Mitochondrial morphology and energy metabolism in reprogrammed porcine expanded potential stem cells.

Objective: Expanded potential stem cells (EPSCs) are stem cells that can differentiate into embryonic and extraembryonic lineages, including extraembryonic endoderm and trophoblast lineages. Therefore, EPSCs have great potential in advancing regenerative medicine, elucidating disease mechanisms, and exploring early embryonic development. However, the generation and characterization of EPSCs in pigs have not been thoroughly explored.

Nervonic acid improves fat transplantation by promoting adipogenesis and angiogenesis.

Adipose tissue engraftment has become a promising strategy in the field of regenerative surgery; however, there are notable challenges associated with it, such as resorption of 50‑90% of the transplanted fat or cyst formation due to fat necrosis after fat transplantation. Therefore, identifying novel materials or methods to improve the engraftment efficiency is crucial. The present study investigated the effects of nervonic acid (NA), a monounsaturated very long‑chain fatty acid, on adipogenesis and fat transplantation, as well as its underlying mechanisms.

Altered Mitochondrial Function and Accelerated Aging Phenotype in Neural Stem Cells Derived from Dnm1l Knockout Embryonic Stem Cells.

Mitochondria are crucial for cellular energy metabolism and are involved in signaling, aging, and cell death. They undergo dynamic changes through fusion and fission to adapt to different cellular states. In this study, we investigated the effect of knocking out the () gene, a key regulator of mitochondrial fission, in neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiated from knockout embryonic stem cells ( ESCs).

Impact of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infection on mortality: A retrospective analysis of nationwide surveillance data.

Objectives: It is unclear whether the poor outcome of patients with severe vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is attributable to vancomycin resistance or to Enterococcus faecium (Efm), which predominates among VRE.

Methods: Retrospective study of a prospectively identified cohort from nationwide surveillance. A cohort of consecutive, nonduplicate episodes of monomicrobial bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by Efm in 2016 was selected.

Embryonic Stem Cells Lacking DNA Methyltransferases Differentiate into Neural Stem Cells that Are Defective in Self-Renewal.

Background And Objectives: DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) play an important role in regulating DNA methylation during early developmental processes and cellular differentiation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Dnmts in neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in maintenance of the resulting neural stem cells (NSCs).

Methods And Results: We used three types of Dnmt knockout (KO) ESCs, including Dnmt1 KO, Dnmt3a/3b double KO (Dnmt3 DKO), and Dnmt1/3a/3b triple KO (Dnmt TKO), to investigate the role of Dnmts in neural differentiation of ESCs.

Developmental Potency and Metabolic Traits of Extended Pluripotency Are Faithfully Transferred to Somatic Cells via Cell Fusion-Induced Reprogramming.

As a novel cell type from eight-cell-stage embryos, extended pluripotent stem cells (EPSCs) are known for diverse differentiation potency in both extraembryonic and embryonic lineages, suggesting new possibilities as a developmental research model. Although various features of EPSCs have been defined, their ability to directly transfer extended pluripotency to differentiated somatic cells by cell fusion remains to be elucidated. Here, we derived EPSCs from eight-cell mouse embryos and confirmed their extended pluripotency at the molecular level and extraembryonic differentiation ability.

Efficacy of teicoplanin in bloodstream infections caused by Enterococcus faecium: posthoc analysis of a nationwide surveillance.

Objectives: Vancomycin and teicoplanin are glycopeptides with activity against Enterococcus faecium. However, studies on the clinical efficacy of teicoplanin are limited. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of teicoplanin and vancomycin in E.

Germ Cell Derivation from Pluripotent Stem Cells for Understanding In Vitro Gametogenesis.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have developed considerably in recent years; however, they cannot rectify germ cell aplasia, such as non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and oocyte maturation failure syndrome. In vitro gametogenesis is a promising technology to overcome infertility, particularly germ cell aplasia. Early germ cells, such as primordial germ cells, can be relatively easily derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs); however, further progression to post-meiotic germ cells usually requires a gonadal niche and signals from gonadal somatic cells.

The role of interspecies recombination in the evolution of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci.

Multidrug-resistant emerge through the modification of core genome loci by interspecies homologous recombinations, and acquisition of gene cassettes. Both occurred in the otherwise contrasting histories of the antibiotic-resistant lineages PMEN3 and PMEN9. A single PMEN3 clade spread globally, evading vaccine-induced immunity through frequent serotype switching, whereas locally circulating PMEN9 clades independently gained resistance.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Temporal Genetic Changes in Isolates of Genotype ST320 and Serotype 19A from South Korea.

Since the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, an increase in the incidence of serotype 19A and sequence type 320 (19A-ST320) isolates have been observed worldwide including in South Korea. We conducted a genome-wide analysis to investigate the temporal genetic changes in 26 penicillin-non-susceptible 19A-ST320 pneumococcal isolates from a hospital in South Korea over a period of 17 years (1999; 2004 to 2015). Although the strains were isolated from a single hospital and showed the same genotype and serotype, a whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis revealed that the isolates showed more extensive genetic variations compared with a reference isolate obtained in 1999.

Surveillance of the infection prevention and control practices of healthcare workers by an infection control surveillance-working group and a team of infection control coordinators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, hospitals have strengthened their guidelines on infection prevention and control (IPC), and a rigorous adherence to these guidelines is crucial. An infection control surveillance-working group (ICS-WG) and infection control coordinators (ICCs) team were created to monitor the IPC practices of the healthcare workers (HCWs) in a regional hospital in Korea. This study analyzed the surveillance results and aimed to identify what IPC practices needed improvement.

