Characterization of antimicrobial resistance among Escherichia coli O111 isolates of animal and human origin

Fifty isolates of Escherichia coli serogroup O111 recovered from humans and various animal species over a 24-year period (1976-1999) were examined for typical virulence-associated factors and susceptibilities to antimicrobials of human and veterinary significance. Nine H (flagellar) types were identified including nonmotile (n = 24), 32 (n = 12), negative (n = 5), and 56 (n = 3). Thirty-five (70%) isolates possessed at least one Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)-associated virulence determinants (eae, stxl, stx2, hlyA) via PCR analysis. Of these 35 isolates, 20 possessed eae, stxl, and hlyA genes, whereas three isolates possessed eae, stxl, stx2, and hylA genes. Multiple antibiotic resistance was observed in 70% of the 50 E. coli O111 isolates. The majority of isolates displayed resistance to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and kanamycin. Bacterial resistance to ampicillin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim and apramycin was also observed. Integrons were identified in 23 (46%) of the E. coli isolates assayed, with a 1-kb amplicon being most frequently observed. DNA sequencing of these integrons revealed the presence of the aadA gene, encoding resistance to streptomycin. Two integrons of 1.5 and 2 kb contained the aadA2 and either dfrI or dfrXII genes, encoding resistance to streptomycin and trimethoprim, respectively. Integrons were also identified from isolates dating back to 1982. Isolates were further genetically characterized via ribotyping, which identified 15 distinct ribogroups, with 62% of isolates clustering into four major ribogroups. Certain riboprint patterns from different animal species, including humans, were observed in isolates spanning the 24-year collection period, suggesting the dissemination of specialized pathogenic O111 clones.     

中国胰岛素依赖性糖尿病病人（HLA－DR9）的HLA－DQB1基因顺序分析

用血清学方法研究显示中国人胰岛素依赖性糖尿病（ＩＤＤＭ）与ＨＬＡ－ＤＲ９相关。鉴于白种人中的研究显示ＩＤＤＭ与ＨＬＡ－ＤＱβ链第５７位氨基酸相关，Ａｓｐ－５７对ＩＤＤＭ呈抗性，ｎｏｎ－Ａｓｐ与ＩＤＤＭ易感性相关。我们用ＰＣＲ技术扩增了中国人中血清学ＤＲ９纯合的ＩＤＤＭ患者和正常对照的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＢ１基因第二外显子并测定了核苷酸顺序，结果未发现ＩＤＤＭ特异ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＢ１等位基因，但发现ＩＤＤＭ病人ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＢ１５７位均为天冬氨酸。表明中国ＩＤＤＭ患者中的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＢ１５７位天冬氨酸不一定具有保护个体抵抗ＩＤＤＭ的足够能力。ＩＤＤＭ易感性可能涉及多个基因位点的变化，另外还可能与其它遗传因素及环境因素有关。     

Comparison of ethanol versus formalin fixation on preservation of histology and RNA in laser capture microdissected brain tissues

Although RNA can be retrieved from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, the yield is low, and the RNA is fragmented. Recent advances in gene expression profiling underscore the importance of identifying a fixative that preserves histology and mRNA. We demonstrated that, for immersion fixation of brains, 70% ethanol is superior to formalin for mRNA preservation. RNA yield from ethanol-fixed tissues was 70% of the yield from fresh frozen specimens, but only a negligible quantity was recovered from formalin-fixed tissues. RNA from ethanol-fixed brains showed integrity comparable to RNA from fresh frozen tissues, and RT-PCR using RNA from ethanol-fixed tissues was consistently successful. RNA from FFPE tissues composed of low-molecular weight fragments, and their use in RT-PCR failed repeatedly. The yield and quality of RNA from ethanol-fixed brains were unaffected after immersion at 4 degrees C for 2 weeks. In a blinded comparison to FFPE tissues, ethanol-fixed specimens were judged to show comparable histology and superior immunostaining. After laser capture microdissection (LCM), we failed to recover mRNA from FFPE tissues but retrieved mRNA from ethanol-fixed tissues for RT-PCR and cDNA microarray analysis. We conclude that 70% ethanol preserves RNA integrity and is suitable for expression profiling of brain tissues by LCM and cDNA microarray.     

