Patent Foramen Ovale Closure for Migraineurs with Massive Right-to-Left Shunt and White Matter Lesions: An Exploration on Curative Effects.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in migraine patients with a massive right-to-left shunt (RLS) and white matter lesions (WMLs). Methods: The research focused on migraine patients with a massive RLS who underwent PFO closure in our hospital from June 2020 to June 2021. The study included 51 patients without WMLs (control group, CG) and 27 patients with WMLs (observation group, OG). A 12-month postoperative follow-up survey was conducted to assess headache episodes (frequency and duration), evaluated using the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) and the Pain Intensity Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The psychological state was also evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAMA, HAMD). Adverse reactions during the follow-up were recorded. Results: No significant differences in perioperative and prognostic adverse reactions were observed between OG and CG (P > .05). Both groups showed a reduction in postoperative headache episodes and pain intensity. However, the OG exhibited higher frequency and duration of headache episodes and elevated HIT-6 and VAS scores, resulting in lower clinical efficacy (P < .05). Postoperatively, both groups demonstrated reductions in HAMA and HAMD, with CG showing lower scores compared to OG (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis identified the course of the disease, HIT-6 score, and the presence of WMLs as independent risk factors for the efficacy of PFO closure (P < .05). Conclusions: PFO closure proves effective and safe in treating migraine patients with RLS. However, for those with WMLs, clinical attention should be directed toward the treatment of WMLs.

Early screening of thalassemia in pregnant women in northern China by capillary electrophoresis for the determination of hemoglobin electrophoresis.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of capillary electrophoresis detection of hemoglobin electrophoresis (HE) for the early screening of thalassemia. In the first choice, 974 pregnant women were selected for capillary electrophoresis to detect HE, which showed that 46 of them were abnormal (4.72%), including 16 cases with HbA2<2.5% and 28 cases with HbA2>3.5% and/or HbF≥2.0%. In one case each of HbH and HbBart's abnormal bands was found. The genotype test results showed the presence of thalassemia in 34 cases, using the genotype test results as the gold standard, after calculation it was seen that capillary electrophoresis for HE diagnosis of the occurrence of thalassemia had a sensitivity and specificity of 54.34% and 70.97% (P<0.05). These results suggest that in the screening of thalassemia in northern China, capillary electrophoresis for HE has good application and can be used as one of the routine screening tools, but further confirmation by genotype testing is still needed.

Application of urine immunofixation electrophoresis in prognostic evaluation of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with myeloma.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of urine immunofixation electrophoresis in prognostic evaluation of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with myeloma. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with multiple myeloma admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from November 2013 to December 2014 were included as research subjects. All patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and were followed up for five years. Outcomes were evaluated according to the recovery status: complete response (CR), very good partial response (VGPR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progression disease (PD). In addition, the overall response rate (CR+VGPR) of patients was observed and their urine immunoglobulin status was measured by immunofixation electrophoresis. The Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to plot the survival curve, and the Log-rank method was adopted to analyze the relationship between CR+VGPR and PR and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survival in patients with myeloma. RESULTS: The basic clinical type of immunofixation electrophoresis was as follows: 19 cases (55.88%) of IgG, 7 cases (20.59%) of IgA, 6 cases (17.65%) of IgM, and 2 cases (5.88%) of light chain type. Outcomes: 13 cases (38.24%) of CR, 12 cases (35.29%) of VGPR, 9 cases (26.47%) of PR, and 25 cases (73.53%) of the overall response rate (CR+VGPR). Compared with IgG, CR, VGPR and PR of IgA, IgM and light chain had statistically significant differences in outcome (p<0.05), and CR+VGPR of patients with IgG was higher than that of patients with IgA, IgM and light chain type (p<0.05). Two of the 34 patients were lost to follow-up. The log-rank analysis showed that the survival rate of patients with CR+VGPR was higher than that of patients with PR (p<0.05). Patients with IgA, IgM, and light chain type had an increased number of prognostic death compared with those with IgG (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with IgG type myeloma are superior to those with IgA, IgM and light chain type in terms of the prognosis of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which has a certain clinical reference value.

