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: To analyze the safety and efficacy of combined left atrial appendage (LAA) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in adult atrial fibrillation (AF) patients complicating with PFO. Methods: This study is a retrospective and cross-sectional study. Seven patients with AF complicated with PFO diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences from June 2017 to October 2020 were selected. Basic data such as age, gender and medical history were collected. The atrial septal defect or PFO occluder and LAA occluder were selected according to the size of PFO, the ostia width and depth of LAA. Four patients underwent left atrial appendage closure(LAAC) and PFO closure at the same time. PFO closure was performed during a one-stop procedure of cryoablation combined with LAAC in 2 patients. One patient underwent PFO closure at 10 weeks after one-stop procedure because of recurrent transient ischemic attack (TIA). All patients continued to take oral anticoagulants. TEE was repeated 8-12 weeks after intervention. In case of device related thrombus(DRT), TEE shall be rechecked 6 months after adjusting anticoagulant and antiplatelet drug treatment. Patients were follow-up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months by telephone call, and the occurrence of cardio-cerebrovascular events was recorded. Results: Among the 7 patients with AF, 2 were male, aged (68.0±9.4) years, and 3 had a history of recurrent cerebral infarction and TIA. Average PFO diameter was (3.5±0.8)mm. Three patients were implanted with Watchman LAA occluder (30, 30, 33 mm) and atrial septal defect occluder (8, 9, 16 mm). 2 patients were implanted with LAmbre LAA occluder (34/38, 18/32 mm) and PFO occluder (PF1825, PF2525). 2 patients were implanted with LACbes LAA occluder (24, 28 mm) and PFO occluder (PF2525, PF1825) respectively. The patients were followed up for 12 (11, 24) months after operation. TEE reexamination showed that the position of LAA occluder and atrial septal defect occluder or PFO occluder was normal in all patients. DRT was detected in 1 patient, and anticoagulant therapy was adjusted in this patient. 6 months later, TEE showed that DRT disappeared. No cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events occurred in all patients with AF during follow-up. Conclusions: In AF patients complicated with PFO, LAAC combined with PFO closure may have good safety and effectiveness.
Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Appendage/surgery* ; Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Cardiac Catheterization/methods* ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Foramen Ovale, Patent/surgery* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To understand microcystins (MCs) pollution in important waters of Shaoxing, so as to provide evidence for risk assessment and supervision of water quality safety. Methods Water samples were collected from 15 points set in three Shaoxing waters during September 2016 to September 2017. Six kinds of MCs (MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR, MC-LA, MC-LY, MC-LF) in samples were detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and the results were compared according to different time and place. Results MCs were detected positive in 22 of the 135 samples , the total detection rate was 16.3％.The detection rates of Xiaoshao River, Puyang River and Cao′e River were 7.9％, 18.5％和26.7％ respectively; the detection rates in July, August and September were 13.3％, 40％ and 46.7％ respectively, and the other months were not detected. In 22 positive samples, the detection rates of 6 MCs from high to low as follows: MC-LR (100％), MC-RR (100％), MC-YR (22.7％), MC-LY (18.2％), MC-LF (13.6％) and MC-LA (0％) . Conclusion In the three important waters of Shaoxing, microcystins were polluted in summer and autumn, which were mainly MC-LR and MC-RR.

BACKGROUNDRegulatory T-cells (Treg) play key roles in suppressing cell-mediated immunity in cancer patients. Little is known about perioperative Treg fluctuations in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy, as a minimal invasive procedure for treating NSCLC, may have relatively less impact on the patient's immune system. This study aimed to observe perioperative dynamics of circulating Treg and natural killer (NK) cell levels in NSCLC patients who underwent major lobectomy by VATS or thoracotomy.

METHODSTotally, 98 consecutive patients with stage I NSCLC were recruited and assigned into VATS or thoracotomy groups. Peripheral blood samples were taken on 1-day prior to operation, postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, 7, 30, and 90. Circulating Treg and NK cell counts were assayed by flow cytometry, defined as CD4 + CD25 + CD127 low cells in CD4 + lymphocytes and CD56 + 16 + CD3- cells within CD45 + leukocytes respectively. With SPSS software version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., USA), differences between VATS and thoracotomy groups were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and differences between preoperative baseline and PODs in each group were evaluated by one-way ANOVA Dunnett t-test.

RESULTSIn both groups, postoperative Treg percentages were lower than preoperative status. No statistical difference was found between VATS and thoracotomy groups on PODs 1, 3, 7, and 30. On POD 90, Treg percentage in VATS group was significantly lower than in thoracotomy group (5.26 ± 2.75 vs. 6.99 ± 3.60, P = 0.012). However, a higher level of NK was found on all PODs except on POD 90 in VATS group, comparing to thoracotomy group.

CONCLUSIONSLower Treg level on POD 90 and higher NK levels on PODs 1, 3, 7, 30 in VATS group might imply better preserved cell-mediated immune function in NSCLC patients, than those in thoracotomy group.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; immunology ; surgery ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Thoracotomy ; methods

Instruction is the basis for the clinical use of drugs and is the safe and effective legal basis for patient to protect their use of drugs. However, the dosage and usage of the instruction in the clinical practice can not meet the clinical needs, which lead to the excessive usage.In this paper, expert consensus on the excessive use of antimicrobial agents beyond the instruction is interpreted in order to provide reference for clinical medication.

Extraction is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. So the key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new extraction techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. In this paper, fundamentals, traits, and development status of new extraction technologies were firstly introduced, including ultrasound extraction, microwave extraction, super fluid extraction, semi-bionic extraction method, enzymatic treatment extraction, continuous countercurrent extraction, vacuum extraction. Then information of projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China was analyzed in order to recognize the assistance and research results of new extraction techniques. The patents authorized by the State Intellectual Property Office were also summarized for the purpose of understanding the achievement transformation. The information about extraction equipments was collected and screened to acquire the characteristics and market situation. The results showed that there are still problems about new extraction technologies, such as weak basic study, hard transformation of achievements, and the disconnection between research study and practical application. It is necessary to discuss the approaches and methods for accelerating the transformation of fundamental research, which will provide references for the long-term development of new extraction techniques of TCM.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; economics ; methods ; trends ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; trends ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Translational Medical Research ; trends

Objective To explore the feasibility and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy using a circular-stapled anastomosis with trans-oral anvil in treating esophageal carcinoma.Methods 30 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy from January 2011 to December 2011.Operations of all the cases comprised of both abdominal and thoracic procedures which were performed with Iaparoscopic and thoracoscopic techniques respectively.The intrathoracic esophago-gastric anastomosis was created using a circular-stapled anastomosis with trans-oral anvil technique.Results There were 24 males and 6 female with median age of 62.5-year-old (from 47 to 82).The lesions located in middle and/or lower portion of the esophagus.25 patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (n =25) and 5 patients with adenocarcinoma (n =5) underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.All the operations were successfully performed without intra-operative technical failures of the anastomosis or deaths.The mean operation time was 95 minutes in abdomen and 177 minutes in thorax.The mean blood loss was 310 ml.The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 10.6 from thorax and 4.9 from abdomen.Postoperalively,there were thoracic wound infections in 4 patients.One patient had a left diaphragmatic hernia and was successfully treated by re-operation 6 days after first operation.One patient had chylothorax and recovered without surgery.There was no anastomotic leak and the patients were able to have spoon meat at 5.6 postoperative days.Conclusion Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy can be accomplished smoothly with acceptable occurrence of complications.The circular-stapled anastomosis with the trans-oral anvil is an efficient,safe and reproducible technique for intrathoracic esophago-gastric anastomosis.

Objective To explore the clinical value of 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI in patients diagnosed with myocardial bridging(MB) by CTA. Methods Forty-five patients with MB and 17 normal controls diagnosed by CTA(64 slices CT) were included. All patients underwent rest 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI and 17 MB patients and 9 normal controls also underwent stress 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI. Myocardial ischemia, function and wall motion were assessed. G-MPI results were compared with CTA results by χ2 test, Fisher exact test and t test. Results In patients with MB, the positive rate of abnormal perfusion by gated stress 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI was 64.7% (11/17) and 41.2% (7/17) using quantitative analysis and visual evaluation respectively; while the data were 42.2% (19/45) and 22.2% (10/45) by rest G-MPI (P=0.035). The positive rate by rest G-MPI in MB patients was significant different among mural coronary arteries of different depths and different locations. By quantitative analysis of the stress G-MPI, the reversible, fixed, and mixed ischemia patients were 4 (35.3%), 6 (23.5%) and 1 (5.9%) respectively; the reversed, reversible and fixed abnormity of wall motion was found in 4 (23.5%), 4 (23.5%) and 2 (11.8%) patients respectively; the reversed, reversible and fixed wall thickening were found in 6 (35.3%), 5 (29.4%) and 1 (5.9%) patients respectively. There was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction and peak filling rate between MB patients and normal controls in both rest and stress studies (t: from -0.564 to 1.292, all P>0.05). Conclusion The G-MPI may be useful for the evaluation of myocardial ischemia and myocardial function simultaneously in patients with MB.

Objective To explore the relationship between T lymphocyte subsets and both glioma malignancy and its prognosis, and determine a clinical immunologic index for evaluating preoperative glioma malignancy and its prognosis. Methods The data of 117 inpatients with primary intracranial tumors, including glioma (n=85) and meningioma (n=32), were retrospectively analyzed. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was performed to detect the preoperative contents of T lymphocyte subsets on 32 patients with meningioma and patients with glioma, including 45 high-grade glioma (WHO, grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ) and 40 low-grade glioma (WHO, grade Ⅰ -Ⅱ); and then the differences of their immunologic indexes were analyzed. Based on the detection result of T lymphocyte subsets, patients with glioma were divided into two groups: CD4~+CD8~+<1 and CD4~+CD8~+>1. Follow-up for 3-5 years was performed and the survival difference of these two groups was analyzed. Results Patients with high-grade glioma showed a decreased ratio of CD4~+CD8~+ and an increased value of CD8~+ with significant difference as compared with patients with low-grade glioma (P<0.05); patients with high-grade glioma showed a decreased ratio of CD4~+CD8~+, and an increased value of CD8~+ with statistical significance compared with patients with meningioma (P <0.05); patients with low-grade glioma showed a decreased ratio of CD4~+CD8~+ with statistical significance compared with the patients with meningioma (P<0.05). Patients with glioma showed a decreased ratio of CD4~+CD8~+ and CD4~+, and an increased CD8~+ with statistical significance compared with patients with meningioma (P<0.05). After follow-up for 3-5 years, 48 patients with glioma was found in the CD4~+CD8~+>1 group with 21 death (43.8%) and 31 months as a median survival time; 37 patients with glioma was found in the CD4~+CD8~+<1 group with 23 death (62.2%) and 16 months as a median survival time. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were analyzed with statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion The prognosis is poor in patients with low ratio of CD4~+CD8~+. The preoperative level of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood, correlated to the glioma malignancy, can be considered as an index to evaluate the glioma malignancy and the prognosis in patients with glioma.

OBJECTIVETo study whether antisense oligonucleotides and ultrasonic microbubble intensifier transfection combined with ultrasound irradiation is an effective and directional way in reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors.

METHODSMdr1, mrp, and lrp genes antisense oligonucleotides on the ultrasound microbubble intensifier were transfected for the human HepG2/ADM cell lines and then the cells were radiated with low intensity ultrasound. The effects of the reversion of carcinoma cells' MDR and the reduction of their malignancy and growth capability in vitro and in vivo were assessed using RT-PCR, Western blot and MTT.

RESULTSThe treatment restrained the multiplication of the human HepG2/AMD cell lines. The levels of their mRNA and protein of cells' mdr1 and mrp genes dropped significantly. Growth of the subcutaneous transplanted tumors in the nude mice decreased.

CONCLUSIONSTransfection of MDR genes antisense oligonucleotides on the ultrasonic microbubble intensifier combined with low intensity ultrasound radiation may serve as a new treatment method for hepatocellular carcinoma.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Microbubbles ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Transfection ; Ultrasonics