Hongfeng Zhang

With the aim of gathering temporal trends on bacterial epidemiology and resistance from multiple laboratories in China, the CHINET surveillance system was organized in 2005. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using the Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems. Results were analyzed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2014 definitions. Between 2005 and 2014, the number of bacterial isolates ranged between 22,774 and 84,572 annually. Rates of extended-spectrum β-lactamase production among Escherichia coli isolates were stable, between 51.7 and 55.8%. Resistance of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam and cefoperazone/sulbactam decreased with time. Carbapenem resistance among K. pneumoniae isolates increased from 2.4 to 13.4%. Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains against all of antimicrobial agents tested including imipenem and meropenem decreased with time. On the contrary, resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii strains to carbapenems increased from 31 to 66.7%. A marked decrease of methicillin resistance from 69% in 2005 to 44.6% in 2014 was observed for Staphylococcus aureus. Carbapenem resistance rates in K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii in China are high. Our results indicate the importance of bacterial surveillance studies.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a prevalent gynecological malignancy worldwide, and 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification of mRNA is a crucial epigenetic modification associated with the development and occurrence of several cancers. However, the precise function of m5C modification in EC remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of the primary m5C modification writer, NSUN2, in EC. Our findings indicated that NSUN2 exhibited a substantial up-regulation in EC as a result of an epigenetic augmentation in H3K4me3 levels within the promoter region, which was triggered by the down-regulation of KDM5A. Moreover, gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed the role of NSUN2 in enhancing m5C modification of mRNA, thereby promoting EC cell proliferation. RNA bisulfite sequencing and transcriptomic sequencing were employed to elucidate the involvement of NSUN2 in the regulation of ferroptosis. Subsequent in vitro experiments confirmed that the knockdown of NSUN2 significantly up-regulated the levels of lipid peroxides and lipid ROS in EC cells, thereby augmenting the susceptibility of EC to ferroptosis. Mechanistically, NSUN2 stimulated the m5C modification of SLC7A11 mRNA, and the m5C reader YBX1 exhibited direct recognition and binding to the m5C sites on SLC7A11 mRNA via its internal cold shock domain (CSD), leading to an increase in SLC7A11 mRNA stability and elevated levels of SLC7A11. Additionally, rescue experiments showed that NSUN2 functioned as a suppressor of ferroptosis, which was dependent on SLC7A11. Overall, targeting the NSUN2/SLC7A11 axis inhibited tumor growth by increasing lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis of EC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, our study provides new insight into the role of NSUN2, suggesting that NSUN2 may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in patients with EC.

Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Approximately 40% of global gastric cancer cases occur in China, with peritoneal metastasis being the prevalent form of recurrence and metastasis in advanced disease. Currently, there are limited clinical approaches for predicting and treatment of peritoneal metastasis, resulting in a 6-month average survival time. By comprehensive genome analysis will uncover the pathogenesis of peritoneal metastasis. Here we describe a comprehensive whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing analysis of one advanced gastric cancer case, including non-cancerous mucosa, primary cancer and matched peritoneal metastatic cancer. The peripheral blood is used as normal control. We identified 27 mutated genes, of which 19 genes are reported in COSMIC database (ZNF208, CRNN, ATXN3, DCTN1, RP1L1, PRB4, PRB1, MUC4, HS6ST3, MUC17, JAM2, ITGAD, IREB2, IQUB, CORO1B, CCDC121, AKAP2, ACAN and ACADL), and eight genes have not previously been described in gastric cancer (CCDC178, ARMC4, TUBB6, PLIN4, PKLR, PDZD2, DMBT1and DAB1).Additionally,GPX4 and MPND in 19q13.3-13.4 region, is characterized as a novel fusion-gene. This study disclosed novel biological markers and tumorigenic pathways that would predict gastric cancer occurring peritoneal metastasis.

Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBEs) have been recommended to improve cognitive function and to prevent cognitive decline, but earlier evidence was inconclusive. Here, we evaluated all systematic reviews of GBEs for prevention of cognitive decline, and intervention of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Six databases from their inception to September 2015 were searched. Ten systematic reviews were identified, including reviews about Alzheimer’s disease (n=3), about vascular dementia (n=1), about both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia (n=2), about Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and mixed dementia (n=3), and a review about MCI (n=1). Based on the overview quality assessment questionnaire, eight studies were scored with at least 5 points, while the other two scored 4 points and 3 points, respectively. Medication with GBEs showed improvement in cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and daily activities, and the effect was dose-dependent. Efficacy was convincingly demonstrated only when high daily dose (240mg) was applied. Compared with placebo, overall adverse events and serious adverse events were at the same level as placebo, with less adverse events in favor of GBE in the subgroup of Alzheimer's disease patients, and fewer incidences in vertigo, tinnitus, angina pectoris, and headache. In conclusion, there is clear evidence to support the efficacy of GBEs for MCI and dementia, whereas the question on efficacy to prevent cognitive decline is still open. In addition, GBEs seem to be generally safe.