Objective:To investigate the association between high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) persistent infection and vaginal microecology.Methods:A total of 53 women were enrolled in the gynecological clinic of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021, including 7 women without HPV and 46 women with hrHPV infection. Among the hrHPV infected women, 24 woemn who did not use any drugs were classified as the observation group and the other 22 women who were given standardized interferon vaginal administration for 3 months were regarded as the treatment group. Vaginal secretions of all women were taken for Gram-stained microecological test at the time of enrollment and at the 4, 8, and 12 month follow-up. HPV turning negative was taken as the end point of follow-up.Results:(1) Women of hrHPV persistent infection in the observation and treatmnet groups had more times of abortions ( P=0.180). (2) The hrHPV negative conversion rate was 17% (4/24) in the observation group and 36% (8/22) in the treatment group, but the difference was not significant ( P=0.183). The median hrHPV negative conversion time were 11.0 months and 7.5 months in the observation and treatment groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.001). (3) Vaginal microecology was generally normal at the time of enrollment and at the end of follow-up in women with HPV natural negative conversion in the observation group. While vaginal microecological disorders were more common in women with hrHPV persistent infection in the observation and treatmnet groups, including high vaginal pH value, poor vaginal cleanliness, poor grade of Lactobacillus and increased vaginal clutter bacteria, and the vaginal microecological situation did not improve after the 12-month follow-up. (4) In the treatment group, women who turned HPV negative within six months all had normal vaginal microecology when enrollment (5/5). While those who turned negative six months later had a higher proportion of vaginal clutter bacteria (2/3), a poor grade of Lactobacillus (2/3) and a higher proportion of vaginal dysbiosis (2/3). Conclusions:(1) Interferon therapy could shorten the negative turning time of hrHPV. (2) Women with normal vaginal microecology have the ability to naturally clear hrHPV. (3) The vaginal microecological Gram-stain test has limited value in predicting hrHPV clearance, perhaps due to its inability to detect Lactobacillus subtypes.

Objective:To establish a rat model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and to directly observe the histopathological and ultrastructural characteristics of vaginal mucosal barrier after Candida albicans infection and treatment with Lactobacillus crispatus.Methods:Female unmated SD rats were used to establish the VVC model and divided into three groups (normal group, VVC group, and Lactobacillus group; n=6 per group). Lactobacillus group received intravaginal administration of Lactobacillus crispatus suspension, while rats in VVC group and normal group were infused with phosphate buffered solution instead. Vaginal tissues were collected on day 4 post-treatment for HE staining and transmission electron microscopy (to observe ultrastructural pathological changes). Results:The results of HE staining revealed the disruption and desquamation of vaginal epithelium, necrotic epithelial tissues, neutrophil infiltration in Candida albicans-infected rats. Lactobacillus crispatus intervention restored the damaged vaginal mucosal structure (mucosal layers and thickness) to normal levels, mucosal layers of Lactobacillus group and normal group were 9.50±1.38 vs 10.67±1.03 ( P=0.226), mucosal thickness of Lactobacillus group and normal group were (116.50±12.14) vs (130.33±13.91) μm ( P=0.211). The results of transmission electron microscopy revealed intercellular desmosome rupture, loss of microvilli and glycocalyx on superficial cells, and mitochondrial swelling in Candida albicans-infected rats. Lactobacillus crispatus intervention restored the damaged vaginal mucosal ultrastructures (mitochondria and intercellular connections, etc.) to normal levels. Conclusions:Fungal infection severely disrupte the vaginal mucosal barrier in rats. Lactobacillus crispatus could restore the vaginal mucosal barrier and epithelial ultrastructures.

OBJECTIVE T o assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of aztreonam-avibactam against metallo-β—lacta-mase(MBL)-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae(CRE)using different antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods,evaluate the consistency of results based on the latest breakpoints recommended by European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing(EUCAST),and analyze the clinical applicability.METHODS The imipenem-or meropenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated from the clinical specimens of Bei-jing Chaoyang Hospital from Jan.2019 to Mar.2023,MBL-producing CRE were selected after they were con-firmed by colloidal gold immunoassay and Sanger sequencing as the study subjects.The minimum inhibitory con-centrations(MICs)of single aztreonam and aztreonam-avibactam compounds were determined by using broth mi-crodilution method.In addition,the disk diffusion method and the gradient diffusion method were employed to further detect the in vitro susceptibility to aztreonam-avibactam.RESULTS Among the 87 strains of MBL-producing CRE that were included in the study,Escherichia coli was the most common species,accounting for 44.83％.NDM-5 was the predominant carbapenemase type,detected in 48.28％of the isolates.According to the latest EUCAST break-points,6 isolates were aztreonam-avibactam-resistant strains based on broth microdilution method,all of which were E.coli,and the resistance rate was 6.90％(6/87).However,the resistance rate that was determined by the disk diffu-sion method was significantly higher(22.99％,20/87).Among these,14 strains was within the area of technical uncer-tainty/resistant,making result interpretation difficult.In addition,the categorical agreement between the gradient diffu-sion method and the broth microdilution method reached up to 98.85％.CONCLUSIONS Aztreonam-avibactam has high antimicrobial activity against MBL-producing CRE.However,based on the latest EUCAST breakpoints,the antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the disk diffusion method results of some strains are hard to interpret.It is necessary to integrate with other methods for further validation.

