ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infections in Hunan province from 2013 to 2017, and provide evidences for control, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.MethodsNinety-one hospitalized patients were confirmed with H7N9 infection in Hunan. Excluding 2 patients less than 18 years old and 10 with missing data, 79 patients with H7N9 infection were analyzed.ResultsMost confirmed cases were affected in the second and fifth epidemic wave and number of patients in the fifth wave was more than the sum in prior 4 waves. Epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms and case fatality did not change significantly. Administration of antiviral drugs was more active in the fifth wave [from illness onset to antiviral drug: (6.3±2.4)d vs. (7.6±2.4)d, P=0.047]. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that shock (OR=4.683, 95%CI 1.136–19.301, P=0.033) was the independent risk factor of H7N9 infections. There were no significant differences in case fatality among group oseltamivir, group oseltamivir+peramivir, and group peramivir.ConclusionsPatients with avian influenza A (H7N9) increased in the fifth wave but clinical characteristics changed little. Antiviral treatment should be more active. Shock is an independent risk factor of H7N9 infections. Oseltamivir-peramivir biotherapy can not reduce case fatality compared with oseltamivir or peramivir monotherapy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of epileptics with pregnancy and then provide reference for standardized management of epileptics with pregnancy. MethodsFrom June 2012 to June 2021, epileptics with pregnancy who delivered in Jinan Central Hospital were selected as the research subjects. The clinical data such as the application of Antiseizure medications (ASMs) during pregnancy, seizure frequency, pregnancy outcomes, delivery ways, offspring feeding ways and the incidence of complications were investigated and analyzed. ResultsAmong 36 epileptics with pregnancy, 20 cases (55.56%) were treated with ASMs alone, 5 cases (13.88%) were treated with combined medication, and 11 cases (30.56%) were treated without ASMs during pregnancy. 15 cases (41.67%) adhered to systematic application of ASMs, 17 cases (47.22%) did not adhere to systematic application of ASMs, and 4 cases (11.11%) had unknown medication history. The frequency of seizures increased in 5 cases, decreased in 7 cases and unchanged in 24 cases during pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes: full-term delivery in 33 cases (91.67%), preterm delivery in 1 case (2.78%) and abortion in 2 cases (5.56%). Delivery mode: cesarean section in 31 cases (91.18%), vaginal delivery in 3 cases (8.82%). After delivery, 4 cases (11.76%) were fed with milk powder and 30 cases (88.24%) were breast-fed. Complications: There were 6 cases complicated with anemia (16.67%), 5 cases complicated with gestational hypertension (13.89%), 3 cases complicated with gestational diabetes (8.33%), 4 cases complicated with premature rupture of membranes (11.11%), 2 cases complicated with fetal growth restriction (5.56%), 2 cases complicated with oligohydramnios (5.56%), 3 cases complicated with fetal distress (8.33%) and 3 cases complicated with neonatal asphyxia (8.33%). ConclusionsThe proportion of epileptics with pregnancy who were systematically treated with ASMs was low and the seizures were poorly controlled. There is a lack of standardized management for such patients in clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo explore the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory examination and imaging findings of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outside Hubei Province in 2019.MethodsFrom January 21, 2020 to February 18, 2020, 17 patients with COVID-19 diagnosed by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test in Xianyang Central Hospital of Shaanxi Province and 23 patients in Liaocheng Infectious Disease Hospital of Shandong Province were collected. The information of epidemiology, age, time of onset, first symptom, white blood cell, lymphocyte count, procalcitonin (PCT), serum amyloid protein A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and chest CT were collected and analyzed.Results40.0% of the 40 patients had a clear history of contact with Wuhan or other areas of Hubei, 60.0% had no clear exposure history, 60.0% were aggregative diseases, 40.0% were imported patients; the average visit time was (4.9±3.5) d, 35% of the patients had underlying diseases; 75.0% of the patients had fever, 7.5% of the initial symptoms were cough, 5.0% pharyngitis, 2.5% headache, and 10.0% were asymptomatic. In the laboratory examination, 77.5% of the patients' white blood cells were normal, 45.0% of the patients' lymphocyte count could be decreased, 72.5% and 55.0% of the patients' SAA and CRP increased respectively, 92.5% of the patients' PCT was normal, 92.5% of the patients were positive for the first nucleic acid test, and 72.5% of the patients' chest CT showed multiple ground glass lesions in one or both lungs, and the positive coincidence rate between the initial nucleic acid test and the chest CT test was 92.5%. 90% of the patients in the group were common type, and all patients were treated with aerosol inhalation of α-interferon combined with lopinavir/ritonavir tablets, 62.5% were treated with antibiotics and 15.0% were treated with glucocorticoid. All patients were improved and 14 patients were cured and discharged from hospital.ConclusionsSARS-COV-2 is highly contagious, family aggregation infection and asymptomatic infection may be the main mode of transmission outside Hubei Province, mild and common types are common, there are no specific changes in laboratory examination, and the condition is stable after treatment.
ObjectiveSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients from a SLE family with homogeneity can provide experimental basis for individualized diagnosis and treatment by studying the characteristics of laboratory tests and symptoms.
MethodsLaboratory tests were analyzed for three SLE patients in the family, and set up the screen model by three laboratory tests (anitnuclear antibody positive, rheumatoid factor positive and IgE positive, ANA+RF+IgE+). All SLE cases were screened from latest four years as SLE subtype patients (named "similar family SLE patients"), then the family laboratory tests and clinical characteristics were analyzed.
ResultsA total of 55 patients (6.27%) were screened as similar family SLE patients from individual SLE patients according to model from 877 cases. The laboratory tests of similar family SLE patients including creatinine, WBC, CRP were significant lower than other SLE patients (P < 0.05), but significant higher for the IgG, positive rate of anti-SSA and anti-SSB (P < 0.05), and the alopecia and skin rashes were more common in similar family SLE patients than other SLE patients.
ConclusionsThe ANA+RF+IgE+ SLE patients are of lower inflammatory state and kidney involvement; Clinical symptom is priority to alopecia and skin rashes.
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical characteristics of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients.
MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 67 patients (elderly group) with liver cirrhosis aged ≥60 treated between January 1998 and December 2010. Then, we compared these cases with another 72 liver cirrhosis patients (non-elderly group) aged<60.
ResultsThe incidence of jaundice, ascites and albumin deficiency in the elderly patients was significantly higher than that in the non-elderly patients (P<0.05). Complications in the elderly group were relatively more, including electrolyte imbalance, infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, liver and kidney syndrome and liver and lung syndrome, and the incidence of these complications was all significantly higher than the non-elderly group (P<0.05) except the liver and kidney syndrome (P>0.05). The causes of liver cirrhosis in both groups were similar. The most common cause was hepatitis B virus infection, followed by chronic alcoholism, but in the elderly group, chronic alcoholism, cholestasis, poisoning from medicines and poisons and liver blood circulation disorders were more common than the non-elderly group (P<0.05); hepatitis B and non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis were more common in the non-elderly group than in the elderly group (P<0.05). The elderly group had more Child-Pugh class C cases (P<0.05), while there were more class A cases in the non-elderly group (P<0.05). Twenty-six patients died in the elderly group with a mortality rate of 38.8%; while only 13 died in the non-elderly group with a mortality rate of 18.1%. The difference of mortality rate was significant between the two groups (P<0.05). Common causes of death in the elderly group were infection, hepatic encephalopathy, and electrolyte disorders and gastrointestinal bleeding, while the common causes of death in the non-elderly group were gastrointestinal bleeding and electrolyte disorders.
ConclusionThe etiology, clinical manifestations and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients differ from those in younger patients. We must pay more attention on treating complications of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to provide a basis for clinical classification, diagnosis, and treatment.MethodsThe clinical data of COVID-19 patients comfirmed between January 17th and February 13th, 2020 were collected, single-factor test and multivariate logistic regression were used to compare the relevant indicators between the mild or common cases and the severe or critically severe cases.ResultsA total of 202 patients with COVID-19 were included, with an average age of 45.2 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1∶1.02. There were 146 patients (72.3%) without underlying diseases. The average time from onset to diagnosis was 5.4 d, and 31 were clustering epidemic cases. There were 13 (6.4%) mild cases, 151 (74.8%) common cases, 32 (15.8%) severe cases, and 6 (3.0%) critically severe cases. The main clinical symptoms were fever, cough, gasp, and diarrhea. Of the 202 patients, 135 (66.8%) had normal white blood cell count, 22 (10.9%) had lymphocyte ratio >40%, 18 (8.9%) had elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 11 (5.4%) had elevated creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CKMB), and 143 (70.8%) had elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Single factor analyses showed that there were statistically significant differences between the mild or common cases and the severe or critically severe cases in the days of diagnosis, age, underlying disease, percentage of neutrophil, percentage of lymphocyte, arterial oxygen partial pressure, CRP, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, CKMB, and AST (all P<0.05); multiple logistic regression analysis showed that CRP [odds ratio (OR)=1.035, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.015, 1.055), P=0.001], CKMB [OR=1.078, 95%CI (1.023, 1.135), P=0.005], and AST [OR=1.042, 95%CI (1.016, 1.069), P=0.002] were correlated with clinical classification.ConclusionsCOVID-19 patients are mild or common cases mostly. CRP, CKMB, and AST are elevated in some cases, which may be related to early inflammation and certain myocardial damages and are independent risk factors for predicting classification.
