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Objective This study assesses the status and determinants of treatment delays among patients with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) in Guizhou Province, 2016-2022, aiming to inform the development of RR-TB control strategies in the region. Methods Data on RR-TB patients from 2016 to 2022 were extracted from the "Tuberculosis Management Information System," a subsystem of the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System." The trend in treatment delay rates over time was analyzed using Trend chi-square test, while logistic regression models were used to examine the factors influencing these delays. Results From 2016 to 2022, Guizhou Province reported 513 cases of treatment delays among patients with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), resulting in a treatment delay rate of 23.29%. The rate of treatment delays decreased from 2016 to 2019 (Trend chi-square test = 9.099, P = 0.003), reaching its lowest in 2018 at 10.53%. However, from 2020 to 2022, the rate of treatment delays exhibited an upward trend (Trend chi-square test = 5.937, P = 0.015), peaking in 2021 at 31.62%. Multivariable analysis indicated that compared to migrant populations, patients undergoing initial treatment, and those tested with molecular biological drug sensitivity tests, non-migrant patients (OR = 1.496, 95%CI = 1.198 to 1.867), new patients (OR = 1.774, 95%CI = 1.344 to 2.342), patients with relapse (OR = 1.494, 95%CI = 1.110 to 2.011), and those tested using traditional drug sensitivity methods (OR = 2.985, 95%CI = 2.323 to 3.834) were at higher risk for treatment delays. Conclusion From 2016 to 2022, the overall trend of treatment delays in rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) patients in Guizhou Province showed a decline. However, there was an increasing trend during the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests a need to enhance the prevention and control of drug-resistant tuberculosis in key areas such as Bijie City. There is also a need to intensify health education for patients with drug resistance, implement patient-centered care systems for those patients, expand the application of molecular biological drug sensitivity testing techniques, and strengthen the referral and admission mechanisms for RR-TB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze adverse outcomes and influencing factors of elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Guizhou Province and to provide a scientific basis for effective treatment of elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Methods The medical records information of elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients aged 65 and above in Guizhou Province from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2022, was extracted from the Tuberculosis Monitoring Report Management Information System. The time trend of adverse outcomes was analyzed using the chi-square trend test, inter-group comparison was conducted using the chi-square test, and binary logistic regression was employed to analyze influencing factors. Results From 2011 to 2022, 10, 820 elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis had adverse outcomes in Guizhou Province, with an adverse outcome rate of 12.91 %. The rate of adverse outcomes increased from 2011 to 2015 (χtrend² = 62.080, P < 0.001), and decreased from 2016 to 2022 (χtrend² = 38.163, P < 0.001). Regarding regional distribution, Bijie City had the highest rate of adverse outcomes, and TongrenCity had the lowest rate (% = 808. 188, P < 0.001). The results of multivariate analysis showed that compared with the patients who were female, ethnic minorities, 65-69 years old, without comorbidities, newly treated, pathogenic negative, and without other tuberculosis, the patients were more likely to develop tuberculosis. Male (OR = 1.323, 95% CI = 1.267-1.380), Han ethnic group (OR = 1.168, 95% CI = 1.117-1.222), 70-74 years old (OR = 1.244,95% CI = 1.181-1.310),75-79 years old (Oft = 1.612, 95% CI = 1) 525-1.704), ≥80 years old (OR = 2.322, 95% CI = 2.178-2.476), comorbidities (OR = 1.261, 95% CI = 1.179-1.348), retreatment (OR = 1.526, 95% CI = 1.423-1.636), positive pathogen (OR = 1.244, 95% CI = 1.181-1.310) and other tuberculosis (OR = 1.245, 95% CI = 1.161-1.336) were risk factors for poor outcomes. Conclusion Since the implementation of the "13th Five-Year Plan" for tuberculosis prevention and treatment, the adverse outcome rate of elderly tuberculosis patients in Guizhou Province has shown a gradual decreasing trend, but the distribution of the adverse outcome rate is uneven, which suggests that we need to continue to maintain a high degree of vigilance and strengthen preventive and control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vancomycin has been the primary agent used to treat serious Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection for many years. However, the rise of MRSA infection rates and the extensive use of vancomycin have led to the emergence of reduced vancomycin susceptibility. Therefore, four typical Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains from different clinical specimens were derivated by vancomycin in vitro to better clarify their phenotypic and molecular characteristics. Some experiments, such as stepwise selection of vancomycin-resistant strains, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), antimicrobial susceptibility test, population analysis profile-area under the curve (PAP-AUC), molecular typing, transmission electron microscopy, δ-hemolysin expression, autolysis assay, biofilm assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for gene expression were carried out to compare the derivated bacteria with their parental strains. Results showed that the observed phenotypes of vancomycin-resistant strains such as hemolysin, autolysis and biofilm significantly reduced, which were associated with vancomycin resistance capability of the selected strain. The changes of phenotype and regulatory genes expression were inversely proportional to the vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MICvan). Most heterogeneous vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) or VISA strains belonged to spa type t570 and agr group II. In summary, the clinical isolated vancomycin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA), hVISA and VISA could be derivated into high vancomycin-resistant VISA in vitro, but it was difficult for them to develop into vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). VISA and hVISA could gradually adapt to the environment with the vancomycin concentration that continuously elevates.

