Objective To investigate the potential pathogenic genes of ischemic stroke（IS） based on transcriptomics/bioinformatics analyses and validation， and to perfect the molecular pathogenesis of IS. Methods The peripheral whole blood gene expression microarray dataset GSE58294 for human IS was downloaded from GEO database， and R software was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes（DEGs）. The STRING program in R software was used to construct a protein-protein interaction（PPI） network and identify Hub genes. Three high-confidence machine learning algorithms（LASSO， SVM-RFE， and RF） and eQTL Mendelian randomization were used to obtain the core feature genes of IS， and box plots of differentially expressed genes， the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis， and single-gene Mendelian randomization further validated their association with IS. Finally， gene ontology （GO）/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses， Gene Set Enrichment Analysis （GSEA）， and immune infiltration analysis （CIBERSORT） were performed for the core features genes of IS to explore the molecular mechanism of their association with IS. Results A total of 183 DEGs were identified by the differential expression analysis of the IS dataset， and Mendelian randomization and machine learning algorithms finally obtained and verified one key IS pathogenic gene RPL22L1. The GO/KEGG analysis showed that this gene was mainly involved in ribosomal and cytoplasmic translation， the GSEA analysis showed that it was most closely associated with AMP metabolism， cell motility， and fat metabolism， and the CIBERSORT analysis showed that RPL22L1 expression significantly inhibited infantile CD4+ T cell infiltration. Conclusion RPL22L1 IS a key pathogenic gene for IS， and it may promote the onset of IS by influencing cytoplasmic translation， AMP metabolism， and cellular immunity， which provides a new direction for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of IS.

Objective:To identify species type and analyze the homology of Brucella in a family cluster infection. Methods:Two patients with brucellosis from the same family who were treated at the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province in May 2022 were selected as the research subjects. Brucella strains (H4LYG01 and H2LYG02) were isolated through blood culture. The isolated strains were identified for species type and homology analysis using a fully automated microbial mass spectrometry detection system. Molecular typing of the isolated strains was performed using multiple locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Results:H4LYG01 and H2LYG02 were both Brucella Maltese, and the credibility scores were 9.745 and 9.627, respectively, and the homology was 100%. The MLVA results showed that the gene loci of H4LYG01 and H2LYG02 were completely identical, with the same genotype. The MLST results showed that the sequence type (ST) of H4LYG01 and H2LYG02 were both ST8 types. Conclusion:The two isolated strains of Brucella from a family with clustered infections are both Brucella Maltese and from the same source.

INTRODUCTION: There are concerns that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may worsen the outcomes of patients with COVID-19. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to study the in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients who were on ACEIs/ARBs as compared to those not on ACEIs/ARBs. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, clinicaltrials.gov and Google Scholar between 1 January 2020 and 30 May 2020 to identify all studies that evaluated the use of ACEIs/ARBs and reported the in-hospital mortality outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Nine non-randomised studies were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. The primary outcome studied was the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients who were on ACEIs/ARBs compared with those not on ACEIs/ARBs. RESULTS: Of the 8,313 patients in the nine studies, 7,622 (91.7%) were from studies with all-comers, while 691 (8.3%) were from studies involving only patients with hypertension. 577 (14.6%) in-hospital deaths were observed out of a total of 3,949 patients with an outcome in the nine studies. Overall, no significant difference was observed in the in-hospital mortality between patients on ACEIs/ARBs and those not on ACEIs/ARBs (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-1.50; p = 0.73). Further sensitivity analysis in the hypertension group and the all-comers group showed similar results (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.58-1.32; p = 0.53 and OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.00-3.43; p = 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION We observed that ACEIs/ARBs had no significant impact on the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients and can be used safely in patients with indications.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To study the genotyping characteristics of Brucella strains isolated from Lianyungang City (non-brucellosis epidemic area) of Jiangsu Province. Methods:Preliminary identification of 13 suspected strains of Brucella isolated from blood culture in Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang City in 2018 was conducted; at the same time, the specific gene bcsp31 and insertion sequence IS-711 of Brucella were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (Real-time PCR), and the identification results were rechecked and typed. Multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was applied for genotyping, and the sequencing results were edited by Mega 4.0 software. Results:All the 13 strains were identified as Brucella by preliminary identification. Real-time PCR confirmed that all the 13 strains were Brucella melitensis. The results of MLVA showed that 13 strains of Brucella melitensis were divided into 12 genotypes and clustered in the "middle Mediterranean cluster". Among 13 strains of Brucella melitensis, 3 strains were biovar 1, 2 strains were biovar 2 and 8 strains were biovar 3. Conclusion:All the Brucella strains isolated from Lianyungang City are Brucella melitensis and the MLVA cluster is in the "middle Mediterranean cluster".