Clinical application of metagenomic next‐generation sequencing technology in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary infection pathogens: A prospective single‐center study of 138 patients

IntroductionRapid and accurate pathogen identification is essential for the treatment of pneumonia. Metagenomic next‐generation sequencing (mNGS) is a newly developed technology to obtain microbial nucleic acid sequence information quickly, efficiently, and without bias.MethodsWe performed shotgun metagenomic next‐generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for pathogen identification in pneumonia in a prospective study with 138 patients from a single center. We compared the results of mNGS with standard methods including culture, staining, and targeted PCR and evaluated the clinical applicability of mNGS.ResultsMost of the patients (128/138, 92.75%) were cured or improved. One patient (1/138, 0.72%) died because of acute gastrointestinal bleeding, and 9 patients (9/138, 6.52%) showed no improvement. mNGS identified more bacteria (53 versus 27), fewer fungi (8 versus 31), and more viruses (16 versus 1) than standard methods. In total, treatment in 34 out of 138 cases (24.64%) was adjusted and optimized because of mNGS results. Positive mNGS results contributed to a definitive diagnosis in 23 cases (16.67%), which helped guide treatment decision by either adjusting the antibiotics without de‐escalation or continuing the empirical treatment. mNGS also confirmed no active infection in 11 cases (7.97%) allowed for antibiotic de‐escalation.ConclusionThis prospective clinical study evaluated the clinical utility of mNGS for the diagnosis of pneumonia and showed that mNGS of BALF provides valuable information for effective treatment.     

High hemoglobin fluctuation was a protective factor for cardiovascular‐related death in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients: A retrospective analysis of 232 patients with PD

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the effect of hemoglobin (Hb) fluctuation after dialysis on the prognosis of cardiovascular‐related and all‐cause deaths in peritoneal dialysis (PD).MethodsAccording to the Hb fluctuation, patients were divided into low fluctuation group, moderate fluctuation group, and high fluctuation group, and then, the effects of Hb fluctuation after dialysis on the prognosis of cardiovascular‐related and all‐cause death in PD were analyzed by regression analysis.ResultsA total of 232 patients were selected in this study. Compared with the low Hb fluctuation group, the moderate and high fluctuation groups had lower body mass index (BMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and baseline Hb, and the moderate fluctuation group had less erythropoietin (EPO) and dialysis dose. Compared with survivors, patients with cardiovascular‐related and all‐cause deaths had lower mean Hb and Hb fluctuation (all p < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that before and after adjusting for confounding factors, Hb fluctuation was still independently correlated with cardiovascular prognosis, and higher Hb fluctuation was still a protective factor for cardiovascular‐related death in the Hb‐substandard group, but there was no significant correlation between Hb fluctuation and all‐cause death. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that Hb fluctuation was positively correlated with Kt/V and EPO dosage, but negatively correlated with the baseline Hb.ConclusionHigh Hb fluctuation was a protective factor for cardiovascular‐related death in PD with substandard Hb. Compared with Hb fluctuation, correction of anemia timely and making Hb reaches the standard level had a greater impact on reducing cardiovascular‐related death in PD.     

The bevacizumab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen is more suitable for metastatic colorectal cancer patients with a history of schistosomiasis: a clinical retrospective analysis

BackgroundThe basic platelet counts of schistosomiasis patients are low. If it does not meet the requirements for chemotherapy, the patient’s treatment will not be carried out, which directly affects their prognosis. Therefore the impact of treatment on platelet counts is critically important. The effects of bevacizumab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab plus irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimens on platelets are different but have not been determined. In order to find a more suitable plan for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with a history of schistosomiasis, we conducted a retrospective analysis of mCRC patients and evaluated the impact of bevacizumab on their platelets.MethodsThe medical records of all mCRC patients with a history of schistosomiasis who received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy or irinotecan-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for no less than 4 cycles, with or without bevacizumab from September 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019, in Kunshan Hospital were reviewed. Six-month cumulative incidence rates of splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia of chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab groups, oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab groups, irinotecan-based chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab groups were compared from the first cycle until the completion of chemotherapy using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log-rank test.ResultsEvaluable splenic enlargement and thrombocytopenia results were obtained from 153 mCRC patients. The 6-month cumulative incidence rates of splenomegaly (23.3% vs. 55%; P=0.01) and that of thrombocytopenia (43.8% vs. 57.5%; P=0.40) were lower in the bevacizumab group than the non-bevacizumab group, however there were no statistical differences for the rates of thrombocytopenia. For patients treated with oxaliplatin, the rates of splenomegaly (19.5% vs. 66.7%; P=0.01) and thrombocytopenia (31.7% vs. 77.2%; P=0.02) were lower in the bevacizumab-treated cohort than that in the non-bevacizumab cohort. When stratified for irinotecan, there were no statistical differences in the frequency of splenomegaly between the two groups. However, the rates of thrombocytopenia were higher in the bevacizumab-treated cohort than that in the non-bevacizumab cohort (59.4% vs. 8.7%; P=0.01).ConclusionsThe bevacizumab plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen is safer for mCRC patients with a history of schistosomiasis, especially for patients with a lower platelet count.     

