Apmis最新文献

Meningiomas are heterogeneous tumors and studies suggest that meningiomas might be part of MEN1 syndrome. The tumors express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) comparable to that seen in neuroendocrine neoplasms. We aimed to explore neuroendocrine differentiation in meningiomas by investigating the following neuroendocrine markers: neural cell adhesion molecule (CD56/NCAM), chromogranin A, chromogranin B, chromogranin C, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), secretagogin, and synaptophysin. Our findings were related to WHO grade, tumor subtype, and SSTR2 immunoreactivity. Tissue microarrays from 162 patients with intracranial meningioma underwent immunohistochemical analyses. Immunoreactivity was assessed with manual and digital analyses. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to detect secretory granules in one tumor specimen. NSE, CD56, and chromogranin B were detected in 91%, 44%, and 16% of meningiomas, respectively. The other neuroendocrine markers were mostly negative. NSE immunoreactivity was higher in WHO grade 2 tumors (p = 0.027) and differed among subtypes with highest and lowest immunoreactivity in meningothelial and fibrous subtypes, respectively. Chromogranin B (p = 0.006) and NSE (p = 0.003) were positively correlated to SSTR2 immunoreactivity. No secretory granules were detected. Manual and digital evaluation showed excellent agreement. Our study does not support the hypothesis of neuroendocrine differentiation in meningiomas, as chromogranin A and synaptophysin were mostly absent.

This study investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of fecal Campylobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, and Yersinia enterocolitica strains in Southwest Finland from 2018 to 2022. Results show that the number of travel-associated S. enterica and Campylobacter spp. declined markedly from autumn 2019 to autumn 2020 and have recovered gradually. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on bacterial strains isolated from PCR-positive fecal specimens. Resistance patterns fluctuated throughout the study period. Among C. jejuni, ciprofloxacin resistance averaged 58% in domestic (n = 155) and 88% travel-associated (n = 10) strains, while tetracycline resistance averaged 36% and 63%, respectively; erythromycin resistance was not detected. In S. enterica, resistance averaged 42% and 33% to ampicillin, 33% and 45% to fluoroquinolones, 4% and 6% to cefotaxime, and 0% and 2% to co-trimoxazole, in domestic (n = 24) and travel-associated (n = 32) strains, respectively. Among domestic Y. enterocolitica strains (n = 64), resistance averaged 7% to co-trimoxazole, 2% to ciprofloxacin, and 1% to cefotaxime; no travel-associated strains were reported. This study shows that lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic decreased the number of diagnosed enteropathogens and limited the emergence of resistant strains. Thus, our results reaffirm that travel remains the primary source of S. enterica infections in Finland.

Familial GUCY2C diarrhea syndrome (FGDS) is an autosomal dominant disorder found in 32 members of a Norwegian family and caused by a heterozygous missense resulting in chronic diarrhea. The study aimed to investigate any abnormality in the enteroendocrine cells in the terminal ileum of the affected family members. Terminal ileal biopsies from 11 FGDS patients and 14 healthy controls (HC) were stained using immunohistochemistry for chromogranin A, serotonin, and peptide YY (PYY) and quantified using computerized image analyses. Global gene expression of PYY in the ileal biopsies was performed. The densities of PYY-immunoreactive cells in the terminal ileum (mean ± SEM values) of HC and FGDS patients were 48.1 ± 4.8 and 25.3 ± 5.8 cells/mm², respectively, p = 0.01. No significant changes were found in the densities of CgA and serotonin immunoreactive cells between the two groups. The gene expression of PYY was significantly lower in family members with FGDS than in HC (p = 0.001). In conclusion, lower expression of PYY gene and PYY-immunoreactive cell density is found in FGDS patients than healthy controls. PYY acts as an anti-diarrheal agent by inhibiting the agonists of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Both cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and cAMP activate the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator and may cause diarrhea.

