Bismuth-based drugs sensitize Pseudomonas aeruginosa to multiple antibiotics by disrupting iron homeostasis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are difficult to treat due to rapid development of antibiotic drug resistance. The synergistic combination of already-in-use drugs is an alternative to developing new antibiotics to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Here we demonstrate that bismuth-based drugs (bismuth subsalicylate, colloidal bismuth subcitrate) in combination with different classes of antibiotics (tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, rifamycins and so on) can eliminate multidrug-resistant P.

Epidemiology and outcomes of early-onset AKI in COVID-19-related ARDS in comparison with non-COVID-19-related ARDS: insights from two prospective global cohort studies.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and severe complication of both COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and non-COVID-19-related ARDS. The COVID-19 Critical Care Consortium (CCCC) has generated a global data set on the demographics, management and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients. The LUNG-SAFE study was an international prospective cohort study of patients with severe respiratory failure, including ARDS, which pre-dated the pandemic.

SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins reveal distinct serological signatures in children.

The antibody response magnitude and kinetics may impact clinical severity, serological diagnosis and long-term protection of COVID-19, which may play a role in why children experience lower morbidity. We therefore tested samples from 122 children in Hong Kong with symptomatic (n = 78) and asymptomatic (n = 44) SARS-CoV-2 infections up to 200 days post infection, relative to 71 infected adults (symptomatic n = 61, and asymptomatic n = 10), and negative controls (n = 48). We assessed serum IgG antibodies to a 14-wide antigen panel of structural and accessory proteins by Luciferase Immuno-Precipitation System (LIPS) assay and circulating cytokines.

Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart for evaluating heavy menstrual bleeding in Asian women.

Introduction: Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common gynaecological problem, but some women may prefer not to articulate their menstrual problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and acceptability of the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) as a selfscreening tool in evaluation of menstrual blood loss among Asian women in Hong Kong.

Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited 206 women from the general gynaecology ward and out-patient clinic: 118 had self-perceived heavy menstrual bleeding and 88 had self-perceived normal menstrual flow.

Assessment of 28-Day In-Hospital Mortality in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: An International Cohort Study.

Unlabelled: Factors associated with mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 patients on invasive mechanical ventilation are still not fully elucidated.

Objectives: To identify patient-level parameters, readily available at the bedside, associated with the risk of in-hospital mortality within 28 days from commencement of invasive mechanical ventilation or coronavirus disease 2019.

Design Setting And Participants: Prospective observational cohort study by the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 Critical Care Consortium.

Long-term persistence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses after infection and estimates of the duration of protection.

Background: The duration of immunity in SARS-CoV-2 infected people remains unclear. Neutralizing antibody responses are the best available correlate of protection against re-infection. Recent studies estimated that the correlate of 50% protection from re-infection was 20% of the mean convalescent neutralizing antibody titre.

Hyperthermia Selectively Destabilizes Oncogenic Fusion Proteins.

Unlabelled: The PML/RARα fusion protein is the oncogenic driver in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Although most APL cases are cured by PML/RARα-targeting therapy, relapse and resistance can occur due to drug-resistant mutations. Here we report that thermal stress destabilizes the PML/RARα protein, including clinically identified drug-resistant mutants.

SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses are lower in children and increase with age and time after infection.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of children leads to a mild illness and the immunological differences with adults are unclear. Here, we report SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses in infected adults and children and find that the acute and memory CD4 T cell responses to structural SARS-CoV-2 proteins increase with age, whereas CD8 T cell responses increase with time post-infection. Infected children have lower CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 structural and ORF1ab proteins when compared with infected adults, comparable T cell polyfunctionality and reduced CD4 T cell effector memory.

The SARS-CoV-2 antibody landscape is lower in magnitude for structural proteins, diversified for accessory proteins and stable long-term in children.

Background: Children are less clinically affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection than adults with the majority of cases being mild or asymptomatic and the differences in infection outcomes are poorly understood. The kinetics, magnitude and landscape of the antibody response may impact the clinical severity and serological diagnosis of COVID-19. Thus, a comprehensive investigation of the antibody landscape in children and adults is needed.

SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses are lower in children and increase with age and time after infection.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of children leads to a mild illness and the immunological differences with adults remains unclear. We quantified the SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses in adults and children (<13 years of age) with RT-PCR confirmed asymptomatic and symptomatic infection for long-term memory, phenotype and polyfunctional cytokines. Acute and memory CD4 T cell responses to structural SARS-CoV-2 proteins significantly increased with age, whilst CD8 T cell responses increased with time post infection.

