Isolated cerebral mucormycosis associated with intravenous drug use

We present an uncommon case of isolated basal ganglia mucormycosis in a patient without any known cause of immunosuppression, but with a history of drug injection. The patient presented a good clinical and radiological response to antifungal treatment without aggressive surgical debridement (liposomal amphotericin B combined with isavuconazole for 4 weeks followed by isavuconazole as maintenance therapy for 10 months).     

Neuropsychiatric disturbance after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Although aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) accounts for only 3–5% of all strokes, a high degree of morbidity has been reported in this relatively young subset of patients. Neuropsychiatric disturbance has often been neglected in these reports. We aimed to investigate the pattern and pathological factors of chronic neuropsychiatric disturbance in aSAH patients. This cross-sectional observational four-center study was carried out in Hong Kong. Neuropsychiatric outcome (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Chinese Version [CNPI]) assessments were conducted cross-sectionally 1–4 years after ictus. Pathological factors considered were early brain injury as assessed by admission World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade, aneurysm treatment (clipping versus coiling), delayed cerebral infarction, and chronic hydrocephalus. One hundred and three aSAH patients’ spouses or caregivers completed the CNPI. Forty-two (41%) patients were reported to have one or more domain(s) of neuropsychiatric disturbance. Common neuropsychiatric disturbance domains included agitation/aggression, depression, apathy/indifference, irritability/lability, and appetite/eating disturbance. Chronic neuropsychiatric disturbance was associated with presence of chronic hydrocephalus. A subscore consisting of the five commonly affected domains seems to be a suitable tool for aSAH patients and should be further validated and replicated in future studies.     

Prevalence and species distribution of microorganisms isolated among non-pregnant women affected by vulvovaginal candidiasis: A retrospective study over a 20 year-period

BackgroundVulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common infection of the genital tract affecting millions of women worldwide. Data concerning the distribution and antifungal resistance of Candida species responsible of VVC vary among countries and population studied. Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence, species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida species among symptomatic women over a 20-year period.MethodsA total of 5,820 unique samples were retrospectively identified. Out of them, 1,046 (18%) were diagnosed with VVC.ResultsWomen between 18 and 30 years had the highest prevalence rate of VVC (21%). Women aged less than 18 years and greater than 51 years had the highest prevalence rates of vaginal bacterial infections. Thirty-five (3.3%) women presented recurrent VVC. The most common yeast isolated was C. albicans, followed by C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis. Non-Candida albicans species (NAC) were more significantly isolated among women aged 51 or above, than in women included in other groups (p < 0.01). Resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B was infrequent in C. albicans strains. Resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B was infrequent in C. albicans strains. NAC species presented higher resistance rates against fluconazole (30%) and voriconazole (25%). C. krusei and C. glabrata isolates showed lower MICs than most of the strains against amphotericin B (1 mg/L) and flucytosine (1 mg/L).ConclusionsOur findings indicated that continued surveillance on Candida species distribution and non-susceptibility rates to antifungals should be routinely reported to help the selection of the most appropriate drug, to avoid the emergence of resistant strains, and to improve the patient's outcomes.     

Interference of lysine-specific demethylase 1 inhibits cellular invasion and proliferation in vivo in gastric cancer MKN-28 cells

BackgroundLysine-specific demethylase 1(LSD1), the first identified histone demethylase, plays an important role in the epigenetic regulation of gene activation and repression. Up-regulated LSD1expression has been reported in several malignant tumors.Our aim, therefore, was to better understand the mechanisms underlying the upregulation of LSD1 in gastric cancer.MethodsWe used lentiviral shRNA to knockdown LSD1 in the gastric cancer MKN-28 cell line. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay while cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry. The invasive potential of gastric cancer cells was determined by matrigel invasion assay. Protein expression was detected by Western blot. In vivo, the effect of knocking down LSD1 on tumor growth and protein expression in gastric cancer cells in nude mice was investigated.ResultsLSD1 knockdown in MKN-28 cell lines resulted in increasing the activity of cisplatin in vitro and the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. The expression of TGF-β1, VEGF, Bcl-2, β-catenin, p-ERK and p-Smad 2/3 proteins was inhibited in LSD1 knockdown cells. Moreover, in an in vivo model of gastric cancer, LSD1 knockdown suppressed tumor growth and protein expression.ConclusionLSD1 knockdown affected the fuction of gastric cancer MKN-28 cell line. LSD1 may be a latent target in the diagnosis and therapy of gastric cancer.     

Glabridin triggers over-expression of MCA1 and NUC1 genes in Candida glabrata: Is it an apoptosis inducer?

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The first case of teeth discoloration induced by linezolid in children in China Mainland

Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antimicrobial agent often used to treat multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. The common adverse reactions of linezolid are diarrhea, nausea, headache and bone marrow suppression, and so on. Here, we report the first case of teeth discoloration induced by linezolid linked with extrinsic discoloration in China Mainland. This case report highlights a rare adverse reactions of a commonly used antibiotic.     

Variants of CARD14 gene and psoriasis vulgaris in southern Chinese cohort

BACKGROUND:

Recent mutation analysis identified several missense mutations in CARD14 in psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES:

We performed the genomic sequence analysis on CARD14 in southern Chinese Han Cantonese with Psoriasis Vulgaris (PsV) to reveal more causative missense mutations.

METHODS:

A total of 131 patients with PsV and 207 matched controls were included. We conducted sequence analysis of all the exon and exon-intron boundaries of CARD14 in the group of PsV patients and subsequent case control analysis of potential sequence variants of significance.

RESULTS:

We found five rare mutations and four of them are annotated or reported. Only the variant (c.1291C>G) has not been reported and annotated, but the variant was also found in controls. No significant difference was detected among all rare variant allele frequencies of patients and controls.

CONCLUSION:

None of the new definite variants were pathogenic. The other pathogenic mutations for PsV are still elusive in our cohort.     

Athérosclérose et connectivites

Large increases in mortality related to premature atherosclerosis with coronary artery disease and stroke have been reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies found relative risks of 5 for myocardial infarction, 6 to 10 for stroke in SLE patients, and 3.6 for cardiovascular deaths in RA patients. The main risk factors for atherosclerosis included not only the classic factors identified in epidemiological studies such as the Framingham study (advanced age, high cholesterol levels, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity), but also prolonged glucocorticoid therapy, long duration of SLE, postmenopausal status, and heart failure. SLE per se is an independent risk factor. The current pathogenic hypothesis for atherosclerosis involves an inflammatory response (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and fibrin), autoantibodies, immune complexes (containing antibodies to phospholipids, to oxidized LDLs, and to endothelial cells), cytokine-producing activated T cells, and bacterial or viral infections responsible for an immune response against heat shock proteins (endogenous HSP60 and its equivalent, bacterial HSP65). Early risk factor intervention and effective control of inflammation should be incorporated into the management of connective tissue disease with the goal of protecting patients against atherosclerosis.