Gut microbiota plays a key role in triggering various diseases. However, translocation studies focus on bacteria, neglecting fungal elements, while fungi seem also involved in triggering various diseases. Aim of this study was to assess whether fungal elements were able to translocate in patients with AUD (alcohol use disorder) and to verify if withdrawal from alcohol was beneficial on such translocation. Sixty-five patients with AUD were included. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 3 and 6 weeks after alcohol withdrawal. Total DNA was extracted from blood. Fungal DNA was searched by qRT-PCR with panfungal primers and sequenced to determine the species detected. Out of 42 patients tested, 30.9% (13/42) had positive signals on one or several of their samples. Identified DNAs were mostly Candida albicans. No significant variation in mean level of fungal DNA copies was found over time in these patients. No correlation was found between intestinal integrity markers and fungal translocation. Fungal DNA was found in the blood of AUD patients, showing that fungal elements can translocate across the intestinal barrier. Absence of correlation between intestinal integrity markers and fungal translocation indicates that fungal elements may be able to translocate independently of the integrity of gut barrier.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen reported to cause both systemic and mucosal infections. The characteristic morphological transition and complex biofilm formation significantly contribute to its virulence and resistance to antifungal agents. This increases the pressing demand for new, safe antifungal agents. This study examined the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence activities of C-Phycocyanin (C-PC), a natural photosynthetic pigment protein produced from Spirulina. C-PC demonstrated an inhibitory effect on biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner with a minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of 256 μg/mL with less fungicidal action against planktonic C. albicans cells. The yeast-to-hyphae transition is crucial to its virulence and is a critically important virulence trait for pathogenic morphogenesis. This transition in morphogenesis has been disturbed by C-PC treatment, suggesting that C-PC challenges its ability to invade and survive. It also demonstrated decreased biofilm-associated characteristics, including wrinkle development, filamentous growth, and exopolysaccharide production. Furthermore, C-PC interfered with the defense system of C. albicans by significantly reducing agar invasion, decreasing secreted phospholipase activity, and promoting oxidative stress by reducing catalase production. The obtained results collectively show that C-PC could be a potential natural compound that alters key virulence traits in C. albicans.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical need to strengthen healthcare systems and optimize resource allocation planning during times of disruption and crisis. This retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study included 33,158 admissions for patients ≤ 17 years old admitted to the Children's Hospital (CH) between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Data was abstracted using Vizient Clinical Data Base and the internal data warehouse. A Poisson regression model was implemented to compare admission diagnosis patterns during the pre- and intra-pandemic phases. CH SARS-CoV-2 prevalence rate was 0.1% in 2020 and 0.5% in 2021. There was a decrease in overall admissions to the CH (p < 0.01) and PICU (p < 0.01) at the onset of the pandemic. There were significant and variable differences in admission patterns for certain infectious and seizure-related diagnoses. The CH experienced an increase in certain specific mental health diagnoses. Seasonality was noted for viral bronchiolitis during the pre-pandemic phase, but was disrupted during the intra-pandemic phase. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the number and pattern of admissions, despite low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in our hospital. These changes may be secondary to COVID-19 community mitigation strategies. Results can inform anticipated patterns during future pandemics.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are frequently caused by biofilm-forming bacteria that are difficult to eradicate with antibiotics. In Denmark, hydrochloric acid lock therapy (HALT) has been used for more than a decade with reported success in catheter salvage, but its antimicrobial efficacy and potential impact on catheter materials remain insufficiently studied in vitro. This study evaluated the efficacy of hydrochloric acid (HCl) against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and assessed its effects on silicone and polyurethane central venous catheters. Biofilms grown in microtiter well plates and on catheter segments were exposed to three 10-min treatments with 2 M HCl or 0.9% saline. Biofilm-free catheters received the same exposures as the biofilm samples before mechanical testing. HCl markedly reduced bacterial viability, achieving mean reductions of 5.4 log₁₀ colony-forming units (CFU)/mL in well plates and 4.1 log₁₀ CFU/mL on catheters. No bacterial growth was detected on catheter segments following HCl treatment. Tensile strength testing and optical microscopy revealed no evidence of compromised mechanical integrity or surface alterations in either catheter type following HCl exposure. Overall, HCl demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity without compromising catheter integrity, supporting further investigation of HALT as an adjunct to systemic antibiotics for managing CRBSIs.