OBJECTIVE T o assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of aztreonam-avibactam against metallo-β—lacta-mase(MBL)-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae(CRE)using different antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods,evaluate the consistency of results based on the latest breakpoints recommended by European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing(EUCAST),and analyze the clinical applicability.METHODS The imipenem-or meropenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated from the clinical specimens of Bei-jing Chaoyang Hospital from Jan.2019 to Mar.2023,MBL-producing CRE were selected after they were con-firmed by colloidal gold immunoassay and Sanger sequencing as the study subjects.The minimum inhibitory con-centrations(MICs)of single aztreonam and aztreonam-avibactam compounds were determined by using broth mi-crodilution method.In addition,the disk diffusion method and the gradient diffusion method were employed to further detect the in vitro susceptibility to aztreonam-avibactam.RESULTS Among the 87 strains of MBL-producing CRE that were included in the study,Escherichia coli was the most common species,accounting for 44.83％.NDM-5 was the predominant carbapenemase type,detected in 48.28％of the isolates.According to the latest EUCAST break-points,6 isolates were aztreonam-avibactam-resistant strains based on broth microdilution method,all of which were E.coli,and the resistance rate was 6.90％(6/87).However,the resistance rate that was determined by the disk diffu-sion method was significantly higher(22.99％,20/87).Among these,14 strains was within the area of technical uncer-tainty/resistant,making result interpretation difficult.In addition,the categorical agreement between the gradient diffu-sion method and the broth microdilution method reached up to 98.85％.CONCLUSIONS Aztreonam-avibactam has high antimicrobial activity against MBL-producing CRE.However,based on the latest EUCAST breakpoints,the antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the disk diffusion method results of some strains are hard to interpret.It is necessary to integrate with other methods for further validation.

Objective:To investigate the association between high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) persistent infection and vaginal microecology.Methods:A total of 53 women were enrolled in the gynecological clinic of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021, including 7 women without HPV and 46 women with hrHPV infection. Among the hrHPV infected women, 24 woemn who did not use any drugs were classified as the observation group and the other 22 women who were given standardized interferon vaginal administration for 3 months were regarded as the treatment group. Vaginal secretions of all women were taken for Gram-stained microecological test at the time of enrollment and at the 4, 8, and 12 month follow-up. HPV turning negative was taken as the end point of follow-up.Results:(1) Women of hrHPV persistent infection in the observation and treatmnet groups had more times of abortions ( P=0.180). (2) The hrHPV negative conversion rate was 17% (4/24) in the observation group and 36% (8/22) in the treatment group, but the difference was not significant ( P=0.183). The median hrHPV negative conversion time were 11.0 months and 7.5 months in the observation and treatment groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.001). (3) Vaginal microecology was generally normal at the time of enrollment and at the end of follow-up in women with HPV natural negative conversion in the observation group. While vaginal microecological disorders were more common in women with hrHPV persistent infection in the observation and treatmnet groups, including high vaginal pH value, poor vaginal cleanliness, poor grade of Lactobacillus and increased vaginal clutter bacteria, and the vaginal microecological situation did not improve after the 12-month follow-up. (4) In the treatment group, women who turned HPV negative within six months all had normal vaginal microecology when enrollment (5/5). While those who turned negative six months later had a higher proportion of vaginal clutter bacteria (2/3), a poor grade of Lactobacillus (2/3) and a higher proportion of vaginal dysbiosis (2/3). Conclusions:(1) Interferon therapy could shorten the negative turning time of hrHPV. (2) Women with normal vaginal microecology have the ability to naturally clear hrHPV. (3) The vaginal microecological Gram-stain test has limited value in predicting hrHPV clearance, perhaps due to its inability to detect Lactobacillus subtypes.

