1.Nanomaterial-based Therapeutics for Biofilm-generated Bacterial Infections
Zhuo-Jun HE ; Yu-Ying CHEN ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; De-Liang LIU ; Meng-De LIU ; Jian-Hui GAO ; Ze CHEN ; Jia-Yu DENG ; Guang-Yan LIANG ; Li WEI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1604-1617
Bacterial biofilms gave rise to persistent infections and multi-organ failure, thereby posing a serious threat to human health. Biofilms were formed by cross-linking of hydrophobic extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), such as proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA, which were synthesized by bacteria themselves after adhesion and colonization on biological surfaces. They had the characteristics of dense structure, high adhesiveness and low drug permeability, and had been found in many human organs or tissues, such as the brain, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skeleton. By releasing pro-inflammatory bacterial metabolites including endotoxins, exotoxins and interleukin, biofilms stimulated the body’s immune system to secrete inflammatory factors. These factors triggered local inflammation and chronic infections. Those were the key reason for the failure of traditional clinical drug therapy for infectious diseases.In order to cope with the increasingly severe drug-resistant infections, it was urgent to develop new therapeutic strategies for bacterial-biofilm eradication and anti-bacterial infections. Based on the nanoscale structure and biocompatible activity, nanobiomaterials had the advantages of specific targeting, intelligent delivery, high drug loading and low toxicity, which could realize efficient intervention and precise treatment of drug-resistant bacterial biofilms. This paper highlighted multiple strategies of biofilms eradication based on nanobiomaterials. For example, nanobiomaterials combined with EPS degrading enzymes could be used for targeted hydrolysis of bacterial biofilms, and effectively increased the drug enrichment within biofilms. By loading quorum sensing inhibitors, nanotechnology was also an effective strategy for eradicating bacterial biofilms and recovering the infectious symptoms. Nanobiomaterials could intervene the bacterial metabolism and break the bacterial survival homeostasis by blocking the uptake of nutrients. Moreover, energy-driven micro-nano robotics had shown excellent performance in active delivery and biofilm eradication. Micro-nano robots could penetrate physiological barriers by exogenous or endogenous driving modes such as by biological or chemical methods, ultrasound, and magnetic field, and deliver drugs to the infection sites accurately. Achieving this using conventional drugs was difficult. Overall, the paper described the biological properties and drug-resistant molecular mechanisms of bacterial biofilms, and highlighted therapeutic strategies from different perspectives by nanobiomaterials, such as dispersing bacterial mature biofilms, blocking quorum sensing, inhibiting bacterial metabolism, and energy driving penetration. In addition, we presented the key challenges still faced by nanobiomaterials in combating bacterial biofilm infections. Firstly, the dense structure of EPS caused biofilms spatial heterogeneity and metabolic heterogeneity, which created exacting requirements for the design, construction and preparation process of nanobiomaterials. Secondly, biofilm disruption carried the risk of spread and infection the pathogenic bacteria, which might lead to other infections. Finally, we emphasized the role of nanobiomaterials in the development trends and translational prospects in biofilm treatment.
2.The Mechanism of miR-124 in Depression
Yan XUE ; De-Zhu LI ; Hui-Ying XIE ; Chuan-Miao JIANG ; Jun-Fang ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(6):1316-1326
Depression is a prevalent mental illness worldwide, its multifaceted pathogenesis is still in the exploratory stage. MicroRNA (miRNA), as a crucial epigenetic regulator, plays an important role in depression. miR-124 is one of the most abundant miRNAs in the central nervous system including neurons and microglia, and involved in various biological events like neuron development and differentiation, synaptic and axonal growth, neural plasticity, inflammation and autophagy. Recent studies have reported abnormal expression of miR-124 in both depression patients and animal models. Most of the studies showed that miR-124 is upregulated in the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex in stress-induced rodent depression animal models such as CUMS, CSDS, CORT, CRS and LH but some evidence for divergence. Upregulation of miR-124 expression may be involved in depression-like behavior via CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway, GR pathway, SIRT1 pathway, apoptosis and autophagy pathways by directly targeting these genes including Creb, Bdnf, Sirt1, Nr3c1, Ezh2 and Stat3. The downregulation of miR-124 expression in neurons is mainly involved in the neurogenesis and neuroplasticity impairments in depression by targeting the Notch signaling pathway and DDIT4/TSC1/2/mTORC1 pathway. The downregulation of miR-124 expression also was found in the activated microglia in the stress-induced models, and resulted in neuroinflammation. In summary, the abnormal expression of miR-124 in the brain of depression-related models and its related mechanisms are complex and even contradictory, and still need further research. This review provides a summary of the research progress of miR-124 in depression.