GO/iron series systems enhancing the pH shock resistance of anaerobic systems for sulfate-containing organic wastewater treatment

In this study, the effect of pH shock during the treatment of sulfate-containing organic wastewater was investigated using an anaerobic fermentation system reinforced with graphene oxide (GO)/iron series systems. The results show that the anaerobic system with the GO/iron series systems exhibited enhanced resistance to pH shock. Among them, the GO/Fe⁰ system had the strongest resistance to pH shock, the systems of GO/Fe₃O₄ and GO/Fe₂O₃ followed close behind, while the blank system performed the worst. After pH shock, the COD_Cr removal rate, SO₄²⁻ removal rate, and gas production of the GO/Fe⁰ group were significantly improved compared with those of the control group by 51.0%, 65.3%, and 34.6%, respectively, while the accumulation of propionic acid was the lowest. Further, detailed microbial characterization revealed that the introduction of the GO/iron series systems was beneficial to the formation of more stable anaerobic co-metabolic flora in the system, and the relative abundance of Geobacter, Clostridium, Desulfobulbus and Desulfovibrio increased after acidic and alkaline shock.

In this paper, we studied the pH shock resistance mechanism of GO/iron series from the perspectives of the treatment effect, changes in effluent pH and VFA, and microbial co-metabolic stability, providing a reference for the practical application.     

聚酰胺-胺型树枝状高聚合物介导survivin反义寡核苷酸抑制结直肠癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长的作用

目的 探讨聚酰胺-胺型树枝状高聚合物(PAMAM)介导survivin反义寡核苷酸(survivin-ASODN)对结直肠癌裸鼠移植瘤的抑制作用.方法 以人结直肠癌细胞SW620裸鼠皮下注射建立结直肠癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型.将PAMAM和阳离子脂质体分别与survivin-ASODN混合得到载反义基因转染复合物.透射电镜观察复合物的形态.激光散射粒径分析仪测定粒径,zeta电位分析仪测定复合物的zeta电位,离心法和紫外分光分度仪测定复合物的包封率和体外DNA释放速度.将两种反义基因复合物注射裸鼠移植瘤体内,观察两组移植瘤体积,Western bloting方法检测移植瘤组织中survivin基因的表达.结果 PAMAM-survivin-ASODN复合物的粒径小于脂质体-survivinASODN复合物的粒径(P〈0.01),而zeta电位高于PAMAM-survivin-ASODN复合物zeta电位(P<0.05),基因包封率两组无显著差异.PAMAM对DNA持续释放达14d.但脂质体复合物只持续5 d.PAMAM-survivin-ASODN复合物治疗组裸鼠移植瘤survivin蛋白表达低于脂质体-survivin-ASODN复合物组(P<0.05).PAMAM-survivin-ASODN复合物治疗组移植瘤体积低于脂质体-survivin-ASODN复合物组(P<0.05).结论 PAMAM能将survivin-ASODN高效递送到结直肠癌移植瘤细胞.降低survivin蛋白的表达,抑制移植瘤生长.     

同时性结直肠癌肝转移患者治疗策略探讨

背景与目的:肝切除术是治疗同时性结直肠癌肝转移获得长期生存的希望.但如何选择肝切除术的手术时机,存在较大的争议,本研究探讨同时性结直肠癌肝转移的手术治疗策略.方法:选择上海东方肝胆外科医院和上海长海医院1995年1月至2005年12月收治的经手术治疗的83例同时性结直肠癌肝转移患者,其中37例行一期手术,46例行分期手术,比较两组手术并发症、死亡率、术中失血量、住院时间、生存率、中位生存期、无瘤生存期及肝转移癌复发率.结果:一期手术组手术并发症发生率为24.3%,分期手术组为19.6%(P=0.601).两组均没有手术死亡.一期手术组术中平均失血量为462 mL,分期手术组为574mL(P=0-312).一期手术组平均住院时间为19 d,分期手术组为36 d(P=0.001).一期手术组l、3、5年生存率分别为86.5%、54.1%和27.0%,分期手术组分别为89.1%(P-0.713)、52.2%(P=0.865)和23.9%(P=0.746).一期手术组中位生存期为40个月,分期手术组为37个月(丹0.075).一期手术组中位无瘤生存期为12个月,分期手术组为11个月(P=0.532).一期手术组肝转移癌复发率为35.1%,分期手术组为30.4% (P=0.650).结论:同时性结直肠癌肝转移患者有选择的一期手术切除原发病灶及肝转移病灶是合理的.     

