to wearing gloves before blood sampling, the occurrence of needlestick injuries during the process of venous blood sampling in the past year and so on.Results A total of 2 861 questionnaires were distributed, and 2 575 valid questionnaires were recovered.93.17％ of the investigated nurses had participated in the training of venous blood sampling regularly;87.15％ received regular check of venous blood sampling;before venous blood sampling, only 72.74％ knew whether the patient had bloodborne infectious disease;only 61.01％ wore gloves during blood sampling.Incidence of needlestick injuries during venous blood sampling was 20.78％ in the past year.There was no significant differences in the incidence of needlestick injuries when using 3 different types of needles(Pearson x2=1.649, P=0.438).48.21％ of needlestick injuries occurred during disposing medical waste.Conclusion The training and management on nurses'' venous blood sampling is better in China, but incidence of needlestick injuries is still high.It is necessary to formulate safety operation regulations of venous blood sampling, standardize the operation procedures and specify the contents of training, so as to correct nurses'' unsafe behavior during venous blood sampling.

Background: To explore the association between low back pain (LBP) and pelvic pain (PP) and rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD) in postpartum women and identify the characteristics and risk factors. Methods: Women diagnosed with RAD and a history of labor and delivery, between 2009 and 2018, were identified from six hospitals within the Partners Healthcare System. Univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors associated with pain. Results: Age at onset of RAD in the non-cesarean delivery group was earlier than those in cesarean delivery (CD) group (P = 0.017). Women who underwent CD demonstrated 4.5 times greater risk of RAD than those who had no CD exposure. The cumulative composition ratio of LBP at every age stage of the period from 8 years pre-first delivery to 8 years post-first delivery was significantly higher than the other five conditions (RAD, umbilical hernia, PP, depressive disorder [DD], and strain of muscle, fascia, and tendon [SMFT]) (P for trend < 0.001). Women with DD, SMFT, and PP were more likely to have LBP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 3.47, P = 0.032; OR = 4.50, 95% CI 1.64 to 12.36, P = 0.003; OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.89, P = 0.013; respectively). Conclusions In postpartum women with RAD, DD, SMFT, and PP were found to be risk factors contributing to the development of LBP. Race and LBP also played roles in the development of PP.

Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) sarcoma is rare and is classified either as conventional type or inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT)-like variant. Extranodal presentation is uncommon and nearly all gastrointestinal FDC tumors are of the conventional type. IPT-like variant tumors occur almost exclusively in the liver and spleen and are consistently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Here we report the case of a 78-year-old woman with an IPT-like FDC sarcoma presenting as a pedunculated colonic polyp. Histologically, scanty atypical ovoid to spindle cells were mixed with a background of florid lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, which led to an initial misdiagnosis of pseudolymphoma. These atypical cells expressed CD21, CD23, CD35, and D2-40, and were positive for EBV by in situ hybridization, confirming the diagnosis. The patient was free of disease five months after polypectomy without adjuvant therapy. Although extremely rare, the differential diagnosis for colonic polyp should include FDC sarcoma to avoid an erroneous diagnosis. A review of the 24 cases of IPT-like FDC sarcoma reported in the literature reveal that this tumor occurs predominantly in females with a predilection for liver and spleen, and has a strong association with EBV.
Aged ; Colonic Polyps* ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular* ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver ; Pseudolymphoma ; Sarcoma ; Spleen ; Taiwan

Dental caries (tooth decay) is caused by a specific group of cariogenic bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans, which convert dietary sugars into acids that dissolve the mineral in tooth structure. Killing cariogenic bacteria is an effective way to control or prevent tooth decay. In a previous study, we discovered a novel compound (Glycyrrhizol A), from the extraction of licorice roots, with strong antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria. In the current study, we developed a method to produce these specific herbal extracts in large quantities, and then used these extracts to develop a sugar-free lollipop that effectively kills cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans. Further studies showed that these sugar-free lollipops are safe and their antimicrobial activity is stable. Two pilot human studies indicate that a brief application of these lollipops (twice a day for ten days) led to a marked reduction of cariogenic bacteria in oral cavity among most human subjects tested. This herbal lollipop could be a novel tool to promote oral health through functional foods.
Aged ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Candy ; analysis ; Child ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Glycyrrhiza ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; drug effects ; Lactobacillus casei ; drug effects ; Mice ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Phytotherapy ; Pilot Projects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Roots ; Pterocarpans ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Safety ; Saliva ; microbiology ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; drug effects ; Sweetening Agents

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of sustained lung inflation (SLI) combined with pulmonary surfactant (PS) in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 124 premature infants (gestational age <34 weeks and birth weight <2 000 g) diagnosed with NRDS and in need of PS treatment in Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University from July 1, 2016 to October 31, 2018. They were randomly divided into experimental or control group, with 62 cases in each. Infants in the experimental group were treated with SLI using T-piece and intratracheal PS, while those in the control group were given PS only. Blood gas analysis and measurement of fraction of inspiration O₂ (FiO₂) and ratio of partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂) over FiO₂ were performed before and 1 h after PS injection. Results of the treatments and incidence of complications were compared. Paired samples t-test, two independent samples t-test, rank-sum test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were 56 participants in the experimental group and 54 in the control group who were eventually analyzed. In the experimental group, the pH value, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO₂), FiO₂ and PO₂/FiO₂ at 1 h after PS injection were all improved compared with those before treatment [pH value: 7.26±0.09 vs 7.19±0.09, t=3.814; PCO₂: (51.5±12.6) vs (59.8±16.3) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), t=2.610; FiO₂: 26.0 (21.0-31.5)% vs 40.5 (38.5-51.5)%, U=392.000; PO₂/FiO₂: (284.6±117.9) vs (173.4±59.7) mmHg, t=6.427; all P<0.05]. The overall decrement of FiO₂ after PS injection in the experimental group was more significant than that in the control group [-10.0 (-15.0 to -5.0)% vs -5.0 (-8.0 to 0.0)%, U=706.500, P<0.001]. The experimental group had a higher rate of extubation within 24 h than the control group [80% (45/56) vs 71% (32/54), χ²=5.830, P=0.016]. However, no significant differences were shown in total mechanical ventilation time, non-invasive/high-flow nasal cannula ventilation time, the ratio of re-intubation within 72 h, or the incidence of air leak, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis or patent ductus arteriosus between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions SLI combined with PS for NRDS babies can increase the rate of extubation within 24 h and promote the down-regulation of FiO₂ without causing significant complications.