Telomere-methylation genes: Novel prognostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Since telomere length and DNA methylation both correlate with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis, telomere-methylation genes could be novel prognostic markers for HCC.

Method: This study first investigated the interaction between telomere length and DNA methylation in HCC through Mendelian randomization analysis. Then, this study identified telomere-methylation genes in HCC by employing the TCGA-LIHC cohort, and explored the expression patterns of these genes in the tumor microenvironment of HCC and potential underlying mechanisms.

Treponema pallidum membrane protein Tp47 induced autophagy and inhibited cell migration in HMC3 cells via the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 pathway.

The migratory ability of microglia facilitates their rapid transport to a site of injury to kill and remove pathogens. However, the effect of Treponema pallidum membrane proteins on microglia migration remains unclear. The effect of Tp47 on the migration ability and autophagy and related mechanisms were investigated using the human microglial clone 3 cell line.

Serum Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase-L1, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, and Neurofilament Light Chain Are Good Entry Points and Biomarker Candidates for Neurosyphilis Diagnosis Among Patients Without Human Immunodeficiency Virus to Avoid Lumbar Puncture.

Background: Laboratory tests to diagnose neurosyphilis using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are currently disadvantageous as a lumbar puncture is required, which may result in patients with neurosyphilis missing an opportunity for early diagnosis. Thus, blood biomarker candidates that are more convenient and minimally invasive to collect for diagnosing neurosyphilis is urgently needed.

Methods: This observational study aimed to analyze serum ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NF-L) levels in 153 patients without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to evaluate their diagnostic performance in neurosyphilis compared with CSF.

protein Tp0136 promoting MMPs/TIMPs imbalance via PI3K, MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways in HDVSMCs.

The invasive capability of is central to its infection process. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are specifically inhibited by the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), play a pivotal role in promoting pathogenic invasion by destroying tissue barriers within the body. This study aimed to explore the effect of protein Tp0136 on the balance of MMPs/TIMPs in human dermal vascular smooth muscle cells (HDVSMCs) and the related underlying mechanisms.

Evaluation of the efficacy of four anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after vaccination using kits from two manufacturers: A prospective, longitudinal, cohort study at 11 serial time points within 160 days.

Purpose: The accuracy of level of anti- severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies is a great concern. We aimed to compare the efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection kits from two manufacturers in evaluating the efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Methods: The immune responses and consistency of four anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were evaluated using two manufacturers' antibody kits (A and B) in 61 subjects within 160 days after vaccination with the CoronaVac vaccine.

Membrane location of cardiolipin antigen in : further study on the origin of nontreponemal antibodies.

The present study examined the membrane location of cardiolipin antigen in treponemes. The authors used different methods to disrupt the outer membrane of treponemes, detected the location of the cardiolipin antigen and analyzed the immune response in rabbits immunized with various antigens. All organisms were labeled with nontreponemal antibodies on immunoelectron and fluorescence microscopy, except the citrate buffer-treated group, which is a method leading to relatively complete removal.

A 14+7 day quarantine period and a dual nucleic acid testing reagent strategy detect potentially indiscoverable Coronavirus disease 2019 infections in Xiamen, China.

Background: Determining what quarantine period and detection strategy are more effective and sustainable remains a challenge for further prevention and social stability.

Methods: From October 2020 to December 2021, 290,547 inbound overseas travelers were subject to government quarantine in Xiamen, China. The detection rate of COVID-19 during different quarantine periods using dual or single nucleic acid testing reagents.

Anti-Receptor-Binding Domain Immunoglobulin G Antibody as a Predictor of Seropositivity for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody.

Context.—: Neutralizing antibody detection can assess the incidence of COVID-19 and the effectiveness of vaccines. However, commercial reagents for neutralizing antibodies were developed after the anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies.

Genome-wide long noncoding RNA and mRNA expression profiles demonstrate associations between exposure to inorganic elements and the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study conducted a genome-wide microarray analysis and qPCR validation to obtain comprehensive insights into this issue.

Methods: Thirty male HCC patients with chronic HBV infection were included in the present study.

Molecular Characterization Based on MLST and ECDC Typing Schemes and Antibiotic Resistance Analyses of subsp. in Xiamen, China.

In total, 49 clinical samples were analyzed using two typing schemes, Enhanced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), to describe the molecular characteristics of circulating isolates in Xiamen between 2016 and 2017. In addition, genetic mutations potentially related to antibiotic resistance of were also analyzed. Forty five samples were fully typed by ECDC, and 14 different subtypes were detected.

Meta-omics characteristics of intestinal microbiota associated to HBeAg seroconversion induced by oral antiviral therapy.

Tenofovir and entecavir are currently designated as the preferred oral antiviral drugs for chronic hepatitis B. However, only less than 40% of patients can achieve HBeAg seroconversion. We aim at investigating the role of intestinal microbiome in HBeAg seroconversion induced by oral antiviral therapy and describe multi-omics characteristics of HBeAg seroconversion associated intestinal flora.

