Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to determine 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels for clinical assessment of vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is responsible for multiple metabolic functions in humans. Rickets are the most common disease caused by vitamin D deficiency. It is caused by poor calcium intake resulting in poor serum-ionized calcium. The purpose of this study is to develop a rapid, sensitive, and feasible method to determine the 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels in blood samples for clinical assessment. In this study, gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry with trimethylsilyl derivatization (TMS-GC-MS) is the most suitable protocol for quantitative analyses of 25(OH)D3. Performance of method was evaluated and compared with liquid chromatography and immunoassay. Method validation has been carried out with plasma specimens. The limit of quantitation of TMS-GC-MS method is 1.5 ppb with good linear correlation. Furthermore, the dietary intake and nutritional status of vegetarian and non-vegetarians in Taiwan were assessed by our validated method. As a result, this vitamin D nutrition survey demonstrates that most Taiwanese people have insufficient vitamin D. Due to dietary habits; the male vegans may have the highest risk of vitamin D deficiency.     

Cefoperazone-sulbactam and risk of coagulation disorders or bleeding: a retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Limited evidence has suggested that cefoperazone-sulbactam causes coagulation disorders and bleeding.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective study to compare patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam versus those treated with cefoperazone-tazobactam or ceftazidime. Propensity-score matching was used to explore whether treatment with cefoperazone-sulbactam increased the risk of prothrombin time (PT) prolongation, coagulation disorders, and bleeding, or decreased platelets (PLT).

Results: The cohort included 23,242 patients. Among patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam, the risk of PT prolongation, coagulation disorders, decreased PLT, and bleeding was 5.3%, 9.2%, 15.7%, and 4.2%, respectively. Propensity-score matching analyses suggested that cefoperazone-sulbactam increased the risk of PT prolongation (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.61–3.18), coagulation disorders (aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.43–2.30), and decreased PLT (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.25–1.72), but not increase bleeding (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 0.79–1.40) compared with ceftazidime. Patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam had higher risk of PT prolongation (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.11–2.10), coagulation disorders (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.21–1.95), but not decreased PLT (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.81–1.07) or bleeding (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 0.87–1.42), compared with those receiving cefoperazone-tazobactam.

Conclusion: Cefoperazone-sulbactam may be associated with a higher risk of PT prolongation and coagulation disorders compared with cefoperazone-tazobactam and ceftazidime.     

Analysis of early mortality and related risk factors in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Objective To analyze the early mortality and related risk factors of new hemodialysis patients in Zhejiang province, and provide basis for reducing the death risk of hemodialysis patients. Methods The early mortality and related factors of new hemodialysis patients from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2018 were retrospectively analyzed using the database of Zhejiang province hemodialysis registration. The early mortality was defined as death within 90 days of dialysis. Cox regression model was used to analyze the related risk factors of the early mortality in hemodialysis patients. Results The mortality was the highest in the first month after dialysis (46.40/100 person year), and gradually stabilized after three months. The early mortality was 25.33/100 person year. The mortality within 120 days and 360 days were 21.40/100 person year and 11.37/100 person year, respectively. The elderly (≥65 years old, HR=1.981, 95%CI 1.319-2.977, P＜0.001), primary tumor (HR=3.308, 95%CI 1.137-5.624, P=0.028), combined with tumors (not including the primary tumor, HR=2.327, 95%CI 1.200-4.513, P=0.012), temporary catheter (the initial dialysis pathway, HR=3.632, 95%CI 1.806-7.307, P＜0.001), lower albumin (＜30 g/L, HR=2.181, 95%CI 1.459-3.260, P＜0.001), lower hemoglobin (every 0.01 g/L increase, HR=0.861, 95%CI 0.793-0.935, P=0.001), lower high density lipoprotein (＜0.7 mmol/L, HR=1.796, 95%CI 1.068-3.019, P=0.027) and higher C reactive protein (≥40 mg/L, HR=1.889, 95%CI 1.185-3.012, P=0.008) were the risk factors of early death for hemodialysis patients. Conclusions The early mortality of hemodialysis patients is high after dialysis, and gradually stable after 3 months. The elderly, primary tumor, combined with tumors, the initial dialysis pathway, lower albumin, lower hemoglobin, lower high density lipoprotein and higher C reactive protein are the risk factors of early death for hemodialysis patients.     

起搏治疗遗传性长QT间期综合征23例

目的:评价VVI起搏治疗遗传性长QT综合征的疗效. 方法:对23例有尖端扭转性室速发作,且经正规药物治疗无效或无法耐受的遗传性长QT综合征患者,植入了VVI起搏器.随访这23例患者术后心电图及心脏事件发生率. 结果:QT间期平均值由术前(638.0±55.7)ms缩短至术后的(471.3±48.9)ms,QTc平均值为由0.627±0.07缩短至0.519±0.06.心脏事件的发生率由术前的(0.353±0.46)次/年降至术后(0.111±0.24)次/年,(P=0.039).其中77.5%的患者随访期间无晕厥或猝死等心脏事件发生.90.91%患者存活.2例患者因尖端扭转性室速恶化为室颤抢救无效死亡. 结论:VVI起搏治疗可以有效地减少长QT综合征患者恶性心律失常的发生,是治疗长QT综合征的重要方法之一.