Peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by Stephanoascus ciferrii: A Case Report.

Stephanoascus ciferrii, a conditional pathogenic fungus prevalent in nature, is more frequently encountered in patients with compromised immunity. However, the literature rarely reports infections caused by Stephanoascus ciferrii in peritoneal dialysis patients. Here, we detail the case of a 66-year-old female suffering from renal failure who experienced catheter-related infection during peritoneal dialysis. Dialysate turbidity prompted the detection of Stephanoascus ciferrii in both peritoneal dialysate and tubes through microbiological cultures. Subsequent treatment involved antifungal drugs and a transition to hemodialysis, resulting in the disappearance of peritonitis symptoms and the patient's discharge. In recent years, fungal infections, particularly dialysis-related infections, are on the rise. This marks the first reported case of catheter-related peritonitis infection caused by Stephanoascus ciferrii. Compared to bacterial infections, fungal infections pose challenges due to limited drug options, significant side effects, and prolonged treatment durations. Hence, prompt pathogen diagnosis and drug sensitivity testing are crucial for effective clinical treatment. In essence, this scientific case report underscores the uncommon occurrence of catheter-related peritonitis attributed to Stephanoascus ciferrii in a peritoneal dialysis patient with renal failure, emphasizing the distinctive management challenges and underscoring the critical significance of prompt diagnosis and suitable intervention in such instances.

Listeriosis Cases and Genetic Diversity of Their L. monocytogenes Isolates in China, 2008-2019.

Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is a severe food-borne infection. The nationwide surveillance in China concerning listeriosis is urgently needed. In the present study, 144 L. monocytogenes isolates were collected from the samples of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and fetal membrane/placenta in China for 12 years from 2008 to 2019. We summarized these listeriosis patients' demographical and clinical features and outcomes. The susceptibility profile for 12 antibiotics was also determined by the broth microdilution method. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and serogroups of these listeria isolates were analyzed to designate epidemiological types. We enrolled 144 cases from 29 healthcare centers, including 96 maternal-neonatal infections, 33 cases of bacteremia, 13 cases of neurolisteriosis, and two cutaneous listeriosis. There were 31 (59.6%) fetal loss in 52 pregnant women and four (9.8%) neonatal death in 41 newborns. Among the 48 nonmaternal-neonatal cases, 12.5% (6/48) died, 41.7% (20/48) were female, and 64.6% (31/48) occurred in those with significant comorbidities. By MLST, the strains were distinguished into 23 individual sequence types (STs). The most prevalent ST was ST87 (49 isolates, 34.0%), followed by ST1 (18, 12.5%), ST8 (10, 6.9%), ST619 (9, 6.3%), ST7 (7, 4.9%) and ST3 (7, 4.9%). Furthermore, all L. monocytogenes isolates were uniformly susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, and meropenem. In summary, our study highlights a high genotypic diversity of L. monocytogenes strains causing clinical listeriosis in China. Furthermore, a high prevalence of ST87 and ST1 in the listeriosis should be noted.

Clinical features, identification, antimicrobial resistance patterns of Nocardia species in China: 2009-2017.

