Objective To investigate the microbiota composition and diversity between autogenous and anautogenous Culex pipiens pallens, so as to provide insights into unraveling the pathogenesis of autogeny in Cx. pipiens pallens. Methods Autogenous and anautogenous adult Cx. pipiens pallens samples were collected at 25 ℃, and the hypervariable regions of the microbial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene was sequenced on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform. The microbiota abundance and diversity were evaluated using the alpha diversity index, and the difference in the microbiota structure was examined using the beta diversity index. The microbiota with significant differences in the abundance between autogenous and anautogenous adult Cx. pipiens pallens samples was identified using the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). Results The microbiota in autogenous and anautogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples belonged to 18 phyla, 28 classes, 70 orders, 113 families, and 170 genera, and the dominant phyla included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and so on. At the genus level, Wolbachia was a common dominant genus, and the relative abundance was (77.6 ± 11.3)% in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples and (47.5 ± 8.5)% in anautogenous mosquito samples, while Faecalibaculum (0.4% ± 0.1%), Dubosiella (0.5% ± 0.0%) and Massilia (0.5% ± 0.1%) were specific species in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples. Alpha diversity analysis showed that higher Chao1 index and ACE index in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples than in anautogenous samples (both P values > 0.05), and lower Shannon index (P > 0.05) and Simpson index (P < 0.05) in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples than in anautogenous samples. LEfSe analysis showed a total of 48 significantly different taxa between autogenous and anautogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples (all P values < 0.05). Conclusion There is a significant difference in the microbiota diversity between autogenous and anautogenous Cx. pipiens pallens.

Background::We previously reported that activation of the cell cycle in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) enhances their remuscularization capacity after human cardiac muscle patch transplantation in infarcted mouse hearts. Herein, we sought to identify the effect of magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) on hiPSC-CMs during myocardial repair using a myocardial infarction (MI) mouse model.Methods::In C57BL/6 mice, MI was surgically induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The mice were randomly divided into five groups ( n = 10 per group); a MI group (treated with phosphate-buffered saline only), a hiPSC-CMs group, a MLB group, a hiPSC-CMs + MLB group, and a Sham operation group. Cardiac function and MLB therapeutic efficacy were evaluated by echocardiography and histochemical staining 4 weeks after surgery. To identify the associated mechanism, nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) signals, cell adhesion ability, generation of reactive oxygen species, and rates of apoptosis were detected in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and hiPSC-CMs. Results::After 4 weeks of transplantation, the number of cells that engrafted in the hiPSC-CMs + MLB group was about five times higher than those in the hiPSC-CMs group. Additionally, MLB treatment significantly reduced tohoku hospital pediatrics-1 (THP-1) cell adhesion, ICAM1 expression, NF-κB nuclear translocation, reactive oxygen species production, NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, and cell apoptosis in HUVECs cultured under hypoxia. Similarly, treatment with MLB significantly inhibited the apoptosis of hiPSC-CMs via enhancing signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) expression, promoting STAT3 nuclear translocation, and downregulating BCL2-Associated X, dual specificity phosphatase 2 (DUSP2), and cleaved-caspase-3 expression under hypoxia. Furthermore, MLB significantly suppressed the production of malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase and the reduction in glutathione content induced by hypoxia in both HUVECs and hiPSC-CMs in vitro. Conclusions::MLB significantly enhanced the potential of hiPSC-CMs in repairing injured myocardium by improving endothelial cell function via the NF-κB/ICAM1 pathway and inhibiting hiPSC-CMs apoptosis via the DUSP2/STAT3 pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of tumor necrosis factor-α-inducible protein 8-like 2(TIPE2)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)or interleukin-4(IL-4)-induced phenotypic switch of adipose tissue macrophages(ATM).Methods:The expression levels of TIPE2, inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1), CD206, and