Evaluation of an Ileorectostomised Rat Model for Resistant Starch Determination

The human ileostomy model, widely considered the benchmark for determining in vivo starch digestibility, has disadvantages. The ileorectostomised rat model (IRM) is a possible surrogate but evidence as to its validity is scant. In this preliminary study, the resistant starch (RS) content of test breads made from refined low (LAW-R) and high amylose wheat (HAW-R) flours was established in a randomised cross-over trial involving six human ileostomy participants. Starch digestibility of refined breads and diets made from these flours was then evaluated in ileorectostomised rats using a similar experimental format. Physical performance measures and other data were also collected for the rat model. The amount of RS in the low- and high-amylose breads as measured using the human model was 0.8 ± 0.1 and 6.5 ± 0.3 g/100 g, respectively. The RS level of HAW-R bread determined using ileorectostomised rats was 5.5 ± 0.8 g/100 g, about 15% less than that recorded in the human study, whereas for conventional wheat breads the models produced similar RS values. While offering promise, further validation using a wide variety of starchy food products is needed before the IRM can be considered an acceptable alternative for RS determination.     

The Impact of Diet and Fibre Fractions on Plasma Adipocytokine Levels in Prediabetic Adults

The impact of diet and fibre fractions on adipocytokines in obese subjects with a risk of diabetes has not been investigated in detail yet. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of a 12-month lifestyle intervention with different fibre profiles (resistant starch (RS)—rich fibre, or ordinary food fibre profiles) on adipocytokine levels. Fifty participants are divided into two groups (RS group and Fibre group). The groups differ only in the percentage of the recommended level of the RS consumed as a fraction of the same total fibre amount. The applied dietary intervention includes intake of 7531 KJ/daywith a total fibre portion of 25–35 g/dayfor both groups that includes 15 g/day of RS for the RS group only. The levels of leptin, adiponectin, apelin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and C-reactive protein (CRP) are measured, and their relationship to anthropometric and biochemical parameters is estimated. Along with significant body weight loss, only leptin is significantly reduced by 13% in the RS group while in the Fibre group, apelin levels are significant (−21%). Polynomial regression shows a negative correlation between RS intake and adiponectin (R2 = 0.145) and resistin level (R2 = 0.461) in the RS group. This study indicates the possibility that fibre fractions differently influence the outcome of lifestyle interventions, as well as their adipocytokine levels, in obese prediabetic adults.     

Association between Fruit and Vegetable Intakes and Mental Health in the Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle Cohort

Increasing prevalence of mental health disorders within the Australian population is a serious public health issue. Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (FV), dietary fibre (DF) and resistant starch (RS) is associated with better mental and physical health. Few longitudinal studies exist exploring the temporal relationship. Using a validated food frequency questionnaire, we examined baseline FV intakes of 5845 Australian adults from the AusDiab study and estimated food group-derived DF and RS using data from the literature. Perceived mental health was assessed at baseline and 5 year follow up using SF-36 mental component summary scores (MCS). We conducted baseline cross-sectional analysis and prospective analysis of baseline dietary intake with perceived mental health at 5 years. Higher baseline FV and FV-derived DF and RS intakes were associated with better 5 year MCS (p < 0.001). A higher FV intake (754 g/d vs. 251 g/d, Q4 vs. Q1) at baseline had 41% lower odds (OR = 0.59: 95% CI 0.46–0.75) of MCS below population average (<47) at 5 year follow up. Findings were similar for FV-derived DF and RS. An inverse association was observed with discretionary food-derived DF and RS. This demonstrates the association between higher intakes of FV and FV-derived DF and RS with better 5 year mental health outcomes. Further RCTs are necessary to understand mechanisms that underlie this association including elucidation of causal effects.     