Protectin DX promotes the inflammatory resolution via activating COX-2/L-PGDS-PGD2 and DP1 receptor in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

PURPOSE: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by uncontrollable inflammation. Cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and its metabolite prostaglandins are known to promote the inflammatory resolution of ARDS. Recently, a newly discovered endogenous lipid mediator, Protectin DX (PDX), was also shown to mediate the resolution of inflammation. However, the regulatory of PDX on the pro-resolving COX-2 in ARDS remains unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PDX (5 µg/kg) was injected into rats intravenously 12 h after the lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 3 mg/kg) challenge. Primary rat lung fibroblasts were incubated with LPS (1 µg/ml) and/or PDX (100 nM). Lung pathological changes examined using H&E staining. Protein levels of COX-2, PGDS and PGES were evaluated using western blot. Inflammatory cytokines were tested by qPCR, and the concentration of prostaglandins measured by using ELISA. RESULTS: Our study revealed that, COX-2 and L-PGDS has biphasic activation characteristics that LPS could induce induced by LPS both in vivo and in vitro.. The secondary peak of COX-2, L-PGDS-PGD2 promoted the inflammatory resolution in ARDS model with the DP1 receptor being activated and PDX up-regulated the inflammatory resolutionvia enhancing the secondary peak of COX-2/L-PGDS-PGD2 and activating the DP1 receptor. CONCLUSION: PDX promoted the resolution of inflammation of ARDS model via enhancing the expression of secondary peak of COX-2/L-PGDS-PGD2 and activating the DP1 receptor. PDX shows promising therapeutic potential in the clinical management of ARDS.

Serum Protein Electrophoresis and Immunofixation Electrophoresis Detection in Multiple Myeloma.

The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic significance of serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation electrophoresis detection in diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM). One hundred and five patients were investigated. The detection rate of M protein by immunofixation electrophoresis detection was better (105 cases, 100%) than that of serum protein electrophoresis (101 cases, 96.19%, p<0.001). The M band was not detected by serum protein electrophoresis in four cases (3.81%), among which one case (0.95%) was identified as IgA type and 3 cases (2.86%) as light chain type after immunoglobulin analysis. Immunofixation electrophoresis detection technique can be used for screening M protein in patients with atypical MM; and immunofixation electrophoresis detection technique can increase the diagnosis accuracy in patients with atypical MM. Key Words: Multiple myeloma (MM), Serum protein electrophoresis, Immunofixation electrophoresis, Monoclonal immunoglobulin.

The Early Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity Response Is Associated With Lower Viral Set Point in Individuals With Primary HIV Infection.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is an immune response largely mediated by natural killer (NK) cells that can lyse target cells and combat tumors and viral infections. However, the role of ADCC in response to primary HIV infection is poorly understood. In the present study, we explored the ADCC response and evaluated its characteristics in 85 HIV-infected individuals, including 42 with primary infections. Our results showed that ADCC occurs during acute infection, and the earliest ADCC response to a single peptide was detected at 52 days. Primary HIV-infected individuals exhibiting ADCC responses had lower viral set points than those with no ADCC response, and functional analyses demonstrated that the ADCC response could significantly inhibit viral infection during primary HIV infection. HIV epitopes that provoked the ADCC response were determined and three relatively conserved epitopes (HNVWATYACVPTDPNPQE, TSVIKQACPKISFDPIPI, and VVSTQLLLNGSLAEEEII) from the surface of the three-dimensional structure of the HIV Env protein were identified. Overall, our data indicate that ADCC responses may be significant for the control of HIV from an early stage during infection. These findings merit further investigation and will facilitate improvements in vaccines or therapeutic interventions against HIV infection.

Successful treatment of Aerococcus viridans endocarditis in a patient allergic to penicillin.

Aerococcus viridans is a rare human pathogen that occasionally causes endocarditis. Most of the reported cases of endocarditis have been treated with penicillin. Here we describe a patient who was allergic to penicillin and was successfully treated with cefotaxime.

High-dose daptomycin and fosfomycin treatment of a patient with endocarditis caused by daptomycin-nonsusceptible Staphylococcus aureus: case report.