arginase 1(Arg-1)in the visceral adipose tissue of obese mice, TIPE2-knockout(KO)mice, and control mice were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time PCR(RT-qPCR). Peritoneal macrophages isolated from KO and wild-type mice and RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line were cultured, and then stimulated with LPS(100 ng/mL)or IL-4(20 ng/mL)for 6 hours. The expression levels of TIPE2, iNOS, MCP-1, CD206, and Arg-1 were detected by Western blotting and RT-qPCR.Results:Obese mice showed down-regulated TIPE2 expression, up-regulated pro-inflammatory markers iNOS and MCP-1 expressions, and down-regulated anti-inflammatory markers CD206 and Arg-1 expressions. LPS decreased the expression of TIPE2 in RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages from mice, increased the expression of the classically activated macrophages(M1 phenotype)markers iNOS and MCP-1, and decreased the expression of the substituting activated macrophages(M2 phenotype)markers CD206 and Arg-1. IL-4 increased the expression of TIPE2 in RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages, decreased the expression of iNOS and MCP-1, and increased the expression of CD206 and Arg-1. During the M1 polarization of macrophages, LPS increased toll-like receptor(TLR4)expression as well as nuclear transcription factor κBα suppressor protein(IκBα) and NF-κB phosphorylations in macrophages. Knockout of TIPE2 further increased the expression of the TLR4/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway and M1 macrophage markers, and further reduced the expression of the M2 macrophage markers.Conclusion:TIPE2 regulates ATM phenotypic transformation through inhibition of the TLR4/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway, which ameliorates adipose tissue inflammation in obese states.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)among children in kindergartens in Xi′an urban districts.Methods:A stratified cluster sampling method was adopted, and selected all children from 12 kindergartens in 6 urban districts of Xi′an.Primary screening positive children with ASD were identified by filling out the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) by their parents and the guardians reports, and then the beha-vioral observations were made to identify suspicious ASD children.Finally these children were diagnosed in the hospital through the autism diagnostic observation schedule, 2 nd edition (ADOS-2). The data were calculated with SPSS 18.0. Results:Totally, 38 cases with ASD were diagnosed among 5 178 children, the prevalence of children ASD in kindergartens in Xi′an urban districts was 7.3‰, and the 95% confidence interval was 4.98‰-9.62‰.The prevalence of ASD in children was statistically significant in different age groups ( χ2=9.914, P<0.05) and gender groups ( χ2=18.812, P<0.05). The accuracy of ASD screening by guardians reports is better than that by ABC. Conclusions:(1)The prevalence of ASD children in kindergartens in Xi′an urban districts is at high level in similar reports in China.If ASD children at the special education institutions and home are considered, the overall prevalence rate is higher, indicating that the prevalence of ASD children in China may be underestimated.(2)With the increase of age, the attendance rate of ASD children in kindergartens has a decreasing trend.

Objective To investigate the significance of fibroblast growth factor 23 in metabolic bone disease of prematuriy.Methods 60 patients who had been treated in our hospital from March 2016 to March 2017 were included in this study.Blood biochemistry was examined two weeks after birth,and values of blood phosphorus, serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase were recorded. Serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3,parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor 23 were detected two weeks after birth. 20 premature infants with metabolic bone disease were selected as a study group. 40 infants without metabolic bone disease were treated as a control group. Two weeks after treatment,the above indicators were measured and compared in the study group. Results Serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3,parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor 23 were compared between the two groups 2 weeks after birth,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Levels of serum parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor 23 in the study group were not statistically significant after treat-ment(P > 0.05). Levels of 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 in the study group had statistically significant after treatment (P<0.05).Conclusions Early detection of fibroblast growth factor 23 can reflect metabolic bone disease in pre-term infants.It suggests that vitamin D should be adequately supplemented in early.