Neutralizing antibody titres in SARS-CoV-2 infections.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic poses the greatest global public health challenge in a century. Neutralizing antibody is a correlate of protection and data on kinetics of virus neutralizing antibody responses are needed. We tested 293 sera from an observational cohort of 195 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections collected from 0 to 209 days after onset of symptoms.

Repeated CD45RA-depleted DLI successfully increases donor chimerism in a patient with beta-thalassemia major after haploidentical stem cell transplant.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is curative for transfusion-dependent thalassemia, but mixed chimerism (MC) may herald graft rejection. We report a child who failed bone marrow transplant (BMT) from matched unrelated donor (MUD) successfully salvaged with haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT), but had MC in T-lymphocyte compartment despite near-complete donor chimerism in myeloid compartment. MC was successfully improved by repeated CD45RA-depleted donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI).

Eosinophilic folliculitis due to wearing protective gear in citizens volunteering for sanitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic - an original epidemiological, clinical, dermoscopic, and laboratory-based study.

Background: An association between wearing protective gear and eosinophilic folliculitis has not been reported. We aimed to investigate such during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: In three outpatient clinics, we hand-reviewed records of all patients having consulted us during a Study Period (90 days) in the early phase of the pandemic.

Direct Renin Inhibition in Non-diabetic chronic Kidney disease (DRINK): a prospective randomized trial.

Background: The potential long-term safety and efficacy of aliskiren in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) are unknown. We sought to investigate the renoprotective effect of aliskiren on nondiabetic CKD patients.

Methods: In this open-label, parallel, randomized controlled trial, nondiabetic CKD Stages 3-4 patients were randomized to receive aliskiren added to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) at the maximal tolerated dose, or ARB alone.

Twenty-five practical recommendations in primary care dermoscopy.

Dermoscopy in primary care enhances clinical diagnoses and allows for risk stratifications. We have compiled 25 recommendations from our experience of dermoscopy in a wide range of clinical settings. The aim of this study is to enhance the application of dermoscopy by primary care clinicians.

Outcomes of dermoscope-guided surgical procedures in primary care: case-control study.

INTRODUCTION No research has been found regarding outcomes of dermoscope-guided surgical procedures in primary care. AIM To establish whether outcomes of dermoscope-guided procedures performed in primary care settings differ from outcomes for similar procedures, performed without the use of a dermoscope. METHODS A retrospective case-control study design was used.

Endobronchial Foreign Body Presenting as Exacerbation of Asthma.

Airway foreign bodies are a leading cause of death among children and require urgent recognition by medical personnel. While most cases are diagnosed readily from a clinical history of acute respiratory distress, some cases remain more indolent and present later. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy who aspirated a "LEGO" toy and presented with a week history of increasing respiratory distress compatible with known asthma.

Significant reduction of Tacrolimus trough level after conversion from twice daily Prograf to once daily Advagraf in Chinese renal transplant recipients with or without concomitant diltiazem treatment.

A dose ratio of 1:1 was recommended for the conversion from Standard-release Tacrolimus (Prograf) to Prolonged-release Tacrolimus (Advagraf). We investigated the trough tacrolimus blood level in Chinese kidney transplant recipients after conversion, including subjects receiving concomitant treatment with diltiazem. Eighteen stable renal allograft recipients were followed prospectively for 12 weeks after conversion from Prograf to Advagraf at the same daily dose.

A secular increase in BMD in Chinese women.

Population-based studies have revealed a decline in the incidence of age-adjusted hip fractures in southern Chinese women during the past decade. To determine whether there was a secular change in population characteristics that accounted for this decline, we compared the bone mineral density (BMD) and lifestyle habits of two cohorts of women who were more than 50 years of age and who were recruited from 1995 to 2000 and 2005 to 2010. The BMD levels in the 2005-2010 cohort were significantly higher at the spine and hip and ranged from 3.

mTOR Pathway and mTOR Inhibitors in Head and Neck Cancer.

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common type of Cancer worldwide. Since conventional treatment regimens are nonselective and are associated with systemic toxicities, intense investigations focus on molecular targeted therapy with high selectivity and low adverse effects. mTOR signaling pathway has been found to be activated in head and neck cancer, making it attractive for targeted therapy.

Long-term study of mycophenolate mofetil treatment in IgA nephropathy.

Since the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to treat immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is controversial, we extended our original study by following 40 Chinese patients with established IgA nephropathy for 6 years. All patients were maintained on their angiotensin blockade medication and half were randomized to receive MMF for 6 months. After 6 years, 11 patients required dialysis (2 from the MMF and 9 from the control group).