Azathioprine-induced toxoplasma gondii infection in a patient with Crohn's disease with NUDT15 variation: A case report

Introduction:Azathioprine (AZA) has been widely used for the treatment of various immune-related diseases and has become a mainstay in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. However, patients with genetic mutations may experience severe adverse events when treated with azathioprine. Most of the previous literature focused on the TPMP gene-related adverse reactions, herein, we report a case of Crohn''s disease patient with nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X motif 15 gene (NUDT15) variation and wild-type TPMP gene who developed toxoplasma gondii infection after azathioprine treatment.Patient concerns:A 56-year-old Crohn''s disease patient developed toxoplasma gondii infection within 2 months after the administration of azathioprine; however, he had no relevant high-risk factors.Diagnosis:Subsequent genetic testing revealed that the patient was heterozygous for NUDT15. Therefore, it was reasonable to consider that the patient''s genetic mutation resulted in reduced tolerance to azathioprine, leading to low immunity and eventually toxoplasma infection.Interventions:AZA was then discontinued; after anti-infection, antipyretic and other supportive treatments were administered, the patient''s condition gradually improved.Outcomes:The patient was followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge; fortunately, he was in good health.Conclusion:We report a case of Crohn''s disease in a patient who developed severe pneumonia caused by toxoplasma gondii infection due to the administration of AZA, with normal TPMP gene but NUDT15 gene mutation. This indicates that NUDT15 variation may contribute to severe adverse events in patients treated with azathioprine, and we suggest that NUDT15 genotype be detected before the use of azathioprine in order to provide personalized therapy and reduce side effects.     

Association between antiretroviral therapy adherence and employment status: systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo assess the association between the employment status of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART).MethodsWe searched the Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for studies reporting ART adherence and employment status published between January 1980 and September 2014. Information from a wide range of other sources, including the grey literature, was also analysed. Two independent reviewers extracted data on treatment adherence and study characteristics. Study data on the association between being employed and adhering to ART were pooled using a random-effects model. Between-study heterogeneity and sources of bias were evaluated.FindingsThe meta-analysis included 28 studies published between 1996 and 2014 that together involved 8743 HIV-infected individuals from 14 countries. The overall pooled odds ratio (OR) for the association between being employed and adhering to ART was 1.27 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.04–1.55). The association was significant for studies from low-income countries (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.58–2.18) and high-income countries (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02–1.74) but not middle-income countries (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.62–1.42). In addition, studies published after 2011 and larger studies showed less association between employment and adherence than earlier and small studies, respectively.ConclusionEmployed HIV-infected individuals, particularly those in low- and high-income countries, were more likely to adhere to ART than unemployed individuals. Further research is needed on the mechanisms by which employment and ART adherence affect each other and on whether employment-creation interventions can positively influence ART adherence, HIV disease progression and quality of life.     

Establishment and Evaluation of a Simplified Evaluation System of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Purpose

In recent years, a variety of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) evaluation systems have been developed worldwide; however, they are not so convenient for the doctors clinically, we decided to establish and evaluate a simplified evaluation system of ARDS (SESARDS).

Materials and Methods

Data from 140 ARDS patients (derivation data set) were collected to screen for prognostic factors affecting outcomes in ARDS patients. By logistic regression analysis, scores were allocated to corresponding intervals of the variables, respectively, by means of analysis of the frequency distribution to establish a preliminary scoring system. Based on this primary scoring system, a definitive evaluation scheme was created through consultation with a panel of experts. The scores for the validation data set (92 cases) were assigned and calculated by their predictive mortality with the SESARDS and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II). The performance of SESARDS was compared with that of APACHE II by means of statistical analysis.

Results

The factors of age, pH, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), oxygenation index (OI), and the lobes of lung were associated with prognosis of ARDS respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of SESARDS for the validation data set were 96.43% and 58.33%, respectively. On the AUC, no significant difference between APACHE II and SESARDS was detected. There were no significant differences between the prediction and the actuality obtained by SESARDS for the validation data set the SESARDS scores were positively correlated with the actual mortality.

Conclusion

SESARDS was shown to be simple, accurate and effective in predicting ARDS progression.     

