Objective To analyze the differences in microbial communities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with simple pneumonia versus those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) combined with lower respiratory tract infection using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Methods Patients hospitalized for pulmonary infections at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between December 2021 and March 2023 were included. Based on the presence of COPD, the patients were divided into two groups: those with simple pneumonia and those with COPD combined with lower respiratory tract infection. mNGS was employed to detect microbes in BALF, and the microbial community distribution characteristics of the two groups were analyzed. Results A total of 97 patients were included, of whom 80 (81.82%) had positive microbial detection results. The smoking index in COPD group with lower respiratory tract infection was significantly higher than that in the group with simple pneumonia (t= −3.62, P=0.001). Differences in microbial community distributions were observed between the groups. At the genus level, 19 species of microorganisms were detected in the simple pneumoniapulmonary infection group, including 8 bacteria (42.11%), 2 fungi (10.53%), 3 viruses (15.79%), and 6 other types of microorganisms (31.58%). In contrast, 22 types of microbes were detected in COPD group with lower respiratory tract infection, including 10 bacteria (47.62%), 3 fungi (14.29%), 4 viruses (19.05%), and 4 other types of microorganisms (19.05%). Differences were also noted in reads per million (RPM) values; bacterial RPM values at the genus level were significantly higher in the COPD group during non-severe pneumonia compared to the simple pneumonia group (Z=–2.706, P=0.007). In the patients with severe pneumonia, RPM values at the genus and species levels were significantly higher than those in non-severe pneumonia (Z=−2.202, P=0.028; Z=−2.141, P=0.032). In COPD combined with severe pneumonia, bacterial RPM values were significantly higher at the species level compared to non-severe pneumonia (Z=−2.367, P=0.017). ConclusionsThere are differences in the distribution of microbial communities at the genus and species levels in BALF from patients with COPD combined with lower respiratory tract infection compared to those with simple pulmonary pneumonia. Bacteria are the predominant microbial type in both groups, but the dominant bacterial species differ between them. Simple pneumonia are primarily associated with bacterial, viral, and other types of microbial infections, while COPD combined with lower respiratory tract infection is predominantly associated with fungal and bacterial infections. RPM values may serve as an indicator of the severity of pneumonia.
Post operational recovery from cardiac surgery can be affected by many factors, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors. Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) , one of the major complications, has been widely accepted as a measure to evaluate the performance and outcomes of cardiac surgeries. Great progress has been made in the studies of risk factors contributing to PMV following cardiac surgeries in recent years. However, no clear and effective measures and approaches are available yet to prevent PMV. In this review, the authors try to summarize the risk factors that are associated with PMV throughout the perioperative period of cardiac surgery, as well as possible interventions when applicable.
Objective To systematically review the health economic evaluations of using long-term rhythm-control antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) for patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods Databases including PubMed, EMbase, Scopus, CNKI, SinoMed, WanFang Data, and official websites of well-established health technology assessment (HTA) institutions were electronically searched to present the economic evaluations of AAD and the recommendations of HTA institutions based on drug economy from inception to April 23rd, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data and systematic review was then performed. Results A total of 19 studies were included, including 11 cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis studies and 8 official documents from HTA institutions. Only 5 (45.5%) economic evaluations were of relatively high quality, and English language studies were of higher quality than Chinese language studies ones. The included studies lacked elements that CHEERS 2022 concerns, such as health economics analysis plans, equity and distributional effects, engagement with patients and other stakeholders and the impact on the study. Dronedarone and amiodarone were the main focus of the evaluation, and the study results showed that dronedarone was cost-effective compared with other drugs in different study designs and national settings. However, there were differences between the recommendations of HTA agencies and the results of economic evaluation studies. Conclusion The completeness of health economics evaluations needs to be improved, along with the quality of clinical evidence in the field of AF-AAD for Chinese patients. Additionally, the informational value of drugs should be thoroughly investigated through budget impact analysis and distributional cost-effectiveness analysis to provide evidence of high-quality studies for decision-makers in China.
