INTRODUCTIONStenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging pathogen in nosocomial infections that may result in high mortality. S. maltophilia often present as part of a polymicrobial culture and it is not well established when treatment is indicated. We aimed to identify predictors of mortality in patients with positive cultures of S. maltophilia.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care medical centre was performed in 150 adult patients with positive cultures of S. maltophilia. Patients' demographics, underlying diseases, severity of illness, length of hospitalisation, prior antibiotic exposure, number/types of indwelling catheters, culture sites, and appropriateness of empiric therapy were collected. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factor(s) for infection-attributed mortality.

RESULTSNinety-nine males and 51 females were studied. The mean (SD) age and APACHE II score of the patients were 61.9 (16.0) and 14.0 (6.1), respectively. The respiratory tract was the most frequent site (55.3%) where S. maltophilia was isolated. Infection-attributed mortality was observed in 22 of the 150 patients (14.7 %). Admission to ICU [Odds ratio (OR), 3.767; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.277-11.116, P = 0.016], and delayed effective treatment (OR, 18.684; 95% CI, 4.050-86.188; P <0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONSPredictors of mortality in patients with positive cultures of S. maltophilia were identified, which may guide clinicians in patient assessment and devising therapeutic decisions. Further studies are needed to validate our results.

APACHE ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Infective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cohort Studies ; Confidence Intervals ; Cross Infection ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Respiratory System ; microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Treatment Outcome ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to establish a mother and child cohort in the Chinese population, and investigate human breastmilk (HBM) composition and its relationship with maternal body mass index (BMI) and infant growth during the first 3 mon of life. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 101 Chinese mother and infant pairs were included in this prospective cohort. Alterations in the milk macronutrients of Chinese mothers at 1 mon (T1), 2 mon (T2), and 3 mon (T3) lactation were analyzed. HBM fatty acid (FA) profiles were measured by gas chromatography (GC), and HBM proteomic profiling was achieved by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). RESULTS: During the first 3 mon of lactation (P < 0.05), significant decreases were determined in the levels of total energy, fat, protein, and osteopontin (OPN), as well as ratios of long-chain saturated FA (including C16:0, C22:0 and C24:0), monounsaturated FA (including C16:1), and n-6 poly unsaturated FA (PUFA) (including C20:3n-6 and C20:4n-6, and n-6-3). Conversely, butyrate, C6:0 and n-3 PUFA C18:3n-3 (α-linolenic acid, ALA) were significantly increased during the first 3 mon (P < 0.05). HBM proteomic analyses distinguished compositional protein differences over time (P = 0.001). Personalized motherinfant analyses demonstrated that HBM from high BMI mothers presented increased total energy, fat, protein and OPN, and increased content of n-6 PUFA (including C18:3n-6, C20:3n-6 and n-6-3 ratio) as compared with low BMI mothers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, BMI of the mothers positively correlated with the head circumference (HC) of infants as well as the specific n-6 PUFA C20:3n-6 over the 3 time points examined. Infant HC was negatively associated with C18:0. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence to the Chinese HBM database, and further knowledge of FA function. It also helps to establish future maternal strategies that support the healthy growth and development of Chinese infants.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to establish a mother and child cohort in the Chinese population, and investigate human breastmilk (HBM) composition and its relationship with maternal body mass index (BMI) and infant growth during the first 3 mon of life. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 101 Chinese mother and infant pairs were included in this prospective cohort. Alterations in the milk macronutrients of Chinese mothers at 1 mon (T1), 2 mon (T2), and 3 mon (T3) lactation were analyzed. HBM fatty acid (FA) profiles were measured by gas chromatography (GC), and HBM proteomic profiling was achieved by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). RESULTS: During the first 3 mon of lactation (P < 0.05), significant decreases were determined in the levels of total energy, fat, protein, and osteopontin (OPN), as well as ratios of long-chain saturated FA (including C16:0, C22:0 and C24:0), monounsaturated FA (including C16:1), and n-6 poly unsaturated FA (PUFA) (including C20:3n-6 and C20:4n-6, and n-6-3). Conversely, butyrate, C6:0 and n-3 PUFA C18:3n-3 (α-linolenic acid, ALA) were significantly increased during the first 3 mon (P < 0.05). HBM proteomic analyses distinguished compositional protein differences over time (P = 0.001). Personalized motherinfant analyses demonstrated that HBM from high BMI mothers presented increased total energy, fat, protein and OPN, and increased content of n-6 PUFA (including C18:3n-6, C20:3n-6 and n-6-3 ratio) as compared with low BMI mothers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, BMI of the mothers positively correlated with the head circumference (HC) of infants as well as the specific n-6 PUFA C20:3n-6 over the 3 time points examined. Infant HC was negatively associated with C18:0. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence to the Chinese HBM database, and further knowledge of FA function. It also helps to establish future maternal strategies that support the healthy growth and development of Chinese infants.

