Objective To investigate the significance of optimization of bedside Gram staining of sputum smear in the early diagnosis and antimicrobial treatment for ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP)patients. Methods The data of patients with VAP undergoing mechanical ventilation over 48 hours in the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital from June 2009 to June 2014 were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not bedside Gram staining of sputum smear was used or not. The sputum samples from lower respiratory tract of all VAP patients were collected daily with tracheal catheter. In empirical examination group(from June 2009 to December 2011,n=43),the patients received antibiotics at the time of onset of VAP, selection of antibiotics depended on the information of bacterial epidemiology of the intensive care unit(ICU),and also existence of high risk factors of multi-drug resistant bacteria. In target treatment group(from January 2012 to June 2014,n=43),the patients received antibiotics according to the results of bedside instant sputum smear examination and empirical antibiotic regime. The correlation between the results of sputum smear examination and culture result was analyzed. The levels of body temperature,white blood cell(WBC)count,procalcitonin(PCT)level,and high sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)were measured on the 1st day and 3rd day. The length of antibiotics treatment, duration of mechanical ventilation,and the time of ICU stay were recorded for both groups. Results There were 512 qualified sputum specimens for culture,from which 336 pathogens were found,and 358 strains of pathogenic bacteria were found from microscopic examination of 512 qualified sputum smear. The coincidence rate of results of bedside examination of sputum smear and that of sputum culture was 78.32%(401/512). The diagnostic acumen of the former was 85.42%(287/336),specificity was 64.77%(114/176),positive predictive value was 80.17%(287/358),and negative predictive value was 74.03%(114/154). On the 1st day,no statistical differences in infection index between the two groups could be found,but on the 3rd day,the results were significantly improved in both groups. Compared with the empirical treatment group,the body temperature,WBC,PCT and hs-CRP in the target treatment group were significantly lower〔body temperature(℃):36.83±0.69 vs. 37.64±0.71,WBC(×109/L):7.91±2.75 vs. 9.66±3.39,PCT(μg/L):7.14±3.89 vs. 10.14±4.32,hs-CRP(mg/L):12.24±6.28 vs. 15.54±5.94,P<0.05 or P<0.01〕. Compared with the empirical treatment group,the time of antibiotics use(days:6.00±2.55 vs. 9.20±3.46), the duration of mechanical ventilation(days:5.00±1.73 vs. 7.00±1.94),and the length of ICU stay(days:7.43±1.72 vs. 12.57±4.16)were significantly shortened(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions The results of bedside sputum examination and sputum culture showed a good correlation,and the former is helpful in early diagnosis and treatment of VAP. The result of high quality sputum smear in significant in guiding the first choice of antibiotics,reduce the time of antibiotic use,shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay,and improve the outcome of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in children without underlying diseases.

METHODSThe clinical data of 49 children without underlying diseases who were diagnosed with IFD were retrospectively studied.

RESULTSFungal pathogens were detected in 37 (76%) out of 49 patients, including Cryptococcus neoformans (17 children, 46%), Candida albicans (10 children, 27%), Aspergillus (3 children, 8%), and Candida parapsilosis (3 children, 8%). Fungal pneumonia (17 children, 46%) was the most commonly seen disease, with Candida albicans as the major pathogen (9 children, 53%). The 49 children had at least one high-risk factor for infection, including the use of antibiotics, a long length of hospital stay, and invasive procedures. Of all the children, 82% did not respond well to antibiotic treatment or experienced recurrent pyrexia. Among the 24 children who underwent G tests, 17 (71%) showed positive results. All the children were given antifungal therapy, and among these children, 37 (75%)were cured, 3 (6%) were still in the treatment, 5 (10%) died, and 4 (8%) were lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSIn IFD children without underlying diseases, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida are the main pathogens, and lung infection is the most common disease. Long-term use of high-dose antibiotics may be an important risk factor for fungal infection. The IFD children without underlying diseases are sensitive to antifungal drugs and have a satisfactory prognosis.

Adolescent ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Invasive Fungal Infections ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of previous abdominal operations on the outcome of laparoscopy-assisted radical total gastrectomy (LATG).