An Overview of the Treatment Options Used for the Management of COVID-19 in Pakistan: Retrospective Observational Study

BackgroundSince the first reports of COVID-19 infection, the foremost requirement has been to identify a treatment regimen that not only fights the causative agent but also controls the associated complications of the infection. Due to the time-consuming process of drug discovery, physicians have used readily available drugs and therapies for treatment of infections to minimize the death toll.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to provide a snapshot analysis of the major drugs used in a cohort of 1562 Pakistani patients during the period from May to July 2020, when the first wave of COVID-19 peaked in Pakistan.MethodsA retrospective observational study was performed to provide an overview of the major drugs used in a cohort of 1562 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the four major tertiary-care hospitals in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad region of Pakistan during the peak of the first wave of COVID-19 in the country (May-July 2020).ResultsAntibiotics were the most common choice out of all the therapies employed, and they were used as first line of treatment for COVID-19. Azithromycin was the most prescribed drug for treatment. No monthly trend was observed in the choice of antibiotics, and these drugs appeared to be a random but favored choice throughout the months of the study. It was also noted that even antibiotics used for multidrug resistant infections were prescribed irrespective of the severity or progression of the infection. The results of the analysis are alarming, as this approach may lead to antibiotic resistance and complications in immunocompromised patients with COVID-19. A total of 1562 patients (1064 male, 68.1%, and 498 female, 31.9%) with a mean age of 47.35 years (SD 17.03) were included in the study. The highest frequency of patient hospitalizations occurred in June (846/1562, 54.2%).ConclusionsGuidelines for a targeted treatment regime are needed to control related complications and to limit the misuse of antibiotics in the management of COVID-19.     

糖尿病足患者发生多重耐药菌感染的危险因素研究

目的 探讨糖尿病足患者发生多重耐药菌（MDROs）感染的危险因素及病原菌分布情况。方法 以2019年1月至2020年12月青岛市某三甲医院内分泌门诊就诊的糖尿病足患者为研究对象进行资料收集、体格检查及空腹静脉血采集,并采用灭菌棉拭子擦拭创面拭取分泌物用于病原菌感染情况及耐药性检测。采用描述流行病学分析方法进行分析,并采用单、多因素分析方法对多重耐药影响因素进行分析。结果 本研究共对5 122例糖尿病足患者进行MDROs感染情况分析,年龄35~85岁,平均（61.03±11.19）岁,糖尿病病程1~29年,平均（12.32±7.16）年。多重感染者210例,多重感染率为4.10%。共分离出265株MDROs,居于前3位的MDROs分别是金黄色葡萄球菌109株（41.13%）、铜绿假单胞菌61株（23.02%）、大肠杆菌58株（21.89%）。主要的MDROs中金黄色葡萄球菌对苯唑西林、氨苄西林/舒巴坦、头孢唑林100%耐药,大肠杆菌对氨苄西林、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、头孢他啶100%耐药,未见对万古霉素耐药菌。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,抗菌药物暴露史（OR=1.962）、因同一伤口住院次数>2次/年（OR=1.970）、骨髓炎（OR=4.323）、神经缺血性伤口（OR=1.269）和抗菌药物疗程≥5 d（OR=1.487、3.274、1.602）是糖尿病足患者发生MDROs感染的危险因素。结论 糖尿病足患者抗菌药物暴露史、因同一伤口住院次数>2次/年、骨髓炎、神经缺血性伤口以及使用抗菌药物疗程与发生MDROs感染存在密切关系。     

成年手术患者手术部位多重耐药菌感染及影响因素分析

目的 探讨手术部位多重耐药（MDRO）菌感染情况及危险因素,为手术部位感染的预防和治疗提供循证参考。方法 以2019—2020年焦作市某医院行手术治疗的成年患者作为研究对象,收集基本情况、疾病患者情况,从医院病历信息系统中调取患者手术及术前相关检测指标、用药情况等内容,对出现发热、切口红肿、引流液异常等疑似感染症状体征患者采集感染部位生物样本用于病原学培养及检测。采用描述流行病学分析方法对MDRO菌感染情况进行分析,并采用单、多因素分析方法对MDRO菌感染影响因素进行分析。结果 7 820例进行手术治疗患者共发生MDRO菌感染250例,感染率为3.20%,其中金黄色葡萄球菌感染6例,鲍曼不动杆菌感染14例,铜绿假单胞菌感染29例,肺炎克雷伯菌感染34例,大肠埃希菌感染167例。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,糖尿病（OR=3.578）、肿瘤（OR=4.135）、贫血（OR=4.701）、入住ICU（OR=5.045）、脏器穿孔（OR=2.414）、切口分类为Ⅱ或Ⅲ类（OR=2.284、3.013）、手术有风险（OR=5.135）、抗菌药物应用≥2种（OR=2.340）、抗菌药物疗程≥5 d（OR=4.759）、再手术（OR=2.036）是成年手术患者发生MDRO菌感染的危险因素。结论 成年手术患者手术部位MDRO菌感染较为常见,相关危险因素较多,临床可根据以上因素加强围手术管理,减少MDRO菌感染的发生。     