大剂量甲氨蝶呤静脉给药时间对淋巴瘤患者脑脊液中药物浓度的影响

背景与目的:甲氨蝶呤(methotrexate,MTX)在脑脊液中高于最小有效治疗浓度是治疗中枢淋巴瘤的必要条件,目前尚不明确大剂量MTX(high doseMTX,HD-MTX)静脉给药时间对MTX穿透血脑屏障的影响.本研究探索HD-MTX静脉不同给药时间对脑脊液中MTX浓度的影响,以获得更好的中枢淋巴瘤防治效果并尽可能减少MTX外周毒性.方法:34例非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者分别接受MTX 1～3g/m2 6 h持续静脉给药或24 h持续静脉给药,其中17例交替使用两种给药方法;采用高效液相色谱法检测MTX停药0 h、24 h、48 h的MTX血清浓度,及停药0 h后脑脊液中MTX浓度;比较两组血中和脑脊液中MTX浓度以及毒性反应,并对影响MTX浓度的因素进行相关分析.结果:给药结束时6 h给药组的MTX血清浓度显著高于24 h给药组:自身对照结果6 h给药组的脑脊液中MTX浓度为0.70 Ixmol/L,明显高于24 h给药组的0.49 Ixmol/L(校正值,P=0.044).MTX的脑脊液浓度与血清浓度呈正相关,中枢侵犯患者脑脊液MTX浓度显著高于无中枢侵犯的患者.自身对照结果6 h组和24 h组Ⅱ～Ⅳ度粘膜炎的发生率分别15.4%和37.8%.Ⅲ～Ⅳ度骨髓抑制的发生率分别为46.2%和67.6%.结论:在提高MTX的中枢浓度和降低外周毒性方面,HD-MTX 6 h给药方案优于24 h给药方案.     

对促宫颈成熟与引产孕产妇的全程分娩管理模式

目的 探讨在全程分娩管理模式下,为孕产妇提供促宫颈成熟与引产服务的可行性。方法 选择2018年1月1日至2020年12月31日,在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院接受待产、分娩到产后康复(LDRP)一体化全程分娩管理模式(以下简称为LDRP管理)的848例孕产妇为研究对象。根据孕产妇进入产房时是否进入自然产程,将其分为自然临产组(n=441)和引产组(n=407)。采用回顾性分析法,对2组孕产妇的一般临床资料,如分娩年龄、孕次、孕龄、妊娠并发症,以及母儿结局进行比较。本研究遵循的程序符合2013年修订的《世界医学协会赫尔辛基宣言》的要求,并经过南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院伦理委员会审核批准(审批文号：201702001)。结果 (1)2组孕产妇分娩年龄、孕次和高龄孕产妇所占比例比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。2组孕产妇分娩孕龄、经产妇占比、早产率、缩宫素使用率、分娩时长比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(2)引产组孕产妇均使用前列腺素类药物促宫颈成熟或缩宫素进行引产,其中使用地诺前列酮栓、米索前列醇、缩宫素、地诺前列酮栓+米索前列醇分别为26.5%(108/407)、...     

点阵CO2激光治疗女性轻中度压力性尿失禁的临床疗效分析

目的探究经阴道点阵CO₂激光治疗女性轻、中度压力性尿失禁(SUI)的临床疗效。方法回顾性研究本院2017年1月至2020年12月收治的轻中度SUI女性患者。激光治疗组41例,进行点阵CO₂激光联合盆底肌训练治疗,每月治疗1次,共治疗3次;生物反馈治疗组20例,采用生物反馈电刺激联合盆底肌训练。比较两组患者治疗后临床疗效、国际尿失禁委员会尿失禁问卷简表(ICI-Q-SF)、尿失禁生活质量问卷(I-QOL)及女性性功能量表(FSFI)评分。结果治疗后,激光治疗组总有效率为92.68%,疗效强于生物反馈组(P<0.05);治疗后ICI-Q-SF、I-QOL、FSFI评分均得到改善(P<0.01);与生物反馈治疗组比较,激光治疗组I-QOL、FSFI增加更显著(P<0.05),ICI-Q-SF评分明显降低(P<0.01)。3例患者治疗时述阴道烧灼感,休息后好转,5例患者出现一过性的尿急,部分患者阴道分泌物增多后自行恢复,整个治疗过程无其他不良事件发生。结论点阵CO₂激光治疗能够有效改善轻、中度SUI患者的...     

Increased neutrophil count Is associated with the development of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the potential association of peripheral inflammatory blood cell parameters with the incidence and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with diabetes.MethodsThe cross‐sectional study included 1192 subjects with diabetes derived from one center. The cohort study included 2060 subjects with diabetes derived from another two centers followed up for 4 years. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association of peripheral inflammatory blood cell with CKD.ResultsIn the cross‐sectional study, neutrophil count performed best as an independent risk factor for CKD (odds ratio 2.556 [95% confidence interval 1.111, 5.879]) even after 1:1 case–control matching for age, gender, history of high blood pressure and duration of diabetes. Spline regression revealed a significant linear association of CKD incidence with continuous neutrophil count in excess of 3.6 × 10⁹/L. In the cohort study, subjects were grouped based on tertile of neutrophil count and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio. Cox regression analysis results showed that only neutrophil count was independently associated with CKD progression (the highest group vs. the lowest group, hazard ratio 2.293 [95% confidence interval 1.260, 4.171]) after fully adjusting for potential confounders. The cumulative incidence of CKD progression in patients with diabetes gradually increased with increasing neutrophil count (53 (7.7%) subjects in the lowest group vs. 60 (8.2%) in the middle group vs. 78 (12.2%) in the highest group).ConclusionsThis study suggested that neutrophil count is an independent risk factor for progression of CKD in patients with diabetes.