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The article describes the case of a 60-year old male from Beijing, China who was diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection attributed to cat contact. The patient demonstrated swollen lymph nodes in the groin area, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and elevated levels of creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase. A field investigation suggested the role of cats in the maintenance and transmission of SFTSV within the natural environment.

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) of the gallbladder is rare. It is usually asymptomatic and occurs in older adults. Its clinicopathological characteristics remain controversial, and the diagnosis and treatment strategies are usually based on models of adenocarcinoma. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of gallbladder NEN. Methods: The data of patients with gallbladder NEN admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital was reviewed, and a database was established for retrospective analysis. Clinicopathological features were analyzed descriptively and the prognosis was studied according to different factors. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to describe the cumulative survival rate. Results: In total, 22 patients with gallbladder NEN were included in this study. There were 10 male (45.5%) and 12 female (54.5%) patients with a median age of onset of NEN at 57.5 (49.0, 62.3) years. Abdominal discomfort was the most common symptom. Twenty patients (90.9%) underwent surgery, and two patients (9.1%) with unresectable lesions underwent a biopsy. Twenty-one patients were followed up. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative overall survival rates of all patients and patients with resectable lesions were 65.9%, 54.9%, and 48.1%, and 72.9%, 60.7%, and 53.1%, respectively. Patients with resectable lesions had a better cumulative overall survival rate than those who with unresectable lesions (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Gallbladder NEN is more common in the elderly and has a slight female predominance. The most common symptom is abdominal discomfort. Surgery is the first choice of treatment for this rare disease. The prognosis of gallbladder NEN is generally poor. Patients with resectable lesions have a better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the value of ultrasound and serum marker tests in detecting lateral lymph node metastasis in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Methods: Data of 105 patients diagnosed with MTC and admitted to the Department of General Surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2010 to August 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results: Ultrasound examination alone had a sensitivity of 89.36% and a specificity of 70.69%. For surveillance of postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen and calcitonin, cut-off values of 7.115 ng/mL and 13.185 pg/mL, respectively, were shown to discriminate the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis. Combining ultrasound and postoperative serum levels of both carcinoembryonic antigen and calcitonin as serial tests increased the specificity to 91.38% and 87.93%, with a sensitivity of 95.45%. Multivariate logistic analysis identified the following risk factors for lateral lymph node metastasis in MTC: suspicious lymph nodes detected by ultrasound and postoperative calcitonin above 13.185 pg/mL. Conclusion: The combination of ultrasound and serological tests achieved higher sensitivity and specificity to identify MTC cases with potential occult lateral cervical lymph node metastasis compared with single tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a rare subtype of lupus erythematosus (LE) that develops linear lesions following the lines of Blaschko. Linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus may present as various subtypes of LE, including linear discoid lupus erythematosus. There are few reports about pigmentedlinear discoid lupus erythematosus in the literature.Aims: We aimed to summarize the clinical and pathological features of patients with pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus following the lines of Blaschko.Methods: Eighteen patients with pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus attending the outpatient department of the Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China, were enrolled in the study. We recorded clinical data including sex, age at onset, disease duration, location and distribution of the lesions, symptoms, trigger factors, antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing, therapy, and therapeutic responses. Histopathological features were also summarized.Results: All 18 patients presented with well-defined brownish pigmented linear or segmental macules or plaques, following the lines of Blaschko. All the lesions were located on the head or neck. Unilaterally distributed lesions were found in 94.4% of patients. Two patients showed low titers of ANA in a speckled pattern. No systemic involvement or progression to systemic LE was noted. The patients were clinically diagnosed as pigmented lichen planus (55.6%), pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus (33.3%), and linear morphea (11.1%) before histopathological examination.Limitations: The study was retrospective and direct immunofluorescence was not performed. Not all patients' information was available and 4 patients were lost to follow-up because their contact information was changed.Conclusion: Pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus mostly occurs on the head and neck. It manifests as brownish macules along the lines of Blaschko. Differentiation between pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus and other dermatoses that have a linear distribution can be difficult both clinically and pathologically, but histological details can help distinguish them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral supplementation with a standardized extract from the bark of the French pine (Pycnogenol®) has been reported to benefit the skin. It might thus represent an easy-to-use strategy to improve the skin health of individuals who are exposed to considerable environmental stress in large urban areas. Objective: We investigated if oral intake of Pycnogenol® can benefit the skin of Han Chinese working outdoors in Beijing, China. Methods: In a monocentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and crossover study, the effects of Pycnogenol® intake (2 × 50 mg/day for a total of 12 weeks) on a variety of skin physiological parameters was studied in Chinese subjects (n = 76), from spring to autumn, who were working outdoors in Beijing, China. Results: During the intervention period, study subjects were constantly exposed to increased levels of particulate matter (PM)2.5 as well as seasonal changes in humidity and temperature. Despite this environmental stress, Pycnogenol® intake prevented (i) a decrease in the skin hydration, (ii) transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and (iii) skin darkening during the dry autumn season. In addition, Pycnogenol® intake improved (iv) viscoelastic skin properties such as gross elasticity and elastic recovery irrespective of the season. These beneficial effects were not observed if the same subjects were supplemented with placebo. Conclusion: Oral intake of Pycnogenol® benefits the skin in Han Chinese, who are working outdoors under considerable environmental stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study intends to investigate the prognostic risk factors of bloodstream infection in Beijing. Methods: This study is a clinical retrospective study. Four hundred forty-six patients with community-onset bloodstream infections (COBSI), admitted to the emergency department and inpatient department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, were selected as the main research objects. According to whether the patient survives for 100 days or not, 363 cases were in the survival group, and 83 cases were in the death group. By analyzing the clinical data of the two groups of patients, the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, bacterial resistance, and risk factors affecting the prognosis of the patients were analyzed. Results: A total of 446 pathogenic bacteria were isolated in this study, including 324 Gramnegative (G-) bacteria (72.6%), 121 Gram-positive (G+) bacteria (27.1%). The results of the study showed that there were significant differences in MDR, initial antibiotic use, solid tumor, CKD, septic shock, acute liver injury, AKI, central venous catheter, urinary catheter, blood replacement therapy, invasive operation, and use of three or more antibiotics between the two groups (p<0.05). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that solid tumors (OR=3.339, 95% CI: (1.441, 7.734), p=0.005), combined septic shock (OR=20.729, 95% CI: (10.235, 41.982), p<0.001), indwelling catheters (OR=3.556, 95% CI: (1.538, 8.222), p=0.003) and continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH, OR=19.548, 95% CI: (8.724, 35.641), p=0.003) are independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of COBSI patients. Appropriate initial antibiotic therapy is a protective factor affecting the prognosis of COBSI patients. Conclusion: Solid tumors, combined septic shock, indwelling catheters, CVVH are independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of COBSI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major opportunistic pathogen in hospital-acquired infections and exhibits increasing antibiotic resistance. A rapid and sensitive molecular method for its detection in clinical samples is needed to guide therapeutic treatment and to control P. aeruginosa outbreaks. In this study, we established a polymerase spiral reaction (PSR) method for rapid detection of P. aeruginosa by targeting the toxA gene, which regulates exotoxin A synthesis. Real-time turbidity monitoring and a chromogenic visualization using hydroxynaphthol blue were used to assess the reaction. All 17 non- P. aeruginosa strains tested negative, indicating the high specificity of the PSR primers. The detection limit was 2.3 pg/μl within 60 min at isothermal temperature (C°65), 10- fold more sensitive than conventional PCR. Then, the PSR assay was applied to a clinical surveillance of P. aeruginosa in three top hospitals in Beijing, China. Of the 130 sputum samples collected from ICU patients with suspected multi-resistant infections, 37 P. aeruginosa isolates were identified from the positive samples. All clinical strains belonged to 10 different P. aeruginosa multilocus sequence typing groups and exhibited high resistance to carbapenems, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides. Interestingly, of the 33 imipenem-resistant isolates, 30 (90.9%) had lost the outer membrane porin oprD gene. Moreover, isolate SY-95, containing multiple antibiotic resistance genes, possessed the ability to hydrolyze all antibiotics used in clinic and was susceptible only to polymyxin B. Our study showed the high level of antibiotic resistance and cooccurrence of resistance genes in the clinical strains, indicating a rapid and continuing evolution of P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, we developed a P. aeruginosa PSR assay, which could be a useful tool for clinical screening, especially in case of poor resources, or for point-of-care testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We detected Bartonella quintana in 48.6% of captive rhesus macaques from an animal facility in Beijing, China. Prevalence of infection increased over the period of observation. Our findings suggest that macaques may serve as reservoir hosts for B. quintana and that Pedicinus obtusus lice might act as efficient vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) and responses to front-line chemotherapy and prognosis in advanced unresectable gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: Clinical