Objective　To explore the clinical characteristics and drug resistance of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (EM) nosocomial infection, so as to provide evidence for prevention of EM nosocomial infection and guiding the rational use of antibiotics. Methods　A retrospective study was conducted of 67 patients with EM infection in a tertiary hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. The infective characteristics and drug resistance were analyzed. Results　The cohort of 67 EM-infected patients was predominantly males aged ≥60 years, with the most frequent source being the first district of the intensive care unit (ICU), followed by the respiratory medicine and emergency department (19.40%, 13/67). The specimens were mainly isolated from respiratory tract (86.57%, 58/67), of which sputum accounted for 49.25% (33/67), and alveolar lavage fluid accounted for 37.31% (25/67). The majority of EM infections occurred in patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions (49.25%, 33/67), who generally experienced prolonged hospital stays and underwent invasive procedures, such as mechanical ventilation 94.03% (63/67), urinary catheterization (95.52%, 64/67), and central venous catheterization (97.01%, 65/67). Post-treatment, the improved rate of the 67 patients was 40.30% (27/67). Susceptibility testing demonstrated a high resistance rate of EM to cefoperazone-sulbactam, 98.39% (61/62), contrasted by significant susceptibility to compound trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)/cotrimoxazole, doxycycline, minocycline, and piperacillin-tazobactam, with susceptibility rates exceeding 90%. Conclusions　The patients infected with EM were almost elderly men with certain underlying diseases, experienced prolonged hospital stays, and had a history of invasive operations. The specimens of EM were mainly from Intensive Care Unit and isolated from respiratory tract. The strain showed high resistance to cefoperazone-sulbactam, whereas it remained highly susceptible to cotrimoxazole, doxycycline, minocycline and piperacillin-tazobactam, which may be considered as first-line treatment options.

Objective:To investigate the expression level of small nucleolar RNA SNORD15A in bone marrow of patients with acute leukemia (AL) and its relationship with clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients.Methods:Bone marrow blood samples of 53 newly treated AL patients and 29 healthy subjects without clinical diagnosis of hematologic diseases or other malignant diseases (control group) at the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University from March 2018 to December 2021 were collected. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expression of SNORD15A in bone marrow blood mononuclear cells of the two groups. The median relative expression of SNORD15A (0.148) was used as the boundary, and AL patients were divided into low expression group (<0.148) and high expression group (≥0.148). The relationship between the expression level of SNORD15A and the clinical characteristics, clinical indicators and overall survival (OS) of AL patients was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and log-rank test was performed; Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses of OS of patients.Results:The relative expression of SNORD15A was 0.148 (0.012-1.376) in newly treated AL patients and 0.921 (0.513-2.288) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = -6.85, P < 0.01). The differences in SNORD15A relative expression between patients with different prognostic stratification, efficacy and with or without fever and bleeding were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The differences in platelet count, plateletcrit and albumin levels between SNORD15A low expression group and high expression group were statistically significant (all P < 0.05), and the differences in molecular biology and cytogenetic characteristics were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The patients in SNORD15A high expression group had better OS than the low expression group ( P < 0.05). The results of univariate Cox regression analysis showed that SNORD15A was an influencing factor for patients' OS ( HR = 0.063, 95% CI 0.005-0.766, P < 0.05); the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that fatigue ( HR = 4.754, 95% CI 1.014-22.290), fever ( HR = 0.147, 95% CI 0.029-0.746) and hemoglobin ( HR = 0.970, 95% CI 0.944 -0.998) were independent influencing factors for OS (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:SNORD15A is lowly expressed in AL and may be an indicator for disease monitoring and prognostic assessment in AL patients.