BACKGROUND: Emergence of daptomycin-nonsusceptible (DNS) Staphylococcus aureus is a dreadful problem in the treatment of endocarditis. Few current therapeutic agents are effective for treating infections caused by DNS S. aureus. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the emergence of DNS S. aureus. in a patient with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device -related endocarditis who was priorily treated with daptomycin. Metastatic dissemination as osteomyelitis further complicated the management of endocarditis. The dilemma was successfully managed by surgical removal of the ICD device and combination antimicrobial therapy with high-dose daptomycin and fosfomycin. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical removal of intracardiac devices remains an important adjunctive measure in the treatment of endocarditis. Our case suggests that combination therapy is more favorable than single-agent therapy for infections caused by DNS S. aureus.

Prognostic factors of candidemia among nonneutropenic adults with total parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Immediate removal of central venous catheters (CVCs) is not possible in patients with candidemia requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN). This study analyzed the possible prognostic factors for survival time after onset of candidemia among nonneutropenic adults requiring TPN. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis from September 2003 to August 2005. RESULTS: A total of 59 nonneutropenic adults with candidemia and requiring TPN were identified retrospectively. All Candida isolates were susceptible to flucytosine and amphotericin B. With the exception of one C glabrata isolate, all other isolates were susceptible to fluconazole and itraconazole. The only predictor of 30-day survival rate after onset of candidemia identified in our analysis was an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score of 23 points or less. Adults with higher APACHE II scores, who did not have their CVCs changed, did not receive antifungal treatment, or who had thrombocytopenia had shorter survival times after the onset of candidemia. CONCLUSIONS: APACHE II scores, thrombocytopenia, antifungal agents, and CVCs changes are associated with survival time in nonneutropenic adults requiring TPN after the onset of candidemia.

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of Chryseobacterium indologenes bacteremia.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Reports detailing bacteremia caused by Chryseobacterium indologenes remain limited, with most cases reported in Taiwan. The clinical significance of C. indologenes has not been fully established. This retrospective study investigated the clinical features and antimicrobial susceptibility of C. indologenes bacteremia. METHODS: Patients with C. indologenes bacteremia were identified at a medical center/teaching hospital in northern Taiwan between January 1, 2004 and January 31, 2008. Clinical features and the antimicrobial susceptibilities of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen isolates of C. indologenes from 16 episodes in 16 patients were identified, with all patients having underlying diseases. Two patients (12.5%) had polymicrobial bacteremia. The portal of bacteremia was not determined in most cases. Other clinical syndromes included catheter-related bacteremia, urinary tract infection and peritonitis. The majority of patients had undergone invasive procedures. Other associated conditions included immunosuppression, neutropenia and prolonged use of antibiotics. Only three patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics according to minimum inhibitory concentrations. The susceptibilities of isolates to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (75.0%), levofloxacin (62.5%), piperacillin-tazobactam (50.0%), ciprofloxacin (43.75%) and cefepime (12.5%) were variable and the bacteremia-related mortality rate was 6.25%. CONCLUSION: C. indologenes isolates are resistant to multiple antibiotics, with newer fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole possibly representing the most appropriate antimicrobial agents to treat infections caused by this pathogen. However, the pathogenicity and factors of virulence for C. indologenes remain unclear, with our study revealing favorable outcomes of C. indologenes bacteremia. Epidemiological surveillance of this organism in Taiwan and extensive worldwide surveillance programs are required.

Prognostic factors and clinical features of non-typhoid Salmonella bacteremia in adults.

BACKGROUND: Infections caused by non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) have increased, and the increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant NTS bacteremia in adult patients has also been noted. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of NTS bacteremia. METHODS: A total of 71 episodes of NTS bacteremia among 65 patients were identified between 2004 and 2006. Clinical characteristics were collected from medical records. The agar dilution method described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute was used to determine the in vitro activities of each antibiotic. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between patient characteristics and all other covariates studied for prognosis. RESULTS: Salmonella enteritidis was isolated in 30 cases (42.3%), Salmonella typhimurium in 22 (31.0%), and Salmonella choleraesuis in 19 (26.7%). Thirty-two (45.1%) isolates of 71 NTS bacteremias were susceptible to chloramphenicol, 37 (52.1%) to ampicillin, 47 (66.2%) to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), 56 (78.9%) to moxifloxacin, 57 (80.3%) to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, and 71 (100%) to ceftriaxone. The crude 30-day mortality rate was 19.7%. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the following variables were independent and significant predictors of mortality: coma (odds ratio, 12.03) and inadequate antibiotic treatment (odds ratio, 6.63). CONCLUSION: S. enteritidis was the most frequently isolated serotype. High resistance rates of NTS to some readily available antimicrobials (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, TMP/SMX, fluoroquinolones) were found. Patients with the factor of coma or inadequate antibiotic treatment had poor prognosis.

