Community-acquired multidrug-resistant pneumonia,bacteraemia,and infective endocarditis:A case report

BACKGROUND The prevalence of multidrug-resistant(MDR)bacteria has increased globally,with extensive drug-resistant(XDR)bacteria posing a threat to patients.CASE SUMMARY This case report describes a young man admitted for suspected tropical fever infections who experienced rapid deterioration in health.Despite negative results for tropical fever infections,he had neutrophilic leucocytosis,acute kidney injury,and chest imaging findings suggestive of bilateral consolidations.On day two,he was diagnosed with infective endocarditis with possible rheumatic heart disease and MDR methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia,and communityacquired pneumonia.Despite treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics,he did not respond and succumbed to death on day five.CONCLUSION This case highlights that clinicians/public should be aware of MDR communityacquired pneumonia,bacteraemia,and endocarditis which ultimately culminate in high rates of morbidity and mortality.Early identification of pathogenic strain and prompt antibiotic treatment are a mainstay for the management and prevention of early fatalities.Simultaneously,route cause analysis of communityacquired MDR/XDR pathogens is a global need.

Successful treatment of Purpureocillium lilacinum pulmonary infection with isavuconazole: A case report

BACKGROUND Purpureocillium lilacinum(P.lilacinum)is a saprophytic fungus widespread in soil and vegetation.As a causative agent,it is very rarely detected in humans,most commonly in the skin.CASE SUMMARY In this article,we reported the case of a 72-year-old patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who was admitted with cough and fever.Computed tomography revealed an infection in the right lower lobe.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing were ultimately confirmed to have a pulmonary infection with P.lilacinum.She was eventually discharged with good outcomes after treatment with isavuconazole.CONCLUSION Pulmonary infection with P.lilacinum was exceedingly rare.While currently there are no definitive therapeutic agents,there are reports of high resistance to amphotericin B and fluconazole and good sensitivity to second-generation triazoles.The present report is the first known use of isavuconazole for pulmonary P.lilacinum infection.It provides new evidence for the characterization and treatment of clinical P.lilacinum lung infections.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Tigecycline in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infection

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy and safety of tigecycline in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)combined with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection.Methods:113 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD combined with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection were recruited between January 2021 and January 2023,and given tigecycline treatment.The total effective rate,lung function indexes,related biochemical index levels,and the incidence rate of adverse reactions were observed after the treatment.Results:After the treatment,100 patients were cured,1 case with apparent effect,2 cases were effective,10 cases were ineffective,and the total effective rate was 91.15%.The post-treatment CRP(21.22±3.35 mg/L),PCT(3.18±1.11 ng/L),CRE(76.36±9.24μmol/L),and ALT(37.76±6.99 U/L)were significantly improved as compared to the pre-treatment(P<0.05).After treatment,10 cases of vomiting(8.85%),13 cases of nausea(11.50%),4 cases of diarrhea(3.53%),1 case of abdominal pain(0.88%),and 2 cases of allergy(1.77%)were observed in 113 patients.Conclusion:Tigecycline therapy for patients with acute exacerbation of COPD combined with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection not only has significant therapeutic efficacy but also has a high degree of safety.

Determinants of quinolone resistance in Escherichia coli causing community-acquired urinary tract infection in Bejaia,Algeria

Objective:To investigate the mechanisms of quinolone resistance and the association with other resistance markers among Esherichia coli(E.coli) strains isolated from outpatient with urinary tract infection in north of Algeria.Methods:A total of 30 nalidixic acid-resistant E.coli isolates from outpatient with urinary tract infections from January 2010 to April 2011 in north of Algeria(Bejaia) were studied.Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion assay,minimal inhibitory concentrations(MIC) of quinolone were determined by microdilution.Mutations in the Quinolone Resistance-Determining Region(QRDR) of gyra and parC genes and screening for qnr(A,B and S) and bla genes were done by PCK and UNA sequencing.Results:Most of the E.coli isolates(56.66%) were shown to carry mutations in gyrA and parC,igyra:Ser83Leu + Asp87Asn and parC:Ser80Iler.While.16.66 had only an alteration in gyrA:Ser83Leu.One isolate produced qnrB-like and two qnrS-like.Four isolates were CTXM-15 producers associated with TEM-1 producing in one case.Co-expression of bla_(LTV,M)_(15) and qnrB was determined in one E.coli isolate.Conclusions:Our findings suggested the community emergence of gyrA and parC alterations and Qnr determinants that contributed to the development and spread of fluoroquinolone resistance in Algerian E.coli isolates.

