Search

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) helps guide clinical rational selection of antibiotics, enabling patients to achieve better prognosis and reducing the development of drug resistance. However, traditional AST is time-consuming and labor-intensive, meaning that clinicians are not able to obtain susceptibility results in a timely manner, and have to rely on experience based on bacterial species and epidemiological data for empirical drug selection. This may be one of the reasons for the continuous increase in the number of drug-resistant strains. In recent years, researchers have focused on the development of rapid and simple AST assays and have made relevant research progress. This article reviews the new AST technologies based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), microfluidic chip systems, nucleic acid detection methods, immunological detection, and flow cytometry, in the hope of providing reference for improving the efficiency of AST testing in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body and is the main component of the extracellular matrix. Collagen regulates cellular behavior, and its dysregulation can cause a variety of diseases, including cancer. Collagen in tumors is mainly produced by fibroblasts and plays an important role in cancer progression and metastasis. Collagen can act as a prognostic predictor for cancer patients and may be an effective target for the treatment and prevention of tumor progression and metastasis. Anti-tumor drugs targeting collagen and its receptors may be developed in the future. This review focuses on the newly discovered role of collagen in cancer in recent years, specifically the role of collagen in tumor cell dormancy and immune evasion, and the participation of collagen in tumor cell metabolism.

Objective To evaluate the performance of a new fluorescence immunochromatographic assay for interleukin-6 (IL-6) detection. Methods A total of 104 serum samples from patients with suspected infections and normal population were collected at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in December, 2021. Assay A (Wanfu biofluorescence immunochromatography assay) and B (Siemens chemiluminescence assay) were used as references to evaluate the equivalence of the Innova assay for detecting serum IL-6. Meanwhile, 39 homologous paired plasma and serum were collected to evaluate the consistency of the Innova assay in detecting IL-6 content in different types of samples. Results In quantitative analysis, two samples were excluded because the content was above the limit of detection for method B. Compared with the assay A or B, the regression equations of the Innova assay were Y=-7.0950+1.1924X (R2=0.9448), Y=-2.6143+1.3072X (R2=0.9391), and the Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.9720 and 0.9691, respectively. With assay A or B as reference, the Innova assay showed the Bland-Altman bias values of -3.0 and 8.0, while the expected bias at the medical decision level (7 ng/L) was -1.44 ng/L (95% CI: -5.37 to 2.50), 1.97 ng/L (95% CI: -2.09 to 6.01), respectively, with 95% CI intervals all included permissible errors (±15%, -1.05 to 1.05 ng/L). The qualitative results showed the high total coincidence rate between the Innova assay and assay A (84.6%), and assay B (83.7%). In addition, the consistency of the Innova assay was good for 39 homologous pairs of plasma and serum samples (P < 0.0001). Only one data (2.6%, 1/39) was identified by Bland-Altman bias analysis to be outside the maximum allowable error range. Conclusions Compared with the two reference assays with the same or different principles used in clinical practice, the Innova assay for IL-6 detection has good consistency and correlation, and its test results are almost not affected by the type of serum/plasma samples. To a certain extent, the Innova assay meets the needs of rapid detection in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology in the central nervous system (CNS) infection. Methods Utilizing the Infectious Disease Metagenomic Testing Platform at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, we conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data, routine laboratory test results, and mNGS results of patients diagnosed with infectious CNS diseases from April to December 2022. The aim was to assess the diagnostic significance of mNGS technology in CNS infection. Results Among 39 patients clinically with CNS infection, suspected pathogenic microorganism-specific sequences were detected in 29 cases (74.4%). Among them, 11 cases (37.9%) were positive for bacteria, 13 cases (44.8%) for viruses, 3 cases (10.3%) for fungi, 1 case (3.5%) for both bacteria and viruses, and 1 case (3.5%) for both fungi and viruses, yielding a positivity rate of 74.4%. Ten cases reported negative results, resulting in a false-negative rate of 25.6%. The positivity rate of mNGS was significantly higher than that of conventional clinical pathogen detection methods (including cerebrospinal fluid smears, cultures, pathogen antigens, and nucleic acid polymerase chain reactions), with rates of 74.4% compared to 23.7%, respectively. Conclusions Compared to available conventional clinical pathogen detection methods, mNGS technology demonstrates a higher positivity rate in the diagnosis of infectious CNS diseases. This advancement could potentially contribute to the early diagnosis of CNS infection.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an imbalance of normal vaginal microecology, is manifested as a mixed infection. It is characterized by a decrease of normal hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacillus and an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria (mobiluncus, prevotella) and facultative bacteria (gardnerella vaginalis, atopo vaginalis). BV is a risk factor for pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, sexually transmitted pathogens (human papillomavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, neisseria gonorrhoeae, chlamydia trachomatis, etc.) infection. In addition, BV during pregnancy can lead to adverse obstetrical outcomes, including early miscarriage, premature delivery, postpartum endometritis, and low birth weight. The pathogens causing BV are diverse and have a high recurrence rate after treatment. About 10% to 50% of BV patients have no clinical symptoms and are easy to miss diagnosis. Rapid and accurate laboratory detection can provide timely diagnosis and treatment for BV patients and avoid adverse outcomes. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress of diagnostic criteria, vaginal microecological evaluation and novel detection methods for BV, in order to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of BV.

