Piperacillin/tazobactam‐induced neurotoxicity in a hemodialysis patient: A case report

Antibiotics are potentially a cause of neurotoxicity in dialysis patients, the most common are the beta‐lactams as ceftazidime and cefepime, and few cases have been reported after piperacillin/tazobactam use. This report presents a case of a hypertensive and diabetic 67‐year‐old woman in regular hemodialysis, which previously had a stroke. She was hospitalized presenting pneumonia, which was initially treated with cefepime. Two days after treatment, she presented dysarthria, left hemiparesis, ataxia, and IX and X cranial nerves paresis. Computed tomography showed no acute lesions and cefepime neurotoxicity was hypothesized, and the antibiotic was replaced by piperacillin/tazobactam. The neurologic signs disappeared; however, 4 days after with piperacillin/tazobactam treatment, the neurological manifestations returned. A new computed tomography showed no new lesions, and the second antibiotic regimen withdrawn. After two hemodialysis sessions, the patient completely recovered from neurological manifestations. The patient presented sequentially neurotoxicity caused by two beta‐lactams antibiotics. This report meant to alert clinicians that these antibiotics have dangerous neurological effects in chronic kidney disease patients.     

Visceral Obesity and Its Shared Role in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scoping Review of the Pathophysiology and Pharmacological Treatments

The association between obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been demonstrated in animal and epidemiological studies. However, the specific role of visceral obesity on cancer and CVD remains unclear. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a complex and metabolically active tissue, that can produce different adipokines and hormones, responsible for endocrine-metabolic comorbidities. This review explores the potential mechanisms related to VAT that may also be involved in cancer and CVD. In addition, we discuss the shared pharmacological treatments which may reduce the risk of both diseases. This review highlights that chronic inflammation, molecular aspects, metabolic syndrome, secretion of hormones and adiponectin associated to VAT may have synergistic effects and should be further studied in relation to cancer and CVD. Reductions in abdominal and visceral adiposity improve insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and cytokines, which consequently reduce the risk of CVD and some cancers. Several medications have shown to reduce visceral and/or subcutaneous fat. Further research is needed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms by which visceral obesity may cause both cancer and CVD. The role of visceral fat in cancer and CVD is an important area to advance. Public health policies to increase public awareness about VAT’s role and ways to manage or prevent it are needed.     

Inhibition of Spore Germination of Phakopsora Pachyrhizi Using Crude Extracts of Amaranthus Spinosus

The effectiveness of methanolic and n-hexane crude extracts of Amaranthus spinosus to inhibit the spore germination of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, a causal agent of soybean rust disease was studied. Both methanolic and n-hexane crude extracts inhibited spore germination at concentrations of 0.1% to 5.0%. Methanolic extract of the roots at a concentration of 2.5% inhibited 55% of spore germination, and this result was similar when higher concentration at 5% of methanolic and n-hexane extracts of the flowers was used. The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids in the extract may be responsible for the inhibition. The extract was potential to be utilized as a botanical fungicide.     

积极降压对脑小血管病防治策略的影响

2017年,美国心脏病学会和美国心脏协会提出将高血压诊断标准降为130/80 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0. 133 kPa),这与其他指南有所不同。降压治疗的核心目标在于靶器官的保护,近年来降压治疗与脑小血管病预防的相关问题日益受到临床重视。目前研究结果表明,降压治疗对腔隙性卒中患者的二级预防以及白质病变进展的预防可能有一定积极意义,但确切的降压目标值并未确定。血压与临床结局可能呈现J型关系,血压过低或过高可能均有害,而取得最大获益的降压目标有待进一步探索。     

Implicit Motor Learning in Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: This study examined whether disruption of performance is moderated in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who acquire their motor behaviors in an implicit manner. Method: Twenty-seven patients with PD learned a hammering task in errorless (implicit) or errorful (explicit) conditions and were tested for robustness of motor performance under a secondary task load, which required them to continuously count backward as they performed the hammering task. Results: Patients in the errorless (implicit) motor learning condition exhibited robustness to secondary task loading, whereas patients in the errorful (explicit) motor learning condition did not. Conclusions: Implicit motor learning techniques should be considered by PD rehabilitation specialists in cases in which existing disruption to movements is exacerbated by conscious control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An evaluation of biological and abiotic controls for grapevine powdery mildew. 2. Vineyard trials

