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]

Objective: Bariatric surgery effectively treats non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The glutamate-serine-glycine (GSG) index has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for NAFLD, but its ability to monitor treatment response remains unclear. This study investigates the GSG index's ability to monitor NAFLD's response to bariatric surgery. Methodology: Ten NAFLD participants were studied at baseline and 6 months post-bariatric surgery. Blood samples were collected for serum biomarkers and metabolomic profiling. Hepatic steatosis [proton density fat fraction (PDFF)] and fibroinflammation (cT1) were quantified with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and hepatic stiffness with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured with mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included paired Student’s t-test, Wilcoxon-signed rank test, and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Eight participants provided complete data. At baseline, all had hepatic steatosis (BMI 39.3 ± 5.6 kg/m2, PDFF ≥ 5%). Post-surgery reductions in PDFF (from 12.4 ± 6.7% to 6.2 ± 2.8%, p = 0.013) and cT1 (from 823.3 ± 85.4ms to 757.5 ± 41.6ms, p = 0.039) were significant, along with the GSG index (from 0.272 ± 0.03 to 0.157 ± 0.05, p = 0.001). Conclusion The GSG index can potentially be developed as a marker for monitoring the response of patients with NAFLD to bariatric surgery.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Amino Acids ; Metabolomics

Objective To investigate the effects of intrauterine perfusion with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)on the endometrial thickness,volume,and blood flow parameters of patients with thin endometrium and their clinical outcomes.Methods We designed a prospective non-randomized synchronous controlled trial and recruited patients with thin endometrium who underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer(FET)at Mianyang Central Hospital between September 1,2021 and September 1,2023.They were divided into two groups,an experimental group of patients who received the experimental treatment of intrauterine perfusion with G-CSF and a control group of patients who did not receive the experimental treatment.The general data and the clinical outcomes of the two groups were analyzed and compared.The endometrial thickness,volume and blood flow parameters of patients in the experimental group before and after intrauterine perfusion with G-CSF were analyzed.Results The clinical data of 83 patients were included in the study.The experimental group included 51 cases,while the control group included 31 cases.There were no significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups.The clinical pregnancy rate of the experimental group(56.86% )was higher than that of the control group(50.00% )and the rate of spontaneous abortion in the experimental group(27.59% )was lower than that in the control group(37.50% ),but the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).In the experimental group,the postperfusion endometrial thickness([0.67±0.1]cm)was greater than the preperfusion endometrial thickness([0.59±0.09]cm),the postperfusion([1.84±0.81]cm3)was greater than the preperfusion endometrial volume([1.54±0.69]cm3),and the postperfusion vascularization flow index(VFI)(1.97±2.82)was greater than the preperfusion VFI(0.99±1.04),with all the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Intrauterine perfusion with G-CSF can enhance the endometrial thickness,volume,and some blood flow parameters in patients with thin endometrium.

Objective To compare the predictive value of ORBIT score and HAS-BLED score for bleeding risk after warfarin anticoagulation following heart valve replacement. Methods The clinical data of 304 patients who underwent heart valve replacement and required warfarin anticoagulation therapy were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were stratified and grouped based on the ORBIT score and HAS-BLED score. The correlation between risk stratification based on different scores and postoperative bleeding events during warfarin anticoagulation was analyzed. The consistency of risk stratification between the two scoring methods and their predictive value for bleeding events were compared. Results Among 304 patients, there were 32 bleeding patients and 272 non-bleeding patients. The postoperative ORBIT and HAS-BLED scores of the bleeding patients were higher than those of non-bleeding patients(P < 0.05). The bleeding risk of medium and high-risk patients based on the ORBIT score was 6.092 (95%CI, 2.694 to 13.775) times and 9.373 (95%CI, 1.465 to 59.943) times higher than that of low-risk patients, respectively. The bleeding risk of medium and high-risk patients based on the HAS-BLED score was 3.750 (95%CI, 1.383 to 10.166) times and 14.250 (95%CI, 5.489 to 36.995) times higher than that of low-risk patients, respectively. The analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the AUC (95%CI, 0.589 0.698 9) of ORBIT score for predicting the risk of postoperative warfarin anticoagulation bleeding was 0.646 (95%CI, 0.589 to 0.699), with a sensitivity of 46.88% and a specificity of 87.87%, and an optimal cutoff value of 3 points. The AUC of HAS-BLED score predicting the risk of postoperative anticoagulation bleeding with warfarin was 0.768 (95%CI, 0.717 to 0.814), with a sensitivity of 75.00% and a specificity of 69.85%, and an optimal cutoff value of 2 points. The Delong test results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in AUC between the two scores (D=0.122; 95%CI, 0.001 to 0.245; Z=1.962; P < 0.05). Conclusion Both ORBIT score and HAS-BLED score have certain predictive value for bleeding risk during warfarin anticoagulation after heart valve replacement, but the predictive efficiency of HAS-BLED score is better.

AIM To study the quassinoids and lignans from Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.and their anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The extract was isolated and purified by silica gel,MCI,Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Seven quassinoids were isolated and identified as bruceanic acid E (1),15-O-(3-hydroxy-3-methy1butanoyl)-brucealide (2),bruceine L (3),aglycone of yadanzioside D (4),javanicolide A (5),javanicolide C (6),bruceanic acid A (7).Four lignans were isolated and identified as cleomiscosin A (8),ceplignan (9),threo-guaiacylglycerol 8'-(4-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxyphenyl) ether (10),erythro-guaiacylglycerol 8'-(4-hydroxy-methyl-2-methoxyphenyl) ether (11).Compounds 3,8 could inhibit NO release in RAW264.7 cells.CONCLUSION Compounds 9-11 are isolated from Brucea genus for the first time.Compounds 3 and 8 have anti-inflammatory activities.

