Analysis of the Vaginal Microecological Status and Genital Tract Infection Characteristics of 751 Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in vaginal microecological factors and genital tract infections among pregnant women of different ages. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 751 pregnant women from West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, China, from January 2015 to April 2017. After gram staining, the vaginal microecological factors of these cases were observed, including vaginal cleanliness, lactobacillus number, bacterial density, flora diversity, dominant bacteria, pH, clue cells, Candida species, and Trichomonas vaginalis. RESULTS There was no significant difference in bacterial density, flora diversity, vaginal cleanliness, or lactobacillus number among pregnant women of different age groups. Of the 32.62% of pregnant women who had genital tract infections, the incidence of bacterial vaginosis, Candida albicans infection, non-albicans Candida infection, and T. vaginalis infection were 20.91%, 14.91%, 4.26%, and 1.73%, respectively. The amalgamative incidence of bacterial vaginosis was 9.19%. The incidence of non-albicans Candida infection in the optimum reproductive age group was higher than in the older age group (P=0.0433). The incidence of T. vaginalis infection in the younger age group was higher than in the optimum reproductive age group and higher than in the older age group (P=0.0010 and P=0.0041). CONCLUSIONS The microecological status of pregnant women was basically the same as that of normal women. The most frequent genital tract infection was bacterial vaginosis. While bacterial vaginosis is amalgamative with vulvovaginal candidiasis and T. vaginalis infection, there was no significant difference in vaginal microecological observations among pregnant women in different age groups except that the non-albicans Candida infection incidence in the optimum reproductive age group and the T. vaginalis infection incidence in the younger age group was higher than in the other groups.

[Species and drug resistance of pathogens in blood cultures from the pediatric hematology ward].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the species and percentage changes of pathogens in blood cultures from the pediatric hematology ward, and to analyze the drug resistance of main pathogens and the risk factors for positive blood culture (sepsis). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed to analyze the species and drug sensitivity of the pathogens isolated from 2358 blood cultures from the pediatric hematology ward of the West China Second University Hospital between 2008 and 2011, as well as the related clinical data. RESULTS: A total of 110 strains of pathogens were isolated, with Escherichia coli (16 strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 strains) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (8 strains) being the most common ones. From 2008 to 2011, the percentage of Gram-positive bacteria decreased, while the percentage of Gram-negative bacteria increased. The detection rates of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were 69% and 43% respectively, but both were sensitive to vancomycin. The detection rates of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae were 69% and 62% respectively, but both were sensitive to imipenem and meropenem. Malignant tumor was a risk factor for positive blood culture (OR=3.564, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of pathogens are responsible for bloodstream infection in the pediatric hematology ward and the percentages of bacteria are changing; these pathogens have a high drug resistance rate. Malignant tumor is a risk factor for positive blood culture in the pediatric hematology ward.

[Common pathogens and clinical characteristics of neonatal pneumonia].

OBJECTIVE: To study common pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility as well as clinical characteristics of neonatal pneumonia. METHODS: A retrospective study on neonatal pneumonia was performed. The study investigated antibiotic susceptibility of four common pathogens (339 strains) that caused neonatal pneumonia. Clinical characteristics of the newborns with pneumonia were analyzed. Of the 339 strains, 185 were isolated from bronchial secretions, 72 from blood samples, and 82 with positive results of both samples. RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-four neonates with pneumonia presented positive results of bacterial culture. the most common pathogens Staphylococcus aureus (21.9%), Escherichia coli (19.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.0%) and Enterobacter cloacae (11.4%). The birth weight of newborns infected with Staphylococcus aureus was generally normal, and the time of hospital admission was later (after 24 hours of life). In contrast, the newborns with gram-negative bacterial infection, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, had lower birth weights and early time of hospital admission (within 24 hours of life). Nearly more than 50% gram-negative bacteria were resistant to second, third and forth generation cephaloporins. CONCLUSIONS: Gram-negative bacteria are predominant pathogens of neonatal pneumonia. Neonatal pneumonia caused by gram-negative bacteria is common in newborns with low birth weight and its onset time is relatively earlier. Gram-negative bacteria that cause neonatal pneumonia are highly resistant to cephaloporins.

[Clinical characteristics and pathogens of invasive fungal infections in children].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics and pathogens of invasive fungal infection in children. METHODS: The clinical data of 104 children who suffered from invasive fungal infections between 2008 and 2012 was retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 104 cases, 20 occurred in neonates, 48 in infants and 36 in preschool and school-aged children (old-aged children). Prematurity (70%), hyaline membrane disease (45%) and pneumonia (30%) were commonly comorbid in the neonate group. In addition, the percentage of cases receiving total parenteral nutrition was higher in the neonate group than in the other two age groups (P<0.01). Mechanical ventilation was more frequent in neonate and infant groups than in the old-aged children (P<0.01). Hematological malignancy was the most common underlying disease, and the percentage of children who had neutropenia and accepted chemotherapy was higher in the old-aged children than in the other two age groups (P<0.05). Lung infection was the most common (61.5%), followed by sepsis (14.4%) and intestinal tract infection (12.5%), while nervous system infections were found only in old-aged children. A total of 105 strains of fungi were isolated from the 104 patients, including Candida (n=90, 85.7%), Cryptococcus (n=6) and others (n=9). The most commonly isolated species was Candida albicans (n=52, 49.5%). Non-Candida albicans Candida accounted for 36.2% (n=38). The rate of susceptibility of Candida species to 5-fluorocytosine and amphotericin B was higher than fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Invasive fungal infections can occur in children at various ages. There are differences in the risk factors for invasive fungal infections between age groups. Candida species are the main pathogens of childhood invasive fungal infections, and both Candida albicans and non-Candida albicans Candida are common. Fluorocytosine and amphotericin B are sensitive antifungal agents for infections caused by Candida species.

