Case-Control Study of the Risk Factors for Acquisition of Pseudomonas and Proteus Species during Tigecycline Therapy

Tigecycline is an important agent in clinical practice because of its broad-spectrum activity. However, it has no activity against Pseudomonas or Proteus species. We conducted a case-control study to analyze risk factors for the acquisition of Pseudomonas or Proteus spp. during tigecycline therapy. Placement of suction drainage at infected wound sites, ICU stay, and neurologic disease were identified as independent risk factors for the acquisition of Pseudomonas and Proteus spp.     

Functional recovery of denervated muscle by neurotization using nerve guidance channels

Tissue‐engineered muscle has been proposed as a means of repairing volumetric muscle defects to restore anatomical and functional recovery. We have previously demonstrated that denervated muscle, which is analogous to engineered muscle construct, can be reinnervated by direct transplantation of host nerve (neurotization) in a rat model. However, the use of this approach is not possible if the length of host nerve is inadequate and cannot be mobilized to the insertion site of the engineered muscle. In this study we investigated whether neurotization coupled with nerve guidance channels would increase the regeneration of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in completely denervated muscle and encourage neurofunctional recovery. Seventy‐two Lewis rats were evaluated in three groups, a normal control group (n = 8), a denervated group (n = 32) and a neurotization coupled with nerve guidance group (n = 32). Neurofunctional behaviour and histological evaluations were performed at 4, 8, 12 and 20 weeks postoperatively. Extensor postural thrust (EPT) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude were significantly improved in the nerve guidance group when compared with the denervated group, even though these values were different from those of the normal control group at 20 weeks postoperation. Regeneration of axons and NMJs was demonstrated histologically in the nerve guidance group. Neurotization coupled with nerve guidance channels leads to regeneration of axons and NMJs in completely denervated muscle. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show that nerve guidance can allow re‐innervation in denervated muscle containing long‐gap nerve injuries. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Upgrading and upstaging of low-risk prostate cancer among Korean patients: a multicenter study

Only 54% of prostate cancer cases in Korea are localized compared with 82% of cases in the US. Furthermore, half of Korean patients are upgraded after radical prostatectomy (41.6%–50.6%). We investigated the risk factors for upgrading and/or upstaging of low-risk prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1159 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at five hospitals in Honam Province. Preoperative data on standard clinicopathological parameters were collected. The radical prostatectomy specimens were graded and staged and we defined a “worsening prognosis” as a Gleason score ≥ 7 or upstaging to ≥ pT3. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with postoperative pathological upstaging. Among the 1159 patients, 324 were classified into the clinically low-risk group, and 154 (47.5%) patients were either upgraded or upstaged. The multivariable analysis revealed that the preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen level (odds ratio [OR], 1.131; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.007–1.271; P= 0.037), percent positive biopsy core (OR: 1.018; 95% CI: 1.002–1.035; P= 0.032), and small prostate volume (≤30 ml) (OR: 2.280; 95% CI: 1.351–3.848; P= 0.002) were predictive of a worsening prognosis. Overall, 47.5% of patients with low-risk disease were upstaged postoperatively. The current risk stratification criteria may be too relaxed for our study cohort.     

大鼠慢性前列腺炎模型中TRPA1及相关炎症因子的表达

目的:探讨模拟慢性前列腺炎/慢性盆腔疼痛综合征(CP/CPPS)动物模型疼痛产生的分子机制。方法:取SD大鼠36只,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组18只。实验组向前列腺双腹侧叶注射50μl 3%无菌λ-角叉菜胶制作大鼠无菌性前列腺炎症性疼痛模型,对照组注射等量无菌生理盐水。两组分别于造模后1周、2周和4周3个时间节点,每个节点6只大鼠,解剖获取大鼠前列腺组织、L6~S1段背根神经节(DRG)及脊髓,采用免疫组化联合Western印迹法检测神经生长因子(NGF)、瞬时受体电位通道蛋白A1(TRPA1)及降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)在不同组织内的表达情况。结果:慢性前列腺炎症性疼痛大鼠前列腺组织中NGF、CGRP、TRPA1蛋白的表达均高于对照组(P<0.05),且随造模时间的延长各蛋白表达逐渐减弱,组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。在大鼠L6~S1段DRG及脊髓内,造模后1周,实验组NGF、CGRP及TRPA1表达与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),造模后2周及4周,各蛋白表达呈持续高水平状态,与造模后1周大鼠比较差异无统计意义(P>0.05),但各实验组大鼠与对照组蛋白表达比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),两时间点上两组蛋白表达比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:前列腺内注射λ-角叉菜胶方法制作的大鼠前列腺炎症性疼痛模型,可在分子水平模拟CP/CPPS的产生机制;TRPA1在CP/CPPS患者疼痛产生上可能发挥中继通道的作用。