Postoperative nosocomial infections among children with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the pathogen distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and risk factors of postoperative nosocomial infections among children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: Three hundreds children with congenital heart disease admitted to our hospital to receive surgeries from February 2010 to February 2013 were selected. RESULTS: A total of 120 children were tested as positive by sputum culture, with the infection rate of 40.0%. The top five most common pathogenic microorganisms included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. S. epidermidis, S. aureus and Enterococcus were highly resistant to penicillin, azithromycin and erythromycin, moderately susceptible to levofloxacin and cefazolin, and completely susceptible to vancomycin. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hospitalization stay length, combined use of antibiotics, systemic use of hormones, mechanical ventilation and catheter indwelling were the independent risk factors of postoperative nosocomial infections (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Nosocomial infection, which was the most frequent postoperative complication of pediatric congenital heart disease, was predominantly induced by Gram-positive bacteria that were highly susceptible to cephalosporins and vancomycin. Particular attention should be paid to decrease relevant risk factors to improve the prognosis.

Human serum amyloid A (SAA) protein changes in acute epilepsy patients.

Previously, there is no study looking at serum biomarkers for epilepsy. Epilepsy can trigger neuroinflammation events, and serum amyloid A (SAA) is one biomarker as acute-phase protein in multiple diseases. In present study, we detected serum SAA peak in epileptic patients with mass spectrometry and quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measurement. The results suggested that in acute phase of epilepsy, the serum SAA increased, but after 3 months of treatment, the SAA peak was disappeared. In conclusion, the study provided values of proteomic diagnosis of epilepsy.

1-(3-Chloro-phen-yl)-5-(2,4-di-hydroxy-benzo-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one.

The chloro-phenyl group of the title compound, C18H12ClNO4, is disordered over two orientations with occupancies of 0.331 (8) and 0.669 (8). An intra-molecular hydrogen bond is formed between a hy-droxy group and the acyclic carbonyl group. In the crystal, molecules are linked into chains along [110] by O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a ladder motif.

Alkyl polyglycosides enhanced the dark fermentation of excess sludge and plant waste to produce hydrogen: performance and mechanism.

Alkyl polyglycosides (APG), a biodegradable biosurfactant, have been widely used in environmental pollution control. However, the application of APG to enhance anaerobic dark fermentation of excess sludge (ES) and plant waste (PW) to improve hydrogen production has not been reported so far. In order to fill this gap, the effect of APG on hydrogen production from ES and PW was studied in mesophilic (30 °C) environment. The results showed that APG increased the yield of hydrogen, and the recommended dose was 0.15 g/g (calculated as volatile suspended solids), accompanied by 18.7 mL/g. The contribution of APG self-degradation to hydrogen can be ignored. Mechanism investigation revealed that APG promoted the dissolution, hydrolysis, and acidification of complex organic matter, and when the content of APG was 0.15 g/g, the concentration of dissolved chemical oxygen demand (COD) was as high as 3151 mg/L; however, the dissolved concentration of COD in the blank group was only 1548 mg/L. In addition, APG improved the output of volatile fatty acids (VFA). APG promoted the proportion of acetate and butyrate in VFA, which was conducive to hydrogen production. As for the process of methanogenesis, APG reduced the consumption of hydrogen and accumulates hydrogen. This work provides an alternative strategy for the recycling of organic waste and the enhanced generation of hydrogen.

Ethyl 2-(2-hy-droxy-5-nitro-phen-yl)acetate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(10)H(11)NO(5), inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains along the b-axis direction. Weak C-H.·O hydrogen bonds also occur.

5-(2-Meth-oxy-phen-yl)-1,3,4-thia-diazol-2-yl 2-meth-oxy-benzoate hemihydrate.

In the title compound, C(17)H(14)N(2)O(4)S·0.5H(2)O, the mol-ecule, with the exception of the two meth-oxy-phenyl groups, is nearly planar with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0305 Å. The two 2-meth-oxy-phenyl rings make dihedral angles of 4.1 (3) and 2.3 (3)° with the thia-diazole ring. In the crystal, inter-molecular C-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules.

Ethyl 5-methyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C(11)H(12)N(2)O(2), was synthesized from the reaction of 6-methyl-pyridin-2-amine and ethyl 3-bromo-2-oxopropionate. In the mol-ecular structure, the six- and five-membered rings are individually almost planar with r.m.s. deviations of 0.003 and 0.002 Å, respectively. The two rings are almost coplanar, the dihedral angle between their planes being 1.4 (3)°. Inter-molecular C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds are present in the crystal structure.

[Effect of optimizing anesthetic injecting sequence during induction on fentanyl-induced coughing].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of optimizing anesthetic injecting sequence during induction on fentanyl-induced coughing. METHODS: One hundred and twenty ASA I or II elective patients undergoing general anesthesia were randomly allocated to optimized group or control group: the optimized group induced with midazolam 0.06 mg/kg, followed by fentanyl 1 mg/kg at 1 min later, vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg at 1 min 55 s, propofol 1.5-2 mg/kg at 2 min, a second dose of 3 mg/kg fentanyl at 2 min 20 s, intubated at time 5 min; the control group was induced with the same medication but all the fentanyl (4 mg/kg) was injected at time 1 min. Coughing after fentanyl injection was observed and hemodynamic parameters were recorded. RESULTS: Hemodynamic changes were identical between the two groups indicated similar intubation response suppression. The incidence of fentanyl-induced coughing was significantly lower in the optimized group (4/60) than in the control group (23/60) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Optimizing anesthetic injecting sequence during induction by separate fentanyl into two boluses significantly reduce fentanyl-induced coughing without affecting intubation response suppression.

