Correlation between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media: a systematic review

ObjectivesTo review the evidence pertaining to the association between cow’s milk protein allergy and recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion.MethodsThe CENTRAL, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS databases, and gray literature were searched.ResultsFour studies were included, identifying the prevalence rates: 0.2% of delayed speech due to chronic otitis media with effusion in 382 children with cow’s milk protein allergy, 10.7% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 242 children who underwent ENT procedures, 40% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 25 children with recurrent otitis media with effusion and higher tendency to otitis media in children with cow’s milk protein allergy of 186 children (1.5 + 0.6 vs. 0.4 + 0.1; p < 0.1).ConclusionConsidering the characteristics and methodological variations of the identified studies, it is not possible to state that there is reliable evidence of an association between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media.     

Clinicopathological Profile of Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: Single-center Real-world Experience and Review of Literature

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cell origin. MM primarily affects bone marrow, but extramedullary sites can also be involved. Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is an atypical and rare complication of MM. We aimed to systematically study the incidence and clinicopathologic profile of patients with MPE in a real-world setting.

The transverse and oblique sinuses of the pericardium: Anatomic and echocardiographic insights

A number of masses and pseudomasses may be encountered during the echocardiographic examination of the transverse and oblique sinuses with significant clinical implications. This review discusses the clinically relevant anatomy of the pericardial sinuses emphasizing diagnostic pitfalls that may be encountered during their echocardiographic examination.     

17岁男童反复腹痛、腹腔积液伴嗜酸性粒细胞增多

17岁男童，因腹痛、腹泻伴嗜酸性粒细胞增多3年，加重3 d入院。3年前患儿因进食“老酸奶”后出现腹痛、腹泻，彩超示大量腹腔积液，血常规、骨髓细胞形态学检查、腹水组织学检查可见大量嗜酸性粒细胞；3 d前因腹痛、腹泻再次入院，胃肠镜检查胃角见嗜酸性粒细胞浸润，确诊为嗜酸细胞性胃肠疾病（嗜酸细胞性胃肠炎），给予糖皮质激素及饮食规避治疗后好转，随访1年未反复。对于因腹痛、腹泻等消化道症状就诊的患儿，如伴外周血嗜酸性粒细胞增多，需考虑嗜酸细胞性胃肠疾病的可能，内镜活检胃肠道组织中见嗜酸性粒细胞浸润且计数异常为诊断的关键。 ［引用格式:中国当代儿科杂志，2021，23（11）：1169-1173］     

Prevalence and clinical significance of pleural effusion in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: a retrospective study

BackgroundPleural effusion is observed in a subset of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) and may be linked to clinical outcome, but findings from previous studies have been inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of pleural effusion in Chinese patients with APE.MethodsClinical data from hospitalized patients with APE were retrospectively collected and the prevalence of pleural effusion was determined. The relationship between the presence of pleural effusion and clinical outcome of APE was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.ResultsThe study enrolled 635 patients with APE. The prevalence of pleural effusion was 57.01% (362/635). Patients with pleural effusion had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (9.9% vs. 4.8%, P<0.05) and longer length of hospital stay (LOS) (19.99 vs. 15.31 days, P<0.05) than whose without pleural effusion. However, pleural effusion was not an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality in patients with APE by multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis [hazard ratio (HR) =1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73–3.92, P=0.216] and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis (P=0.174).ConclusionsPleural effusion is a frequent occurrence in patients with APE and therefore merits greater attention from clinicians; however, it is not an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality.     

Human fluids alter DNA-acquisition in Acinetobacter baumannii

Transformation is one of the mechanisms of acquisition of foreign genetic material leading to the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. Recently, human serum albumin (HSA) was shown to specifically increase transformation frequency in the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. To further assess the relevance of HSA as a possible modulator of A. baumannii transformation in host-pathogen interactions, in this work we examined the effect of different human fluids. We observed a significant increase in transformation frequencies in the presence of pleural fluid, whole blood cells and liquid ascites, and to a lesser extent with urine. The observed effects correlate with both HSA and bacterial content found in the assayed patient fluids. Taken together, these results are in agreement with our previous findings that highlight HSA as a possible host signal with the ability to trigger natural transformation in A. baumannii.