Nocardia is a genus of gram-positive,weakly acid-fast,filamentous aerobic actinomycetes,which mainly causes infection in immunocompromised persons. We reported a successfully treated fatal case of severe pneumonia caused by Nocardia farcinica in a hospital,then reviewed 25 domestic and abroad case reports about nocardiosis combined with severe pneumonia occurred since 2006,so as to improve health care workers'cognition on clinical manifestations,image features,pathogenic characteristics,and diagnostic and treatment schemes of se-vere pneumonia caused by Nocardia farcinica.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and relative factors of cognitive disfunction among the community- dwelling old adults. Methods 766 participants over 60 years old dwelling in Luzhou, Sichuan, China were enrolled with Multi-stage stratified sampling. Information about sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, health condition, nutrition were interviewed, and their cognitive function was evaluated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results The prevalence of cognitive disfunction was 19.7% among them. Gender (male vs. female, OR=0.577), age (over 90 years vs. 60- 64 years, OR=29.857), administrator (administrator vs. not administrator, OR= 0.360), farmer (farmer vs. not farmer, OR=2.121), nutrition (malnutrition vs. eutrophia, OR=2.460), body weight (underweight vs. normal weight, OR=3.222), living status (UN-Habitat vs. living alone, OR=0.658), marital status (widowed vs. not widowed, OR=2.208), education attainment (junior college vs. illiteracy, OR=0.328), income (over 1000 yuan vs. no income, OR=0.596) significantly related with cognitive disfunction (P<0.05). Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that old age, occupation (farmer) and malnutrition were independent risk factors for cognitive disfunction. Conclusion The cognitive disfunction related with multi-factors, and need more effective and available intervention in the old adults.

To improve the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, clinical data for the first successfully treated case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with severe hypoxemia by large-capacity whole lung lavage in our hospital were analyzed, and relevant literatures were reviewed. A 35-year-old Han male initially presented two years ago with increasing cough and dyspnea was admitted to our hospital. Admission examination revealed severe hypoxemia, interstitial lung disease, and heavy protein deposition in the alveoli by lung biopsy. The patient received large-capacity whole-lung lavage in the operation room under general anesthesia and treatment of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The patient's symptoms of dyspnea were alleviated markedly, and radiological findings improved and A-aDO2 decreased.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; Pulmonary Alveoli

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of pathogen distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogens isolated from in-patients with hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) in the Department of Respiratory Medicine Intensive Care Unit (RICU) of Xiangya Hospital in 2005 and in 2011, and to provide reasonable anti-infectious strategy. METHODS: The positive susceptibility test of sputum (bronchial secretions) culture was done in patients with HAP in RICU of Xiangya Hospital in 2005 and in 2011, and the distribution feature and antibiotic resistance were compared. RESULTS: 1) In the two years, the main pathogen in HAP patients was Gram negative bacteria (infection rate was 68.07% and 65.21% in 2005 and in2011 respectively). The primary pathogenic bacteria were changed, and Acinetobacter baumanii became the most common Gram negative bacterium which replaced Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with infection rate 6.81% in 2005 to 40.87% in 2011. The infection rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa reduced from 20.42% in 2005 to 15.60% in 2011. Haemophilus influenzae was rare. Staphylococcus aureus became the primary Gram positive bacteria, and its infection rate increased from 1.57% in 2005 to 4.83% in 2011, all of which were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Saccharomyces albicans' positive culture rate increased significantly. 2) Compared with in 2005, the antibiotic resistance of pathogen isolated from the HAP pationts changed a lot in 2011: increased antibiotic resistance rate and decreased sensitivity to many antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was only relatively susceptible to meropenem, cefoperazone sulbactam, ceftazidime, cefpodoxime, and andamicaxin in 2011. The resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to levofloxacin, cyclopropane, amicacin, gentamicin, meropenem, cematrixone, and piperacilintazobactam increased obviously (P<0.05). Compared with 2005, Acinetobacter baumanii was totally susceptible to polymyxin and relatively susceptible to sulbactam, but it was almost completely resistant to Aminoglycoside antibiotics in 2011, with significant difference (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The main pathogen of HAP patients in RICU was Gram negative bacteria, with increased infection rate of Staphylococcus aureus and fungus. There is change pathogen distribution and antibiotic resistance, and the clinical initial experimental antibiotic therapy may be influenced. It is important to use antibiotics more rationally to delay the antibiotic resistance.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; microbiology ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; complications ; Saccharomyces ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: ABO genotyping for forensic identification by oligonucleotide chip. METHODS: Oligonucleotide microarrays which could detect 3 different SNPs in exon 6 and exon 7 for ABO genotyping were used. Population studies on ABO was carried out in a sample of 115 unrelated Chinese Han individuals. The method was also applied to cases. RESULTS: The technique could identify 6 genotypes of ABO system. According to the results of population studies, no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be found. The observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.591 and 0.616 respectively. The polymorphic information content was 0.544. The average exclusion probabilities in buos and trios was 0.188 and 0.344 respectively. The discrimination power is 0.777. CONCLUSION The data and case application demonstrated that ABO typing by oligonucleotide probe arrays was a useful technique for paternity testing and individual identification.
