Detection of vancomycin variable enterococci (VVE) among clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium collected across India-first report from the subcontinent

PurposeEmergence of vancomycin variable enterococci (VVE) poses a challenge to empiric vancomycin therapy. Vancomycin-variable enterococci (VVE) are vanA-positive, yet phenotypically vancomycin-susceptible enterococci that can switch to a vancomycin-resistant phenotype when exposed to vancomycin. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of VVE in India.MethodsIsolates of phenotypically vancomycin susceptible Enterococcus faecium from 20 tertiary care hospitals across India were collected and tested for the presence of vanA, vanR, vanS, vanB and vanC genes by conventional PCR using previously published primers. Isolates positive for vanA gene were considered as VVE.ResultsThe prevalence of VVE was 1.5% (5/340). Only one VVE isolate was positive for vanR and vanS, and all the isolates were negative for vanB and vanC.ConclusionsAlthough the prevalence is low, our finding emphasizes the importance of routinely screening for van genes in enterococci that are phenotypically susceptible. Silenced vanA able to escape detection and revert to resistance during vancomycin therapy represents a new challenge in clinical settings.     

儿童肺炎克雷伯菌血流感染临床特征及菌株药物敏感性分析

摘要：目的 探讨儿童肺炎克雷伯菌血流感染(Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection, KPBSI)临床特征及肺炎克雷伯 菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae, KP)对常用抗菌药物的敏感性，为儿童KPBSI合理治疗提供参考。方法 回顾性分析2014年1月至2019 年12月在重庆医科大学附属儿童医院住院的KPBSI患儿临床资料。结果 共纳入110例患儿，64例(58.2%)为院内感染，72例 (65.5%)有基础疾病，以血液系统肿瘤最多见。110例患儿PRISM Ⅲ评分为16.0(7.0~20.8)，其中74例(67.3%)发生脓毒症，15例 (13.6%)发生脓毒性休克，18例(16.4%)发生呼吸衰竭，15例(13.6%)需有创机械通气，院内死亡共13例(11.8%)。KP菌株对阿米卡 星、碳青霉烯类抗菌药物敏感率＞90%，对头孢噻肟、头孢曲松和头孢他啶的敏感率分别为58.3%、60.9%和70.9%，对头孢哌 酮/舒巴坦和哌拉西林/他唑巴坦的敏感率分别为59.5%和82.7%。检出ESBLs+菌株39株(39/86，45.3%)，耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷 伯菌(CRKP)菌株10株(10/110，9.1%)，ESBLs+KP菌株和CRKP在各年龄组间分布无统计学差异。结论 儿童KPBSI多见于有基 础疾病的患儿，脓毒症、脓毒性休克和呼吸衰竭发生率高；KP菌株对头孢他啶和哌拉西林/他唑巴坦敏感性较高，可经验性治 疗轻症KPBSI患儿。     

The role of conventional radiography to assess the outcome of oncologic skeletal reconstructions of lower limbs aided by vascularized fibular autograft

IntroductionVascularized fibular autografts (VFA) are used in the oncologic skeletal reconstructions of long bones, alone or combined with massive bone allografts (MBA). Data regarding the role of imaging in assessing these complex skeletal reconstructions are lacking, and have mainly focused on Computed Tomography (CT). Our aim was to evaluate if early conventional radiography (CR) findings are correlated with the outcome of these skeletal reconstructions.Materials and methodsAll consecutive patients who underwent oncologic resection of lower limbs long bones followed by VFA reconstruction were included in this single-center retrospective study. We compared the CR obtained immediately after surgery with the CR at the 6-month control, as well as the CR at 6 months with the CT at 6 months when available. The following scores were assigned to the VFA: 0 (unchanged), 1 (osteopenia-cortical bone thinning), 2 (increase in bone density-cortical thickening). We then investigated whether this score correlated with the implant outcome within 12 months (optimal integration, suboptimal integration, integration requiring further surgery or lack of integration) using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses, considering the occurrence of integration and the duration time before the surgical removal of the whole bone reconstruction.ResultsForty-five patients were included (32 men [71.1%], mean age 14.6 years), 26 affected by osteosarcoma, 14 by Ewing sarcoma, 3 by adamantinoma and 2 operated for the failure of previous reconstructions for bone sarcoma. VFA changes on 6-month CR were significantly associated with optimal integration of the implants (log-rank P = 0.0137, multivariate Hazard ratio = 7.62, 95% confidence interval = 1.13–51.25). None of the other clinical and surgical features were associated with the implant outcome. The findings on 6-month CR and CT follow-up were not significantly different. CT at 6 months was available in 36 patients (80.0%).ConclusionThe assessment of VFA morphological changes on CR performed at 6 months can predict the outcome of the skeletal implant. This data should be considered for clinical decision-making, selecting patients requiring additional images (CT), and possible subsequent revision surgical procedures.     

前列腺癌早期诊断的研究进展北大核心

前列腺癌(prostate cancer, PCa)是中老年男性常见恶性肿瘤之一,目前尚缺乏有效的晚期癌症治疗方法,因此早期诊断对于降低PCa死亡率至关重要。近年来,较多研究开发出多种新型诊断方法以改善对PCa诊断的准确性,同时避免过度诊疗,但其有效性及实用性尚需进一步验证。本文对目前新型生物标志物、联合成像技术及风险预测模型等的早期诊断技术进行总结,以期为临床研究提供指导作用。     

基于红外热成像技术探讨扶正温阳法对阳虚体质的影响

目的 基于红外热成像技术探讨“扶正温阳法”对阳虚质的影响，探讨阳虚质者红外热图的共性规律，分析判断“扶正温阳法”干预阳虚质人群的疗效。方法 纳入30例阳虚质患者给予益气温阳药物在大椎、肾俞（双侧）、命门等进行穴位贴敷，分别在干预前后运用红外热成像技术测定督脉、腰部、腹部、双手及双足局部温度的变化。结果 干预后阳虚体质患者的督脉、腰部、腹部、双手、双足温度均升高（P<0.05），阳虚体质局部温度得以改善。结论 本研究发现“扶正温阳法”可诱发循经热传导现象，通过调节热能代谢而起到调治阳虚体质的作用，红外热成像技术可用来辅助评价阳虚质的治疗效果，对临床指导制定阳虚质人群的干预方案疗效判定具有指导意义。