3.Simultaneous GC-MS determination of sixteen pesticide residues and safety assessment for Lycii Fructus
Jia-Qi QIN ; Qiang-Qiang QI ; Ya-Jun ZHANG ; Yan WANG ; Si-Yuan ZHAO ; De-Yan CAO ; Mei-Lin ZHU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(1):143-149
AIM To establish a GC-MS method for the simultaneous content determination of sixteen pesticide residues in Lycii Fructus and perform safety assessment.METHODS The analysis was performed on DB-5MS chromatographic column(30 m×0.25 mm,0.25 μm)subjected to the programmed heating,with splitless injection of 1.0 μL dissolved sample at a flowing rate of 1.0 mL/min.Other parameters were as follows:injection port temperature of 250℃,electron impact ionization(EI),electron energy of 70 eV;ion source temperature of 230℃,multi-reaction monitoring mode,and collision gas.of high-purity N2.Pesticide residues with relatively high dietary risk were analyzed and discussed with regard to residue levels,dietary intake risk,risk ranking and cumulative exposure assessment.RESULTS Sixteen pesticides showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r≥0.994 4),whose average recoveries were 70%-114%,with the RSDs of less than 2%.The highest average cyfluthrin residue of 0.999 2 mg/kg in Lycii Fructus of production regions and the highest average cypermethrin residue of 0.088 4 mg/kg in Lycii Fructus commodities were both detected.In Lycii Fructus of production regions with chronic hazard index(HI)value of 0.012 9 and acute HI value of 0.065 5 and their commodities with chronic HI of 0.001 2 and acute HI of 0.005 4,the pesticide residue of cypermethrin was the leading cause of chronic and acute dietary risk,and additionally,pyridaben within maximum residue limit(MRL)was the only detectectable highly toxic pesticide among the other most concerning pestcides of deltamethrin,pyridaben,chlorpyrifos,dichlorvos and methidathion.CONCLUSION There exist pesticide residues within MRL values in some samples of Lycii Fructus and the use of cypermethrin should be well-controlled.
4.Design of automatic urine volume detection and collection device
Yan CHEN ; De-Zhao ZHAI ; Xiao-Quan ZHANG ; Fu-Long LIU ; Xiao-Tao ZHANG ; Yong-Mei ZHANG ; Wei CEHN ; Fang ZHANG ; Guo-Hui WU ; Jun DENG ; Dan LI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2024;45(4):66-69
Objective To develop an automatic urine volume detection and collection device to solve the problems of routine urine test.Methods An automatic urine volume detection and collection device was developed with the components of a main control system,a detection system,a prompting system and a grasping and moving system.The main control system consisted of two STM32 microcontrollers and a reset switch;the detection system was made up of a weighing module,an infrared module and indicator lights,which had its urine volume automatic detection algorithm developed based on the Keil5 platform;the prompting system realized voice broadcasting through the voice module fixed on the back panel of the box;the grasping and moving system was composed of a rail drive motor(86CM stepper motor),a photoelectric switch and a motorized gripper.Results The device developed tested urine samples with an accuracy of 99.44%,and could collect qualified samples automatically and quickly.Conclusion The device developed detects urine volume and collects samples automatically,and enhances the accuracy and efficiency of urine examination.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(4):66-69]
5.Determining Whether an Individual is 18 Years or Older Based on the Third Molar Root Pulp Visibility in East China
De-Min HUO ; Kai-Jun MA ; Jing-Lan XU ; Xu SONG ; Xiao-Yan MAO ; Xia LIU ; Kai-Fang ZHAO ; Jian ZHANG ; Meng DU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;40(2):149-153
Objective To investigate the age-related changes of the mandibular third molar root pulp visibility in individuals in East China,and to explore the feasibility of applying this method to deter-mine whether an individual is 18 years or older.Methods A total of 1 280 oral panoramic images were collected from the 15-30 years old East China population,and the mandibular third molar root pulp visibility in all oral panoramic images was evaluated using OLZE 0-3 four-stage method,and the age distribution of the samples at each stage was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results Stages 0,1,2 and 3 first appeared in 16.88,19.18,21.91 and 25.44 years for males and in 17.47,20.91,22.01 and 26.01 years for females.In all samples,individuals at stages 1 to 3 were over 18 years old.Conclusion It is feasible to determine whether an individual in East China is 18 years or older based on the mandibular third molar root pulp visibility on oral panoramic images.
6.Clinical characterization and prediction modeling of lung cancer patients with high energy metabolism
Jiang-Shan REN ; Jun-Mei JIA ; Ping SUN ; Mei PING ; Qiong-Qiong ZHANG ; Yan-Yan LIU ; He-Ping ZHAO ; Yan CHEN ; Dong-Wen RONG ; Kang WANG ; Hai-Le QIU ; Chen-An LIU ; Yu-Yu FAN ; De-Gang YU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(9):1004-1010
Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of high energy metabolism in lung cancer patients and its correlation with body composition,nutritional status,and quality of life,and to develop a corresponding risk prediction model.Methods Retrospectively analyzed 132 primary lung cancer patients admitted to the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2022 to May 2023,and categorized into high(n=94)and low energy metabolism group(n=38)based on their metabolic status.Differences in clinical data,body composition,Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment(PG-SGA)scores,and European Organization for Research and treatment of Cancer(EORTC)Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30(QLQ-C30)scores were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for high energy metabolism in lung cancer patients,and a risk prediction model was established accordingly;the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess the model fit,and the ROC curve was used to test the predictive efficacy of the model.Results Of the 132 patients with primary lung cancer,94(71.2%)exhibited high energy metabolism.Compared with low energy metabolism group,patients in high-energy metabolism group had a smoking index of 400 or higher,advanced disease staging of stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ,and higher levels of IL-6 level,low adiposity index,low skeletal muscle index,and malnutrition(P<0.05),and lower levels of total protein,albumin,hemoglobin level,and prognostic nutritional index(PNI)(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in age,gender,height,weight,BMI and disease type between the two groups(P>0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that smoking index≥400,advanced disease stage,IL-6≥3.775 ng/L,and PNI<46.43 were independent risk factors for high energy metabolism in lung cancer patients.The AUC of the ROC curve for the established prediction model of high energy metabolism in lung cancer patients was 0.834(95%CI 0.763-0.904).Conclusion The high energy metabolic risk prediction model of lung cancer patients established in this study has good fit and prediction efficiency.
7.Extracellular matrix:a new therapeutic target for local tissue damage caused by snake bites
Yumei LI ; Yue YANG ; Jun YI ; Zhangren YAN ; Wanchun WANG ; De-Gang DONG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(7):1324-1330
Snake bites are characterized by acute onset,rapid changes in condition,and high disability and mortality rates.The effects of snake venom on the human body are divided into systemic and local toxic effects.The popu-larity of antivenom has greatly reduced the mortality of snake bites,but local tissue damage and permanent dysfunction are still problems to be solved urgently.Studies have found that snake venom metalloproteinases,hyaluronidases,phospholi-pases and other venoms participate in a variety of local pathological effects by interfering with the degradation and remodel-ing of extracellular matrix(ECM).This article reviews the mechanism of ECM in the development of local tissue damage caused by snake bites,in order to find effective therapeutic targets and provide reference and ideas for the clinical research and prevention of local tissue damage caused by snake bites.
8.Interpretation of the UK screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity updated 2022 guidelines
Xiao-Yan DONG ; Jia-Zhi LI ; Ke-Ren LUO ; Jun TANG ; De-Zhi MU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(5):437-443
The UK screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)updated 2022 guidelines were developed by a multidisciplinary guideline development group from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists,following the standards of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.They were published on the websites of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in March 2022,and formally published in Early Human Development in March 2023.The guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the screening and treatment of ROP.The most significant change in the 2022 updated version compared to the previous guidelines is the lowering of the gestational age screening criterion to below 31 weeks.The treatment section covers treatment indications,timing,methods,and follow-up visits of ROP.This article interprets the guidelines and compares them with ROP guidelines/consensus in China,providing a reference for domestic peers.
