Tudor-SN is a multifunctional protein that is highly expressed in multiple cancers including breast cancer. Tudor-SN, as a component in RNA-induced splicing complex, was recently reported to regulate gene expression in a micro-RNA (miRNA)-dependent manner, such as let-7, miR-34a and miR-221. However, how Tudor-SN is associated with cancer development still remains largely elusive. In the present study, we explored the role of Tudor-SN in breast cancer. Stable knockdown of endogenous Tudor-SN, performed on the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 by small hairpin RNA expression vectors, suppressed the in vitro migration and invasion ability of the metastatic breast cancer cell line. Interestingly, we found Tudor-SN as a miRNA regulator according to microarray analysis, and further identified that Tudor-SN negatively regulated the expression of miR-127, and consequently increased the expression of the proto-oncogene BCL6 which was a convincing target of miR-127. Moreover, overexpression of miR-127 reduced the in vitro migration and proliferation ability of breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231. Collectively, our results suggested a novel mechanism that Tudor-SN promoted metastasis and proliferation of breast cancer cells via downregulating the miR-127 expression.

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Here, we report the first imported case of melioidosis from Laos in central China. COMPACT VITEK2 identification system and PCR, as well as sequencing methods confirmed that the patient was infected by Burkholderia pseudomallei , a bacterial species closely related to an isolate detected in Thailand. These findings are highly valuable for an early diagnosis, treatment and to prevent the spread of this emerging infectious disease in central China.

Background: Although various methods have been developed to directly identify bacteria from positive blood cultures by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), the necessity of using commercial kits still leads to a high cost and long assay time. Moreover, few evaluations of these methods have been conducted. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an optimized MALDI-TOF MS method for direct identification of bacteria in positive blood cultures. Methods: A total of 829 non-repeated positive cultures were collected from July 2018 to August 2019, and direct identification was performed by an optimized MALDI-TOF MS method. The same positive blood cultures were sub-cultivated to obtain a single bacterial colony and identified by classical biochemical BD testing, which is the gold standard to compare the accuracy of direct identification of positive blood cultures by MALDI-TOF MS.Results: After excluding 7 false-positive samples from the 829 positive blood cultures, the most accurate rate of direct identification by this optimized MALDI-TOF MS method was for gram-negative bacteria (91.5%), followed by gram-positive bacteria (88.3%), fungi (84.8%), anaerobic bacteria (80%), and other rare bacteria (66.67%). Conclusion:Common bacteria in positive blood cultures can be identified directly within 1 hour by MALDI-TOF MS, and thus, this optimized method can be used as a primary identification method by clinicians. Routine implementation of this method may significantly increase the optimal utilization rate of antibiotics and decrease mortality in bacteremia patients. K E Y W O R D S bacteria, blood culture, identification, MALDI-TOF MS S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O N Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section.Evaluation of an optimized method to directly identify bacteria from positive blood cultures using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. J Clin Lab Anal. 2020;34:e23119. https ://doi.

IntroductionIn China, the long-term immunogenicity and adverse effects of inactivated vaccines produced by different or the same manufacturer remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the cellular immune responses and neutralizing antibody kinetics of homologous and heterologous administrations of an inactivated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine 240 days after the second vaccination.MethodsThis prospective, multicenter, observational, longitudinal study involved 595 participants with a negative SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction result who were serologically tested and followed for 8 months after vaccination. Neutralizing antibodies, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-6, CD4+ T-lymphocyte, and B-lymphocyte counts were evaluated in serum samples after stimulation with 2 μg/mL SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for 16 h at follow-up intervals of 2 months.ResultsMost participants [582/595; 146 male participants, 449 female participants; mean age 35 (26–50 years)] rapidly developed neutralizing antibodies after two doses of the vaccine administered 3-weeks apart. The positive rate of neutralizing antibodies peaked at 97.7% at 60–90 days, decreased, and stabilized at 82.9% at 181–240 days post-vaccination. Lower antibody concentrations were correlated with older age, longer duration after vaccination, non-health care workers, mixed-manufacturer vaccinations, and intervals of less than 40 days between two doses of vaccination, whereas lower IFN-γ levels and B-lymphocyte counts were associated with older age, blood type A, and non-health care workers. A higher IL-6 level was associated with older age, mixed-manufacturer vaccinations, intervals of less than 40 days between two doses of vaccination, and medical staff. Adverse reactions were mild or moderate and self-limited, with no serious events reported.DiscussionTwo doses of the Chinese inactivated vaccine induced robust and rapid antibody expression and cellular immune responses. Boosting vaccination is considered important, as antibodies and cellular immune responses were reduced in susceptible populations.

