BACKGROUND: Although the clinical importance of the immunological benefits of breastfeeding has been emphasized for decades, their direct relationship with acute pyelonephritis (APN) is still not clear. Our goal was to determine whether breastfeeding truly provides protection against APNs, while investigating the effects of other factors such as sex, age, mode of delivery, and birth weight on APN.METHODS: A total of 62 infants under 6 months of age who had both microbiologically and radiologically-confirmed APN were enrolled in the case group. Healthy infants (n = 178) who visited the hospital for scheduled vaccinations were enrolled in the control group. The following participant characteristics were compared between the case and control groups: age, sex, birth order among siblings, feeding methods, weight percentile by month, birth weight percentile by gestational age, gestational age at birth, and mode of delivery.RESULTS: Babies exclusively fed with manufactured infant formulae before 6 months of age had significantly higher risk for APN than breastfed or mixed-fed infants (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.687–7.031; P = 0.001). Firstborn babies had lower risk for APN than 2nd- or 3rd-born babies (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.210–0.919). Other factors that increased the risk for APN were low birth weight percentiles (OR, 8.33; 95% CI, 2.300–30.166) and birth via caesarean section (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.097–4.887). There were more preterm births in the case group (10.9% vs. 1.7%; P = 0.002), but this did not increase the risk for APN (OR, 4.47; P = 0.063).CONCLUSION: Feeding exclusively with formula before 6 months of age was related to higher risk for APN, which demonstrates that breastfeeding has a protective effect against APN. The other risk factors for APN were birth order (≥ 2nd-born), low birth weight, and birth via caesarean section.
Birth Order ; Birth Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Cesarean Section ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant Formula ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Pyelonephritis ; Reproductive History ; Risk Factors ; Siblings ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in Korean patients who had inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: We included 410 patients who started SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin or dapagliflozin) as add-on therapy or switch therapy between February 2015 and June 2017. The primary efficacy endpoint was a change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to week 12. The secondary endpoints were patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% and changes in the fasting plasma glucose (FPG), lipid profiles, body weight, and blood pressure (BP). RESULTS: The mean HbA1c at baseline was 8.5% (8.6% in the add-on group and 8.4% in the switch group). At week 12, the mean adjusted HbA1c decreased by −0.68% in the overall patients (P<0.001), by −0.94% in the add-on group, and by −0.42% in the switch group. Significant reductions in FPG were also observed both in the add-on group and switch group (−30.3 and −19.8 mg/dL, respectively). Serum triglyceride (−16.5 mg/dL), body weight (−2.1 kg), systolic BP (−4.7 mm Hg), and diastolic BP (−1.3 mm Hg) were significantly improved in the overall patients. Approximately 18.3% of the patients achieved HbA1c <7.0% at week 12. A low incidence of hypoglycemia and genital tract infection was observed (6.3% and 2.2%, respectively). CONCLUSION: SGLT2 inhibitors can be a suitable option as either add-on or switch therapy for Korean patients with inadequately controlled T2DM.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Incidence ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is one of the most common causes of hospitalization in the pediatric population. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of LRTI, particularly in low birth weight children. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of children at ages 0–6 years with LRTI in Korea University Anam Hospital between January and December of 2014. Clinical data including age, sex, birth history, viral pathogens, blood test results, and clinical courses were collected. RESULTS: In the 828 eligible cases, 617 (74.5%) were pneumonia and followed by bronchiolitis 180 (21.7%) and bronchitis 31 (3.7%). The median age of the subjects was 17 months (interquartile range [IQR], 7–28 months), the median gestational age was 39.0 weeks (IQR, 38.0–40.0 weeks) and the median birth weight was 3,200 g (IQR, 2,900–3,480 g). Sixty-four children (7.7%) were low birth weight (< 2,500 g) and their median gestational age and birth weight were 33.0 weeks (IQR, 30.0–36.0 weeks) and 2,045 g (IQR, 1,565–2,300 g), respectively. The rates of oxygen supplement (17.2% vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001) and systemic steroid use (20.3% vs. 4.7%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in low birth weight children than normal birth weight children. Respiratory viruses were identified in 82.6% (519 of 628 subjects); RSV was detected in 240 subjects (38.2%), followed by rhinovirus 168 (26.8%) and adenoviruses 75 (11.9%). The distribution of respiratory viruses was not different between normal birth weight children and low birth weight children. CONCLUSION: Low birth weight children show more severe clinical manifestations than normal birth weight children during hospitalization for LRTI, although respiratory viral pathogens were not different. Clinicians should be aware that the severity may be increased when low birth weight children were hospitalized due to low respiratory tract infection.
Adenoviridae ; Birth Weight ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Gestational Age ; Hematologic Tests ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Pneumonia ; Reproductive History ; Respiratory System* ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Rhinovirus