Clinical and microbiological analysis of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica bacteremia in adult patients in Taiwan.

A limited number of reports have documented bacteremia caused by Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (Chryseobacterium meningosepticum) in adults. Most cases have occurred in Taiwan. This study investigated the clinical features and risk factors for mortality from E. meningoseptica bacteremia and the antimicrobial susceptibilities of the isolates. Patients with E. meningoseptica bacteremia were retrospectively analyzed at a medical center/teaching hospital in northern Taiwan over a 3-y period. We analyzed clinical features and outcomes of patients and antimicrobial susceptibilities and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) results of the isolates. 28 patients had nosocomial bacteremia and 4 patients had healthcare associated bacteremia. The isolates exhibited variable susceptibilities to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, tigecycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. PFGE demonstrated that most isolates were epidemiologically unrelated. The 28-d mortality rate was 41%. Multivariate analysis indicated that shock and use of inappropriate antibiotics were independent risk factors for mortality. In conclusion, nosocomial bloodstream infection due to E. meningoseptica is an increasing problem in Taiwan. Our study indicates that patients with E. meningoseptica bacteremia face poor prognoses, with shock and use of inappropriate antibiotics as the main risk factors for mortality. Further clinical study is needed to establish the optimal therapy for E. meningoseptica bacteremia.

In vitro activities of piperacillin or cefoperazone alone and in combination with beta-lactamase inhibitors against gram-negative bacilli.

We investigated in vitro activities of piperacillin or cefoperazone alone and in combination with beta-lactamase inhibitors against Gram-negative bacilli. Piperacillin/tazobactam 8:1 lowered resistance for Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Enterobactaer cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and imipenem-susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii. When piperacillin was combined with sulbactam 2:1 or 4:1, resistance against E. coli, S. marcescens, E. cloacae, extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii were reduced. MIC90 of cefoperazone against S. marcescens, E. cloacae, ESBL-K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii were >128 mg/L. Addition of sulbactam 1:1 or 2:1 enhanced antimicrobial activities. Addition of sulbactam to piperacillin or cefoperazone enhanced antimicrobial activities of GNB.

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in adults in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Haemophilus influenzae is an important cause of invasive infection in infants and children, but it has been considered an uncommon cause of invasive disease in adults. We conducted a retrospective survey of invasive H. influenzae disease in adults in order to better understand the characteristics of clinical presentation and microbiology. METHODS: Patients older than 18 years with H. influenzae isolated from normally sterile sites, between July 1999 and June 2002 in a teaching hospital for adult patients were retrospectively analyzed. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, serotype, antibiotic susceptibility, and beta-lactamase production of H. influenzae isolates were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were enrolled. The infectious diagnosis of invasive diseases comprised: pneumonia (5 patients), empyema (2), pelvic inflammatory disease (2), peritonitis (2), periorbital cellulitis with abscess formation (2), endophthalmitis (1) and primary bacteremia (1). Most patients were elderly with underlying illness. Of ten H. influenzae isolates available for analysis, two were serotype b and eight were nontypeable. Beta-lactamase production and ampicillin resistance were found in 6 H. influenzae isolates (5 nontypeable, and 1 type b). CONCLUSION: These data show H. influenzae disease in adults to be rare in Taiwan. Our limited number of cases suggest that nontypeable strains predominate in patients with invasive infection due to H. influenzae. Most patients had respiratory tract infections. Ampicillin resistance was found in more than one-half of H. influenzae isolates, and should be taken into consideration when antibiotics are prescribed on an empirical basis.