Objective:To establish a rat model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and to directly observe the histopathological and ultrastructural characteristics of vaginal mucosal barrier after Candida albicans infection and treatment with Lactobacillus crispatus.Methods:Female unmated SD rats were used to establish the VVC model and divided into three groups (normal group, VVC group, and Lactobacillus group; n=6 per group). Lactobacillus group received intravaginal administration of Lactobacillus crispatus suspension, while rats in VVC group and normal group were infused with phosphate buffered solution instead. Vaginal tissues were collected on day 4 post-treatment for HE staining and transmission electron microscopy (to observe ultrastructural pathological changes). Results:The results of HE staining revealed the disruption and desquamation of vaginal epithelium, necrotic epithelial tissues, neutrophil infiltration in Candida albicans-infected rats. Lactobacillus crispatus intervention restored the damaged vaginal mucosal structure (mucosal layers and thickness) to normal levels, mucosal layers of Lactobacillus group and normal group were 9.50±1.38 vs 10.67±1.03 ( P=0.226), mucosal thickness of Lactobacillus group and normal group were (116.50±12.14) vs (130.33±13.91) μm ( P=0.211). The results of transmission electron microscopy revealed intercellular desmosome rupture, loss of microvilli and glycocalyx on superficial cells, and mitochondrial swelling in Candida albicans-infected rats. Lactobacillus crispatus intervention restored the damaged vaginal mucosal ultrastructures (mitochondria and intercellular connections, etc.) to normal levels. Conclusions:Fungal infection severely disrupte the vaginal mucosal barrier in rats. Lactobacillus crispatus could restore the vaginal mucosal barrier and epithelial ultrastructures.

Objective To explore medium and long term efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF)in treating lumbar specific infection.Methods From October 2017 to January 2021,24 patients with lumbar specific infection were treated by OLIF combined with vertebral screw internal fixation,including 15 males and 9 females,aged from 27 to 61 years old with an average of(43.0±15.0)years old;the courses of disease ranged from 6 to 24 months with an average of(14.0±7.0)months;7 patients with L2-L3,12 patients with L3-L4 and 5 patients with L4-L5;19 patients with tuberculosis infection and 5 patients with brucella infection.The amount of intraoperative blood loss,operative time and complications were recorded,and erythro-cyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),visual analogue scale(VAS),Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score and American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)rating were compared before and one month after opertaion.Re-sults All patients were followed up from 9 to 24 months with an average of(13.0±6.0)months.Operative time was(132.5±21.4)min,and intraoperative blood loss was(227.3±43.1)ml.ESR and CRP were decreased from(82.34±18.62)mmol·h-1 and(53.08±21.84)mg·L-1 before operation to(33.52±17.31)mmol·h-1 and(15.48±8.36)mg·L-1 at one month after opera-tion,respectively(P＜0.05).VAS was decreased from(7.52±1.36)before opertaion to(1.74±0.87)at one month after opera-tion(P＜0.05).JOA was increased from(17.86±3.95)before operation to(24.72±3.19)at one month after operation(P＜0.05).Four patients had neurological symptoms before operation,and were classified to grade D according to ASIA classifica-tion,who were recovered to grade E at 1 month after operation.One patient was suffered from psoas major muscle injury after operation,and returned to normal at 3 weeks.One patient was suffered from abdominal distension and difficulty in defecation,and relieved after gastrointestinal decompression and enema.No complications such as abdominal organ injury and poor wound healing occurred in all patients.Conclusion OLIF combined with vertebral screw internal fixation is a new minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of lumbar specific infection,especially the lesion located on the middle lumbar vertebra.It has advantages of less trauma,short operation time,less blood loss,convenient operation,complete removal of the lesion,safety and effectiveness,and has good medium-and long-term efficacy for lumbar specific infection.

