Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33％of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86％)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21％).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51％),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46％),Candida tropicalis(13.98％),Candida glabrata(10.34％),and other Candida species(0.79％).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62％).Only 2.97％of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61％and a resistance rate of 9.42％to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01％and a resistance rate of 7.99％to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27％and 48.24％to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55％and 26.24％to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60％and 21.99％to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36％to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics and rules of acupoint sensitization phenomena based on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), one of the clinical dominant diseases of acupuncture-moxibustion. METHODS: In combination with literature and expert experiences, the acupoints with the highest use frequency in treatment of KOA were screened, e.g. Heding (EX-LE 2), Liangqiu (ST 34), Mingmen (GV 4), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Ququan (LR 8) and Dubi (ST 35). In 814 patients with KOA and 217 healthy subjects, the acupoint temperature, mechanic pain threshold and pressure pain threshold were detected separately. Using machine learning method, the sensitization was judged at each acupoint. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, the acupoint temperature was increased and the mechanic pain threshold and pressure pain threshold were reduced in KOA patients (P<0.05). Besides, the cut-off value was presented to distinguish whether the acupoint was sensitized or not. The results of machine learning showed that the highest prediction accuracy of acupoint sensitization was 86.7% (Shenshu [BL 23]) and the lowest one was 73.9% (Heding [EX LE 2]). The prediction accuracy at the third clinical stage trial was higher, the highest was 93.3% (Ququan [LR 8]) in KOA patients. CONCLUSION It is confirmed that the acupoint sensitization reflects the characteristics of disease and is correlative with the conditions of illness, which may provide the reference for the auxiliary diagnosis and condition assessment of KOA.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

italic>α-Glucosidase inhibitors play an important role in the treatment of diabetes. This study established a high-resolution bioassay profiling platform for rapidly screening α-glucosidase inhibitors in natural product extracts. Five α-glucosidase inhibitors were identified from Malus hupehensis, namely, 3-hydroxyphloridzin, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, phloridzin, avicularin and quercitrin. The establishment and successful application of this platform provides a powerful tool for the efficient discovery of anti-diabetic active ingredients in complex systems.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the distribution characteristics and rules of pain sensitivity points on body surface in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 916 patients with KOA were selected in this study, the pain sensitivity points of local site of knee joint were probed by thumb palpation. Tape was used to measure the distance between the pain sensitivity points and the most nearby acupoints. The Wagner tenderness measuring instrument was used to measure the tenderness threshold of pain sensitivity points. RESULTS: A total of 3618 pain sensitivity points were probed, among them, 3338 pain sensitivity points were sensitized. The minimum sensitization degree was 1.00, the maximum sensitization degree was 3.39, while the average sensitization degree was (2.16±0.60). Pain sensitivity points were distributed 0.37-1.73 CONCLUSION The pain sensitivity points of patients with KOA may be the expansion effect of acupoint areas in the disease states, pain sensitivity points are more likely to appear on the medial side of knee joint.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy* ; Pain Threshold

To address the increasing need for detecting and validating protein biomarkers in clinical specimens, mass spectrometry (MS)-based targeted proteomic techniques, including the selected reaction monitoring (SRM), parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), and massively parallel data-independent acquisition (DIA), have been developed. For optimal performance, they require the fragment ion spectra of targeted peptides as prior knowledge. In this report, we describe a MS pipe-line and spectral resource to support targeted proteomics studies for human tissue samples. To build the spectral resource, we integrated common open-source MS computational tools to assemble a freely accessible computational workflow based on Docker. We then applied the workflow to gen-erate DPHL, a comprehensive DIA pan-human library, from 1096 data-dependent acquisition (DDA) MS raw files for 16 types of cancer samples. This extensive spectral resource was then applied to a proteomic study of 17 prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Thereafter, PRM validation was applied to a larger study of 57 PCa patients and the differential expression of three proteins in prostate tumor was validated. As a second application, the DPHL spectral resource was applied to a study consisting of plasma samples from 19 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients and 18 healthy control subjects. Differentially expressed proteins between DLBCL patients and healthy control subjects were detected by DIA-MS and confirmed by PRM. These data demonstrate that the DPHL supports DIA and PRM MS pipelines for robust protein biomarker discovery. DPHL is freely accessible at https://www.iprox.org/page/project.html?id=IPX0001400000.

Panax japonicus( PJ) is a valuable medicinal plant belonging to the genus Panax of Araliaceae,the recumbent rhizome of which is widely used in clinic therapy,healthcare products and as cosmetic additives with functions of dissipating stasis,reducing swelling,stanching bleeding,and reinforcing deficiency,etc. PJ contains abundant levels of oleanane-and dammarane-type triterpene saponins,which are considered as the material basis for exerting pharmacodynamic action. Based on the previous researches,more than110 triterpene saponins have been reported from PJ. These triterpene saponins were summarized in this review,and could be classified into dammarenediol Ⅱ,protopanaxadiol,protopanaxatiol,ocotillol,oleanolic acid,ursolic acid and miscellaneous subtypes,according to their molecular skeletons in biosynthesis processes. Further more,the structural features of these triterpene saponins in the seven different subtypes,together with their~(13)C-NMR spectroscopic characteristics were described,hoping to provide available information for chemical diversity research of PJ.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry

Objective To realize the distribution and characteristics of Mycobacterium leprae (M.leprae) species and its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spreading currently in China.Methods A total of 171 cutaneous lesion specimen of leprosy patients from 22 provinces were collected.The 16S rRNA conservative region of Mycobacterium leprae was amplified by nest PCR and the positive products were sequenced directly and aligned by BLAST.The SNPs of M.leprae were genotyped by restricted fragment length polymorphism for the PCR products.Results The 171 specimen were all Mycobacterium leprae since the amplified fragments of DNA samples were 99％ similar to the Br4923 of M.leprae from Brazil.No new species (M.lepromatosis) was found.Among the 85 samples genotyped for SNPs,SNP3,SNP1 and SNP2 accounted for 78.8％ (67/85),20％ (17/85) and 1.2％ (1/85) respectively.There was no sample with SNP4 genotype to be detected.Among the 171 sequencing specimen,130 showed mutation C-T at 251 bp of 16S rRNA.There was no difference for mutant rate of 16S rRNA gene and SNP genotype among the samples with different clinical pathological types.Certain associations between 16S rRNA C251T mutation and SNP genotype were found.Most of the samples with C251T mutations of 16S rRNA sequence were SNP3,only a few were SNP1 but not SNP2.There was significant difference of SNP genotype distribution among the patients from different regions.The distribution rate of SNP3 genotype in the samples from inland region (97.1％,34/35)was significantly higher than that from coastal region (66％,33/50) (x2 =11.96,P ＜ 0.01) . There was significant difference of the gene mutation rate of 16S rRNA sequence among the patients from different regions.The mutation rate of 16S rRNA in the samples from inland region (94.8％,92/97) was significantly higher than that from coastal region (51.4％,38/74) (x2 =43.56,P ＜0.01).Conclusion C251T mutation in 16S rRNA gene sequence of M.leprae may associate with SNP type suggesting that the characteristics of geographical distribution presented in different genotypes of M.leprae.No new species of M.leprae was found in this study.

Objective To analyze and compare hemodynamic features of two different options for modified B-T shunt (MBTS) surgery, namely end-to-side(ETS) and side-to-side (STS), so as to provide references for clinical treatment of single ventricle heart defect syndrome. MethodsThe real geometric model was reconstructed by medical images obtained from a patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS); MBTS surgery was simulated through virtual operations; a lumped parameter model (LPM) was constructed based on physiological data of the patient; the post-operational boundary conditions of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models (namely STS model and ETS model) were predicted based on the LPM; numerical simulation was conducted on two CFD models by using finite volume method. Results Flow details and wall shear stress distributions were all obtained for two models. The mean oscillatory shear index (OSI) of ETS model and STS model in part of pulmonary arteries was 3.058×10-3 and 13.624×10-3, respectively, while the energy loss was 116.5 and 94.8 mW, respectively, and blood flow rate ratios of left pulmonary artery to right pulmonary artery (RRPA/LPA) were 0.8 and 1.72, respectively. Conclusions There were nearly no differences between two CFD models in energy loss, which led to a relatively small impact on the surgery. The STS model had a more balanced pulmonary artery blood perfusion and a smaller mean OSI in part of pulmonary arteries, therefore, the STS model was superior to the ETS model. This study provides an important theoretical support and reference for treating patients with HLHS.

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications

OBJECTIVETo establish a highly sensitive and specific assay to detect dengue virus (DENV) envelope protein domain III (EDIII) IgG antibody, and to explore its value in the diagnosis and seroepidemiological survey of dengue.

METHODSThe DENV EDIII IgG antibody capture ELISA was developed using the recombinant full-length DENV EDIII, which was prepared by Pichia yeast expression system as the capture antigen. The serum samples were collected from the same group of 35 DENV-1 patients of primary infection during disease period in 2006 and their follow-up phase in 2010; and the sensitivity of the assay was compared to that of the commercial Panbio DENV IgG ELISA.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of DENV EDIII IgG ELISA in detecting the serum samples from disease period and follow-up phase was 87% (20/23) and 94% (33/35), respectively; whereas the sensitivity of Panbio DENV IgG ELISA was 71% (25/35) and 0, respectively. The sensitivity of DENV EDIII IgG ELISA in detecting the serum samples from both periods was similar, without statistical significance (χ(2) = 0.946, P = 0.331). For serum samples from disease period, the sensitivity of DENV EDIII IgG ELISA was comparable with that of Panbio DENV IgG ELISA (χ(2) = 1.924, P = 0.165). However, DENV EDIII IgG ELISA demonstrated a significantly higher sensitivity than Panbio DENV IgG ELISA in detecting the serum samples from follow-up phase (χ(2) = 62.432, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONDENV EDIII IgG capture ELISA is highly sensitive in detecting IgG in the serum samples from either disease period or follow-up phase. This method might be a promising alternative for diagnosis and seroepidemiologic survey of dengue.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Dengue ; diagnosis ; immunology ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; immunology