Infertility can be attributed to reproductive tract infections (RTI), most commonly nongonococcal urethritis, mainly including Mycoplasma and Chlamydia infections, which may directly or indirectly damage spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells. In addition, a series of immune responses caused by such infections are also associated with male infertility. Methods for the clinical detection of these microbial infections are being constantly improved for more specific and precise control over the impact of Mycoplasma and Chlamydia infections on male fertility.
Chlamydia Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; microbiology ; Male ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma Infections ; complications ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Spermatozoa ; microbiology ; Urethritis ; complications ; microbiology

Genital tract infections with ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and chlamydia trachomatis (CT) are the most frequent sexually-transmitted disease worldwide. UU and CT infections are considered to be the leading cause for infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, little is known about the specific effect of cervical UU and CT infections on the etiology of female infertility, as well as the pregnancy outcomes of the patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET). In order to find the association between cervical UU and/or CT infection and pregnancy outcomes, we conducted a retrospective case-control study on the patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET with cervical UU and/or CT infection. A total of 2208 patients who received IVF/ICSI-ET were enrolled in this study. Data on the general conditions, pregnancy history and clinical pregnant outcomes were analyzed in terms of the cervical UU and CT detection. Our results revealed that cervical UU and CT infections were the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy and tubal factor-induced infertility. Moreover, the pregnancy rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancy rate and premature birth rate in patients with UU and/or CT infections showed no significant difference when compared with the control group. We recommend that cervical UU and CT detection should be an optional item for infertility patients and clinical UU detection should differentiate the subtypes of cervical UU. Positive cervical UU and CT infections should not be taken as strict contraindications for IVF/ICSI-ET.
Adult ; Chlamydia Infections ; microbiology ; pathology ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; pathogenicity ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Premature Birth ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods ; Ureaplasma Infections ; microbiology ; pathology ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVE: To determine the vaginal flora distribution in cervical cancer patients and the common pathogenic bacteria as well as drug resistance, and to explore the correlation of vaginal bacterial infection and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection with cervical cancer.
 METHODS: A total of 216 patients with cervical cancer served as an experimental group, and 53 patients with chronic cervicitis served as a control group. The patients' vaginal fluid in two groups was collected before the treatment for regular bacterial culture and HPV testing. The distribution and drug resistance of bacteria in two groups of vaginal secretion were observed, and the correlation of the bacterial infection and HPV infection with the cervical cancer was analyzed.
 RESULTS: The gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria accounted for 74.38% and 21.49% in the experimental group, respectively. They were mainly resistant to ampicillin and piperacillin or penicillin and erythromycin. The gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria accounted for 42.31% and 23.08% in the control group, respectively. They were mainly resistant to ampicillin and piperacillin or penicillin. HPV-positive rates in the experiment group and the control group were 60.65% and 41.51%, respectively. There were 70 patients (32.41%) and 12 patients (22.64%) with both bacterial infection and HPV-positive infection in the experiment group and the control group, respectively. However, there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). 
 CONCLUSION Escherichia coli are the main pathogen in cervical cancer and they are highly resistant to antibiotics. Bacterial infection in genital tract is not an efficient cofactor for HPV to cause the cervical cancer.
Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections ; Humans ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of male reproductive tract infection (RTI) with semen parameters and sperm DNA damage.

METHODSWe classified 1 084 males attending the infertility clinic into an RTI group (n = 300) and a non-RTI control group (n = 784). According to the WHO standards, we obtained routine semen parameters, detected sperm morphology, and determined the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by sperm chromatin structure assay.

RESULTSThere were statistically significant differences between the RTI and control groups in the semen volume ( [2.58 ± 1.20] vs [3.00 ± 2.10] ml), grade a + b sperm ([50.6 ± 17.2] vs [53.2 ± 15.8]%), grade d sperm ( [39. 8 ± 17.8] vs [36.5 ± 16.2]%), and total sperm count ([218.5 ± 185.0 ] vs [278.5 ± 375.5 ] x 10(6)/ejaculate) (all P < 0.05), but not in the males' age, sperm concentration or pH value (P > 0.05). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm was significantly lower ([3.46 ± 2.90] vs [4.61 ± 3.60%, P < 0.05) but the DFI was markedly higher in the RTI group than in the control ([19.4 ± 11.4] vs [15.2 ± 8.8]% , P < 0.01). The percentage of the cases with DFI > 30% was remarkably higher (13.0 vs 5.74% ) while that of the cases with DFI < 10% dramatically lower in the former than in the latter (16.0 vs 28.0%). The level of seminal plasma elastase was correlated negatively to sperm concentration, sperm count, and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05) but positively to DFI and grade d sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMale reproductive tract infection not only affects semen parameters and sperm morphology but also causes serious sperm DNA damage.

DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; physiopathology ; Semen ; chemistry ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the natural outcome of genital tract high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and associated factors among women in Xi'an region.

METHODSTotally 760 women with primary genital tract HR-HPV infection were enrolled and followed up by HPV-DNA genotyping technology. The cervical cytological techniques and/or colposcopy were used when necessary.

RESULTSAmong these subjects,the natural clearance rate of HR-HPV infection was 71.58%,with the median time of 8.10 months. The rate of HPV persistent infection was 22.63%, with the median time of 17.23 months. The rate of progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)/cervical cancer (CC) was 5.79%, with the median time of 29.34 months. The natural clearance rate (P=0.000), persistent infection rate (P=0.000) and progression rate (P=0.040) in women older than 50 years were statistically difference from other age groups. The persistent infection rate in multiple infections group was significantly lower than that in single infection group (P=0.010), with the median time statistically longer than that in single infection group (P=0.018). The most easily progressive genotypes were HPV-16,HPV-33, HPV-58,HPV-18,HPV-52, and HPV-68, among which HPV-16 was the most common genotype in CIN 3/CC cases, accounting for 85.00%.

CONCLUSIONSMost of HR-HPV infections are naturally cleared within 2 years, and only a few cases progresses to CIN/CC. Women older than 50 years have a lower natural clearance rate and higher persistent and progressive rates. Multiple infections can affect the persistent infection. HPV-16 is the most common carcinogenic genotype in Xi'an region.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Colposcopy ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among women in Shaan'xi Province of China, and to detect the characteristics of genital HPV infection among these women.

METHODSTotally 8581 women in the Department of Gynaecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were enrolled to detect HPV-DNA in their genital tracts by PCR+flow-through hybridization. Some subjects were also screened by cytology or histology.

RESULTSAmong these subjects, the prevalence of female genital tract HPV infection was 33.06%, among which high risk (HR)-HPV infection accounted for 30.08% and multiple HR-HPV infection 27.18%. The genotypes HPV-16, -52,-58, -6, and HPV-18 were the most prevalent strains. The distribution of HPV infection differed among different age groups:the first infection peak occured less than 25 years and the second peak was above 51 years. Among the HR-HPV DNA positive women, the rates of HR-HPV infection with normal histology, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias 1 (CIN1), CIN2 ,CIN3, and cervical cancer (CC) were 88.72%, 97.48%, 97.35%, 95.88%, and 99.23%, respectively. For women with CC, HPV-16 was the most common genotype, followed by HPV-18, HPV-58, HPV-52, and HPV-33. HPV-16 ,-18, and 58 were responsible for 94.62% of CC cases in this region.

CONCLUSIONSThe most common genotypes of HPV infection among women in Shaan'xi province are HPV-16, HPV-52, HPV-58, HPV-6, and HPV-18. HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-58, HPV-52, and HPV-33 are the most frequently genotypes found in cervical carcinoma, in particular HPV-16, HPV-18, and HPV-58. HR-HPV infection aggravates the cervical lesions. The multiple HPV infections increase the risk of cervical lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; epidemiology ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo improve the sample collection methods and bacteriologic localization patterns in male genital tract infection, and to investigate the influence of specimen collection and pathogen isolation on the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis.

METHODSWe collected the samples of the initial urinary stream, the third portion of the urinary stream, expressed prostatic secretion (ESP), and semen from 200 adult males with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms, inoculated them quantitatively in culture media for isolation of microorganisms, and evaluated their laboratory diagnostic significance according to the count of colonies and distribution of the isolates.

RESULTSA total of 468 strains of microorganisms were isolated from the samples, including 414 strains of bacteria spp (88.5%), 12 strains of fungi spp (2.6%), 40 strains of mycoplasma spp (8.5%), and 2 strains of chlamydia spp (0.4%). Pathogens were isolated from the ESP in 66 cases (33.0%), from the semen in 34 cases (17.0%), and from both the ESP and semen in 100 cases (50.0%). Only 1 species of pathogen was found in the ESP samples of 36 cases (18.0%), in the semen samples of 20 cases (10%), and in both the ESP and semen samples of 39 cases (19.5%); 2 species in the ESP samples of 30 cases (15.0%), in the semen samples of 14 cases (7.0%), and in both the ESP and semen samples of 60 cases (30.0%); and 3 species in both the ESP and semen samples of 1 case (0.5%).

CONCLUSIONMultiple microbial infection (MMI), multi-organ infection (MOI) and drug-resistance strains infection are common in patients with prostatitis-like symptoms, frequently leading to missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis in clinic and laboratory, and affecting the effect of antimicrobial therapy. MMI and MOI can be diagnosed and differentially diagnosed with the improved sample collection methods and bacteriologic localization patterns.

Adult ; Bacterial Load ; Chronic Disease ; Genital Diseases, Male ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Semen ; microbiology ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Urethra ; microbiology