Nocardia spp. is a pathogen responsible for a variety of clinical infections, ranging from skin and soft tissue infections, to the respiratory tract and central nervous system infections. Its epidemiological characteristics, including species distribution, clinical features, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, should be under surveillance for the prevention and treatment of nocardiosis. In the present study, over a 9-year period (from 2009 to 2017), 53 non-repetitive Nocardia isolates were collected from 8 tertiary general hospitals of 7 cities in China. These isolates were identified to species level by multilocus sequence analysis(MLSA). The clinical data were also reviewed. The susceptibilities to 10 commonly-used antibiotics for Nocardia were determined by E-test stripes, and the resistance rates, MIC50 and MIC90 to each antibiotic by different species were analyzed. Of 53 Nocardia isolates, N. farcinica was the most common species (24.5%, 13/53), followed by N. cyriacigeorgica (20.8%, 11/53), N. terpenica (15.1%, 8/53), N. abscessus (9.43%, 5/53), N. otitidiscaviarum (7.55%, 4/53), respectively. Furthermore, 31 Nocardia (58.5%) isolates were recovered from lower respiratory tract (sputum and BALF), 15 (28.3%) from superficial Infection, 3 (5.7%) from pleural effusion, 2 (3.8%) from CSF, and 1 from bone marrow and 1 from synovial fluid, respectively. The antibiotic resistance profiles varied between different Nocardia species. All Nocardia isolates were susceptible to linezolid, followed by imipenem and amikacin (both 92.5% susceptibility rate). N. terpenica, rarely documented elsewhere, showed a different antimicrobial susceptibility profile. In summary, herein, the clinical and antibiotic resistance features of Nocardia species reported would be helpful for understanding the diversity of Nocardia species circulating in China and for decision making in the context of empiric therapy.

Analysis of the correlation of gestational diabetes mellitus and peripheral ferritin with iron levels in early pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of serum iron and ferritin concentrations in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicated in pregnant metaphase through detecting the serum iron and ferritin concentrations in early pregnancy of normal pregnant women, so as to provide new ideas for the early detection and prevention of GDM. METHODS: Spontaneously pregnant women with single fetus receiving prenatal routine examination in our hospital from December 2014 to October 2016 were selected. They were in good health before with normal fasting blood-glucose in early pregnancy without anemia during pregnancy and any medication history. The serum iron and ferritin concentrations were measured at 12 gestational weeks, the fasting blood-glucose was detected at 12 weeks of pregnancy, and 75g oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 24-26 weeks. According to the results of oral glucose tolerance test, the pregnant women were divided into GDM group (N.=52) and normal control group (N.=310). The detection results of pregnant women in the two groups were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The serum ferritin and iron levels at 12 gestational weeks in GDM group were higher than those in normal pregnancy group (P<0.05). The cut-off values of serum ferritin and iron at 12 gestational weeks in the prediction of GDM were 67.8 µg/L and 52.9 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: The high concentrations of serum iron and ferritin in early pregnancy have a certain correlation with the incidence of GDM, and the early detection of serum iron and ferritin levels can improve the detection rate of GDM in pregnant metaphase.

MiR-194-5p inhibits cell migration and invasion in bladder cancer by targeting E2F3.

PURPOSE: MicroRNA (miR)-194-5p is downregulated in bladder cancer (BC), but its role in BC has not been determined mechanistically. METHODS: The expression levels of miR-194-5p and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) were determined by means of quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction in BC specimens. In addition, T24 BC cells were transfected with a miR-194-5p mimic, a miR-194-5p inhibitor, or E2F3 small interfering (si)RNA, and the level of E2F3 protein expressed by these cells was assessed by western blotting. A dual luciferase reporter assay was applied to verify the binding site between miR-194-5p and the 3' untranslated region of E2F3. Transwell assays were performed to examine cell migration and invasion. RESULTS: Dysregulation of miR-194-5p in BC was closely associated with node metastasis and differentiation. In BC specimens and cell lines, miR-194-5p mRNA was downregulated, while E2F3 mRNA was upregulated. Overexpression of miR-194-5p suppressed the expression of E2F3 mRNA and protein. By regulating E2F3, miR-194-5p inhibited cell migration and invasion in BC. Treatment of BC cells with E2F3 siRNA had the same effect as did overexpression of miR-194-5p. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-194-5p directly targets E2F3 and inhibits cell migration and invasion in BC.

Effects of aspirin combined with cilostazol on thromboangiitis obliterans in diabetic patients.

