Objective To investigate predictive value of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with liver cirrhosis ascites. Methods The clinical data of 140 patients with liver cirrhosis ascites treated in our hospital from January 2012 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the presence of SBP, these patients were divided into SBP group and non-SBP group. The clinical data were compared between these two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to assess their sensitivities and specificities of PCT and CRP for diagnosis of SBP. Results The PCT and CRP levels of the SBP group were significantly higher than those of the non-SBP group (P<0.05). The differences of serum ALT, AST and white cell count between the SBP group and the non-SBP were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve of PCT and CRP were 0.895 and 0.926, their corresponding cut-off value 2.1 μg/L and 24.8 mg/L, the sensitivities were 86.9% and 89.5%, the specificities were 85.1% and 83.5%, respectively. Conclusion Abnormally elevated PCT and CRP levels might have an important detective value for SBP in patients with liver cirrhosis ascites.
Objective To observe the clinical manifestations, therapeutic efficacy and results of bacterial culture of seven patients of scleral buckle (SB) infection after scleral bulking surgery. Methods Seven patients (seven eyes) underwent SB removal for SB infections were enrolled in this study. The patients included four males (four eyes) and three females (three eyes). The patients aged from 12 to 69 years, with a mean age of 42.7 years. There were four right eyes and three left eyes. The duration (interval between primary surgery and SB removal) ranged from two weeks to ten years, with a mean of 47.5 months. Six patients were concurrent with systemic disease. All the patients were examined for visual acuity, slit lamp microscope and indirect ophthalmoscope examination. Some patients also received external eye examination and fundus photography. Whether SB exposure or not and the clinical manifestations were observed. SB removal was performed in all the patients and the SB were sent to the laboratory for bacterial culture. The follow-up time ranged from two weeks to eight months, with a mean of 3.2 months. Whether infections recurrence and retinal detachment or not were observed. Results SB exposure was in three eyes. Obvious ocular pain and swelling, conjunctival hyperemia and visible yellow-white discharge in the conjunctival sac were presented in two eyes; irritation and discharge were in one eye. No SB exposure was in four eyes. Ocular pain and swelling, conjunctival hyperemia and visible yellow-white discharge in the conjunctival sac were presented in two eyes. Repeated subconjunctival hemorrhage and diplopia were presented in one eye. Visual acuity decline, conjunctival sac discharge and total retinal detachment were in one eye. All patients had no intraocular inflammation. The infection was controlled after SB removal and the retina was attached during the follow-up. The bacterial culture were all positive, which included Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylcoccus epidermidis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Gram positive corynebacterium, Aspergillus flavus, Kocuria roseus, Streptococcus oralis, Maxwell Corynebacterium. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of SB infection and the pathogenic microorganisms are variable. SB removal can control the infection.
ObjectiveTo analyze the prognostic factors of patients with bacterial bloodstream infection sepsis and to identify independent risk factors related to death, so as to potentially develop one predictive model for clinical practice. Method A non-intervention retrospective study was carried out. The relative data of adult sepsis patients with positive bacterial blood culture (including central venous catheter tip culture) within 48 hours after admission were collected from the electronic medical database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, including demographic characters, vital signs, laboratory data, etc. The patients were divided into a survival group and a death group according to in-hospital outcome. The risk factors were analyzed and the prediction model was established by means of multi-factor logistics regression. The discriminatory ability of the model was shown by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The visualization of the predictive model was drawn by nomogram and the model was also verified by internal validation methods with R language. Results A total of 1189 patients were retrieved, and 563 qualified patients were included in the study, including 398 in the survival group and 165 in the death group. Except gender and pathogen type, other indicators yielded statistical differences in single factor comparison between the survival group and the death group. Independent risk factors included in the logistic regression prediction model were: age [P=0.000, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.949 - 0.982], heart rate (P=0.000, 95%CI 0.966 - 0.987), platelet count (P=0.009, 95%CI 1.001 - 1.006), fibrinogen (P=0.036, 95%CI 1.010 - 1.325), serum potassium ion (P=0.005, 95%CI 0.426 - 0.861), serum chloride ion (P=0.054, 95%CI 0.939 - 1.001), aspartate aminotransferase (P=0.03, 95%CI 0.996 - 1.000), serum globulin (P=0.025, 95%CI 1.006 - 1.086), and mean arterial pressure (P=0.250, 95%CI 0.995 - 1.021). The AUC of the prediction model was 0.779 (95%CI 0.737 - 0.821). The prediction efficiency of the total score of the model's nomogram was good in the 210 - 320 interval, and mean absolute error was 0.011, mean squared error was 0.00018. Conclusions The basic vital signs within 48 h admitting into hospital, as well those homeostasis disordering index indicated by coagulation, liver and renal dysfunction are highly correlated with the prognosis of septic patients with bacterial bloodstream infection. Early warning should be set in order to achieve early detection and rescue patients’ lives.
