Ocular bacterial infections at a tertiary eye center in China: a 5-year review of pathogen distribution and antibiotic sensitivity

AIM: To provide statistical evidence for the use of antibiotics in ophthalmology by assessing the distribution and antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates from ocular specimens with suspected microbial infections. METHODS: This study applied a retrospective analysis of 3690 bacterial isolates from ocular specimens, which were obtained from the conjunctiva, cornea, aqueous humor, vitreous body, and other ocular sites of the patients at Shandong Eye Institute in northern China from January 2013 to December 2017. The parameters assessed mainly included the distribution of isolated bacteria and the results of susceptibility tests for antibiotics. In the analysis of antibiotic sensitivities, the bacteria were divided into four groups according to gram staining, and statistical methods were used to compare their antibiotic sensitivities. RESULTS: Among the 3690 isolated bacterial strains, Staphylococcus epidermidis (2007, 54.39%) accounted for the highest proportion. As for the total isolates, their sensitivity rate to gatifloxacin was up to 90.01%, with four types of gram-stained bacteria being all highly sensitive to it, but their sensitivity rate to levofloxacin was only 51.91%. The sensitivity rate of gram-negative bacilli (G-B) to levofloxacin was 83.66%, significantly higher than the other three types of gram-stained bacteria (P<0.05). Gram-positive cocci (G+C, 97.95%) and gram-positive bacilli (G+B, 97.54%) were more sensitive to vancomycin than gram-negative cocci (G-C, 70.59%) and G-B (68.57%; P<0.05). For fusidic acid, the sensitivity rates of G+C (89.83%) and G+B (73.37%) were significantly higher than that of G-B (29.83%; P<0.05). The gram-negative bacteria’s sensitivity rate to cefuroxime was as low as 59.25%, but only G-B was less sensitive to cefuroxime (57.28%), while G-C was still highly sensitive (89.29%). The sensitivity rate of gram-positive bacteria to moxifloxacin was as high as 80.28%, but only G+C was highly sensitive to moxifloxacin (81.21%), while G+B was still less sensitive (32.00%). CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus epidermidis is the predominant isolate in all ocular specimens with bacteria. Gatifloxacin is more suitable for topical prophylactic use than levofloxacin in ophthalmology when necessary. Vancomycin and fusidic acid both have better effects on gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria. More accurate antibiotic sensitivity analysis results can be obtained when a more detailed bacterial classification and more appropriate statistical methods are performed.     

以新加坡宝中堂药房建设为例探讨海外中药房的建设

目的：通过新加坡宝中堂药房的建设过程来探讨海外中药房的建设和注意事项.方法：简略介绍新加坡宝中堂药房的建设流程,分析海外中药房建设中所需解决的问题,得到海外建立标准中药房的经验.结果：通过新加坡宝中堂药房的建设经验得出海外建立标准中药房的注意事项：①地理环境对中药的影响;②人文环境对中药的影响;③运输环节对中药的影响;④所在国法律对中药的影响.结论：由上述的注意事项结合国内药房的各项制度,建立符合所在国标准的中药房,使中医中药在世界范围内得到长足的发展     

Studies on the inhibitory models of pyrazoline derivatives as EGFR kinase inhibitors by 3D-QSAR and molecular docking

The development of EGFR kinase inhibitors attracts much attention of research for treating of cancer in recent years. In this work, based on a dataset composed of 46 EGFR kinase inhibitors, the combination of three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D-QSAR), molecular docking was applied to reveal structural characteristics impacting the inhibitory activity of EGFR, and to provide a better understanding of the binding modes between inhibitors and EGFR kinase. 3D-QSAR models of pyrazoline derivatives were established to reveal how steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic, and H-bond acceptor interactions contribute to inhibitors’ bioactivities, which were unanimous in the docking results. Furthermore, based on the most active compound, several new molecules with high inhibitory activity were obtained.     

Expression of histone deacetylase-1 and p300 in aristolochic acid nephropathy models

Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) is mainly caused by aristolochic acid I (AAI), but the actual mechanism is still uncertain. The current study explored the correlation among the expression of Smad7, p300, histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC1) and the development of AAN using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), RT-PCR, and western blotting in the AAN mouse model and in the AAN cell model. TEM revealed that the renal tubular epithelial cells from the AAI-treated mice presented organelle damages and nuclear deformation. We found that a certain dose of AAI caused renal fibrosis and induced renal tubular epithelial cells to differentiate into myofibroblasts. There was a gradual increase in the expression of HDAC1 mRNA and protein observed using RT-PCR and western blotting in the AAN cell model compared with the control group. Gradual decrease in the expression of Smad7 and p300 mRNA and protein was revealed in the AAN mouse and cell models compared with the control group. These results suggest that AAI dose dependently contributed to the development of AAN, and HDAC1 and p300 participate in the modulation of TGF-β/Smad pathway-mediated renal interstitial fibrosis.     

PI3K-Akt信号转导通路在舒芬太尼后处理减轻大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

目的探讨磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶/丝氨酸-苏氨酸激酶(PI3K-Akt)信号转导通路在舒芬太尼后处理减轻大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用。方法健康雄性SD大鼠50只,体质量230²80 g,2280 g,2³月龄,采用随机数字表法,将其随机分为5组(n=10):假手术组(S组)、心肌缺血再灌注损伤组(I/R组)、舒芬太尼后处理组(PO组)、舒芬太尼后处理组+PI3K特异性抑制剂LY294002组(PO+L组)、PI3K特异性抑制剂LY294002组(L组)。I/R组,PO组,PO+L组,L组采用结扎左冠状动脉前降支30 min,再灌注120 min的方法来建造心肌缺血再灌注的模型。I/R组在再灌注前5 min时尾静脉注射0.9%氯化钠注射液1 ml,PO组在再灌注前5 min时尾静脉注射1ml舒芬太尼稀释液1μg/kg,PO+L组尾静脉注射1 ml舒芬太尼稀释液1μg/kg+LY2940020抑制剂0.3mg/kg,L组尾静脉注射1 ml LY2940020抑制剂0.3 mg/kg。于再灌注120 min时处死大鼠,取缺血部位心肌组织,用10%甲醛固定,常规石蜡包埋,切片。光镜下观察病理学结果,采用免疫组织化学方法测定心肌细胞Akt及磷酸化Akt(p-Akt)的表达,计算p-Akt平均吸光度值与Akt平均吸光度值的比值(p-Akt/Akt),采用TUNEL染色法检测心肌细胞凋亡,计算心肌细胞凋亡指数(AI)。结果与S组比较,其余4组AI、p-Akt/Akt的表达均升高(P<0.05);PO组比I/R组、PO+L组、L组AI降低,p-Akt/Akt的表达升高(P<0.05);PO+L组比L组AI降低,p-Akt/Akt的表达升高(P<0.05);I/R组与PO+L组及L组上述指标比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 PI3K-Akt信号转导通路参与了舒芬太尼后处理减轻大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤的作用。     

噻托溴铵联合夜间氧疗对COPD患者夜间睡眠低氧的疗效

目的：观察噻托溴铵联合夜间氧疗对COPD患者夜间睡眠低氧的治疗效果。方法：对我院87例存在不同程度夜间睡眠低氧情况的稳定期COPD患者进行随机分组研究,观察组采用噻托溴铵联合夜间氧疗,对照组单用夜间氧疗,对两组患者在夜间血氧饱和度和肺功能的变化进行处理分析。结果：两组患者治疗前血氧饱和度以及肺功能均较正常值低,治疗后两组患者的血氧饱和度及肺功能均有好转,观察组优于对照组（P＜0.01）。结论：噻托溴铵联合夜间氧疗对COPD患者夜间睡眠低氧症有明显的治疗效果,能够有效改善患者的夜间血氧饱和度和肺功能,并且在疗效上优于单用夜间氧疗者。     

Tumor Size Does Not Independently Affect Long-Term Survival after Curative Resection of Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Without Macroscopic Vascular Invasion

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of tumor size alone on long-term survival and recurrence after curative resection for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without macroscopic vascular invasion.

Methods

A single-center cohort of 615 patients with solitary HCC (a single tumor, without macroscopic vascular invasion or distant metastasis) undergoing curative hepatic resection from 2002 to 2010 was retrospectively studied. Using 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 8.0, and 10.0 cm as cut-off values of tumor size, the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were compared between the groups of patients with tumor size up to a certain cut-off value and the groups of patients with tumor size above that cut-off value. Thus, multiple comparisons were done. The prognostic factors of OS and RFS were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The median tumor size of all HCCs was 4.0 cm (range 0.9–22.0 cm). The in-hospital mortality rate was 1.0 %, and the overall morbidity rate was 22.3 %. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 96.0, 79.8, and 69.9 %, and the corresponding RFS rates were 83.6, 72.7, and 57.2 %, respectively. On univariate analyses, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and RFS rates were significantly different between the individual two groups of patients as divided by the aforementioned different cut-off values of tumor sizes (all p < 0.05). However, when tumor size was put as a continuous variable into multivariate analysis, it was no longer an independent prognostic factor of OS or RFS after curative resection.