9.Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria from blood specimens:surveillance re-port from Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System,2012-2021
Hong-Xia YUAN ; Jing JIANG ; Li-Hua CHEN ; Chen-Chao FU ; Chen LI ; Yan-Ming LI ; Xing-Wang NING ; Jun LIU ; Guo-Min SHI ; Man-Juan TANG ; Jing-Min WU ; Huai-De YANG ; Ming ZHENG ; Jie-Ying ZHOU ; Nan REN ; An-Hua WU ; Xun HUANG
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(8):921-931
Objective To understand the change in distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from blood specimens of Hunan Province,and provide for the initial diagnosis and treatment of clinical bloodstream infection(BSI).Methods Data reported from member units of Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Survei-llance System from 2012 to 2021 were collected.Bacterial antimicrobial resistance surveillance method was imple-mented according to the technical scheme of China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System(CARSS).Bacteria from blood specimens and bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were analyzed by WHONET 5.6 soft-ware and SPSS 27.0 software.Results A total of 207 054 bacterial strains were isolated from blood specimens from member units in Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System from 2012 to 2021,including 107 135(51.7%)Gram-positive bacteria and 99 919(48.3%)Gram-negative bacteria.There was no change in the top 6 pathogenic bacteria from 2012 to 2021,with Escherichia coli(n=51 537,24.9%)ranking first,followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis(n=29 115,14.1%),Staphylococcus aureus(n=17 402,8.4%),Klebsiella pneu-moniae(17 325,8.4%),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(n=4 010,1.9%)and Acinetobacter baumannii(n=3 598,1.7%).The detection rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)decreased from 30.3%in 2015 to 20.7%in 2021,while the detection rate of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(MRCNS)showed an upward trend year by year(57.9%-66.8%).No Staphylococcus was found to be resistant to vancomy-cin,linezolid,and teicoplanin.Among Gram-negative bacteria,constituent ratios of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 43.9%-53.9%and 14.2%-19.5%,respectively,both showing an upward trend(both P<0.001).Constituent ratios of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were 3.6%-5.1%and 3.0%-4.5%,respectively,both showing a downward trend year by year(both P<0.001).From 2012 to 2021,resistance rates of Escherichia coli to imipenem and ertapenem were 1.0%-2.0%and 0.6%-1.1%,respectively;presenting a downward trend(P<0.001).The resistant rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae to meropenem and ertapenem were 7.4%-13.7%and 4.8%-6.4%,respectively,presenting a downward trend(both P<0.001).The resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii to carbapenem antibiotics were 7.1%-15.6%and 34.7%-45.7%,respectively.The trend of resistance to carbapenem antibiotics was relatively stable,but has de-creased compared with 2012-2016.The resistance rates of Escherichia coli to the third-generation cephalosporins from 2012 to 2021 were 41.0%-65.4%,showing a downward trend year by year.Conclusion The constituent ra-tio of Gram-negative bacillus from blood specimens in Hunan Province has been increasing year by year,while the detection rate of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacillus remained relatively stable in the past 5 years,and the detection rate of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus has shown a downward trend.
10.Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria from cerebrospinal fluid specimens:surveillance report from Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Survei-llance System,2012-2021
Jun LIU ; Li-Hua CHEN ; Chen-Chao FU ; Chen LI ; Yan-Ming LI ; Xing-Wang NING ; Guo-Min SHI ; Jing-Min WU ; Huai-De YANG ; Hong-Xia YUAN ; Ming ZHENG ; Nan REN ; An-Hua WU ; Xun HUANG ; Man-Juan TANG
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(8):932-941
Objective To investigate changes in the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)specimens in Hunan Province,and provide reference for correct clinical diagnosis and rational antimicrobial use.Methods Data reported by member units of Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System from 2012 to 2021 were collected according to China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Sys-tem(CARSS)technical scheme.Data of bacteria isolated from CSF specimens and antimicrobial susceptibility tes-ting results were analyzed with WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 20.0 software.Results A total of 11 837 bacterial strains were isolated from CSF specimens from member units of Hunan Province Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Sys-tem from 2012 to 2021.The top 5 strains were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(n=6 397,54.0%),Acineto-bacter baumannii(n=764,6.5%),Staphylococcus aureus(n=606,5.1%),Enterococcus faecium(n=465,3.9%),and Escherichia coli(n=447,3.8%).The detection rates of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphyloco-ccus(MRCNS)and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)were 58.9%-66.3%and 34.4%-62.1%,respectively.No Staphylococcus spp.were found to be resistant to vancomycin,linezolid,and teicoplanin.The de-tection rate of Enterococcus faecium was higher than that of Enterococcus faecalis,and the resistance rates of En-terococcus f aecium to penicillin,ampicillin,high concentration streptomycin and levofloxacin were all higher than those of Enterococcus faecalis(all P=0.001).Resistance rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin was 85.0%,at a high level.Resistance rate of Escherichia coli to ceftriaxone was>60%,while resistance rates to enzyme inhibitors and carbapenem antibiotics were low.Resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae to ceftriaxone was>60%,to en-zyme inhibitors piperacillin/tazobactam and cefoperazone/sulbactam was>30%,to carbapenem imipenem and me-ropenem was about 30%.Resistance rates of Acinetobacter baumannii to most tested antimicrobial agents were>60%,to imipenem and meropenem were 59.0%-79.4%,to polymyxin B was low.Conclusion Among the bac-teria isolated from CSF specimens,coagulase-negative Staphylococcus accounts for the largest proportion,and the overall resistance of pathogenic bacteria is relatively serious.Bacterial antimicrobial resistance surveillance is very important for the effective treatment of central nerve system infection.

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