Purpose To study the etiological characteristics and risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with polymicrobial bloodstream infections. Patients and Methods Overall, 141 patients with polymicrobial bloodstream infections in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital during 2021 were included. Laboratory test indexes, department of admission, sex, age, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, surgical history, and central venous catheter placement were collected. Patients were divided into surviving and deceased groups based on outcomes at discharge. Mortality risk factors were identified by univariate and multivariable analyses. Results Seventy-two of 141 patients survived. Patients were mainly from the ICU and the Departments of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Hematology. Overall, 312 microbial strains were detected: 119 gram-positive, 152 gram-negative, and 13 anaerobic bacteria and 28 fungi. Among the gram-positive bacteria, coagulase-negative staphylococci were most frequent (44/119, 37%), followed by enterococci (35/119, 29.4%). Among coagulase-negative staphylococci, methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci incidence was 75% (33/44). Among gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae was most common (45/152, 29.6%), followed by Escherichia coli (25/152, 16.4%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13/152, 8.6%). Among K. pneumoniae , the incidence of carbapenem-resistant (CR) K. pneumoniae was 45.7% (21/45). On univariate analysis, mortality risk factors included increased white blood cells and C-reactive protein, decreased total protein and albumin, CR strains, ICU admission, central venous catheter, multiple organ failure, sepsis, shock, pulmonary diseases, respiratory failure, central nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hypoproteinemia, and electrolyte disturbances (P < 0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that ICU admission, shock, electrolyte disorders, and central nervous system diseases were independent mortality risk factors. The survival curve shows that the survival rate of patients with polymicrobial CR bloodstream infections was lower than that of patients with polymicrobial non-CR bloodstream infections (P=0.029). Conclusion Patients with polymicrobial bloodstream infections are typically critically ill and harbor multidrug-resistant bacteria. Thus, to minimize mortality rate in critically ill patients, changes in infectious flora should be monitored, antibiotics selected reasonably, and invasive procedures reduced.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection of the musculoskeletal system is rare but poses a grave threat to public health. These infections yield non-specific symptoms that remain undetected until the development of the later stages of the disease. In this study, we performed a retrospective review of 25 cases of musculoskeletal NTM infection at two tertiary medical centres over a 5-year period to determine the clinical features and improve the current clinical diagnosis and treatment. The most common mycobacterial species detected were Mycobacterium fortuitum in eleven patients, Mycobacterium abscessus in eight patients, Mycobacterium houstonense in three patients, Mycobacterium avium in two patients, and Mycobacterium smegmatis in one patient. The sites of infection included the limbs and joints, most commonly the knee (ten patients) and foot (six patients). The median duration from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 2.5 months (0.8–13.5 months). Deep sinus tracts extending to the surgical site were observed in 60% of the patients (15/25), and granulomatous inflammation and granulomatous inflammation with necrosis occurred in 60% of the patients (15/25). All patients underwent surgical treatment for infection control, and all patients, except one, received antimycobacterial therapy based on drug sensitivity assays. The median duration of the antimicrobial chemotherapy was 5 months (range: 3–20 months). At the final follow-up, 24 patients presented with absence of recurrence and one patient succumbed owing to heart failure after debridement. Our findings highlight the importance of vigilance and improvements in the diagnostic methods for musculoskeletal NTM infection. Aggressive surgical treatment and antimycobacterial drug treatment can help achieve satisfactory results.

To evaluate the performance of five widespread commercial products for colistin and polymyxin B susceptibility testing in China for mcr-positive and -negative Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods: A total of 132 E. coli and 83 K. pneumoniae strains (including 68 mcr-1-positive E. coli and 28 mcr-8-positive K. pneumoniae) were collected. We analysed the performance of colistin susceptibility (with Vitek 2 and Phoenix M50) and the performance of polymyxin B susceptibility (with DL-96II, MA120, and a Polymyxin B Susceptibility Test strip; POL E-strip). Broth microdilution was used as the gold standard. Categorical agreement (CA), essential agreement (EA), major error (ME), and very major error (VME) were calculated for comparisons. Results: For E. coli, the total CA, EA, ME, and VME to colistin were as follows: Vitek 2, 98.