[Posterior atlanto-axial intraarticular distraction technique as revision surgery to treat atlanto-axial dislocation associated with basilar invagination]

Objective: To examine the effect of posterior atlanto-axial intraarticular distraction technique as revision surgery for failed posterior fossa decompression in patients with basilar invagination(BI) and atlanto-axial dislocation(AAD). Methods: The clinical data of 13 cases of AAD accompanied with BI treated at Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 3 males and 10 females,aged (42.6±9.5) years (range:30 to 63 years). All cases had assimilation of atlas and once underwent posterior fossa decompression. Anterior tissue was released through posterior approach followed by cage implantation into facet joint and occipital-cervical fixation with cantilever technique. The clinical results were evaluated using Japanese Orthopedic Association scale(JOA) and the main radiological measurements including atlantodental interval (ADI), the distance of odontoid tip above Chamberlain line(DCL),clivus-canal angle(CCA) and the length of syrinx were collected. Paired sample t test was used to compared the data before and after operation. Results: All patients underwent surgery successfully, the mean surgical time was (187.7±47.4) minutes (range from 116 to 261 minutes). Twenty occipital condyle screws, 26 C2 pedicle screws and 3 occipital plates were implanted. Clinical symptoms improved in all patients. Twelve patients had complete reduction of basilar invagination and atlanto-axial dislocation, 1 achieved near completely reduction of basilar invagination. The postoperative ADI, DCL and CCA significantly improved((4.3±1.1) mm vs. (1.8±0.8) mm, (11.7±5.0) mm vs. (6.4±2.8) mm, (142.4±7.9)° vs. (133.3±7.9)°, all P<0.01).There were 5 cases with syringomyelia before surgery, and shrinkage of syrinx was observed 1 week after surgery in all cases. Eight patients achieved bone fusion 3 months after surgery, all patients achieved bone fusion 6 months after surgery. The JOA score increased from 12.8±2.3 before surgery to 14.8±1.3 one year after surgery, with statistically significant difference (t=4.416, P<0.01).No implant failure, spacer subsidence and infection were observed. Conclusion: In cases of failure posterior fossa decompression of basilar invagination and atlanto-axial dislocation, using posterior atlanto-axial intraarticular distraction and cantilever technique with cage implantation could achieve complete reduction and symptomatic relief.

Use of a urinary catheter as a guidewire to facilitate safe nasotracheal intubation following iatrogenic retropharyngeal perforation

Nasotracheal intubation facilitates adequate access for surgical procedures in the oral cavity, is not limited by mouth opening and can be better tolerated by patients in intensive care. Complications of nasotracheal intubation can include epistaxis, turbinate injury and sinusitis. Retropharyngeal submucosal perforation by the tracheal tube has also been infrequently reported. Here, we report a case of difficult nasotracheal intubation resulting in retropharyngeal submucosal perforation in a patient with a history of obstructive sleep apnoea listed for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. To facilitate successful tracheal re-intubation, we used a soft urinary catheter via the other nostril. In this report, we discuss the reasons why this complication may have occurred, how submucosal perforation could be avoided, and reflect on our management of this rare complication. Difficult nasotracheal intubation can present unique challenges, and airway management plans should be made accordingly.