data concerning 86 patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (stages III c to IV), treated in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from 2005 to 2009, were reviewed retrospectively. Adenocarcinoma was confirmed by pathology and patients received 5-fluorouracil-based front-line combination chemotherapy with third generation chemotherapeutic agents including paclitaxel, docetaxel and oxaliplatin. The regimen was repeated every two to three weeks, and the first evaluation was carried out after three cycles. The median cycle of chemotherapy was 6 (ranging from three to twelve cycles). Serum MMP-11 protein from the 86 patients was examined using enzymelinked- immunosorbent-assay (ELISA) prior to chemotherapy and after three cycles of chemotherapy. Serum samples from healthy individuals were used as controls. Results: The response rate (RR, complete response plus partial response) to chemotherapy in the 86 patients was 44.2% (38/86). The median TTP (time to progression) and overall survival (OS) in patients who responded to chemotherapy were 6.0 and 10.0 months, respectively. The response rate to chemotherapy in patients with high levels of serum MMP-11 (42.9%; 9/21) was similar to that in patients with low levels (44.6%; 29/65) (P = 0.935). Patients with low serum levels of MMP-11 had a higher median survival time and 1-year survival rate than those with high levels (11 months vs. 8 months, 50.2% vs. 21.7%, P = 0.017), although the TTP was comparable in all patients, irrespective of serum MMP-11 level (P = 0.178). Serum MMP-11 levels were correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.006). Cox multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the serum level of MMP-11 was an independent prognostic factor for patients presenting with advanced gastric carcinoma. Conclusions: Serum levels of MMP-11 in Chinese patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were not associated with the response to front-line chemotherapy, but could play an important role in lymph node metastasis and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate possible severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection associated risk factors in a SARS affected hospital in Beijing by means of a case control study. Methods Fifty-one infected and 426 uninfected staff members were asked about risk behaviours and protective measures when attending to SARS patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the major risk and protective factors. Results Multivariate analysis confirmed the strong role of performing chest compression (or intubation, which is highly correlated), contact with respiratory secretion, and emergency care experience as risk factors to acquire SARS infection. For the studied protective measures, wearing 16-layer cotton surgical mask, wearing 12-layer cotton surgical mask, wearing multiple layers of mask, taking prophylactic medicine, taking training and nose washing turned out to be protective against infection. Conclusions This study highlighted activities associated with increased and decreased risk for SARS infection during close contact with SARS patients. These findings may help to guide recommendations for the protection of high-risk occupational groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single nueleotide variations (SNVs) at 5 loci (17564, 21721, 22222, 23823, and 27827) were used to define the molecular epidemiologic characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) from Beijing patients. Five fragments targeted at the SNV loci were amplified directly from clinical samples by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), before sequencing the amplified products. Analyses of 45 sequences obtained from 29 patients showed that the GGCTC motif dominated among samples collected from March to early April 2003; the TGTTT motif predominanted afterwards. The switch from GGCTC to TGTTT was observed among patients belonging to the same cluster, which ruled out the possibility of the coincidental superposition of 2 epidemics running in parallel in Beijing. The Beijing isolates underwent the same change pattern reported from Guangdong Province. The same series of mutations occurring in separate geographic locations and at different times suggests a dominant process of viral adaptation to the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Big data are used to determine factors influencing urban thermal field. • Scale characteristics of human influence on urban thermal field are analyzed. • Correlation exists between land-surface and air temperatures and varies with scale. • Composition factors and scales affecting air and land-surface temperatures were differentiated. The effects of human activities and land cover changes on urban thermal field patterns are closely related to the land surface temperature (LST) and air temperature. At present, the number of studies on the quantitative relationship between these two indexes and the effect of the observational scale on their influence is insufficient. In this study, spatial analysis methods such as geographic modeling were combined with remote sensing images, meteorological data, and points of insert and used to investigate the composition and scale of the factors influencing the temperature field in Beijing. The results showed that there are differences in the positive and negative correlations between LST and air temperature and various influencing factors. At a spatial resolution of 90 m, LST had a strong linear relationship with the average air temperature. Indicators reflecting elements of human activity, such as buildings, roads, and entertainment, were easily measured by meteorological stations at a small scale, and the natural green space ratio could also be easily captured by satellite thermal sensors at small scales. These results have substantial implications for environmental impact assessments in areas experiencing an increasing urban heat island effect due to rapid urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]