Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with Vibrio vulnificus infection, share diagnosis and treatment experience, and establish a rapid diagnosis procedure for this disease. Methods:This study was a retrospective case series study. From January 2009 to November 2022, 11 patients with Vibrio vulnificus infection who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Burns and Wound Repair of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University. The gender, age, time of onset of illness, time of admission, time of diagnosis, route of infection, underlying diseases, affected limbs, clinical manifestations and signs on admission, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, platelet count, C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine, procalcitonin, albumin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and blood sodium levels on admission, culture results and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) results of pathogenic bacteria and the Vibrio vulnificus drug susceptibility test results during hospitalization, treatment methods, length of hospital stay, and outcomes of all patients were recorded. Comparative analysis was conducted on the admission time and diagnosis time of patients with and without a history of exposure to seawater/marine products, as well as the fatality ratio and amputation of limbs/digits ratio of patients with and without early adequate antibiotic treatment. For the survived patients with hand involvement, the hand function was assessed using Brunnstrom staging at the last follow-up. Based on patients' clinical characteristics and treatment conditions, a rapid diagnosis procedure for Vibrio vulnificus infection was established. Results:There were 7 males and 4 females among the patients, aged (56±17) years. Most of the patients developed symptoms in summer and autumn. The admission time was 3.00 (1.00, 4.00) d after the onset of illness, and the diagnosis time was 4.00 (2.00, 8.00) d after the onset of illness. There were 7 and 4 patients with and without a history of contact with seawater/marine products, respectively, and the admission time of these two types of patients was similar ( P>0.05). The diagnosis time of patients with a history of contact with seawater/marine products was 2.00 (2.00, 5.00) d after the onset of illness, which was significantly shorter than 9.00 (4.25, 13.00) d after the onset of illness for patients without a history of contact with seawater/marine products ( Z=-2.01, P<0.05). Totally 10 patients had underlying diseases. The affected limbs were right-hand in 8 cases, left-hand in 1 case, and lower limb in 2 cases. On admission, a total of 9 patients had fever; 11 patients had pain at the infected site, and redness and swelling of the affected limb, and 9 patients each had ecchymosis/necrosis and blisters/blood blisters; 6 patients suffered from shock, and 2 patients developed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. On admission, there were 8 patients with abnormal white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and albumin levels, 10 patients with abnormal CRP, procalcitonin, and NT-proBNP levels, 5 patients with abnormal creatinine and blood sodium levels, and fewer patients with abnormal platelet count, ALT, and AST levels. During hospitalization, 4 of the 11 wound tissue/exudation samples had positive pathogenic bacterial culture results, and the result reporting time was 5.00 (5.00, 5.00) d; 4 of the 9 blood specimens had positive pathogenic bacterial culture results, and the result reporting time was 3.50 (1.25, 5.00) d; the mNGS results of 7 wound tissue/exudation or blood samples were all positive, and the result reporting time was 1.00 (1.00, 2.00) d. The three strains of Vibrio vulnificus detected were sensitive to 10 commonly used clinical antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and amikacin, etc. A total of 10 patients received surgical treatment, 4 of whom had amputation of limbs/digits; all patients received anti-infection treatment. The length of hospital stay of 11 patients was (26±11) d, of whom 9 patients were cured and 2 patients died. Compared with that of the 6 patients who did not receive early adequate antibiotic treatment, the 5 patients who received early adequate antibiotic treatment had no significant changes in the fatality ratio or amputation of limbs/digits ratio ( P>0.05). In 3 months to 2 years after surgery, the hand function of 8 patients was assessed, with results showing 4 cases of disabled hands, 2 cases of incompletely disabled hands, and 2 cases of recovered hands. When a patient had clinical symptoms of limb redness and swelling and a history of contact with seawater/marine products or a pre-examination triage RiCH score of Vibrio vulnificus sepsis ≥1, the etiological testing should be initiated immediately to quickly diagnose Vibrio vulnificus infection. Conclusions:Vibrio vulnificus infection occurs most frequently in summer and autumn, with clinical manifestations and laboratory test results showing obvious infection characteristics, and may be accompanied by damage to multiple organ functions. Both the fatality and disability ratios are high and have a great impact on the function of the affected limbs. Early diagnosis is difficult and treatment is easily delayed, but mNGS could facilitate rapid detection. For patients with red and swollen limbs accompanied by a history of contact with seawater/marine products or with a pre-examination triage RiCH score of Vibrio vulnificus sepsis ≥1, the etiological testing should be initiated immediately to quickly diagnose Vibrio vulnificus infection.

