Proteinase‑3‑antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‑associated vasculitis secondary to subacute infective endocarditis: A case report.

A 58-year-old male patient was admitted to Peking University First Hospital (Beijing, China) due to recurrent hematuria, proteinuria and kidney dysfunction. The patient was positive for proteinase-3 (PR3)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Pathology of the kidney showed focal proliferative necrotizing glomerulonephritis with crescent formation and immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis.

Clinical outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease and an analysis of the related influencing factors.

Perioperative and short/mid-term survival rates of dialysis-dependent patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and the factors influencing mortality are not well evaluated In China. We retrospectively analyzed the perioperative and postoperative 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 53 dialysis-dependent ESRD patients who underwent CABG, and compared the factors related to perioperative mortality and all-cause mortality during the postoperative follow-up. Survival rates were expressed as Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and factors influencing the follow-up survival rates were analyzed using the log rank (Mantel-Cox) test.

Mutational analysis on stable expression and LasB inhibition of LasB propeptide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Three major proteases, elastase B (LasB), protease IV (PIV), and elastase A (LasA) expressed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa play important roles in infections and pathogeneses. These are activated by a proteolytic cascade initiated by the activation of LasB. In this study, we investigated whether LasB could be inhibited using its propeptide (LasBpp).

Anthranilate Acts as a Signal to Modulate Biofilm Formation, Virulence, and Antibiotic Tolerance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Surrounding Bacteria.

Anthranilate is a diffusible molecule produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and accumulates as P. aeruginosa grows. Anthranilate is an important intermediate for the synthesis of tryptophan and the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), as well as metabolized by the anthranilate dioxygenase complex ( operon products).

Alleviation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection by Propeptide-Mediated Inhibition of Protease IV.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen, expresses protease IV (PIV) for infection. Since the PIV activity can be inhibited by its propeptide, we tried to alleviate the severity of P. aeruginosa infection using the purified PIV propeptide (PIV).

Thermoregulation of Biofilm Formation.

We investigated the effect of temperature on the biofilm formation of and revealed that the biofilm formation increased rapidly at temperatures lower than 25°C. formed the most robust biofilm of a conspicuous mushroom-like structure at 20°C. However, when the temperature increased to 25°C, the biofilm formation rapidly decreased.

Quorum sensing-dependent post-secretional activation of extracellular proteases in .

secretes multiple proteases that are implicated in its pathogenesis, and most of them are regulated by quorum sensing (QS). In this study, we found that the activities of three major extracellular proteases, protease IV (PIV), elastase A (LasA), and elastase B (LasB), are reduced considerably when expressed in a QS mutant (MW1). PIV and LasA expressed in MW1 exhibited little activity, even when purified, and their activities were inhibited by noncleavage or binding of their propeptides.

Antibiofilm effect of biofilm-dispersing agents on clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with various biofilm structures.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen, causes many biofilm-mediated chronic infections. In this study, biofilm structures of various clinical strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from hospitalized patients were examined and their influence on the biofilm-dispersing effects of chemicals was investigated.

Bacterial ornithine lipid, a surrogate membrane lipid under phosphate-limiting conditions, plays important roles in bacterial persistence and interaction with host.

Ornithine lipids (OLs) are bacteria-specific lipids that are found in the outer membrane of Gram (-) bacteria and increase as surrogates of phospholipids under phosphate-limited environmental conditions. We investigated the effects of OL increase in bacterial membranes on pathogen virulence and the host immune response. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we increased OL levels in membranes by overexpressing the OL-synthesizing operon (olsBA).

Antibiofilm agents: A new perspective for antimicrobial strategy.

Biofilms are complex microbial architectures that attach to surfaces and encase microorganisms in a matrix composed of self-produced hydrated extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). In biofilms, microorganisms become much more resistant to antimicrobial treatments, harsh environmental conditions, and host immunity. Biofilm formation by microbial pathogens greatly enhances survival in hosts and causes chronic infections that result in persistent inflammation and tissue damages.