Adult candidemia at a medical center in northern Taiwan: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Candidemia has been associated with a very high mortality. This study evaluated the predictors of candidemia-related mortality at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult patients with candidemia between September 2003 and May 2005. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors of candidemia-associated mortality. All Candida isolates were identified to species by use of the ATB ID 32C kit and their susceptibilities to antifungal agents were tested by ATB Fungus 2 system. RESULTS: 179 episodes in 174 adult patients with candidemia were identified retrospectively. The predictors of mortality included duration of prior antibiotics >or=28 days, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score >or=23 and retention of central venous catheters (CVCs). There was no statistically significant association between the time to the start of antifungal therapy and mortality from nosocomial candidemia. In addition, there was no significant association between the time to CVC removal and mortality after stratification by APACHE II score. CONCLUSIONS: Despite effective antifungal therapy after the onset of candidemia in more than half of the patients studied, mortality remained very high, especially in the groups with longer duration of prior antibiotic treatment, higher APACHE II score and CVC retention. Timing of CVC removal after onset of candidemia was not correlated with mortality.

Human foamy virus bel1 sequence in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Since the association between human foamy virus (HFV) with rheumatic autoimmune diseases remains controversial, this study was designed to determine the relationship between HFV and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). The bel1 and Pol sequences of HFV were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in plasma and by PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with SLE, RA, and PSS. Antibodies against Bel1 and Pol were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Active HFV infections were detected by a Bel1-responsive indicator cell line. The bel1 sequence was detected in the plasma (SLE 59, RA 32, and PSS 63%) and PBMC (SLE 54, RA 71, and PSS 57%). However, active HFV infection existed only in patients with the bel1 sequence in both plasma and PBMC. In SLE patients, antibodies against Bel1 (7.1%) and Pol (4.5%) were also detected. The results suggest a possible association between HFV infection and these autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Bacteremia in patients with hematological malignancies.

BACKGROUND: An appropriate regimen in the empirical therapy of neutropenic fever episodes must be individualized at each institution. Hospitals have different patterns of microbial isolates and antibiotic resistance that must be taken into account. The aim of this study was to investigate isolates of bacteremia and their antibiotic susceptibility in patients with hematological malignancies. METHODS: All positive blood cultures at a medical center in Taiwan between 1999 and 2002 from patients with hematological malignancies were evaluated. Eleven kinds of antibiotics were tested for antimicrobial activities. The risk factors for mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: Three hundred seventy-one episodes of bacteremia in 266 patients with hematological malignancies were recorded. Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) were still predominant and accounted for 78.2% of isolates, followed by gram-positive cocci for 20.8% of isolates, and anaerobes for 1% of isolates. Escherichia coli was the most common isolated organism accounting for 27.5% of GNB isolates. Other isolates included Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11%), and Enterobacter cloacae (10.1%). The most isolated microorganisms were susceptible to cefoperazone/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime or imipenem. Age, GNB microorganism and inadequate empirical antibiotics were risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that cefoperazone/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime or imipenem is an ideal empirical therapy.

In vitro activities of beta-lactam antibiotics alone and in combination with sulbactam against Gram-negative bacteria.

The resistance rates of ampicillin/sulbactam 2:1 against imipenem-susceptible and -resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were 23.5 and 30%, respectively. Ceftazidime/sulbactam combination showed significant reduction of resistant rates against Enterobacter cloacae, A. baumannii, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae. MIC90 of cefoperazone against E. cloacae, Serratia marcescens, A. baumannii and ESBL K. pneumoniae were > 128 mg/l. Addition of sulbactam enhanced the antimicrobial activities significantly. When imipenem was combined with sulbactam, the resistant rates against imipenem-resistant A. baumanni were significantly reduced. Cefepime/sulbactam combination was active against imipenem-resistant A. baumanni. The resistance rates of aztreonam/sulbactam combination against E. cloacae, imipenem-sensitive and resistant A. baumannii, ESBL K. pneumoniae were lowered significantly. The cefotaxime/sulbactam combination showed a significant improvement of activities against E. cloacae, S. marcescens, A. baumannii and ESBL K. pneumoniae.