Humans ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Biological Therapy

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of caspofungin combined with voriconazole in the treatment of older adult patients with pulmonary fungal infection and its effects on pulmonary function and inflammatory factors.Methods:A total of 100 patients with pulmonary fungal infection admitted to Hangzhou Ninth People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to undergo treatment with either voriconazole (control group, n = 50) or caspofungin combined with voriconazole (observation group, n = 50) for 14 consecutive days. Clinical efficacy and changes in pulmonary function and inflammatory factors after treatment relative to before treatment were determined in each group. Results:Total response rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [90.00% (45/50) vs. 74.00% (37/50), χ2 = 4.33, P < 0.05). After treatment, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and maximum expiratory flow rate in the observation group were (2.31 ± 0.77) L, (79.30 ± 6.72)%, (86.14 ± 7.27)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than (1.78 ± 0.74) L, (73.22 ± 6.56)%, (78.16 ± 7.09)% in the control group ( t = 3.50, 4.57, 5.55, all P < 0.05). Tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin levels in the observation group were (8.32 ± 1.41) ng/L, (35.19 ± 3.40) μg/L, (1.94 ± 0.78) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than (10.15 ± 1.58) ng/L, (46.09 ± 3.64) μg/L, (2.43 ± 0.84) ng/L in the control group ( t = 6.11, 15.43, 3.02, all P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 4.0% (2/50), which was significantly lower than 18.0% (9/50) in the control group ( χ2 = 5.00, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Caspofungin combined with voriconazole for the treatment of pulmonary fungal infection in older adult patients can effectively improve pulmonary function, inhibit the inflammatory response, and have no obvious adverse reactions with accurate clinical efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hypertensive retinopathy (HRP) in a non-diabetic population over 30 years old during routine health examinations.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study of a non-diabetic population over 30 years of age. The study was conducted during routine health examinations at the Tongren Hospital, Beijing, from January to December 2020. Fundus photographs were taken, and data including medical history, height, weight, and blood pressure were collected. Routine laboratory examinations were performed. The study population was divided into hypertension, transient hypertension, and non-hypertension groups. The prevalence of HRP was compared among the three groups. OR and 95% CI of HRP risk factors was estimated by binary logistic regression, adjusted for age and gender. Results:The prevalence of HRP was 4.3% in the non-diabetic population over 30 years old. Adjusted for age, gender, and systolic blood pressure, the prevalence of HRP in hypertension and transient hypertension groups, was both higher than in the non-hypertension group [ OR(95% CI) of 3.11(2.25-4.30) and 1.72(1.21-2.45), respectively]. The proportion of grade 1-2 HRP was higher (76.2%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of grade 3 HRP among the three groups. Adjusted for age and gender, systolic blood pressure and creatinine clearance rate were independent risk factors for HRP in the hypertension group [ OR(95% CI): 1.22(1.01-1.48) and 1.66(1.12-2.46)] and transient hypertension group [ OR(95% CI): 1.48(1.10-2.06) and 1.95(1.03-3.46)]. SBP and DBP were independent risk factors for HRP in the non-hypertension group [ OR(95% CI): 1.68(1.07-2.63) and 1.61(1.06-2.44)]. Conclusions:There was a high prevalence of HRP among the non-diabetic population over the age of 30 and there was still relatively high risk of grade 3 HRP among the normotensive population.

Objective:To explore the long-term efficacy of a modified unilateral cutaneous ureterostomy in bladder cancer patients receiving radical cystectomy.Methods:The medical data of 104 bladder cancer patients who underwent ureterostomy in our hospital from Janurary 2013 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into unilateral and bilateral group. The unilateral group contained 66 cases, with 53 males and 13 females, average age (71.8±9.8) years, body mass index (BMI)(23.3±3.2)kg/m 2. The bilateral group contained 38 cases, with 33 males and 5 females, average age (75.1±10.8) years; BMI (22.7±3.0)kg/m 2. There was no significant difference in the above characteristics between the two groups ( P>0.05). The pathology, survival status, long-term complications between the two groups were compared. Quality of life was assessed during follow-up using the European Core Questionnaire for Quality of Life in Cancer Patients (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results:The unilateral group contained 46(69.7%) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) cases, 15 (22.7%) cases with lymph node metastasis, 7 (10.6%) cases with distant metastasis. The bilateral group contained 24(63.2%) muscle invasive bladder cancer(MIBC) cases, 6 (15.8%) cases with lymph node metastasis, 2 (5.3%) cases with distant metastasis. There was no significant difference in disease specific survival between the two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, the incidence of overall complication rate in the unilateral group was significantly lower than that in the bilateral group [43.9% (29/66) vs. 63.2% (24/38), P<0.001]. The incidence of pyelonephritis in unilateral group was significantly lower than that in the bilateral group [16.6%(11/66) vs. 42.1%(16/38), P=0.006]. There was no statistical significance in terms of quality of life before operation in the two groups. After operation, both physical function score[(54.9±7.1) vs.(49.2±6.7)] and emotional function score [(63.1±6.4) vs.(59.9±6.7)] in unilateral group were higher than that in bilateral group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The modified unilateral cutaneous ureterostomy could achieve relatively low complication rate, and improve the quality of life to some extent compared with bilateral ureterostomy.

