Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cryptococcal antigen-lateral flow immunochromatographic assay for pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-HIV patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of cryptococcal antigen-lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (CrAg-LFA) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). METHODS: A total of 308 patients were divided into the PC group (n = 72) and the non-PC group (n = 236). The clinical data, pathogen detection, radiological imaging, and the detection of the cryptococcal antigen in blood and BALF samples were analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predicted values of CrAg-LFA in the serum were 75.0%, 99.6%, 98.2%, and 92.9%, respectively, while those in the BALF were 93.1%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 97.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of the CrAg-LFA in BALF was significantly higher than that in the serum of the patients in the PC group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CrAg-LFA has a higher diagnostic value for PC when analyzing BALF samples compared to serum samples.

Bloodstream infections in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of bloodstream infections (BSIs) during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment in a Chinese population. METHODS: Patients receiving ECMO treatment from January 2013 to August 2019 were retrospectively studied. The incidence of BSIs was calculated. The clinical characteristics between patients with a BSI (BSI group) and without a BSI (non-BSI group). RESULTS: Among 69 included patients, 19 (27.5%) developed at least one BSI. Gram-negative bacteria (73.7%) were mainly responsible for the BSIs, with Klebsiella pneumoniae (6/19, 31.5%) ranking as the top related pathogen. The BSI group had a greater proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prophylactic regimens (52.6% vs. 26.0%, P = 0.036), a higher pre-ECMO Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (11 vs. 8, P = 0.008), more applications of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) during ECMO (63.1% vs. 36.1%, P = 0.042). Longer ECMO support duration, period of ventilator use before ECMO weaning and hospital stay were observed in the BSI group. The SOFA score (OR: 1.174; 95% CI: 1.039-1.326; P = 0.010) was an independent risk factor for BSIs. CONCLUSION: BSIs during ECMO therapy frequently involve Gram-negative bacteria. Stringent care and monitoring should be provided for patients with high SOFA scores.

A case of lung adenocarcinoma with a concurrent EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement: A case report and literature review.

The echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 4­anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4­ALK) fusion is almost mutually exclusive to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or K­RAS mutation in non­small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and it is extremely rare for patients to exhibit both mutations. The present study reported the case of a 71-year­old female diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, exhibiting mutations in EGFR and EML4­ALK. The present study treated this patient with EGFR­TK inhibitors, as the first line therapy, and gefitinib therapy revealed a good response until now. In addition, previously reported cases and associated literature were reviewed. The present study provided a greater understanding of the molecular biology and optimal treatment for patients with NSCLC with >1 driver mutation.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a case report and literature review.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) was diagnosed in a 52-year-old male with prolonged dry cough. Computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated that there were multiple calcified nodules in the anterolateral wall of trachea, sparing the posterior tracheal membrane. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) showed that submucosal nodules protruded into the airway lumen. Histopathological exam found ossification and cartilage in the submucosa. TO is a scarce benign disorder, characterized by submucosal bony and cartilaginous nodules. The clinical manifestation is undistinguished and treatment is symptomatically dependent. FOB is a definitive diagnostic procedure. The characteristics of FOB finding are described as beaded, spiculate, rock garden, or cobble-stoned like nodules, which projected into the tracheobronchus lumen, sparing the posterior wall. Histopathological exam might re-confirm the diagnosis, finding ossification and cartilage in the submucosa of airway. Awareness of TO is significantly important, especially in chronic cough patients with special CT image, and FOB should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Antidiabetic activities of oligosaccharides of Ophiopogonis japonicus in experimental type 2 diabetic rats.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the antidiabetic properties of oligosaccharides of Ophiopogonis japonicus (OOJ) in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. OOJ was administered orally in doses of 225 and 450 mg/kg body weight to high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic rats for 3 weeks. The results showed that OOJ treatment could increase body weight, decrease organ related weights of liver and kidney, reduce fasting blood glucose level, and improve oral glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Moreover, increased glycogen content in liver and skeletal muscle, reduced urinary protein excretion, higher hepatic GCK enzyme activity, lower hepatic PEPCK enzyme activity, enhanced GLP-1 level, decreased glucagon level and alleviated histopathological changes of pancreas occurred in OOJ-treated diabetic rats by comparison with untreated diabetic rats. This study demonstrates, for the first time to our knowledge, that OOJ exerts remarkable antidiabetic effect in experimental type 2 diabetes mellitus, thus justifying its traditional usage.

Association of increased S100B, S100A6 and S100P in serum levels with acute coronary syndrome and also with the severity of myocardial infarction in cardiac tissue of rat models with ischemia-reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to check if serum levels of receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE) ligands S100B, S100A6 and S100P were related to myocardial injury in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: Serum levels of S100B, S100A6, S100P, and soluble RAGE (sRAGE) were analyzed in 882 patients. Based upon clinical and laboratory findings, they were assigned into control (n=251), stable angina (n=211), and ACS (n=420). To verify clinical data of ACS, forty Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by occluding proximal (large infarct size; n=20) or distal (small infarct size; n=20) left anterior descending coronary artery, and another 20 rats were in sham-operation group. The expressions of S100B, S100A6, S100P and RAGE in the myocardium were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum levels of S100B, S100A6 and S100P were higher in ACS group than in stable angina and control groups, and sRAGE levels were higher in ACS patients versus controls (all p<0.01). S100B and S100P levels correlated significantly with CK-MB and troponin I levels in ACS group (all p<0.05). In multivariable regression analysis, S100B, S100A6, S100P and conventional risk factors were independently associated with ACS. In animal models, the expressions of S100B, S100A6 and S100P were closely related to infarct size (all p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that serum levels of S100B, S100A6 and S100P are associated with ACS, and serum levels and myocardial expression of these proteins are related to infarct size.

Fermentation effects of oligosaccharides of Radix Ophiopogonis on alloxan-induced diabetes in mice.

In this study, oligosaccharides extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus vinegar (OOV) by alcoholic and acetic acid fermentation with water extracts from Radix Ophiopogon and oligosaccharides extracted from Radix Ophiopogonis (OOJ) were investigated. Characterization of the extracts indicated that OOV are proteoglycans, whereas OOJ are not. Moreover, compared with OOJ, monosaccharide compositions of OOV only include fructose and galactose and not glucose. MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometric results showed that the molecular weight of OOV was smaller after fermentation. Changes in the characteristics of OOV would inevitably lead to changes in its hypoglycemic properties. The OOV inhibition activity against α-glucosidase was stronger than that of OOJ. The inhibition activity became stronger with higher dosages of OOV. The hypoglycemic effect of OOV on alloxan-induced diabetic mice was stronger than that of OOJ. More important, the ability of OOV to reduce damage on islets in diabetic mice was stronger than that of OOJ. Overall, alcoholic and acetic acid fermentation improved the hypoglycemic activity of OOJ.