Enhancing effect of macroporous adsorption resin on gamma-aminobutyric acid production by Enterococcus faecium in whole-cell biotransformation system

Amino Acids - Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthesis depended to a great extent on the biotransformation characterization of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and process conditions. In this...     

Hemoglobin Levels and Weaning Outcome of Mechanical Ventilation in Difficult-To-Wean Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction

The effect of hemoglobin levels on the weaning outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients remains under debate, particularly for the patients with difficult weaning. This study aims to evaluate the effect of hemoglobin levels on weaning outcomes in difficult-to-wean patients.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a university-affiliated teaching hospital in Taiwan. Patients who fulfilled the criteria of difficult weaning were enrolled. Medical records were reviewed to obtain data on hemograms, biochemistry tests, transfusion records, comorbidities and weaning outcome. The association between hemoglobin levels and 30-day weaning outcomes was evaluated using a logistic regression model.

Results

A total of 751 patients received mechanical ventilation during the study period, 138 of whom fulfilled the criteria of difficult weaning. Compared with the patients whose hemoglobin was <8 g/dL, those with higher hemoglobin levels were more likely to be successfully weaned (odds ratio [OR], 3.69; 95% CI, 1.22–11.15 for hemoglobin 8–10 g/dL and OR, 4.16, 95% CI, 1.30–13.29 for hemoglobin >10 g/dL). Multivariate analysis showed that the odds ratio for weaning success remained significant for hemoglobin levels of 8–10 g/dL (adjusted OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.07–10.15) with borderline significance for hemoglobin level > 10 g/dL (adjusted OR, 2.95, 95% CI, 0.88–9.96).

Conclusions

Hemoglobin level is independently associated with weaning outcome in difficult-to-wean patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether a restrictive transfusion trigger for acute critical illness is also appropriate for such patients.     

喀斯特季节性雨林蚬木种群的增长模型

蚬木是喀斯特季节性雨林的优势种和特征种,研究蚬木种群的增长过程将为深入理解喀斯特季节性雨林动态提供基础。根据一个15hm2固定样地的调查数据,采用logistic模型及其4种改进模型对蚬木种群的增长过程进行了拟合,用残差平方和、决定系数和AIC准则对拟合的模型进行评价。结果表明:李新运模型和刘金福模型的拟合效果较好,但综合考虑模型的拟合效果和模型的简洁性,logistic模型和S形增长过程模型为较优模型。用logistic模型对蚬木种群的增长过程进行深入分析发现,种群增长最快的时期为50a左右,而在150a后,种群逐渐进入增长饱和期。种群目前接近增长饱和期,所以应加强保护,以维持蚬木群落的稳定发展。     

越南荨麻科楼梯草属和赤车属植物新记录

报道了7个楼梯草属和赤车属植物(荨麻科)新纪录,它们分别为锐齿楼梯草(E. cyrtandrifolium),变黄楼梯草(E. xanthophyllum),对叶楼梯草(E. sinense),宽叶楼梯草(E. platyphyllum),托叶楼梯草(E. nasutum),短叶赤车(P. brevifolia)和华南赤车(P. grijsii)。列出了各个物种的标本引证和地理分布情况。     

广西弄岗国家级自然保护区植物物种多样性初步研究

对广西弄岗国家级自然保护区(以下简称弄岗保护区)维管植物物种多样性组成,包括对异名的订正、新发现类群和新发表类群的添加以及广西新记录种、特有种、国家或区级重点保护物种的统计等进行整理和研究。结果表明:弄岗保护区共计有维管植物1752种,隶属于184科810属。其中蕨类植物中国特有种39种、种子植物广西特有种101种、岩溶特有植物278种、珍稀濒危植物33种、广西重点保护野生植物73种、广西新记录种9种以及植物新类群17种。     

越南苦苣苔科植物四新记录种

报道了4个苦苣苔科(Gesneriaceae)植物在越南的分布新记录,其中1种为半蒴苣苔属(Hemiboea)的红苞半蒴苣苔(H.rubribracteata),2种为报春苣苔属(Primulina Hance)的文采报春苣苔(P.wentsaii)和疏花报春苣苔(P.laxi flora),还有1种为吊石苣苔属(Lysionotus)的桂黔吊石苣苔(L.aesch ynanthoides)。文中列出了每个种的标本引证和地理分布情况。     

5-Azido neuraminic acid thioglycoside as sialylation donor

5-Azido neuraminic acid thioglycoside with O-benzyl protecting groups was synthesized. The sialylations of this new donor type showed good alpha-selectivities for certain primary hydroxyls.     