Objective:To investigate the pathological characteristics and the clinical significance of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-infected pneumonia (termed by WHO as coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19).Methods:Minimally invasive autopsies from lung, heart, kidney, spleen, bone marrow, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestine, thyroid and skin were performed on three patients died of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Chongqing, China. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE), transmission electron microcopy, and histochemical staining were performed to investigate the pathological changes of indicated organs or tissues. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells as well as the expression of 2019-nCoV proteins. Real time PCR was carried out to detect the RNA of 2019-nCoV.Results:Various damages were observed in the alveolar structure, with minor serous exudation and fibrin exudation. Hyaline membrane formation was observed in some alveoli. The infiltrated immune cells in alveoli were majorly macrophages and monocytes. Moderate multinucleated giant cells, minimal lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils were also observed. Most of infiltrated lymphocytes were CD4-positive T cells. Significant proliferation of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia and focal desquamation of alveolar epithelia were also indicated. The blood vessels of alveolar septum were congested, edematous and widened, with modest infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes. Hyaline thrombi were found in a minority of microvessels. Focal hemorrhage in lung tissue, organization of exudates in some alveolar cavities, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis were observed. Part of the bronchial epithelia were exfoliated. Coronavirus particles in bronchial mucosal epithelia and type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia were observed under electron microscope. Immunohistochemical staining showed that part of the alveolar epithelia and macrophages were positive for 2019-nCoV antigen. Real time PCR analyses identified positive signals for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid. Decreased numbers of lymphocyte, cell degeneration and necrosis were observed in spleen. Furthermore, degeneration and necrosis of parenchymal cells, formation of hyaline thrombus in small vessels, and pathological changes of chronic diseases were observed in other organs and tissues, while no evidence of coronavirus infection was observed in these organs.Conclusions:The lungs from novel coronavirus pneumonia patients manifest significant pathological lesions, including the alveolar exudative inflammation and interstitial inflammation, alveolar epithelium proliferation and hyaline membrane formation. While the 2019-nCoV is mainly distributed in lung, the infection also involves in the damages of heart, vessels, liver, kidney and other organs. Further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanism underlying pathological changes of this disease.

Objective To discuss introperative value of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) treatment assisted with preoperative splenic artery embolization (SAE) in the patients with the hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension and splenomegaly. Methods The clinical data of 38 patients with the hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension and splenomegaly admitted to the First People′s Hospital of Wenling from April 2015 to April 2018 were analyzed. Among them, 21 patients underwent LS alone (alone group) and 17 patients underwent LS assisted with preoperative SAE (combined group). Including length of the spleen and liver function Child-Pugh grade, operative time, blood transfusion rate, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion volume and conversion rate were compared between two groups. Then the clinical value of LS treatment assisted with preoperative splenic artery embolization was discussed. Results The splenic volume of combined group was significantly reduced after SAE: (627 ± 195) cm3vs. (998 ± 251) cm3, P＜0.05. The conversion rate was 23.8%(5/21) in alone group, while no patient required open surgery in the combined group. Compared with that in alone group, operative time of the combined group was shorter [(143 ± 27) min vs. (189 ± 33) min], the blood loss volume was less [(155 ± 49) ml vs. (302 ± 76) ml)], and the differences were statistically significant (P＜ 0.05). The blood transfusion rates of combined group was lower [2/17 vs. 33.3% (7/21)], and intraoperative blood transfusion volume was less [(192 ± 42) ml vs. (399 ± 87) ml] . The differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusions LS treatment assisted with preoperative SAE has some advantages, such as shorter operative time, lower surgical laparotomy rate, less intraoperative blood transfusion, less bleeding and shorter length of stay.

AIM:To explore the effects of different intensity of warfarin on patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease complicated with atrial fibrillation.METHODS:One hundred and seven cases of coronary heart disease complicated with atrial fibrillation patients in our hospital were selected and were randomly divided into experimental group (n =54) and control group (n =53) by random number table.The experimental group (low intensity) received initial amount of warfarin for 1.25 mg/d,and NR monitoring 24 h after treatment,if INR＜ 1.4,3-5 mg/d increased by 0.5-1.0 mg/d,monitoring one time per week,INR maintained within 1.4-2.0.INR of the control group (medium intensity) maintained within 2.0-2.6.One month monitoring after INR stabilized.All patients were treated for about 4 weeks,and warfarin was maintained at a dose of 1.25-7.5 mg/d.The primary and secondary end points and bleeding events were observed and compared after 2 years of treatment.RESULTS:The INR of the experimental group and the control group were 1.71 ± 0.38,2.36 ± 0.35,respectively.The ratio of total bleeding event of the experimental group and the control group was 22.2％ and 41.5％,respectively.Those of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group,and the difference was all statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION:The efficacy of low-intensity warfarin in the treatment of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease complicated with atrial fibrillation is comparable to that of moderate-intensity warfarin therapy,but low-intensity warfarin shows better saftey.