Objective To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activities of 16 common agents against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis to provide data for the rational clinical use of drugs. Methods From 1st January to 31st December in 2019, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis were collected from 24 hospitals in 18 provinces in China. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted by automated instrumentation method, and WHONET 5.6 software was used to calculate the drug sensitivity results of the strains to 16 antibacterial drugs including vancomycin, norvancomycin, fusidic acid and linezolid. Results A total of 255 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 117 strains of Enterococcus faecalis and 114 strains of Enterococcus faecium were collected. Blood was the most common specimen type (22.2%, 108/486), followed by urine (18.9%, 82/486). According to the drug sensitivity results, vancomycin, norvancomycin, linezolid and teicoplanin maintained high activity to all strains. All Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis were sensitive to vancomycin and teicoplanin, while the resistance rates of vancomycin and teicoplanin against Enterococcus faecium were 4.4% and 2.6%, respectively. The resistance rates of linezolid against Staphylococcus aureus, Eenterococcus faecium and Eenterococcus fascalis were 0, 0 and 4.3%, respectively. Norvancomycin and vancomycin showed similar antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis, with 50% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of 1 mg/L, and MIC90 of 2 mg/L. The isolation rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas(MRSA) was 35.7%, with 13.2% resistance to fusidic acid and 3.0% in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureas. Conclusions The activity of the 16 antimicro-bial drugs against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis varied considerably. The data will provide reference for the rational use of antimicrobial drugs.

The first case of human infection caused by the yeast Candida haemulonii was reported in 1984 (1). Recent research has indicated that the previously recognized C. haemulonii species is actually [...]

Objective To study the epidemiology of mold infections in China. Methods Based on the surveillance data of 19 hospitals participating in the China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net from Jan 2019 to Jun 2022, the general information of patients and the epidemiological characteristics such as the proportion of different strains and clinical infection were analyzed by WHONET software. Results A total of 16 285 mold infection cases were included in the analysis, of which 49.3% were patients aged 61 and over, with the median age of 60 years old. The proportion of males was significantly higher than that of females (62.1% vs. 37.9%). The patients were mainly from the internal medicine, ICU and surgical wards. Most strains were isolated from lower respiratory tract, accounting for 81.7%, followed by pus and secretions (7.8%). In terms of species distribution, Aspergillus spp. accounted for the highest proportion (84.8%), with Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., order Mucorales and Sedosporium spp. accounting for 5.1%, 3.0%, 1.3% and 0.4%, respectively. For species distribution among different mold infection, 88.7% of lower respiratory tract mold infections were caused by Aspergillus spp., and Aspergillus fumigatus(47.8%) was the most common species. Otomycosis was mainly caused by Aspergillus spp.(98.7%), of which Aspergillus terreus accounted for 39.7%, and ophthalmomycosis was mainly caused by Fusarium spp.(54.6%). Conclusions By the retrospective analysis of mold isolation from multicenter in China, we found that Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, and Fusarium spp. were the most common species causing pneumonomycosis, otomycosis, and ophthalmomycosis, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the differences in species distribution among different mold infections in clinical empirical treatment of fungal infections.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 has continued to evolve. As the fifth variants of concern (VOCs) announced by the World Health Organization, Omicron has significantly changed from previous VOCs in terms of genome, biological and epidemiological characteristics. Although the severe illness and mortality caused by Omicron infection are significantly lower than those caused by the previous VOCs, Omicron's strong transmission ability has continued to break through the epidemic prevention barrier and human immunity barrier established by prior infections and vaccines. Omicron has opened a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we review the changes in genome and biological characteristics of Omicron and its subspecies as well as the differences in epidemiological characteristics between Omicron and influenza viruses in order to provide scientific basis for the optimization of epidemic prevention and control.

Objective To explore the operation status and effect of the neonatal deafness gene screeningin Beijing Union Medical College Hospital for the past 10 years and analyze the follow-up, genetic consultation and intervention to improve the quality of neonatal deafness gene screening. Methods From April 2012 to March 2022, the screening data of newborns with deafness genetic screening by microarray microarray in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and the data from the genetic counseling clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively collected. The mutation loci, mutation types, genetic clinic visits and follow-up interventions of newborns who did not pass the deafness genetic screening were analyzed. Results Among 165 813 newborns, 8019 samples 'failed' in the screening, accounting for 4.84%. Of the 'failed' samples, 4173 cases carried GJB2 gene mutation, with a carrying rate of 2.52%; 3016 cases carried SLC26A4 gene mutation, with a carrying rate of 1.82%;570 cases carried GJB3 gene mutation, with a carrying rate of 0.34%; 405 cases carried homogeneous or heterogeneous mutation in 12S rRNA, with a carrying rate of 0.24%. During the screening, multiple mutation carriers were identified in 126 cases, all of whom had normal hearing at follow-up and were not given special intervention; 44 cases of deafness causing genotypes (except those at risk of drug-induced hearing loss), all of whom were given different interventions according to the degree of hearing loss; the presence of drug-sensitive deafness genotype was found in 405 cases, all of which were warned by drug warning cards for newborns and their maternal family members about drug use. The overall lost follow-up rate was 0.12%(204/165 813), and the overall genetic counselling rate of newborns who failed the screening was 46.10%(3697/8019). Among them, the lost rate of the first stage (from April 2012 to March 2013), the second stage (from April 2013 to December 2017) and the third stage (from January 2018 to March 2022) were 0.63%(72/11 489), 0.10%(80/81 663) and 0.07%(52/72 661), respectively. The visiting rate of genetic clinic was 38.05%(207/544), 39.44% (1496/3793) and 54.16%(1994/3682), respectively. The Cochran-Armitage trend test showed that the lost rate progressively lowered and the visiting rate gradually increased in the 3 stages (all P < 0.001). Conclusion In the past 10 years, a thorough screening, follow-up, consultation and intervention platform has been established, which can help us in the early warning, early diagnosis and early intervention of families and individuals at risk of hearing impairment.