肠杆菌目细菌产耐碳青霉烯酶的基因分型检测方法进展

碳青霉烯类耐药肠杆菌科细菌（CRE）已成为全球性的公共卫生问题。有文献报道由CRE引起的感染，尤其是血流感染，会导致患者死亡率较高，为临床治疗带来了极大的挑战。肠杆菌科细菌耐碳青霉烯类药物的主要机制是细菌产生了不同型别的耐碳青霉烯类水解酶。目前只有少数几种新型抗菌药物可以用于CRE的治疗如头孢他啶/阿维巴坦，但头孢他啶/阿维巴坦对持有金属β内酰胺酶的CRE没有活性，所以快速、准确地检测CRE菌株所产碳青霉烯酶种类，对临床合理选择抗菌药物至关重要。本文就目前检测肠杆菌科细菌耐碳青霉烯类药物的基因分型实验方法的优缺点进行总结分析。     

Emerging issue of fluconazole-resistant candidemia in a tertiary care hospital of southern italy: time for antifungal stewardship program

An increased number of patients is at risk of Candida spp. bloodstream infection (CBSI) in modern medicine. Moreover, the rising of antifungal resistance (AR) was recently reported. All consecutive CBSI occurred in our Hospital (consisting of 1,370 beds) between 2015 and 2018, were reviewed. For each case, Candida species, AR pattern, ward involved and demographic data of patients were recorded. Overall, 304 episodes of CBSI occurred, with a median (q1:first-,q3:third quartile) of 77 (71-82) CBSI/year. Over the years, a significant increase of CBSI due to C. albicans compared to non-albicans strains was recorded in medical wards (from 65% to 71%, p=0.030), while this ratio remained stable in others. An increase of resistant strains to multiple antifungals such as C. guillermondii was noticed in recent years (from 0% to 9.8%, p=0.008). Additionally, from 2015 to 2018 an increase in fluconazole-resistance was recorded in our Hospital (from 7.4% to 17.4%, p=0.025) and a slight increase in voriconazole-resistance (from 0% to 7% in 2018, p=0.161) was observed, while resistance to echinocandin and amphotericin B remained firmly below 2%.This study suggests a rapid spread of antifungal resistance in our Hospital; therefore, an appropriate antifungal stewardship programs is urgently warranted.     

Fifty shades of graft: How to improve the efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation for decolonization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Background

Spontaneous decolonization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) takes time: approximately 25% after 30 days for carbapenem-producing Enterobacteriaceae or extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been proposed as a new strategy to promote decolonization in order to reduce the risk of superinfection due to these ARB. This paper discusses the literature on the use of FMT for this indication, and the improvement levers available to promote its efficacy.

Next-generation Sequencing for ALK and ROS1 Rearrangement Detection in Patients With Non–small-cell Lung Cancer: Implications of FISH-positive Patterns

BackgroundDetection of ALK and ROS1 gene rearrangements in non–small-cell lung cancer is required for directing patient care. Although fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry have been established as gold standard methods, next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms are called to be at least equally successful. Comparison of these methods for translation into daily use is currently under investigation.Patients and MethodsForty non–small-cell lung cancer paraffin-embedded samples with previous ALK (n = 33) and ROS1 (n = 7) FISH results were examined with the Oncomine Focus Assay and tested for ALK and ROS1 immunoreactivity. Clinical implications of concurrent molecular alterations and concordance between methods were evaluated.ResultsNGS was successful in 32 (80%) cases: 25 ALK and 7 ROS1. Few concomitant alterations were detected: 1 ALK rearranged case had an ALK p.L1196M-resistant mutation, 4 had CDK4, MYC, and/or ALK amplifications, and 1 ROS1 rearranged case showed a FGFR4 amplification. Comparison between techniques revealed 5 (16%) discordant cases that had lower progression-free survival than concordant cases: 7.6 (95% confidence interval, 2.2-13) versus 19.4 (95% confidence interval, 10.1-28.6). Remarkably, 4 of these cases had isolated 3' signal FISH pattern (P = .026).ConclusionOur data support that the identification of 3' isolated signal FISH pattern in ALK and ROS1 cases might suggest a false-positive result. NGS seems a reliable technique to assess ALK and ROS1 rearrangements, offering the advantage over immunohistochemistry of detecting other molecular alterations with potential therapeutic implications.     

