Dynamic changes in gut dysbiosis and metabolomic dysregulation are associated with immune-complex glomerulonephritis(ICGN).However,an in-depth study on this topic is currently lacking.Herein,we report an ICGN model to address this gap.ICGN was induced via the intravenous injection of cationized bovine serum albumin(c-BSA)into Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats for two weeks,after which mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)and losartan were administered orally.Two and six weeks after ICGN establishment,fecal samples were collected and 16S ribosomal DNA(rDNA)sequencing and untargeted metabolomic were conducted.Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)was conducted to determine whether gut normali-zation caused by MMF and losartan contributed to their renal protective effects.A gradual decline in microbial diversity and richness was accompanied by a loss of renal function.Approximately 18 genera were found to have significantly different relative abundances between the early and later stages,and Marvinbryantia and Allobaculum were markedly upregulated in both stages.Untargeted metabolomics indicated that the tryptophan metabolism was enhanced in ICGN,characterized by the overproduction of indole and kynurenic acid,while the serotonin pathway was reduced.Administration of losartan and MMF ameliorated microbial dysbiosis and reduced the accumulation of indoxyl conjugates in feces.FMT using feces from animals administered MMF and losartan improved gut dysbiosis by decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes(F/B)ratio but did not improve renal function.These findings indicate that ICGN induces serous gut dysbiosis,wherein an altered tryptophan metabolism may contribute to its pro-gression.MMF and losartan significantly reversed the gut microbial and metabolomic dysbiosis,which partially contributed to their renoprotective effects.

Objective To investigate the effect of Angelica polysaccharides on the balance of Th17/T-regulatory(Treg)cells and the expression of related inflammatory factor proteins in the bone marrow of mice with aplastic anemia.Methods 50 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a normal group,model group,cyclosporine A(CsA)group,and angelica polysaccharide low-(APS-L)and high-dose(APS-H)groups.A mouse model of aplastic anemia was prepared by combining irradiation with allogeneic lymphocyte infusion.After modeling,the mice were orally administered with corresponding drugs for 28 days.The general condition,weight changes,and spleen index of the mice were observed.Blood samples were taken to test for changes in basic hematological parameters of peripheral blood,and hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes in mouse bone marrow tissue.An ELISA method was applied to detect bone marrow TGF-β1.The expression levels of proteins such as IL-10,IL-17A,and IL-6 were analyzed,and flow cytometry was used in detecting the bone marrow Th17/Treg cell ratio.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group mice showed clumsiness during activity;lethargy;pale eyelids,lips,and ears;and reduced food and water intake.Both body weight and spleen index were significantly decreased.Peripheral red blood cell,white blood cell,and platelet counts and hemoglobin concentration were significantly reduced.A disordered bone marrow tissue structure and significantly reduced proliferation of hematopoietic tissue were seen.The expression of IL-17A and IL-6 proteins was significantly upregulated,and the expression of TGF-β1 and IL-10 protein was significantly downregulated.The proportion of Th17 cells in bone marrow significantly increased,the proportion of Treg cells significantly decreased,and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells significantly increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the general condition of the APS-L and APS-H groups improved,showing an increase in food and water intake;a significant increase in body weight and spleen index;a significant increase in peripheral red blood cells,white blood cells,platelets,and hemoglobin concentration(P＜0.05);an improvement in bone marrow tissue structure;and an increase in hematopoietic tissue proliferation(P＜0.05).The expression of IL-17A and IL-6 proteins was significantly downregulated.The expression of TGF-β1 and IL-10 protein was significantly upregulated(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The proportion of Th17 cells in bone marrow significantly decreased,the proportion of Treg cells significantly increased,and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells significantly decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusions Angelica polysaccharides can improve bone marrow hematopoietic function in aplastic anemia mice,and its mechanism of action may include the regulation of Th17/Treg cell balance.

