Objective:To explored the clinical characteristics and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by vancomycin combined with piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium (VPT) in adult patients with severe infections.Methods:Clinical data of adult patients with VPT-related AKI (AKI group) hospitalized at the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu Medical College and People′s Hospital of Hengshui from January 2022 to August 2023 due to severe infections were collected. The occurrence time, severity, and prognosis of AKI in the AKI group were descriptive statistically analyzed. According to the ratio of 1∶1, patients in the control group were randomly selected from those who did not develop AKI after using VPT in the same period. The general information, disease status, baseline laboratory tests results, and the application of VPT and combined drugs, etc. in patients of the 2 groups were collected. The influencing factors of AKI caused by VPT were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results:A total of 1 547 adult patients with severe infections were treated with VPT, of which 175 (11.3%) developed AKI. Among the 175 patients, 81 (46.3%) were male and 94 (53.7%) were female, with an age of (55±22) years; the time from VPT treatment to the occurrence of AKI was (4±1) days, and the severity of AKI was staged as grade 1, 2 and 3 in 97 (55.4%), 54 (30.9%), and 24 (13.7%) patients, respectively. After drug withdrawal, the renal function gradually recovered in 169 (96.6%) of the 175 patients with AKI, and 6 (3.4%) patients needed continuous renal replacement therapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the trough concentration of vancomycin >20 mg/L [odds ratio ( OR)=2.105, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.427-3.105, P=0.022], the duration of vancomycin treatment ≥11 days ( OR=1.518, 95% CI: 1.232-1.871, P=0.014), the duration of piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium treatment ≥14 days ( OR=1.826, 95% CI: 1.152-2.894, P=0.029) and longer duration of combined vasoactive drugs ( OR=3.315, 95% CI: 1.428-7.695, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for VPT-related AKI. Conclusions:VPT-related AKI in adult patients with severe infections mostly occurs within one week of combination therapy, and the severity was mostly stage 1 and 2. The trough concentration of vancomycin >20 mg/L, longer course of VPT treatment, and longer time of combined vasoactive drugs can increase the risk of VPT-related AKI.

Objective:To explored the clinical characteristics and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by vancomycin combined with piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium (VPT) in adult patients with severe infections.Methods:Clinical data of adult patients with VPT-related AKI (AKI group) hospitalized at the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu Medical College and People′s Hospital of Hengshui from January 2022 to August 2023 due to severe infections were collected. The occurrence time, severity, and prognosis of AKI in the AKI group were descriptive statistically analyzed. According to the ratio of 1∶1, patients in the control group were randomly selected from those who did not develop AKI after using VPT in the same period. The general information, disease status, baseline laboratory tests results, and the application of VPT and combined drugs, etc. in patients of the 2 groups were collected. The influencing factors of AKI caused by VPT were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results:A total of 1 547 adult patients with severe infections were treated with VPT, of which 175 (11.3%) developed AKI. Among the 175 patients, 81 (46.3%) were male and 94 (53.7%) were female, with an age of (55±22) years; the time from VPT treatment to the occurrence of AKI was (4±1) days, and the severity of AKI was staged as grade 1, 2 and 3 in 97 (55.4%), 54 (30.9%), and 24 (13.7%) patients, respectively. After drug withdrawal, the renal function gradually recovered in 169 (96.6%) of the 175 patients with AKI, and 6 (3.4%) patients needed continuous renal replacement therapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the trough concentration of vancomycin >20 mg/L [odds ratio ( OR)=2.105, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.427-3.105, P=0.022], the duration of vancomycin treatment ≥11 days ( OR=1.518, 95% CI: 1.232-1.871, P=0.014), the duration of piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium treatment ≥14 days ( OR=1.826, 95% CI: 1.152-2.894, P=0.029) and longer duration of combined vasoactive drugs ( OR=3.315, 95% CI: 1.428-7.695, P=0.005) were independent risk factors for VPT-related AKI. Conclusions:VPT-related AKI in adult patients with severe infections mostly occurs within one week of combination therapy, and the severity was mostly stage 1 and 2. The trough concentration of vancomycin >20 mg/L, longer course of VPT treatment, and longer time of combined vasoactive drugs can increase the risk of VPT-related AKI.

