The effect of previous eradication failure on antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori: A retrospective study over 8 years in Beijing.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is the main cause of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatment failure. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of antibiotic resistance of H. pylori isolates in Beijing in the last 8 years and to estimate the impact of previous eradication failure on resistance patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included data from a single center in Beijing from 2013 to 2020. Antibiotic susceptibility of 365 clinical H. pylori isolates was tested for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and tetracycline. The characteristics of the included patients and their previous eradication history were collected. Primary and secondary resistance rates of H. pylori to the six antibiotics and the impact of previous eradication failure on antibiotic resistance patterns were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall primary resistance rates of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and tetracycline were 0.7%, 55.2%, 68.0%, 49.7%, 64.5%, and 0%, with no significant increase during the observed period; while the secondary resistance rates were 3.2%, 96.7%, 90.7%, 93.1%, 80.0%, and 0%, respectively. The secondary resistance rate of clarithromycin (p < .001), metronidazole (p = .001), and levofloxacin (p < .001) significantly increased to 100% as the number of previous eradication therapies increased and exhibited a linear association. For strains naive to eradication, only 6.8% were susceptible to all the antibiotics, while 32.4% were single resistant, and 60.8% dual or multiple resistant. Clarithromycin+metronidazole+fluoroquinolone multiple resistance was the predominant pattern (0 course: 21.6%, 1 course: 37.5%, 2 courses: 56.1%, ≥3 courses: 71.1%; p < .001) for patients with treatment failure. The prevalence of dual or multiple-resistance patterns increased significantly as the number of previous therapies increased. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of primary and secondary resistance rates of clarithromycin, metronidazole, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin were high in Beijing. Multiple-resistance patterns were common after treatment failure. Resistance rates of amoxicillin and tetracycline remained low and stable.

Disordered intestinal microbes are associated with the activity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Intestinal dysbiosis is implicated in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, the evidence of gut microbiome changes in SLE is limited, and the association of changed gut microbiome with the activity of SLE, as well as its functional relevance with SLE still remains unknown. Here, we sequenced 16S rRNA amplicon on fecal samples from 40 SLE patients (19 active patients, 21 remissive patients), 20 disease controls (Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients), and 22 healthy controls (HCs), and investigated the association of functional categories with taxonomic composition by Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). We demonstrated SLE patients, particularly the active patients, had significant dysbiosis in gut microbiota with reduced bacterial diversity and biased community constitutions. Amongst the disordered microbiota, the genera Streptococcus, Campylobacter, Veillonella, the species anginosus and dispar, were positively correlated with lupus activity, while the genus Bifidobacterium was negatively associated with the disease activity. PICRUSt analysis showed metabolic pathways were different between SLE and HCs, and also between active and remissive SLE patients. Moreover, we revealed that a random forest model could distinguish SLE from RA and HCs (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.792), and another random forest model could well predict the activity of SLE patients (AUC = 0.811). In summary, SLE patients, especially the active patients, show an apparent dysbiosis in gut microbiota and its related metabolic pathways. Amongst the disordered microflora, four genera and two species are associated with lupus activity. Furthermore, the random forest models are able to diagnose SLE and predict disease activity.

[Identification of Trypanosoma Species in Rattus flavipectus and R. losea using Microscopy and PCR Method].

OBJECTIVE: To identify two suspected Trypanosoma species in Rattus found in Zhejiang Province using microscopy and PCR method. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from Rattus losea and R. flavipectus. Blood smears were prepared, and observed under microscope. The morphological indices of trypanosomes were measured and calculated. The genomic DNA was extracted from the trypanosomes, and the specific fragment of Trypanosoma 18S rRNA gene was amplified using PCR. The products were further sequenced and submitted to GenBank. Blast analysis was performed on line in NCBI. RESULTS: Blood samples from Ratts flavipectus and R. losea were collected from Lucheng District and Wencheng County of Wenzhou, respectively. The parasites from R. losea and R. flavipectus were found to possess the characteristic features of Trypanosoma species, such as nucleus, free flagellum, and kinetoplast, etc. The body length was 27.50 µm and 23.80 µm, and the free flagellum length was 9.60 im and 9.20 jim, respectively. The nucleus index was 0.74 and 1.05, the kinetoplast Index was 1.40 and 1.57, respectively. Based on the morphological characteristics and host specificity, the parasites from R. losea and R. flavipectus were identified as Herpetosoma species, mainly found in rodents. The amplified products were about 700 bp by 18S rRNA gene PCR with the DNA isolated from the trypanosomes. The products were further sequenced, and the resulting sequences were submitted to GenBank with assession numbers of KP098535 (from R. losea) and KP098536 (from R. flavipectus). Blast analysis showed that KP098535 was completely homologous with the sequences from Herpetosoma subgenus (AY491765.1, AY491764.1, and AJ223568.1), and KP098536 was completely homologous with Trypanosoma lewisi (AB242273.1, AJ009156.1). CONCLUSION: The Trypanosoma species found from Rattus flavipectus is Trypanosoma lewisi, and the other one belongs to Herpetosoma subgenus, which may be named as Trypanosoma lewisi-like trypanosome.

