Comparison of DNA methylation and cytology tests in urine to detect upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A paired-design diagnostic study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of a DNA methylation test, compare that test with cytology alone, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) alone, and cytology plus FISH, and explore reasons that may influence the accuracy of liquid biopsy. METHODS: We included 37 patients and 12 negative control individuals between April 2019 and May 2022. All patients had undergone radical nephroureterectomy, nephrectomy, diagnostic ureteroscopy, or tissue biopsy. Urine samples were collected for DNA methylation testing, cytology, and FISH. Test performance was calculated, and receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn for comparison. RESULTS: Median patient age was 66 years, and κ = 0.576 (P < .001) for the DNA methylation test and tissue pathology. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the DNA methylation test were 76%, 100%, 100%, and 74%, respectively, compared with 31%, 100%, 100%, and 50%, respectively, for cytology. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of cytology plus FISH were 66%, 100%, 100%, and 67%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the DNA methylation test was 0.879 (P < .001), and the AUC of cytology plus FISH was 0.828 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The test performance of DNA methylation was satisfactory. The DNA methylation test for the detection of upper tract urothelial carcinoma demonstrated better sensitivity than did cytology alone or cytology with FISH, but the accuracy of the combined tests was still acceptable. Further prospective studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the clinical value of this promising method.

Optimization of a Novel Tyrosinase Inhibitory Peptide from Atrina pectinata Mantle and Its Molecular Inhibitory Mechanism.

In order to realize the multi-level utilization of marine shellfish resources and to develop the potential biological activity of processing by-products of Atrina pectinata, gelatin was extracted from the mantle and the potential whitening effect of its enzymatic peptides was explored. Taking tyrosinase inhibitory activity as the evaluation index, the enzyme hydrolysate process was optimized by response-surface methodology, and the optimal enzyme hydrolysate conditions were as follows: pH 5.82, 238 min enzyme hydrolysate time, and temperature of 54.5 °C. Under these conditions, the tyrosinase inhibition activity of Atrina pectinata mantle gelatin peptide (APGP) was 88.6% (IC50 of 3.268 ± 0.048 mg/mL). The peptides obtained from the identification were separated by ultrafiltration and LC-MS/MS, and then four new peptides were screened by molecular docking, among which the peptide Tyr-Tyr-Pro (YYP) had the strongest inhibitory effect on tyrosinase with an IC50 value of 1.764 ± 0.025 mM. The molecular-docking results indicated that hydrogen bonding is the main driving force for the interaction of the peptide YYP with tyrosinase. From the Lineweaver-Burk analysis, it could be concluded that YYP is inhibitory to tyrosinase and exhibits a mixed mechanism of inhibition. These results suggest that YYP could be widely used as a tyrosinase inhibitor in whitening foods and pharmaceuticals.

Disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection recurrence in a non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome patient: A case report.

Penicillium marneffei is a rare deep tissue fungal infection causing an endemic in Southeast Asia. This infection causes penicilliosis disease and is more common in patients who are immunocompromised. To date, no cases of P. marneffei infection relapse following treatment have been reported. A 36-year-old patient attended our hospital as a result of intermittent fever, cough, shortness of breath and multiple soft lesions located on the face, arms, neck and trunk. The medical radiological examination of the lung revealed multiple patchy exudative shadows, thick-walled hollow inner part of the visible lesions, bilateral pleural and pericardial effusion. Assessing the skull and right collarbone, bilateral thoracic ribs and a plurality revealed numeorus lesions with reduced bone destruction and revealed that the patient was positive for P. marneffei infection. After 6 months of antifungal therapy, pulmonary symptoms and the surface lesions of the patient rapidly disappearance and the physical condition markedly improved. The patient did not attend a follow-up and stopped antifungal treatment. In February 2016, the patient presented with left breast and subcutaneous soft tissue mass of the head and neck. Fungal culture results revealed that the patient was again positive for P. marneffei infection. The present case suggested that clinical doctors and patients must pay more attention to regular treatment of the disseminated P. marneffei. It also highlighted the requirement for awareness of penicilliosis in non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients, who are not immunocompromised, who are living in or traveling to P. marneffei-endemic areas.

[Current status of human Schistosoma japonicum infection and reinfection in marshland and lake regions of Xinjian County, Jiangxi Province, China].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the dynamics of human infection and reinfection of Schistosoma japonicum after chemotherapy in marshland and lake endemic regions so as to provide the evidence for developing a cost-effective control strategy. METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, the schistosome infection, intensities and reinfection of population were investigated and the results were analyzed dynamically in Caohui Village, a national schistosomiasis surveillance site in Changyi Township, Xinjian County, Jiangxi Province, China. RESULTS: The schistosome infection rate was 3.55% and the mean intensity was 1.56 in 2007, and the schistosome infection rate was 1.52% and the mean intensity was 1.60 in 2011. The reinfection rates were 2.70%, 9.09% and 2.47% in 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. CONCLUSION: The schistosomiasis endemic situation shows a downtrend in the village. However, the reinfection is still serious; therefore, we should strengthen the research of risk factors of reinfection and control them.

[Epidemic situation of acute schistosomiasis in Nanchang City of Jiangxi Province from 2005 to 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the endemic regulation of acute schistosomiasis in Nanchang City of Jiangxi Province from 2005 to 2012 so as to provide the reference for policy-making of schistosomiasis control. METHODS: The data of acute schistosomiasis were collected and analyzed with the descriptive epidemiology method in Nanchang City from 2005 to 2012. RESULTS: A total of 52 acute schistosomiasis cases were reported in Nanchang City from 2005 to 2012. The morbidity of acute schistosomiasis was 0.003 46% in 2005, and it was 0 in 2012. The morbidity of acute schistosomiasis in different years was significant different (chi2 = 61.077, P < 0.01). The duration of incidence was from May to November, but the peak of the incidence was July. The sex ratio between males and females was 4.78:1 (43:9, chi2 = 22.231, P < 0.01). The ages of cases showed double humps, namely the 6-15 years' group and 30-40 years' group. Most of the acute cases were farmers (65.38%), students (25.00%), and fishermen (3.85%). Fishing and swimming were the main infection ways, with the infection rates of 63.46% and 26.92%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The susceptible populations are peasants and young students; therefore, we should strengthen health education for these high-risk groups.

[Surveillance of schistosomiasis in Caohui Village, Xinjian County, 2005 - 2010].

The surveillance of schistosomiasis in a national schistosomiasis surveillance site, Caohui Village, Xinjian County, 2005-2010 showed that the infection rates of residents and livestock decreased to below 3% and 5%, respectively. However, the endemic situation was still of instability. Therefore, we should strengthen the comprehensive control measures including the control of infectious sources in the light of local conditions to control the schistosomiasis endemic situation.