Risk Factors of Pneumothorax after Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Biopsy for Peripheral Lung Lesions

Background

The risk of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy-related pneumothorax is a major concern and warrants further studies. The aim of our study was to estimate the risk of pneumothorax after this procedure and identify its risk factors.

Methods

From 2007 to 2011, 399 patients who underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy for peripheral lung lesions were included in this study. The variables analyzed included patient factors, lesion factors and procedure factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for pneumothorax.

Results

The incidence of pneumothorax was 3.3% (13/399). Chest tube placement was required for 31% (4/13) of pneumothoraces. Independent risk factors for pneumothorax included pulmonary emphysema (OR, 55.09; 95% CI, 9.37–324.03; p<0.001) and probe position adjacent to the lesion (OR, 17.01; 95% CI, 2.85–101.64; p = 0.002). The number of biopsy specimens, age, sex, history of prior lung surgery and lesion size, location and character did not influence the risk of pneumothorax in our analyses.

Conclusions

The risk of pneumothorax after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy is low. To further reduce the risk of pneumothorax, every effort should be made to advance the endobronchial ultrasound probe into the bronchus where it is imaged within the target lesion before embarking on transbronchial biopsy.     

高碘酸钠和戊二醛交联法构建的R-藻红蛋白-C-藻蓝蛋白交联物能量传递效率的比较研究

从单细胞蓝藻钝顶螺旋藻中纯化C-藻蓝蛋白,从海洋红藻多管藻纯化R-藻红蛋白.分别用高碘酸钠氧化法和戊二醛法将二者共价连接为R-藻红蛋白-C-藻蓝蛋白交联物,再用Sephadex G-200柱层析纯化.光谱分析表明,用两种方法构建的共价交联物都可以将激发能从R-藻红蛋白传递到C-藻蓝蛋白.二者相比,高碘酸钠氧化法构建的共价交联物的能量传递效率更高.     

Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Epidemiology of Escherichia coli Causing Bloodstream Infections in Three Hospitals in Shanghai,China

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most frequent and lethal causes of bloodstream infections (BSIs). We carried out a retrospective multicenter study on antimicrobial resistance and phylogenetic background of clinical E. coli isolates recovered from bloodstream in three hospitals in Shanghai. E. coli isolates causing BSIs were consecutively collected between Sept 2013 and Sept 2014. Ninety isolates randomly selected (30 from each hospital) were enrolled in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion. PCR was used to detect antimicrobial resistance genes coding for β-lactamases (TEM, CTX-M, OXA, etc.), carbapenemases (IMP, VIM, KPC, NDM-1 and OXA-48), and phylogenetic groups. eBURST was applied for analysis of multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The resistance rates for penicillins, second-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolone and tetracyclines were high (>60%). Sixty-one of the 90 (67.8%) strains enrolled produced ESBLs and no carbapenemases were found. Molecular analysis showed that CTX-M-15 (25/61), CTX-M-14 (18/61) and CTX-M-55 (9/61) were the most common ESBLs. Phylogenetic group B2 predominated (43.3%) and exhibited the highest rates of ESBLs production. ST131 (20/90) was the most common sequence type and almost assigned to phylogenetic group B2 (19/20). The following sequence types were ST405 (8/90) and ST69 (5/90). Among 61 ESBL-producers isolates, B2 (26, 42.6%) and ST131 (18, 29.5%) were also the most common phylogenetic group and sequence type. Genetic diversity showed no evidence suggesting a spread of these antimicrobial resistant isolates in the three hospitals. In order to provide more comprehensive and reliable epidemiological information for preventing further dissemination, well-designed and continuous surveillance with more hospitals participating was important.