Airborne Bacteria Enriched PM2.5 Enhances the Inflammation in an Allergic Adolescent Mouse Model Induced by Ovalbumin.

Air pollution events frequently occur in China during the winter. Most investigations of pollution studies have focused on the physical and chemical properties of PM2.5. Many of these studies have indicated that PM2.5 exacerbates asthma or eosinophil inflammation. However, few studies have evaluated the relationship between bacterial loads in PM2.5, and especially pathogenic bacteria and childhood asthma. Airborne PM2.5 samples from heavily polluted air were collected in Hangzhou, China between December 2014 and January 2015. PM2.5 and ovalbumin (OVA) were intratracheally administered twice in 4-week intervals to induce the allergic pulmonary inflammation in adolescent C57/BL6 mice. PM2.5 exposure caused neutrophilic alveolitis and bronchitis. In the presence of OVA, the levels of the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-12, and IL-17 were significantly increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) after PM2.5 exposure, while eosinophil infiltration and mucin secretion were also induced. In addition to adjuvant effects on OVA-induced allergic inflammation, PM2.5 exposure also led to the maturation of dendritic cells. These results suggest that PM2.5 exposure may aggravate lung eosinophilia and that PM2.5-bound microbial can exacerbate allergic and inflammatory lung diseases.

Association between red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio and hepatic fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the association between red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) and hepatic fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODS: The 388 subjects fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Red cell distribution, platelet, and other clinical and laboratory parameters were measured. RESULTS: NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis had significantly higher RPR than those without fibrosis (P < .001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that RPR were significantly correlated with age, sex, creatinine, hemoglobin, white blood cell, and advanced fibrosis (all with P < .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RPR was an independent factor predicting advanced fibrosis (fibrosis-4 calculator ≥1.3) in NAFLD patients (OR: 5.718, 95%CI: 3.326-9.830, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that RPR were significantly associated with advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

Protective Effect of Quercetin in LPS-Induced Murine Acute Lung Injury Mediated by cAMP-Epac Pathway.

Quercetin (Que) as an abundant flavonol element possesses potent antioxidative properties and has protective effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI), but the specific mechanism is still unclear, so we investigated the effect of Que from in vivo and in vitro studies and the related mechanism of cAMP-PKA/Epac pathway. The results in mice suggested that Que can inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokine, block neutrophil recruitment, and decrease the albumin leakage in dose-dependent manners. At the same time, Que can increase the cAMP content of lung tissue, and Epac content, except PKA. The results in epithelial cell (MLE-12) suggested that Que also can inhibit the inflammatory mediators keratinocyte-derived chemokines release after LPS stimulation; Epac inhibitor ESI-09 functionally antagonizes the inhibitory effect of Que; meanwhile, PKA inhibitor H89 functionally enhances the inhibitory effect of Que. Overexpression of Epac1 in MLE-12 suggested that Epac1 enhance the effect of Que. All those results suggested that the protective effect of quercetin in ALI is involved in cAMP-Epac pathway.

[The influence of abnormally higher WBC on hemoglobin determination and its redress].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the influence of abnormally higher white blood cell (WBC) on hemoglobin (Hb) determination and work for its redress. METHODS: High WBC concentration suspensions of 48 concentration gradients were prepared to be determined in the pre-dilution pattern of automated hematology analyzer while the changes of Hb concentration before and after removal of WBC being observed. At the same time, a regression equation was set up to correct errors and redress the Hb concentration. Then, the data from 14 whole blood samples with abnormally higher WBC were used in this regression equation to verify its utility. RESULTS: The Hb concentration of samples with abnormally higher WBC was higher than that of samples where WBC was removed (P<0.001). While WBC count > or = 40.0 x 10(9)/L, there was logarithmic linear correlation between Hb concentration difference and WBC count (r=0.9526). Using the regression equation Y (Hb difference) = -25.09 + 21.89 x lg[WBC (x 10(9)/L)], we found that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the "practically detected Hb difference" and the "theoretically adjusted Hb difference" in the whole blood samples with abnormally higher WBC. CONCLUSION: Abnormally higher WBC may lead to increase of error in the detection of Hb concentration; the ultimate result in close proximity to true Hb concentration of whole blood samples with abnormally higher WBC can be acquired through the linear regression equation.