Establishment of a Predictive Diagnostic Model for Acute Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection in Elderly Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia

We established a diagnostic model to predict acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae （M. pneumonia） infection in elderly Community-acquired pneumonia （CAP） patients. We divided 456 patients into acute and non-acute M. pneumoniae infection groups. Binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves were used to establish a predictive model. The following independent factors were identified： age 〉 70 years; serum cTNT level 〉 0.0S ng/mL; lobar consolidation; mediastinal lymphadenopathy; and antibody titer in the acute phase 〉 1：40. The area under the ROC curve of the model was 0.923 and a score of 2 7 score predicted acute M. pneumoniae infection in elderly patients with CAP. The predictive model developed in this study has high diagnostic accuracy for the identification of elderly acute M. pneumoniae infection.

Development and validation of an emergency bloodstream infection score for predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with community-acquired bloodstream infections

BACKGROUND:Community-acquired bloodstream infections(CABSIs)are common in the emergency departments,and some progress to sepsis and even lead to death.However,limited information is available regarding the prediction of patients with high risk of death.METHODS:The Emergency Bloodstream Infection Score(EBS)for CABSIs was developed to visualize the output of a logistic regression model and was validated by the area under the curve(AUC).The Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis(MEDS),Pitt Bacteremia Score(PBS),Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA),quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(qSOFA),Charlson Comorbidity Index(CCI),and McCabe–Jackson Comorbid Classification(MJCC)for patients with CABSIs were computed to compare them with EBS in terms of the AUC and decision curve analysis(DCA).The net reclassification improvement(NRI)index and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)index were compared between the SOFA and EBS.RESULTS:A total of 547 patients with CABSIs were included.The AUC(0.853)of the EBS was larger than those of the MEDS,PBS,SOFA,and qSOFA(all P<0.001).The NRI index of EBS in predicting the in-hospital mortality of CABSIs patients was 0.368(P=0.04),and the IDI index was 0.079(P=0.03).DCA showed that when the threshold probability was<0.1,the net benefit of the EBS model was higher than those of the other models.CONCLUSION:The EBS prognostic models were better than the SOFA,qSOFA,MEDS,and PBS models in predicting the in-hospital mortality of patients with CABSIs.

Fatal community-acquired bloodstream infection caused by Klebsiella variicola:A case report

BACKGROUND Klebsiella pneumoniae(K.pneumoniae)is an infective microorganism of worldwide concern because of its varied manifestations and life-threatening potential.Genetic analyses have revealed that subspecies of K.pneumoniae exhibit higher virulence and mortality.However,infections with Klebsiella subspecies are often misdiagnosed and underestimated in the clinic because of difficulties in distinguishing K.pneumoniae from its subspecies using routine tests.This case study reports the rapid and fatal effects of K.pneumoniae subspecies.CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old male patient was febrile and admitted to hospital.Examinations excluded viral and fungal causes along with mycoplasma/chlamydia and parasitic infections.Bacterial cultures revealed blood-borne K.pneumoniae sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics,although corresponding treatment failed to improve the patient’s symptoms.His condition worsened and death occurred within 72 h of symptom onset from sepsis shock.Application of the PMseq-DNA Pro high throughput gene detection assay was implemented with results obtained after death showing a mixed infection of K.pneumoniae and Klebsiella variicola(K.variicola).Clinical evidence suggested that K.variicola rather than K.pneumoniae contributed to the patient’s poor prognosis.CONCLUSION This is the first case report to show patient death from Klebsiella subspecies infection within a short period of time.This case provides a timely reminder of the clinical hazards posed by Klebsiella subspecies and highlights the limitations of classical laboratory methods in guiding anti-infective therapies for complex cases.Moreover,this report serves as reference for physicians diagnosing similar diseases and provides a recommendation to employ early genetic detection to aid patient diagnosis and management.

Imaging of community-acquired pneumonia: Roles of imaging examinations, imaging diagnosis of specific pathogens and discrimination from noninfectious diseases

This article reviews roles of imaging examinations in the management of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP), imaging diagnosis of specific CAP and discrimination between CAP and noninfectious diseases. Chest radiography is usually enough to confirm the diagnosis of CAP, whereas computed tomography is required to suggest specific pathogens and to discriminate from noninfectious diseases. Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, tuberculosis, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and some cases of viral pneumonia sometimes show specific imaging findings. Peribronchial nodules, especially tree-in-bud appearance, are fairly specific for infection. Evidences of organization, such as concavity of the opacities, traction bronchiectasis, visualization of air bronchograms over the entire length of the bronchi, or mild parenchymal distortion are suggestive of organizing pneumonia. We will introduce tips to effectively make use of imaging examinations in the management of CAP.