Objective:To recheck the Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides sp. strains of the past by molecular identification and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS). Methods:The phylogenetic relationships among the ten Histoplasma capsulatum isolates and reference strains were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Based on the Coi region, Coccidioides posadasii was distinguished from Coccidioides immitis accurately. MALDI-TOF MS was used to set up the MALDI-TOF MS database of Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides sp. for rapid identification. In addition, hierarchical clustering of spectra was compared with MLST. Results:An unrooted dendrogram constructed with MLST showed that ten individuals of Histoplasma capsulatum were divided into three clades: Eurasia clade, Australia clade and North American class 2 clade, in agreement with the establishment by MALDI-TOF MS cluster analysis. All individuals of Coccidioides sp. were identified as Coccidioides posadasii with Coi region primers. The in-house MALDI-TOF MS database of Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides posadasii was expanded and reached an identified accuracy of 100%. Conclusions:We improve the recognition of Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides posadasii by molecular pathways which shows the major species or clades in Chinese mainland. The in-house MALDI-TOF MS database of Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides posadasii can provide a new efficient way to identify those pathogens rapidly.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the formulation of a porcine fibrin patch （abbreviated as “DBT”）. METHODS Based on single-factor tests， with the contents of fibrinogen， thrombin and collagen before freeze-drying as the factors， with the overall desirability （OD） value of adhesion strength， holding viscosity and water absorption as response value， the formulation of DBT was optimized by Box-Behnken-response surface methodology， and the verification tests were conducted. RESULTS According to the results of the single factor tests and Box-Behnken-response surface methodology， combined with the actual production， the optimal formulation of DBT was 6.5 mg/cm2 of fibrinogen， 8.0 IU/cm2 of thrombin and 5.6 mg/mL of collagen. The average OD value of 3 validation tests was 0.726 6 （RSD＝0.58%， n＝3）， and the relative error of which with the predicted value （0.733 0） was －0.87%. CONCLUSIONS The optimal formulation of DBT is stable and feasible.

Transcription, Genetic

Antifungal agents have shown good efficacy and tolerability in the general population. However, the antifungal treatment remains a great challenge in some special populations due to their special conditions, such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and patients with hepatic insufficiency. This review summarizes recommendations for the use of common antifungal agents in the above special populations.

Objective:To summarize clinical characteristics of patients with Aspergillus fumigatus infection in a hospital in Nanjing, to preliminarily assess azole resistance in clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus, and to investigate risk factors for the emergence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus. Methods:Clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus were collected from inpatients in Department of Laboratory, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from March 2017 to February 2021. Clinical data on these infected patients were analyzed, azole sensitivity testing and mutation analysis of the cyp51A gene and its promoter region were performed for these Aspergillus fumigatus isolates. Results:A total of 201 strains of Aspergillus fumigatus were collected, and mainly isolated from sputum specimens. Among the infected patients, there were 131 males and 70 females, and their age were 64.2 ± 15.8 years. The patients were mainly collected from department of respiratory medicine (79 cases), department of intensive medicine (34 cases), department of rheumatology (19 cases), etc. Among these patients, common underlying diseases included interstitial pneumonia (32 cases), malignant tumors (18 cases), pneumonia (13 cases), trauma (12 cases), systemic lupus erythematosus (8 cases), etc. Drug susceptibility testing showed that 6 (2.99%) strains of Aspergillus fumigatus were resistant to itraconazole and posaconazole, and 3 patients infected with azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus had used antifungal drugs before testing. Sequencing was performed on the cyp51A gene and its promoter region in the 6 strains of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus, and showed TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I mutation in 5 strains and TR34/L98H mutation in 1 strain. Conclusion:Compared with previously published data about azole resistance in China during 2010 -2015, the resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus to azoles in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital did not increase from 2017 to 2021, and the mechanism of azole resistance was mostly associated with TR34/L98H/S297T/F495I mutation in the cyp51A gene and its promoter region.