AIM To study the quassinoids and lignans from Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.and their anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The extract was isolated and purified by silica gel,MCI,Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Seven quassinoids were isolated and identified as bruceanic acid E (1),15-O-(3-hydroxy-3-methy1butanoyl)-brucealide (2),bruceine L (3),aglycone of yadanzioside D (4),javanicolide A (5),javanicolide C (6),bruceanic acid A (7).Four lignans were isolated and identified as cleomiscosin A (8),ceplignan (9),threo-guaiacylglycerol 8'-(4-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxyphenyl) ether (10),erythro-guaiacylglycerol 8'-(4-hydroxy-methyl-2-methoxyphenyl) ether (11).Compounds 3,8 could inhibit NO release in RAW264.7 cells.CONCLUSION Compounds 9-11 are isolated from Brucea genus for the first time.Compounds 3 and 8 have anti-inflammatory activities.

Objective: To understand the current status of diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) /small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) among hematologists, oncologists, and lymphoma physicians from hospitals of different levels in China. Methods: This multicenter questionnaire survey was conducted from March 2021 to July 2021 and included 1,000 eligible physicians. A combination of face-to-face interviews and online questionnaire surveys was used. A standardized questionnaire regarding the composition of patients treated for CLL/SLL, disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation, concomitant diseases, organ function evaluation, treatment selection, and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor was used. Results: ①The interviewed physicians stated that the proportion of male patients treated for CLL/SLL is higher than that of females, and the age is mainly concentrated in 61-70 years old. ②Most of the interviewed physicians conducted tests, such as bone marrow biopsies and immunohistochemistry, for patient diagnosis, in addition to the blood test. ③Only 13.7% of the interviewed physicians fully grasped the initial treatment indications recommended by the existing guidelines. ④In terms of cognition of high-risk prognostic factors, physicians' knowledge of unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable and 11q- is far inferior to that of TP53 mutation and complex karyotype, which are two high-risk prognostic factors, and only 17.1% of the interviewed physicians fully mastered CLL International Prognostic Index scoring system. ⑤Among the first-line treatment strategy, BTK inhibitors are used for different types of patients, and physicians have formed a certain understanding that BTK inhibitors should be preferentially used in patients with high-risk factors and elderly patients, but the actual use of BTK inhibitors in different types of patients is not high (31.6%-46.0%). ⑥BTK inhibitors at a reduced dose in actual clinical treatment were used by 69.0% of the physicians, and 66.8% of the physicians had interrupted the BTK inhibitor for >12 days in actual clinical treatment. The use of BTK inhibitors is reduced or interrupted mainly because of adverse reactions, such as atrial fibrillation, severe bone marrow suppression, hemorrhage, and pulmonary infection, as well as patients' payment capacity and effective disease progression control. ⑦Some differences were found in the perceptions and behaviors of hematologists and oncologists regarding the prognostic assessment of CLL/SLL, the choice of treatment options, the clinical use of BTK inhibitors, etc. Conclusion: At present, a gap remains between the diagnosis and treatment of CLL/SLL among Chinese physicians compared with the recommendations in the guidelines regarding the diagnostic criteria, treatment indications, prognosis assessment, accompanying disease assessment, treatment strategy selection, and rational BTK inhibitor use, especially the proportion of dose reduction or BTK inhibitor discontinuation due to high adverse events.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy* ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE To explore the efficacy of Sour Jujube Seed Decoction combined with Huanglian Wendan Decoction on adult chronic insomnia and its effect on hypnotic withdrawal.METHODS 187 patients with chronic insomnia were included for anal-ysis,including 102 in the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)group and 85 in the western medicine group.The TCM group was trea-ted with Sour Jujube Seed Decoction combined with Huanglian Wendan Decoction,while the western medicine group was treated with benzodiazepine under the consideration of doctor.The intervention period was 1 month,with assessments using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)conducted before and after the intervention.Follow-up evaluations were performed at 3 months and 6 months re-spectively after the intervention.RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups at baseline.After the inter-vention,the PSQI scores of patients in both groups were significantly improved(P<0.01).Among them,the TCM group was better than the western medicine group in the improvement of sleep quality and sleeping pills,total PSQI score reduction(P<0.01).The re-sults of linear regression analysis showed that after controlling for confounding factors,the regression coefficients of the TCM group in two different models were1.821 and 1.922 respectively,and the former was statistically significant(P<0.05).By screening patients who took hypnotics at baseline in the TCM group and comparing them with those in the western medicine group,the influencing factors of hypnotic withdrawal were analyzed.During the 3-month follow-up,25 out of 39 patients in the TCM group and 17 out of 80 patients in the western medicine group had hypnotic withdrawal(χ2= 19.25,P<0.001);during the 6-month follow-up,23 of the 39 patients in the TCM group and 18 of the 79 patients in the western medicine group had hypnotic withdrawal(χ2= 13.53,P<0.001),the with-drawal rate of patients in the TCM group was significantly higher than that in the western medicine group.Further regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors,the results showed that the western medicine group had a significantly higher rate of not withdrawal than the TCM group at 3 months(OR=5.50,95%CI:2.30～13.72)and 6 months(OR=6.43,95%CI:2.54～17.77),and the results were statistically different(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Sour Jujube Seed Decoction combined with Huangli-an Wendan Decoction is effective in treating adult chronic insomnia and assisting in hypnotic withdrawal.

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases