OBJECTIVETo explore the role of ompT gene in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) CFT073 strain in urinary tract infection (UTI).

METHODSAn ompT deletion mutant (COTD) was generated by λ Red recombineering in the UPEC CFT073 strain, which was characterized by PCR and sequencing. C57B/L6 mouse models of acute UTI with the mutant and wild-type strains were established to compare the colonization abilities of the two strains in the bladder. The adhesion of CFT073 mutant to human unthelial 5637 cells was also investigated in vitro.

RESULTSPCR and DNA sequencing confirmed the loss of ompT gene in the mutant COTD. The in vitro adhesion rate of the mutant strain COTD to 5637 cells was (6.7±2.2)%, significantly lower than that of (8.3±1.9)% of the wild-type strain (P<0.05). In the murine models of acute UTI, the mutant strain showed a mean colonization number of about (17±8)×10⁴ cfu, which was significantly lower than that of (7∓2)×10⁵ cfu of the wide-type CFT073 strain (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOmpT gene can be involved in the colonization of UPEC in the bladder tissue and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UPEC-induced UTI.

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Escherichia coli Infections ; microbiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Porins ; genetics ; Urinary Tract Infections ; microbiology ; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli ; genetics

Objective:To investigate the changes of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its clinical significance.Methods:The clinical data of 99 DLBCL patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2022 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood before and after treatment were detected by using flow cytometry. According to the disease status at the time of blood collection and detection, the patients were divided into the newly-diagnosed DLBCL group (28 cases), and the newly-treated remission DLBCL group (71 cases); and 40 healthy volunteers undergoing the physical examination during the same period were selected as the healthy control group. The proportion and absolute count differences of T lymphocytes and the related subsets in 3 groups were compared. Besides, the correlation among T lymphocyte subsets, the correlation of each subset with international prognostic index (IPI) score and treatment response in newly-diagnosed DLBCL patients were further analyzed.Results:The proportion of CD3 + T cells in newly-diagnosed DLBCL group was decreased compared with that in the healthy control group [(58±14)% vs. (67±7)%, P < 0.05]. The absolute count of CD3 + T cells in both newly-diagnosed group and the newly-treated remission group was reduced compared with that in the healthy control group [(875±483) /μl and (808±553) /μl vs. (1 374±279) /μl, P < 0.001]. The absolute count of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in newly-diagnosed group was decreased compared with that in the healthy control group [(478±313) /μl vs. (695±154) /μl, (316±181) /μl vs. (525±193) /μl, all P < 0.001]. Both the proportion and absolute count of CD4 + T cells in the newly-treated remission DLBCL group were decreased compared with those in the newly-diagnosed DLBCL group and the healthy control group [(40±14)% vs. (53±14)% and (51±9)%, (313±247) /μl vs. (478±313) /μl and (695±154) /μl, all P < 0.05]. The porportion of CD8 + T cells was increased compared with that in the other two groups [(51±15)% vs. (37±12)% and (38±9)%, all P < 0.001]. Compared with the healthy control group, the effect/memory subsets proportion of regulatory T cell (Treg) and conventional T cell (Tcon) were increased in both newly-diagnosed DLBCL group and the newly-treated remission DLBCL group [(79±16)% and (84±12)% vs. (71±11)%,(72±16)% and (76±14)% vs. (62±13)%, all P < 0.05], and the proportion of CD127 + memory Tcon and CD8 + T cell subsets was reduced [(73±14)% and (66±20)% vs. (85±8)%,(39±15)% and (25±21)% vs. (62±16)%, all P < 0.05]. In newly-diagnosed DLBCL group, the absolute counts of CD3 + T and CD4 + T cells were negatively correlated with the proportion of effector Treg ( r = -0.379, P = 0.049; r = -0.384, P = 0.040, respectively). IPI score of DLBCL patients was correlated with the proportion of CD8 + T cells ( Eta2 = 0.15, P = 0.038). The proportion of CD127 + memory Tcon in patients with non-complete remission was increased compared with that in patients with complete remission after treatment ( P = 0.020). Conclusions:The proportion and absolute count of T lymphocyte cells in peripheral blood of newly-diagnosed DLBCL patients is decreased, and the differentiation state of T lymphocyte cells shows change trend, which is related to the clinical characteristics and treatment response of DLBCL patients. Even if DLBCL patients have achieved treatment remission, T lymphocyte cells are not completely return to the normal.