[Sleep quality and sleep disturbances in Chinese pregnant women: a multicenter cross-sectional study]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the sleep quality of pregnant women in Xuhui District, Shanghai, and the related factors of sleep disturbances during pregnancy. Methods: From February 2019 to February 2021, we used online integrated sleep questionnaire (including PSQI, BQ, ESS, AIS) in Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospitals of China Welfare Institution, and Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital, to investigate the sleep quality across pregnancy. We also collected maternal physical examination results, childbearing history, sociodemographic, and other clinical data. The prevalences and related factors of various sleep disturbances in pregnant women were analyzed, including insufficient/excessive nighttime sleep, low sleep efficiency, difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep quality, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and high risk of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Results: This study includes 1 898 cases in the first trimester (T1), 3 099 cases in the second trimester (T2), and 1 539 cases in the third trimester (T3). Poor sleep quality (38.6%), daytime sleepiness (mild 41.9%, moderate 17.7%, severe 2.1%), and suspicious insomnia (32.3%) are most prevalent among women in T1 (P<0.01). In comparison, short sleep time (2.7%), long sleep time (8.6%), difficulty falling asleep (12.2%), poor sleep efficiency (35.4%), very poor sleep quality (6.7%), clinical insomnia (21.8%), and high-risk SDB (6.4%) are most prevalent among women in T3 (P<0.05). During pregnancy, late gestation (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.006-1.025) and multiple induced/drug abortions (OR=1.329, 95%CI: 1.043-1.692) are risk factors for poor sleep quality (PSQI>5), while multiple full-term deliveries (OR=0.800, 95%CI: 0.675-0.949) is its protective factor. Advanced maternal age (OR=0.976, 95%CI: 0.956-0.997), multiple full-term deliveries (OR=0.808, 95%CI: 0.680-0.959), late gestation (OR=0.983, 95%CI: 0.974-0.992) and hypertension (OR=0.572, 95%CI: 0.401-0.814) are protective factors for daytime sleepiness (ESS>6). The high-risk pregnancy category (OR=9.312, 95%CI: 1.156-74.978) is a risk factor for insomnia (AIS≥4), while multiple full-term deliveries (OR=0.815, 95%CI: 0.691-0.961) is its protective factor. High BMI (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.270-1.402) and hypertension (OR=4.427, 95%CI: 2.539-7.719) are risk factors for high-risk SDB in pregnant women. Conclusions: The prevalences of various sleep disturbances are high throughout pregnancy. Noticeably, symptoms of maternal SDB develop along with pregnancy. Different types of sleep disturbances are associated with different factors. Women of high-risk pregnancy category, in late gestation, with high BMI, hypertension, a history of induced/drug abortion, or without a history of full-term delivery can be at high risk of sleep disturbances during pregnancy.

Assembling covalent organic framework membranes with superior ion exchange capacity

Ionic covalent organic framework membranes (iCOFMs) hold great promise in ion conduction-relevant applications because the high content and monodispersed ionic groups could afford superior ion conduction. The key to push the upper limit of ion conductivity is to maximize the ion exchange capacity (IEC). Here, we explore iCOFMs with a superhigh ion exchange capacity of 4.6 mmol g⁻¹, using a dual-activation interfacial polymerization strategy. Fukui function is employed as a descriptor of monomer reactivity. We use Brønsted acid to activate aldehyde monomers in organic phase and Brønsted base to activate ionic amine monomers in water phase. After the dual-activation, the reaction between aldehyde monomer and amine monomer at the water-organic interface is significantly accelerated, leading to iCOFMs with high crystallinity. The resultant iCOFMs display a prominent proton conductivity up to 0.66 S cm⁻¹, holding great promise in ion transport and ionic separation applications.

Covalent organic framework-based membranes are highly tunable materials with potential use in a variety of applications. Here the authors report a dual-activation interfacial polymerization strategy to prepare ionic covalent organic framework membranes with high ion exchange capacity.

[Clinical and genetic spectrum of SCN2A gene associated epilepsy and episodic ataxia]

Objective: To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of patients with epilepsy and episodic ataxia caused by SCN2A gene variation. Methods: The clinical data of seizure manifestation, imaging examination and genetic results of 5 patients with epilepsy and (or) episodic ataxia because of SCN2A gene variation admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2017 to January 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among 5 patients, 4 were female and 1 was male. The onset age of epilepsy ranged from 4 days to 8 months. There were 2 cases of benign neonatal or infantile epilepsy and 3 cases of epileptic encephalopathy, in whom 1 case had development retardation,1 case transformed from West syndrome to infantile spasm and another one transformed from infantile spasm to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. One case of benign neonatal-infantile epilepsy was characterized by neonatal onset seizures and episodic ataxia developed at the age of 78 months. Electroencephalograms at first visit of 5 cases showed that 2 cases were normal, 1 case had focal epileptic discharge, and 2 cases had multi-focal abnormal discharge with peak arrhythmia. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 3 cases were nomal, 1 case was abnormal (brain atrophy with decreased white matter) and the results of 1 case was unknown. The follow-up time ranged from 17 months to 89 months. Four cases of epilepsy were controlled and 1 case died at 2 years of age. Two cases had normal intelligence and motor development, 2 had moderate to severe intelligence retardation and motor critical state, and 1 had moderate to severe intelligence and motor development retardation. SCN2A gene variations were identified in all cases. There were 4 missense variations and 1 frameshift variation. Three variations had not been reported so far, including c.4906A>G,c.3643G>T,c.638delT. Conclusions: Variations in SCN2A gene can cause benign neonatal or infantile epilepsy and epileptic encephalopathy. Some children develop episodic ataxia with growing age. The variation of SCN2A gene is mainly missense variation.