Novel therapies are urgently needed to improve global treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Herein, we briefly provide a concise report on the medicinal chemistry strategies towards the development of effective SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors with representative examples in different strategies from the medicinal chemistry perspective.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of quercetin in regulating chondrocyte extracellular matrix metabolism and inflammatory response in knee osteoarthritis （KOA） from the perspective of autophagy. MethodChondrocytes were extracted and cultured， and the primary cells were identified by immunofluorescence staining with collagen Ⅱ. The chondrocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） were divided into a control group （without any treatment）， a model group （10 mg·L^-1 LPS treatment for 48 h）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose quercetin group （10 mg·L^-1 LPS treatment for 48 h combined with 50， 100， and 150 mmol·L^-1 quercetin for 24 h）. The inhibitory effects of LPS （2.5， 5， 7.5， 10， 12.5 mg·L^-1） on the proliferation of chondrocytes for different periods （24， 48， 72 h） were detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8）. The effects of quercetin （50， 100， 150， 200 mmol·L^-1） on the LPS-induced proliferation of chondrocytes for different periods （12， 24， and 48 h） were investigated. The expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ （LC3Ⅱ） and ubiquitin-binding protein p62 was detected by Western blot. LPS-induced chondrocytes were treated with 3-methyladenine （3-MA）. The resultant cells were divided into a control group （without any treatment）， a model group （10 mg·L^-1 LPS）， a quercetin group （model group + 100 mmol·L^-1 quercetin）， a 3-MA group （model group + 100 μmol·L^-1 3-MA）， and a 3-MA + quercetin group （model group + 100 μmol·L^-1 3-MA + 100 mmol·L^-1 quercetin， specifically， LPS for 48 h， 3-MA for 2 h， and then quercetin for 24 h）. The content of interleukin （IL）-1β and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 （MMP-13） and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 （TIMP1） was detected by Western blot. ResultCollagen Ⅱ immunofluorescence staining showed that the extracted cells were consistent with the characteristics of chondrocytes. As revealed by CCK-8， the optimum concentration of LPS was 10 mg·L^-1 with an action time of 48 h， and the optimum concentration of quercetin was 100 mmol·L^-1 with an action time of 24 h. Western blot results showed that compared with the control group， the model group showed decreased expression of LC3Ⅱ （P<0.01） and increased expression of p62 （P<0.01）. The expression of LC3Ⅱ in the quercetin groups was higher than that in the control group （P<0.01）， especially in the medium-dose quercetin group. The p62 expression in the quercetin groups was lower than that in the control group （P<0.01）， especially in the medium-dose quercetin group. Compared with the control group， the model group showed increased expression of MMP-13 （P<0.05） and decreased expression of TIMP1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the quercetin groups and the 3-MA + quercetin group showed decreased expression of MMP-13 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially the quercetin groups， and increased expression of TIMP1 （P<0.01）， especially the quercetin groups. Morphological changes in chondrocytes under the inverted microscope showed that quercetin could restore the morphology of damaged chondrocytes. CCK-8 showed that compared with the control group， the model group showed inhibited chondrocyte proliferation （P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， the quercetin groups and the 3-MA + quercetin group showed promoted chondrocyte proliferation （P<0.01）， especially the quercetin groups. ELISA results showed that IL-1β and TNF-α levels in the model group were higher than those in the control group （P<0.01）， and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the quercetin groups and the 3-MA + quercetin group were lower than those in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the decrease in the quercetin groups was the most significant. ConclusionQuercetin can promote LPS-induced chondrocyte proliferation， regulate chondrocyte extracellular matrix synthesis and metabolic balance， inhibit the inflammatory response， and restore chondrocyte function. The mechanism may be related to the activation of autophagy by quercetin.

