Effectiveness of a double-carbapenem combinations against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant organisms posed considerable threat to global health while only limited treatment options are available and led to efforts to discover a novel way to treat them. To evaluate in vitro synergistic activity of meropenem plus ertapenem, a total of 203 carbapenem-resistant strains, collected from 12 provinces and municipalities in China, were examined with a dual carbapenem combination therapy. The statistical software R was used for analysis. Two hundred and one (201) of carbapenem-resistant strains mainly produced four types of carbapenemase: KPC-2 (n = 142, 69.95%), OXA-232 (n = 7, 3.45%), NDM (n = 38, 18.72%; 36 NDM-1, 1 NDM-4, 1 NDM-5), and IMP (n = 15, 7.39%; 1 IMP-26, 10 IMP-30, 4 IMP-4). Fifty-one out of two hundred and three (51/203 or 25.12%) of the examined strains showed a synergistic effect for the meropenem plus ertapenem combination throughout the checkerboard method, while only three isolates showed potential clinically relevant synergy (3/203, 1.48%). An additive effect was observed in 55/203 (27.09%) of the examined strains. Ninety-seven of the examined isolates (47.78%) showed fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) greater or equal to 2 (indicating antagonism). The synergistic activity of meropenem plus ertapenem combination suggests this combination can be a possible way to treat the infection caused by the carbapenem-resistant organisms, especially for IMP or NDM producer with a lesser minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the infected individual who was not recommended to use colistin or tigecycline.     

短时程脊髓电刺激治疗爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹的临床研究

目的探讨短时程脊髓电刺激(temporary spinal cord stimulation, tSCS)治疗爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹的临床疗效。方法回顾性地分析同济大学附属第十人民医院疼痛科2020年1月—2020年12月收治的52例接受tSCS治疗的爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹患者的临床资料，评估在治疗前、治疗后3d、7d、14d、3个月、6个月的总体疼痛情况(numerical rating scale, NRS)评分、(simple McGill scores, McGill)评分、爆发痛情况(发生率、NRS评分、次数以及持续时间)、触诱发痛情况(发生率、分级)、术后不良反应等；评估在治疗前、治疗后7d、3个月、6个月的睡眠时长、睡眠中醒来次数、疼痛障碍指数(pain disorder index, PDI)、功能状态评分(Karnofsky score, KPS)、抑郁症筛查量表(patient health questionnaire depression module scale, PHQ-9)和焦虑症筛查量表(generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale, GAD-7)等。结果与治疗前相比，治疗后3d、7d、14d、3个月、6个月的总体疼痛NRS评分、总体疼痛MCGILL评分、静息痛NRS评分明显降低(均P<0.001)；与治疗前相比，治疗后3d、7d、14d、3个月、6个月的的爆发痛NRS评分明显降低(均P<0.05)，治疗后14d、3个月、6个月时的爆发痛次数以及持续时间都明显降低(均P<0.05)；与治疗前比较，患者治疗后7d、14d、3个月、6个月时的触诱发痛的分级都明显降低，差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)；与治疗前相比，治疗后14d、3个月、6个月的PDI评分明显降低(P<0.05)；与治疗前相比，治疗后14d、3个月、6个月的PHQ-9评分和GAD-7评分都明显减少(P<0.05)，与术前的药物使用情况相比，治疗后各镇痛药使用人数普遍呈下降趋势；术中及整个随访期间未观察到严重不良事件。结论短时程脊髓电刺激对爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹具有较好的临床疗效。     

Higher Preimplantation Opioid Doses Associated With Long‐Term Spinal Cord Stimulation Failure in 211 Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

ObjectiveSpinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). We studied the effect of preimplantation opioid use on SCS outcome and the effect of SCS on opioid use during a two-year follow-up period.Materials and methodsThe study cohort included 211 consecutive FBSS patients who underwent an SCS trial from January 1997 to March 2014. Participants were divided into groups, which were as follows: 1) SCS trial only (n = 47), 2) successful SCS (implanted and in use throughout the two-year follow-up period, n = 131), and 3) unsuccessful SCS (implanted but later explanted or revised due to inadequate pain relief, n = 29). Patients who underwent explantation for other reasons (n = 4) were excluded. Opioid purchase data from January 1995 to March 2016 were retrieved from national registries.ResultsHigher preimplantation opioid doses associated with unsuccessful SCS (ROC: AUC = 0.66, p = 0.009), with 35 morphine milligram equivalents (MME)/day as the optimal cutoff value. All opioids were discontinued in 23% of patients with successful SCS, but in none of the patients with unsuccessful SCS (p = 0.004). Strong opioids were discontinued in 39% of patients with successful SCS, but in none of the patients with unsuccessful SCS (p = 0.04). Mean opioid dose escalated from 18 ± 4 MME/day to 36 ± 6 MME/day with successful SCS and from 22 ± 8 MME/day to 82 ± 21 MME/day with unsuccessful SCS (p < 0.001).ConclusionsHigher preimplantation opioid doses were associated with SCS failure, suggesting the need for opioid tapering before implantation. With continuous SCS therapy and no explantation or revision due to inadequate pain relief, 39% of FBSS patients discontinued strong opioids, and 23% discontinued all opioids. This indicates that SCS should be considered before detrimental dose escalation.     

Evaluation of six anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody test kits and practical approaches to optimize the diagnostic performance

In an investigation of six anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody kits with different target antigen and methodology, each kit showed comparable performance. As false-positive reactions occurred independently with different kits, specificity increased to 100% when pairs of kits were used. With three-kit combination, both sensitivity (99.1%) and specificity (100%) increased.     