Antimicrobial stewardship capacity and manpower needs in the Asia Pacific.

Objectives: Antimicrobial stewardship is a strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance in hospitals. Given the burden and impact of antimicrobial resistance in the Asia Pacific, it is important to document capacity and gaps in antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASP). We aimed to understand existing capacities and practices, and define the resources needed to establish antimicrobial stewardship where it is lacking.

Impact of Difficult-to-Treat Resistance in Gram-negative Bacteremia on Mortality: Retrospective Analysis of Nationwide Surveillance Data.

Background: Clinically relevant categorization of antimicrobial resistance is critical to mitigating the threat it poses. Difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) is a recently proposed category defined as nonsusceptibility to all first-line antibiotic agents.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with nonduplicate cases of gram-negative bloodstream infection (GNBSI) caused by 4 major taxa (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter species) identified from a nationwide surveillance database.

Co-introduction of plasmids harbouring the carbapenemase genes, bla and bla, increases fitness and virulence of bacterial host.

Background: Bacterial isolates with multiple plasmids harbouring different carbapenemase genes have emerged and been identified repeatedly, despite a general notion that plasmids confer fitness cost in bacterial host. In this study, we investigated the effects of plasmids with carbapenemase genes on the fitness and virulence of bacteria.

Methods: Different plasmids harbouring the carbapenemase genes, bla and bla, were isolated from a carbapenem-resistant K.

Modern History of Tuberculosis in Korea.

Tuberculosis has been a major public health threat in modern Korea. A few reports from the mid-1940s have demonstrated a high prevalence of latent and active tuberculosis infections. The high disease burden urged the newly established government to place a high priority on tuberculosis control.

Plasmid analysis of Escherichia coli isolates from South Korea co-producing NDM-5 and OXA-181 carbapenemases.

Recently, Escherichia coli isolates co-producing New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-5 and oxacillinase (OXA)-181 were identified in a tertiary-care hospital of South Korea. Isolate CC1702-1 was collected from urine in January 2017 and isolate CC1706-1 was recovered from a transtracheal aspirate of a hospitalized patient in May 2017. Carbapenemase genes were identified by multiplex PCR and sequencing, and whole genome sequencing was performed subsequently using the PacBio RSII system.

Genome characterization of an extensively drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 11A strain.

In this study, the whole genome sequences of two Streptococcus pneumoniae clinical isolates from South Korea were determined and compared. They were found to be the same serotype (11 A) and multilocus sequence typing analysis showed that they are single-locus variants (SLVs; ST8279 and ST166) of each other, differing at one allele (aroE). However, the ST8279 strain is extensively drug-resistant (XDR) whereas the ST166 strain is not.

Evolution of Klebsiella pneumoniae with mucoid and non-mucoid type colonies within a single patient.

We obtained nine Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates successively isolated from a single patient. Four pairs (M1-M4 and NM1-NM4) obtained simultaneously from the same site showed different colony types, mucoid and non-mucoid, while the final isolate (M5) was isolated alone from the blood and showed a mucoid phenotype. The whole genome of isolate M5 was sequenced de novo using the PacBio RSII system, while the others were sequenced with an Illumina Hiseq4000 and mapped to the genome sequences of M5.

Evaluation of a Carbapenem-Saving Strategy Using Empirical Combination Regimen of Piperacillin-Tazobactam and Amikacin in Hemato-Oncology Patients.

We implemented a carbapenem-saving strategy in hemato-oncology patients from 2013, using an empirical combination of piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin for high-risk hemato-oncology patients with febrile neutropenia, who remain hemodynamically unstable > 72 hours despite initial cefepime treatment. All-cause mortality was not different between the two periods (6.54 and 6.

Failure of Ciprofloxacin Therapy in the Treatment of Community-Acquired Acute Pyelonephritis caused by Susceptible Strain Producing CTX-Type Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase.

While carbapenems are the drug of choice to treat extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains, some alternative carbapenem-sparing regimens are suggested for antibiotic stewardship. We experienced a case of ciprofloxacin treatment failure for acute pyelonephritis caused by an apparently susceptible . A 71-year-old woman presented the emergency department with fever for 7 days and bilateral flank pain for 2 days.

Emergence of an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 15A by capsular switching.

Recently, we have identified an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 15A isolate from a patient with bacterial meningitis. It belonged to sequence type 8279 (ST8279), a clone identified as XDR serotype 11A isolated in South Korea. We obtained and compared the genome sequences of an XDR 15A and an XDR 11A isolate.

Comparison of virulence between matt and mucoid colonies of Klebsiella pneumoniae coproducing NDM-1 and OXA-232 isolated from a single patient.

Nine Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates coproducing NDM-1 and OXA-232 carbapenemases were successively isolated from a single patient. Although they were isolated simultaneously and were isogenic, they presented different colony phenotypes (matt and mucoid). All nine isolates were resistant to most antibiotics except colistin and fosfomycin.

Impact of high MIC of fluconazole on outcomes of Candida glabrata bloodstream infection: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

To evaluate the impacts of fluconazole minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) according to primary antifungal agents on Candida glabrata bloodstream infection (BSI), a multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in Korea, concerning the time period from January 2010 to February 2016. A total of 197 adult patients with C. glabrata BSI were included in the study, and neutropenia (P = 0.