光滑念珠菌生物膜形成机制及其抗性研究

光滑念珠菌是亚洲第三或第四种最常见的侵袭性念珠菌病的病原体，占念珠菌血流感染的29%，其形成生物膜的能力被认为是最重要的毒力因子之一。光滑念珠菌生物膜的形成与医院感染的发病率和病死率高度相关。但是，对光滑念珠菌生物膜的研究少且分散。为此，本文将从环境因素、基因调控、抗性和抗性机制等多方面对光滑念珠菌生物膜进行综述。     

癌相关成纤维细胞在乳腺癌侵袭转移及耐药中的作用研究进展

癌相关成纤维细胞(CAF)是肿瘤微环境中主要的基质细胞。CAF可在血小板源性生生长因子、成纤维细胞生长因子、白介素6及肝细胞生长因子等多种分泌因子作用下由正常成纤维细胞转化形成,也可由间充质干细胞、脂肪细胞等多种细胞可通过上皮间质转化(EMT)过程形成,还有部分由癌症干细胞转化而来。近来有研究显示,乳腺癌中的CAF可通过分泌多种细胞因子及外泌体、参与EMT及细胞外基质重塑,进而促进乳腺癌细胞侵袭转移,也可在肿瘤缺氧微环境下通过激活相关信号通路促进乳腺癌细胞生长和侵袭。此外,CAF通过增加了乳腺癌细胞的凋亡阈值、作为抗肿瘤药物的物理屏障、分泌的谷氨酰胺增加乳腺癌细胞的存活率、激活生长因子相关的信号通路或增加线粒体功能产生抗凋亡作用等多种途径介导乳腺癌化疗耐药、内分泌治疗耐药及多药耐药。笔者总结CAF的重要来源及其在乳腺癌侵袭转移与治疗耐药中的研究进展。     

Inhibitory effects of everolimus in combination with paclitaxel on adriamycin-resistant breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231

ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of paclitaxel in combination with mTOR inhibitor everolimus on adriamycin-resistant breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 (MDA-MB-231/ADR).Materials and methodsMDA-MB-231/ADR cells were treated with different concentrations of paclitaxel and everolimus. The IC₅₀ values after 48 h of treatment were measured by the MTT assay. The apoptosis rate and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. The protein expressions of Akt, PI3K, mTOR, p-pI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR were detected by Western blot.ResultsWhen paclitaxel at ≥1.56 μg/ml was used, the growth of MDA-MB-231/ADR cells was inhibited more significantly than that of control group (P < 0.05). After treatment with ≥6.25 μg/ml everolimus, the cell growth was also suppressed more significantly (P < 0.05). The IC₅₀ values of everolimus and paclitaxel were 32.50 μg/ml and 7.80 μg/ml, respectively. The inhibition rate of paclitaxel plus everolimus was significantly enhanced with increasing paclitaxel concentration (P < 0.001). After treatment with 7.80 μg/ml paclitaxel, the two drugs had best synergistic inhibitory effects on proliferation. Compared with drugs alone, the combination significantly promoted apoptosis (P < 0.001). The paclitaxel + everolimus group had significantly more cells in the G0-G1 phase than those of control and individual drug groups (P < 0.001). Everolimus significantly decreased mTOR and p-mTOR expressions compared with those of control group (P < 0.001). Compared with everolimus alone, the combination reduced the expressions more significantly (P < 0.05). Paclitaxel decreased the expression levels of PI3K, p-PI3K and p-AKT. Compared with paclitaxel alone, the combination significantly promoted the reduction of PI3K, p-PI3K and p-AKT expressions (P < 0.05).ConclusionEverolimus can enhance the effect of paclitaxel on MDA-MB-231/ADR cells, inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis and arrest cell cycle in the G1 phase mainly by down-regulating the expressions of key proteins in the mTOR signaling pathway.