Objective To investigate the attributable risk(AR)of Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)infection in criti-cally ill patients.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients in inten-sive care unit(ICU).Patients with AB isolated from sterile body fluid and confirmed with AB infection in each cen-ter were selected as the infected group.According to the matching criteria that patients should be from the same pe-riod,in the same ICU,as well as with similar APACHE Ⅱ score(±5 points)and primary diagnosis,patients who did not infect with AB were selected as the non-infected group in a 1:2 ratio.The AR was calculated.Results The in-hospital mortality of patients with AB infection in sterile body fluid was 33.3％,and that of non-infected group was 23.1％,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.069).The AR was 10.2％(95％CI:-2.3％-22.8％).There is no statistically significant difference in mortality between non-infected pa-tients and infected patients from whose blood,cerebrospinal fluid and other specimen sources AB were isolated(P＞0.05).After infected with AB,critically ill patients with the major diagnosis of pulmonary infection had the high-est AR.There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients in the infected and non-infec-ted groups(P＞0.05),or between other diagnostic classifications.Conclusion The prognosis of AB infection in critically ill patients is highly overestimated,but active healthcare-associated infection control for AB in the ICU should still be carried out.

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEVerverck index (VI) reflects thoracic development, body type, and nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the VI of singleton neonates with a gestational age (GA) of 27-42 weeks at birth, and to establish percentile curves of VI of the neonates.

METHODSCross-sectional cluster sampling was performed between April 2013 and September 2015. Body weight, body length, and chest circumference were measured for 16 865 singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks in two hospitals in Shenzhen, China. VI was calculated and the percentile curves of VI were plotted for the neonates.

RESULTSMean VIs were obtained for singleton neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks (in three groups of male, female, and both sexes), and related 3rd-97th percentile curves were plotted. As for the 50th percentile curve, the singleton neonates with a GA of 27 weeks had the lowest 50th percentile value of VI, which gradually increased with the increase in GA. The singleton neonates with a GA of 42 weeks had the highest 50th percentile value of VI. Girls had a slightly higher 50th percentile value of VI than boys in all GA groups.

CONCLUSIONSVI of neonates increases with the increase in GA. Female neonates may have a slightly better thoracic development, body type, and nutritional status than male neonates at birth. The percentile curves of VI plotted for singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks (in three groups of male, female, and both sexes) can provide a basis for evaluating thoracic development, body type, and nutritional status of neonates at birth in Shenzhen, China.

OBJECTIVETo establish the intrauterine growth percentile curves of full-term neonates with different gestational ages (GAs) born to primiparous or multiparous women, and to investigate the influence of parity on intrauterine growth potential.

METHODSCross-sectional cluster sampling was performed from April 2013 to September 2015 to measure physical growth in full-term singleton infants with a GA of 37-41 weeks in two hospitals in Shenzhen, China. The Lambda-Mu-Sigma method was used for curve fitting.

RESULTSThe mean values of birth weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length were obtained in 14 529 full-term infants. The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile curves of the five indices were established. The full-term infants born to multiparous women had similar patterns and growth trends of the five percentile curves of the above five indices to those born to primiparous women, while the full-term infants with a GA of 37-41 weeks born to multiparous women had higher mean values and percentile curve values of the above five indices than those born to primiparous women. In the group with a GA of 41 weeks, there was no significant difference in the crown-rump length between the infants born to primiparous women and those born to multiparous women, but there were significant differences in the means of the above five indices in all the other GA groups between the two group infants (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFull-term infants with a GA of 37-41 weeks born to multiparous women have higher intrauterine growth levels of birth weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length than those born to primiparous women, suggesting that parity is an important influencing factor for intrauterine growth potential.

Birth Weight ; Body Height ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Parity ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo study the Kaup index (KI), an index used to evaluate body burliness and nutritional status, of neonates with a gestational age (GA) of 27-42 weeks at birth, and to establish the percentile curves of KI.

METHODSCross-sectional cluster sampling was performed from April 2013 to September 2015 to select 16 887 singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks in two hospitals in Shenzhen, China. Body weight and body length were measured to calculate KI. The percentile curves of KI were plotted in these neonates.

RESULTSMean KIs and corresponding standard deviations were obtained for singleton neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks (in male, female, and mixed groups), and the 3rd-97th percentile curves of KI were plotted. The singleton neonates with a GA of 27 weeks had the lowest 50th percentile value of KI, and KI gradually increased with GA. Boys had a higher 50th percentile value of KI than girls in each GA group. In all groups except the 33-week GA group, boys had a higher mean KI than girls, and there was a significant difference in the mean KI between boys and girls in the GA groups of 34 and 36-40 weeks (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSKI of neonates at birth increases with GA, suggesting that body density and body burliness increase with GA. Boys have better body burliness than girls at birth. The percentile curves of KI plotted for singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks (in male, female, and mixed groups) can provide a reference for evaluating the body burliness and nutritional status of neonates at birth in Shenzhen.

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nutritional Status

OBJECTIVETo establish the intrauterine growth curve of twin neonates, and to investigate the intrauterine growth status of twin neonates.

METHODSCross-sectional cluster sampling was performed for an on-the-spot investigation of 1 296 live twin neonates who were born in two hospitals in Shenzhen between April 2013 and September 2015. The Lambda-Mu-Sigma method was used for the curve fitting of body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length.