脊柱后路内固定术后硬膜外血肿的预防与护理体会

目的 探讨脊柱后路内固定术后硬膜外血肿的预防与护理体会。方法 遵照回顾性分析法选择我院2013年2 月～2018 年2 月纳入的60 例脊柱后路内固定术患者，依照不同理疗方式进行分组。其中30 例给予常规药物治疗作为对照组，另30 例除了常规治疗之外实施综合护理作为研究组，记录两组硬膜外血肿、腰椎术后血肿及颈椎术后血肿发生率，分别在干预前后进行生活质量评分（QOL）调查，出院时发放满意度调查问卷表，对比两组干预结果。结果 研究组血肿发生率为6.67%，明显低于对照组的20.00%（P＜0.05）。干预前两组的食欲、精神、睡眠、疼痛及日常生活评分相比差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05），干预后研究组的各项评分均高于对照组（P＜0.05）。研究组对干预效果的满意度为90.00%，明显高于对照组的76.67%（P＜0.05）。结论 护理干预运用于脊柱后路内固定中效果显著，能够有效减少硬膜外血肿的发生率，提升生活质量，促进病情稳定，患者满意度较高，可维持良好医患关系。     

Severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with Guillain-Barré syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUNDGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that typically presents with ascending weakness, pain, paraesthesias, and numbness, which mimic the findings in lumbar spinal stenosis. Here, we report a case of severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with GBS.CASE SUMMARYA 70-year-old man with a history of lumbar spinal stenosis presented to our emergency department with severe lower back pain and lower extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of severe lumbar spinal stenosis. However, his symptoms did not improve postoperatively and he developed dysphagia and upper extremity numbness. An electromyogram was performed. Based on his symptoms, physical examination, and electromyogram, he was diagnosed with GBS. After 5 d of intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 d) therapy, he gained 4/5 of strength in his upper and lower extremities and denied paraesthesias. He had regained 5/5 of strength in his extremities when he was discharged and had no symptoms during follow-up.CONCLUSIONGBS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal disorder, even though magnetic resonance imaging shows severe lumbar spinal stenosis. This case highlights the importance of a careful diagnosis when a patient has a history of a disease and comes to the hospital with the same or similar symptoms.     

Intrathecal catheterisation after observed accidental dural puncture in labouring women: update of a meta-analysis and a trial-sequential analysis

BackgroundOur meta-analysis from 2013 showed that inserting a catheter intrathecally after an observed accidental dural puncture can reduce the need for epidural blood patch in labouring women requesting epidural analgesia. We updated our conventional meta-analysis and added a trial-sequential analysis (TSA).MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies that compared inserting the catheter intrathecally with an epidural catheter re-site or with no intervention. The extracted data were pooled and the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for the incidence of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) was calculated, using the random effects model. A contour-enhanced funnel plot was constructed. A TSA was performed and the cumulative Z score, monitoring and futility boundaries were constructed.ResultsOur search identified 13 studies, reporting on 1653 patients, with a low risk of bias. The RR for the incidence of PDPH was 0.82 (95%CI 0.71 to 0.95) and the RR for the need for epidural blood patch was 0.62 (95%CI 0.49 to 0.79); heterogeneity of both analyses was high. The TSA showed that the monitoring or futility boundaries were not crossed, indicating insufficient data to exclude a type I error of statistical analysis. Contour-enhanced funnel plots were symmetric, suggesting no publication bias.ConclusionsConventional meta-analyses showed for the first time that intrathecal catheterisation can reduce the incidence of PDPH. However, TSA did not corroborate this finding. Despite increasing use in clinical practice there is no firm evidence on which to base a definite conclusion.     

加速康复外科理念在脊柱结核围手术期护理中的应用效果分析

目的: 分析探讨加速康复外科(ERAS)理念在脊柱结核围手术期护理应用中的效果。 方法: 收集青岛市胸科医院外科2017年7月至2020年6月收治的147例脊柱结核患者。其中,2017年7月至2018年12月收治的68例脊柱结核手术患者围手术期应用常规护理,作为对照组;2019年1月至2020年6月收治的79例脊柱结核手术患者在常规护理措施基础上融入了ERAS理念,作为ERAS组。比较两组患者的引流管拔除、最初下床进行功能锻炼、最初自主排尿的时间,术后72h疼痛(采用视觉模拟评分法)评分,住院天数,恶心呕吐、肺部感染、药物性肝损伤的发生率,以及患者满意度的差异。 结果: 与对照组相比,ERAS组患者引流管拔除时间[6.00(4.00,8.00)d和8.00(7.00,8.00)d;W=4321.000,P<0.001]、最初下床进行功能锻炼时间[2.00(2.00,4.00)d和5.50(4.25,6.00)d;W=3376.000,P<0.001]、首次在床上自主排尿时间[5.00(3.00,6.00)h和9.00(7.00,9.00)h;W=3369.000,P<0.001]、术后72h疼痛评分[3.00(2.00,4.00)分和5.00(5.00,6.00)分;W=4078.500,P<0.001]、住院总天数[19.00(18.00,21.00)d和22.00(19.00,27.00)d;W=4791.500,P<0.001]均有所下降,差异均有统计学意义。与对照组相比,ERAS组术后恶心呕吐发生率[7.6%(6/79)和19.1%(13/68);χ²=4.311,P=0.038]、肺部感染发生率[2.5%(2/79)和11.8%(8/68);χ²=4.914,P=0.027]、药物性肝损伤发生率[1.3%(1/79)和13.2%(9/68),χ²=8.258,P=0.004]均有所下降,差异均有统计学意义。ERAS组患者满意度高于对照组[96.2%(76/79)和85.3%(58/68),χ²=7.100,P=0.008],差异有统计学意义。 结论: ERAS理念应用于脊柱结核围手术期护理可以加速患者的康复,减少并发症的发生,提高患者的满意度。