[Analysis of Genomic Landscape in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gene mutation occurved in AML patients with 29 kinds of fusion genes and 51 kinds of tumor gene. METHODS: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detected the 49 kinds of targeted gene. FLT3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD), CALR, NPM1 and CEBPA mutation were detected by DNA-based PCR and Sanger sequencing. Twenty-nine kinds of fusion genes were dected by multiplex nested RT-PCR. RESULTS: The total gene mutation rate was 91% (109/121) in all the 121 patients. On average, 2.1 mutated genes per patient were identified, among these 121 patients, coexistence of ≥ 3 mutations was frequent (34.7%). The most commonly mutated genes were NRAS (23.96%, n=29), followed by NPM1 (14.04%, n=17), CEBPA double mutations (14.04%, n=17), KRAS (11.57%, n=14)，FLT3-ITD (10.74%, n=13), CSF3R (10.74%, n=13), TET2 (9.92%, n=12) and IDH1 (9.1%, n=11). Overall, fusion genes were detected in 47 (37.3%) patients, including AML/ETO (n=12), CBFß/MYH11 (n=11), PML/RARa (n=12), MLL rearranagement realated mutation MLL-X (n=10). TLS/ERG (n=1) and DEK/CAN (n=1) in an order of decreasing frequency. Patients with normal karyotype (NK)- AML exhibited more mutations in CEBPA, NPM1, TET2, RUNX1 and IDH1, comparing with abnormal karyotype patients. KRAS mutation in abnormal kayotype patients was significantly higher than that in normal kayotype patients (P=0.014). TP53 mutations were predominantly associated with complex cytogenetics (P=0.199). KRAS mutations were more frequent in core binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 11q23/MLL rearrangement leukemia, compared with NK-AML (P=0.006 and 0.003, respectively). KIT mutations predominated in CBF-AML (P=0.006). JAK2V617F mutations were detected in two patients and co-occurred with AML-ETO fusions. CONCLUSION: At least one mutation is observed in more than 90% patients. On average, more than 2 mutated genes per patient are identified. Some gene mutations are associated with gene rearrangement.

Titanium dioxide and cadmium sulfide co-sensitized graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets composite photocatalysts with superior performance in phenol degradation under visible-light irradiation.

In this work, TiO2-CdS-gCNNSs heterojunction photocatalysts were successfully synthesized. CdS was deposited on the surface of gCNNSs via electrostatic attraction; TiOC, TiOCO and TiON bonds were produced in TiO2-CdS-gCNNSs, strengthening the interaction between TiO2 and gCNNSs. The TiO2-CdS-gCNNSs photocatalyst showed excellent photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation under visible-light irradiation, which was higher than that of CdS-gCNNSs, CdS-TiO2 and TiO2-gCNNSs. The improved photocatalytic performance of TiO2-CdS-gCNNSs was ascribed to more adsorption sites, enhanced light harvesting ability and effective separation rate of electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, the results of photocatalytic mechanism indicated that h+ and O2- played a more significant role on the phenol degradation.

Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic decomposition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid over ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst.

ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method and applied to visible-light photocatalytic decomposition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from aqueous phase. The flower-like ZnIn2S4 particles were dispersed on the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets in the ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 composite. The composite showed higher separation rate of electron-hole pairs as compared to ZnIn2S4 and g-C3N4. Consequently, the ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 composite exhibited enhanced visible light photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of 2,4-D, within 20% ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 composite owning the highest photocatalytic efficiency and initial rate. The initial rates of 2,4-D degradation on g-C3N4, ZnIn2S4, and 20% ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 were 1.23, 0.57 and 3.69mmol/(gcath), respectively. The h(+) and O2(-) were found to be the dominant active species for 2,4-D decomposition. The photocatalytic degradation pathways of 2,4-D by ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation were explored. The ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 composite displayed high photostability in recycling tests, reflecting its promising potential as an effective visible light photocatalyst for 2,4-D treatment.

Comparative serum proteomic analysis of serum diagnosis proteins of colorectal cancer based on magnetic bead separation and maldi-tof mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: At present, the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) requires a colorectal biopsy which is an invasive procedure. We undertook this pilot study to develop an alternative method and potential new biomarkers for diagnosis, and validated a set of well-integrated tools called ClinProt to investigate the serum peptidome in CRC patients. METHODS: Fasting blood samples from 67 patients diagnosed with CRC by histological diagnosis, 55 patients diagnosed with colorectal adenoma by biopsy, and 65 healthy volunteers were collected. Division was into a model construction group and an external validation group randomly. The present work focused on serum proteomic analysis of model construction group by ClinProt Kit combined with mass spectrometry. This approach allowed construction of a peptide pattern able to differentiate the studied populations. An external validation group was used to verify the diagnostic capability of the peptidome pattern blindly. An immunoassay method was used to determine serum CEA of CRC and controls. RESULTS: The results showed 59 differential peptide peaks in CRC, colorectal adenoma and health volunteers. A genetic algorithm was used to set up the classification models. Four of the identified peaks at m/z 797, 810, 4078 and 5343 were used to construct peptidome patterns, achieving an accuracy of 100% (> CEA, P < 0. 05). Furthermore, the peptidome patterns could differentiate the validation group with high accuracy close to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that proteomic analysis of serum with MALDI-TOF MS is a fast and reproducible approach, which may provide a novel approach to screening for CRC.