The optimal trough-guided monitoring of vancomycin in children: Systematic review and meta-analyses

We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the relationship between vancomycin (VCM) trough concentrations and its effectiveness and nephrotoxicity in pediatric patients. We conducted our analysis using MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials as electronic databases (June 29, 2019). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. We identified 16 studies that were eligible for the meta-analysis. A total of 351 and 3,266 patients were included in the analysis for effectiveness and nephrotoxicity, respectively. Pediatric MRSA infection patients with VCM trough concentrations ≥ 10 μg/mL had significantly lower treatment failure rates (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30–0.96). The incidence of nephrotoxicity was significantly higher in trough concentrations ≥ 15 μg/mL than when they were < 15 μg/mL (OR 3.02, 95% CI 2.08–4.38). We identified the optimal VCM trough concentrations associated with effectiveness and nephrotoxicity in pediatric patients with MRSA infection. Further prospective studies are needed to find optimal dosing and monitoring strategy on VCM in pediatric population.     

Addressing Early Retention in Antenatal Care Among HIV-Positive Women Through a Simple Intervention in Kinshasa,DRC: The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elombe “Champion” Standard Operating Procedure</Emphasis>

This cluster-randomized study aimed to assess the Elombe (“Champion”) standard operating procedure (SOP), implemented by providers and Mentor Mothers, on HIV-positive pregnant women’s retention between first and second antenatal visits. Sixteen facilities in Kinshasa were randomly assigned to intervention (SOP) or comparison (no SOP). Effect of the SOP was estimated using relative risk. Women in comparison facilities were more likely to miss second visits (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.05–5.98) than women in intervention facilities (30.0%, n = 27 vs. 12.0%, n = 9, p < 0.002). Findings demonstrate that a simple intervention can reduce critical early loss to care in PMTCT programs providing universal, lifelong treatment.     

Effect of survivin on tumor growth of colorectal cancer in vivo

Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis gene family regulates two critical processes in neoplastic transformation, namely, cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study aimed to detect the effect of survivin on tumor growth of colorectal cancer (CRC) in vivo. We found that inhibition of survivin by interference decreased the sizes and weights of xenografts in nude mice. The number of apoptotic cells of the shRNA survivin group was higher than that of the black group and the shRNA control group. The downregulated expression of survivin decreased the expression levels of bcl2 and ki67. Our results indicated that inhibition of survivin significantly enhanced the inhibition of tumor growth and induced apoptosis. Survivin is an attractive target for CRC treatment.     

健康成人下颌切牙管的锥形束CT测量分析

目的 利用锥形束CT测量下颌切牙管(mandibular incisive canal,MIC),了解其形态和特点,为临床提供参考.方法 观察2011年1月至2013年1月50名成人健康志愿者的锥形束CT图像,测量分析MIC的检出率、管径、长度及其与颌骨的关系.结果 在50例(100侧)锥形束CT图像中:MIC的检出率为100％(100/100),清晰率为71％(71/100);MIC的管径面积(唇舌径×垂直径)从起点至终点逐渐变小(左侧起点2.17 mm× 2.22 mm,终点0.82 mm× 0.92 mm;右侧起点2.14 mm×2.08 mm,终点0.87 mm×0.86 mm);MIC左右侧平均长度分别为17.84和17.73 mm;MIC在下颌骨唇舌向偏唇侧;在垂直方向MIC距下颌骨下缘较近,MIC到根尖的距离在尖牙最小.结论 锥形束CT对MIC有良好的检出率和清晰率;MIC在下颌骨的走行中偏向唇侧和下颌骨下缘.     