METHODSClinical data of 328 patients with gastric cancer who underwent LATG from January 2008 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among the patients, 57 cases had previous abdominal surgeries (PAS group) and 271 cases had no previous abdominal surgeries (NPAS group). The intraoperative and postoperative parameters were compared, and risk factors associated with postoperative complications were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean number of lymph nodes harvested (30.2±10.5 vs. 31.1±9.4, P>0.05). The operative time [(247.0±60.5) min vs. (214.7±57.0) min, P<0.01] and the postoperative complication rate [21.1%(12/57) vs. 11.1%(30/271), P<0.05] were significantly different between the two groups. However, there were no differences in intraoperative blood loss, transfused patients, conversion, postoperative ambulation time, postoperative flatus passage time, resumption of liquid diet, removal of gastric tube, and postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous abdominal surgeries was not an independent risk factor associated with postoperative complication morbidity (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLATG is feasible for gastric cancer patients who has previous abdominal surgeries. Previous abdominal surgery may prolong operative time but is not an independent risk factor associated with postoperative complication.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the expression difference of miR-3189-3p in renal cancer tissue and adjacent tissue and its effect on the biological function of renal cancer cells.Methods:quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression level of miR-3189-3p in renal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues, renal cancer cell lines (Caki-1, ACHN, A498, OS-RC-2) and normal renal tubular epithelial cells HK-2. miR-NC or miR-3189-3p mimics were transfected into renal cancer cells with the lowest expression of miR-3189-3p, respectively, named miR-NC group and miR-3189-3p group. The effects of miR-3189-3p on the proliferation and invasion of renal cancer cells were detected by CCK-8 method and Transwell migration experiment. miRanda and miRTarBase software was used to predict the downstream gene of miR-3189-3p. The dual luciferase reporter gene experiment was used to verify the downstream gene of miR-3189-3p. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of miR-3189-3p downstream gene. Measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation ( ± s), and t-test was used for comparison between groups. Results:The relative expression of miR-3189-3p in renal cancer tissue and paracancerous tissue was 1.97±0.61 and 6.19±0.73, respectively, and the relative expression of miR-3189-3p in renal cancer tissue was lower than that in paracancerous tissue ( P<0.01). The relative expression of miR-3189-3p in renal cancer cell lines was lower than that in HK-2 cells ( P<0.05). The relative expression of miR-3189-3p in OS-RC-2 cells was the lowest ( P<0.01). The relative expression levels of miR-3189-3p in OS-RC-2 cells in the miR-NC group and miR-3189-3p group were 1.01±0.11 and 9.27±1.43, respectively, and the relative expression levels of miR-3189-3p in the miR-NC group significantly lower than the miR-3189-3p group ( P<0.01). Compared with the miR-NC group, the proliferation ability of OS-RC-2 cells with high expression of miR-3189-3p was significantly reduced ( P<0.05). The numbers of penetrating cells in the miR-NC group and miR-3189-3p group were 165.40±17.02 and 41.07±6.36, respectively, and the invasive ability of OS-RC-2 cells in the miR-3189-3p group was significantly reduced ( P<0.01). The target gene of miR-3189-3p is Aquaporin 3 ( AQP3) and miR-3189-3p can target AQP3 mRNA ( P<0.01). Compared with the miR-NC group, the expression of AQP3 gene in the high-expressing miR-3189-3p cells was significantly reduced at both the mRNA level and the protein level ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The expression of miR-3189-3p is down-regulated in renal cell carcinoma. High expression of miR-3189-3p can significantly inhibit the proliferation and invasion of renal cell carcinoma OS-RC-2 cells. The molecular mechanism is that miR-3189-5p targets and inhibits the expression of AQP3 gene.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) and flow cytometric scoring system (FCSS) in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of childhood myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 42 children who were diagnosed with MDS. MFC was performed to investigate the phenotype and proportion of each lineage of bone marrow cells. The correlations of FCSS score with MDS type, International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score, and revised IPSS (IPSS-R) score were analyzed.

RESULTSOf all the 42 children, 20 (48%) had an increase in abnormal marrow blasts, 19 (45%) had a lymphoid/myeloid ratio of >1, 14 (33%) had abnormal cross-lineage expression of lymphoid antigens in myeloid cells, 8 (19%) had abnormal CD13/CD16 differentiation antigens, 5 (12%) had abnormal expression of CD56, 3 (7%) had reduced or increased side scatter of granulocytes, 3 (7%) had reduced expression of CD36 in nucleated red blood cells, 2 (5%) had reduced expression of CD71 in nucleated red blood cells, 1 (2%) had absent expression of CD33 in myeloid cells, 1 (2%) had reduced or absent expression of CD11b in granulocytes, and 1 (2%) had absent expression of CD56 and CD14 in monocytes. There were significant differences in the median overall survival time and event-free survival time among the low-, medium-, and high-risk FCSS groups (P<0.05). Among the low-, medium-, and high-risk FCSS groups, the low-risk FCSS group had the highest 2-year overall survival rate, while there was no significant difference between the medium- and high-risk FCSS groups (P>0.05). The three groups had a 2-year event-free survival rate of 95%, 60%, and 46% respectively (P<0.05). FCSS score was positively correlated with MDS type, IPSS score, and IPSS-R score (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMFC and FCSS help with the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of childhood MDS.

Humans ; Facial Nerve/surgery* ; Endolymphatic Sac/surgery* ; Cranial Sinuses ; Postoperative Complications ; Neoplasms

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between selenium levels and diabetes in an older population with life-long natural exposure to selenium in rural China. A total of 1856 subjects aged 65 years or older from four Chinese rural counties with different environmental selenium levels were evaluated. Analysis of covariance models and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between nail selenium levels and serum glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance [using the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)], and the risk of diabetes. The mean nail selenium level was 0.461 μg/g and the prevalence rate of diabetes was 8.3% in this population. The mean nail selenium level was significantly higher in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (P<0.0001). The adjusted odds ratios for diabetes were 2.65 (95% CI: 1.48 to 4.73), 2.47 (95% CI: 1.37 to 4.45), and 3.30 (95% CI: 1.85 to 5.88) from the second selenium quartile to the fourth quartile, respectively, compared with the first quartile group. The mean serum glucose and HOMA-IR in the higher selenium quartile groups were significantly higher than those of the lowest quartile group. However, no significant differences in insulin were observed among the four quartile groups. A long-term, higher level of exposure to selenium may be associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Future studies are needed to elucidate the association between selenium and insulin resistance.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nails ; metabolism ; Rural Population ; Selenium ; metabolism