The Diagnostic Performance of lncRNAs from Blood Specimens in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely involved in the carcinogenesis and development of cancers. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: After the inclusion and exclusion process, relevant information was extracted.

Suppressed Expression of CXCL14 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissues and Its Reduction in the Advanced Stage of Chronic HBV Infection.

Introduction: CXCL14 was a significantly under-expressed mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues according to our microarray analysis, as well as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and cervical squamous cell carcinoma. CXCL14 was considered a tumor suppressor in some studies; however, its role in HBV infection has not been identified.

Methods: CXCL14 mRNA expression was quantified from 20 male HCC patients, and the fold change in cancer tissues was calculated by comparisons with normal adjacent tissues.

Evaluation of Real-Time PCR Coupled With Multiplex Probe Melting Curve Analysis for Pathogen Detection in Patients With Suspected Bloodstream Infections.

This study aimed to evaluate real-time polymerase chain reaction coupled with multiplex probe melting curve analysis (PCR-MCA) for pathogen detection in patients with suspected bloodstream infections (BSIs). A PCR-MCA assay was developed for simultaneous identification of 28 kinds of the most common pathogens and two resistance genes within a few hours. The diagnostic performance of the PCR-MCA assay was determined and compared to the results of blood culture.

Metabolic Disorders in Patients with Central Nervous System Infections: Associations with Neurosyphilis.

Introduction: Recently, neurosyphilis was found to be associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). Whether the association was specific to neurosyphilis among central nervous system (CNS) infections, and whether neurosyphilis is associated with other prevalent metabolic disorders deserves further study.

Methods: An in-depth cross-sectional study was conducted with 74 neurosyphilis patients and 74 sex- and age-matched patients with other CNS infections.

Recombinant Treponema pallidum protein Tp47 promotes the migration and adherence of THP-1 cells to human dermal vascular smooth muscle cells by inducing MCP-1 and ICAM-1 expression.

Vascular inflammation is a complex and multifactorial pathophysiological process that plays a crucial role in all stages of syphilis and is responsible for tissue damage. Little is known about the interactions of infiltrating immunocytes with human dermal vascular smooth muscle cells (HDVSMCs) in arterioles during the immunopathogenesis of syphilis. The Treponema pallidum subsp.

Metabolite Profiles of the Cerebrospinal Fluid in Neurosyphilis Patients Determined by Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis.

The mechanism underlying the stealth property of neurosyphilis is still unclear. Global metabolomics analysis can provide substantial information on energy metabolism, physiology and possible diagnostic biomarkers and intervention strategies for pathogens. To gain better understanding of the metabolic mechanism of neurosyphilis, we conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 18 neurosyphilis patients and an identical number of syphilis/non-neurosyphilis patients and syphilis-free patients using the Agilent, 1290 Infinity LC system.

Profile of the tprK gene in primary syphilis patients based on next-generation sequencing.

Background: The highly variable tprK gene of Treponema pallidum has been acknowledged to be one of the mechanisms that causes persistent infection. Previous studies have mainly focused on the heterogeneity in tprK in propagated strains using a clone-based Sanger approach. Few studies have investigated tprK directly from clinical samples using deep sequencing.

Treponema pallidum promotes macrophage polarization and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway to induce interleukin-1β production.

Background: The involvement of inflammasome activation and macrophage polarization during the process of syphilis infection remains unknown. In this study, A series of experiments were performed using human macrophages to research the role of NLRP3 inflammasome regulation in interleukin (IL)-1β production and its influence on macrophage polarization triggered by T. pallidum.

Assessing effects of different processing procedures on the yield of Treponema pallidum DNA from blood.

In this work, we employed real-time PCR analysis targeting tp0574 to investigate the effects of different processing procedures on the yield of T. pallidum DNA from blood to improve assay sensitivity. The T.

The characteristics of beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody and blood coagulation status in subjects with classical biological false-positive syphilis reactions.

Anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) includes beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent (β2-GPI-dependent) and β2-GPI-independent forms. The appearance of β2-GPI-dependent ACA and its association with blood coagulation have never been investigated in subjects with classical biological false-positive syphilis reactions (CBFP). In total, 146 CBFP subjects, 465 syphilis patients and 64 presumed antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (pAPS) patients were enrolled, and β2-GPI-dependent ACA IgA/IgG/IgM and anti-β2-GPI IgA/IgG/IgM antibodies were detected via chemiluminescence assay.

Origin of Nontreponemal Antibodies During Treponema pallidum Infection: Evidence From a Rabbit Model.

The origin of nontreponemal antibodies during syphilis infection is hotly debated. Here, we analyzed the immune response in rabbits immunized with various antigens. Inactivated treponemes elicited the production of low-titer nontreponemal antibodies in some rabbits.

Akt, mTOR and NF-κB pathway activation in Treponema pallidum stimulates M1 macrophages.

The polarization of macrophages and the molecular mechanism involved during the early process of syphilis infection remain unknown. This study was conducted to explore the influence of Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) treatment on macrophage polarization and the Akt-mTOR-NFκB signaling pathway mechanism involved in this process.