Objective:To analyze the vaginal microecological status of vaginitis population and non-vaginitis population of gynecological female outpatients.Methods:A total of 30 265 women who visited the gynecological outpatient clinic of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from December 2018 to December 2020 completed vaginal microecological examination. After removing the follow-up patients, 23 181 women were divided into group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis (6 697 cases) and group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis (16 484 cases), according to whether the women with symptoms and signs of vaginitis or not. And the vaginal microecological status of the two groups was compared and analyzed.Results:(1) The total detection rate of vaginitis in the initial women was 34.87% (8 083/23 181), of which 46.10% (3 087/6 697) in group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis and 30.31% (4 996/16 484) in group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis, nearly 1/3 of the gynecological outpatients without signs and symptoms of vaginitis had vaginitis. (2) Among the types of simple vaginitis, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) was the most frequent in group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis (16.01%, 1 072/6 697), followed by aerobic vaginitis (AV; 12.83%, 859/6 697), with significant differences compared with group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis (all P<0.001). There were no statistical differences between the two groups of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomonal vaginitis (TV), indicating that BV and TV were more likely to be neglected (all P>0.05). (3) The proportion of various combinations of vaginitis among 2 632 cases of mixed vaginitis were, in descending order: BV+AV, VVC+AV, BV+AV+VVC, AV+TV, AV+TV+BV, BV+VVC. (4) Microecological analysis of 15 098 cases diagnosed with non-vaginitis had normal flora (including those with normal flora and those with normal flora but decreased function) in 14 013 cases (92.81%, 14 013/15 098), abnormal flora in 429 cases (2.84%, 429/15 098) and the BV intermediate in 656 cases (4.34%, 656/15 098); this indicated that the vast majority of the microecological tests were normal in the vaginal microbiota of those without vaginitis. Conclusions:Microecological examination could diagnose multiple pathogenic infections at once, and is especially important as a guide for the definitive diagnosis of mixed vaginitis and vaginitis with atypical clinical symptoms. Vaginal infections such as BV and TV that are easily overlooked should be concerned.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics and outcome in COVID-19 with brucellosis patients has not been well demonstrated, we tried to analyze clinical outcome in local and literature COVID-19 cases with brucellosis before and after recovery. METHODS: We retrospectively collected hospitalization data of comorbid patients and prospectively followed up after discharge in Heilongjiang Infectious Disease Hospital from January 15, 2020 to April 29, 2022. Demographics, epidemiological, clinical symptoms, radiological and laboratory data, treatment medicines and outcomes, and follow up were analyzed, and findings of a systematic review were demonstrated. RESULTS: A total of four COVID-19 with brucellosis patients were included. One patient had active brucellosis before covid and 3 patients had nonactive brucellosis before brucellosis. The median age was 54.5 years, and all were males (100.0%). Two cases (50.0%) were moderate, and one was mild and asymptomatic, respectively. Three cases (75.0%) had at least one comorbidity (brucellosis excluded). All 4 patients were found in COVID-19 nucleic acid screening. Case C and D had only headache and fever on admission, respectively. Four cases were treated with Traditional Chinese medicine, western medicines for three cases, no adverse reaction occurred during hospitalization. All patients were cured and discharged. Moreover, one case (25.0%) had still active brucellosis without re-positive COVID-19, and other three cases (75.0%) have no symptoms of discomfort except one case fell fatigue and anxious during the follow-up period after recovery. Conducting the literature review, two similar cases have been reported in two case reports, and were both recovered, whereas, no data of follow up after recovery. CONCLUSION These cases indicate that COVID-19 patients with brucellosis had favorable outcome before and after recovery. More clinical studies should be conducted to confirm our findings.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Brucellosis ; COVID-19 ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; Case Reports as Topic

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of insulin degludec and insulin glargine U100 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. The subjects were patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were hospitalized in 13 3A-level general hospitals in Shandong Province from September 2018 to December 2021. According to the type of basal insulin used, the patients were divided into insulin degludec group and insulin glargine U100 group. The basic information and laboratory test results in patients in the 2 groups were collected, the differences of fasting blood glucose level and incidence of hypoglycemia between the 2 groups were compared. The patients with complete blood glucose monitoring data in the 2 groups were selected and their blood glucose fluctuations were compared.Results:A total of 1 152 patients were entered in the study, including 552 patients in the insulin degludec group and 600 patients in the insulin glargine U100 group. The difference in the basic conditions in patients in the 2 groups was not statistically significant (all P>0.05). After treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels in patients in the 2 groups were lower than those before treatment, with statistically significant differences [10.2 (8.8, 12.5) mmol/L vs. 7.5 (6.6, 8.7) mmol/L, Z=-19.443, P<0.001; 10.0 (8.6, 11.7) mmol/L vs. 7.8 (6.6, 9.0) mmol/L, Z=-15.449, P<0.001], but the difference in fasting blood glucose levels between the 2 groups after treatment was not statistically significant ( Z=-1.427, P>0.05). The incidence of hypoglycemia in the insulin degludec group was lower than that in the insulin glargine U100 group [1.09% (6/552) vs. 2.83% (17/600), Z=4.481, P=0.032]. The intraday blood glucose standard deviation, maximum blood glucose fluctuation range, postprandial blood glucose fluctuation range, and average blood glucose fluctuation range in patients with complete blood glucose monitoring data in the insulin degludec group were significantly lower than those in the insulin glargine U100 group [(1.7±0.6) mmol/L vs. (2.4±1.0) mmol/L, (4.5±1.6) mmol/L vs. (6.7±2.9) mmol/L, (1.8±1.0) mmol/L vs. (3.3±1.2) mmol/L, (2.9±1.3) mmol/L vs. (4.6±2.1) mmol/L; all P<0.001]. Conclusion:The efficacy of insulin degludec in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is equivalent to that of insulin glargine U100, but the risk of hypoglycemia and blood glucose fluctuation is lower.