利妥昔单克隆抗体不宜作为继发性难治性肾病的挽救治疗措施

背景　利妥昔单克隆抗体（RTX）用于肾小球疾病的治疗已近20年,近年来其在治疗原发性和继发性肾病方面积累了一些循证医学证据,但对于较为明显的肾功能不全患者是否适合应用RTX进行挽救性治疗,目前尚无相关研究。目的　观察RTX挽救性治疗继发性难治性肾病患者的有效性和安全性。方法　回顾性选取2018-2019年北京大学国际医院收治的所有住院使用RTX治疗的成年难治性肾病患者48例。根据原发病诊断结果将患者分为原发性肾病（PN）组和继发性肾病（SN）组,再将SN组依据RTX治疗前血肌酐（Scr）分为SN-NST亚组（Scr<300 μmol/L）和SN-ST亚组（Scr≥300 μmol/L）。收集所有患者的一般资料（包括性别、年龄、体质量、身高、体表面积、原发病）,RTX治疗前、后实验室检查结果〔24 h尿蛋白（Upro）、白细胞计数（WBC）、红细胞计数（RBC）、血小板计数（PLT）、白蛋白（Alb）、Scr、CD4+细胞计数〕,计算CD4+细胞计数/WBC比例,记录RTX治疗期间严重不良事件〔包括严重感染全身（应用抗生素≥7 d或联合应用2种及以上抗感染药物）、肾脏替代治疗（RRT）、多脏器功能衰竭综合征（MODS）、死亡等〕,RTX末次治疗后3个月肾脏转归情况（即是否行维持性血液透析）。结果　48例使用RTX治疗的难治性肾病患者均进行肾穿刺活检;PN组19例（39.6%）,SN-NST亚组14例（29.2%）,SN-ST亚组15例（31.2%）。SN-ST亚组患者年龄小于PN组和SN-NST亚组（P<0.05）。PN组患者RTX治疗前24 hUpro、RBC、PLT高于SN-NST亚组、SN-ST亚组,Alb低于SN-NST亚组、SN-ST亚组（P<0.05）;SN-ST亚组患者RTX治疗前Scr高于PN组、SN-NST亚组,CD4+细胞计数低于PN组、SN-NST亚组（P<0.05）。SN-ST亚组患者RTX治疗后Scr高于PN组、SN-NST亚组（P<0.05）。PN组、SN-NST亚组患者RTX治疗后24 hUpro较同组治疗前降低（P<0.05）。SN-NST亚组、SN-ST亚组患者RTX治疗后WBC较同组治疗前降低（P<0.05）。SN-ST亚组患者RTX治疗后RBC较同组治疗前升高（P<0.05）。PN组患者RTX治疗后PLT较同组治疗前降低,SN-ST亚组患者RTX治疗后PLT较同组治疗前升高（P<0.05）。PN组、SN-NST亚组患者RTX治疗后Alb较同组治疗前升高（P<0.05）。三组患者RTX单位时间体表面积的累积剂量比较〔PN组、SN-NST亚组、SN-ST亚组依次为（437±322）、（503±344）、（331±312）mg?月-1?（m2）-1〕,差异无统计学意义（F=1.048,P=0.359）。SN-ST亚组患者RTX治疗期间严重感染发生率、行RRT者比例及RTX末次治疗后3个月行维持性血液透析者比例高于PN组（P<0.05）;SN-ST亚组患者RTX治疗期间行RRT者比例、RTX末次治疗后3个月行维持性血液透析者比例高于SN-NST亚组（P<0.05）。结论　Scr≥300 μmol/L的继发性难治性肾病患者应用RTX治疗对其肾病改善作用不明显,且会明显增加其严重感染和肾衰竭发生风险,故RTX不应作为这部分患者的挽救治疗措施。     

Congenital Heart Disease as a Warning Sign for the Diagnosis of the 22q11.2 Deletion

Background

To alert for the diagnosis of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Objective

To describe the main CHDs, as well as phenotypic, metabolic and immunological findings in a series of 60 patients diagnosed with 22q11.2DS.

Methods

The study included 60 patients with 22q11.2DS evaluated between 2007 and 2013 (M:F=1.3, age range 14 days to 20 years and 3 months) at a pediatric reference center for primary immunodeficiencies. The diagnosis was established by detection of the 22q11.2 microdeletion using FISH (n = 18) and/or MLPA (n = 42), in association with clinical and laboratory information. Associated CHDs, progression of phenotypic facial features, hypocalcemia and immunological changes were analyzed.

Results

CHDs were detected in 77% of the patients and the most frequent type was tetralogy of Fallot (38.3%). Surgical correction of CHD was performed in 34 patients. Craniofacial dysmorphisms were detected in 41 patients: elongated face (60%) and/or elongated nose (53.3%), narrow palpebral fissure (50%), dysplastic, overfolded ears (48.3%), thin lips (41.6%), elongated fingers (38.3%) and short stature (36.6%). Hypocalcemia was detected in 64.2% and decreased parathyroid hormone (PTH) level in 25.9%. Decrease in total lymphocytes, CD4 and CD8 counts were present in 40%, 53.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Hypogammaglobulinemia was detected in one patient and decreased concentrations of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in two other patients.

Conclusion

Suspicion for 22q11.2DS should be raised in all patients with CHD associated with hypocalcemia and/or facial dysmorphisms, considering that many of these changes may evolve with age. The 22q11.2 microdeletion should be confirmed by molecular testing in all patients.     

Frequency & factors associated with apparent resistant hypertension among Ghanaians in a multicenter study

Apparent resistant hypertension (ARH) is rife among people living with hypertension and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is however paucity of data from sub‐Saharan Africa on the burden of ARH. We sought to report on the frequency and factors associated with ARH among a cohort of Ghanaians with hypertension. A cross‐sectional study involving 2912 participants with hypertension enrolled at five health facilities in Ghana. ARH was defined as either office BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg on 3 or more antihypertensive medications or on 4 or more antihypertensive medications regardless of BP. Factors associated with ARH were evaluated in a multivariate logistic regression model. We found 550 out of 2,912 (18.9%) of study participants had ARH. Out of these 550 subjects, 511 (92.9%) were on 3 or more antihypertensive medications with BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg and 39 (7.1%) were on 4 or more antihypertensive medications with BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg. The prevalence of ARH was 15.5% among elderly aged 75 + years (n = 341), 20.7% among 65‐74 years (n = 588), and 18.9% among those ≤ 64 years (n = 1983). The adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of factors independently associated with ARH was duration of hypertension, 1.05 (1.03‐1.06) for each year rise; eGFR < 60 mL/min, 1.73 (1.33‐2.25); and diabetes mellitus, 0.59 (0.46‐0.76). Attaining secondary level education and residence in a peri‐urban setting were significantly associated with ARH though not in a dose‐dependent manner. ARH is rife among Ghanaians and may negatively impact on cardiovascular outcomes in the long term.