Fatal case of community-acquired bacteremia and necrotizing fasciitis caused by Chryseobacterium meningosepticum: case report and review of the literature

A diabetic patient with chronic heart failure developed necrotizing fasciitis and bacteremia caused by Chryseobacterium meningosepticum, which rapidly evolved into death, even with fasciotomy and intensive care. A review of the English literature found 10 cases of soft tissue infection caused by C. meningosepticum, which is rarely acquired in the community.     

Aeromonas aquariorum septicemia and enterocolitis in a cirrhotic patient

Aeromonas aquariorum is a recently described Aeromonas species. We present a cirrhotic patient with septicemia and bloody diarrhea in whom A. aquariorum was isolated from the blood and stool. The species identification was based on sequence analysis of the partial rpoB and rpoD genes. The A. aquariorum isolates carried genes encoding hemolysin, aerolysin, and the cytotonic enterotoxin Alt. Significant A. aquariorum–induced cytotoxicity in intestinal epithelial cells was also demonstrated.     

Norsolorinic acid from Aspergillus nidulans inhibits the proliferation of human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells via Fas-mediated pathway

Norsolorinic acid, isolated from the Aspergillus nidulans, was investigated for its antiproliferative activity in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. To identity the anticancer mechanism of norsolorinic acid, we assayed its effect on apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and levels of p53, p21/WAF1, Fas/APO-1 receptor and Fas ligand. The results showed that norsolorinic acid induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells without mediation of p53 and p21/WAF1. We suggest that Fas/Fas ligand apoptotic system is the main pathway of norsolorinic acid-mediated apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Our study reports here for the first time that the activity of the Fas/Fas ligand apoptotic system may participate in the antiproliferative activity of norsolorinic acid in MCF-7 cells.     

Closed loop stimulation helps with weaning from chronotropic incompetence-related ventilator dependence

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology -     

The effects of asthma medications on reactive oxygen species production in human monocytes

Objective: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease induced by many environmental factors. The inhalation of allergens and pollutants promotes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to airway inflammation, hyper-responsiveness, and remodeling in allergic asthma. The effects of asthma medications on ROS production are unclear. The present study investigated the anti-ROS effects of current asthma medications including inhaled corticosteroid (ICS; budesonide and fluticasone), leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA; montelukast), long-acting β2 agonists (LABAs; salmeterol and formoterol), and a new extra-LABA (indacaterol). Methods: The human monocyte cell line THP-1 cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of the asthma medications at different time points after hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) stimulation. H₂O₂ production was measured with DCFH-DA by flow cytometry. Results: Montelukast, fluticasone, and salmeterol suppressed H₂O₂-induced ROS production. Indacaterol enhanced H₂O₂-induced ROS production. Budesonide and formoterol alone had no anti-ROS effects, but the combination of these two drugs significantly suppressed H₂O₂-induced ROS production. Conclusions: Different asthma medications have different anti-ROS effects on monocytes. The combination therapy with LABA and ICS seemed not to be the only choice for asthma control. Montelukast may also be a good supplemental treatment for the poorly controlled asthma because of its powerful anti-ROS effects. Our findings provide a novel therapeutic view in asthma.     

Community-based screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly residents in a hepatitis B- and C-endemic area

Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was to elucidate a reasonable model and the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening on an elderly population. Methods: Two‐stage HCC screening was conducted in a hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐endemic area. First, participants underwent blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti‐HCV antibody, serum α‐fetoprotein (AFP), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and platelet count. Patients who were abnormal for any of the six markers were enrolled for second‐stage ultrasonography. Suspected cases were referred for confirmation. HCC cases were followed for 4 years. All patients were linked to national mortality and cancer register databases to identify newly‐developed HCC, 30 months after screening. Results: A total of 461 males and 541 females were screened for HCC, with 15.1% testing positive for HBsAg and 44.3% positive for anti‐HCV. Among them, 619 (61.8%) met the criteria of ultrasonographic screening; 527 (85.1%) responded, and 16 confirmed HCC (male/female = 8/8, 68.8 ± 8 years) cases were detected. All tumor diameters were less than 5 cm, and six were less than 2 cm. AFP and thrombocytopenia were two independent predictive factors of HCC. The overall survival rates of detected cases were 93.8% and 56.3% was 1 and 4 years, respectively. The only good prognostic predictor was “underwent curative treatment”. Another seven non‐HCC residents developed HCC after screening, and five of these were with either thrombocytopenia or AFP elevation. Conclusion: Under economical consideration, AFP and platelet count should be feasible screening markers of risk identification. Early detection and prompt treatment results in good prognosis in an aged population.