Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with hematological malignancy: A multicenter study in Taiwan

BackgroundAmong the individuals with hematological malignancy (HM) complicated with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the variables associated with in-hospital mortality and recurrence of CDI were investigated.Material and methodsIncluding adults with HM and those without malignancy suffering from CDI from January 2015 to December 2016 in three hospitals in Taiwan.ResultsTotally 314 patients including 77 with HM and 237 patients without malignancy were included. HM patients more often had low leukocyte counts (<500 cells/mL: 28.6% vs. 2.1%) than those without malignancy and more patients without malignancy had severe CDI than patients with HM (31.6% vs. 14.3%, P = .003), according to the severity score of IDSA/SHEA. Patients with HM had a higher recurrence rate of CDI (14.3%, 11/77 vs. 7.2%, 17/237; P = .07) and longer hospital stay (47.2 ± 40.8 days vs. 33.3 ± 37.3 days; P = .006) than those without malignancy. In the multivariate analyses for those with HM and CDI, the in-hospital mortality was associated with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization or infection (odds ratio [OR] 7.72; P = .01), and C. difficile ribotype 078 complex infection (OR 9.22; P = .03). Moreover underlying hematological malignancy (OR 2.74; P = .04) and VRE colonization/infection (OR 2.71; P = .02) were independently associated with CDI recurrence.ConclusionPatients with HM complicated with CDI were often regarded as non-severe infection, but had a similar in-hospital mortality rate as those without malignancy. CDI due to ribotype 078 complex isolates heralded a poor prognosis among HM patients.     

Neurophysiological Correlates of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

Examining fatigue may be beneficial for nurse practitioners to intervene in the care of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We measured the relationship of fatigue severity with event-related potentials during electroencephalogram and diffusion basis spectrum imaging/magnetic resonance imaging in 11 participants with relapsing-remitting MS and 5 healthy controls. Data were analyzed to measure brain activity during event-related potentials to responses to cue (correct response) and distractor (incorrect response) using a cognitive performance task. Nurse practitioners caring for patients with MS have an important role in monitoring fatigue severity.     

A New MRI Grading System for Cervical Foraminal Stenosis Based on Axial T2-Weighted Images

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) grading system for cervical neural foraminal stenosis (NFS).ResultsFor the distinction among the three individual grades at all six neural foramina, the ICC ranged from 0.68 to 0.73, indicating fair to good reproducibility. The percentage agreement ranged from 60.2% to 70.6%, and the kappa values (κ = 0.50-0.58) indicated fair to moderate agreement. The percentages of intraobserver agreement ranged from 85.4% to 93.8% (κ = 0.80-0.92), indicating near perfect agreement.ConclusionThe new MRI grading system shows sufficient interobserver and intraobserver agreement to reliably assess cervical NFS.     

血清chemerin含量与膝骨关节炎严重程度的相关性

目的通过测定不同严重程度的骨关节炎患者血清中chemerin水平,探讨chemerin水平与骨关节炎严重程度的相关性。方法收集临床收治的膝骨关节炎患者血清80例作为研究组,20名正常人血清作为对照组,采用酶联免疫吸附试验法(ELISA)对其血清中的chemerin水平进行检测,膝骨关节炎影像学严重程度评分采用国际公认的Kellgren-Lawrence(K-L)评分系统。结果骨关节炎组血清中chemerin水平显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(t=4.983,P<0.01)。骨关节炎组血清chemerin水平与K-L分级有显著相关性(r=0.901,P<0.001)。结论血清chemerin水平在骨关节炎患者中显著升高,且与影像学K-L分级严重程度正相关,血清chemerin水平可作为骨关节炎诊断及判断严重程度的参考指标。     

Severity of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients Treated with Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants

Background

Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), which have gained approval for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and treatment of venous thromboembolism, have become increasingly preferred over warfarin given their predictable pharmacodynamics, lack of required monitoring, and superior outcomes. Direct-acting oral anticoagulants have been shown to be associated with an increased frequency of gastrointestinal bleeding compared with warfarin, but the severity and characteristics of gastrointestinal bleeding in these patients is poorly understood.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in heart failure: accurate diagnosis and treatment

Coincidence of COPD and heart failure (HF) is challenging as both diseases interact on multiple levels with each other, and thus impact significantly on diagnosis, disease severity classification, and choice of medical therapy. The current overview aims to educate caregivers involved in the daily management of patients with HF and (possibly) concurrent COPD in how to deal with clinically relevant issues such as interpreting spirometry, the potential role of extensive pulmonary function testing, and finally, the potential beneficial, but also detrimental effects of medication used for HF and COPD on either disease.     