ABO Blood-Group System/genetics* ; Blood Stains ; DNA/blood* ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Genotype ; Hair/chemistry* ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Objective:To investigate the allocation of radiation protection equipment and status of radiological protection management for radiation workers in hospitals nationwide.Methods:A descriptive analysis was conducted of the data reported from the investigated hospitals based the data for 2019 available from the National Radiological Health Information Platform.Results:A total of 3 806 hospitals were investigated in 2019, including 609 tertiary hospitals, 1 421 secondary hospitals, 1 776 primary and ungraded hospitals. Large differences had been shown in the number of radiation workers in different grade hospitals. The average number of radiation workers were found to be, respectively, 99 in tertiary hospitals, 19 in secondary hospitals, 2 in primary and/or ungraded hospitals. Interventional radiology and nuclear medicine workers were equipped seperately with 0.40 and 0.43 pieces of lead apron, 0.27 and 0.31 lead caps, 0.38 and 0.45 lead rubber neck sleeves, 0.18 and 0.08 pairs of lead rubber gloves and 0.31 and 0.22 pairs of lead glasses. No personal alarming dosimeter was available in 15.25% hospitals where radiotherapy was performed, nor radiation surveillance meter in 27.90% such hospitals. In the hospitals considered, 88.13% workers were granted the Radiation Worker Cetificate and 83.69% received the on-the-job radiation protection training. The number of monitored workers accounted for 99.20%, of which 0.40% received the personal annual dose Hp(10)≥20 mSv. The occupational health surveillance files that had been completed reached 98.05% of the total and the on-the-job radiation workers who had passed the occupational health examination made up to 96.00%. It was advised that, of 76 627 radiation workers who received the 2019 health examination, 0.88% should get out of radiation work for the being time and 0.11% should not continue for this work. Conclusions:The considerably large proportion of radiation workers in China have received individual dose monitoring and occupational health examination. Radiological diagnosis and therapy departments should enlarge the allocation of radiation monitoring and personal protection equipment for radiaton workers in their hospitals.

Objective:To analyze distributions of dose range, occupational category, and causes of abnormal dose values from individual dose monitoring of radiation workers and to provide recommendations for improving the quality of individual monitoring data and occupational health management in medical institutions.Methods:The data of individual dose monitoring result exceeding 1.25 mSv in a single monitoring cycle, collected by Occupational Health System for Radiology Facilities’ on National Radiological Health Information Platform, was analyzed.Results:A total of 1 113 abnormal dose values were detected in 31 provinces in 2020, with an abnormal rate of 2.48‰, of which workers of diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology accounted for 68.01% and 18.78%, respectively. The dose distribution of abnormal dose values was mainly between 1.25 and 5 mSv. The abnormal dose values were mainly caused by improperly wearing or using personal dosimeters, accounting for 63.88%. Workers for whom the dose values was abnormal due to increased workload accounted for 12.32%, with an average annual individual dose of 5.14 mSv. There was no statistically significant difference in annual individual dose among radiation workers between different occupational groups( P>0.05). Conclusions:Education and training on radiation protection for radiation workers should be strengthened, and a specific and feasible system for radiation protection management, as well as a reward and punishment system, should be established in order to reduce the occurance of the improper wearing of personal dosimeters. Great attention should be paid to occupational exposure of workers in diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology, and a work shift system should be conducted to reduce individual dose levels. It is recommended that standard verification procedures for abnormal dose values from individual dose monitoring should be developed to improve the quality of individual monitoring data.