INTRODUCTIONPrompt recognition of cardiac arrest and initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation is necessary for good outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study aims to describe the recognition and treatment of OHCA in patients conveyed by non-emergency ambulance services (EAS) in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis is a multi-centre, retrospective chart review, of cases presenting to public emergency departments (EDs), conveyed by non-EAS and found to be in cardiac arrest upon ED arrival. The study was from October 2002 to August 2009. The following variables were examined: ability to recognise cardiac arrest, whether CPR was carried out by the ambulance crew and whether an automated external defibrillator (AED) was applied.

RESULTSEighty-six patients were conveyed by non-EAS and found to be in cardiac arrest upon ED arrival. Mean age was 63 years (SD 21.8), 70.9% were males. A total of 53.5% of arrests occurred in the ambulance while 70.9% were found to be asystolic upon ED arrival. Seven patients had a known terminal illness. Survival to discharge was 3.5%. Cardiac arrest went unrecognised by the ambulance crew in 38 patients (44.2%). CPR was performed in 35 patients (40.7%) of the 86 patients and AED was applied in only 10 patients (11.6%).

CONCLUSIONWe found inadequate recognition and delayed initiation of treatment for OHCA. Possible reasons include a lack of training in patient monitoring and detection of cardiac arrest, lack of CPR training, lack of confidence in performing CPR, lack of AEDs on ambulances and lack of training in their use.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ambulances ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; standards ; Electric Countershock ; standards ; Emergency Medical Services ; standards ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Transportation of Patients ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antioxidant and anti-endotoxin effects of propofol on endothelial cells and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSCultured endothelial cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), propofol + H(2)O(2), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and propofol + LPS, respectively. Endothelial cell damage was monitored for possible lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The transcription and the protein expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured.

RESULTSLDH release was higher in groups treated with H(2)O(2) or LPS than in the control group. After pretreatment with propofol, the effects induced by H(2)O(2) were attenuated, but propofol did not decrease the LDH release induced by LPS. Both H(2)O(2) and LPS significantly increased the eNOS transcript levels and the increases were significantly attenuated after pretreatment with propofol. Both H(2)O(2) and LPS significantly increased the eNOS protein expression and the increase was attenuated after pretreatment with propofol.

CONCLUSIONPropofol could protect endothelial cells against oxidative stress by inhibiting eNOS transcription and protein expression, but could not antagonise endotoxin induced cell injuries.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endotoxins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Propofol ; pharmacology

Our study aimed to amplify and explain the items of statistical reporting requirements proposed by medical journals, and to improve the statistical reporting quality of medical articles. Statistical reporting requirements were obtained from the reporting standards published by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) network, and the editorial board of Chinese Medical Journal, etc. The items involved in statistical reporting requirements were summarized as issues of study design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results. Each item was amplified based on cases of original articles. It is noticeable that the statistical reporting requirements of English medical journals generally referring to guidance documents, including "Recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals" proposed by the ICMJE, or the statements for different study types published by the EQUATOR network, where the statistical reporting of medical articles had been detailed specified. The statistical reporting requirements of Chinese medical journals, however, were usually stated by the editorial boards. Although the formats and contents of statistical analysis had been regulated, the requirements of Chinese medical journals were to some extent insufficient and should be enhanced in accordance with the international standards. In conclusion, the amplification and explanation of statistical reporting requirements were expected to help investigators understand the requirements for statistical reporting in medical researches, so as to effectively improve the quality of medical articles.
Biomedical Research ; Editorial Policies ; Humans ; Periodicals as Topic/standards* ; Publishing/standards* ; Reference Standards ; Research Design