Objective:To compare the in vitro susceptibility of fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strains from superficial and deep infections to 8 antifungal drugs, and to compare drug resistance mutations in these strains. Methods:According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol M27-A4, 26 deep infection-derived and 33 superficial infection-derived drug-resistant Candida albicans strains were tested for in vitro susceptibility to 8 antifungal drugs (fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, amphotericin B, fluorocytosine, terbinafine, and micafungin) alone or in combination. DNA was extracted from all drug-resistant strains, and mutations in 3 drug resistance genes, including ERG3, ERG11 and FUR1, were detected by PCR. Normally distributed measurement data with homogeneous variance were compared between two groups by using two-independent-sample t test, non-normally distributed measurement data with non-homogeneous variance were compared using Mann-Whitney U test, and enumeration data were compared using chi-square test. Results:The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and fluorocytosine all significantly differed between the superficial infection group and deep infection group (all P < 0.05) , while there was no significant difference in the MIC of amphotericin B or micafungin between the two groups (both P > 0.05) . The MIC of terbinafine was >64 μg/ml in 96.6% of the above strains, so could not be compared between groups. As combination drug susceptibility testing revealed, the combination of terbinafine with azoles (fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole or posaconazole) showed synergistic inhibitory effects against 15 Candida albicans strains (7 strains from deep infections, 8 strains from superficial infections) , with fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices being 0.033 to 0.187; no marked synergistic effect was observed in the combinations between fluorocytosine and azoles, between fluorocytosine and amphotericin B, or between amphotericin B and fluconazole, with the FIC indices being 0.56 to 1.125. The missense mutation V351A in the ERG3 gene was identified in all the 33 (100%) superficial infection-derived strains, as well as in 13 (50%) deep infection-derived strains, and the mutation A353T in the ERG3 gene was identified in 4 (15%) deep infection-derived strains; as for the ERG11 gene, missense mutations identified in the superficial infection-derived strains included I437V (32 strains, 97%) , Y132H (23 strains, 70%) , T123I (16 strains, 48%) , K128T (6 strains, 18%) , D116E (5 strains, 15%) , A114S (4 strains, 12%) , E266D (2 strains, 6%) , G448E (2 strains, 6%) , and G465S (2 strains, 6%) , while missense mutations identified in the deep infection-derived strains included I437V (23 strains, 88%) , E266D (13 strains, 50%) , E260G (5 strains, 19%) , and V488I (4 strains, 15%) ; the missense mutation R101C in the FUR1 gene was identified in 11 (33%) superficial infection-derived strains, but not identified in deep infection-derived strains. Conclusion:The drug susceptibility and drug resistance mutations differed to some extent between superficial infection- and deep infection-derived fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strains.

Tinea of vellus hair is caused by dermatophyte infection of vellus hairs, and commonly affects children. It usually occurs on the face, and clinically manifests as annular or semi-annular erythema gradually spreading to the surrounding area, with central clearing and a slightly elevating border covered with papules and papulovesicles. Intense inflammation, which may manifest as pustules, erosions, exudation, scales and crusts, can be observed in patients with severe tinea of vellus hair. Direct microscopy of fungi showed abundant hyphae and/or spores on vellus hairs. Topical antifungal therapy is usually ineffective, and systemic antifungal therapy should be considered. In order to reduce the high rate of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and to improve clinicians′ understanding of this disease, this review summarizes the incidence, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of tinea of vellus hair.

Candida auris ( C. auris) is a recently emerged multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen, featured by difficulty in identification, high mortality and easy spread in hospital environments. Furthermore, C. auris is resistant to various frontline antifungals. However, the mechanisms governing drug resistance remain unclear. This review summarized the mechanisms of triazole resistance in C. auris, including ERG11 missense mutations or overexpression, the activity of efflux pumps, missense mutations in TAC1 B, the gain of an extra copy of chromosomeⅤ, the role of Hsp90 and biofilm formation. In addition, the factors associated with the resistance to other drugs including echinocandins, polyenes, nucleoside analogues and acrylamide were also reviewed.