Memory related molecular signatures: The pivots for memory consolidation and Alzheimer's related memory decline

Age-related cognitive decline is the major cause of concern due to its 70% more incidence than dementia cases worldwide. Moreover, aging is also the major risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD), associated with progressive memory loss. Approx. 13 million people will have Alzheimer-related memory decline by 2050. Learning and memory is the fundamental process of brain functions. However, the mechanism for the same is still under investigation. Thus, it is critical to understand the process of memory consolidation in the brain and extrapolate its understanding to the memory decline mechanism. Research on learning and memory has identified several molecular signatures such as Protein kinase M zeta (PKMζ), Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) crucial for the maintenance and stabilization of long-term memory in the brain. Interestingly, memory decline in AD has also been linked to the abnormality in expressing these memory-related molecular signatures. Hence, in the present consolidated review, we explored the role of these memory-related molecular signatures in long-term memory consolidation. Additionally, the effect of amyloid-beta toxicity on these molecular signatures is discussed in detail.     

Performance of EAST in diagnosing inhalant allergens in children with allergic rhinitis

The performance of enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (EAST) for identifying six indoor allergens was evaluated using skin prick test (SPT) as reference tests in 154 children with allergic rhinitis. Sensitivity of EAST ranged from 9% (cat) to 54% (HDM) with specificity of 74%(cockroach) to 100% (cat) with an agreement ranged from 58 to 86%. Cut off values ?> ?0.35 kU/L showed best sensitivity and specificity. Our findings agree with extant literature which suggests that the ability of EAST to determine the precipitating allergen is moderate. Assays for definitively identifying the inhalant allergen are currently not available.     

毛霉目病原真菌的实验室鉴定及体外抗真菌药物敏感 性分析

摘要:目的以分子测序为参考 ,评估形态学、基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱对毛霉目真菌的鉴定能力,分析毛霉目真菌对两性霉素B、泊沙康唑的体外药敏特点。方法收集 2018年1月-2022年2月广东省人民医院25例毛霉病住院患者标 本,进行镜检并对培养的茵落行形态学鉴定、质谱鉴定、分子测序和体外药敏试验。结果KOH 湿片法阳性率(76%)高于革兰染色法(32%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);形态学鉴定可将68%的菌株鉴定到属水平,3株鉴定错误,2株无法鉴定;将所 有菌株进行质谱鉴定,单用IVD和RUO数据库鉴定率分别为56%和44%,两库联合可将鉴定率提高为64%。毛霉目真菌对两性霉素B的抑制50%菌株生长的最小抑菌浓度(MIC3o)为1μg/mL,根霉属相比其他属对两性霉素B表现出较高的MIC 值,其中2株MIC>32 μg/mL,另2株MIC为8 μg/mL;根霉属对泊沙康唑的MICso为0.5 μg/mL,横梗霉属MICgo为4 μg/ mL,小克银汉霉属MICg0为2 μg/mL,有部分菌株表现出较低MIC值,同样亦有部分菌株对泊沙康唑表现出较高的MIC 值。结论 将传统镜检、培养与质谱技术和分子技术相结合,尽量将毛霉目真菌准确鉴定到种,并积极开展毛霉体外药敏试验,可为临床治疗提供参考依据。     

Implementation of Nurse-Led Cognitive Screening During Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

Dementia is a serious and costly illness. Early identification of cognitive impairment provides opportunity for earlier intervention, and there is growing evidence suggesting that early intervention may help delay the onset of dementia. There is limited concensus and standardized recommendations for when and how cognitive screening should occur. This quality improvement project implemented a standardized nurse-led cognitive screening workflow during the Medicare annual wellness visit. Statistically significant differences were found between the baseline and implementation groups for Mini-Cog screening rates and referral for follow-up for further neurocognitive evaluation. A structured nurse-led workflow improved the cognitive screening process, providing opportunity for further evaluation and intervention.     

Molecular testing for melanocytic tumors: a practical update

The work-up of melanocytic tumors has undergone significant changes in the last years following the exponential growth of molecular assays. For the practicing pathologist it is often difficult to sort through the myriad of different tests available currently for clinical use. The molecular tests used in melanocytic pathology can be broadly divided into 4 categories: (i) Tests useful in the differential diagnosis of nevus versus melanoma (primarily used as an aid in the diagnosis of histologically ambiguous melanocytic tumors), (ii) Tests that predict prognosis in melanoma, (iii) Tests useful in the classification of melanocytic tumors and (iv) Tests that predict response to systemic therapy in melanoma. This review will present an updated overview of major ancillary tests used in clinical practice.     