Objective To research the prohibitin2 (PHB2) expression and cellular localization in the rat brain cortex after traumatic brain injury (TBI),and explore its relationship with astrocyte proliferation and neuron apoptosis.Methods TBI rat models were established by knife injurying the brain.Western blotting was used to detect the PHB2 expression variation trend in the brain cortex.Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the distribution of PHB2 in damaged cerebral cortex,and immunofluorescence was applied to research the PHB2 expression changes and cellular localization in the rat brain cortex after TBI,and explore its relationship with astrocyte proliferation and neuron apoptosis.Results (1) The TBI models were established successfully;12 h after TBI,the PHB2 expression started to increase obviously,and PHB2 expression reached to its peak level 5 d after TBI.(2)The PHB2 expression in the cortex of TBI rats was significantly increased as compared with that in the sham-operated group,control group and contralateral side of TBI rats.(3) PHB2 mainly located at the astrocytes and neurons of the cerebral cortex after TBI.(4) Co-localization was noted in astrocytes and cell proliferation marker PCNA,and in PHB2 and PCNA,which indicated that proliferation of astrocytes existed and PHB2 involved in the proliferation.(5) Co-localization was noted in astrocytes and cell apoptosis marker A-caspase-3,and in PHB2 and A-caspase-3,which indicated that TBI induced cell apoptosis,and PHB2 involved in the apoptosis.Conclusion PHB2 has a high expression in the cerebral cortex of rats after TBI,and these changes are related to astrocyte proliferation and neuronal apoptosis.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of neonatal ureaplasma meningitis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a case of ureaplasma parvum (UP) meningitis in a neonate with persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities, admitted to the Neonatology Department of the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University on September 2021. Literature was searched using the keywords "neonate", "ureaplasma", and "meningitis" in databases including CNKI, Wanfang Medical Database, Yiigle, VIP Database, SinoMed, and Chinese Medical Care Repository, as well as PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, from their inception to December 2023. The clinical characteristics of the cases obtained were analyzed in conjunction with the present case. Descriptive statistical analysis and Chi-square test (or Fisher's exact test) were used for data analysis. Results:(1) Case report: The patient was a female neonate, born at 30 +2 gestational weeks, who experienced severe asphyxia at birth and was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital after resuscitation involving mechanical ventilation and chest compressions at an external hospital. On the 7th day of birth, the patient developed seizures, and CSF examination indicated meningitis. Blood and CSF cultures were negative, and empirical anti-infective treatment for one month showed no significant improvement. On the 39th day of birth, metagenomics next generation sequencing (mNGS) of the CSF indicated UP positivity, confirming UP meningitis. The patient received ten weeks of quinolone antibiotics. During hospitalization, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed due to hydrocephalus, and the patient was discharged after improvement. At 2 years and 1 month of follow-up, the patient had cerebral palsy (hemiplegic type) and was undergoing rehabilitation therapy. (2) Literature review: A total of 31 articles were retrieved, encompassing 46 cases, plus the present case, making a total of 47 cases. Among these, 57% (27/47) were preterm infants, 54% (22/41) were low birth weight infants (some articles did not report this item, hence the denominator is less than 47), and 76% (28/37) were born via vaginal delivery. Cases who developed symptoms within the first week accounted for 71% (24/34), and 74% (26/35) had mothers with ureaplasma infection or high-risk factors during pregnancy. The main clinical manifestations included fever [63% (20/32)], seizures or apnea/respiratory distress [each 44% (14/32)]. CSF examination mainly showed significantly elevated white blood cells [287×10 6/L (69×10 6/L-1 176×10 6/L)], decreased glucose [0.79 mmol/L (0.10-1.17 mmol/L)], and elevated protein [3.01 g/L (1.80-8.14 g/L)], with negative general bacterial cultures. CSF mNGS [30% (14/47)], CSF polymerase chain reaction [17% (8/47)], and CSF culture [66% (31/47)] were the main methods for detecting ureaplasma. Treatment primarily involved macrolide antibiotics alone [46% (16/35)] or in combination with other antibiotics [29% (10/35)]. The duration of anti-ureaplasma treatment ranged from 2 to 10 weeks. Intracranial hemorrhage and hydrocephalus were the most common neurological complications [66% (25/38) and 61% (23/38), respectively]. Among the 47 cases, 31 were infected with ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and 15 with UP (one case was not typed). There were no significant differences in epidemiology, clinical manifestations, neurological complications, and prognosis between UP and UU meningitis. Compared to UU meningitis, a higher proportion of UP meningitis cases were treated with macrolide antibiotics [13/15 vs. 52% (14/27), χ2=5.09, P=0.024]. Among the 43 reported cases of ureaplasma meningitis with outcomes, 44% (19/43) experienced developmental delays or death. The case fatality rate of UU meningitis was higher than that of UP meningitis [39% (11/28) vs. 0/14, Fisher's exact test, P=0.007]. Conclusions:Neonatal ureaplasma meningitis lacks specific clinical manifestations and has a variable prognosis. When empirical anti-infective treatment is ineffective in infants with purulent changes in CSF, intracranial ureaplasma infection should be considered. Macrolide antibiotics alone or in combination with other antibiotics can be the first-choice treatment for ureaplasma infection.