RESULTSThe means and 3rd-97th percentile intrauterine growth curves for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length were obtained for the 1 296 twin neonates with a gestational age of 27-40 weeks. The curve values of the 1 296 twin neonates for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length were all lower than those of singleton neonates in Shenzhen that had been reported, and the difference increased with increasing gestational age.

CONCLUSIONSThe intrauterine growth curves for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length of twin neonates with a gestational age of 27-40 weeks in Shenzhen obtained in this study can provide a reference for evaluating the intrauterine growth status of twin neonates among the current population in Shenzhen.

Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Twins

BACKGROUND15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), one of the major metabolites from prostaglandin D2 in arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, has potential anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of 15d-PGJ2-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanocapsules (15d-PGJ2-NC) on inflammatory responses and bone regeneration in local bone defect.

METHODSThe study was conducted on 96 Wistar rats from June 2014 to March 2016. Saline, unloaded nanoparticles, free 15d-PGJ2or 15d-PGJ2-NC, were delivered through a collagen vehicle inside surgically created transcortical defects in rat femurs. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in the surrounding soft tissue were analyzed by Western blot and in the defect by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction over 14 days. Simultaneously, bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) and platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) messenger RNA (mRNA) in the defect were examined. New bone formation and EphrinB2 and osteoprotegerin (OPG) protein expression in the cortical defect were observed by Masson's Trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry over 28 days. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Least-significant difference and Dunnett's T3 methods were used with a bilateral P< 0.05.

RESULTSApplication of l5d-PGJ2-NC (100 μg/ml) in the local bone defect significantly decreased IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α mRNA and protein, compared with saline-treated controls (P < 0.05). l5d-PGJ2-NC upregulated BMP-6 and PDGF-B mRNA (P < 0.05). New bone formation was observed in the cortical defect in l5d-PGJ2-NC-treated animals from 7th day onward (P < 0.001). Expression of EphrinB2 and OPG presented early on day 3 and persisted through day 28 in 15d-PGJ2-NC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONStable l5d-PGJ2-NC complexes were prepared that could attenuate IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression, while increasing new bone formation and growth factors related to bone regeneration.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 ; metabolism ; Bone Regeneration ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Prostaglandin D2 ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish the intrauterine growth curves of neonates in Shenzhen, China and to investigate the intrauterine growth of neonates in Shenzhen.

METHODSCross-sectional cluster sampling was performed for an on-the-spot investigation of 16 887 neonates (9 418 males and 7 469 females) with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks who were born in two hospitals in Shenzhen from April 2013 to September 2015. The Lambda Mu Sigma (LMS) method was used for the curve fitting of body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length.

RESULTSThe 3rd-97th percentile intrauterine growth curves for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length were plotted for the neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks who were divided into three groups (male, female, and mixed). The male neonates had significantly higher curves for the five indices than the female counterparts. The pattern and changing trend of body weight curves of these neonates were basically consistent with those in China Neonatal Network.

CONCLUSIONSThe percentile intrauterine growth curves for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length in neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks in Shenzhen which has been established can provide a reference for clinical practice in the department of neonatology.

Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Crown-Rump Length ; Female ; Fetal Development ; physiology ; Gestational Age ; Head ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Thorax ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo explore the method of Gel card identifying ABO blood group, determine the inconsistent cause and the distribution of disease affecting factors, and put forward a method of its solutions.

METHODSTo collect 240 positive and negative typing-discordant blood speciments from patients examined by Gel card and send these speciments to blood type reference laboratory for examining with the classic tube method and serological test, such as salivary blood-group substance, in order to performe genotyping method when serologic test can not be determined.

RESULTSAmong 240 positive and negative typing-discordant blood speciments from patients examined by Gel card, 107 blood speciments were positive and negative consistent examined by false agglutination test (44.58%), 133 blood specinents were discordent examined by false agglutination (55.42%), out of them, 35 cases (14.58%) with inconsistent cold agglutination test, 22 cases (9.17%) with weakened AB antigenicity, 16 cases (6.67%) with ABO subtyping, 12 cases (5.00%) with positive direct antiglobulin test, 11 cases (4.58%) with reduced or without antibodies, 11 cases (4.58%) with false aggregation caused by drugs or protein, 11 cases (4.58%) with salivary blood-type substances, 8 cases (3.33%) with non-ABO alloantibody, and 7 cases (2.92%) with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The distribution of disease were following: blood disease (16.83%), tumor (11.88%), and cardiopulmonary diseases (11.39%); chi-square test results indicated that the distribution significantly different.

CONCLUSIONThe analysis of ABO blood grouping shows a variety factors influencing positive and negative blood typing, and the Gel Card identification can produc more false positive blood types. Therefore, more attention should be paid on the high incidence diseases, such as blood disease, tumor, and cardiopulmonary disease.

Objective To investigate potential human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-restricted epitope peptides of glypican-3 (GPC3) and determine the cytotoxicity of peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods The potential HLA-A*0201-restricted GPC3 peptides were screened using computer algorithms, T2 cell-binding affinity and stability of peptide/HLA-A*0201 complex assay. The peptide-specific CTLs were generated and their cytotoxicity against GPC3