ObjectiveTo observe the multimodal imaging features of the eyes with acute syphilitic post-polar squamous chorioretinitis (ASPPC) at different stages of disease.MethodsA retrospective case study. From July 2016 to March 2019, 8 patients (11 eyes) of ASPPC patients diagnosed in the ophthalmological examination of Yunnan Second People's Hospital were included in the study. Among them, there were 7 males (10 eyes) and 1 female (1 eye); the average age was 48.7±8.9 years; the average course of disease was 13.24 ±11.30 months. All patients underwent fundus color photography, infrared photography (IR), FAF, FFA, OCT, OCT angiography (OCTA). According to the stage and characteristics of the disease, the affected eyes were divided into acute phase and absorption phase, with 7 and 4 eyes respectively. We observed the color fundus images of ASPPC, IR, FAF, FFA, OCT, OCTA image characteristics of different disease stages.ResultsIn the acute phase, the posterior pole subretinal yellow-white squamous lesions, neuroepithelial detachment, and yellow-white exudates were observed in fundus color photography; uneven infrared reflections can be seen in the lesion area by IR; the posterior pole was round or scaly with strong autofluorescence in FAF, the range was larger than the fundus color photography; FFA arteriovenous stage lesions showed fuzzy weak fluorescence, the fluorescence gradually increased with time, the late stage showed a round-shaped strong fluorescence, surrounded by a weak fluorescence ring, and the area with thick exudation was covered by fluorescence; the neuroepithelium of the diseased area was detached, the uniform strong reflection signal can be seen in it by OCT. In the absorption phase, fundus color photography showed the yellow-white scaly lesions under the posterior retina absorption, and the pigment was slightly depleted; IR showed the mottled infrared reflection in the lesion area was significantly reduced compared with the acute phase; FAF showed the posterior spot-like strong autofluorescence, including "leopard spot-like changes" 3 eyes; FFA showed mottled fluorescent staining in the lesion, and no fluorescein leakage or accumulation; OCT showed needle-like protrusions in the RPE layer, and the outer membrane and ellipsoid zone were unclear; OCTA showed weakened choroidal capillary blood flow signal, the signal was missing in some areas.ConclusionsIn the acute phase of ASPPC, the posterior pole subretinal shows yellow-white squamous lesions, neuroepithelial detachment, yellow-white exudate, FFA shows late fluorescein leakage in the lesion area; in the absorption period, the fundus shows yellow-white lesions have been absorbed, and FFA shows fluorescence dyed without any leakage. OCT indicates that the RPE, outer membrane and ellipsoid zone are damaged to varying degrees. OCTA indicates that the choroid of the diseased area had weakened blood flow signal.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of amoxicillin/sulbactam (AMX/SBT) in the treatment of acute bacterial infections. Method A multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted. Ampicillin/sulbactam (AMP/SBT) was chosen as the control drug. 113 patients were enrolled in the study (58 cases in test group and 55 cases in control group). AMX/SUL and AMP/SUL were administered 4.5-6.0 g and 4.5-12.0 g every day respectively. Both drugs were given intravenously for 7-14 days. Results The cure rates and the efficacy rates of the two groups were 75.86%, 80.0% and 94.83%, 98.18% respectively. The β-lactamase producing rates were 67.35% , 69.57% and the bacterial clearance rates were 93.88%, 95.65%.There were no significant differences of the above results between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). There was no serious adverse drug reaction in AMX/SBT groups. Conclusion This study suggests that AMX/SBT is an effective and safe drug for treating acute bacterial infections.
ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of products triggered by endotoxin including cytokines and procalcitonin for differentiating bacterial pneumonia from pulmonary tuberculosis. MethodsFifty patients diagnosed to have hospital-acquired pneumonia and another 50 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis admitted into West China Hospital between January and August 2015 were recruited in this study. The frequencies of CD4+ interferon (IFN)-γ+, CD4+ tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α+, CD4+ interleukin (IL)-2+, CD4+ IL-10+ as well as CD8+IFN-γ+, CD8+TNF-α+, CD8+IL-2+, CD8+IL-10+ populations in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry after endotoxin stimulation. Meanwhile, the levels of procalcitonin, IL-6 and C reactive protein were measured by immunofluorescence staining. ResultsThe frequencies of CD4+ IFN-γ+, CD4+ TNF-α+, CD4+ IL-2+, CD4+ IL-10+ as well as CD8+ IFN-γ+, CD8+ TNF-α+, CD8+ IL-2+, CD8+ IL-10+ populations in the pneumonia group increased significantly compared with those in the tuberculosis group (P < 0.05). The levels of procalcitonin, IL-6 and C-reactive protein in the pneumonia group increased statistically compared with the counterparts in the tuberculosis group (P < 0.05). The positive rates of procalcitonin, IL-6 and C-reactive protein in the pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in the tuberculosis group (P < 0.05). ConclusionMeasurement of products triggered by endotoxin is beneficial for differential diagnosis of pneumonia from tuberculosis.