[Obstructive sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome: an association study based on a large sample clinical database]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: From July 2007 to June 2017, a total of 8 155 adult subjects, including 6 484 males and 1 671 females, aged 18-90 (43.13±12.28), body mass index 14.61~59.56 (25.59±3.98) kg/m²,who were admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology head and Neck surgery of The Sixth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent polysomnography and biochemical tests. Subjects were divided into four groups (non-OSA, mild OSA, moderate OSA, and severe OSA) according to OSA severity. The prevalence of MS was expressed as percentage, and the correlation between OSA and MS and its characteristic pathophysiological indicators was evaluated by logistic regression model after adjusting for factors such as gender, age, BMI, neck circumference, hip circumference, smoking and alcohol consumption, and was expressed by odds ratio (OR). SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of MS was 43.6%, and that of non-/mild/moderate/severe OSA group was 18.6%, 30.4%, 43.8%, 57.1%.Logistic regression showed that patients with mild/moderate/severe OSA had an increased risk of MS compared with non-OSA patients, with adjusted OR values and confidence intervals of 1.27 (1.05-1.54), 1.84 (1.53-2.22), and 2.08 (1.76-2.46), respectively (P<0.01).In addition, indicators of OSA anoxic burden [oxygen drop index(T_oxygen=7.1), minimum blood oxygen(T_minimum=56.3), blood oxygen saturation below 90% cumulative time ratio (T_CT90=10.6) ]were closely associated with MS disease(P<0.01), but sleep fragmentation index (arousals index) was not significantly associated with MS disease. Conclusion: The risk of MS gradually increases with the severity of OSA, and the indicators reflecting OSA hypoxia burden are closely related to MS disease.

Assessment of Myocardial Work in Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction and Analysis of CTRCD Prediction by Echocardiography

No study has examined myocardial work in subjects with cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Myocardial work, as a new ultrasonic indicator, reflects the metabolism and oxygen consumption of the left ventricle. The aim of this study was to test the relative value of new indices of myocardial work and global longitudinal strain (GLS) in detecting changes in myocardial function during the treatment of breast cancer by two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography. We enrolled 79 breast cancer patients undergoing different tumor treatment regimens. Follow-up observation was conducted before and after chemotherapy. The effects of breast cancer chemotherapy and targeted therapy on the development of CTRCD [defined as an absolute reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of >5% to <53%] were detected by two-dimensional and three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. Our findings further indicate that LVEF, myocardial work index (GWI) and myocardial work efficiency (GWE) showed significant changes after the T6 cycle, and GLS showed significant changes after the T4 cycle (p < 0.05). The three-dimensional strain changes after T6 and T8 had no advantages compared with GLS. Body mass index (BMI), the GLS change rate after the second cycle of chemotherapy (G2v) and the 3D-GCS change rate after the second cycle of chemotherapy (C2v) were independent factors that could predict the occurrence of CTRCD during follow-up, among which BMI was the best predictor (area under the curve, 0.922). In conclusion, the current study determined that GLS was superior to GWI in predicting cardiac function in patients with tumors with little variation in blood pressure. BMI, G2v and C2v can be used to predict the occurrence of CTRCD.

Scalable Fabrication of Crystalline COF Membranes from Amorphous Polymeric Membranes

Covalent organic framework (COF) membranes hold potential for widespread applicability, but scalable fabrication is challenging. Here, we demonstrate the disorder-to-order transformation from amorphous polymeric membrane to crystalline COF membrane via monomer exchange. Solution processing is used to prepare amorphous membrane and the replacing monomer is selected based on the chemical and thermodynamical stability of the final framework. Reversible imine bonds allow the extraneous monomers to replace the pristine monomers within amorphous membrane, driving the transformation from disordered network to ordered framework. Incorporation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds enables the crystalline COF to imprint the amorphous membrane morphology. The COF membranes harvest proton conductivity up to 0.53 S cm^-1 at 80 °C. Our strategy bridges amorphous polymeric and crystalline COF membranes for large-scale fabrication of COF membranes and affords guidance on materials processing.

