Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis of ciprofloxacin in elderly Chinese patients with lower respiratory tract infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria.

Background: Ciprofloxacin is usually used in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Recent studies abroad have shown ciprofloxacin is inadequately dosed and might lead to worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to perform pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses of ciprofloxacin in elderly Chinese patients with severe LRTIs caused by Gram-negative bacteria.

Regulation of ethylene-responsive SlWRKYs involved in color change during tomato fruit ripening.

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in stress responses in planta. However, the function of WRKY TFs in the regulation of fruit ripening is unclear. Here, 23 tomato SlWRKYs that are similar to ethylene-responsive WRKY genes from other plant species, or show up-regulation during fruit ripening in previous genome-wide study, were selected, and their function in fruit ripening was investigated.

[Pharmacokinetics of meropenem administered with prolonged infusion time in patients receiving continuous veno-venous hemofiltration].

Objective: To demonstrate the pharmacokinetic profile of meropenem when administered by 3-hour infusion in patients undergoing continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH).

Methods: The study was conducted in 10 patients, who were treated with CVVH. Each subject received meropenem in 3-hour infusion of 500 mg every 6 hours.

Relationship between time to positivity of blood culture with clinical characteristics and hospital mortality in patients with Escherichia coli bacteremia.

Background: Previous studies indicated that the time to positivity (TTP) of blood culture is a parameter correlating with degree of the bacteremia and outcome in patients with bloodstream infections caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). The objective of this study was to further investigate the diagnostic and prognostic power of using TTP to predict E.

[Correlation between in vitro bacterial growth velocity of blood of patients with clinical parameters and prognosis in patients with Escherichia coli bacteremia].

Objective: To identify the clinical and laboratory parameters correlating with speed of bacterial growth in culture and independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality in patients with Escherichia coli bacteremia.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Beijing University Third Hospital. The medical records and microbiological database of the patients diagnosed as Escherichia coli bacteremia between January 2007 and December 2009 were collected.

[Assessment of severity of acute pancreatitis in early stage].

Objective: To assess the accuracy of indexes for predicting severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: Thirty-nine patients suffering from acute pancreatitis (AP) were randomly selected, including 20 SAP cases and 19 mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) cases. The levels of polymorphonuclear leucocyte-elastase (PMN-E), serum phospholipase A2 (PLA2), pancreatic PLA2 (Pan-PLA2), PLA2 catalytic activity (CA-PLA2), amylase, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined Acute Physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) was scored in every patient.