Objective:To assess the left ventricular (LV) myocardial mechanical dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis using ultrasonic layer-specific strain imaging and to explore its value in clinical application.Methods:A total of 80 consecutive cirrhosis patients without cardiovascular diseases were prospectively enrolled from October 2020 to March 2021 in Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital, 39 of whom were assigned to the compensated group and 41 were assigned to the decompensated group according to the occurrence of portal hypertension. Forty-three healthy volunteers during the same period were randomly recruited as the control group. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to assess the LV configuration and functional parameters. LV global longitudinal strain in endocardial, middle and epicardial myocardium (GLSendo, GLSmid, GLSepi), and longitudinal strain (LS) in basal, middle and apical segments, and peak strain dispersion (PSD) were obtained using ultrasonic layer-specific strain imaging. ΔLS was calculated by the formula of GLSendo-GLSepi. Then, the differences of related parameters among three groups were compared.Results:①Conventional echocardiography: compared with the control group, the interventricular septum end-diastolic thickness (IVSTd), left ventricular posterior wall end-diastolic thickness (LVPWd), left ventricular mass (LVM) and LVM index (LVMI) were increased in compensated and decompensated groups (all P<0.05), while no significant differences in conventional echocardiographic parameters were identified between the two cirrhosis groups (all P>0.05). ②Global layer-specific strain: compared with the control group, GLSendo, GLSmid, GLSepi and ΔLS were decreased and PSD was increased in compensated and decompensated groups (all P<0.05); Moreover, the decompensated group showed a more impaired GLSendo, GLSmid and GLSepi than compensated group (all P<0.05), whereas there were no significant differences of ΔLS and PSD between the two groups(all P>0.05). ③Segmental layer-specific strain: compared with the control group, LS values of three layers in compensated and decompensated groups were reduced at basal, middle and apical levels (all P<0.05); Compared with the compensated group, LS values of three layers in decompensated group tended to be reduced at above there levels, but only apical segments had significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusions:There are different degrees of LV mechanical dysfunction in patients with variable severity of cirrhosis. Ultrasonic layer-specific strain imaging has the potential to quantitatively assess the state of cardiac involvement in patients with cirrhosis and to provide visual evidence for the early and accurate diagnosis of myocardial injuries.

Objective: To identify the characteristics including clinical features and pulmonary computed tomography (CT) features of heart failure and novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19). Methods: This study was a retrospective study. A total of 7 patients with Heart failure and 12 patients with COVID-19 in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between December 1, 2019 and February 15, 2020 were enrolled. The baseline clinical and imaging features of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups, but the incidence of epidemiological contact history, fever or respiratory symptoms in the COVID-19 group was significantly higher than that in the heart failure group (12/12 vs. 2/7, P=0.001; 12/12 vs. 4/7, P<0.001). While the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and impaired cardiac function was significantly less than that of the heart failure group(2/12 vs.7/7, P<0.001; 0/12 vs.7/7, P<0.001). For imaging features, both groups had ground-glass opacity and thickening of interlobular septum, but the ratio of central and gradient distribution was higher in patients with heart failure than that in patients with COVID-19 (4/7 vs. 1/12, P=0.04). In heart failure group, the ratio of the expansion of small pulmonary veins was also higher (3/7 vs. 0, P=0.013), and the lung lesions can be significantly improved after effective anti-heart failure treatment. Besides, there are more disease with rounded morphology in COVID-19 (9/12 vs. 2/7, P=0.048) . Conclusions More patients with COVID-19 have epidemiological history and fever or respiratory symptoms. There are significant differences in chest CT features, such as enlargement of pulmonary veins, lesions distribution and morphology between heart failure and COVID-19.

AIM: To prepare genistein combined polysaccharide (GCP) liposomes and to evaluate the potential value of GCP liposomes for the treatment of prostate cancer by in vivo and in vitro experiments, and ultimately to promote the application of nanotechnology in prostate cancer chemotherapy. METHODS: GCP liposomes were prepared by ethanol injection. The anti-tumor effect of GCP liposomes was verified in vitro and in vivo by cell proliferation assay and cell cycle analysis, as well as establishing a tumor model of prostate cancer.RESULTS:GCP liposomes enhanced the inhibitory effect of GCP on androgen-sensitive LNCaP cell proliferation and the apoptosis of androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells induced by GCP. Also, GCP liposomes improved the inhibitory effect of GCP on tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSION: GCP liposomes have better anti-tumor effect on androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer cells than GCP.