The biological samples of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases are extremely precious. Collecting and preserving these biological samples are helpful to elucidate the mechanisms and improve the level of diagnose and treatment of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. The standardized construction of biobanks for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases is important for achieving these goals. At present, there is very little information on the construction of these biobanks, and the standards or suggestions for the classification and coding of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources, and this is not conducive to the standardization and information construction of biobanks for special oral diseases. This consensus summarizes the background, necessity, principles, and key points of constructing the biobank for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. On the base of the group standard "Classification and Coding for Human Biomaterial" (GB/T 39768-2021) issued by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Biological Samples, we suggest 76 new coding numbers for different of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources. We hope the consensus may promote the standardization, and smartization on the biobank construction as well as the overall research level of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases in China.

Objective::This study is aimed to analyze the long-term safety and effectiveness of second-generation cryoballoon (CB2) ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods::Data from 760 consecutive patients in the Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from August 2016 to December 2018 with drug-refractory symptomatic AF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using CB2 were assessed. Procedure-related safety and freedom from AF and atrial flutter/atria tachycardia through 3 years were determined. The risk factors related to atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence were analyzed.Results::Acute PVI was achieved in 100% of the 760 patients. Radiofrequency application for additional focal ablation was needed in 11 (1.4%) patients and for 14 pulmonary veins (0.5%, 14/(760×4)) to achieve PVI. A total of 748 patients, including 539 with paroxysmal AF (PAF) and 209 with persistent AF (SAF) completed the follow-up, and only 12 (1.6%) patients were lost. The mean follow-up duration was (19±8) months. The rate of major complications was 0.9%, including 0.8% of right phrenic nerve injury, which resolved before discharge. Freedom from all tachyarrhythmias was achieved in 75.0%, 69.4%, and 63.2% of patients with PAF, respectively, at 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up, and in 75.1%, 67.4%, and 60.9% for SAF, with no significant differences between the PAF and SAF groups. AF course and the rate of body weight gain were independent risk factors for recurrence at 12 months after ablation ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively). Conclusion::PVI using CB2 has a high acute success rate and good safety in the treatment of PAF and SAF. Long course of AF and weight gain after ablation were independent risk factors for recurrence.

Objective::This study is aimed to analyze the long-term safety and effectiveness of second-generation cryoballoon (CB2) ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods::Data from 760 consecutive patients in the Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from August 2016 to December 2018 with drug-refractory symptomatic AF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using CB2 were assessed. Procedure-related safety and freedom from AF and atrial flutter/atria tachycardia through 3 years were determined. The risk factors related to atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence were analyzed.Results::Acute PVI was achieved in 100% of the 760 patients. Radiofrequency application for additional focal ablation was needed in 11 (1.4%) patients and for 14 pulmonary veins (0.5%, 14/(760×4)) to achieve PVI. A total of 748 patients, including 539 with paroxysmal AF (PAF) and 209 with persistent AF (SAF) completed the follow-up, and only 12 (1.6%) patients were lost. The mean follow-up duration was (19±8) months. The rate of major complications was 0.9%, including 0.8% of right phrenic nerve injury, which resolved before discharge. Freedom from all tachyarrhythmias was achieved in 75.0%, 69.4%, and 63.2% of patients with PAF, respectively, at 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up, and in 75.1%, 67.4%, and 60.9% for SAF, with no significant differences between the PAF and SAF groups. AF course and the rate of body weight gain were independent risk factors for recurrence at 12 months after ablation ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively). Conclusion::PVI using CB2 has a high acute success rate and good safety in the treatment of PAF and SAF. Long course of AF and weight gain after ablation were independent risk factors for recurrence.