The Role of Cytokines in Predicting the Response and Adverse Events Related to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Recently, the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with advanced cancer has been significantly improved due to the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Low response rate and high occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) make urgently need for ideal predictive biomarkers to identity efficient population and guide treatment strategies. Cytokines are small soluble proteins with a wide range of biological activity that are secreted by activated immune cells or tumor cells and act as a bridge between innate immunity, infection, inflammation and cancer. Cytokines can be detected in peripheral blood and suitable for dynamic detection. During the era of ICIs, many studies investigated the role of cytokines in prediction of the efficiency and toxicity of ICIs. Herein, we review the relevant studies on TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β and other cytokines as biomarkers for predicting ICI-related reactions and adverse events, and explore the immunomodulatory mechanisms. Finally, the most important purpose of this review is to help identify predictors of ICI to screen patients who are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy.

[The effect of diallyl sulfide on the lung tissue of rats poisoned by paraquat]

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of diallyl sulfide (DAS) on paraquat (PQ) - induced acute lung injury in rats. Methods: In May 2016, 32 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model (PQ) group, DAS treatment group and dexamethasone (DXM) treatment group, with 8 rats in each group. PQ poisoning model was established by intragastric administration of PQ solution (70 mg/kg) . 100 mg/kg DAS (DAS treatment group) , normal saline (control group and PQ group) and 1 mg/kg DXM (DXM treatment group) were injected intraperitoneally before and after modeling. After 24 hours, the rats were killed and the degree of lung injury was observed. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung tissue was measured. Alveolar macrophages were isolated and cultured. The supernatant was taken to determine the content of NO, and the expressions of iNOS mRNA in alveolar macrophages were detected. Results: Compared with the control group, the pathological injury score and the expression of iNOS in the lung tissue of PQ group were significantly increased, and the content of NO secreted by alveolar macrophages and the expression of iNOS mRNA were significantly increased (P<0.05) . Compared with PQ group, the pathological injury scores and the expressions of iNOS in lung tissue of rats in DAS treatment group and DXM treatment group were significantly decreased, and the contents of NO secreted by alveolar macrophages and the expressions of iNOS mRNA were significantly decreased (P<0.05) . There was no significant difference between DXM group and DAS group (P>0.05) . Conclusion: DAS may have protective effect on acute lung injury induced by PQ in rats.

An accessible insight into genetic findings for transplantation recipients with suspected genetic kidney disease

Determining the etiology of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) constitutes a great challenge in the context of renal transplantation. Evidence is lacking on the genetic findings for adult renal transplant recipients through exome sequencing (ES). Adult patients on kidney transplant waitlist were recruited from 2017 to 2019. Trio-ES was conducted for the families who had multiple affected individuals with nephropathy or clinical suspicion of a genetic kidney disease owing to early onset or extrarenal features. Pathogenic variants were confirmed in 62 from 115 families post sequencing for 421 individuals including 195 health family members as potential living donors. Seventeen distinct genetic disorders were identified confirming the priori diagnosis in 33 (28.7%) families, modified or reclassified the clinical diagnosis in 27 (23.5%) families, and established a diagnosis in two families with ESRD of unknown etiology. In 14.8% of the families, we detected promising variants of uncertain significance in candidate genes associated with renal development or renal disease. Furthermore, we reported the secondary findings of oncogenes in 4.4% of the patients and known single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with pharmacokinetics in our cohort to predict the drug levels of tacrolimus and mycophenolate. The diagnostic utility of the genetic findings has provided new clinical insight in most families that help with preplanned renal transplantation.

DEVELOPING twin-specific 75-g oral glucose tolerance test diagnostic thresholds for gestational diabetes based on the risk of future maternal diabetes: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To develop twin-specific outcome-based oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) diagnostic thresholds for GDM based on the risk of future maternal type-2 diabetes.

DESIGN

A population-based retrospective cohort study (2007-2017).

