In this study, the leukemia K562 cell line was used as a model to elucidate the anticancer effects and preliminary mechanisms of PAMs. MTT assay showed that PAMs could cause cytotoxicities in K562 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. AO-EB, Annexin-FITC/PI staining showed that the killing effects of PAMs in K562 cells were related to apoptosis, which was further confirmed by the following molecular and enzymatic assay. The mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic genes caspase-3, caspase-9 and bax were remarkably increased while the anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 was significantly decreased determined by fluorescent quantitative PCR. Western blotting disclosed that PAMs could up-regulate caspase-3 and down-regulate anti-apoptotic survivin protein expression. The latter was also consistent with the results that PAMs could increase the enzymatic activities of both caspase-3 and caspase-9. All these results suggested that PAMs could effectively inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells and the mechanisms may be closely related to apoptosis induction. The work provides evidence basis for PAMs to be potentially developed as anti-cancer leukemia Chinese medicine.

Objective To investigate the etiological characteristics of food poisoning isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP) from 2019 to 2021 in Zhongshan City. Methods A total of 37 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from 8 food poisoning incidents in Zhongshan City from 2019 to 2021 were collected, including 1 residual food isolate and 36 human isolates. The genetic correlation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus food poisoning isolates in this region was analyzed by serological typing, virulence gene detection (TLH, TDH, and TRH), drug sensitivity test, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multipoint sequence typing (MLST). Results The 37 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were divided into 4 serotypes: O3:K6, O10:K4, O4:K8, and O4:KUT. The tdh+ and trh- were the main virulence genotypes, accounting for 97.30% (36/37). The drug resistance rate of cefazolin was 40.54% (15 strains R, 22 strains I), and no multidrug-resistant strains were found. The 37 VP strains were divided into 23 PFGE types and 6 cluster groups, with correlation coefficients ranging from 60.4%-100%. The multipoint sequencing typing showed that the 37 VP strains were divided into 9 ST types and 3 complex groups, of which ST3 type was the main type (23 strains, 62.1%). Conclusion This study has found that the dominant virulence types of Vibrio parahaemolyticus food poisoning isolates in Zhongshan City from 2019 to 2021 are tdh⁺ and trh^-, and 37 representative strains can be divided into 6 PFGE clusters and 9 ST types with MLST type being mainly ST3. This study has identified the rare serotype O10:K4 which has caused an increase in the proportion of food poisoning events, suggesting that we should strengthen detection and be alert to the risk of continued local epidemics of new rare serotype strains.

Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics of Legionella pneumophila isolated from cooling water of central air conditioning system in public places in Zhongshan from 2012 to 2018, and to understand the spatiotemporal distribution of homologous strains, in order to provide evidence for the prevention, control and traceability of Legionella pneumophila infection. Methods Eighty-five Legionella pneumophila strains were isolated for serotype identification, and the molecular typing of the 85 isolates was performed using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The strain location data was converted into latitude and longitude coordinates by GIS geocoding technology. The converted location data was overlaid on the map of Zhongshan City, mapping the molecular typing distribution of clusters using Qgis2.18.11 spatial processing software. Results Eighty-five strains of Legionella pneumophila included 9 serotypes, and the highest proportion was LP1, accounting for 61.18% (52/85). According to the similarity of 100%, 85 strains of Legionella pneumophila were divided into 56 patterns of PFGE bands (T1-T56), with 3 types being dominant. Same serotype of Legionella pneumophila strains showed diverse PFGE patterns. Different serotypes of Legionella pneumophila strains were basically identified as different PFGE patterns, while some were identified as same PFGE pattern. According to over 85% similarity, 8 clusters (A-H) were designated, strains of which were distributed in 12 districts. PFGE clustering clusters did not display obvious temporal and regional distribution differences, nor did they have temporal and regional clustering distributions. Conclusion Strains of Legionella pneumophila isolated from cooling water of central air conditioning system in public places in Zhongshan from 2012 to 2018 showed genetic diversity, and the main serotype was LP1. Isolates of clusters did not exist in different years or regions.