ABSTRACT
The Ly-6 and uPAR (LU) domain-containing proteins represent a large family of cell-surface markers. In particular, mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1 is a widely used marker for various stem cells; however, its human ortholog is missing. In this study, based on a systematic survey and comparative genomic study of mouse and human LU domain-containing proteins, we identified a previously unannotated human gene encoding the candidate ortholog of mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1. This gene, hereby named LY6A, reversely overlaps with a lncRNA gene in the majority of exonic sequences. We found that LY6A is aberrantly expressed in pituitary tumors, but not in normal pituitary tissues, and may contribute to tumorigenesis. Similar to mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1, human LY6A is also upregulated by interferon, suggesting a conserved transcriptional regulatory mechanism between humans and mice. We cloned the full-length LY6A cDNA, whose encoded protein sequence, domain architecture, and exon-intron structures are all well conserved with mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1. Ectopic expression of the LY6A protein in cells demonstrates that it acts the same as mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1 in their processing and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchoring to the cell membrane. Collectively, these studies unveil a novel human gene encoding a candidate biomarker and provide an interesting model gene for studying gene regulatory and evolutionary mechanisms.
Subject(s)
Humans , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Pituitary Neoplasms/genetics , BiomarkersABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic that claimed over 4.2 million lives, belongs to a class of enveloped viruses that undergo quick evolutionary adjustments under selection pressure. Numerous variants have emerged in SARS-CoV-2 that are currently posing a serious challenge to the global vaccination effort and COVID-19 management. The evolutionary dynamics of this virus are only beginning to be explored. In this work, we have analysed 1.79 million spike glycoprotein sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and found that the virus is fine-tuning the spike with numerous amino acid insertions and deletions (indels). Indels seem to have a selective advantage as the proportions of sequences with indels were steadily increasing over time, currently at over 89%, with similar trends across countries/variants. There were as many as 420 unique indel positions and 447 unique combinations of indels. Despite their high frequency, indels resulted in only minimal alteration, including both gain and loss, of N-glycosylation sites. As indels and point mutations are positively correlated and sequences with indels have significantly more point mutations, they have implications in the context of evolutionary dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the clinical and laboratory features of Aeromonas bacteremia in patients with hematological diseases, and provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of Aeromonas infection.@*Methods@#A retrospective study of patients with bloodstream infection of Aeromonas in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2018 was carried out. The clinical characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility, infection seasons, antimicrobial therapy and evolution were analyzed.@*Results@#A total of 42 patients with hematological diseases had Aeromonas bloodstream infection within 5 years. Among them, 39 cases (92.9%) of bloodstream infection occurred in the stage of neutropenia. The median time of fever was 4 (1-27) d, 22 (52.4%) patients only had fever, 6 (14.3%) with gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, upper gastrointestinal bleeding) , 8 (19.0%) with pulmonary infection, 13 (31.0%) with skin and soft tissue infections. Seven patients (16.7%) died with skin and soft tissue infection. The resistance of Aeromonas to carbapenems was 68.3%-70.7%, while the resistance rate to cephalosporins, quinolones and aminoglycosides were less than 10%.@*Conclusions@#Aeromonas bacteremia in patients with hematological diseases mainly occur in the neutropenia stage, usually with symptom like fever. The mortality is increased when accompanied by skin and soft tissue infection. Antibiotic use should be based on susceptibility results, and avoid the use of carbapenems.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To analyze the hints role of surveillance cultures of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) by perianal swabs in patients with hematological diseases, and seek risk factors of CRE bloodstream infection.@*Methods@#The resistance of CRE from 2 914 patients with hematological diseases who cultured perianal swabs, CRE bloodstream infection and risk factors were analyzed during January 2016 to December 2017.@*Results@#In this study, perianal swabs from 2 914 patients with hematological diseases were cultured, 74 patients were CRE positive, and bloodstream infection with CRE was found in 13 of these patients. A total of 87 CRE strains were isolated (The same patient only keep the first one for the same location), including 31 Klebsiella pheuminiae, 43 Escherichia coli, 8 Enterobacter cloacae and 6 other Enterobacteriaceae. The resistance rates to piperacillin / tazobactam, imipenem, meropenam, amikacin, levofloxacin, tigecycline were 91.9%, 74.4%, 98.8%, 17.6%, 74.4% and 8.0%, respectively. Resistance to carbapenem, aminoglycoside, quinolones and tegacycline were highly consistent between two sites from 13 patients, whose both perianal swabs and blood were positive in CRE cultures. Febrile neutropenic time, digestive tract symptoms and perianal infection were independent risk factors for bloodstream infection in patients with perianal swabs positive results, the odds ratios (OR) were 1.10 (P=0.029), 1.13 (P=0.005) and 1.23 (P=0.016), respectively.@*Conclusion@#Perianal swabs surveillance cultures of CRE can be hints for CRE bloodstream infection in patients with hematological diseases, and also can provide suggestions for antibiotics. Long time of febrile neutropenic, digestive tract symptoms and perianal infection can be the early warning for CRE bloodstream infections.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of doctor-nurse integration mode in treating patients with liver cirrhosis treated with endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL).Methods According to the random number table,74 patients were randomly divided into control group and experiment group with 37 in each group.The control group was given routine nursing,while the experiment group was managed by doctor-nurse integration nursing mode.The two groups were compared in respect of early re-bleeding after EVL and mastery of health knowledge.Result The mastery of health-related knowledge in the experiment group was better than the control one and the rate of re-bleeding was significantly lower (P<0.05).Conclusion The doctor-nurse integration care mode can reduce the early postoperative re-bleeding after EVL in patients with liver cirrhosis and enhance the health education awareness.
