1.Virulence-associated traits and antimicrobial resistance of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains in relation to phylogenetic background and host factors from Malaysian patients
Jia-Jin Chin ; Quok-Cheong Choo ; Murnihayati Hassan ; Wai-Yew Ho ; Choy-Hoong Chew
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2023;19(no.2):211-221
Aims:
Hundreds of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) lineages with diverse virulence-associated traits have been reported worldwide. However, the complex interactions between the bacterial traits and host factors remain largely unexplored. This study was aimed to determine the distribution of virulence-associated traits, phylogenetic background and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the UPEC isolates in relation to the host factors.
Methodology and results:
Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were conducted to determine the prevalence of 32 virulence genes (VGs), eight pathogenicity island (PAI) markers and phylogroups of 105 UPEC isolates. The
antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method. Results suggest that the virulenceassociated traits and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the UPEC strains were associated with phylogenetic background, host age and gender. Most of the virulence-associated traits tested were distributed prevalently in phylogroup B2, age group 40-59 and male gender, including papC, papG II_III, papG allele III, sfa/focDE, yfcV, hlyA, cnf1, cdtB, malX, PAI I536, PAI II536, PAI ICFT073, PAI IICFT073 and PAI IIJ96. Besides, higher rates of multidrug resistance (MDR) were significantly associated with non-phylogroup B2 (25/38; 65.8%; p<0.05) and age group 60-79 (29/42;
69.0%; p<0.05) but not with male gender (14/25; 56.0%; p=0.527). The UPEC strains collected from males and age 60-79 were significantly resistant to cefuroxime, cefotaxime and ceftazidime (all p<0.05).
Conclusion, significance and impact of study
Research findings elucidate the key molecular characteristics of the UPEC strains in relation to the host age and gender.
2.SingHealth Radiology Archives pictorial essay Part 1: cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological cases.
Mark Bangwei TAN ; Kim Ping TAN ; Joey Chan Yiing BEH ; Eugenie Yi Kar CHAN ; Kenneth Fu Wen CHIN ; Zong Yi CHIN ; Wei Ming CHUA ; Aaron Wei-Loong CHONG ; Gary Tianyu GU ; Wenlu HOU ; Anna Chooi Yan LAI ; Rebekah Zhuyi LEE ; Perry Jia Ren LIEW ; May Yi Shan LIM ; Joshua Li Liang LIM ; Zehao TAN ; Eelin TAN ; Grace Siew Lim TAN ; Timothy Shao Ern TAN ; Eu Jin TAN ; Alexander Sheng Ming TAN ; Yet Yen YAN ; Winston Eng Hoe LIM
Singapore medical journal 2020;61(12):633-640
The Singapore Health Services cluster (SingHealth) radiology film archives are a valuable repository of local radiological cases dating back to the 1950s. Some of the cases in the archives are of historical medical interest, i.e. cerebral angiography in the workup of patients with hemiplegia. Other cases are of historical social interest, being conditions seen during earlier stages of Singapore's development, i.e. bound feet. The archives form a unique portal into the development of local radiology as well as the national development of Singapore. A selection from the archives is published in 2020 in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the formation of SingHealth, the 55th National Day of Singapore, and the 125th anniversary of the International Day of Radiology. This pictorial essay comprises cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological cases from the archives.
3.SingHealth Radiology Archives pictorial essay Part 2: gastroenterology, musculoskeletal, and obstetrics and gynaecology cases.
Mark Bangwei TAN ; Kim Ping TAN ; Joey Chan Yiing BEH ; Eugenie Yi Kar CHAN ; Kenneth Fu Wen CHIN ; Zong Yi CHIN ; Wei Ming CHUA ; Aaron Wei-Loong CHONG ; Gary Tianyu GU ; Wenlu HOU ; Anna Chooi Yan LAI ; Rebekah Zhuyi LEE ; Perry Jia Ren LIEW ; May Yi Shan LIM ; Joshua Li Liang LIM ; Zehao TAN ; Eelin TAN ; Grace Siew Lim TAN ; Timothy Shao Ern TAN ; Eu Jin TAN ; Alexander Sheng Ming TAN ; Yet Yen YAN ; Winston Eng Hoe LIM
Singapore medical journal 2021;62(1):8-15
The Singapore Health Services cluster (SingHealth) radiology film archives are a valuable repository of local radiological cases dating back to the 1950s. Some of the cases in the archives are of historical medical interest, i.e. cerebral angiography in the workup of patients with hemiplegia. Other cases are of historical social interest, being conditions seen during earlier stages of Singapore's development, i.e. bound feet. The archives form a unique portal into the development of local radiology as well as the national development of Singapore. A selection from the archives is published in commemoration of the International Day of Radiology in 2020, as well as the 200th anniversary of the Singapore General Hospital in 2021. This pictorial essay comprises gastroenterology, musculoskeletal and obstetrics and gynaecology cases from the archives.