Two patients with chromosome 6q terminal deletions with breakpoints at q24.3 and q25.3.

We report on 2 patients with de novo terminal deletion of 6q. The first was a 4-month-old boy whose karyotype was 46,XY,del(6)(q24.3); the second a 2-year-old girl whose karyotype was 46, XX, del(6)(q25.3). The main anomalies in both patients included mental retardation, minor craniofacial and cerebral anomalies, and cardiac defects. The characteristic manifestations were imperforate anus in the first patient, and retinitis proliferans and a triatrial heart in the other. Comparison of clinical findings of our 2 patients with those of 18 previously reported patients with similar phenotypes suggests that terminal deletion of the 6q23 or 6q25 band is critical in producing the main anomalies of del(6q) syndrome.     

GDNF-induced seminomatous tumours in mouse--an experimental model for human seminomas?

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a distant member of the transforming growth factor superfamily. It binds to and activates a receptor complex consisting of GFR-alpha1 and Ret receptor tyrosine kinase. In testis, GDNF is expressed by Sertoli cells. We have shown by transgenic loss- and gain-of-function mouse models that GDNF regulates the cell fate decision of undifferentiated spermatogonia. In the GDNF +/- mice, the spermatogonia differentiate in excess leading to the depletion of germ cells. In the mice overexpressing GDNF in testes, undifferentiated spermatogonia accumulate in the tubules, no sperm is produced, and the mice are infertile. After a year, the GDNF overexpressing mice frequently (89%) develop testicular tumours, and most of them are bilateral (56%). All these tumours show the same histological pattern. They are composed of round spermatogonial/gonocytic cells with only a scant cytoplasm. The tumours are locally invasive but do not metastasise. They express germ line markers, are positive for alkaline phosphatase, and aneuploid with a triploid peak. Thus, by several histological, molecular, and histochemical characteristics, the GDNF-induced tumours mimic classical seminomas in men, but the precursor lesions are apparently different in mouse and man.     

2018—2020年徐州市食源性疾病监测分析

目的 分析徐州市2018—2020年食源性疾病哨点医院主动监测结果,了解该地区食源性疾病流行特征。方法 收集2018—2020年徐州市食源性疾病哨点医院监测的病例信息,并对部分病例的粪便样本进行病原学检测。结果 3年共监测食源性疾病病例7 548例,其中25～45岁年龄组占比最高(26.81%);6—9月为发病高峰;肉与肉制品(20.72%)为主要的可疑暴露食品;可疑食物进食场所主要为家庭(80.49%);农民(26.75%)和散居儿童(24.95%)病例构成比较高。共采集1 835份腹泻病例粪便样本,其中诺如病毒检出率最高为(4.69%)。结论 徐州市食源性疾病高发期为6—9月,具有明显的季节性,好发于家庭,肉与肉制品为主要暴露食品,感染患者集中在>25～45岁年龄组,诺如病毒感染率较高。     

2017—2021年扬州市宝应县水痘流行病学特征分析

目的 分析2017—2021年扬州市宝应县水痘的流行特征,为水痘防制工作提供参考依据。方法 通过查阅监测系统相关数据的方式,采用描述性流行病学方法对2017—2021年扬州市宝应县水痘发病情况进行流行病学特征分析。结果 2017—2021年扬州市宝应县累计报告水痘病例3 841例,年均发病率为105.74/10万,5年发病率总体呈逐年上升趋势(χ2=112.92,P<0.01);有2个发病高峰期,主要集中在5—7月及10月至次年的2月,报告发病数分别占总病例数的27.65%、51.54%;人群以15岁及以下学生及幼托儿童为主,占79.24%;男性发病率略高于女性;城区发病率高于乡镇地区;突发公共卫生事件的发生主要集中在水痘发生的高峰期;疫苗首针剂的接种率总体呈现逐年上升的趋势(χ2=37.37,P<0.01)。结论 扬州市宝应县水痘的发生情况有明显的季节、年龄、职业和地区差异,加强15岁及以下人群的水痘二针剂疫苗的接种及防护知识宣传,这是预防水痘疫情发生和扩散的关键。     