ObjectiveTo explore heart rate variability (HRV),cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTnI),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and electrocardiogram (ECG) in order to clarify the function of cardiac autonomic nerve system and the incidence of potential myocardium injury in patients with severe brain injury.MethodsClinical data of 65 patients with severe brain injury admitted between June 2006 and June 2010 were reviewed.For the sake of comparison,patients were divided by different groupings as per different biomarkers or outcomes such as Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 6 - 8 group and GCS 3 - 5 group; cTnl ＞ 0.5 group,0.04 ＜ cTnl ＜ 0.5 group and CTnl ＜ 0.04 group; and survival group and death group.Another 30 healthy subjects were enrolled as control group.Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed with both timedomain and frequency domain methods based on data from 24-hour Holter monitoring.The level of serum cardiac troponin Ⅰ was detected. The left ventricular ejection fraction was measured by beside color ultrasonogram.The different relationships between HRV and GCS as well as prognosis,between cTnI and GCS as well as fatality,between cTnI and ECG,and between EF and GCS were analyzed.The computer statistical software SPSS version 13.0 was used for statistical analysis of data.ResultsAll of the 65 patents with severe brain injury were subjected to decrease in HRV.The patients of GCS 6 - 8 group and GCS 3 - 5 group showed significantly lowered HRV in comparison with control group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The death group showed more obvious decrease in HRV than the survival group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Fifty-one of the 65 patients had myocardial injury evidenced by increase in cardiac troponin Ⅰ.The patients of cTnl ＞0.5 group and 0.04 ＜cTnI ＜ 0.5 group showed significantly higher fatality compared with cTnI ＜ 0.04 group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Compared with the GCS 6 ～ 8 group,more patients in the GCS 3 -5 group had abnormal serum CTnl level and lower EF.ConclusionsThere are cardiac autonomic nerve system disorders and different degrees of myocardial injury in patients with severe brain injury,and early intervention is essential to decrease the fatality of severe brain injury.

The protective effects of diallyl trisulfide on liver were examined in rats with sepsis. Sepsis was reproduced in rats by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP). Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (group S, n=8), sepsis model group (group C, n=24), diallyl trisulfide (DATS)-treated group (group D, n=24). Animals in groups C and D were further divided into three subgroups according to different observation time points, with 8 rats in each subgroup· Rats in group D and C were intravenously injected with normal saline or DATS respectively at a dose of 20 mg/kg after the establishment of sepsis model. Eight rats in groups C and D were sacrificed at 3, 6 and 24 h post-CLP and their livers were harvested for detection of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor associated kinase-4 (IRAK-4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), c-fos, c-jun, malondialdehydethhe (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and for pathological examination. The results showed that the levels of serum IRAK-4, NF-κB and TNF-α in hepatic tissues were higher in group C than group S (control group) (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the levels of IRAK-4 and NF-κB in the hepatic tissues and serum TNF-α in group D were lower than those in group C (P<0.05). The levels of c-fos and c-jun and MDA in the hepatic tissues were higher in group C than in group S (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the levels of c-fos and c-jun and MDA in the hepatic tissues were significantly lower in group D than in group C (P<0.05). When compared with group S group, concentration of SOD in the hepatic tissues in group C was significantly lower (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the concentration of SOD in the hepatic tissues was higher in group D than in group C (P<0.05). These findings suggested that treatment with DATS could ameliorate sepsis-induced liver injury in rats. The protective effect might be related to its ability to inhibit the signal pathway of IRAK-4 and NF-κB, thereby decreasing the production of oxygen free radicals and down-regulating the expression of c-fos and c-jun.
Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; complications ; Sulfides ; pharmacology

