血流感染肺炎克雷伯菌中CRISPR-Cas系统的分布及其与毒力基因和耐药的关系

的 了解血流感染肺炎克雷伯菌中CRISPR-Cas系统的分布特征并分析其与毒力基因和耐药的关系。方法 收集非重复血流感染肺炎克雷伯菌248株，使用Vitek2-Compact全自动微生物分析系统进行菌株鉴定及药物敏感性分析，PCR检测CRISPR-Cas系统3个相关基因(CRISPR1、CRISPR2和cas1)、筛查6种常见高毒力荚膜血清型(K1、K2、K5、 K20、K54和K57)、12种毒力基因及检测13种耐药基因，用χ2检验比较携带有CRISPR-Cas系统菌株与不携带CRISPR-Cas系统菌株毒力及耐药差异。结果 CRISPR-Cas系统的检出率为29.8%(74/248)；K1型是携带CRISPR-Cas系统肺炎克雷伯菌的主要荚膜血清型，占 28.4%(21/74)；除kpn基因外，携带CRISPR-Cas系统菌株的毒力基因检出率均大于不携带CRISPR-Cas系统菌株，其中7种差异有统计学意义；除对氨苄西林耐药率达100%外，携带有CRISPR-Cas系统菌株的其他抗菌药物耐药率均小于不携带有CRISPR-Cas系统菌株，其中13种差异有统计学意义；携带CRISPR-Cas系统菌株的耐药基因阳性率小于不携带CRISPR-Cas系统的菌株，且blaKPC、blaSHV、qnrS基因差异有统计学意义。结论 高毒力荚膜血清型肺炎克雷伯菌中主要为K1型携带CRISPR-Cas系统，携带CRISPR-Cas系统的肺炎克雷伯菌相对于不携带CRISPR-Cas系统菌株的毒力基因阳性率高，耐药率低，耐药基因的阳性率低。CRISPR-Cas系统可能能降低耐药基因在肺炎克雷伯菌中的水平传播，尤其是在K1型肺炎克雷伯菌。     

我国血吸虫对吡喹酮抗药性研究之概要

血吸虫病是一种严重危害人类健康、影响社会经济发展的重大传染病,为全球公共卫生负担和危害最严重的被忽视的热带病之一。吡喹酮是20世纪70年代研制出的一种高效、低毒、价廉的广谱抗蠕虫口服药,为世界卫生组织（WHO）推荐的抗血吸虫的首选药物。吡喹酮在血吸虫病流行区现场大规模反复使用已超过40年,血吸虫是否会对吡喹酮产生抗药性引起国际社会极大担忧,为学术界关注的热点科学问题。针对血吸虫病防治中这一重大需求,自1996年起, 在国家科技支撑计划、国家自然科学基金、江苏省自然科学基金等项目基金资助下,我们在血吸虫病流行区现场和实验室,对血吸虫在吡喹酮药物的压力是否会产生抗药性、抗性虫株的生物学特性、抗性的检测、吡喹酮抗性的交叉抗药性及抗药性的预防和控制等科学问题进行较为系统的研究,本文就其研究及其意义作一概述。     

Paradox of complex diversity: Challenges in the diagnosis and management of bacterial keratitis

Bacterial keratitis continues to be one of the leading causes of corneal blindness in the developed as well as the developing world, despite swift progress since the dawn of the “anti-biotic era”. Although, we have expeditiously developed our understanding about the different causative organisms and associated pathology leading to keratitis, extensive gaps in knowledge continue to dampen the efforts required for early and accurate diagnosis, and management in these patients, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. The ability of the causative bacteria to subdue the therapeutic challenge stems from their large genome encoding complex regulatory networks, variety of unique virulence factors, and rapid secretion of tissue damaging proteases and toxins.In this review article, we provide an overview of the established diagnostic techniques and therapeutics for keratitis caused by various bacteria. We extensively report the recent in-roads through novel tools for accurately diagnosing mono- and poly-bacterial corneal infections. Furthermore, we outline the recent progress by our groups and others in understanding the sub-cellular genomic changes that lead to antibiotic resistance in these organisms. Finally, we discuss in detail, the novel therapies and drug delivery systems in development for the efficacious management of bacterial keratitis.     

Survival and Outcomes of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Stratified by Transplant Status 2007-2018: Retrospective Analysis from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database

BackgroundConsiderable progress has been made in therapeutic options for multiple myeloma (MM). Understanding the current landscape of MM treatment options and associated outcomes in the real world is important in providing key insights into clinical and knowledge gaps which could be targeted for further optimization.MethodsThe Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database (CMRG-DB) is a prospectively maintained disease-specific database with >7000 patients. The objective of this study was to describe the trends in the treatment landscape and outcomes including early mortality, time to next treatment, and overall survival (OS) in each line of treatment stratified by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) receipt among newly-diagnosed MM patients in Canada between 2007 and 2018.ResultsA total of 5154 patients were identified among which 3030 patients (58.8%) received an upfront ASCT and 2124 (41.2%) did not. At diagnosis, the median age was 64 years and 58.6% were males. Bortezomib and lenalidomide were most frequently used (>50%) in first and second-line treatment respectively among both the ASCT and non-ASCT cohort. The median OS was 122.0 months (95% Cl 115.0-135.0 months) and 54.3 months (95% CI 50.8-58.8 months) for the ASCT and non-ASCT cohort respectively with an incremental decrease in OS in each subsequent line of treatment.ConclusionWe present the largest study to date in the Canadian landscape showing the characteristics, therapy usage, and outcomes among MM patients. This information will be critical in benchmarking current outcomes and provide key insight into areas of unmet needs and gaps for improvement of MM patients nationally.     

Challenges facing HIV-positive persons who use drugs and their families in Vietnam

It is hypothesized that persons who use drugs (PWUD) in Vietnam who are also HIV-positive may face additional challenges in psychosocial outcomes, and these challenges may extend to their family members. In this study, we examined depressive symptoms, stigma, social support, and caregiver burden of HIV-positive PWUD and their family members, compared to the outcomes of HIV-negative PWUD and their family members. Baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessment data were gathered from 83 PWUD and 83 family members recruited from four communes in Phú Th? Province, Vietnam. For PWUD, although we observed a general decline in overall stigma over time for both groups, HIV-positive PWUD consistently reported significantly higher overall stigma for all three periods. Depressive symptoms among family members in both groups declined over time; however, family members of HIV-positive PWUD reported higher depressive symptoms across all three periods. In addition, family members of HIV-positive PWUD reported lower levels of tangible support across all three periods. Caregiver burden among family members of HIV-positive PWUD increased significantly over time, whereas the reported burden among family members of HIV-negative PWUD remained relatively unchanged. The findings highlight the need for future interventions for PWUD and family members, with targeted and culturally specific strategies to focus on the importance of addressing additional stigma experienced by PWUD who are HIV-positive. Such challenges may have direct negative impact on their family members' depressive symptoms, tangible support, and caregiver burden.