Analysis of bacterial spectrum,activin A,and CD64 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients complicated with pulmonary infections

BACKGROUND Pulmonary infections often lead to poor prognoses in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Activin A and CD64 play crucial pathological roles in the development of COPD.AIM To explore the bacterial spectrum via analysis of activing A levels,CD64 index,and related mechanisms in COPD patients complicated with pulmonary infection.METHODS Between March 2015 and January 2018,a total of 85 patients with COPD,who also suffered from pulmonary infections,were enrolled in this study as the pulmonary infection group.In addition,a total of 96 COPD patients,without pulmonary infection,were selected as the control group.Sputum samples of patients in the pulmonary infection group were cultivated for bacterial identification prior to administration of antibiotics.The neutrophil CD64 index was measured using flow cytometry,serum activin A levels were detected via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and activin A,Smad3,TLR4,My D88,and NFκB protein expression was analyzed by Western blotting.RESULTS Gram-negative bacteria were identified in 57.65%of the sputum samples in the pulmonary infection group.The most prevalent Gram-negative species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Conversely,Gram-positive bacteria were identified in 41.18%of the sputum samples in the pulmonary infection group.The most common Gram-positive species was Streptococcus pneumoniae.Fungi were identified in 1.17%of the sputum samples in the pulmonary infection group.The CD64 index was significantly higher in the pulmonary infection group(0.91±0.38)than in the control group(0.23±0.14,P<0.001).The serum activin A levels were significantly higher in the pulmonary infection group(43.50±5.22 ng/m L),compared to the control group(34.82±4.16 ng/m L,P<0.001).The relative expression levels of activin A,Smad3,TLR4,My D88,and NFκB were all significantly higher in the pulmonary infection group,compared to the control group(all P<0.001).CONCLUSION Pulmonary infections in COPD patients are mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Pulmonary infections can significantly increase neutrophil CD64 index and serum levels of activin A,thereby activating the activin A/Smad3 signaling pathway,which may positively regulate the TLR4/My D88/NFκB signaling pathway.

Clinical Analysis of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease Diagnosed as Coincidental Pulmonary Infection Due to <i>Mycobacterium</i>Species

Objectives: We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with pulmonary mycobacterial disease diagnosed as coincidental pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium species. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty patients satisfied the diagnostic criteria of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease proposed by American Thoracic Society during the last seven years. Six patients (3.8%) were coincidental pulmonary infection due to two Mycobacterium species. We investigated the background, laboratory findings, microbiological findings, radiological findings, treatment and prognosis. Results: There were six patients, 3 males and 3 females, with a mean age of 71.7 years. The causative microorganisms of coincidental pulmonary infection consisted of Mycobacterium avium + Mycobacterium intracellulare in two patients, Mycobacterium avium + Mycobacterium kansasii in one, Mycobacterium intracellulare + Mycobacterium chelonae in one, Mycobacterium intracellulare + Mycobacterium abscessus in one, and Mycobacterium intracellulare + Mycobacterium tuberculosis in one. Regarding the radiological findings, the distribution of the lesion was frequently shown in both the right middle and left lingula lobes, but the extent of the lesion was limited within the unilateral lung field. Centrilobular small nodules with bronchiectasis were recognized in all patients and cavities or infiltration shadows were recognized in half of them on chest computed tomography. A definite diagnosis was obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in four patients and expectorated sputum in two. Combined chemotherapy was performed for two patients and that for pulmonary tuberculosis in one. Conclusions: Coincidental pulmonary infection due to Mycobactterium species occurred at a low percentage. Although most patients were elderly with underlying disease and clinical features were compatible with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease, the prognosis was comparatively good with and without treatment.