基于PacBio测序的对叶百部叶绿体基因组结构及系统发育分析

目的：获得对叶百部Stemona tuberosa高质量叶绿体基因组信息,明确其结构、序列特征,同时确定对叶百部的系统发育地位。方法：采用Illumina NovaSeq 6000和PacBio RSⅡ平台对对叶百部分别进行建库测序,利用生物信息软件将2个测序平台的数据进行混合组装和碱基校正,最终获得高质量叶绿体基因组,随后对其序列特征、重复序列、基因多样性和系统发育进行分析。结果：对叶百部叶绿体基因组大小为154 379 bp,叶绿体基因组结构为典型环状四段式,1对27 074 bp的反向重复区（IR）,1个大小为17 924 bp的小单拷贝区（SSC）和1个82 307 bp的大单拷贝区（LSC）,平均鸟嘌呤和肥嘧啶所占的比率（GC）含量为37.86%;共注释得到121个基因,包括30个tRNA基因,4个rRNA基因和87蛋白编码基因,其中6个tRNA基因和12个蛋白质编码基因中存在内含子;对叶百部叶绿体基因组中共发现49个长重复序列和59个单核苷酸简单重复序列（SSR）;4个百部属的叶绿体基因组比较分析表明ycf1和ndhF基因具有高度多样性;基于叶绿体基因组构建的系统发育树与对...     

经典名方中杜仲的本草考证

通过查阅历代本草、医籍、方书并结合近现代文献资料,笔者对杜仲药材的名称、基原、产地、品质评价、采收加工、炮制历史沿革及产地变迁情况进行了系统梳理及考证,以期为含杜仲的经典名方开发提供参考依据。经考证可知,历代本草均以杜仲为正名,基原为杜仲科植物杜仲Eucommia ulmoides的干燥树皮,古今一致;杜仲最早的产地为河南、山西、陕西、四川一带,自明代以来产地扩展至全国大部分地区,且推崇四川、陕西、重庆、贵州、湖北等地为杜仲的道地产区;近代以来总结其品质以皮厚、块大、粗皮刮净、断面多丝、内表面色暗紫为佳;杜仲的古代炮制加工方法主要有去粗皮切制生用和加酥蜜、姜汁、盐水、酒等辅料炮制,近现代以来炮制方法日趋简化,沿用的炮制方法主要为净制后切制生用、盐炙,建议挖掘不同杜仲炮制品的现代科学内涵,通过标准恢复传统主流炮制方法。基于宋代陈自明的三痹汤中杜仲“去皮,切,姜汁炒”的要求,根据考证结果,建议使用姜杜仲,即参考2020年版《中华人民共和国药典》炒法,以姜汁为辅料进行炮制后入药。     

Correction to: Cichorium intybus L. promotes intestinal uric acid excretion by modulating ABCG2 in experimental hyperuricemia

The study of sex differences in hyperuricemia can provide not only a theoretical basis for this clinical phenomenon but also new therapeutic targets for urate-lowering therapy. In the current study, we aimed to confirm that estradiol can promote intestinal ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) expression to increase urate excretion through the PI3K/Akt pathway. The estradiol levels of hyperuricemia/gout patients and healthy controls were compared, and a hyperuricemia mouse model was used to observe the urate-lowering effect of estradiol and the changes in ABCG2 expression in the kidney and intestine. In vivo and in vitro intestinal urate transport models were established to verify the urate transport function regulated by estradiol. The molecular pathway by which estradiol regulates ABCG2 expression in intestinal cells was explored. The estradiol level of hyperuricemia/gout patients was significantly lower than that of healthy controls. Administering estradiol benzoate (EB) to both male hyperuricemic mice and female mice after removing the ovaries confirmed the urate-lowering effect of estradiol, and hyperuricemia and estradiol upregulated the expression of intestinal ABCG2. Estradiol has been confirmed to promote urate transport by upregulating ABCG2 expression in intestinal urate excretion models in vivo and in vitro. Estradiol regulates the expression of intestinal ABCG2 through the PI3K/Akt pathway. Our study revealed that estradiol regulates intestinal ABCG2 through the PI3K/Akt pathway to promote urate excretion, thereby reducing serum urate levels.