心胸外科患者多重耐药菌感染及危险因素分析

目的探讨心胸外科住院患者多重耐药菌(MDRO)感染的特征及其危险因素。方法回顾性调查632例发生医院感染的心胸外科患者,根据其是否发生MDRO感染分为MDRO组和非MDRO组,计算MDRO感染率并分析多重耐药菌株分布,筛选影响心胸外科患者MDRO感染的相关危险因素。结果心胸外科患者MDRO感染发生率为15.19%(96/632),多重耐药菌株以鲍曼不动杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌等为主;多因素分析结果显示,影响心胸外科患者MDRO感染的危险因素包括年龄(OR=2.094)、基础疾病(OR=3.056)、机械通气(OR=4.158)、留置导管(OR=4.914)、低白蛋白血症(OR=5.197)、联合使用广谱抗菌药物(OR=3.536)、频繁更换抗菌药物(OR=4.272)等。结论心胸外科医院感染患者中具有较高的MDRO感染发生比例,影响其发生MDRO感染的危险因素较多,应尽早采取预防措施,降低MDRO感染发生率。     

抗维生素D佝偻病的临床及X线表现（附一家族6例报告）

目的 探讨抗维生素D佝偻病（VDRR）的临床及X线表现。方法 报告一家族6例VDRR,对该家族6例病人进行全身骨骼X线摄片观察。结果 本病的典型X线表现在儿童表现为佝偻病,在成人表现为软骨病。结果 认识对本病的临床及X线表现,有助于提高对VDRR的诊断和鉴别诊断的水平。     

含双酚—A和杂环结构的聚芳醚酮的合成与表征

用苯酚、苯酐和水合肼合成了4-（4-羟苯基）-2,3-二氮杂萘酮-1,并与双酚-A和二苯甲酮聚合,得到含双酚-A和杂环结构的聚醚酮聚合物。用FT-IR、^13C-NMR、DSC、TGA和DMA等方法对聚合物进行了表征。结果表明,这种可溶性的非晶态聚合物有较高的Tg和很高的耐热温度,Tg随聚合物的组成不同而变化（158-224℃）,5%热失重温度为444-541℃。     

Clearing the clouds: Case‐report and review of the literature

In peritoneal dialysis (PD), a cloudy dialysate is an alarming finding. Bacterial peritonitis is the most common cause, however, atypical infections and non‐infectious causes must be considered. A 46‐year‐old man presented with asthenia, paraesthesia, foamy urine and hypertension. Laboratory testing revealed severe azotaemia, anaemia, hyperkalaemia and nephrotic‐range proteinuria. Haemodialysis was started through a central venous catheter. Later, due to patient preference, a Tenckhoff catheter was inserted. Conversion to PD occurred 3 weeks later, during hospitalization for a presumed central line infection. A month later, the patient was hospitalized for neutropenic fever. He was diagnosed an acute parvovirus infection and was discharged under isoniazid for latent tuberculosis. Four months later, the patient presented with fever and a cloudy effluent. Peritoneal fluid (PF) cytology was suggestive of infectious peritonitis, but the symptoms persisted despite antibiotic therapy. Bacterial and mycological cultures were negative. No neoplastic cells were detected. Mycobacterium tuberculosis eventually grew in PF cultures, despite previous negative molecular tests. Directed therapy was then initiated with excellent response. Thus, facing a cloudy effluent, one must consider multiple aetiologies. Diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis is hampered by the lack of highly sensitive and specific exams. Here, diagnosis was only possible due to positive mycobacterial cultures.