Translational Medicine in Pulmonary-Renal Crosstalk: Therapeutic Targeting of p-Cresyl Sulfate Triggered Nonspecific ROS and Chemoattractants in Dyspneic Patients with Uremic Lung Injury.

Molecular mechanisms and pathological features of p-Cresyl sulfate (PCS)-induced uremic lung injury (ULI) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain unclear. We analyzed pleural effusions (PE) from CKD and non-CKD patients for uremic toxins, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and chemotactic cytokines. Correlations between PE biomarkers and serum creatinine were also studied.

Desiccation and ethanol resistances of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii embedded in biofilm: The favorable antiseptic efficacy of combination chlorhexidine gluconate and ethanol.

Background/purpose: Globally, multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) has emerged as an important pathogen in nosocomial outbreaks. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the biofilm formation and survival of MDRABs, and to investigate the antiseptic efficacy of hand sanitizers for the MDRABs, embedded with biofilm (MDRAB-Bs).

Methods: The MDRABs were selected randomly after pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and their biofilm formation was analyzed.

Mycobacterium abscessus complex bacteremia due to prostatitis after prostate biopsy.

We present the case of a 49-year-old man, who developed Mycobacterium abscessus complex (M. abscessus complex) bacteremia and prostatitis after prostate biopsy. The patient was successfully treated with amikacin with imipenem-cilastatin with clarithromycin.

Improved survival in patients with severe tuberculosis after exposure to fluoroquinolones.

Background: The clinical impact of prior exposure to antibiotics on patients with tuberculosis (TB) is largely unknown. This study investigated the survival of patients with severe TB after exposure to a variety of antibiotics.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in TB patients with prior exposure to fluoroquinolones (FQs) (FQ group), to third-generation cephalosporins (CEPH group), and to third-generation penicillins (PCN group).

Airflow obstruction and left ventricular filling pressure in suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Left ventricular (LV) filling impairment is present in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Airflow obstruction is related to reduced LV end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output. The ratio of peak early diastolic filling velocity of the mitral inflow to peak early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e'), an echocardiographic parameter, can be applied as a surrogate marker of LV filling pressures.

Acid aspiration provokes the pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in BALB/c mice.

Objective: To determine whether acid aspiration provokes the development of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) pneumonia in its host.

Methods: Groups of mice were inoculated intratracheally (IT) with 50 μl of 0.1N HCl and 1 × 10(8) colony-forming units (CFU) Ab396 (A+Ab group), or 50 μl of 0.

Comparative evaluation of intratracheal colistimethate sodium, imipenem, and meropenem in BALB/c mice with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia.

Objective: The identification of the optimal agent for administration via the respiratory tract when treating pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).

Methods: A murine model of acute CRAB pneumonia was established by intratracheal (i.t.

Performance evaluation for carbonation of steel-making slags in a slurry reactor.

CO(2) sequestration by the aqueous carbonation of steel-making slag under various operational conditions was investigated in this study. The effects of the operational conditions, including type of steel-making slag, reaction time, reaction temperature, and CO(2) flow rate, on the performance of the carbonation process were evaluated. The results indicated that the BOF slag had the highest carbonation conversion, approximately 72%, at a reaction time of 1h, an operating pressure of 101 kPa and a temperature of 60°C due to its higher BET surface area of BOF slag compared to UF, FA, and BHC slags.

The effects of reminiscence therapy on psychological well-being, depression, and loneliness among the institutionalized aged.

Objectives: To examine the effects of reminiscence therapy on psychological well-being, depression, and loneliness among institutionalized elderly people.

Methods: In an experimental study design, 92 institutionalized elderly people aged 65 years and over were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups. Those participants in the experimental group received reminiscence therapy eight times during 2 months to examine the effects of this therapy on their psychological well-being.

Intratracheal colistin sulfate for BALB/c mice with early pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Objectives: : To study the efficacy of intratracheal colistin sulfate therapy in a murine model of acute pneumonia caused by a clinical CRAB strain, Ab396. Colistin therapy has currently achieved a favorable outcome in patients with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections, but parenteral colistin may have limited therapeutic efficacy for CRAB pneumonia.

Design: : A controlled, in vivo experimental study.

Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training in reducing anxiety in patients with acute schizophrenia.

Aim And Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training on anxiety in patients with acute schizophrenia.

Background: Many empirical studies have found progressive muscle relaxation training beneficial in reducing the psychological effects of anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation training is also effective in reducing the distress symptoms associated with the symptomatology of schizophrenia.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis: favorable response to corticosteroids.

A 50-year-old Taiwanese woman had a history of massive hemoptysis occurring every 6 months for the past 4 years. After each bout of hemoptysis, chest roentgenography would show diffuse alveolar infiltration of bilateral lungs, which would usually resolve within 7 days. Transbronchial biopsy revealed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and hemosiderin-laden macrophage infiltration.

Inadvertent tracheobronchial placement of feeding tube in a mechanically ventilated patient.

Nasogastric (NG) tube misplacement into the airways is a rare complication. The presence of a cuffed endotracheal or tracheostomic tube often gives primary care providers a false sense of security. This report presents a case of inadvertent NG tube insertion into the right lower lobe bronchus of a 79-year-old patient with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, resulting in pneumonia and septic shock.

Synergistic antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of Vibrio vulnificus infection.

Background And Purpose: Vibrio vulnificus causes primary bacteremia and necrotizing wound infection, leading to high morbidity and mortality in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of V. vulnificus infection.

Fluvastatin ameliorates endotoxin induced multiple organ failure in conscious rats.

Objectives: Sepsis is a severe inflammatory disorder that may lead to multiple organ failure. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is associated with Gram-negative sepsis and can activate monocytes and macrophages to release pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nitric oxide (NO) and anti-inflammatory mediator such as interleukin-10 (IL-10). In this present study, we used fluvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, to study its effects upon LPS-induced endotoxic shock in conscious rats.