OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and bacterial resistance of bloodstream infections caused by Streptococcus mitis in children with hematological disease, so as to provide a reference for infection control. METHODS: The clinical information and laboratory findings of pediatric patients complicated with blood cultures positive for Streptococcus mitis from January 2018 to December 2020 in the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital were searched and collected. The clinical characteristics, susceptibility factors, and antibiotic resistance of the children were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Data analysis from 2018 to 2020 showed that the proportion of Streptococcus mitis isolated from bloodstream infections in children (≤14 years old) with hematological diseases was the highest (19.91%) and significantly higher than other bacteria, accounting for 38.64% of Gram-positive cocci, and presented as an increasing trend year by year. A total of 427 children tested positive blood cultures, including 85 children with bloodstream infections caused by Streptococcus mitis who tested after fever. Most children experienced a recurrent high fever in the early and middle stages (≤6 d) of neutropenia and persistent fever for more than 3 days. After adjusting the antibiotics according to the preliminary drug susceptibility results, the body temperature of most children (63.5%) returned to normal within 4 days. The 85 children were mainly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), accounting for 84.7%. The proportion of children in the neutropenia stage was 97.7%. The incidence of oral mucosal damage, lung infection, and gastrointestinal injury symptoms was 40%, 31.8%, and 27.1%, respectively. The ratio of elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin was 65.9% and 9.4%, respectively. All isolated strains of Streptococcus mitis were not resistant to vancomycin and linezolid, and the resistance rate to penicillin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, and quinupristin-dalfopristin was 10.6%, 8.2%, 9.4%, and 14.1%, respectively. None of children died due to bloodstream infection caused by Streptococcus mitis. CONCLUSION The infection rate of Streptococcus mitis is increasing year by year in children with hematological diseases, especially in children with AML. Among them, neutropenia and oral mucosal damage after chemotherapy are high-risk infection factors. The common clinical symptoms include persistent high fever, oral mucosal damage, and elevated CRP. Penicillin and cephalosporins have good sensitivity. Linezolid, as a highly sensitive antibiotic, can effectively control infection and shorten the course of disease.
Humans ; Child ; Streptococcal Infections/microbiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Hematologic Diseases/complications* ; Streptococcus mitis ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Risk Factors ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Female ; Male ; Bacteremia/microbiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common respiratory emergency, but current clinical treatment remains at the level of symptomatic support and there is a lack of effective targeted treatment measures. Our previous study confirmed that inhalation of hydrogen gas can reduce the acute lung injury of ARDS, but the application of hydrogen has flammable and explosive safety concerns. Drinking hydrogen-rich liquid or inhaling hydrogen gas has been shown to play an important role in scavenging reactive oxygen species and maintaining mitochondrial quality control balance, thus improving ARDS in patients and animal models. Coral calcium hydrogenation (CCH) is a new solid molecular hydrogen carrier prepared from coral calcium (CC). Whether and how CCH affects acute lung injury in ARDS remains unstudied. In this study, we observed the therapeutic effect of CCH on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury in ARDS mice. The survival rate of mice treated with CCH and hydrogen inhalation was found to be comparable, demonstrating a significant improvement compared to the untreated ARDS model group. CCH treatment significantly reduced pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, and improved pulmonary function and local microcirculation in ARDS mice. CCH promoted mitochondrial peripheral division in the early course of ARDS by activating mitochondrial thioredoxin 2 (Trx2), improved lung mitochondrial dysfunction induced by LPS, and reduced oxidative stress damage. The results indicate that CCH is a highly efficient hydrogen-rich agent that can attenuate acute lung injury of ARDS by improving the mitochondrial function through Trx2 activation.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related diabetes mellitus(ICI-DM).Methods The clinical characteristics,laboratory examinations,treatment regimens,and follow-up outcomes of 10 ICI-DM patients who were diagnosed and treated in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Relevant literatures were retrieved from domestic and foreign databases such as PubMed,CNKI,and VIP.The clinical characteristics of ICI-DM were summarized based on the literature results.Results All 10 patients were PD-1 inhibitor users,including 5 males and 5 females,with a median age of 54.5(51.3,64.0)years and a body mass index(BMI)of(22.0±2.15)kg/m2.Among them,9 cases(90.0%)were fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus(FT1DM);9 cases(90.0%)had a severity of adverse events reaching grade 3-4 according to the Common Terminology Criteria for adverse events(CTCAE).The median time from PD-1 inhibitor treatment to the occurrence of the classic diabetes symptoms referred to as"three more and one less"(polyuria,polydipsia,polyphagia,and weight loss)in all patients was 145.5(110.5,204.8)days,and the medication duration was 6.0(4.3,7.8)cycles.The average blood glucose level of the 10 patients at the time of consultation was 25.3(10.0-41.4)mmol/L,and the glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)level was 8.0%(6.6%-10.9%).Eight patients had fasting and 2-hour C-peptide levels<0.1 ng/ml(fasting C-peptide from<0.010 to 0.067 ng/ml,2-hour C-peptide from<0.010 to 0.077 ng/ml).Nine of the 10 patients were negative for diabetes autoantibodies,while 1 was not tested.All 10 patients were successfully treated with insulin and other therapies.During the follow-up after discharge,all patients still relied on insulin treatment,and no significant recovery of pancreatic islet β cell function was observed compared with that at discharge.Literature review revealed that ICI-DM was more common in PD-1 inhibitor users,with clinical mainly manifested as diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)(65.4%)and diabetic ketosis(13.1%).Patients had severely impaired pancreatic islet function and required long-term insulin treatment,and some cases were complicated by thyroid or pituitary dysfunction.Conclusions ICI-DM typically presents as FT1DM,often manifesting with DKA or diabetic ketosis at onset.It is characterized by severe and irreversible loss of pancreatic islet function,necessitating lifelong insulin therapy.To enable early detection and prompt treatment,close monitoring of blood glucose is essential during ICI treatment.

Objective To analyze the predictive value of serum levels of procalcitonin(PCT)and cytokines on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 at admission.Methods From November 2022 to February 2023,patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to Beijing Chest Hospital were enrolled.Chemiluminescence was used to detect serum PCT levels,and flow microsphere array was used to detect serum cytokines IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17A,IL-17F,IL-22,TNF-α,TNF-β,IFN-γ level.ICU admission,mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death were defined as poor prognosis.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.Results A total of 176 patients with complete data were included,including 134 in the PCT-normal group and 42 in the PCT-elevated group,with a median age of 71.50 years and 71.59%males.Patients in the PCT elevated-group had significantly higher rates of ICU admission(38.41%vs.13.11%,P<0.05),mechanical ventilation(76.92%vs.24.59%,P<0.001)and in-hospital mortality(38.46%vs.6.56%,P<0.001)were significantly higher than those in the PCT-normal group.Serum levels of cytokines IL-6(7.40 pg/mL vs.4.78 pg/mL,P = 0.033 4)and IL-8(10.97 pg/mL vs.5.92 pg/mL,P<0.001)were significantly higher in patients with poor prognosis than in those with good prognosis.The area under the curve for PCT,IL-6,and IL-8 to predict poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients was 0.687,0.660,and 0.746,respectively;sensitivity was 52.78%,55.17%,and 72.41%,respectively;and specificity was 81.58%,74.19%,and 74.19%,respectively,as calculated from the ROC curve.When PCT,IL-6 and IL-8 jointly predict the prognosis of COVID-19 patients,the area under the curve is 0.764,the sensitivity is 70.00%,and the specificity is 80.00%.Conclusion Serum PCT and cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 could be used as predictive markers for poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with CD5+diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL).Methods:The clinical data of 161 newly treated DLBCL patients in Gansu Provincial Hospital from January 2013 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.According to CD5 expression,the patients were divided into CD5+group and CD5-group.The clinical characteristics and prognosis of the two groups were statistically analyzed.Results:The median age of patients in CD5+group was 62 years,which was higher than 56 years in CD5-group(P=0.048).The proportion of women in CD5+group was 62.96％,which was significantly higher than 41.79％in CD5-group(P=0.043).The proportion of patients with IPI score＞2 in CD5+group was 62.96％,which was higher than 40.30％in CD5-group(P=0.031).Survival analysis showed that the median overall survival and progression-free survival time of patients in CD5+group were 27(3-77)and 31(3-76)months,respectively,which were both shorter than 30(5-84)and 32.5(4-83)months in CD5-group(P=0.047,P=0.026).Univariate analysis showed that advanced age,positive CD5 expression,triple or double hit at initial diagnosis,high IPI score and no use of rituximab during chemotherapy were risk factors for the prognosis of DLBCL patients.Further Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that these factors were also independent risk factors except for advanced age.Conclusion:CD5+DLBCL patients have a worse prognosis than CD5-DLBCL patients.Such patients are more common in females,with advanced age and high IPI score,which is a special subtype of DLBCL.

Once ischemic stroke occurs,severely insufficient blood supply causes massive neuronal apoptosis and necrosis,leading to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns(DAMPs)that exacerbate neuroinflammation and worsen brain damage.As the resident efferocytes in central nervous system,microglia possess the capability to phagocytose and eliminate ap-optotic cells by efferocytosis before necrosis occurs,thereby mit-igating the release of DAMPs and the accumulation of cellular debris.This process is crucial for neuroinflammation reduction and neurorestoration.Hence,a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanism of microglial efferocytosis post-ische-mia,as well as its impact on neuroinflammation and cerebral damage,has the potential to advance diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for ischemic stroke.Here,we outline the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in microglial effero-cytosis following ischemic stroke,and summarize the research progress on drugs targeting microglial efferocytosis to enhance stroke prognosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

The purpose of this study was to identify the tick species native to Xindi Township,Yumin County,Xinjiang,China.Preliminary morphological identification of parasitic ticks collected from animals in the area was conducted with an ultra-depth of field three-dimensional VHX 600 digital stereo microscope.Total DNA of the ticks was extracted,amplified by PCR based on the COI and ITS2 gene loci,and the posi-tive PCR products were sequenced.The sequence were a-ligned with reference sequences from the NCBI database were aligned with the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool.A genet-ic phylogenetic tree was generated with the neighbor-joining method of MEGA 7.0 software to determine the evolutionary biological characteristics of ticks.Morphological identification showed that the ticks collected from Xindi Township of Yu-min County were consistent with the characteristics of Hya-lomma asiaticum.An evolutionary tree based on the COI and ITS2 gene sequences showed that the ticks collected in this study were clustered with known H.asiaticum sequences.The PCR products of COI and ITS2 were sequenced and compared,which confirmed that the collected tick species were H.asiaticum,in agreement with the morphological and molecular biological results.These findings help to clarify the distribution of ticks in Xindi Township of Xinjiang,and provide basic data for the analysis of tick genetic and evolutionary characteristics,as reference for surveillance and control of ticks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Objective:To compare the therapeutic effects of 0.05% cyclosporine and 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops in patients with moderate and severe dry eye.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted.Fifty-two patients (52 eyes) with moderate to severe dry eye in Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital from August 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled and randomly divided into 0.05% cyclosporine group and 0.1% fluorometholone group by random number table method, with 26 cases (26 eyes) in each group.Patients received 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops (2 times/day) and 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops (2 times/day) combined with calf blood deproteinized extract eye drops (4 times/day) according to the grouping.Before and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment, clinical symptoms and signs were observed and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠT), non-invasive first tear film break-up time (NIBUTf), and conjunctival goblet cell (CGC) density were recorded.Before treatment and after 6 months of treatment, changes in corneal nerves and dendritic cells (DC) were observed by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Eye Hospital of Tianjin Medical University (No.2021KY-17).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject. Results:Compared with the 0.1% fluorometholone group, CFS score decreased after 1 month of treatment, but SⅠT, NIBUTf and CFS score increased after 3 months of treatment, and OSDI score, SⅠT and CFS score decreased after 6 months of treatment in the 0.05% cyclosporine group, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05).Compared with baseline, in the 0.05% cyclosporine group, NIBUTf increased and CFS score decreased after 1 month of treatment, OSDI score and CFS score decreased, SⅠT and NIBUTf increased after 3 and 6 months of treatment, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05).In the 0.1% fluorometholone group, CFS score decreased after 3 months of treatment, OSDI score and CFS score decreased, SⅠT increased after 6 months of treatment compared to baseline, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05).OSDI score and CFS score decreased, SⅠT increased after 6 months of treatment compared to 3 months of treatment in the 0.05% cyclosporine group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05).Baseline and CGC densities after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment were (147.66±17.29), (195.44±15.46), (210.36±19.15) and (282.09±22.63)cells/mm 2 in the 0.05% cyclosporine group and (138.09±17.29), (95.67±15.46), (117.77±19.15) and (109.13±22.63)cells/mm 2 in the 0.1% fluorometholone group, respectively, with a statistically significant overall difference ( Fgroup=11.724, P<0.001; Ftime=4.837, P=0.005).Compared with the 0.1% fluorometholone group, CGC density in the 0.05% cyclosporine group increased after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment, with statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05).Compared with baseline, the CGC density increased in the 0.05% cyclosporine group after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05).Compared with the 0.1% fluorometholone group, the corneal nerve fiber density in the 0.05% cyclosporine group increased after 6 months of treatment, and corneal DC density, area and dendrite number decreased, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:Cyclosporine 0.05% eye drops combined with calf blood deproteinized extract eye drops can improve symptoms and signs in patients with moderate to severe dry eye, and the long-term effect is better than that of 0.1% fluorometholone plus calf blood deproteinized extract eye drops.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.