Background. In the general population, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents a significant cause of mortality. This study is aimed at identifying novel diagnostic biomarkers to aid in treating and diagnosing AMI. Methods. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was explored to extract two microarray datasets, GSE66360 and GSE48060, which were subsequently merged into a single cohort. Both AMI and control samples were analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were subsequently subjected to weighed gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the most significant module. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analyses subsequently carried out the most significant gene modules along with construction of a protein‐protein interaction network (PPI). Cytoscape plugin cytoHubba allowed for the prediction of the top 4 key genes according to the network maximal clique centrality (MCC) algorithm. The expression levels and diagnostic value of the four key genes were additionally verified in the GSE62646 dataset. Results. A WCGNA analysis revealed 878 DEGs which were clustered into 6 modules. The module with the most significance in AMI was colored blue. Subsequent GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on blue module genes revealed that they were primarily enriched in the inflammation‐related pathways. These findings, in combination with PPI and coexpression networks, resulted in the identification of the top four genes by cytoHubba, which included leukocyte immunoglobulin‐like receptor B2 (LILRB2), toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2), neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (NCF2), and S100A9. Among them, LILRB2, NCF2, and S100A9 were validated in the GSE62646 dataset. Conclusions. The results suggested that LILRB2, NCF2, and S100A9 could be potential gene biomarkers for AMI.

Transcriptional feedback loops in Arabidopsis circadian clock is composed of more repressive components, while the knowledge of activation mechanism remains limited. We recently reported 2 members from a family of NIGHT LIGHT-INDUCIBLE AND CLOCK-REGULATED genes, LNK1 and LNK2, dynamically interact with morning-phased transcriptional factors, like CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1), LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY), REVEILLE8 (RVE8) and RVE4, and function as coactivators for the expression of TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION1 (TOC1) and PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR5 (PRR5) via transcriptional factors RVE8 and RVE4. Here we provide evidence that both LNK1 and LNK2 play critical role in the transcriptional activation of PRR5, LNK1 may contribute more than LNK2 did under experimental conditions. We also identified that both LNK1 and LNK2 recruitment to the evening element of PRR5 promoter via LNK1-RVE8 or LNK2-RVE8 proteins complex through electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Therefore LNK1 and LNK2 function as coactivator of dawn-phased MYB-like transcription factors, such as RVE8 in morning complex to regulate the target genes expression.

Klebsiella pneumoniae invasion syndrome (KPIS) is a critical multi-site infection that is usually caused by highly virulent Klebsiella pneumonia. It is relatively common in Asian patients with diabetes and leads to sepsis, which has a high mortality rate. We report the case of a man in his early 40s who presented to the hospital with blurred vision in his left eye of 7 days’ duration and fever of 1 day’s duration. After a complete examination, he was diagnosed with KPIS on the basis of his liver abscessation, lung abscessation, endophthalmitis of the left eye and brain abscessation. After needle puncture and drainage of the left eye and liver abscess and anti-bacterial treatment with meropenem, the patient recovered well. When KPIS is suspected, attention should be paid to the sites of infection and the selection of the most appropriate antibiotics, but the most important aim should be to drain the lesions in a timely manner to improve the patient’s prognosis.

Candidemia leads to higher mortality and longer hospital-stay. While the studies about the clinical manifestations of candidemia caused by different Candida species and the relationship between the antifungal drugs and prognosis were rarely performed. This retrospective study enrolled all 94 patients diagnosed as candidemia from January 2020 to July 2023 in BTCH. Demographic information, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, medications and prognosis were collected and analyzed. C. albicans was the most common specie of candidemia. There was no significant difference in age, gender and hospital-mortality in different species groups. Higher-level and longer duration of broad-spectrum antibiotic use, lower BMI, hypoalbuminemia, longer duration of PN and history of G+ coccemia were conclusive about mortality. The C.tropicalis group had higher SCRE levels (F = 8.40, P = 0.03) and shorter TTP (F = 5.03, P < 0.01) than other species. No distinction was found in different antifungal drugs groups including triazoles and echinocandins after 7 days treatment (χ2 = 0.05, P = 0.81). The efficacy was no difference between triazoles and echinocandins in the different species groups. (χ12 = 1.20, P1 = 0.75; χ22 = 0.05, P2 = 0.81). C. albicans accounts the most among candida induecd candidemia.The C.tropicalis group had higher SCRE levels and shorter TTP than other groups. Elder, hypoproteinemia, lower BMI, longer duration and higher-level of broad-spectrum antibiotic use, longer PN support and G+ coccemia increase risks for candidemia. The efficacy of triazoles and echinocandins are the same when blood culture turned negative in 7 days.

Accumulating evidence has established a correlation between Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC)-mediated immunosuppression and the prognosis of sepsis and septic shock. Nevertheless, whether MDSCs are associated with distinct infection foci or pathogen types has yet to be determined. The present study therefore aimed to clarify the significance of peripheral blood MDSCs in this context. This single-center, prospective observational cohort study enrolled patients according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, and blood samples were collected from all participants. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the percentage of MDSCs in different groups, and the results were subsequently compared and analyzed to further elucidate the role of MDSCs in sepsis by investigating their association with distinct infectious origins. The expression levels of both PMN-MDSCs and M-MDSCs were significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the healthy control group (4.92 ± 0.31 vs. 2.20 ± 0.14, t = 6.87, P < 0.01; 19.40 ± 1.31 vs. 7.93 ± 0.45, t = 6.80, P < 0.01, respectively). However, no significant differences were observed in the levels of these subsets between the general sepsis and septic shock groups (t = 0.56, P = 0.58; t = −1.43, P = 0.16). Patient mortality was significantly correlated with both PMN-MDSCs (Wald = 5.56, P = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.43–0.92) and M-MDSCs (Wald = 5.25, P = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.98–1.26). Regarding infection sites, M-MDSC expression was significantly lower in pulmonary infections compared to urinary tract infections (t = 2.77, P = 0.01). In contrast, no significant differences were found in PMN-MDSC expression between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections (t = 0.99, P = 0.32). However, M-MDSC expression levels were significantly higher in Gram-negative infections than in Gram-positive infections (t = 2.97, P = 0.02). MDSC-mediated immunosuppression correlates with patient prognosis and mortality risk. While no early-stage difference in MDSC expression was found between sepsis and septic shock—underscoring the need for dynamic monitoring—expression levels did vary by infection site. Specifically, M-MDSCs were significantly elevated in urinary tract infections and were more pronounced in Gram-negative than in Gram-positive bacterial infections.