Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial resistance rates in the central region of Portugal

Helicobacter pylori resistance to antimicrobial agents is steadily increasing. It is extremely important to be aware of the local prevalence of antibiotic resistance so as to adjust treatment strategies. During this single-centre, prospective study, we aimed to determine primary and secondary resistance rates of H. pylori to antibiotics as well as host and bacterial factors associated with this problem. Overall, 180 patients (131 female; mean age 43.4 ± 13.5 years; primary resistance 103; secondary resistance 77) with positive ¹³C-urea breath test were submitted to upper endoscopy with gastric biopsies. Helicobacter pylori was cultured and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by Etest and molecular methods. Clinical and microbiological characteristics associated with resistance were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Among the 180 isolates 50% were resistant to clarithromycin (primary 21.4%; secondary 88.3%), 34.4% to metronidazole (primary 29.1%; secondary 41.6%), 33.9% to levofloxacin (primary 26.2%; secondary 44.2%), 0.6% to tetracycline and 0.6% to amoxicillin. Being female was an independent predictor of resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole. Previous, failed, eradication treatments were also associated with a decrease in susceptibility to clarithromycin. History of frequent infections, first-degree relatives with gastric carcinoma and low education levels determined increased resistance to levofloxacin. Mutations in the 23S rRNA and gyrA genes were frequently found in isolates with resistance to clarithromycin and levofloxacin, respectively. This study revealed that resistance rates to clarithromycin, metronidazole and levofloxacin are very high and may compromise H. pylori eradication with first-line and second-line empiric triple treatments in Portugal.     

Recombinant human interferon α-2b (rh IFNα-2b) therapy for steroid resistant idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

The efficacy of recombinant human interferon α-2b (rh IFNα-2b) in the treatment of steroid resistant idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was studied in 50 cases. Forty-one patients treated with rh IFNα-2b three times a week, six of 18 (33.3%) in the low dose group (150 × 10⁴IU: 3 MIU) and four of 20 (20.0%) in the high dose group (300 × 10¹⁰IU: 3 MIU) responded with platelet counts increasing to above 50 × 10⁹/L. Because of the exacerbation of thrombocytopenia and nasal bleeding, treatment was discontinued within 2 weeks in three patients out of 41 cases. On the other hand, six of nine patients (66.7%) treated with 3 MIU of IFNα-2b once a week for 8 weeks showed satisfactory response. Treatment with either administration schedule did not result in sustaining platelet counts above 50 × 10⁹/L for a long time after treatment. The results indicate that once a week administration schedule of rh IFNα-2b is more efficacious for platelet counts increasing for short period in patients who failed to respond to steroid and other medications than other schedules. The maintenance of this treatment schedule will allow sustained increased platelet levels, resulting in relief of bleeding tendency, while also being cost effective in comparison with other IFN treatment schedules and achieving better patient compliance without flu-like symptoms. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

HyperCVAD for VAD-resistant multiple myeloma

More effective and safer regimens are needed for patients who have advanced multiple myeloma resistant to or relapsing despite prior treatment with alkylating agents and VAD. We treated 58 such patients using the combination of twice daily cyclophosphamide (total dose 1.8 g/m²) and VAD (hyperCVAD). Treatment was given to outpatients followed by G-CSF at 5 μg/kg/d until granulocyte recovery. Twenty-three patients responded (40%), with a median duration of granulocyte depression to less than 500/μl of 4 days and a mortality rate of 2%. The median survival time for all patients was 15 months, and the median remission time of responding patients was 8 months. Patients who had low LDH, low B₂M, or primary resistant disease lived significantly longer than patients without these features. The combination of fractionated cyclophosphamide and VAD provided an effective and safe rescue treatment for many patients who had advanced myeloma resistant to standard therapies. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

贝达喹啉治疗药物浓度监测方法的建立与应用

目的：建立贝达喹啉人体血药浓度的测定方法并应用。方法：血浆样本以舍曲林为内标经甲醇沉淀蛋白后,采用C₁₈色谱柱甲醇^-10 mmol·L^-1甲酸铵溶液梯度洗脱分离,电喷雾正离化,多反应监测模式(MRM)定量测定贝达喹啉和舍曲林的离子反应分别为m/z 555.2→229.0和m/z 306.2→159.0。结果：贝达喹啉检测质量浓度的线性范围为0.010～3.0μg·mL^-1(r=0.9995),定量下限为0.010μg·mL^-1;方法经验证符合生物样本分析要求。用于6例耐多药结核病(MDR-TB)患者贝达喹啉治疗血药浓度监测,患者在治疗第7天血浆中贝达喹啉血药峰浓度C_max为(3.48±0.70)μg·mL^-1,峰时间t_max为(5.33±1.03)h,半衰期t_1/2为(18.73±6.39)h;血药浓度曲线下面积AUC_last为(50.16±9.74)μg·h·mL     

中药饮片对多重抗生素耐药细菌的抑菌作用

目的 探究中药饮片对多重抗生素耐药细菌的抑菌作用.方法 使用稀释法对22种常见的中药饮片的水煎液对大肠杆菌的敏感菌种和多重抗生素耐药菌种的抑菌成效进行检测,标本纳入时间为2019年1月—2020年1月.结果 大部分中药对于耐药菌及敏感菌的抑菌效果并不存在较大差异,其中,决明子、连翘和甘草的抑菌差别较大,和敏感菌相比,耐...     

Lipid metabolism of cancer stem cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also termed cancer-initiating cells, are a special subset of cells with high self-replicating and self-renewing abilities that can differentiate into various cell types under certain conditions. A number of studies have demonstrated that CSCs have distinct metabolic properties. The reprogramming of energy metabolism enables CSCs to meet the needs of self-renewal and stemness maintenance. Increasing evidence supports the view that alterations in lipid metabolism, including an increase in fatty acid (FA) uptake, de novo lipogenesis, formation of lipid droplets and mitochondrial FA oxidation, are involved in CSC regulation. In the present review, the metabolic characteristics of CSCs, particularly in lipid metabolism, were summarized. In addition, the potential mechanisms of CSC lipid metabolism in treatment resistance were discussed. Given their significance in cancer biology, targeting CSC metabolism may serve an important role in future cancer treatment.     

Current apparent treatment‐resistant hypertension in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: A multi‐center cross‐sectional study

Apparent treatment‐resistant hypertension (aTRH) is the most commonly used term to report resistant hypertension (RH) and is considered as a common problem in dialysis population. However, few reports have focused on peritoneal dialysis (PD) hypertensive patients. The authors conducted a multi‐center cross‐sectional study involving 1789 PD patients from nine centers in Guangdong, China. The prevalence of aTRH was estimated by home blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Evaluating drug adherence through Eight‐item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS‐8) and pill counting was performed to assess RH in one PD center. Related factors of aTRH were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of aTRH in PD patients was estimated at 42.2% (755 out of 1789 hypertensive patients) based on home BP. Of those, 91.4% patients were classified as uncontrolled RH, 2.0% as controlled RH, and 6.6% as refractory hypertension. The prevalence of RH was 40.6% and 41.9% among those with medium/high adherence based on the MMAS‐8 scores and the pill counting rate, respectively. PD patients who were younger, with higher body mass index, with lower serum albumin and poorer dialysis adequacy were significantly associated with higher aTRH incident. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates a high prevalence of aTRH in PD population, which occurs in about two in five treated hypertensive patients. Nutritional status and dialysis adequacy might tightly associate with aTRH.     

临床药师参与耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌骨髓炎伴肾功能亢进患儿的治疗实践

目的:探讨临床药师在儿童耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)骨髓炎个体化抗感染治疗中的作用.方法:临床药师通过会诊1例万古霉素治疗儿童急性骨髓炎失败的病例,根据患者临床情况及相关检查结果,并结合国内外文献,从PK/PD角度对万古霉素治疗失败的原因进行分析,提出万古霉素治疗失败后替代治疗方案.结果:临床药师提出的治疗方案...