Kerion Celsi caused by Microsporum gypseum in a Chinese child, a case report.

RATIONALE: Kerion Celsi, a severe form of tinea capitis, is generally caused by zoophilic and geophilic fungi. This is the first report of an unusual case of kerion Celsi caused by Microsporum gypseum in a 6-year-old boy. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 6-year-old boy presented to the dermatology clinic with the complaint of multiple pustules, edematous plaques over the scalp with hair loss for 1 month. DIAGNOSIS: Clinical and laboratory investigations, including reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, confirmed M gypseum causing kerion Celsi. INTERVENTIONS: Upon combination therapy using oral itraconazole and oral prednisolone along with the topical terbinafine, kerion Celsi remitted in the patient. OUTCOME: New hair growth was noted during the 4-month follow-up. LESSON: We presented the first case of kerion Celsi infection secondary to M gypseum that was probably transmitted from a guinea pig.

Furfural and organic acid targeted carbon dot sensor array for the accurate identification of Chinese baijiu.

Baijiu quality control has always been a major challenge for researchers. In this paper, taking furfural which is closely related to baijiu brewing process and organic acids related to baijiu fermentation process and microorganism types as the main discriminating factors, a carbon dot (CDs) sensor array targeting furfural and organic acids was constructed to identify 41 kinds of baijiu. Through the fluorescence response investigation of CDs synthesized by isomers of benzenediol, aminophenol, and phenylenediamine to different baijiu, two CDs synthesized by meta-benzene substitutions containing -NH2 were selected to build a fluorescence sensor array. Due to the aggregation-induced enhancement effect between furfural and the CDs, and the protonation of organic acid and the CDs, different fluorescence changes were observed, the sensor array combined with partial least squares regression could quantitatively analyze furfural and organic acids. What is more, semi-quantitative analysis of furfural and lactic acid in baijiu was performed. Owing to the interaction of the two CDs with furfural and organic acids in baijiu, the sensor array could accurately identify different baijiu through linear discriminant analysis. This sensor array has potential applications in the quantitative analysis of flavor substances in other alcoholic beverages, moreover, this method could provide a quick response and practical tool for real-time quality control monitoring in the baijiu industry.

Four-channel fluorescent sensor array based on various functionalized CdTe quantum dots for the discrimination of Chinese baijiu.

As a special carrier of traditional Chinese culture, baijiu is rich in terms of types and ingredients. Its quality analysis and control are always important and complex issues that urgently need reliable evaluation methods. In this study, four different modified CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were used to characterize their sensing performance to various baijiu. A sensor array was then constructed through the complementary properties of differential fluorescence signals. To achieve an accurate and rapid evaluation of different baijiu types, a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was introduced to extract and process spectral information. And the array was able to distinguish commercial baijiu samples with different aroma-types, brands, qualities and storage years with a recognition rate of 100%. In addition, according to the heat map, the organic acids in baijiu were shown to be the main components causing the fluorescence change through electron transfer (hydrogen bond) and resonance energy transfer among QDs and acids. Furthermore, using the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model, five representative organic acids were accurately quantified with a quantitative range of 10 µmol/L-80 µmol/L with a high selectivity. This QDs fluorescence sensing strategy provides an accurate, simple, and fast baijiu sensing method, which provides a potential use for on-line baijiu monitoring.

Exploration of the Immune-Related Signatures and Immune Infiltration Analysis in Melanoma.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate immune-related signatures and immune infiltration in melanoma. The transcriptome profiling and clinical data of melanoma were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, and their matched normal samples were obtained from the Genotype-Tissue Expression database. After merging the genome expression data using Perl, the limma package was used for data normalization. We screened the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and obtained immune signatures associated with melanoma by an immune-related signature list from the InnateDB database. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify potential prognostic immune genes, and LASSO analysis was used to identify the hub genes. Next, based on the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis, we constructed a risk model for melanoma. We investigated the correlation between risk score and clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS) of patients. Based on the TIMER database, the association between selected immune signatures and immune cell distribution was evaluated. Next, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was performed using CIBERSORT, which confirmed the differential distribution of immune-infiltrating cells between different risk groups. We obtained a list of 91 differentially expressed immune-related signatures. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that these immune-related DEGs participated in several areas of immune-related crosstalk, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, and Th17 cell differentiation pathway. A risk model was established based on multivariate Cox analysis results, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed. The Kruskal-Wallis test suggested that a high risk score indicated a poorer OS and correlated with higher American Joint Committee on Cancer-TNM (AJCC-TNM) stages and advanced pathological stages (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the association between hub immune signatures and immune cell distribution was evaluated in specific tumor samples. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to estimate immune infiltration density in the two groups, and results showed that the high-risk group exhibited a lower infiltration density, and the dominant immune cells included M0 macrophages (P = 0.023) and activated mast cells (P = 0.005).

Strengthening national, regional and global health capacity through the WHO Western Pacific Region's Field Epidemiology Fellowship Programme.

OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organization's (WHO's) Field Epidemiology Fellowship Programme in the Western Pacific Region aims to strengthen countries' capacities for surveillance and risk assessment and build a workforce to tackle public health emergencies. A survey was conducted to assess the on-the-job training experience of the Regional Fellows, evaluate the strengths of the Programme and gain feedback on areas for improvement. METHODS: Between 25 September and 25 October 2018, an online survey was sent to Regional Fellows who had participated in the Programme between July 2006 and September 2018. The survey was shared with WHO country offices in the Western Pacific Region and directly with graduates of the Programme. Responses were recorded electronically and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 53 former Regional Fellows responded (54% response rate; 53/98). At the time of Programme participation, the Fellows' median age was 35, 62% (33/53) were female and 72% (38/53) were affiliated with a national or subnational health department. Fellows gained experience in event-based surveillance and risk assessment and worked among a diverse group of professionals in various Member States. Altogether, 77% (41/53) of respondents believed that the Programme had helped them move into a better career position with greater responsibility. Ninety-four percent (50/53) would recommend the Programme to their colleagues. DISCUSSION: Alumni from the Western Pacific Region's Field Epidemiology Fellowship Programme perform key health security roles, particularly within governmental systems, and directly contribute to managing health emergencies in their countries, in the Region and globally. The Programme is building a workforce with surge capacity to ensure that public health events in the Region can be addressed. Furthermore, connections developed through the Programme are helping to develop an alumni network, and enhance communications among Member States and between Member States and WHO.

Expression patterns of SRB1 and other stress-related genes in Candida albicans under oxidative, hyperosmotic and thermal stress.

Candida albicans, a human fungal pathogen, is able to tolerate certain levels of environmental stresses. Its cell wall plays an important role in cellular homeostasis, responding to environmental stimuli. SRB1 gene encodes a GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase that catalyzes the formation of the major cell wall component, mannan. The exact relationship between SRB1 and various stresses is not yet fully understood. In current study, C. albicans SC5314 cells were exposed to oxidative, hyperosmotic, and thermal stresses. The expression of SRB1 and related stress response genes, HOG1, CAP1, MKC1, and HSP90, was systematically evaluated in cells exposed to various levels of stress. In addition, the apoptosis and ultrastructural changes of the cells were examined. We found that the expression of SRB1 and related stress response genes significantly increased under oxidative, hyperosmotic, and thermal stresses, and the increased gene expression was correlated with higher percentages of apoptosis and ultrastructural changes in C. albicans cells. We propose that protein glycosylation is associated with stress response that involves SRB1 in C. albicans. Further in-depth studies of SRB1 function should aid our understanding of C. albicans pathogenesis, and provide important clues about the development of novel antifungal compounds for drug resistant C. albicans.

A readership survey of Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal

We established the Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal (WPSAR) in 2010 to increase the dissemination of data from surveillance systems in the Asia Pacific region as part of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases.1 WPSAR was to provide a platform for people working in surveillance and response in the Western Pacific Region to share scientific and operational findings and publish a broad range of articles not limited to conventional research articles. In mid-2014, four years after the first issue of WPSAR, an online survey of WPSAR subscribers was conducted to assess the impact, network and visibility of WPSAR in the region to determine if these objectives had been met. Based on a similar survey undertaken by Eurosurveillance in 2011,2 we sought to understand the WPSAR audience more comprehensively, how the journal is used and readers’ expectations. The WPSAR readership survey link was e-mailed to the 514 registered subscribers, and 25% responded.

Implementing the International Health Regulations (2005) in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region

It has been 10 years since severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) – the first emerging infectious disease of global significance in the 21st century – occurred in the Western Pacific Region in 2003. At that time, the revision process of the International Health Regulations (IHR) was underway.

The Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases – a Strategy for Regional Health Security

Health security in the Asia Pacific Region is continuously threatened by emerging diseases and public health emergencies. In recent years, the Region has been an epicentre for many emerging diseases, resulting in substantial negative impacts on health, social and economic development. As the Region is home to more than 50% of the world population, true global public health security depends to a large degree upon how successful this Region is in developing and sustaining functional national and regional systems and capacities for managing emerging diseases and acute public health events and emergencies. Tremendous efforts have been made by individual countries and the international community to confront emerging disease threats in recent years, but the need for a common regional strategic framework has been recognized by countries and areas in the Asia Pacific, the World Health Organization, donors and partner agencies. To address this need, an updated Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases, or APSED (2010), has been developed, aiming to strategically build sustainable national and regional capacities and partnerships to ensure public health security through preparedness planning, prevention, early detection and rapid response to emerging diseases and other public health emergencies. The Strategy calls for collective responsibility and actions to address the shared regional health security threat with a greater emphasis on preparedness-driven investments in health security. APSED (2010) serves as a road map to guide all countries and areas in the region towards meeting their core capacity requirements under the International Health Regulations (2005) to ensure regional and global health security.

Role of China in the quest to define and control severe acute respiratory syndrome.

China holds the key to solving many questions crucial to global control of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The disease appears to have originated in Guangdong Province, and the causative agent, SARS coronavirus, is likely to have originated from an animal host, perhaps sold in public markets. Epidemiologic findings, integral to defining an animal-human linkage, may be confirmed by laboratory studies; once animal host (s) are confirmed, interventions may be needed to prevent further animal-to-human transmission. Community seroprevalence studies may help determine the basis for the decline in disease incidence in Guangdong Province after February 2002. China will also be able to contribute key data about how the causative agent is transmitted and how it is evolving, as well as identifying pivotal factors influencing disease outcome.