Objective: To compare the tissue morphology and gene expressions of inflammatory and repair-related factors in chronic refractory wound tissue including pressure ulcers and diabetic feet. Methods: During August 2016 to September 2017, 10 samples of prepuce were collected after circumcision of 10 urological patients [all male, aged (38±4) years old] admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University and included in normal skin group, samples of tissue around the edge of wounds with blood supply were collected from 9 heat or electric burn patients [6 male patients, 3 female patients, aged (51±8) years old], 13 pressure ulcer patients [9 male patients, 4 female patients, aged (51±14) years old] and 10 diabetic foot patients [8 male patients, 2 female patients, aged (61±10) years old] during the operations. The samples were divided into burn wound group (9 samples), pressure ulcer group (13 samples), and diabetic foot group (10 samples). Ten slices were taken from pressure ulcer group and diabetic foot group respectively, and 5 slices in each group were used to observe the tissue morphology and expressions of Ki67 and CD31 of wounds respectively with immunofluorescence method. Ten samples from normal skin group, 9 samples from burn wound group, 13 samples from pressure ulcer group, and 10 samples from diabetic foot group were collected for analysis of mRNA expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor 192 (VEGF192), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) , interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) by real time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data were processed with Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test. Results: (1) The expression level of Ki67 in diabetic foot group (390±100) was higher than that of pressure ulcer group (182±14, Z=-2.611, P<0.01). (2) Although there were a large number of vascular endothelial cells (CD31 positive cells) in wounds of diabetic foot group, their distribution was disordered and failed to form intact lumen. There were less vascular endothelial cells in wounds of pressure ulcer group than those of diabetic foot group, but the complete lumen was formed. (3) The mRNA expression levels of VEGF192 in wounds of burn wound group, pressure ulcer group, and diabetic foot group were significantly lower than the level in normal skin group (H=13.72, 30.50, 15.20, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the level was the lowest in pressure ulcer group. The mRNA expression level of VEGF192 in wounds of pressure ulcer group was significantly lower than that of diabetic foot group (H=15.30, P<0.01). Compared with that of normal skin group, the mRNA expression level of TGF-β in wounds of burn wound group showed no significant difference (H=-9.50, P>0.05), while the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β in wounds of pressure ulcer group and diabetic foot group were significantly decreased (H=18.04, 14.50, P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of TGF-β in wounds of pressure ulcer group was similar to that of diabetic foot group (H=3.54, P>0.05). (4) Compared with those of normal skin group, the mRNA expression levels of VCAM-1 in wounds of burn wound group and pressure ulcer group were significantly increased (H=-22.50, -11.50, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and there was no significant difference in the mRNA expression level of VCAM-1 in wounds of diabetic foot group (H=10.00, P>0.05); the mRNA expression level of ICAM-1 in wounds of burn wound group showed no significant difference (H=-9.50, P>0.05), and the levels of ICAM-1 in wounds of pressure ulcer group and diabetic foot group were significantly decreased (H=16.50, 16.50, P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of VCAM-1 in wounds of pressure ulcer group was significantly higher than that of diabetic foot group (H=-21.50, P<0.01), the mRNA expression level of ICAM-1 in wounds of pressure ulcer group was similar to that of diabetic foot group (H=0, P>0.05). (5) Compared with those of normal skin group, except for the mRNA expression level of IL-1β in wounds of diabetic foot group showed no significant difference (H=-10.00, P>0.05), the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β in wounds of burn wound group and pressure ulcer group were significantly increased (H=-32.50, -21.50, P<0.01); the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 were significantly increased in wounds of burn wound group, pressure ulcer group, and diabetic foot group (H=-17.50, -30.50, -11.80, P<0.05 or P<0.01); except for the mRNA expression level of TNF-α in wounds of burn wound group showed no significant difference (H=-9.50, P>0.05), the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α in wounds of pressure ulcer group and diabetic foot group were significantly decreased (H=18.04, 14.50, P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in wounds of pressure ulcer group were significantly lower than those of burn wound group (H=11.00, 27.54, P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the mRNA expression level of IL-6 was significantly higher (H=-13.00, P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in wounds of diabetic foot group were significantly lower than those of burn wound group (H=22.50, 24.00, P<0.01), while the mRNA expression level of IL-6 showed no significant difference (H=5.70, P>0.05). Conclusions The phenotypes of diabetic foot and pressure ulcer vary from the expressions levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and blood vessels forming ability to the expression levels of growth factors, cell adhesion factors, and inflammatory cytokines.