Anti-biofilm effects of anthranilate on a broad range of bacteria.

Anthranilate, one of tryptophan degradation products has been reported to interfere with biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, we investigated the effects of anthranilate on biofilm formation by various bacteria and the mechanisms responsible. Anthranilate commonly inhibited biofilm formation by P.

Post-secretional activation of Protease IV by quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Protease IV (PIV), a key virulence factor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a secreted lysyl-endopeptidase whose expression is induced by quorum sensing (QS). We found that PIV expressed in QS mutant has severe reduction of activity in culture supernatant (CS), even though it is overexpressed to high level. PIV purified from the QS mutant (M-PIV) had much lower activity than the PIV purified from wild type (P-PIV).

Simultaneous surgery in patients with both cardiac and noncardiac diseases.

Background: To investigate the possibility and feasibility of simultaneous cardiac and noncardiac surgery.

Methods: From August 2000 to March 2015, 64 patients suffering from cardiac and noncardiac diseases have been treated by simultaneous surgeries.

Results: Two patients died after operations in hospital; thus, the hospital mortality rate was 3.

Bacterial virulence analysis using brine shrimp as an infection model in relation to the importance of quorum sensing and proteases.

Brine shrimp are aquatic crustaceans belonging to a genus of Artemia. This organism is widely used for testing the toxicity of chemicals. In this study, brine shrimp were evaluated as an infection model organism to study bacterial virulence.

Protease IV, a quorum sensing-dependent protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa modulates insect innate immunity.

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, quorum sensing (QS) plays an essential role in pathogenesis and the QS response controls many virulence factors. Using a mealworm, Tenebrio molitor as a host model, we found that Protease IV, a QS-regulated exoprotease of P. aeruginosa functions as a key virulence effector causing the melanization and death of T.

[Peri-operative management and follow-up outcomes of cardiac surgery in dialysis-dependent patients with end stage renal disease].

Objective: To summarize the perioperative management experience of patients with end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) undergoing cardiac surgery and the follow-up outcomes.

Methods: From September 2004 to February 2012, 18 dialysis-dependent patients with ESRD received cardiac surgery in Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking University First Hospital. A series of methods were employed to maintain water-electrolyte and acid-base balance and coagulation function.

[Risk factors for operative mortality in 1,098 patients with coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a single center report].

Objective: To analyze the risk factors for operative mortality in 1 098 cases of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures.

Methods: A total of 1 098 cases of CABG including 113 cases of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) lower than 35% from December 1999 through December 2009 were chosen for the retrospective study. Univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic analyses were performed based on the data of the whole group to locate the mortality risk factors.

[Investigations of influential factors of acute renal injury after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Objective: To investigate the incidence, correlate factors and effect on convalescent of acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive patients who underwent scheduled CABG were included. AKI was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria from expert group of AKI.

[Treatment of a case of Kawasaki's disease complicated with myocardial infarction].

Coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) and ventricular aneurysmectomy were done for a 2.5 years old girl with Kawasaki's disease complicated by myocardial ischemia and old myocardial infarction, left ventricular aneurysm formation and heart failure. Post-operatively, the cardiac out-put of the patient increased, the heart failure syndrome disappeared, and cardiac function improved to class I(NYHA) one month later.

[Clinical application of intro-aortic balloon pump and centrifugal pump in low cardiac output syndrome after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Objective: To explore the clinical application of Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and centrifugal pump in low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: From April 2000 to January 2004, 5 patients suffered serious LCOS after CABG in our department. Because maximum vasoactive agent had no significant effect, we supported these 5 patients with IABP and centrifugal pumps.

[Impact of intraoperative autotransfusion on RBC's in vivo half-life].

Objective: To explore the changes of in vivo half-life of processed erythrocytes following intraoperative autotransfusion(IAT) in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).

Methods: From November 2003 to January 2004,20 consecutive patients undergoing scheduled off-pump CABG were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. Intra-operative autotransfusion was used in the experimental group.