OBJECTIVE：To prelimi narily investigate the possible mechanism of orazamide to prevent anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury （ATB-DILI）. METHODS ：A total of 60 Kunming mice were randomly divided into blank group ，model group，positive control group [diammonium glycyrrhizinate 60 mg/（kg·d）]，orazamide low-dose ，medium-dose and high-dose groups [ 80，160，320 mg/（kg·d）]，with 10 mice in each group. Except for blank group ，other groups were given isoniazid [ 75 mg/（kg·d）]+rifampicin [ 75 mg/（kg·d）] for 14 days intragastrically to induce ATB-DILI model. At the same time ，administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically ，blank group and model group were given normal saline intragastrically. The administration volume was 20 mL/（kg·d），once a day ，for consecutive 14 days. The general conditions of the mice were observed and recorded every day ，such as growth and development ，mental and diet state. After last medication ，liver index was calculated ， and HE staining was adopted to observe pathological changes of liver tissue of mice. The positive expression of high mobility group protein B 1 （HMGB1） and NF-κ B in liver tissue were detected by streptavidin biotin-peroxidase complex （SABC） immuno- histochemistry. The serum levels of liver function indexes in serum ，the protein expression of advanced glycation end product receptor（RAGE）and TNF-α in liver tissue were detected by ELISA. RESULTS：Compared with blank group ，the growth and development of mice in the model group were slow ，and their appetite and spirit were poor. The liver index ，serum levels of TBIL ， DBIL，ALT，AST，ALP，TBA and γ-GT were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Structural disorder of liver lobules ，degeneration and necrosis of liver cells and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. The expression of HMGB 1，NF-κB，RAGE and TNF-α in liver tissue were elevated significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group ，the general condition of mice were all improved to different extents in orazamide low-dose ，medium-dose and high-dose groups ，positive control group ，while liver index and above serum indexes were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. The pathological changes of liver tissue were all improved to different extents ，while the protein expression of HMGB 1，NF-κB，RAGE and TNF-α were all decreased significantly（P＜0.05）. The improvement of above indexes in orazamide high-dose group were all significantly better than orazamide low-dose and medium-dose groups （P＜0.05）；the levels of ALP and TBA in orazamide high-dose group were significantly lower than positive control group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ：Orazamide can prevent ATB-DILI induced by isoniazid combined with rifampicin in mice，the mechanism of which may be associated with down-regulating the protein expression of HMGB 1 and RAGE in liver tissue and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.

INTRODUCTIONWe aimed to develop and implement a short tandem repeat (STR) polymerase chain reaction alternative to fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) for the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of chromosomal translocations.

METHODSSelected informative STRs located on translocated arms of relevant chromosomes were used to discriminate between normal and unbalanced chromosome states in each embryo.

RESULTSPGD cycles were performed on five couples where one spouse carried a balanced translocation. 27 embryos were analysed, of which 12 were normal/balanced, 12 were abnormal/unbalanced and three were indeterminate. Four PGD cycles proceeded to embryo transfer, of which two led to pregnancy. The first pregnancy showed a normal male karyotype, and a healthy baby was delivered at term. A second pregnancy unexpectedly miscarried in the second trimester from unknown causes.

CONCLUSIONSTR analysis is a simple and suitable alternative to FISH for detecting unbalanced chromosomal states in preimplantation embryos.

Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; Translocation, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of colonic J-pouch coloanal anastomosis after low anterior resection for mid or low rectal cancer on improving defecation and anorectal physiology.

METHODSTo make a meta-analysis, prospective randomized controlled trial of with or without colonic J-pouch after low anterior resection for mid or low rectal cancer was conducted. The key words included rectal cancer, J-pouch (or J-pouch) and those randomized from selected reports. The data on bowel function and physiological function of the anal canal and (neo) rectum were meta-analyzed using fixed effect model and random effect model.

RESULTSEight randomized trails including 378 patients entered this study. After one year follow-up, the functional results showed that there were significant differences in stool frequency per day, urgency and use of medication between colonic J-pouch group and straight coloanal anastomosis group. On physiological function of the anal canal and (neo) rectum, there was significant difference only in rectal compliance between the two groups. But there was no significant difference in other 4 items.

CONCLUSIONSThe functional improvement gained from colonic J-pouch coloanal anastomosis continues to benefit the patient with mid or low rectal cancer for at least 12 months. It is necessary to further study about the effect of colonic J-pouch coloanal anastomosis on physiological function of the anal canal and (neo) rectum.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Colonic Pouches ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Rectum ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

INTRODUCTIONCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death following ischaemic stroke. We aimed to study the prevalence and associations of concomitant CAD among ischaemic stroke patients in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe prospectively studied 2686 consecutive Asian ischaemic stroke patients.

RESULTSCAD was prevalent among 24% of the study patients. Older age, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, atrial fibrillation, large stroke and South Asian ethnicity were independently associated with CAD.

CONCLUSIONSThe variables found to be associated with CAD are known atherosclerotic risk factors (older age, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia) or associations of cardioembolic stroke (atrial fibrillation, large stroke). The over-representation of South Asians with concomitant CAD is consistent with the high burden of CAD in this ethnic group.

Aged ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; epidemiology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Stroke ; complications ; epidemiology ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors