OBJECTIVE To understand the drug resistance,serotypes,virulence-associated genes and epidemiologi-cal characteristics of group B Streptococcus(GBS)isolated from puerpera in this area so as to provide bases for prevention of mother-to-infant infections.METHODS Totally 67 strains of GBS were isolated from obstetrics out-patient department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from Jan.2023 to Dec.2023.The spe-cies of the strains were identified by VITEK MS,the drug susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffu-sion method.Multilocus sequencing types,capsular types,virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed by means of whole genome sequencing technique.RESULTS The 67 strains of GBS were sensitive to penicillin,vancomycin,ceftriaxone and linezolid;the drug resistance rates to erythromycin and clindamycin were 76.12％and 55.22％,respectively.All strains fell into 7 serotypes,with serotype V predominant;21 sequence types were in-volved,with ST529 most prevalent;8 clonal complexes(CCs)were involved,with CC12 most common.Totally 17 types of drug resistance genes were identified,and the carrying rate of macrolide resistance gene ErmB was highest.Among all the virulence genes except for the adhesion genes fbsA and fbsB,the carrying rates of 18 genes involving in invasion,adhesion,and immune evasion-associated virulence genes were more than 86.57％;67.16％of the strains co-expressed both PI-1 and PI-2a pilus islands.CONCLUSIONS The drug resistance rate of the GBS strains isolated from the puerpera is high,and the strains carry multiple drug resistance genes and viru-lence genes and present with molecular clonal diversity.The serotype V/ST529 is the predominant clone,for which the prevention and control should be strengthened.

BACKGROUND:Allogeneic tendons are often used in clinical treatment of tendon and ligament injuries,which need to be treated before clinical application.At present,allogeneic tendons will face multiple freeze-thaw cycles after cryopreservation,but there is no relevant research on the changes in the properties of the treated allogeneic tendon after several freeze-thaw cycles.OBJECTIVE:To explore the changes in mechanical properties and composition of allogeneic tendon after multiple freeze-thaw cycles.METHODS:The treated allogeneic tendon was frozen and thawed 3,6,and 10 times at-40 ℃(or-80 ℃),respectively.The mechanical test,DNA content,glycosaminoglycan sulfate,hydroxyproline content and total protein content of the allogeneic tendon after freezing and thawing were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the maximum load,maximum load elongation,tensile strength and elastic modulus between groups after freezing-thawing cycles for 3,6,and 10 times at-40 ℃(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the maximum load and maximum load elongation between the groups after freezing-thawing cycles for 3,6,and 10 times at-80 ℃(P＞0.05).The tensile strength of the group with 3 cycles of freezing and thawing was higher than that of the groups with 6 and 10 cycles of freezing and thawing(P＜0.05).The elastic modulus of the group with 3 cycles of freezing and thawing was higher than that of the group with 10 cycles of freezing and thawing(P＜0.05).(2)The freezing and thawing times did not affect the contents of DNA,hydroxyproline,total protein,and sulfated glycosaminoglycan in allogeneic tendon when stored at-40 ℃(or-80 ℃).(3)These findings suggest that in-40℃ storage,the performance of the allogeneic tendon should not be affected by taking out and putting back the tendon less than 10 times,while in-80 ℃ storage,the allogeneic tendon should be taken out and put back less than 6 times.