Objective:To understand the non-uranium miners′ awareness of radon and health risks in China and analyze the relevant influencing factors, in order to provide research basis for radiological protection institutions and employers to carry out radon health education.Methods:Male miners in 32 typical non-uranium mines from 11 provinces were selected by using cluster random sampling method from June 2020 to December 2021. The awareness of radon and health risks was investigated, and the influencing factors were analyzed by binary logistic regression model.Results:A total of 1 184 non-uranium miners were investigated, and the radon awareness rate of them was 19.17%. 36.56% of the non-uranium miners heard about radon knew the radon health risks accurately, and 18.06% could identify the measures to reduce radon concentration correctly. Univariate analysis showed that the radon awareness rate of non-uranium miners varied with different education levels, labor relations, post categories, and regions ( χ2=55.92, 21.89, 64.31, 11.26, P<0.05 ). The result of logistic regression analysis showed that a bachelor degree or above, regular employee, administrative personnel and technical personnel were influencing factors of the radon awareness level ( χ2=12.81, 6.58, 5.66, 21.44, P<0.05 ). There was no statistically significant difference of radon awareness rate in different ages, working years, regions, and smoke groups ( P>0.05 ). Conclusions:The awareness level of radon and health risks of non-uranium miners was relatively low in China. Radiological protection institutions and employers should strengthen education and training of radon related knowledge in non-uranium miners through mass media, on-duty training, contract notification and workplace publicity board notification, so as to improve their personal protection consciousness.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the eye lens dose to interventional radiology workers in China from 2019 to 2021.Methods:The monitoring data on eye lens dose to interventional radiology workers from 31 province-level units during 2019-2021 were collected through the National Radiological Health Information Platform. The eye lens dose evaluation indicator was Hp(3), with each monitoring period of no more than 3 months. Kusall-Wallis H test was used for the comparison of multiple groups and pairwise. Results:A total of 6 643 interventional radiology workers were investigated from 2019 to 2021. The average annual eye lens dose was 1.03 mSv, with the median of 0.17 mSv and the maximum of 94.88 mSv. The annual eye lens dose to 59 workers exceeded 20 mSv. It was also found that the annual eye lens dose to the doctors in 2019 and 2020 was slightly higher than that to nurses (rank mean difference=118.29, 129.71, P<0.01), and the lens dose to interventional radiology workers who performed cardiac interventions in 2019 was higher than that to workers who performed peripheral vascular interventions (rank mean difference=46.52, P<0.05). Conclusions:The lens dose to interventional radiology workers is lower than the limits given in Chinese national standard currently in effect, but exceed the latest internationally recommended limit for a few ones. In order to protect the occupational health of interventional radiology workers, the monitoring of lens dose should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in elderly and patients with chronic respiratory diseases (COPD) had a poor prognosis. COPD is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases. We explore the epidemiological characteristics of patients with severe COVID-19 with COPD patients in order to provide medical evidence for the prevention and treatment of severe COVID-19. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical baseline characteristics, treatment strategies, disease progression and prognosis of 557 severe COVID-19 patients admitted to the West Court of Union Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 29, 2020 to April 8, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 465 patients with severe COVID-19 were enrolled in the study, including 248 (53.3%) males and 217 (46.7%) females. The median age of severe COVID-19 patients was 62.0 years, and 53 patients were complicated with COPD. Common symptoms at the onset included fever (78.5%), dry cough (67.1%), shortness of breath (47.3%) and fatigue (40.9%). Compared with non-COPD patients, patients with COPD had significantly lower levels of SpO2 in admission (90.0% vs 92.0%, P=0.014). In terms of laboratory examinations, patients with COPD had higher levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, procalcitonin, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, lipoprotein (a), high-sensitivity troponin I, and D-dimer, while had lower levels of platelet counts, albumin and apolipoprotein AI. Severe COVID-19 patients with COPD had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores [3.0(2.0, 3.0) vs 2.0(2.0, 3.0), P=0.038] and CURB-65 score [1.0(1.0, 2.0) vs1.0(0.0, 1.0), P<0.001], and a higher proportion of progressing to critical illness (28.3% vs 10.0%, P<0.001) with more complications [e.g. septic shock (15.1% vs 6.1%, P=0.034)], had higher incidence rates of antibiotic therapies (90.6% vs 77.2%, P=0.025), non-invasive (11.3% vs 1.7%, P<0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (17.0% vs 8.3%, P=0.039), ICU admission (17.0% vs 7.5%, P=0.021) and death (15.1% vs 6.1%, P=0.016). Cox proportion hazard model was carried out, and the results showed that comorbid COPD was an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 patients progressing to critical type, after adjusting for age and gender [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR)=2.38(1.30-4.37), P=0.005] and additionally adjusting for chronic kidney diseases, hypertension, coronary heart disease [AHR=2.63(1.45-4.77), P<0.001], or additionally adjusting for some statistically significant laboratory findings [AHR=2.10(1.13-3.89), P=0.018]. CONCLUSIONS Severe COVID-19 patients with COPD have higher levels of disease severity, proportion of progression to critical illness and mortality rate. Individualized treatment strategies should be adopted to improve the prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/complications* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Retrospective Studies ; Critical Illness ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology*