High frequency of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriers at a Japanese long-term care hospital

IntroductionLong-term care hospitals (LTCHs) are at a high risk for the inflow and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogens. However, owing to limited laboratory resources, little is known about the extent to which AMR organisms are endemic.MethodsWe performed active surveillance for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in newly admitted patients at Marugame Medical Center, a nearly 200-bedded LTCH located in Kagawa, Japan. From August to December 2021, we tested stool samples from patients wearing diapers and confirmed the genetic variants using specific PCR assays. We also collected clinical variables and compared them between AMR carriers and non-carriers.ResultsStool samples were collected from 75 patients, with a median age of 84 years. CRE strain was not detected, but 37 strains of ESBL-E were isolated from 32 patients (42.7%). During the study period, 4.9% of in-hospital patients (37 per 756 patients) were identified to be ESBL-E carriers in the routine microbiological processing, suggesting that active surveillance detected approximately 9-fold more ESBL-E carriers. The bla_CTX-M-9 group was the most common (38.5%), followed by the bla_TEM (26.9%). The clinical backgrounds of the ESBL-E non-carriers and carriers were not significantly different.ConclusionOur active screening demonstrated that nearly half of the patients hospitalized or transferred to a Japanese LTCH were colonized with ESBL-E. We highlight the enforcement of universal basic infection prevention techniques at LTCHs where patients carrying AMR pathogens gather.     

甘欣锦辨治滤泡性淋巴瘤经验

甘欣锦主任医师认为,滤泡性淋巴瘤乃本虚标实之证,以正气不足为本,痰毒瘀邪为标。在临床上,针对未达到西医治疗指征的滤泡性淋巴瘤患者,甘老师以“养正积自消”为治疗原则,扶正贯穿于治疗的始终,并加用抗肿瘤药物,以达扶正抗瘤之效。甘老师多采用补益药物充养先后天之本,从而改善肿瘤患者的虚损,以达阴平阳秘、气血调畅、正气充足的状态。甘老师常以主方为基础结合治疗变证的方法改善局部症状,并减轻放化疗、靶向治疗所带来的不良反应。临证时,在中医辨证的基础上结合辨病分层治疗,调节扶正与解毒的主次。另外,对于出现的各种变证当灵活化裁以改善症状,通过中医的治疗手段改善患者生活质量,延长患者生存时间。     

BRCA1/2突变的中国健康女性乳腺预防性切除及Ⅰ期重建的临床实践

目的:探讨对携带BRCA1/2突变的中国健康女性实施乳腺预防性切除及I期重建的可行性。方法:选择2018年1月至2019年2月3例于北京大学国际医院就诊的携带BRCA1/2突变的中国健康女性,其中2例携带BRCA1突变、1例携带BRCA2突变,均有乳腺癌家族史,年龄为34~36岁,实施预防性保留乳头-乳晕的双侧乳腺切除和Ⅰ期假体重建术。结果:3例患者术后无并发症发生,术后中位随访时间为18个月,均无乳腺癌发生,对重建乳房外形满意,且焦虑和恐惧情绪显著下降,取得良好的疗效。结论:对携带BRCA1/2突变且有乳腺癌家族史的中国健康女性,在严格筛选的基础上,可慎重开展乳腺预防性切除及Ⅰ期重建术。     

Motor dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment as tested by kinematic analysis and transcranial magnetic stimulation

ObjectivePrevious studies have demonstrated voluntary movement alterations as well as motor cortex excitability and plasticity changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To investigate the pathophysiology of movement abnormalities in MCI, we tested possible relationships between movement abnormalities and primary motor cortex alterations in patients.MethodsFourteen amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients and 16 healthy controls were studied. Cognitive assessment was performed using clinical scales. Finger tapping was recorded by a motion analysis system. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to test the input/output curve of motor evoked potentials, intracortical inhibition, and short-latency afferent inhibition. Primary motor cortex plasticity was probed by theta burst stimulation. We investigated correlations between movement abnormalities, clinical scores, and cortical neurophysiological parameters.ResultsMCI patients showed less rhythmic movement but no other movement abnormalities. Cortical excitability measures were normal in patients, whereas plasticity was reduced. Movement rhythm abnormalities correlated with frontal dysfunction scores.ConclusionOur study in MCI patients demonstrated abnormal voluntary movement and plasticity changes, with no correlation between the two. Altered rhythm correlated with frontal dysfunction.SignificanceOur results contribute to the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of motor impairment in MCI.     

Resistin is elevated in cystic fibrosis sputum and correlates negatively with lung function

Background

Resistin is an immunometabolic mediator that is elevated in several inflammatory disorders. A ligand for Toll-like receptor 4, resistin modulates the recruitment and activation of myeloid cells, notably neutrophils. Neutrophils are major drivers of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, in part due to the release of human neutrophil elastase- and myeloperoxidase-rich primary granules, leading to tissue damage. Here we assessed the relationship of resistin to CF lung disease.

Associations of metabolically healthy obesity with prevalence and progression of coronary artery calcification: Results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Cohort Study

Background and aims

There is controversy on the potentially benign nature of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), i.e., obese persons with few or no metabolic abnormalities. So far, associations between MHO and coronary artery calcification (CAC), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, have mainly been studied cross-sectionally in Asian populations. We assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal MHO CAC associations in a Caucasian population.

退变性腰椎侧凸合并类风湿性关节炎患者侧凸程度的影响因素分析

目的 :分析退变性腰椎侧凸(degenerative lumbar scoliosis,DLS)合并类风湿性关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)患者的发病特征和侧凸程度的影响因素。方法 :单中心纳入2013年1月～2018年4月61例合并RA拟行腰椎手术的患者,分为患有DLS者27例(DLS组)和无脊柱畸形患者34例(NDLS组)。提取信息包括人口统计学信息[如性别、年龄和体重指数(body mass index,BMI)等]、RA相关信息[如Steinbrocker分级、是否服用改变病情抗风湿药(disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs,DMARDs)等]、手术相关信息和DLS信息[如Cobb角、顶椎旋转角度、冠状位顶椎偏移距离、髂嵴连线高度、骨质疏松、全膝关节置换(total knee arthroplasty,TKA)史和膝关节功能评分(knee society score,KSS)],Steinbrocker分级用来评价RA活动性,Cobb角反映腰椎侧凸程度,KSS用以评价膝关节功能。结果:患者平均RA病程为16.8±12.7年,Steinbrocker分级Ⅰ～Ⅲ级分别为14例、34例和13例。两组患者以女性为主,DLS组(男∶女=1∶26)和NDLS组(男∶女=8∶26)在性别上存在统计学差异(P=0.031),而在年龄、BMI上无统计学差异(P0.05);两组在Steinbrocker分级、服用DMARDs比例和骨质疏松患者比例上无统计学差异(P0.05)。两组共11例实施TKA手术,两组间TKA分布比较无统计学差异(P=0.153)。DLS组平均侧凸程度(Cobb角)为18.4°±9.0°(10.4°～39.2°),实施TKA患者其Cobb角(11.8°±1.5°)小于无TKA者(20.6°±9.5°)(P=0.001)。DLS组顶椎旋转角度为8.4°±6.8°,冠状位偏移距离为47.3±7.8mm,髂嵴连线均位于L4/5椎间隙。Cobb角与顶椎旋转角度、冠状位偏移距离和TKA存在相关性(P0.05),与其余参数均无显著相关性。针对DLS患者侧凸程度回归分析,显示既往行TKA为其影响因素(P=0.029),但TKA发生时间、TKA患者DLS病程与侧凸程度无明确相关性。行TKA患者KSS评分(88.7±5.3分)高于未行TKA者(80.4±10.0分)(P=0.034),KSS和Cobb角之间存在负相关性(r=-0.717,P0.001),以Cobb为因变量的两者之间的拟合曲线为Cobb角=70.38-0.64×KSS。结论:合并RA的DLS患者在中老年女性更易出现;在既往行TKA的RA患者中,DLS侧凸程度较小;KSS与DLS侧凸程度存在高度相关性。