Nonribosomal cyclic peptides: specific markers of fungal infections

Some cyclic peptides and depsipeptides are synthesized in microorganisms by large multienzymes called nonribosomal peptide synthetases. The structures of peptide products originating in this way are complex and diverse and are microorganism-specific. This work proposes the use of fungal cyclic peptides and depsipeptides as extremely specific markers of fungal infections. Since a reliable molecular tool for diagnosing fungal infections at an early stage is still missing, we present mass spectrometry as a new, modern, broadband (with respect to fungal strain) and specific tool for clinical mycologists. More than 40 different fungal species can be rapidly characterized according to specific families of cyclic peptides, and in some cases, a particular fungal strain can be identified on the basis of its cyclopeptide profile. This paper is also aimed at initiating discussion on the biological role of these secondary metabolites, especially of those synthesized by medically important strains. Proven cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive activities of some cyclic peptides indicate that these molecules may contribute to the synergistic array of fungal virulence factors and support microbial invasion during fungal infection. In addition to an overview on recent mass spectrometric protocols for cyclic peptide sequencing, the structures of new peptides from Paecilomyces and Pseudallescheria are presented.     

稻谷有害霉菌侵染的近红外光谱快速检测

稻谷是我国主要储粮品种。为快速、准确鉴定稻谷霉变状态,建立了一种基于近红外光谱的稻谷霉菌污染定性、定量分析方法。首先,将四种谷物中常见有害霉菌(黄曲霉3.17、黄曲霉3.3950、寄生曲霉3.3950、灰绿曲霉3.0100)分别接种在灭菌稻谷样品上。其次,将接种霉菌样品进行人工模拟储藏(28 ℃、RH 80%),并采集不同储藏时间(0,2,4,7和10 d)稻谷的近红外漫反射光谱信号。最后,利用主成分分析(PCA)、判别分析(DA)和偏最小二乘回归(PLSR)方法建立稻谷霉菌污染的快速分析模型。结果显示,近红外光谱可有效区分感染不同霉菌的稻谷样品,平均判别正确率达87.5%。稻谷霉变随储藏时间逐渐加深,近红外光谱对感染单一霉菌稻谷样品霉变状态的判别正确率达92.5%,多种霉菌的判别正确率达87.5%。稻谷中的菌落总数的PLSR模型定量结果为：有效决定系数(R2_P)为0.882 3、验证均方根误差(RMSEP)为0.339 Lg CFU·g-1,相对标准偏差(RPD)为2.93。结果表明,近红外光谱法可以作为一种快速、无损的分析方法来判定稻谷霉菌侵染状况,确保稻谷储运安全。     

循证护理在慢性宫颈炎合并HPV感染患者治疗指导中的应用

目的探究循证护理在慢性宫颈炎合并HPV感染患者治疗指导中的应用。方法对63例慢性宫颈炎合并HPV感染患者,经循证护理,分别于6个月和12个月追踪HPV清除率。结果 63例经循证护理的慢性宫颈炎合并HPV感染患者,6个月后和12个月后的HPV清除率分别为41.3%(26/63)和58.7%(37/63);42例对照组6个月后和12个月后的HPV清除率分别为28.6%(12/42)和58.7%(17/42)。结论对慢性宫颈炎合并HPV感染患者进行循证护理,缩短了宫颈炎治愈时间并提高HPV清除率。     

妇科患者泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的高危因素研究

目的调查分析妇科患者泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的高危因素。方法选取2014年1月—2015年10月于孝感市中心医院妇科进行诊治的950例泌尿生殖道感染的患者为研究对象,将其泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的发病率进行统计,比较支原体属感染的患者不同年龄段、民族、职业、文化程度、孕产史、是否伴有淋病感染、不洁性史、性交次数过多等因素的发生率及构成比,并行Logistic回归分析。结果 1 950例泌尿生殖道感染的患者中有320例患者为支原体属感染,发病率为33.68%。其中21~40岁年龄段、无职业、文化程度较低、孕产次数较多、伴有淋病感染、具有不洁性史及性交次数过多的患者较其他患者发病率普遍较高,以上差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。2经Logistic回归分析发现,伴有淋病、不洁性史与性交次数过多为支原体属感染的独立危险因素(P0.05),而年龄、文化程度及孕产史也与支原体属感染密切相关(P0.05)。而民族、职业无明显相关性(P0.05)。结论淋病、不洁性史、性交次数过多、年龄、文化程度及孕产史均为妇科患者泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的高危因素,可根据以上因素进行针对性干预以降低支原体属的泌尿生殖道感染率。     