The present study explored the effects of aspirin combined with cilostazolin in the treatment of diabetic patients with thromboangiitis obliterans and the effects on the related inflammatory factors. A total of 90 diabetic patients with thromboangiitis obliterans admitted to Weifang People's Hospital from August 2015 to June 2017 were selected and divided into the control group (n=45) and the combination group (n=45). Patients in the control group were given aspirin, and those in the combination group were given aspirin combined with cilostazol. Before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment, the clinical data including ankle-brachial index (ABI), 6-min walk test (6MWT) and test data including serum inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6 and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 of the two groups were collected for quantitative and statistical analysis. Compared with those in the control group, the ABI and 6MWT in the combination group could be effectively reduced, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). At the same time, cilostazol combined with aspirin could effectively reduce the levels of serum inflammatory factors MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients, except for nitric oxide (NO), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with that before treatment, the control and the combination group can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of the patients, and aspirin combined with cilostazol can effectively improve the clinical curative effect of diabetic patients with thromboangitis obliterans and delay the progression of the disease.

Local injection of dexamethasone helping to prevent lower back pain after epidural delivery analgesia.

This report aims to retrospectively analyze the clinical effect of local pretreatment with dexamethasone (DXMS) on lower back pain after epidural labor analgesia. Patients with epidural labor analgesia treated in People's Hospital of Rizhao from January 2014 to December 2016 were studied. All 368 cases involved were pregnant primipara with full-term single birth. Parturient received injection of DXMS and lidocaine mixture around the epidural puncture point was the observation group (n=188), and parturient received injection of 0.9% sodium chloride and lidocaine mixture around the epidural puncture point was the control group (n=180). The incidence and degree of lower back pain postoperatively in the two groups were evaluated by pain visual analogue scale method. The incidence of lower back pain at 48 h, 72 h after operation in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group (p<0.05). Among patients undergoing one puncture and more than one puncture, the incidence of postoperative lower back pain in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (59.26%) (p<0.05). Among the parturient with spontaneous delivery, the incidence of postoperative lower back pain in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p=0.028). Among the cesarean section patients, the incidence of pain in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group (p=0.019). At 48 and 72 h after operation, severe pain in the observation group was significantly less than that in the control group (p<0.05). DXMS local pretreatment can significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative lower back pain and the degree of pain after epidural delivery analgesia. DXMS pretreatment in epidural analgesia deserved to be widely used clinically.

XB130 expression in human osteosarcoma: a clinical and experimental study.

Identifying prognostic factors for osteosarcoma (OS) aids in the selection of patients who require more aggressive management. XB130 is a newly characterized adaptor protein that was reported to be a prognostic factor of certain tumor types. However, the association between XB130 expression and the prognosis of OS remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the association between XB130 expression and clinicopathologic features and prognosis in patients suffering OS, and further investigated its potential role on OS cells in vitro and vivo. A retrospective immunohistochemical study of XB130 was performed on archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from 60 pairs of osteosarcoma and noncancerous bone tissues, and compared the expression of XB130 with clinicopathological parameters. We then investigate the effect of XB130 sliencing on invasion in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo of the human OS cell line. Immunohistochemical assays revealed that XB130 expression in OS tissues was significantly higher than that in corresponding noncancerous bone tissues (P=0.001). In addition, high XB130 expression more frequently occurred in OS tissues with advanced clinical stage (P=0.002) and positive distant metastasis (P=0.001). Moreover, OS patients with high XB130 expression had significantly shorter overall survival and disease-free survival (both P<0.001) when compared with patients with the low expression of XB130. The univariate analysis and multivariate analysis shown that high XB130 expression and distant metastasis were the independent poor prognostic factor.We showed that XB130 depletion by RNA interference inhibited invasion of XB130-rich U2OS cells in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. This is the first study to reveal that XB130 overexpression may be related to the prediction of metastasis potency and poor prognosis for OS patients, suggesting that XB130 may serve as a prognostic marker for the optimization of clinical treatments. Furthermore, XB130 is the potential molecular target for OS therapy.

WITHDRAWN: XB130 expression in human osteosarcoma: a clinical and experimental study.

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