Grapevine powdery mildew ( Erysiphe necator) affects grape yield and fruit quality worldwide. Managers of conventional vineyards rely mainly on synthetic fungicides and sulfur to control powdery mildew, while in organic vineyards sulfur is the main control agent, often in rotation with canola-based oils, bicarbonates and biological control agents. The efficacy of those materials has not been evaluated critically under field conditions in Australia. Accordingly, a range of materials showing most promise in previous greenhouse trials (Crisp et al. 2006 Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 12 , pp. 192–202) were assessed via field trials in commercial vineyards. Applications of either milk or whey (alone, or mixed with a canola oil-based product), as well as applications of potassium bicarbonate (commercial formulation), all reduced the severity of powdery mildew compared with untreated vines. Eight applications of a 1:10 dilution of milk, 45 g/L whey powder or programs comprising rotations of potassium bicarbonate plus oil and whey, applied at 10–14 day intervals, reduced the severity of powdery mildew to levels not significantly different from that on vines sprayed with sulfur (wettable powder, 3–6 g/L). However, the relative control of powdery mildew by the test materials in field trials was dependent on the susceptibility of the grapevine cultivar and the extent of spray coverage achieved. In vineyards where highly susceptible cultivars were planted, and spray coverage was compromised, the resultant control of powdery mildew was reduced; and sometimes to commercially unacceptable levels.     

The five elements and chinese-american mortality.

D. P. Phillips, T. E. Ruth, and L. M. Wagner (1993) reported that 1969-1990 California mortality data show that Chinese Americans are particularly vulnerable to diseases that Chinese astrology and traditional Chinese medicine associate with their birth years. For example, because fire is associated with the heart, a Chinese person born in a fire year (such as 1937) is more likely to die of heart disease than is a Chinese person born in a nonfire year. However, many diseases were excluded from this study, some diseases that were included have ambiguous links to birth years, and the statistical tests were indirect. A more complete statistical analysis and independent California mortality data for the years 1960-1968 and 1991-2002 did not replicate the original results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

冠心病患者循环血中内皮细胞、内皮素和6－酮－前列环素F_（1a）的动态变化及意义

以循环内皮细胞（ＣＥＣ）作为血管内皮细胞（ＶＥＣ）损伤的指示物，以血浆内皮素（ＥＴ）和前列环素（ＰＧＩ２）反映ＶＥＣ的功能变化，对８５例冠心病患者与３０例正常人进行对比研究，并对５０例不稳定型心绞痛及２０例急性心肌梗塞进行了动态观察．结果表明：冠心病外周血中ＣＥＣ、ＥＴ明显升高（Ｐ＜０．００１），ＰＧＩ２明显下降（Ｐ＜０．００１），尤以不稳定型心绞痛和急性心肌梗塞更显著，与病情的严重程度相一致．提示冠心病ＶＥＣ损伤，以及它所分泌的内皮源性舒缩因子失平衡参与了冠心病的病理过程。     

核素心室造影舒张早期功能测定对冠心病估价

用平衡法核素心室造影自动左心室功能测定法检查了２３例正常人、３７例无心肌梗塞（ＣＡＤ－ＮＭＩ）和１４例有心肌梗塞（ＣＡＤ－ＭＩ）冠心病人左心室功能。结果表明，ＰＦＲ反映心肌缺血改变比其他心功能参数敏感。ＣＡＤ－ＮＭＩ组与正常对照组比较，ＰＦＲ的灵敏度为９４．５９％，Ｐ〈０．００１，其他参数的灵敏度依次为ＴＰＦＲ５４．０５％，Ｐ〈０．０１；ＰＥＲ５４．０５，Ｐ〈０．０１；ＴＰＥＲ４９．９５％，Ｐ〈０     

牙鲆淋巴囊肿病的PCR诊断方法研究

以中国养殖牙鲆 (Paralichthysolivaceus)淋巴囊肿病毒 (Lymphocystisdiseasevirus,LCDVcn)主要衣壳蛋白 (majorcapsidprotein ,MCP)基因的中间保守序列为目标基因 ,设计了一对特异性引物。该引物可扩增出 172bp的病毒DNA片段 ,其最小DNA检出量为 0 0 183ng。用PCR法从人工感染淋巴囊肿病毒 3天的牙鲆血、鳃、肝、脾、肠、胃及自然发病牙鲆的肿瘤中 ,分别检测到了LCDV的存在。本实验结果证明 ,PCR法对于早期检测LCDV是十分有效的。