Objective To study the mid-term and long-term postoperative results of Bentall procedure in patients with Marfan syndrome. Methods From February 2009 to July 2016, ten adolescent patients (mean age of 12.30±2.31 years ranged 9-16 years, mean height of 172.50±12.55 mm, mean weight of 48.60±17.08 kg) underwent Bentall procedure in our hospital. All these teenage patients were with Marfan syndrome, 6 boys and 4 girls. Five of them underwent mitral valve replacement procedure at the same time while 2 of them with tricuspid valvuloplasty. Results No mortality was found in hospitalization. One patient suffered respiratory failure after surgery. No renal failure, mediastinal infection or re-operation caused by bleeding were observed. All were well followed up for 62 months. One died of malignant arrhythmia, the other were in good condition with the latest interview. Conclusion Teenage patients with Marfan syndrome who underwent Bentall procedure have favorable outcomes in mid-term and long-term follow-up, they probably will not suffer anti-coagulation complications and restriction of growth.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the involvement of renal artery in acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) using CT angiography (CTA) and to analyze the difference of renal function among different types of renal artery involvement.MethodsFrom January 2016 to November 2017, 151 patients of acute TAAD with renal artery involvement were included in the study. There were 118 males and 33 females, with an average age of 47.93±10.53 years. All patients underwent aortic CTA to confirm the TAAD. According to CTA, involvement of one side of renal artery can be divided into four types: type A, large tear near renal artery orifice, difficult to distinguish true or false lumen; type B, the orifice of the renal artery originates entirely from the false lumen; type C, the orifice of the renal artery originates entirely from the true lumen; type D, renal artery dissection is observed, renal artery intima can be seen. The levels of serum creatinine (sCr) and creatinine clearance (CC) in all groups were analyzed and compared. ResultsThe results of one-way ANOVA analysis showed that there was no significant difference in sCr or CC among the groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in age, sex, proportion of hypertension history and onset time among the above groups (P>0.05).ConclusionThe three most common types of renal artery involvement were BC type, CC type, and AC type. The types of renal artery involvement do not affect renal function.
Objective To evaluate the short- and middle-term outcomes of surgical treatment for distal aortic arch lesions using stented elephant trunk implantation combined with transposition of left subclavian artery to left common carotid artery. Methods The clinical data of 14 patients with distal aortic arch lesions undergoing stented elephant trunk procedure with left subclavain artery transposition under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion from May 2009 to November 2015 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. All of them were males with a mean age of 52±14 years ranging from 20 to 69 years. Hypertension was observed in nine patients, coronary artery disease in five and prior cerebral infarction in one. History of percutaneous coronary intervention was noted in one patient, history of Bentall operation in one, ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in one and endovascular aneurysm repair in one. Results There was no hospital death. Concomitant procedures included coronary artery bypass grafting in two patients and plasty of the ascending aorta replacement in one. Mean duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay was 21±7 h and 43±19 h, respectively. All patients survived and were discharged. One patient was lost to follow-up and no patient died during the follow-up. Postoperative computed tomography revealed good patency of the anastomotic site between the left subclavian artery and the left common carotid artery. Conclusion Stented elephant trunk procedure with left subclavain artery transposition obtains satisfactory surgical results in patients with distal aortic arch lesions.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of passive immunization of fetus via mother on preventing the transmission of HBV from mother to infant. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study was designed. Fifty-two HBeAg positive pregnant women were randomly allocated to two groups, of which 28 women were allocated to trial group, and injected with 200 IU of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) for 1 injection at the 28th, 32nd and 36th weeks of pregnancy respectively, 24 women allocated to control group were given no injection of HBIG. The samples of cord blood from the newborns in two groups were collected and tested for HBeAg and HBV-DNA by ELISA and FQ-PCR. Results The rates of HBeAg positive in the newborns were 21.4% in trial group, 79.2% in control group. There was statistically significant difference between two groups ( χ2=17.26, Plt;0.01, RR=0.27). The rates of HBV-DNA positive in newborns were 25.0% in trial group, 83.3% in control group, showing statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ2=17.62, Plt;0.01, RR=0.30). In the trial group, there were 21 newborns with HBV-DNA negative, 7 with HBV-DNA positive. HBV-DNA quantities were significantly lower in 7 newborns than in their mothers (T=28, P=0.02, Wilcoxon test). Conclusions Multiple injections of HBIG to pregnant women with HBeAg positive before labor could greatly reduce mother-infant transmission of HBV.