Nocardia cyriacigeorgica infection in a patient with pulmonary sequestration: A case report

BACKGROUND Nocardia cyriacigeorgica (N. cyriacigeorgica) infection is uncommon in clinicalpractice. Pulmonary sequestration complicated with N. cyriacigeorgica has notbeen reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of pulmonary sequestrationcomplicated with N. cyriacigeorgica infection in an immunocom-petentwoman.CASE SUMMARYA 37-year-old woman complaining of a recurrent cough was admitted to ourhospital. Pulmonary sequestration in the lower lobe of the left lung wasdiagnosed by enhanced computed tomography. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid wasthen collected, which showed gram positive bacilli with weakly positive modifiedacid-fast staining. The pathogen was identified as N. cyriacigeorgica after bacterialculture and mass spectrometry analysis. The patient was diagnosed withpulmonary sequestration complicated with N. cyriacigeorgica infection, and hersymptoms quickly improved following anti-infective therapy.CONCLUSION Nocardiosis is considered to be an opportunistic infection. This is the first reportof pulmonary sequestration complicated with N. cyriacigeorgica infection in apatient with normal immunity.

Role of MexA-MexB-OprM Efflux Pump System in Chronic Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Pulmonary Infection in Mice

In order to investigate the role of the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump system in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA)-induced pulmonary infection,pulmonary infection models were established by intratracheal injection of K767(wild type),nalB(MexA-MexB-OprM up-regulated mutant),and △m exB(knockout) strains,separately.All mice were treated with Meropenem(intraperitoneal injection,100 mg/kg body weight,twice every day),and strain-related pathology,bacteria count,cytokine level,myeloperoxidase(MPO,indicator of neutrophil recruitment) activity,and macrophage inflammatory protein-2(MIP-2) expression were evaluated at early(3rd day post-infection) and late(7th and 14th day post-infection) stages of infection.E-test showed that △mexB was more significantly sensitive to panipenan(ETP),meropenem(MP) and imipenem(IP) than K767 and nalB strains.There was no significant difference in sensitivity to cefepime(TM) among the three stains.In contrast to the K767 and nalB groups,the △ mexB group showed decreased bacteria burden over time and less extensive pathological change.Additionally,MPO activity and levels of inflammatory cytokines(IL-1b,IL-12,and TNF-α) were increased at the early stage(day 3) and decreased at the later stage(day 14).Serum MIP-2 expression level was steadily increased in all three groups from early to late stages,but significantly higher in △m exB group than in K767 and nalB groups(P<0.05).In conclusion,the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump system might play an important role in PA-induced chronic pulmonary infection.High expression of the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump could increase antibacterial resistance and promote infection.

Identification of risk factors and construction of a nomogram predictive model for post-stroke infection in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND Post-stroke infection is the most common complication of stroke and poses a huge threat to patients.In addition to prolonging the hospitalization time and increasing the medical burden,post-stroke infection also significantly increases the risk of disease and death.Clarifying the risk factors for post-stroke infection in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS)is of great significance.It can guide clinical practice to perform corresponding prevention and control work early,minimizing the risk of stroke-related infections and ensuring favorable disease outcomes.AIM To explore the risk factors for post-stroke infection in patients with AIS and to construct a nomogram predictive model.METHODS The clinical data of 206 patients with AIS admitted to our hospital between April 2020 and April 2023 were retrospectively collected.Baseline data and post-stroke infection status of all study subjects were assessed,and the risk factors for poststroke infection in patients with AIS were analyzed.RESULTS Totally,48 patients with AIS developed stroke,with an infection rate of 23.3%.Age,diabetes,disturbance of consciousness,high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score at admission,invasive operation,and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)were risk factors for post-stroke infection in patients with AIS(P<0.05).A nomogram prediction model was constructed with a C-index of 0.891,reflecting the good potential clinical efficacy of the nomogram prediction model.The calibration curve also showed good consistency between the actual observations and nomogram predictions.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.891(95%confidence interval:0.839–0.942),showing predictive value for post-stroke infection.When the optimal cutoff value was selected,the sensitivity and specificity were 87.5%and 79.7%,respectively.CONCLUSION Age,diabetes,disturbance of consciousness,NIHSS score at admission,invasive surgery,and COPD are risk factors for post-stroke infection following AIS.The nomogram prediction model established based on these factors exhibits high discrimination and accuracy.

