Objective To investigate the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec)genotypes and molecular epidemi-ology of hospital-acquired MRSA.Methods A total of 26 non-duplicate MRSA isolates with the same resistant pattern were studied.SCCmec genotyping was analyzed by multiplex PCR.Repetitive element polymerase chain reaction (Rep-PCR)tech-nique was used to analyze the homology between these strains based on the DiversiLab system.Results The most common geno-type of these MRSA strains was SCCmec-III (84.6%).Two strains belonged to SCCmec-II and 1 SCCmec-IV.SCCmec-I strain was not identified.Based on the results of DiversiLab analysis,these MRSA strains were classified into 10 groups.The genetic similarity ranged from 40% to 100% among these SCCmec types.The two strains of SCCmec-II belonged to the same subtype.The similarity coefficient was higher than 90% for one strain of SCCmec-III subtype 1.The 4 strains of SCCmec-III subtype 3 were grouped into the same set with a similarity coefficient of > 95%.The MRSA strains of SCCmec-III subtype 2 was divided into 5 groups (similarity co-efficient > 90%).Conclusions SCCmec-III is the major genotype of MRSA isolates in our hospital.MRSA strains may spread in some wards.Clinicians and infection control department should pay close attention to this issue.

Objective The concentrations of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines were compared in acute and chronic patients with brucellosis in order to understand the immune characteristics of acute and chronic brucellosis. Methods Using forward-looking design, 35 acute and 35 chronic patients with brucellosis were selected before treatment from the Endemic Disease Prevention and Control Center of Wulanchabu City as the research subjects with 25 local healthy persons as the healthy control group from March to June 2018. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to determine the serum levels of Th1 cell cytokines interferon-γ(IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-12 (IL-12); Th2 cell cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10);and Th17 cell cytokines interleukin-17 (IL-17). Results There were totally 25 patients in the control group, aged (46.48 ± 9.74) years, 15 males and 10 females;35 patients with acute brucellosis, aged(54.00 ± 7.65) years, 23 males and 12 females; and 35 patients with chronic brucellosis, aged (49.04 ± 8.24) years, 22 males and 13 females. The means of IFN-γ[(280.50 ± 40.48), (462.79 ± 47.94), (431.91 ± 40.39) ng/L], TNF-α[(292.17 ± 31.45), (481.21 ± 43.14), (433.70 ± 41.23) ng/L], IL-12 [(45.13 ± 5.55), (70.74 ± 7.58), (62.56 ± 5.73) ng/L], IL-4 [(383.24 ± 53.98), (606.11 ± 51.86), (550.66 ± 51.56) ng/L], IL-6 [(14.48 ± 2.17), (23.54 ± 2.39), (21.89 ± 2.26) ng/L], IL-10 [(140.48 ± 110.97), (464.49 ± 52.10), (404.73 ± 52.10) ng/L], and IL-17 [(13.71 ± 1.58), (23.79 ± 2.15), (21.37 ± 2.26) ng/L] were significantly different between control group, acute brucellosis group and chronic brucellosis group (F = 126.13, 152.58, 106.81, 139.28, 113.80, 155.86, 152.91, P < 0.05). Compared to control group, the levels of the seven cytokines in acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis groups were significantly increased before treatment (P < 0.05). The levels of all of the seven cytokines in acute brucellosis group were significantly increased compared to chronic brucellosis group before treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions There is a difference in the expression of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines in patients with acute and chronic brucellosis group. In the acute brucellosis group, the cell immunity induced by Th1 cells and the humoral immunity guided by Th2 cells are stronger than those in chronic brucellosis group.

Objective:To understand the results of serum protein electrophoresis in patients with acute brucellosis, and to provide objective indicators for clinical diagnosis and treatment of acute brucellosis patients.Methods:Thirty acute brucellosis patients diagnosed by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Donghe District, Baotou City from January to June 2021 were selected as the case group, and 30 local healthy persons who took physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. Blood samples were collected from the two groups of people, serum was separated and serum protein electrophoresis was performed. Independent sample t-tests were used to compare total protein concentrations, protein fractions (albumin, α1-globulin, α2-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin) and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Results:The age of patients in the case group was (52.35 ± 6.74) years old, with 25 males and 5 females. The course of the disease ranged from 0.3 to 2.6 months, with an average of 1.78 months. The age of people in the control group was (52.74 ± 5.47) years old, with 25 males and 5 females. There were no statistically significant difference in age and sex distuibution between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The concentrations of total protein and α2-globulin fractions were not significantly different between the two groups ( t = 0.78, 2.04, P > 0.05, respectively). Compared with the control group, the differences in the percentage of albumin, α1-globulin, β-globulin, γ-globulin in total protein and A/G ratio were statistically significant ( t = 4.78, 4.76, 2.89, 2.20, 3.65, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The percentage of serum albumin in total protein and A/G ratio decrease in patients with acute brucellosis, while the percentage of α1-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin in total protein increase. The percentage of albumin, α1-globulin, β-globulin, γ-globulin in total protein and A/G ratio can be uesed as objective indicators for clinical treatment of acute brucellosis.

Objective: To observe interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in acute and chronic brucellosis before and after antibiotics treatment in order to assess the bone resorption. Methods: Using group design, 36 acute and 36 chronic brucellosis before antibiotics treatment, and 36 acute and 36 chronic brucellosis after antibiotics treatment from the Endemic Disease Prevention and Control Center of Ulanqab City were selected as the research subjects, with 25 local healthy persons as the healthy control group from January to April 2017. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to determine the serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in acute brucellosis, chronic brucellosis and control groups before and after antibiotics treatment. Results: The means of IL-6 [(23.19 ± 2.51), (21.93 ± 2.27), (14.52 ± 2.08) ng/L], IL-17 [(23.55 ± 2.24), (21.43 ± 2.44), (13.69 ± 1.85) ng/L], and TNF-α [(478.97 ± 47.11), (434.67 ± 42.11), (290.19 ± 34.67) ng/L] were significantly different in the acute brucellosis, chronic brucellosis and control groups before antibiotics treatment (F= 113.91, 152.88, 153.49, P < 0.01); compared to control group, the levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis groups were significantly increased before antibiotics treatment (P < 0.05); the levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in acute brucellosis group were significantly increased compared to those of chronic brucellosis group before antibiotics treatment (P < 0.05). The means of IL-6 [(17.83 ± 2.31), (18.45 ± 2.15), (14.52 ± 2.08) ng/L], IL-17 [(17.58 ± 2.21), (18.56 ± 2.29), (13.69 ± 1.85) ng/L], and TNF-α [(370.73 ± 41.04), (375.46 ± 44.61), (290.19 ± 34.67) ng/L] were significantly different in the acute brucellosis, chronic brucellosis and control groups after antibiotics treatment (F=25.94, 39.96, 38.30, P < 0.01); compared to the control group, the levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis groups were significantly increased after antibiotics treatment (P < 0.05); the levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in acute brucellosis group were not significantly different compared to those of the chronic brucellosis group after antibiotics treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusions This study shows that before antibiotics treatment, the bone resorption-related cytokines IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α of acute brucellosis are higher than those of chronic brucellosis. Antibiotic treatment can significantly reduce their levels and may affect bone resorption in patients with brucellosis.