Objective To analyze the resistance proifle of bacterial strains isolated from geriatric patients in 17 hospitals across China from 2005 to 2014.Methods A total of 17 representative general hospitals were involved in this program. Bacterial susceptibility testing was carried out by means of a uniifed protocol using Kirby-Bauer method and MIC determination. The results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.Results The proportion of the strains isolated from geriatric patients among all the clinical isolates increased with time from 30.0% in 2005 to 32.7% in 2014. A total of 159 888 clinical isolates were collected from geriatric patient during the period from 2005 to 2014, about 33.1% of the whole patient population. Gram negative organisms and gram positive cocci accounted for 77.1% (123 229/159 888) and 22.9% (36 659/159 888), respectively. Majority (92.8%, 148 376/159 888) of the isolates were from inpatients and more than half (55.2%, 88 201/159 888) of the isolates were from sputum or other respiratory tract specimens. Methicillin-resistant strains inS. aureus (MRSA) and coagulase negativeStaphylococcus (MRCNS) accounted for an average of 67.1% and 75.9%, respectively. The resistance rates of methicillin-resistant strains to β-lactams and other antimicrobial agents were much higher than those of methicillin-susceptible strains. No staphylococcal strains were found resistant to vancomycin, teicoplanin or linezolid. Some strains ofE. faecalis (0.4%) andE. faecium (4.6%) were resistant to vancomycin, which was higher than average national level (0.3%, 3.2%). Vancomycin-resistant strains ofE. faecalisandE. faecium were mainly VanA type and VanB type based on their phenotype. The prevalence of penicillin-susceptibleS. pneumoniae strains was 78.2%, slightly lower than the 95.0% in Chinese adults in year 2014. The prevalence of ESBLs-producing strains was 67.5% inE. coli, 40.4% inKlebsiella (K. pneumoniae andK. oxytoca) and 34.3% inProteus mirabilis isolates on average. The strains ofEnterobacteriaceae were still highly susceptible to carbapenems (<10% resistant), followed by amikacin and the beta-lactam and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Overall, 35.9% and 33.0% of theP. aeruginosa strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. More than 50% of theA. baumannii strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. The prevalence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR)P. aeruginosa (4.0%-1.8%) was higher than the average national level (2.1%-1.6%). The prevalence of XDR A. baumannii (19.2%-15.5%) and XDREnterobacteriaceae (0.1%-1.0%) was lower than the average national level (21.4%-19.7% and 0.3%-3.2%).Conclusions The proportion of clinical isolates from geriatric patients is different from average national level at the same period. The isolates from geriatric patients are more likely from inpatients, respiratory tract specimens and more likely non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli compared to average national level. The proportion of fastidious bacteria andEnterobacteriaceae species is generally lower than average national level. MRSA, VRE, ESBLs-producing strains and XDRP. aeruginosa are more prevalent in geriatric patients than in general Chinese patient population. This study suggests that surveillance of antimicrobial resistance for the clinical isolates from geriatric patients is very important for rational antimicrobial therapy.

Objective To investigate the distribution and changing resistance proifle ofSalmonella isolates in hospitals across China during the period from January 2005 to December 2014.Methods Seventeen general hospitals and two children’s hospitals were involved in this program. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by means of a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or MIC determination. The results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.Results The proportion ofSalmonella isolates increased with time from 0.2% in 2005 to 0.7% in 2014. A total of 3 478Salmonella strains were collected from 19 hospitals. The proportion ofSalmonella typhimurium andSalmonella enteritidis was 27.4% and 24.4%, respectively. During the 10-year period, theSalmonella strains showed highest resistance rate to ampicillin (33.3%-64.8%), but low resistance to cefoperazone-sulbactam (0-5.3%) and ciprofloxacin (2.4%-14.3%).S. typhimurium showed higher resistance rate thanS. typhi,S. paratyphi andS. enteritidis. About 76.8% and 50.5% ofS. typhimurium were resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The average prevalence of multi-drug resistantSalmonellawas 3.9% in the ten-year period, the highest (7.5%) was in 2005, the lowest (1.5%) in 2013.Conclusions During the period from 2004 to 2015, majority of theSalmonella isolates in hospitals across China wasS. typhimurium andS. enteritidis. Ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are no longer appropriate for empirical treatment ofS. typhimurium infection due to high resistance rate.Salmonella isolates are relatively more susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and quinolones. Ongoing monitoring is necessary to identify multi-drug resistant strains ofSalmonella.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antibiotic resistance proifle of clinicalEnterobacter isolates using the data from CHINET during the period from 2005 through 2014.Methods A total of 20 558 clinical strains ofEnterobacter spp. were collected from 2005 to 2014 in CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed with Kirby-Bauer or minimum inhibitory concentration method. The results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.ResultsEnterobacter cloacae andEnterobacter aerogenes accounted for 71.1% (14 617/20558) and 20.1% (4 129/20 558) of all theEnterobacterisolates, respectively. The proportion ofEnterobacter spp. increased with time from 3.5% in 2005 to 4.3% in 2014. The main source of the isolates was respiratory tract, accounting for 55.2% (11 358/20 558). More than 90% of theEnterobacterisolates were resistant to cefazolin and cefoxitin, but less than 30% of the strains were resistant to cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefoperazone-sulbactam, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprolfoxacin, meropenem, imipenem and ertapenem. TheEnterobacterisolates showed a trend of declining resistance to most antibiotics except ertapenem and meropenem. The resistance proifle ofEnterobacterisolates varied with departments where they were isolated. The strains from ICU and Department of Surgery were relatively more resistant to antibiotics. The prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains was decreasing, but the prevalence of carbapenem-resistantEnterobacter (CRE, resistant to any of imipenem, meropenem or ertapenem) was increasing. The MDR and CRE strains were primarily isolated from ICU and Department of Surgery. At least 30% of the MDREnterobacter strains were resistant to any of the antimicrobial agents tested except meropenem, imipenem and ertapenem and at least 35% of the CRE strains were resistant to any of the antimicrobial agents tested except amikacin and ciprolfoxacin.Conclusions TheEnterobacter isolates in CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program showed decreasing resistance to most of the antimicrobial agents tested since 2011, but the prevalence of CRE strains increased progressively. Effective measures should be carried out to prevent the spread of CRE strains in hospitals.

