Retrospective analysis of molecular characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is the second most prevalent Gram-negative bacterium causing bloodstream infections (BSIs). In recent years, the management of BSIs caused by KP has become increasingly complex due to the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). Although numerous studies have explored the risk factors for the development of CRKP-BSIs, the mortality of patients with KP-BSIs, and the molecular epidemiological characteristics of CRKP, the variability in data across different populations, countries, and hospitals has led to inconsistent conclusions.

A novel quantitative double antigen sandwich ELISA for detecting total antibodies against Candida albicans enolase 1.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a double antigen sandwich ELISA (DAgS-ELISA) method for more efficient, accurate, and quantitative detection of total antibodies against Candida albicans enolase1 (CaEno1) for diagnosing invasive candidiasis (IC).

Methods: DAgS-ELISA was developed using recombinant CaEno1 and a monoclonal antibody as the standard. Performance evaluation included limit of detection, accuracy, and repeatability.

Quantitatively detecting enolase1 with a one-step double monoclonal antibody sandwich ELISA assay.

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is often a cause of severe concern for the hospitalized patients, particularly those who are critically sick. However management of this disease is challenging due to a lack of effective laboratory diagnostic techniques. Hence, we have developed a one-step double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using a pair of specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the quantitative detection of enolase1 (CaEno1), which is considered as an important diagnostic biomarker for IC.

Genotype-specific reference interval of haptoglobin tests in a Chinese population on the BN II System.

The distribution of Haptoglobin (HP) subtypes differs according to race and geography. It was also confirmed that the serum HP concentration was substantially affected by the HP subtypes. This study aimed to investigate the HP subtypes in northern Chinese and to establish reference intervals for the major HP subtypes using the BN II system.

Rapid preparation of Candida genomic DNA: combined use of enzymatic digestion and thermal disruption.

Nucleic acid based molecular technologies are the most promising tools for the early diagnosis of Candida infection. A simple and effective DNA preparation method is of critical for standardizing and applying molecular diagnostics in clinic laboratories. The goal of this study was to develop a Candida DNA preparation method that was quick to do, easy to perform, and bio-safe.

[Role of DNMT3a in Hydroquinone-Induced Hematopoietic Stem Cell Toxicity].

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect and mechanism of DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3a) in hydroquinone-induced hematopoietic stem cell toxicity.

Methods: Cells (HSPC-1) were divided into 4 groups, that is A: normal HSPC-1; B: HQ-intervented HSPC-1; C: group B + pcDNA3 empty vector; D: group B + pcDNA3- DNMT3a. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of DNMT3a and PARP-1 mRNA and protein, respectively.

Infection in Nephrotic Syndrome Patients: Three Case Studies and A Systematic Literature Review.

Objective: The multicenter literature review and case studies of 3 patients were undertaken to provide an updated understanding of nocardiosis, an opportunistic bacterial infection affecting immunosuppressed nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant treatment. The results provided clinical and microbiological data to assist physicians in managing nocardiosis patients.

Methods: Three cases between 2017 and 2018 from a single center were reported.

PCR-detectable DNA exists a short period in the blood of systemic candidiasis murine model.

Invasive candidiasis is a major challenge to clinical medicine today. However, traditional fungal diagnostic techniques and empirical treatments have shown great limitations. Although efforts are necessarily needed in methodology standardization and multicenter validation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a very promising assay in detecting fungal pathogens.

Progress in the Study of Epidemiologic Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Asymptomatic Malaria Infection in Africa.

Malaria is caused by protozoan parasitic Plasmodium infections. Plasmodium falciparum is common in Africa; P ovale, P malaria and P vivax infections are less prevalent and globally confined, contributing to major causes of global mortality and morbidity, particularly in children in sub-Saharan African countries. In 2018, the total incidence of malaria increased from 221 million to 229 million, with an estimated 503 000 deaths reported.

Evaluation of a Novel Laboratory Candiduria Screening Protocol in the Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Since urine cultures are only guaranteed for patients with obvious urinary symptoms in most cases, most of candiduria episodes are ignored in clinic.

Objective: This study aimed to design a screening protocol to improve diagnostic efficiency of candiduria, and provide information of species and drug susceptibility.

Methods: All patients, who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital during December 1, 2018 and October 1, 2019, were enrolled in this study.

Management of candiduria in hospitalized patients: a single-center study on the implementation of IDSA guidelines and factors affecting clinical decisions.

Candiduria are common findings in clinic especially in hospitalized patients, while its significance remains undetermined. Since there are few criteria to follow, physicians tended to make decisions by personal experience in many cases in clinical practice. The present study was designed to unveil the present situation of candiduria management in hospitalized patients in clinical practice.

Dihydroartemisinin Prevents Progression and Metastasis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Inhibiting Polarization of Macrophages in Tumor Microenvironment.

Background: Polarized M2 macrophages are an important type of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM), with roles in the growth, invasion, and migration of cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a traditional Chinese medicine extract, has been shown to inhibit the progression and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, the effect of DHA on cancer prevention, and the associated mechanism, has not been investigated in the tumor microenvironment.

Materials And Methods: First, human Thp-1 monocytes were induced and differentiated into M2 macrophages using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

Candiduria in hospitalized patients: an investigation with the Sysmex UF-1000i urine analyzer.

Background: Candiduria is common in hospitalized patients. Its management is limited because of inadequate understanding. Previous epidemiological studies based on culture assay have been limited to small study populations.

Performance of yeast-like cell counting (YLCC) using the Sysmex UF-1000i for clinical candiduria screening.

Candiduria is common in clinical practice. However, an effective and convenient assay to screen for candiduria is still needed. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Sysmex UF-1000i urine analyzer for yeast-like cell counting (YLCC) to screen for candiduria prior to urine culture.

Detection of Bacterial Meningitis Pathogens by PCR-Mass Spectrometry in Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Background: Acute bacterial meningitis remains a life-threatening infectious disease with considerable morbidity and mortality. DNA-based detection methods are an urgent requisite for meningitis-causing bacterial pathogens for the prevention of outbreaks and control of infections.

Methods: We proposed a novel PCR-mass spectrometry (PCR-Mass) assay for the simultaneous detection of four meningitis-causing agents, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the present study.

[Detection and analysis of serum level of anti-Candida enolase IgG antibody in patients with autoimmune diseases].

Objective To detect IgG antibody against Candida enolase in the sera of patients with autoimmune diseases. Methods Using purified recombinant Candida enolase as the coating antigen, an ELISA was established for enolase IgG antibody detection and the reactive conditions were optimized. The enolase IgG antibody in the sera from patients with autoimmune diseases and healthy controls were detected by ELISA.

Development of a Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Rapid Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis.

Early and accurate diagnosis of invasive candidiasis (IC) is very important. In this study, a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) was developed to detect antibody against Candida albicans enolase (Eno). Colloidal gold particle labeled mouse anti human IgG (1.

Serological response and diagnostic value of recombinant candida cell wall protein enolase, phosphoglycerate kinase, and β-glucosidase.

There are no specific signs and symtoms for invasive candidiasis (IC), which makes its diagnosis a challenge. Efforts have been made for decades to establish serological assays for rapid diagnosis of IC, but none of them have found widespread clinical use. Using a systemic candiasis murine model, serological response to recombinant proteins of enolase (rEno1), phosphoglycerate kinase (rPgk1), and β-glucosidase (rBgl2) were evaluated and rEno1 was found to possess the strongest immunoreactivity, followed by rPgk1 and rBgl2.

[Whole blood leukocyte phagocytosis assay for Candida albicans based on flow cytometry].

Objective: To establish a whole blood leukocyte phagocytosis assay for Candida albicans (C.albicans) based on flow cytometry (FCM).

Methods: C.

Increased production of suilysin contributes to invasive infection of the Streptococcus suis strain 05ZYH33.

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is widely recognized in the veterinary world as the cause of rapidly progressive and fatal sepsis in infant pigs, manifested with meningitis, polyarthritis and pneumonia. It has evolved into a highly infectious strain, and caused two large-scale outbreaks of human epidemic in China, characterized bytypical toxic-shock syndrome and invasive infection. However, the molecular basis of virulence of this emerging zoonotic pathogen is still largely unknown.

[Prokaryotic expression and immunogenicity analysis of phosphoglycerate kinase 1 of Candida albicans].

Objective: To construct prokaryotic expression plasmids of Candida albicans gene phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (pgk-1) and examine the immunogenicity of the recombinant protein.

Methods: The full-length coding sequence of pgk-1 was amplified by PCR and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET30a. The 6×His-tagged protein was induced by IPTG in E.

An easy operating pathogen microarray (EOPM) platform for rapid screening of vertebrate pathogens.

Background: Infectious diseases emerge frequently in China, partly because of its large and highly mobile population. Therefore, a rapid and cost-effective pathogen screening method with broad coverage is required for prevention and control of infectious diseases. The availability of a large number of microbial genome sequences generated by conventional Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing has enabled the development of a high-throughput high-density microarray platform for rapid large-scale screening of vertebrate pathogens.

[Relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment in seminiferous tubules and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia and to verify the significance of INH B in evaluating spermatogenesis.

Methods: Eighty-three cases of azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy for the purpose of diagnosis. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20); maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18).