Evaluation of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy in postmenopausal women with persistent HPV infection with or without cervical and vaginal low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (CIN1/VaIN1)

ObjectiveTo analyze the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on postmenopausal women with persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with or without low-grade cervical and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1 and VaIN1).Materials and methodsThe clinicopathological and follow-up data of 86 postmenopausal women with HPV infection (35 cases with chronic cervicitis and 51 cases with CIN1/VaIN1) were collected. All the women in this group met these criteria: menopausal time ≥ 1 year, HPV infection time ≥ 2 years, colposcopy and pathological diagnosis of biopsy ≤ CIN1/VaIN1 before PDT treatment, and 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) as photosensitizer treating for 6 times with a week interval. The above patients were followed up 6 months and 12 months after PDT treatment, and the follow-up contents included HPV typing, cytology, colposcopy and pathological examinations. HPV negative conversion rate and lesion remission rate are the evaluation indicators of treatment efficacy. In addition, we also assessed the safety of PDT treatment.ResultsAt 12-month follow-up, the overall HPV clearance rate was 60% (45/75), of which the negative conversion rate of 16/18 HPV was 41.38% (12/29), and non-16/18 HPV was 71.74% (33/46) (p = 0.009). In patients without lesions, the HPV clearance rate was 51.72% (15/29), while in patients with CIN1/VaIN1 (n = 46), the HPV complete remission rate and lesion regression rate were 65.22% (30/46) and 89.13% (41/46), respectively. In addition, the clearance rate of HPV in lesion regression group was significantly higher than that in lesion persistence/progression group (0.00% vs. 73.17%, p = 0.003). The adverse reactions after PDT treatment were mild, mainly manifested as increased vaginal secretions or burning/tingling.ConclusionsPhotodynamic therapy can significantly enhance the elimination rate of persistent HPV infection in postmenopausal women and reduce the progression of CIN1/VaIN1. It could be an effective conservative treatment for persistent HPV infection and CIN1/VaIN1 in postmenopausal women.     

Effect of gender on the reliability of COVID-19 rapid antigen test among elderly

Defining con-founders that affect the reliability of diagnostic tests for coronavirus disease 2019 is vital to breaking the chain of infection. The elderly population is a higher risk group for the emerging virus. However, gender seems to exert a critical role in modifying the infection risk among women owing to hormonal changes. The menopause transition is an exceptional period for older women where the protective and immunomodulatory effects of the estrogen hormone are lost. Accordingly, attention should be given to postmenopausal women since they will have an increased risk compared to their pre-menopausal peers.     

Performance of the new FilmArray Blood Culture Identification 2 panel and its potential impact on clinical use in patients with Gram-negative bacteremia

IntroductionRapid diagnostic tests have been developed recently for rapid species or resistance genes identification, offering the potential to improve the selection of appropriate antibiotics. The newly developed FilmArray Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2) panel, which can identify more species and resistance genes, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, is expected to make an impact on antimicrobial practice.MethodsThe consecutive 50 inpatients with Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia were enrolled to this retrospective single-center study. In addition to the existing FilmArray Blood Culture Identification (BCID) panel, we have implemented BCID2 panel for positive blood culture. The sensitivity and specificity of BCID and BCID2 panel were respectively calculated, and a simulation study of time to effective, optimal and de-escalation therapy was performed based on BCID or BCID2 result.ResultsA total of 52 Gram-negative organisms in 50 patients were identified from blood cultures. Of these, 45 (87%) organisms were detected by BCID2 panel, which was more than BCID panel (41 organisms, 79%). BCID2 panel detected 5 CTX-M genes, which were concordant with conventional method. The time to effective therapy did not differ between BCID arm and BCID2 arm; however, the median time to optimal therapy (34 h in BCID arm and 26 h in BCID2 arm, P = 0.0007) and the median time to de-escalation therapy (42 h in BCID arm and 22 h in BCID2 arm, P = 0.0005) were significantly shortened.ConclusionsThis simulation study of BCID2 panel showed high sensitivity and specificity, and the potential impact on shortening the time to optimal and de-escalation therapy.