Objective:To investigate the changes of brain energy metabolism and cognitive function in mice with specifically knocking out AMP-activated protein kinase α1 subunit ( AMPKα1) gene in the excitatory neurons by Cre-loxP recombination system. Methods:Sixteen 6-month-old mice with genotype AMPKα1 flox/flox/Camk2a-Cre/ERT2 obtained by hybrid breeding were randomly divided into AMPKα1 knockout group ( n=8) and AMPKα1 wild-type group ( n=8). Mice in the AMPKα1 knockout group were intraperitoneally injected 0.1 mL tamoxifen (20 mg/mL, dissolved in corn oil) daily for a consecutive 5 d to control AMPKα1 gene knockout in the excitatory neurons; and mice in the AMPKα1 wild-type group were intraperitoneally injected 0.1 mL corn oil daily for a consecutive 5 d. Seven d after that, Morris water maze and T maze experiments were employed to detect the spatial learning and memory abilities and spatial working memory of these mice; chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging (CEST) was used to observe the glucose metabolism in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding the hippocampus; Western blotting was used to detect the AMPKα1 and glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) protein expressions in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding hippocampus of two groups. Results:(1) Morris water maze showed that, as compared with those in the AMPKα1 wild-type group, mice in the AMPKα1 knockout group had significantly prolonged escape latency ([13.90±3.72] s vs. [22.40±6.28] s; [11.95±3.86] s vs. [22.39±9.77] s]) on the 3 rd and 4 th d of experiment, statistically decreased times crossing the platform ([5.25±1.83] times vs. [1.75±1.28] times, P<0.05). (2) T-maze experiment showed that as compared with that of the AMPKα1 wild-type group, the free alternation rate in mice of the AMPKα1 knockout group was significantly decreased ([73.21±9.16]% vs. [48.21±11.29]%, P<0.05). (3) CEST showed that the glucose metabolism levels in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding the hippocampus of AMPKα1 knockout group were significantly lower than those in AMPKα1 wild-type group (1.51±0.81 vs. 2.77±0.67; 1.31±0.83 vs. 2.42±0.95, P<0.05). (4) Western blotting showed that the AMPKα1 and GluR1 protein expressions in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding the hippocampus of the AMPKα1 wild-type group were significantly higher than those of the AMPKα1 knockout group (AMPKα1: 0.70±0.05 vs. 0.49±0.03, 0.98±0.04 vs. 0.64±0.06; GluR1: 1.22±0.18 vs. 0.60±0.11, 0.96±0.08 vs. 0.79±0.04, P<0.05). Conclusion:Specifically knocking out AMPKα1 in excitatory neurons can result in abnormal glucose metabolism in the brain of mice, and thus cause cognitive dysfunction, whose mechanism may be related to excitatory synaptic disorder caused by energy metabolism disorder.