The protective effects of diallyl trisulfide on liver were examined in rats with sepsis. Sepsis was reproduced in rats by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP). Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (group S, n=8), sepsis model group (group C, n=24), diallyl trisulfide (DATS)-treated group (group D, n=24). Animals in groups C and D were further divided into three subgroups according to different observation time points, with 8 rats in each subgroup· Rats in group D and C were intravenously injected with normal saline or DATS respectively at a dose of 20 mg/kg after the establishment of sepsis model. Eight rats in groups C and D were sacrificed at 3, 6 and 24 h post-CLP and their livers were harvested for detection of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor associated kinase-4 (IRAK-4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), c-fos, c-jun, malondialdehydethhe (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and for pathological examination. The results showed that the levels of serum IRAK-4, NF-κB and TNF-α in hepatic tissues were higher in group C than group S (control group) (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the levels of IRAK-4 and NF-κB in the hepatic tissues and serum TNF-α in group D were lower than those in group C (P<0.05). The levels of c-fos and c-jun and MDA in the hepatic tissues were higher in group C than in group S (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the levels of c-fos and c-jun and MDA in the hepatic tissues were significantly lower in group D than in group C (P<0.05). When compared with group S group, concentration of SOD in the hepatic tissues in group C was significantly lower (P<0.05). After DATS treatment, the concentration of SOD in the hepatic tissues was higher in group D than in group C (P<0.05). These findings suggested that treatment with DATS could ameliorate sepsis-induced liver injury in rats. The protective effect might be related to its ability to inhibit the signal pathway of IRAK-4 and NF-κB, thereby decreasing the production of oxygen free radicals and down-regulating the expression of c-fos and c-jun.

To explore the protective effect of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) on microcirculatory disturbance of small intestine in rats with sepsis, and the possible mechanism, a rat model of sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operated group (S), sepsis group (CLP) and STS treatment group (STS). STS (1 mg/kg) was slowly injected through the right external jugular vein after CLP. The histopathologic changes in the intestinal tissue and changes of mesenteric microcirculation were observed. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the intestinal tissue were determined by using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the intestinal tissue was detected by using immunohistochemisty and Western blot, that of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and tissue factor (TF) by using Western blot, and the levels of NF-κB mRNA expression by using RT-PCR respectively. The microcirculatory disturbance of the intestine was aggravated after CLP. The injury of the intestinal tissues was obviously aggravated in CLP group as compared with S group. The expression levels of NF-κB p65, ICAM-1, TF and TNF-α were upregulaed after CLP (P<0.01). STS post-treatment could ameliorate the microcirculatory disturbance, attenuate the injury of the intestinal tissues induced by CLP, and decrease the levels of NF-κB, ICAM-1, TF and TNF-α (P<0.01). It is suggested that STS can ameliorate the microcirculatory disturbance of the small intestine in rats with sepsis, and the mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of inflammatory responses and amelioration of coagulation abnormality.

To explore the protective effect of sodium tanshinone Ⅱ A sulfonate (STS) on microcirculatory disturbance of small intestine in rats with sepsis,and the possible mechanism,a rat model of sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham operated group (S),sepsis group (CLP) and STS treatment group (STS).STS (1 mg/kg) was slowly injected through the right external jugular vein after CLP.The histopathologic changes in the intestinal tissue and changes of mesenteric microcirculation were observed.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the intestinal tissue were determined by using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the intestinal tissue was detected by using immunohistochemisty and Western blot,that of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and tissue factor (TF) by using Western blot,and the levels of NF-κB mRNA expression by using RT-PCR respectively.The microcirculatory disturbance of the intestine was aggravated after CLP.The injury of the intestinal tissues was obviously aggravated in CLP group as compared with S group.The expression levels of NF-κB p65,ICAM-1,TF and TNF-α were upregulaed after CLP (P＜0.01).STS post-treatment could ameliorate the microcirculatory disturbance,attenuate the injury of the intestinal tissues induced by CLP,and decrease the levels of NF-κB,ICAM-1,TF and TNF-α (P＜0.01).It is suggested that STS can ameliorate the microcirculatory disturbance of the small intestine in rats with sepsis,and the mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of inflammatory responses and amelioration of coagulation abnormality.