The experiment was to determine the effects of year, month and parity on the milk yield, milk protein rate, milk fat rate, urea nitrogen, persistence and somatic cell number of dairy cows. The 400 432 DHI data of dairy cows from 26 dairy farms in Shihezi City, Xinjiang from 2016 to 2022 were collected, and the DHI data of different years, months and parities were analyzed by SPSS 26 statistical software. The results showed that the milk yield in 2021 and 2022 was significantly higher than that in other years (P<0.05), the milk fat rate in 2019 and 2020 was significantly higher than that in other years (P<0.05), and the somatic cell number in 2016 was significantly higher than that in other years (P<0.05). The milk protein percentage from April to August was significantly lower than that in other months (P<0.05). The content of urea nitrogen in September was significantly higher than that in other months (P<0.05). The milk yield and somatic cell count in the second parity were significantly higher than those in other parities except the first parity (P<0.05). The milk yield, milk protein rate, milk fat rate and durability in the second to the fourth parities were relatively higher. The study indicates that the production performance of large-scale dairy farms in Northern Xinjiang (Shihezi City) is significantly related to the year, month and parity. It is of great significance to increase the proportion of cows in the second to the fourth parity and to rationally prepare the rations from April to August to improve the production performance, milk quality and economic benefit of the dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone (Uruguay clone) with a non--multidrug-resistant phenotype caused a large outbreak, including 7 deaths, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The clone was distinct from the highly virulent [...]

Research points out that the existence of a family of mobile staphylococcal cassette chromosome in Staphylococcus hominis mediating interspecies genetic transfer, without a mec determinant, among staphylococcal species is suggestive of a site-specific genetic element in staphylococcus species that can transfer genetic markers between species.

In the subgenus Prunophora of the genus Prunus, many transitional traits presented in interspecific hybrids, the so-called ‘new species’, were frequently named due to the complicated botanical classification system. In this study, we used 16 nuclear simple sequence repeats (nSSRs) and 10 chloroplast simple sequence repeats (cpSSRs) to evaluate genetic relationships among 42 accessions, which included 15 putative interspecific hybrids, and then to reveal the speciation and differentiation in the subgenus Prunophora. In total, 231 and 27 alleles were observed in nSSRs and cpSSRs respectively; and with cpSSRs 20 haplotypes were revealed among the accessions. Furthermore, the haplotype and genetic structure analysis implied that (1) Prunus simonii Carr. might be a subspecies or a forma of Prunus salicina L., rather than an interspecific hybrid between P. salicina and Prunus armeniaca L., (2) Prunus limeixing Zhang et Wang was derived from a natural hybrid with P. salicina as its maternal progenitor and P. armeniaca as the female parent, and (3) Prunus cathayana Fu et al. (or kernel-using apricot) was an interspecific hybridization species of P. armeniaca (maternal parent) and Prunus sibirica L. (female parent). These results will be useful for clarifying the problems in the botanical classification, and facilitate the conservation and management of plum and apricot genetic resources in the Chinese National Germplasm Repository for Plums and Apricots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel red-emitting phosphor NaLaTiO:Eu has been synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction. X-ray powder diffraction analysis and FT-IR spectra confirmed the phase formation of NaLaTiO:Eu materials. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, the concentration dependence of the emission intensity, decay curves, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy of the phosphor were investigated. The results showed that the phosphor could be efficiently excited by the near ultraviolet light region from 350 to 450 nm, and it exhibited red light emission. The decay time was also determined for various concentrations of Eu in NaLaTiO. The calculated color coordinates lies in the red region. Therefore, these obtained results suggest that the prepared phosphors exhibit great potential for use as red emitting phosphor for near ultraviolet white light emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]