Objective To construct a prediction model for the risk of peripherally inserted central venous catheter(PICC)-related bloodstream infection(CRBSI)in preterm infants,and evaluate the effect of the model.Methods 1 295 preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)in a hospital and received PICC intrave-nous infusion from January 2019 to October 2023 were selected as the study subjects,including 1 080 preterm in-fants from January 2019 to December 2022 in the modeling set and 215 premature infants from January to October 2023 in the validation set.Risk factors of cases were analyzed based on 24 clinical characteristics,optimized charac-teristics was selected by LASSO regression,independent risk factors for CRBSI of preterm infants during PICC in-dwelling period were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis,and nomogram model was constructed with R software.Discrimination and fitting of the model were evaluated by the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)as well as Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve,and clinical practicality of the model was evaluated by decision curve analysis(DCA).Results Multivariate logistic analysis showed that birth weight ≥1 500 g,sterile protection during catheter maintenance,and sterile cloth wrapped joints were protective factors for CRBSI during PICC indwelling period in preterm infants(OR=0.172,0.187,0.063,respectively,all P＜0.05),while puncture frequency＞2 times,catheter indwelling period＞14 days,and use of tees were inde-pendent risk factors for CRBSI during PICC indwelling period in premature infants(OR=2.533,14.128,13.256,respectively,all P＜0.05).The AUC of ROC of the modeling set was 0.953(95％CI:0.936-0.969),and that of the validation set was 0.930(95％CI:0.885-0.974),indicating good discriminability of the model.The calibra-tion curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed that the model had good accuracy and consistency,with high net profit value,indicating that the predictive value of the model was high and with good clinical practica-lity.The statistical test result in the rationality analysis of the model was P＜0.001.Conclusion The nomogram model based on the general clinical characteristics of preterm infants as well as the basic prevention and control measures of the catheter can provide a visual and simple evaluation tool for early identification of high risk factors for CRBSI in preterm infants.

Objective Investigate the expression level of discs large homolog associated protein 5(DLGAP5)in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)and analyze its effects on cell proliferation,migration,invasion capacity,and the Warburg effect.Methods Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify the potential therapeutic targets for OSCC.A total of 72 OSCC tissue samples and 40 adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples collected in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University from 2013 to 2024 were included,and the clinical pathological and prognostic data were collected from patients.Immunohistochemistry assay was applied to detect the protein expression of DLGAP5,and its association with clinical pathological features was analyzed.Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted for survival analysis,and Cox regression model was employed to analyze the prognostic factors.The expression of DLGAP5 at mRNA and protein levels was detected in HOK,SCC-9,SCC-15,SCC-25,and CAL-27 cell lines with RT-qPCR and Western blotting,respectively.Four small interfering RNAs(siRNAs)were designed to target the DLGAP5 sequence,and then based on the transfection efficiency,the sequence with optimal silencing effect was selected for subsequent functional studies.After DLGAP5 was silenced in the CAL-27 and SCC-15 cells,Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of hexokinase 2(HK2)and enolase 1(ENO1),CCK-8,scratch healing and Transwell assays were conducted to assess cell proliferation,migration,and invasion capabilities,and glucose,lactate,and ATP detection kits were utilized to determine the glycolytic metabolic levels in OSCC cells.Results Bioinformatics analysis indicates that DLGAP5 is a potential key therapeutic target for OSCC.Experimental validation demonstrated that DLGAP5 was highly expressed in both OSCC tissues and cells(P<0.05).Analysis of clinical pathology and prognostic data revealed that DLGAP5 expression level was significantly correlated with tumor TNM stage,lymph node metastasis,and differentiation grade in OSCC patients,and high DLGAP5 expression was associated with poor prognosis(P<0.05).DLGAP5 silencing resulted in significantly reduced expression of HK2 and ENO1,markedly decreased levels of glycolytic metabolites(P<0.05),and notably declined cell proliferation,migration,and invasion capabilities(P<0.05).Conclusion DLGAP5 is highly expressed in OSCC.Silencing DLGAP5 may inhibit OSCC cell proliferation,migration,and invasion by indirectly regulating the Warburg effect,and the molecule is associated with poor prognosis in the OSCC patients.

BACKGROUND:Allogeneic tendons are often used in clinical treatment of tendon and ligament injuries,which need to be treated before clinical application.At present,allogeneic tendons will face multiple freeze-thaw cycles after cryopreservation,but there is no relevant research on the changes in the properties of the treated allogeneic tendon after several freeze-thaw cycles.OBJECTIVE:To explore the changes in mechanical properties and composition of allogeneic tendon after multiple freeze-thaw cycles.METHODS:The treated allogeneic tendon was frozen and thawed 3,6,and 10 times at-40 ℃(or-80 ℃),respectively.The mechanical test,DNA content,glycosaminoglycan sulfate,hydroxyproline content and total protein content of the allogeneic tendon after freezing and thawing were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the maximum load,maximum load elongation,tensile strength and elastic modulus between groups after freezing-thawing cycles for 3,6,and 10 times at-40 ℃(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the maximum load and maximum load elongation between the groups after freezing-thawing cycles for 3,6,and 10 times at-80 ℃(P＞0.05).The tensile strength of the group with 3 cycles of freezing and thawing was higher than that of the groups with 6 and 10 cycles of freezing and thawing(P＜0.05).The elastic modulus of the group with 3 cycles of freezing and thawing was higher than that of the group with 10 cycles of freezing and thawing(P＜0.05).(2)The freezing and thawing times did not affect the contents of DNA,hydroxyproline,total protein,and sulfated glycosaminoglycan in allogeneic tendon when stored at-40 ℃(or-80 ℃).(3)These findings suggest that in-40℃ storage,the performance of the allogeneic tendon should not be affected by taking out and putting back the tendon less than 10 times,while in-80 ℃ storage,the allogeneic tendon should be taken out and put back less than 6 times.