SETTING

Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

Nulliparous women with a live singleton (n = 55 361) or twin (n = 1308) birth who underwent testing for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using a 75-g OGTT in Ontario, Canada (2007-2017). We identified the 75-g OGTT thresholds in twin pregnancies that were associated with similar incidence rates of future type-2 diabetes to those associated with the standard OGTT thresholds in singleton pregnancies.

RESULTS

For any given 75-g OGTT value, the incidence rate of future maternal type-2 diabetes was lower for women with a twin than women with a singleton pregnancy. Using women with a negative OGTT as reference, the risk of future maternal type-2 diabetes in twin pregnancies with a positive OGTT based on the standard OGTT thresholds (9.86 per 1000 person years, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 4.79, 95% CI 2.69-8.51) was lower than for singleton pregnancies with a positive OGTT (18.74 per 1000 person years, aHR 8.22, 95% CI 7.38-9.16). The twin-specific OGTT fasting, 1-hour and 2-hour thresholds identified in the current study based on correlation with future maternal type-2 diabetes were 5.8 mmol/l (104 mg/dl), 11.8 mmol/l (213 mg/dl) and 10.4 mmol/l (187 mg/dl), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified potential twin-specific OGTT thresholds for GDM that are associated with a similar risk of future type-2 diabetes to that observed in women diagnosed with GDM in singleton pregnancies based on standard OGTT thresholds.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Potential twin-specific OGTT thresholds for GDM were identified.

Therapeutic efficacy of zoledronic acid combined with calcitriol in elderly patients receiving total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty for osteoporotic femoral neck fracture

Zoledronic acid could improve the clinical outcome in elderly patients receiving total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty for osteoporotic femoral neck fracture in the 1-year prospective study.

INTRODUCTION

To validate the therapeutic efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZOL) in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture who received total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hemiarthroplasty (HA).

METHODS

Included in this study were 95 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures who received THA/HA between August 2015 and June 2018. They were randomized into a ZOL group and a control group. Patients in ZOL group received a yearly single dose of 5 mg ZOL intravenous injection plus 0.5 μg/day calcitriol and 1000 mg/day calcium carbonate 2 days before THA or HA. Patients in the control group were treated with the same dose of calcitriol and calcium carbonate only without ZOL. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone metabolism markers including the total extension of the peptide type I collagen amino end (P1NP) and beta collagen degradation product (β-CTX) were obtained by serum examination. The postoperative functional outcome was assessed using Harris Hip Score (HHS).

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, BMD in the ZOL group was improved and significantly higher than that in the control group at 6 and 12 months post-operation. Bone metabolism markers P1NP and β-CTX in ZOL group remained at a relatively low level as compared with that in the control group at 6 months after treatment. No significant difference in the mean HHS and the excellent/good rate of joint function was observed during the follow-up period between the two groups. The occurrence of adverse events in the ZOL group was significantly higher than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

A single infusion of ZOL shows promise in improving BMD of the healthy side of the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total hip and decreasing the level of bone markers, which may improve the clinical outcome of patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fractures receiving THA/HA.

Treacher Collins syndrome: Clinical report and retrospective analysis of Chinese patients

Background

Treacher Collins syndrome‐1 (TCS1; OMIM# 154500) is a rare autosomal dominant disease that is defined by congenital craniofacial dysplasia. Here, we report four sporadic and one familial case of TCS1 in Chinese patients with clinical features presenting as hypoplasia of the zygomatic complex and mandible, downslanting palpebral fissures, coloboma of the lower eyelids, and conductive hearing loss.

Materials and Methods

Audiological, radiological, and physical examinations were performed. Targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to examine the genetics of this disease in five probands, and Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the identified variants. A literature review discusses the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of TCS1.

Results

We identified a novel insertion of c.939_940insA (p.Gly314Argfs*35; NM_001135243.1), a novel deletion of c.1766delC (p.Pro589Leufs*7), two previously reported insertions of c.1999_2000insC (p.Arg667Profs*31) and c.4218_4219insG (p.Ser1407Valfs*23), and one previously reported deletion of c.4369_4373delAAGAA (p.Lys1457Glufs*12) in the TCOF1 gene. All five cases exhibited a degree of interfamilial and intrafamilial phenotypic variability. A review of the literature revealed no clear evidence of a genotype–phenotype correlation in TCS1.