The effect of surfactants on hydrate particle agglomeration in liquid hydrocarbon continuous systems: a molecular dynamics simulation study

Anti-agglomerants (AAs), both natural and commercial, are currently being considered for gas hydrate risk management of petroleum pipelines in offshore operations. However, the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between the AAs and gas hydrate surfaces and the prevention of hydrate agglomeration remain critical and complex questions that need to be addressed to advance this technology. Here, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the effect of model surfactant molecules (polynuclear aromatic carboxylic acids) on the agglomeration behaviour of gas hydrate particles and disruption of the capillary liquid bridge between hydrate particles. The results show that the anti-agglomeration pathway can be divided into two processes: the spontaneous adsorption effect of surfactant molecules onto the hydrate surface and the weakening effect of the intensity of the liquid bridge between attracted hydrate particles. The MD simulation results also indicate that the anti-agglomeration effectiveness of surfactants is determined by the intrinsic nature of their molecular functional groups. Additionally, we find that surfactant molecules can affect hydrate growth, which decreases hydrate particle size and correspondingly lower the risk of hydrate agglomeration. This study provides molecular-level insights into the anti-agglomeration mechanism of surfactant molecules, which can aid in the ultimate application of natural or commercial AAs with optimal anti-agglomeration properties.

Schematic of anti-agglomeration effect of surfactants promoting gas hydrate particle dispersion.     

Massive Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Caused by a Large Extraluminal Leiomyoma of the Colon: Report of a Case

The occurrence of leiomyoma of the colon is uncommon. Most of these lesions are clinically silent and are found incidentally during laparotomy or endoscopic procedures for unrelated conditions. Symptomatic leiomyomas of the colon are encountered less frequently, with only sporadic reports in the literatures. We describe a heretofore unreported case of a large extraluminal leiomyoma of the sigmoid colon presenting as massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Because it was extraluminal in position, it was difficult to make an accurate diagnosis endoscopically and the condition was easily misdiagnosed as angiodysplasia of the colon until CT scan results were seen. Although rare and benign in nature, leiomyoma of the colon may cause life-threatening complications that require emergency surgery and should be included in the differential diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.     

护理干预对中老年人骨质疏松症的认知及自我管理疾病能力的影响

[目的]分析护理干预对中老年人骨质疏松症的认知及自我管理疾病能力的影响。[方法]80例骨质疏松症病人,按随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,每组40例。观察组在药物治疗的基础上进行护理干预。对照组只进行药物治疗。比较两组治疗后新发骨折率、生活质量评分、生化检测结果等,并对疗效进行评价。[结果]观察组新发骨折率2.5%(1/40),对照组新发骨折率32.5%(13/40),差异有统计学意义(χ2=5.24,P <0.05)。两组治疗后生活质量评分、生化检测结果等比较差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),且观察组优于对照组。[结论]在药物治疗的基础上,护理干预对治疗中老年人骨质疏松症具有很高的安全性和有效性,能够缓解病人的痛苦和改善治疗效果,降低病人的就医成本。     

高脂血症性胰腺炎20年发病率和临床特征的分析

目的 回顾性分析近20年广州市第一人民医院收治的高三酰甘油血症性急性胰腺炎（HLAP）的发病率及其临床特征变化.方法 收集1991年1月至2010年12月广州医科大学附属广州市第一人民医院急性胰腺炎（AP）病例1 362例,根据时间划分为4个年度段（1991年至1995年,1996年至2000年,2001年至2005年,2006年至2010年）,比较HLAP患者的发病构成、临床特征和预后.结果 HLAP患者共99例,其中男性61例,女性38例,平均年龄（44±12）岁,以年轻男性居多.HLAP患者占总AP患者的7.3％,4个年度构成比分别为5.4％、5.7％、6.7％和8.3％,20年间增加了1.5倍.99例HLAP患者平均血淀粉酶活性为（513.3±462.7） mmol/L,TG为（12.7±7.0） mmol/L,Ranson评分为（1.2±1.1）分,CT严重指数（CTSI）为（2.2±1.1）分,全身炎症反应综合征（SIRS）发生率为36.4％,脏器功能衰竭发生率为18.2％,胰腺假性囊肿发生率5.1％,但重度急性胰腺炎（SAP）发生率和病死率并不随年代变迁而变化.HLAP患者SAP发生率和病死率均显著高于胆源性AP（分别为20.2％比8.5％,6.1％比2.8％）.血液净化应用率从第1年度段的0上升到第4年度段的10.7％.HLAP患者的住院时间从第1年度段的26 d逐渐下降至第4年度段的14 d,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.结论 HLAP发生率呈逐年升高趋势,有重症化倾向,但患者预后有所改善.