Objective To evaluate the changing pattern of antibiotic resistance inKlebsiella strains isolated from the patients in 19 hospitals across China based on the data from CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program during the period from 2005 through 2014.Methods Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and automated susceptibility testing methods were used to test the susceptibility ofKlebsiella isolates to the commonly used antibiotics. The results were interpreted according to the criteria of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (CLSI-2014).Results A total of 61 406Klebsiella strains were identified between 2005 and 2014, includingK. pneumoniae (56 281 strains), K. oxytoca(4 779),Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp.Ozaenae (300) and otherKlebsiella species (46). Most (89.0%, 54 664/61 406) of theKlebsiella strains were isolated from inpatients, and 60.0% (36 835/61 406) were from respiratory tract speciems. About 16.7% (10 248/61 406) of the strains were isolated from pediatric patients aged 0-17 years and 83.3% (51 158/61 406) from adult patients. The prevalence ofKlebsiella spp. increased with time from 10.1% in 2005 to 14.3% in 2014. Based on the surveillance data during the 10-year period, we found a marked increase of resistance to imipenem (2.9% to 10.5%) and meropenem (2.8% to 13.4%) inKlebsiella spp. The prevalence of ESBLs-producing isolates inK. pneumoniae andK. oxytoca decreased from 39.0% in 2005 to 30.1% in 2014. The resistance to amikacin, ceftazidime, ciprolfoxacin, pipracillin-tazobactam and cefoperazone-sulbactam was on decline. The resistance rate to cefotaxime remained high about 49.5%. Carbapenem resistantance was identiifed in 5 796 (9.4%) of the isolates, including 5 492 strains ofK. pneumoniae and 280 strains ofK. oxytoca. Overall, 4 740 (7.8%) strains were identiifed as extensively-drug resistant (XDR), including 4 520 strains ofK. pneumoniae and 202 strains ofK. oxytoca. The carbapenem-resistant strains showed high (>60%) resistance rate to majority of the antimicrobial agents tested, but relatively low resistance to tigecycline (16.8%), amikacin (54.4%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (55.5%).Conclusions During the 10-year period from 2005 through 2014, carbapenem resistance amongKlebsiella isolates has increased dramatically in the hospitals across China. The level of resistance to other antibiotics remains stable.

BACKGROUND:To date, it is stil unclear whether the intramuscular injection of heterogeneous umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel s (UC-MSC) can cause cardiac ectopic pathological angiogenesis as wel as increase col agen synthesis to promote myocardial fibrosis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of intramuscular injection of human UC-MSCs on myocardial micrangium and col agen expression in normal Wistar rats. METHODS:After 2 weeks of feeding, 60 male SPF Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive intramuscular injection of PBS (normal group), DMEM (culture medium group), human UC-MSCs supernatant (supernatant group), 0.25×105, 1.0×105, 4.0×105 human UC-MSCs (low-, moderate-and high-dose groups), respectively (n=10 per group). Al the rats were subjected to second injection (same dose) at 4 weeks after first intramuscular injection. Then, the rats were kil ed under anesthesia at 4 weeks after second injection, to take heart tissues from the left ventricle for pathological observation, immunohistochemical examination and Masson staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:No alteration of the response, activity, victualage, faeces, weight growth, and fur was found, and there was no death in rats during the experiment. Al the rats had no symptoms of molt, inflammation, skin ulcer, scleroma. Strong positive expression of CD34 for the micrangium in the myocardial tissue was observed, and positive expression of the col agen in the myocardial tissue observed by Masson staining. There were no significant differences in the microvessel density and col agen expression in the myocardium among the groups (F=0.110 and 0.585, P>0.05). To conclude, hUC-MSCs or its supernatant via intramuscular injection has no effect on the micrangium and col agen expression in normal rats.