[Epidemiological Analysis of Malaria in Wenzhou City during 2007-2014].

A total of 258 malaria cases with 2 deaths were reported during 2007-2014, including 148 vivax malaria cases, 106 falciparum malaria cases, and 4 ovale malaria cases. During 2007-2009, 86.0% (135/157) were vivax malaria cases with 3 indigenous cases. In 2010-2014, the proportion of falciparum malaria is increasing year by year, and all were imported cases. 98.8% were imported from Africa and other provinces in China. Most cases occurred among patients aged 20-49 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 3.16:1. Most patients were workers and commercial service personnel. The malaria epidemic situation is relatively stable in Wenzhou. Malaria control and elimination interventions should emphasize the monitoring and education of transient population to control the imported cases, and explore multi-sector coordination for malaria prevention and control.

Cross-species transmission in the speciation of the currently known murinae-associated hantaviruses.

To gain more insight into the phylogeny of Dabieshan virus (DBSV), carried by Niviventer confucianus and other Murinae-associated hantaviruses, genome sequences of novel variants of DBSV were recovered from Niviventer rats trapped in the mountainous areas of Wenzhou, China. Genetic analyses show that all known genetic variants of DBSV, including the ones identified in this study, are distinct from other Murinae-associated hantaviruses. DBSV variants show geographic clustering and high intraspecies diversity. The data suggest that DBSV is a distinct species in the genus Hantavirus. Interestingly, DBSV shows the highest sequence identity to Hantaan virus (HTNV), with a >7% difference in the sequences of the N, GPC, and L proteins, while N. confucianus is more closely related to Rattus norvegicus (the host of Seoul virus [SEOV]) than to Apodemus agrarius (the host of HTNV and Saaremaa virus [SAAV]). Further genetic analyses of all known Murinae-associated hantaviruses (both established and tentative species) show that many of them, including DBSV, may have originated from host switching. The estimation of evolutionary rates and divergence time supports the role of cross-species transmission in the evolution of Murinae-associated hantaviruses. The detection of positive selection suggests that genetic drift may contribute to the speciation of Murinae-associated hantaviruses and that adaptation has a role as well.

[Diagnosis and analysis of the first imported ovale malaria case in Wenzhou City].

The first imported case of Plasmodium ovale infection in Wenzhou City was confirmed by microscopy and PCR test. The patient returned from the People's Republic of Congo to Wenzhou for three and a half months presented a history of fever with chills and rigors on April 30, 2012. The results from peripheral blood smear examination and PCR analysis confirmed a diagnosis of P. ovale infection. The patient was treated with chloroquine plus primaquine for eight days and the symptoms improved.

Prevalence of Escherichia coli ST1193 Causing Intracranial Infection in Changsha, China.

ST1193 is an emerging new virulent and resistant clone among Escherichia coli with a tendency to spread rapidly across the globe. However, the prevalence of intracranial infection-causing E. coli ST1193 is rarely reported. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of E. coli ST1193 isolates, causing intracranial infections in Changsha, central China. A total of 28 E. coli isolates were collected from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with intracranial infection over a four-year period. All isolates were differentiated using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and phylogenetic grouping, and tested for antibiotic resistance. MLST analysis showed 11 sequence types (ST) among the 28 E. coli isolates. The most prevalent ST was B2-ST1193 (28.6%, 8/28), followed by B2-ST131 (21.4%, 6/28) and F-ST648 (10.7%, 3/28). Of the eight ST1193 isolates, three carried CTX-M-55, and one carried CTX-M-27. All eight ST1193 isolates were resistant to Ciprofloxacin, showing gyrA1AB/parC4A mutations. Two ST1193 isolates carried the aac(6')-Ib-cr gene. All ST1193 isolates were recovered from infants with meningitis, with a fatal outcome for one three-month-old infant. ST1193 has emerged as the predominant type of E. coli strain causing intracranial infections in Changsha, China. This study highlights the importance of implementing appropriate surveillance measures to prevent the spread of this emerging public health threat.

A novel electrochemical biosensor for exosomal microRNA-181 detection based on a catalytic hairpin assembly circuit.

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from different cells are proposed to be important noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Recently, sensitive and reliable sensing of exosomal miRNAs has been garnered significant attention. Herein, a novel electrochemical biosensor based on a step polymerization catalytic hairpin assembly (SP-CHA) circuit is designed for exosomal miR-181 detection. Exosomal miR-181 as a trigger, induced SP-CHA process and generated a large number of T shaped concatemers with different length on the electrode surface. These ultra-concatemers could provide a much enhanced signal-to-noise ratio with the linear range from 10 fM to 100 nM and the detection limit of 7.94 fM. Furthermore, this assay was successfully applied to the detection of exosomal miR-181 in serum samples of normal healthy controls and patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and the results were consistent with those analysis collected from qRT-PCR. The assembly demonstrated great performance in differentiating CHD patients from healthy controls (AUC:0.9867). Collectively, this sensing system possessed high stability and sensitivity with ease of operation and cost efficiency, leading to great potential for exosomal miRNAs detection in cardiovascular disease.

Preparation of seeding type immobilized microorganisms and their degradation characteristics on Di-n-butyl phthalate.

OBJECTIVE: To study the preparation of seeding type immobilized microorganisms and their degradation characteristics on di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP). METHODS: Diatomite, clinoptilolite, silk zeolite, and coal fly ash were chosen as reserved materials and modified. Their adsorption capacity and intensity in the bacteria were determined and the best carrier was picked out. The seeding type immobilized microorganisms were prepared by the best carrier and then it degraded DBP under different primary concentration, vibration rate, pH, temperature in the presence of metal compounds. RESULTS: The adsorption capacity of the modified coal fly ash, silk zeolite, clinoptilolite and zeolite was 44.2%, 71.6%, 84.0%, and 94.4%, respectively, which was 1.66, 1.49, 1.37, and 1.16 times as high as that of their natural state. Their adsorption intensity was 72.1%, 90.5%, 90.1%, and 91.1% in turn. The modified diatomite was selected to prepare the seeding type immobilized microorganisms. When the primary DBP concentration was 100 to 500 mg/L, the DBP-degraded rate of the immobilized microorganisms could be above 80%. The degradation activity of both the dissociative and immobilized microorganisms was higher in vibration than in stillness. When pH was 6.0 to 9.0, the DBP-degraded rate of the immobilized microorganisms was above 82%, which was higher than the dissociative microorganisms. When the temperature was between 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C, the DBP-degraded rate could reach 84.5% in 24 h. The metal compounds could inhibit the degradation activity of both the dissociative and immobilized microorganisms. The degradation process of the immobilized microorganisms could be described by the first-order model. CONCLUSION: The adsorption capacity of the diatomite, clinoptilolite, silk zeolite and coal fly ash on DBP-degrading bacteria can be improved obviously after they are modified. The modified diatomite is best in terms of its adsorption capacity and intensity. Its seeding type immobilized microorganisms could degrade DBP effectively and is more adaptable to DBP load, temperature, pH than the dissociative microorganisms. The metal compounds could inhibit the activity of both the immobilized and dissociative microorganisms. The degradation reaction of the immobilized microorganisms on DBP is consistent with the first-order model.

[A correlative study on heterotrophic bacteria and the main pollutant in city lakes' water].

OBJECTIVE: To provide scientific basis for bioremediation of city lake, the distribution of heterotrophic bacteria and its correlation with major pollutions condition were studied. METHODS: Puping Lake and Moshui Lake of Wu Han City were choosen as the objects of our study. COD(cr) TOC, TP and TN were determined in sampled freshwater and sediment via the standard methods. At the same time the bacteria was cultivated. RESULTS: The average value of COD(cr), TOC, TP and TN were 8. 934 mg/L, 5.125 mg/L, 0.089 mg/L, 4.739 mg/L in Puping Lake and 86.296 mg/L,13.255 mg/ L, 1.796 mg/L, 7.325 mg/L in Moshui Lake. Ten strains of heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the sample and they are Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Enterobateriaceae, Aeromonas and Coccus. The dominant strain in water was Pseudomonas. The proportion of Bacillus in sediment was relatively higher. In the two lakes, the average bacteria counts were 1.90 x 10(3) CFU and 5.53 x 10(4) CFU per mL in water, 3.12 x 10(5) CFU and 5.06 x 10(5) CFU per g in sediment. CONCLUSION: Puping Lake and Moshui Lake were polluted seriously according to the standard; Gram negative rods were the main types in water, and the dominant type was Pseudomonas, the Gram positive bacteria was Bacillus; The type and quantity of bacteria in Moshui Lake were higher than those in Puping Lake, and there were correlations between the quantity of bacteria and the pollutants.

