Nosocomial spread of OXA-232-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST15 in a teaching hospital, Shanghai, China.

Background: The spread and outbreak of Enterobacteriaceae producing OXA-48-like carbapenemases have become more and more prevalent in China.

Results: A total of 62 non-duplicated OXA-232-producing K. pneumoniae (OXA232Kp) were isolated between 2015 and 2017.

PCSK9 positively correlates with plasma sdLDL in community-dwelling population but not in diabetic participants after confounder adjustment.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) and small dense low-density lipoprptein (sdLDL) in diabetic and non-diabetic participants in a community-dwelling cohort.The plasma levels of PCSK9 and sdLDL were detected in 1766 participants (median age: 61.40 years; 733 males vs 1033 females; 383 diabetic vs 1383 non-diabetic patients) from the Pingguoyuan community of Beijing, China.

Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation in phantom limb pain: A case report.

Phantom limb pain (PLP) and phantom limb sensations are common complications postamputation. PLP is defined as persistent painful sensations perceived in the missing portion of the amputated limb. Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation (coblation) technology is a relatively new technology that has shown promise in treating neuropathic pain.

Arginine deficiency is involved in thrombocytopenia and immunosuppression in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by a recently identified bunyavirus, SFTSV, is an emerging infectious disease with extensive geographical distribution and high mortality. Progressive viral replication and severe thrombocytopenia are key features of SFTSV infection and fatal outcome, whereas the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We revealed arginine deficiency in SFTS cases by performing metabolomics analysis on two independent patient cohorts, suggesting that arginine metabolism by nitric oxide synthase and arginase is a key pathway in SFTSV infection and consequential death.

Genetic manipulation of Escherichia coli central carbon metabolism for efficient production of fumaric acid.

Fumaric acid is one of the top 12-biomass building-block chemicals. In this study, we reported manipulation of E. coli central carbon metabolism with the aim to decrease the by-products and improve fumaric acid production.

Vascular endothelial injury in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome caused by the novel bunyavirus.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection typically causes acute fever, thrombocytopenia and leucopenia, presenting with a high case fatality rate. The pathogenesis of SFTSV infection, however, is not well described. It was hypothesized that endothelial dysfunction might play part in the disease process.

Disruption of the gut-liver axis in the pathogenesis of acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by organ failure mediated by acute decompensation of cirrhosis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the gut-liver axis (GLS) and its association with ACLF pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms related to the alteration of the GLA and their involvement in ACLF pathogenesis and suggest some possible therapeutic options that could modulate the GLA dysfunction.

Association between peripheral γδ T cell subsets and disease progression of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by SFTS virus. The cellular immune responses during SFTS virus infection have not been fully understood. This study examined the association between circulating γδ T cell subsets and clinical outcome of SFTS patients from China.

Successful treatment of refractory cancer pain with morphine and ropivacaine: A case report.

Rationale: Pain is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by cancer patients. Cancer pain is a complex phenomenon with physical, psychological, social, and cognitive domains. Although opioids remain a cornerstone of cancer pain management, they are not effective in all patients.

Targeting G protein-coupled receptor for pain management.

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. Great progress has been made in understanding the important roles of various G protein-coupled receptors in the regulation of pain transmission. However, many important questions remain uncertain about the precise signal transduction mechanisms.

Phospholipase Cε deficiency delays the early stage of cutaneous wound healing and attenuates scar formation in mice.

This study aimed to investigate the role of phospholipase Cε (PLCε) in the skin wound healing process. PLCε, an effect factor of Ras/Rap small G protein, plays a crucial role in skin inflammation by regulating inflammatory cytokines. Inflammatory responses are closely associated with wound healing.

Increased Natural Killer Cell Activation in HIV-Infected Immunologic Non-Responders Correlates with CD4+ T Cell Recovery after Antiretroviral Therapy and Viral Suppression.

The role of natural killer (NK) cell function in HIV disease especially in the setting of long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral suppression is not fully understood. In the current study, we have investigated NK cell activation in healthy controls and aviremic ART-treated HIV+ subjects with different degrees of immune restoration. We performed a cross sectional study in 12 healthy controls and 24 aviremic ART-treated HIV-infected subjects including 13 HIV+ subjects with CD4+ T cells above 500 cells/μL defined as "immunologic responders" and 11 HIV+ subjects with CD4+ T cells below 350 cells/μL defined as "immunologic non-responders".

The induction of CD80 and apoptosis on B cells and CD40L in CD4+ T cells in response to seasonal influenza vaccination distinguishes responders versus non-responders in healthy controls and aviremic ART-treated HIV-infected individuals.