Objective:To investigate the diversity and structural characteristics of fungal communities on lesions of the face, upper limbs and back in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) .Methods:Samples were collected from the lesions on the face, upper limbs and back of 10 AD patients, who visited the Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College from September to October in 2015, and collected from the corresponding body sites of 10 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from the samples, and subjected to MiSeq high-throughput sequencing for diversity index analysis, species composition analysis and principal component analysis. Statistical analysis was carried out by using two-independent-sample t test for comparisons between two groups, one-way analysis of variance for comparisons among multiple groups, and least significant difference- t test for multiple comparisons. Results:Diversity index analysis showed that Shannon index was significantly higher in the samples from the lesions on the face, upper limbs and back of the AD patient group than in those from corresponding body sites of the healthy control group ( t = 2.67, 2.37, 3.34 respectively, all P < 0.05) . Species composition analysis showed that Malassezia was predominant in the skin samples from the face, upper limbs and back of the AD patient group and healthy control group, and the total abundance of Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta was about 80%. The abundance of Candida and Aspergillus in the total samples was significantly higher in the AD patient group than in the healthy control group ( t = 3.515, 2.137 respectively, both P < 0.05) . There was no significant difference in the abundance of major fungal genera on the face between the AD patient group and healthy control group (all P > 0.05) ; the abundance of Candida in the upper limbs was significantly higher in the AD patient group than in the healthy control group ( t = 3.186, P < 0.05) , and the abundance of Aspergillus in the back was significantly higher in the AD patient group than in the healthy control group ( t = 2.736, P < 0.05) . In either the AD patient group or the healthy control group, there was no significant difference in the abundance of major fungal genera among samples from the face, upper limbs and back (all P > 0.05) . Moreover, no significant difference in the abundance of major fungal genera was observed among the mild, moderate and severe AD patient groups (all P > 0.05) . Principal component analysis showed that fungal communities in the samples from the lesions on the face, upper limbs and back of the AD patient group were not clustered by the disease severity. Conclusions:The diversity of fungal communities is significantly higher in the lesions on the face, upper limbs and back of the AD patients than in the normal skin at the corresponding body sites of the healthy controls. Malassezia is the dominant fungal genus in both lesions of the AD patients and normal skin of the healthy controls at the above body sites. The composition of fungal communities in lesional samples may be uncorrelated with the disease severity in AD patients.

Objective·To analyze the choice of smoking cessation methods and its influencing factors in moderate-to-severe nicotine-dependent population.Methods·A retrospective clinical analysis was conducted for170 moderate-to-severe nicotine-dependent smoking-quitters (Fagerstr(o)m scale ≥ 4).Different smoking cessation methods (pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacotherapy) and abstinence rates of the selected population (7 d point prevalence abstinence rates and sustained abstinence rates 1,3,and 6 months after treatment) were compared and possible influencing factors were analyzed.Results·The differences in choosing the smoking cessation method in moderate-to-severe nicotine-dependent population with different ages,levels of education,and employment status were statistically significant (P=0.000).The Logistics regression analysis showed that the level of education was the major factor for choosing the smoking cessation method (P=0.006).The 7 d prevalence abstinence rate was much lower for pharmacotherapy than for non-pharmacotherapy 1 month after treatment (P=0.000) and was much higher for pharmacotherapy than for non-pharmacotherapy 3 and 6 months after treatment (P=0.000).The sustained abstinence rate was much higher for pharmacotherapy than for non-pharmacotherapy 3 and 6 months after treatment (P=0.002,P=0.000).Conclusion·For moderate-to-severe nicotine-dependent smoking-quitters,attention should be paid to the formulation and implementation of personalized strategies.The choice of smoking cessation methods depends on the age,level of education,and employment status.Reasonable pharmacotherapies can significantly increase the abstinence rate.

Objective To report a case of black-dot ringworm caused by Trichophyton tonsurans in a 3-year-old girl. Methods Lesional hair was obtained from the patient and subjected to direct microscopic examination as well as culture. Subsequently, the isolate underwent morphological, biochemical and molecular biology identification. The extracellular enzymatic activity of the isolate was analyzed. Results Microscopy revealed that the hair shaft was filled with fungal spores. Typical colony of the isolate was grayish-white with downy appearance. Slide culture showed centipede-like, lateral, rod-shaped microconidia. Urease test was positive. The amplification of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) ITS domains by PCR produced a 687 bp-sized fragment which had a 100% homology with the sequences of several Trichophyton tonsurans strains in the GenBank database. The extracellular enzymatic activity analysis showed an increase in the activity of alkaline phos-phatase, acid phosphatase, esterase (C4), β-glucosidase, leucine arylamidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and a-mannosidase. Conclusions The pathogenic fungus is identified as Trichophyton tonsurans based on morphological and biochemical features as well as sequence of the ITS region of rDNA, and the child was diagnosed with black-dot ringworm.