Development and validation of a postoperative pulmonary infection prediction model for patients with primary hepatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND There are factors that significantly increase the risk of postoperative pulmonary infections in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma(PHC).Previous reports have shown that over 10%of patients with PHC experience postoperative pulmonary infections.Thus,it is crucial to prioritize the prevention and treatment of postoperative pulmonary infections in patients with PHC.AIM To identify the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with PHC and develop a prediction model to aid in postoperative management.METHODS We retrospectively collected data from 505 patients who underwent hepatobiliary surgery between January 2015 and February 2023 in the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreaticospleen Surgery.Radiomics data were selected for statistical analysis,and clinical pathological parameters and imaging data were included in the screening database as candidate predictive variables.We then developed a pulmonary infection prediction model using three different models:An artificial neural network model;a random forest model;and a generalized linear regression model.Finally,we evaluated the accuracy and robustness of the prediction model using the receiver operating characteristic curve and decision curve analyses.RESULTS Among the 505 patients,86 developed a postoperative pulmonary infection,resulting in an incidence rate of 17.03%.Based on the gray-level co-occurrence matrix,we identified 14 categories of radiomic data for variable screening of pulmonary infection prediction models.Among these,energy,contrast,the sum of squares(SOS),the inverse difference(IND),mean sum(MES),sum variance(SUV),sum entropy(SUE),and entropy were independent risk factors for pulmonary infection after hepatectomy and were listed as candidate variables of machine learning prediction models.The random forest model algorithm,in combination with IND,SOS,MES,SUE,SUV,and entropy,demonstrated the highest prediction efficiency in both the training and internal verification sets,with areas under the curve of 0.823 and 0.801 and a 95%confidence interval of 0.766-0.880 and 0.744-0.858,respectively.The other two types of prediction models had prediction efficiencies between areas under the curve of 0.734 and 0.815 and 95%confidence intervals of 0.677-0.791 and 0.766-0.864,respectively.CONCLUSION Postoperative pulmonary infection in patients undergoing hepatectomy may be related to risk factors such as IND,SOS,MES,SUE,SUV,energy,and entropy.The prediction model in this study based on diffusion-weighted images,especially the random forest model algorithm,can better predict and estimate the risk of pulmonary infection in patients undergoing hepatectomy,providing valuable guidance for postoperative management.

Bronchopulmonary infection with lophomonas blattarum:two cases report and literature review

Objective： To improve the recognition and diagnosis on the bronchopulmonary infection with Lophomonas blattarum （L. blattarum）. Methods： The clinical characteristics of 2 patients diagnosed and treated in our hospital were reported, and 42 cases that had been reported from years 1993 to 2007 are analyzed. Results： In our report, the first patient attacked serious asthma time after time, the second patient suffered from bronchiectasis with a protracted infection course. Forty-four cases all have pathogen examination and parasitic expertise. The most common symptoms are fever, cough and expectoration. 1/3 of the patients have increased acidophilic granulocyte in peripheral blood. Chest X film and CT scanning suggest changes were similar to pneumonia. Chronic cases are manifested with bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis and pulmonary abscess. L. blattarum found in phlegm or specimen collected by bronchoscopy provides the most reliable evidence for the diagnosis of this disease. Conclusion： Bronchopulmonary L. blattarum infection is a new kind of diseases. The clinical manifestations are similar to pneumonia, asthma, bronchiectasis infection or pulmonary abscess. L. blattarum found in sputum smear, bronchoscopic brush smear, bronchoscopic biopsy smear, or hronchoalceolar lavage under microscope is the foundation of the diagnosis. The pathogen species has not been finally confirmed. It is still unclear how the pathogen exists in the natural environment, how to transmit to persons and what kind of people would suffer from the disease more easily. Treatment only with antibiotics is not effective to this disease. Metronidazole with dosage of 0.5 g per time and twice per day was effective to most patients, the period of treatment need to last 14-38 d, but multidrug resistance case had been reoorted.

Furazolidone-induced pulmonary toxicity in Helicobacter pylori infection:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is a global problem,causing significant morbidity and mortality.Furazolidone is recommended to eradicate H.pylori infections in China owing to the highly associated antibiotic resistance.CASE SUMMARY This article presents two cases of lung injury caused by furazolidone treatment of H.pylori infection and the relevant literature review.Two patients developed symptoms,including fever,cough,and fatigue after receiving a course of furazolidone for H.pylori infection.Chest computed tomography showed bilateral interstitial infiltrates.Laboratory studies revealed elevated blood eosinophil count.After discontinuing furazolidone with or without the use of corticosteroids,the symptoms improved rapidly.A PubMed database literature search revealed three reported cases of lung injury suggestive of furazolidone-induced pulmonary toxicity.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of the side effects associated with the administration of furazolidone to eradicate H.pylori infection.