Vascular permeability in cancer and infection as related to macromolecular drug delivery, with emphasis on the EPR effect for tumor-selective drug targeting

Tumor and inflammation have many common features. One hallmark of both is enhanced vascular permeability, which is mediated by various factors including bradykinin, nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite, prostaglandins etc. A unique characteristic of tumors, however, is defective vascular anatomy. The enhanced vascular permeability in tumors is also distinctive in that extravasated macromolecules are not readily cleared. We utilized the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of tumors for tumor selective delivery of macromolecular drugs. Consequently, such drugs, nanoparticles or lipid particles, when injected intravenously, selectively accumulate in tumor tissues and remain there for long periods. The EPR effect of tumor tissue is frequently inhomogeneous and the heterogeneity of the EPR effect may reduce the tumor delivery of macromolecular drugs. Therefore, we developed methods to augment the EPR effect without inducing adverse effects for instance raising the systemic blood pressure by infusing angiotensin II during arterial injection of SMANCS/Lipiodol. This method was validated in clinical setting. Further, benefits of utilization of NO-releasing agent such as nitroglycerin or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were demonstrated. The EPR effect is thus now widely accepted as the most basic mechanism for tumor-selective targeting of macromolecular drugs, or so-called nanomedicine.     

创伤外科病区绿脓杆菌感染暴发调查及对策

通过对创伤外科病区３例绿脓杆菌感染进行暴发调查,结果显示病区空气、物体表面及工作人员手的细菌培养超出规定的标准,手术清创不彻底,部分医务人员不遵守无菌操作原则,消毒隔离观念薄弱,医院感染管理意识不强等高危因素。     

幼儿反复呼吸道感染与头发中微量元素含量关系研究

报道了2886名正常儿童与718例反复呼吸道感染儿童头发中微量元素含量对比研究结果。研究表明,患儿的身高、体重和发Zn明显低于正常儿童,而发Cu、Ca、Pb则明显高于正常和童。因子提取分析显示,Zn和Pb在儿童反复呼吸道感染发病中起非常重要的作用。患反复呼吸道感染儿童约占儿童总数的20％左右。     

Effects of Frankincense Compounds on Infection,Inflammation, and Oral Health

Boswellia trees, found throughout the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia, are the source of frankincense oil. Since antiquity, frankincense has been traded as a precious commodity, but it has also been used for the treatment of chronic disease, inflammation, oral health, and microbial infection. More recently, the bioactive components of Boswellia trees have been identified and characterized for their effects on cancer, microbial infection (especially infection by oral pathogens), and inflammation. Most studies have focused on cell lines, but more recent research has also investigated effects in animal models of disease. As natural products are considered to be safer than synthetic drugs, there is growing interest in further developing the use of substances such as frankincense oil for therapeutic treatment.     

Detection of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma using two types of compound markers

With the discovery of circulating cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma, noninvasive prenatal testing became possible. However, analysis of low-level cffDNA against high background maternal DNA remains complicated and challenging. To circumvent this limitation, selective amplification of cffDNA was used in this study. Two kinds of compound markers (namely DIP-STR and SNP-STR), both based on selective amplification, were used here for targeting fetal DNA. By designing two allele-specific forward primers for DIP-STR and SNP-STR, DNA fragments with different DIP/SNP alleles can be selectively amplified. When analyzing maternal plasma DNA, these markers can selectively target paternally inherited fetal alleles whose DIP/SNP allele was not shared with the mother. In this study, 21 families were studied with six DIP-STRs and 11 SNP-STRs. Fetal DNA was successfully detected across plasma samples for at least one marker. Detection rate varied between DIP-STR and SNP-STR markers, and DIP-STR outperforms SNP-STR. Fetal alleles obtained from maternal plasma were double confirmed by genotyping paternal genomic DNA and fetal genomic DNA from amniocentesis. This study demonstrated that selective amplification strategy can be used to target cffDNA in maternal plasma, which will be a promising method for noninvasive prenatal paternity testing.