Recombinant mannan-binding lectin magnetic beads increase pathogen detection in immunocompromised patients.

The microbiological diagnosis of infection for hematological malignancy patients receiving chemotherapy or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) patients relies primarily on standard microbial culture, especially blood culture, which has many shortcomings, such as having low positive rates, being time-consuming and having a limited pathogenic spectrum. In this prospective observational self-controlled test accuracy study, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected from chemotherapy or allo-HSCT patients with clinical symptoms of infections who were hospitalized at Peking University First Hospital. Possible pathogens were detected by the method based on recombinant mannan-binding lectin (MBL) magnetic bead enrichment (M1 method) and simultaneously by a standard method. The analytical sensitivity of M1 method was close to that of standard culture method. Besides, the turn-around time of M1-method was significantly shorter than that of standard culture method. Moreover, the M1 method also added diagnostic value through the detection of some clinically relevant microbes missed by the standard method. M1 method could significantly increase the detection efficiency of pathogens (including bacteria and fungi) in immunocompromised patients. KEY POINTS: • The detection results of M1-method had a high coincidence rate with that of standard method • M1 method detected many pathogens which had not been found by standard clinic method.

Ent-labdane-type diterpene glycosides obtained from Rubus chingii Hu and their inhibitory effects on PDE5A activity.

In this study, 16 new ent-labdane-type diterpene glycosides, designated as goshonosides J1-J16 (1-16), along with nine previously known diterpene glycosides (17-25) were extracted from the fruits of Rubus chingii Hu. The structures of goshonosides J1-J16 were elucidated using various analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, electron capture detector ECD, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry HREIMS, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and hydrolysis. Furthermore, the isolates' efficacy in inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase type 5 A was evaluated. Goshonosides J1, J2, and G effectively inhibited the activity of the aforementioned enzyme (IC50 values: 6.15 ± 1.76, 3.27 ± 0.65, and 9.61 ± 2.36 µM, respectively). Our findings highlight the remarkable structural diversity of bioactive compounds in R. chingii Hu and offer insights into the use of this shrub.

[Comparison of clinical effects for three methods in treating comminuted patellar fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical effects of different fixations in order to provide the best therapeutic choice for comminuted patellar fractures. METHODS: From February 2003 to June 2009, 56 patients with comminuted patellar fractures were treated with three methods of fixation. Of them, 18 patients (group A) were treated with Kirschner-wire with steel wire fixation, there were 9 males and 9 females, ranging in age from 32 to 52 years with an average of (47.62 +/- 4.82) years; 13 patients (group B) with circular silk thread fixation and plaster immobilization, there were 3 males and 10 females,ranging in age from 38 to 65 years with an average of (48.58 +/- 8.28) years; 25 patients (group C) with memory alloy patella holder fixation, there were 9 males and 16 females, ranging in age from 32 to 68 years with an average of (48.36 +/- 9.59) years. According to criteria of Böstman, eight indexes were compared, including the range of motion of the knee, pain, walking and so on. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 8 to 26 months with an average of 15.6 months. All the fractures healed. The Böstman scoring of group A, B, C were respectively 26.00 +/- 4.6, 22.08 +/- 5.31, 26.44 +/- 3.77. The clinical effects of group A and C were better than that of group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The method of Kirschner-wire with steel wire fixation or memory alloy patella holder fixation can obtain satisfactory effects in treating comminuted patellar fractures because of steady fixation and early function recovery.