ObjectivesTo identify the clinical characteristics and prognosis for CRKP (Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia, CRKP) infection among ICU patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. MethodsWe conducted a retrospectively analysis in which 19 patients infected by CRKP with another 21 CSKP (Carbapenem-sensitive Klebsiella pneumoniae, CSKP) infected patients from January 2017 to April 2018. Risk factors for CRKP infection were assessed. ResultsThe lower respiratory tract is the most common site of CRKP infection in our department. CRKP infection was associated with several clinical symptoms, particularly a higher incidence of sepsis shock (χ2=8.338, P=0.004), more application of the combined medicine (χ2=26.3, P<0.001), prolonged hospital stays (χ2=–2.217, P=0.027) and more expenses on antibiotics (χ2=12.855, P=0.005), and the declined survival rates in 14 days (χ2=4.269, P=0.039) and 21 days (χ2 =5.647, P=0.017). The resistance rate of CRKP strains was high, however no resistance to tegafycline was found. The risk factors of CRKP infection included three generations of cephalosporin and/or hydrocarbonase antibiotics exposure (χ2 =6.388, P=0.041), exposure time of three generations of cephalosporin (U=–2.187, P=0.029), exposure time of hydrocarbonase antibiotics (U=–2.103, P=0.035), tracheal intubation (χ2=6.352, P=0.012), tracheotomy (χ2 =4.821, P=0.028), SOFA score (t=4.505, P<0.001) and Charlson comorbidity index (t=3.041, P=0.004). The SOFA score was the only factor independently associated with CRKP bacteremia (P=0.02). ConclusionsCRKP infections in ICU directly affect the course of disease, survival time and treatment expenses of patients. Therefore, monitoring bacterial resistance, rational use of antibiotics, and protection of the immune function are of great significance for prevention and treatment of CRKP infection.
Objective
To analyze the BEST1 gene mutations and clinical features in patients with multifocal vitelliform retinopathy (MVR).
Methods
This is a retrospective case series study. Five MVR families with MVR, including 9 patients and 10 healthy family members were recruited. Clinical evaluations were performed in all MVR patients and their family members, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), refraction, slit-lamp examination, 90 D preset lens examination, gonioscopy, color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (AF), ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and axial length measurement. Electro-oculogram (EOG) was performed in 12 eyes and visual field were performed in 13 eyes. Peripheral blood samples were collected in all subjects to extract genomic DNA. Coding exons and flanking intronic regions of BEST1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by Sanger sequencing.
Results
Among the 5 MVR families, 3 probands from three families had family history, including 1 family had autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Two patients from 2 families were sporadic cases. Screening of BEST1 gene identified four mutations, including three missense mutations (c.140G>T, p.R47L; c.232A>T, p.I78F; c.698C>T, p.P233L) and 1 deletion mutation (c.910_912del, p.D304del). Two mutations (p.R47L and p.I78F) were novel. The BCVA of affected eyes ranged from hand motion to 1.0. The mean IOP was (30.39±11.86) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The mean refractive diopter was (-0.33±1.68) D. Twelve eyes had angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) and 4 eyes had angle closure (AC). EOG Arden ratio was below 1.55 in all patients. The mean anterior chamber depth was (2.17±0.29) mm. Visual field showed defects varied from paracentral scotoma to diffuse defects. The mean axial length was (21.87±0.63) mm. All MVR patients had multifocal vitelliform lesions in the posterior poles of retina. ACG eyes demonstrated pale optic disc with increased cup-to-disc ratio. OCT showed retinal edema, extensive serous retinal detachment and subretinal hyper-reflective deposits which had high autofluorescence in AF. The genetic testing and clinical examination were normal in 10 family members.