Objective To construct a prediction model for the risk of peripherally inserted central venous catheter(PICC)-related bloodstream infection(CRBSI)in preterm infants,and evaluate the effect of the model.Methods 1 295 preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)in a hospital and received PICC intrave-nous infusion from January 2019 to October 2023 were selected as the study subjects,including 1 080 preterm in-fants from January 2019 to December 2022 in the modeling set and 215 premature infants from January to October 2023 in the validation set.Risk factors of cases were analyzed based on 24 clinical characteristics,optimized charac-teristics was selected by LASSO regression,independent risk factors for CRBSI of preterm infants during PICC in-dwelling period were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis,and nomogram model was constructed with R software.Discrimination and fitting of the model were evaluated by the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)as well as Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve,and clinical practicality of the model was evaluated by decision curve analysis(DCA).Results Multivariate logistic analysis showed that birth weight ≥1 500 g,sterile protection during catheter maintenance,and sterile cloth wrapped joints were protective factors for CRBSI during PICC indwelling period in preterm infants(OR=0.172,0.187,0.063,respectively,all P＜0.05),while puncture frequency＞2 times,catheter indwelling period＞14 days,and use of tees were inde-pendent risk factors for CRBSI during PICC indwelling period in premature infants(OR=2.533,14.128,13.256,respectively,all P＜0.05).The AUC of ROC of the modeling set was 0.953(95％CI:0.936-0.969),and that of the validation set was 0.930(95％CI:0.885-0.974),indicating good discriminability of the model.The calibra-tion curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed that the model had good accuracy and consistency,with high net profit value,indicating that the predictive value of the model was high and with good clinical practica-lity.The statistical test result in the rationality analysis of the model was P＜0.001.Conclusion The nomogram model based on the general clinical characteristics of preterm infants as well as the basic prevention and control measures of the catheter can provide a visual and simple evaluation tool for early identification of high risk factors for CRBSI in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE To understand the drug resistance,serotypes,virulence-associated genes and epidemiologi-cal characteristics of group B Streptococcus(GBS)isolated from puerpera in this area so as to provide bases for prevention of mother-to-infant infections.METHODS Totally 67 strains of GBS were isolated from obstetrics out-patient department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from Jan.2023 to Dec.2023.The spe-cies of the strains were identified by VITEK MS,the drug susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffu-sion method.Multilocus sequencing types,capsular types,virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed by means of whole genome sequencing technique.RESULTS The 67 strains of GBS were sensitive to penicillin,vancomycin,ceftriaxone and linezolid;the drug resistance rates to erythromycin and clindamycin were 76.12％and 55.22％,respectively.All strains fell into 7 serotypes,with serotype V predominant;21 sequence types were in-volved,with ST529 most prevalent;8 clonal complexes(CCs)were involved,with CC12 most common.Totally 17 types of drug resistance genes were identified,and the carrying rate of macrolide resistance gene ErmB was highest.Among all the virulence genes except for the adhesion genes fbsA and fbsB,the carrying rates of 18 genes involving in invasion,adhesion,and immune evasion-associated virulence genes were more than 86.57％;67.16％of the strains co-expressed both PI-1 and PI-2a pilus islands.CONCLUSIONS The drug resistance rate of the GBS strains isolated from the puerpera is high,and the strains carry multiple drug resistance genes and viru-lence genes and present with molecular clonal diversity.The serotype V/ST529 is the predominant clone,for which the prevention and control should be strengthened.