Improving effect of sputum aspiration combined with bronchoalveolar lavage by fiber bronchoscope on the condition and inflammation in lung cancer patients with postoperative pulmonary infection

Objective:To study the improving effect of sputum aspiration combined with bronchoalveolar lavage by fiber bronchoscope on the condition and inflammation in lung cancer patients with postoperative pulmonary infection.Methods:A total of 78 patients with lung cancer who received surgical treatment in our hospital between August 2013 and January 2015 and were with postoperative infection were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into two groups, control group received mechanical ventilation therapy, observation group received bronchoalveolar lavage by bronchoscope combined with mechanical ventilation, and the inflammatory factor levels, RAAS system activity and respiratory mechanics indexes of two groups were determined after treatment.Results:3 d after treatment, serum hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-8, PCT, renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels of observation group were lower than those of control group, and PIP, Raw and WOB values were lower than those of control group while Cdyn value was higher than that of control group.Conclusion:For lung cancer patients with postoperative pulmonary infection, bronchoalveolar lavage by bronchoscope combined with mechanical ventilation can optimize patients' condition, relieve systemic inflammatory response and improve respiratory function, and it has positive clinical significance.

Nutritional status in chronically hospitalized stroke patients complicated with pulmonary infection

Complicated pulmonary infection following stroke has traditionally been considered an aspirated infection by many physicians, and little attention has been paid to concomitant protein-energy malnutrition. In the present study, we hypothesized that protein-energy malnutrition may be present in hospitalized chronic stroke patients complicated with pulmonary infection. The results revealed that body protein and fat stores were significantly depleted in stroke patients with pulmonary infection. Protein-energy malnutrition was present in 12 of 27 patients with pulmonary infection. In comparison, only eight of 42 stroke patients without pulmonary infection exhibited protein-energy malnutrition. A significantly higher prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition was found in the pulmonary infection group, suggesting that protein-energy malnutrition is more likely to be present in hospitalized chronic stroke patients with pulmonary infection.

Acute Pulmonary Embolism, Multiple Coronary Thrombosis, and Thrombi in the Left Ventricle and Ascending Aorta in a Patient with COVID-19 Infection

Both arterial and venous thromboembolic events are common in patients hospitalized in intensive care units with severe COVID-19. These patients often have laboratory findings consistent with a hypercoagulable state, suggesting widespread thrombosis and fibrinolysis, as well as elevated levels of D-dimer, von Willebrand factor (VWF), and factor VIII. There is increasing evidence that these thromboembolic events are associated with worse outcomes. We present the case of a 61-year-old man admitted for bilateral pneumonia due to COVID-19 infection, who developed during his hospitalization;Bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism, an acute myocardial infarction due to multiple coronary thrombosis, an intracavitary thrombus and thrombus in the ascending aorta. The patient was treated with systemic fibrinolysis and full doses of anticoagulation for pulmonary embolism, an emergency primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed with the implant of a drug eluting stent (DES) in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Triple therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel and heparin was maintained until discharge. After the patient discharge, aspirin was stopped and treatment with clopidogrel and dabigatran was maintained for three months. In a subsequent outpatient control, the thrombi of the left ventricle and the ascending aorta resolved.

Expression of IL-4 in a rat model of chronic pulmonary infection with biofilm formation induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The expression of IL-4 in a rat model of chronic pulmonary infection biofilm formation induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated, in which SPF Wister rats were infected via trachea with 0.1 ml P. aeruginosa strain PAO579 （ 10^9 CFU/ml） in alginate beads or the planktonic form of this bacterial strain （109 CFU/ml）, and on 3, 7 and 14 d after infection, the bacteriological and pathological changes were observed as well as the expression of the cytokine IL-4 was determined. It was demonstrated that the count of CFU per lung tissue in case of bacteria in alginate beads was significantly higher than that of bacteria in planktonic form, with more severe gross pathologic changes and inflammatory reactions in the alginate bead group in comparison with that of the planktonic forms （ P = 0. 002, P = 0. 004 and P = 0. 002, respectively）. In addition, the expression of IL-4 in the alginate bead group was also higher than that in the planktonic form （P = 0.02, P = 0.02 and P = 0.022, respectively）. A positive correlation between the level of IL-4 expression and the gross lung pathology in alginate bead group existed as demonstrated by simple regression analysis （r = 0.78, P 〈 0.02）. It is concluded that the chronic pulmonary infection with biofilm formation induced by P. aeruginosa tends to have the priority to the Th2 immune response.