Conclusion

Our results expand the variant spectrum of TCOF1 and highlight that NGS is essential for the diagnosis of TCS and that genetic counseling is beneficial for guiding prevention.

[Epidemiological analysis of pathogens causing bloodstream infections in department of hematology in Guangdong Province]

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology of bacterial bloodstream infections in patients submitted to hematologic wards in southern China. Methods: A total of 50 teaching hospitals were involved based on the China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System. The data of clinical isolates from blood samples were collected from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted by the Kirby-Bauer automated systems, and the results were interpreted using the CLSI criteria. Results: The data of 1,618 strains isolated from hematologic wards in 2019 were analyzed, of which gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci accounted for 71.8% and 28.2%, respectively. Of those, the five major species were most often isolated, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coagulase-negative staphylococcus, and Streptococcus viridans. The prevalence rates of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus were 19.7% and 80.6%, respectively. No gram-positive cocci were resistant to vancomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin, and none of the enterococci were resistant to linezolid. The resistance rate of S. viridans to penicillin G was 6.9%, and those to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were more than 25%. The resistance rate of E. coli and K. pneumoniae in Enterobacteriaceae was higher in children than that in adults. The resistance rate of K. pneumoniae to meropenem was 14.1%. The resistant rate of Enterobacter cloacae to carbapenem was more than 25%. P. aeruginosa was more sensitive to more antibiotics than 80%, but the resistance rate to meropenem in children was higher than that in adults (11.8% vs. 6.5%). The proportion of gram-positive cocci in the ICU and respiratory departments was higher than that in the hematology department. The detection rates of carbapenem-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae in the respiratory department were the lowest with 0.3% and 3.7%, respectively, while those of CRPA and CRAB in the hematology department were the lowest with 8.3% and 25.8%, respectively. The detection rate of all carbapenem-resistant organisms in the ICU was the highest among the three departments. Conclusion: The etiology and drug resistance of bacteria from blood samples in the hematology department are different from those in the ICU and respiratory departments. The proportions of K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, and S. viridans dominating in the department of Hematology were significantly higher than those in the ICU and respiratory departments in Guangdong region.

Cardiotoxicity of anthracycline-free targeted oncological therapies in HER2-positive breast cancer

Anthracycline drugs are considered to be pivotal drugs in numerous chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer. However, the cardiotoxicity associated with the treatment is an important issue to be addressed. With the emergence of increasingly diverse antitumor drugs, anthracycline-free therapies are able to reduce the cardiotoxicity caused by anthracycline drugs while ensuring that a therapeutic effect is achieved. In the present review, anthracycline-free oncological therapy regimens for the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and the associated cardiovascular toxicity are discussed, as well as some monitoring strategies. It is recommended that patients with HER2-positive breast cancer patients should receive adjuvant chemotherapy with single or dual-targeted therapy, with or without endocrine therapy according to the hormone receptor status determined by immunohistochemical examination. The main side effects of targeted therapy include cardiac dysfunction, hypertension and arrhythmia. According to individual risk stratification, it is recommended that patients should be periodically monitored using echocardiography, electrocardiography and serum markers, to enable the timely detection of the cardiovascular adverse reactions associated with tumor treatment, thereby preventing the morbidity and mortality caused by the cardiotoxicity of these drugs.

[Identification of a novel mutation of SOX10 gene and analysis of the phenotype]

Objective: To explore the clinical features and pathogenic mechanisms of a special syndrome with congenital sensorineural hearing loss, albinism, heterochromia iridis, nystagmus and myelin dysplasia. Methods: Detailed medical history, systematic audiology tests, ophthalmic and neurological examinations were carried out to analyze the clinical features of the child, and further molecular genetic tests including chromosome karyotype analysis, and deafness gene screening were conducted. Results: A new de novo heterozygous mutation (c.336G>T/p.Met112Ile) was detected in the child, while both his parents were demonstrated to be wild-type and symptom free. The analysis of clinical features indicated the diagnosis of PCW syndrome. Conclusion: This study identified a new mutation of SOX10 gene, which enriched the mutation spectrum of this gene. And the analysis of clinical characteristics of this patient also expanded the phenotype of this gene. This study provided a reference for clinical diagnosis and genetic diagnosis of PCW syndrome.