[Epidemiological analysis of malaria in Wenzhou City in 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the characteristics of malaria prevalence in Wenzhou City in 2013, so as to provide the evidence for improving the elimination program of malaria. METHODS: The epidemiological data of malaria in Wenzhou City in 2013 were collected from the Chinese information system for disease control and prevention, and analyzed with the descriptive epidemiological methods for epidemiological characteristics of malaria. RESULTS: Totally 34 imported malaria cases were reported in Wenzhou City in 2013 with the incidence of 0.37 per 100,000 people. Plasmodiumfalciparum, P. ovale and P. vivax were identified in 31, 1 and 2 cases, respectively. No death cases were reported, and 64.71% (22/34) of the cases were reported in Cangnan County, Lucheng District and Rui' an City. The malaria cases were mostly concentrated in persons aged 20-49 years with male to female sex ratio at 4.67: 1, and the predominant portion of cases were workers and commercial service personnel. Totally 97.06% of the cases were imported from Africa. CONCLUSIONS: The malaria endemic situation is relatively stable and no local malaria cases are reported in Wenzhou City in 2013. In order to achieve the goal of malaria elimination, the management and education of the transient population should be strengthened.

Isolation and characterization of a novel arenavirus harbored by Rodents and Shrews in Zhejiang province, China.

To determine the biodiversity of arenaviruses in China, we captured and screened rodents and shrews in Wenzhou city, Zhejiang province, a locality where hemorrhagic fever diseases are endemic in humans. Accordingly, arenaviruses were detected in 42 of 351 rodents from eight species, and in 12 of 272 Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus), by RT-PCR targeting the L segment. From these, a single arenavirus was successfully isolated in cell culture. The virion particles exhibited a typical arenavirus morphology under transmission electron microscopy. Comparison of the S and L segment sequences revealed high levels of nucleotide (>32.2% and >39.6%) and amino acid (>28.8% and >43.8%) sequence differences from known arenaviruses, suggesting that it represents a novel arenavirus, which we designated Wenzhou virus (WENV). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all WENV strains harbored by both rodents and Asian house shrews formed a distinct lineage most closely related to Old World arenaviruses.

[Correlation analysis on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of different vegetations and climatic factors in Southwest China].

Based on the 1982-2006 NDVI remote sensing data and meteorological data of Southwest China, and by using GIS technology, this paper interpolated and extracted the mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, and drought index in the region, and analyzed the correlations of the annual variation of NDVI in different vegetation types (marsh, shrub, bush, grassland, meadow, coniferous forest, broad-leaved forest, alpine vegetation, and cultural vegetation) with corresponding climatic factors. In 1982-2006, the NDVI, mean annual temperature, and annual precipitation had an overall increasing trend, and the drought index decreased. Particularly, the upward trend of mean annual temperature was statistically significant. Among the nine vegetation types, the NDVI of bush and mash decreased, and the downward trend was significant for bush. The NDVI of the other seven vegetation types increased, and the upward trend was significant for coniferous forest, meadow, and alpine vegetation, and extremely significant for shrub. The mean annual temperature in the areas with all the nine vegetation types increased significantly, while the annual precipitation had no significant change. The drought index in the areas with marsh, bush, and cultural vegetation presented an increasing trend, that in the areas with meadow and alpine vegetation decreased significantly, and this index in the areas with other four vegetation types had an unobvious decreasing trend. The NDVI of shrub and coniferous forest had a significantly positive correlation with mean annual temperature, and that of shrub and meadow had significantly negative correlation with drought index. Under the conditions of the other two climatic factors unchanged, the NDVI of coniferous forest, broad-leaved forest, and alpine vegetation showed the strongest correlation with mean annual temperature, that of grass showed the strongest correlation with annual precipitation, and the NDVI of mash, shrub, grass, meadow, and cultural vegetation showed the strongest correlation with drought index. There existed definite correlations among the climatic factors. If the correlations among the climatic factors were ignored, the significant level of the correlations between NDVI and climatic factors would be somewhat reduced.

A new subtype of Thottapalayam virus carried by the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus) in China.

Recently, many novel hantavirus species carried by insectivore had been found. In order to know whether the insectivore-associated hantaviruses exist in China, Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus) were analyzed for the presence of hantaviruses. 362 Asian house shrews were captured in Wenzhou of Zhejiang province. Hantavirus-specific RNA was detected by RT-PCR in lung tissue samples of six shrews. The complete hantavirus S and M segment sequences and also partial L segment sequences were successfully recovered. Pairwise comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences showed that the newly discovered virus strains are most closely related to Thottapalayam virus (TPMV) isolated from S. murinus in India, with 82.5-84.7% sequence identity at the nucleotide level and 95.0-98.2% at the amino acid level. Corresponding sequences of Imjin virus (MJNV) were more distant and other rodent- and insectivore-associated hantaviruses appeared even less related. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new variants formed a distinct lineage within TPMV.