Conclusions
MVR patients harbored heterozygous mutation in the BEST1 gene. Two novel mutations (p.R47L and p.I78F) were identified. These patients had clinical features of multifocal vitelliform retinopathy and abnormal EOG. Most patients suffered from AC/ACG.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical characteristics and treatment prognosis of patients with ocular toxocariasis (OT). MethodsA retrospective clinical trial. From March 2018 to September 2021, 40 eyes of 40 OT patients diagnosed by ophthalmic examination in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) examination. Color Doppler ultrasound flow imaging (CDFI), fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in 25, 26 and 26 eyes, respectively. Among the 40 patients, there were 23 males (57.5%, 23/40) and 17 females (42.5%, 17/40). All patients were monocular. Thirty patients (75.0%, 30/40) were younger than 18 years old, with the mean age of (9.60±0.60) years. Ten patients (25.0%, 10/40) were great than or equal to 18 years old, with the mean age of (34.60±4.52) years. Thirty-three patients (82.5%, 33/40) lived in rural areas for a long time. There were 27 patients (67.5%, 27/40) with a history of contact with dogs and cats. In 40 eyes, peripheral granuloma (peripheral type), posterior pole granuloma (posterior pole type), vitreous opacity similar to endophthalmitis (turbid type) and hybrid type were 18(45.0%, 18/40), 11(27.5%, 11/40), 6(15.0%, 6/40) ang 5(12.5%,5/40), respectively. All patients were treated with drugs and/or surgery after definite diagnosis. There were 28 eyes of peripheral type, posterior pole type and hybrid type, 17 eyes were treated with surgery and 11 eyes with drug treatment, respectively. Five eyes with turbid type were only treated with drugs. In 40 patients, 33 patients participated in follow-up. The follow-up time after treatment was (18.78±9.44) months. The improvement of BCVA was observed. The number of eyes with different BCVA before and after treatment was compared by χ2 test or Fisher's test. ResultsAt the first visit, the BCVA ranged from light perception to 0.6, including 20 eyes with BCVA ＜0.1, 13 eyes with BCVA 0.1-0.3, and 7 eyes with BCVA ＞0.3. The posterior vitreous anterior limiting membrane was thickened in 24 eyes (60.0%, 24/40). There were 27 eyes (67.5%, 27/40) with lamellar vitreous opacity and 22 eyes (55.0%, 22/40) with peripheral/posterior pole granulomas. Among 25 eyes examined by CDFI, 14 eyes (56.0%, 14/25) showed characteristic stratified or diffuse opacity in vitreous body. Of the 26 eyes examined by FFA, 15 eyes (57.7%, 15/26) had "fern-like" leakage of retinal capillaries, and the lesion had a patchy non-perfused area. In 26 eyes examined by OCT, epiretinal membrane, cystoid macular edema and vitreoretinal traction were 8 (30.8%, 8/26), 5 (19.2%, 5/26) and 2 (7.7%, 2/26) eyes, respectively. At the last follow-up, compared with before treatment, the BCVA of 5 eyes with turbid type increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). In 28 eyes with peripheral type, posterior pole type and hybrid type, 17 eyes with surgical treatment improved BCVA, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=6.258, P＜0.05). In 11 eyes only treated with drugs, BCVA remained unchanged, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=0.594, P＞0.05). ConclusionsOT patients are mostly children; retinal granulomas, gray-white hyperplastic membrane behind lens or vitreous stratified opacity are specific characteristics. OT is mainly treated by glucocorticoid drugs and vitrectomy.
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of interstitial pneumonia patients with positive anti-signal recognition particle antibody (SRP-IP), and compare those with interstitial pneumonia patients with positive anti-Jo-1 antibody (Jo1-IP). Methods Clinical data of SRP-IP patients admitted to Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Drum Tower Hospital affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School from May 2017 to May 2021, including clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, pulmonary function tests and radiographic types, were retrospectively analyzed. The results were compared with those of Jo1-IP patients admitted during the same period. Results The SRP-IP patients were older than Jo1-IP patients (P=0.044). There were no significant differences in clinical manifestations or pulmonary function tests results between the two groups. The proportion of SRP-IP patients combined with positive anti-EJ antibody (P<0.001) or perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (P=0.028) was significantly higher than that of Jo1-IP patients, while the proportion of SRP-IP patients combined positive anti-Ro-52 antibody was significantly lower than that of Jo1-IP patients (P=0.009). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of SRP-IP patients was faster than that of Jo1-IP patients (P=0.026). The serum IgM level (P=0.039) and peripheral NK cell counts (P=0.013) of SRP-IP patients were significantly lower than those of Jo1-IP patients. The most common chest CT findings in SRP-IP patients were organizing pneumonia and the proportion of usual interstitial pneumonia in SRP-IP patients was higher than that of Jo1-IP patients (P=0.032). The levels of creatine kinase (P=0.010), creatine kinase myocardial brand (P=0.025) and alanine aminotransferase (P=0.045) in interstitial pneumonia patients with high titer (++~+++) SRP antibody were higher than those in interstitial pneumonia patients with low titer (+) SRP antibody. SRP-IP and Jo1-IP patients were mainly treated with glucocorticoids combined with or without immunosuppressants, and there was no significant difference in the choice of treatment between the two groups. The proportion of patients with Jo1-IP evaluated as improved was significantly higher than that of patients with SRP-IP (p=0.005), while the proportion of patients with SRP-IP evaluated as stable was significantly higher than that of patients with Jo1-IP (P=0.035). The mortality of SRP-IP patients within 3 months was significantly higher than that of Jo1-IP patients (P=0.028). Conclusion Compared with Jo1-IP patients, SRP-IP patients are older, have faster ESR, are more likely to be combined with other autoantibodies, have lower serum IgM level and peripheral blood NK cell count, have more UIP imaging manifestations, and have a worse short-term prognosis.