Conclusions

Tumor size did not independently affect long-term survival and recurrence after curative resection of solitary HCC without macroscopic vascular invasion. Therefore, there is no size limit that precludes hepatic resection for solitary HCC, provided the tumor is resectable.     

Establishing a central zone in scaphoid surgery: a computational approach

Purpose

Scaphoid fractures are commonly fixed with headless cannulated screws positioned centrally in the scaphoid. Judgement of central placement of the screw may be difficult. We generated a central zone using computer analysis of 3D reconstructions of computed tomography (CT) images. As long as the screw axis is completely contained within this central zone, the screw would be considered as centrally placed.

Methods

Thirty cases of 3D CT reconstructions of normal scaphoids in a computerised operation planning and simulation system (Vxwork software) were obtained. The central zone was established after some distance shrinkage of the original scaphoid surface reconstruction model using the function “erode” in the software. The shape of the central zone was evaluated, and the width of the central zone in the proximal pole, waist portion and distal pole was measured. We also established the long axis of the scaphoid to see whether it stays in the central zone.

Results

All central zones could be divided into distal, waist and proximal portions according to the corresponding irregular shape of the scaphoid. As the geometry of the central zone was so irregular and its width very narrow, it was possible to completely contain the screw axis either in the proximal portion alone, waist alone or distal central zone alone.

Conclusions

Establishing the central zone of scaphoid 3D CT images provided a baseline for discussion of central placement of a scaphoid screw. The geometry of the scaphoid central zone determined that the screw could hardly be inserted through entire scaphoid central area during surgery.     

Effects of aescin on testicular repairment in rats with experimentally induced varicocele

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of aescin treatment in a rodent model treated with an experimentally induced varicocele. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein of rats. Aescin administration was performed daily for 4 weeks after the varicocele induction. Seven weeks later, a contrast‐enhanced ultrasound was performed of the rats' testis to assess testicular blood flow. The animals were sacrificed, and H&E staining was then used to evaluate testicular pathological changes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes density. Cauda epididymal sperm counts and motility were evaluated. Blood was collected for the measurement of follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and testosterone. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound showed that there were significant decreases in testicular blood flow in the aescin‐treated groups compared with those in control varicocele group. Testicular oedema was detected in those rats treated with a varicocele but without aescin, while no oedema was found in the experimental group. H&E staining showed dysfunctional spermatogenesis in both cohorts; however, polymorphonuclear leucocytes density was significantly reduced in aescin‐treated groups. There was an increase in sperm counts of the aescin‐treated groups. Our study demonstrated that aescin could exert therapeutical effects on reversal of testicular lesions in varicocele rats.     

New bone formation enhanced by ADSCs overexpressing hRunx2 during mandibular distraction osteogenesis in osteoporotic rabbits

Promoting new bone formation during distraction osteogenesis (DO) in elderly patients with osteoporosis is still a challenge. In this study, we investigated the effect of gene therapy using local Runt‐related gene 2 on new bone formation during osteoporotic mandibular DO in rabbits. First, we successfully established a mandibular osteoporotic animal model by ovariectomizing rabbits. Second, the right mandibles of the osteoporotic rabbits were distracted after corticotomy. The distraction gap of the rabbits in Group A2 and B2 were injected with Adv‐hRunx2‐GFP‐transfected adipose‐derived stromal cells (ADSCs) and Adv‐GFP‐transfected ADSCs, respectively. Rabbits in Groups C2 (ovariectomized control) and D2 (sham surgery control) were injected with physiologic saline. New‐generation bone tissue in the distraction gap was analyzed via plain radiographic examinations, micro‐computed tomography, histological examinations, and biomechanical testing at weeks 3, 6, and 9 of the consolidation period. Results of above examinations showed that no ideal new bone formation was observed in Groups B2 and C2, but obvious ideal new bone formation was observed in Group A2 and D2. The results suggested that gene therapy using rhRunx2‐modified ADSCs promoted new bone formation during osteoporotic mandibular DO and effectively compensated for the detrimental effects of systemic osteoporosis on new bone formation. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:709–720, 2014.