Background: Studies have shown that HIV infection is associated with an impaired influenza vaccine response. We examined the role of cellular phenotypes and function in influenza vaccine responsiveness in healthy controls and aviremic HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Methods: 16 healthy controls and 26 ART+ aviremic HIV+ subjects were enrolled in the current study.

MiR-223 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation through promoting apoptosis via the Rab1-mediated mTOR activation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common digestive malignancy. MiR-223, a well-identified miRNA, exhibits diverse properties in different cancers. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-223 could suppress cell growth and promote apoptosis in HepG2 and Bel-7402 HCC cell lines.

Toll-like receptor-mediated immune responses in intestinal macrophages; implications for mucosal immunity and autoimmune diseases.

Monocytes are precursors of macrophages and key players during inflammation and pathogen challenge in the periphery, whereas intestinal resident macrophages act as innate effector cells to engulf and clear bacteria, secrete cytokines, and maintain intestinal immunity and homeostasis. However, perturbation of toll-like receptor signaling pathway in intestinal macrophages has been associated with tolerance breakdown in autoimmune diseases. In the present review, we have summarized and discussed the role of toll-like receptor signals in human intestinal macrophages, and the role of human intestinal macrophages in keeping human intestinal immunity, homeostasis, and autoimmune diseases.

Folate-Chitosan Nanoparticles Loaded with Ursolic Acid Confer Anti-Breast Cancer Activities in vitro and in vivo.

Ursolic acid (UA) has proved to have broad-spectrum anti-tumor effects, but its poor water solubility and incompetent targeting property largely limit its clinical application and efficiency. Here, we synthesized a nanoparticle-based drug carrier composed of chitosan, UA and folate (FA-CS-UA-NPs) and demonstrated that FA-CS-UA-NPs could effectively diminish off-target effects and increase local drug concentrations of UA. Using MCF-7 cells as in vitro model for anti-cancer mechanistic studies, we found that FA-CS-UA-NPs could be easily internalized by cancer cells through a folate receptor-mediated endocytic pathway.

N-ethylmaleimide‑sensitive factor siRNA inhibits the release of Weibel-Palade bodies in endothelial cells.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) methods on the expression of N‑ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and Weibel‑Palade body (WPB) release in endothelial cells. A small hairpin RNA (shRNA), mediated with an adenovirus vector, was designed to target the N‑terminal functional area of NSF. Subsequently, viruses were transfected into human aortic endothelial cells.

PPARγ affects nitric oxide in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Objective: Porphyromonas gingivalis induces nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) has an anti-inflammation function, and its involvement in this NO induction process requires elucidation. Here, we focused on PPARγ expression in HUVECs exposed to P.

Addiction of Hypertransformable Pneumococcal Isolates to Natural Transformation for In Vivo Fitness and Virulence.

Natural genetic transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae, an important human pathogen, mediates horizontal gene transfer for the development of drug resistance, modulation of carriage and virulence traits, and evasion of host immunity. Transformation frequency differs greatly among pneumococcal clinical isolates, but the molecular basis and biological importance of this interstrain variability remain unclear. In this study, we characterized the transformation frequency and other associated phenotypes of 208 S.

The "Vessel through Strait" Sign is a Signature Radiological Sign for the Diagnosis of Left Hepatic Artery Variation.

An aberrant artery (AA) can frequently be observed coursing through the fissure for the ligamentum venosum (FLV) which was termed the "vessel through strait" sign (VTSS) by us. Fundamental data including the incidence, anatomical composition and clinical significance of VTSS and the AAs composing VTSS are still lacking. We sought to give a systematic demonstration on this issue in the present study.

[Correlation between red blood cell count and liver function status].

Objective: To investigate the changes in red blood cell count in patients with different liver diseases and the correlation between red blood cell count and degree of liver damage.

Methods: The clinical data of 1427 patients with primary liver cancer, 172 patients with liver cirrhosis, and 185 patients with hepatitis were collected, and the Child-Pugh class was determined for all patients. The differences in red blood cell count between patients with different liver diseases were retrospectively analyzed, and the correlation between red blood cell count and liver function status was investigated.

Upregulation of miRNA-130a Represents Good Prognosis in Patients With HBV-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Prospective Study.

Prompt and accurate prediction of the outcome is the key to make correct medical decision and to reduce the mortality in patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Increasing evidence have certified that small, noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) play critically regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. However, it remains unclear whether and how miRNAs involve in the prognosis of ACLF.

Knockout of phospholipase Cε attenuates N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine-induced bladder tumorigenesis.

Bladder cancer frequently shows mutational activation of the oncogene Ras, which is associated with bladder carcinogenesis. However, the signaling pathway downstream of Ras remains to be fully elucidated. N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) is able to induce bladder cancer by driving the clonal expansion of initiated cells carrying the activated form of Ras.