Sensitivity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in screening for cognitive impairment in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - Cognitive impairment is frequent in patients with high-grade glioma and requires cognitive follow-up. Cognitive screening tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment...     

The ecological risk of heavy metals in sediment from the Danube Delta

The objectives of this study were to assess the sediment contamination with heavy metals and to investigate accordingly the ecological risk posed in the SE of the Danube Delta. Sediments are important in assessing the contamination as they act as reservoirs, transporters and contamination sources. Sediment samples were collected and analysed for lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury, revealing levels higher than the background, especially for cadmium and mercury (Pb > As > Cd > Hg). Concentrations exceeding the probable effect limit were noticed for arsenic and mercury. The contamination indexes describe the study area as having almost half of the samples as contaminated (pollution load index-PLI 1.04), however the contamination is mostly low-to moderate (modified contamination degree-mCd 1.36). The sediment contamination poses mostly a low ecological risk (RI 94.8). The sediment quality guideline quotient (SQG-Q 0.29) describes a moderate impact, while the probable effect concentration quotient (PEC-Q 0.16) confirms that there are no levels likely to affect the aquatic biota. In our study area, the main Branch of the Danube River and the Secondary Delta are the most affected by contamination, while the narrow, reed abundant channels as the preferred habitat of most aquatic organisms, have a low contamination level.     

What Does Diabetes “Taste” Like?

The T1R2 (taste type 1 receptor, member 2)/T1R3 (taste type 1 receptor, member 3) sweet taste receptor is expressed in taste buds on the tongue, where it allows the detection of energy-rich carbohydrates of food. This single receptor responds to all compounds perceived as sweet by humans, including natural sugars and natural and artificial sweeteners. Importantly, the T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptor is also expressed in extra-oral tissues, including the stomach, pancreas, gut, liver, and brain. Although its physiological role remains to be established in numerous organs, T1R2/T1R3 is suspected to be involved in the regulation of metabolic processes, such as sugar sensing, glucose homeostasis, and satiety hormone release. In this review, the physiological role of the sweet taste receptor in taste perception and metabolic regulation is discussed by focusing on dysfunctions leading to diabetes. Current knowledge of T1R2/T1R3 inhibitors making this receptor a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is also summarized and discussed.     

Low levels of the key B cell activation marker,HLA-DR,in COVID-19 hospitalized cases are associated with disease severity,dexamethasone treatment,and circulating IL-6 levels

Immunologic Research -     

急诊科临床分离细菌耐药性分析

目的了解北京大学第一医院急诊科2012年至2015年临床分离细菌的分布及抗菌药物耐药情况。方法收集急诊科2012年至2015年临床分离的非重复细菌,用纸片扩散法或自动化仪器法进行抗菌药物敏感性试验,按照美国临床和实验室标准协会(CLSI)2015标准判定药物敏感结果,用WHONET5.6软件进行统计分析。结果临床共分离1283株细菌,其中革兰氏阳性菌占30.6%,革兰氏阴性菌占69.4%。分离最多的前5位细菌分别是大肠埃希菌(18.4%),鲍曼不动杆菌(15.2%),金黄色葡萄球菌(13.3%),铜绿假单胞菌(12.7%)和肺炎克雷伯菌(8.8%)。耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的平均检出率为75.6%,耐甲氧西林凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌(MRCNS)的平均检出率为83.1%,葡萄球菌中未发现对利奈唑胺、万古霉素耐药菌株。粪肠球菌对所测试的大多数抗菌药物的耐药率均明显低于屎肠球菌。超广谱β内酰胺酶(ESBLs)阳性大肠埃希菌的检出率为64.8%,克雷伯菌属细菌为40.5%。铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南、美罗培南耐药率分别为30.1%,28.4%,鲍曼不动杆菌对亚胺培南、美罗培南耐药率分别为83.5和83.0%。结论临床分离细菌对抗菌药物耐药性较高,MRSA、耐万古霉素肠球菌、泛耐药肠杆菌科细菌、泛耐药鲍曼不动杆菌、泛耐药铜绿假单胞菌的检出率较高,给临床治疗带来一定挑战。