Objective:To construct a prediction model for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to test its clinical effect.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 740 preterm infants admitted to the NICU for mechanical ventilation from July 2018 to June 2023 were retrospectively selected as the study subjects, and were divided into the modeling set (518 cases) and the validation set (222 cases) according to the ratio of 7∶3 using the computer-generated random number method. The modeling set was divided into the VAP group (181 cases) and the non-VAP group (337 cases) according to whether VAP occured, and 21 clinical characteristics were analyzed, using single factor difference analysis to screen predictive factors, the independent risk factors of VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants were determined by multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and the nomogram model was made by R software. Then, the nomogram model was tested by validating the data of the validation set. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, calibration curve and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the efficacy and practical value of the model.Results:There were 88 males and 93 females in the VAP group, with 156 cases of gestational age<34 weeks and 25 cases of gestational age≥34 weeks. There were 155 males and 182 females in the non-VAP group, with 196 cases of gestational age<34 weeks and 141 cases of gestational age≥34 weeks. Birth weight ( OR=0.114, 95% CI 0.044-0.268, P<0.05) and oral care of breast milk ( OR=0.124, 95% CI 0.0.057-0.249, P<0.05) were protective factors for VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants, and Apgar score at 5 min after birth ( OR=2.895, 95% CI 1.318-6.419, P<0.05), serum prealbumin at 72 h of mechanical ventilation ( OR=4.837, 95% CI 2.643-9.063, P<0.05), gastric contents reflux ( OR=6.754, 95% CI 3.156-15.240, P<0.05), and time of mechanical ventilation ( OR=7.784, 95% CI 3.491-18.160, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve of the modeling set was 0.929 (95% CI 0.907-0.950, P<0.01), and the validation set (AUC) was 0.917 (95% CI 0.882-0.952, P<0.01), the model has good discrimination. The C indices of the modeling set and the validation set were 0.93 and 0.92 respectively by sampling 500 times by the Bootstrap method, indicating that the model had good consistency, and the decision curve suggested that the prediction model was far from the extreme curve and the net return value was high, indicating that the nomogram prediction model constructed this time had high prediction value. Conclusions:Birth weight, Apgar score at 5 min after birth, time of mechanical ventilation, oral care of breast milk, serum prealbumin at 72 h of mechanical ventilation, and gastric contents reflux are independent influencing factors for VAP in mechanically ventilated preterm infants. The nomogram prediction model constructed can provide a visual and simple evaluation tool for early identification of high-risk children and reducing the occurrence of VAP.

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 differences of clinical features and surgical efficacy between the elderly and the middle-aged and young patients with meningiomas in the central cortex area.Methods:Forty-three elderly patients with meningiomas in the central cortex area (≥60 years old) and 63 middle-aged and young patients with meningiomas in the central cortex area (18-59 years old), accepted surgery in Department of Neurosurgery, Guangdong 999 Brain Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020, were chosen. The differences of symptom, gross tumor volume, peritumoral edema degrees, intraoperative blood loss, tumor resection degrees, complications, and hospital stays between the 2 groups were analyzed.Results:The elderly patients had significantly higher proportion of preoperative muscle strength decline, lower proportion of preoperative headache, larger preoperative tumor volume, more severe peritumoral edema degrees before and after surgery, small volume of intraoperative blood loss, and longer hospital stays compared with the middle-aged and young patients ( P<0.05). However, no significant differences in distributions of tumor resection Simpson grades, proportion of new neurological dysfunction, incidence of postoperative complications, and proportions of reoperations and tumor recurrence were noted between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Significant difference in distributions of peritumoral edema degrees among patients with different WHO grades was noted in the elderly group ( P<0.05), and significant difference in distribution of peritumoral edema degrees among patients with different tumor volumes was noted in the middle-aged and young group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Although differences in clinical characteristics exist between the elderly and the middle-aged and young patients with meningiomas in the central cortex area, no significant difference in surgical efficacy is noted between the 2 groups. The peritumoral edema degree in the elderly patients is related to tumor pathological grades, while that in middle-aged and young patients is related to tumor volumes.