血清胱抑素C水平与冠心病严重程度的关系

目的通过比较不同类型冠心病患者血清胱抑素C水平,并分析血清胱抑素C水平与冠状动脉造影结果的相关性,探讨血清胱抑素C水平与冠心病临床及冠状动脉病变严重程度的关系。方法152例入选患者根据临床及造影结果分为对照组（54例）、稳定型心绞痛组（38例）、急性冠状动脉综合征组（60例）;98例冠心病患者根据冠状动脉造影结果分为单支病变组（38例）、双支病变组（22例）、三支病变组（28例）及左主干病变组（10例）;根据冠状动脉Gensini积分分为低Gensini分值组（32例）、中Gensini分值组（33例）和高Gensini分值组（33例）。采用免疫增强比浊法测定所有患者入院时血清胱抑素C水平,分析血清胱抑素C水平与冠心病严重程度之间的关系。结果急性冠状动脉综合征组血清胱抑素C水平（1.27±0.27mg/L）高于对照组（0.98±0.17mg/L）及稳定型心绞痛组（1.11±0.24mg/L）（P<0.05）,而稳定型心绞痛组与对照组比较差异无显著性（P>0.05）。单支病变组（1.18±0.27mg/L）、双支病变组（1.21±0.34mg/L）、三支病变组（1.16±0.26mg/L）、左主干病变组（1.23±0.37mg/L）血清胱抑素C水平差异无显著性（P>0.05）。Gensini积分低Gensini分值组（1.19±0.29mg/L）、中Gensini分值组（1.22±0.28mg/L）、高Gensini分值组（1.16±0.31mg/L）血清胱抑素C水平亦差异无显著性。结论血清胱抑素C水平与冠心病临床严重程度相关,而与冠状动脉病变严重程度无明显相关性。     

Granulo-monocyto apheresis is more effective in mild ulcerative colitis than in moderate to severe disease

AIM:To evaluate whether the effectiveness of Granulomonocyto apheresis(GMA),a technique that consists of the extracorporeal removal of granulocytes and monocytes from the peripheral blood,might vary according to the severity of ulcerative colitis(UC)in patients with mild to moderate-severe disease UC activity.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data of patients undergoing GMA at our inflammatory bowel disease centre who had at least a 6 mo of follow-up.The demographics,clinical and laboratory data were extracted from the patients’charts and electronic records.The severity of UC was scored according to the Modified Truelove Witts Severity Index(MTWSI).A clinical response was defined as a decrease from baseline of≥2 points or a value of MTWSI≤2 points.RESULTS:A total of 41(24 males/17 females;meanage 47 years)patients were included in the study.After GMA cycle completion,21/28(75%)of mild UC patients showed a clinical response compared with 7/13(54%)of patients with moderate to severe disease(P=0.27).At 6-mo,14/28(50%)of the mild UC patients maintained a clinical response compared with 2/13(15%)of the patients with moderate to severe disease(P=0.04).After the GMA cycle completion and during the 6-mo follow up period,13/16(81%)and 9/16(56%)of mild UC patients with intolerance,resistance and contraindications to immunosuppressants and/or biologics showed a clinical response compared with 2/6(33%)and 0/6(0%)of patients with moderate to severe disease activity with these characteristics(P=0.05and P=0.04,respectively).CONCLUSION:Patients with mild UC benefit from GMA more than patients with moderate to severe disease in the short-term period.GMA should be considered a valid therapeutic option in cases of contraindications to immunosuppressants,corticosteroids and/or biologics.