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Photonic cancer hyperthermia has been considered to be one of the most representative noninvasive cancer treatments with high therapeutic efficiency and biosafety. However, it still remains a crucial challenge to develop efficient photothermal nanoagents with satisfactory photothermal performance and biocompatibility, among which two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin nanosheets have recently been regarded as the promising multifunctional theranostic agents for photothermal tumor ablation. In this work, we report, for the first time, on the construction of a novel kind of photothermal agents based on the intriguing 2D antimony(III) selenide (Sb2Se3) nanosheets for highly efficient photoacoustic imaging-guided photonic cancer hyperthermia by near-infrared (NIR) laser activation. These Sb2Se3nanosheets were easily fabricated by a novel but efficiently combined liquid nitrogen pretreatment and freezing–thawing approach, which were featured with high photothermal-conversion capability (extinction coefficient: 33.2 L g–1cm–1; photothermal-conversion efficiency: 30.78%). The further surface engineering of these Sb2Se3ultrathin nanosheets with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) substantially improved the biocompatibility of the nanosheets and their stability in physiological environments, guaranteeing the feasibility in photonic antitumor applications. Importantly, 2D Sb2Se3–PVP nanosheets have been certificated to efficiently eradicate the tumors by NIR-triggered photonic tumor hyperthermia. Especially, the biosafety in vitro and in vivo of these Sb2Se3ultrathin nanosheets has been evaluated and demonstrated. This work meaningfully expands the biomedical applications of 2D bionanoplatforms with a planar topology through probing into new members (Sb2Se3in this work) of 2D biomaterials with unique intrinsic physiochemical property and biological effect.

In this article, we present a rare case of breast metastasis of lung cancer. Chest computed tomography (CT) for a woman in her early 50s indicated right lung malignancy, multiple bone metastases, and an irregular mass in her right breast. Further inquiry into the case history revealed that the patient had been aware of the breast mass for 3 years, without respiratory symptoms. Biopsy of the breast mass suggested estrogen receptor (ER) (+), progesterone receptor (PR) (−), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) (+ +) breast cancer. The patient was initially diagnosed with breast cancer with lung and bone metastasis. However, comprehensive breast cancer treatment was ineffective, and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), napsin A, and cytokeratin 7 (CK7) were evaluated to better understand the origin of the cancer. To the best of our knowledge, this patient had the longest reported disease course from presentation with a breast lump as the first symptom to the final diagnosis of breast metastasis of lung cancer. To provide a better reference for differential diagnosis of ambiguous tumors, we also performed a systematic literature review.

The fast progress of theranostic nanomedicine has catalyzed the generation of diverse inorganic nanosystems with intrinsic multifunctionalities for versatile biomedical applications. However, these inorganic biomaterials suffer from the critical issue of low biodegradation rates and subsequently long-term accumulation-induced biosafety risk. Furthermore, the components of some inorganic nanosystems are not the necessary elements/components of the body, unavoidably causing immune response and inducing the toxic potential. The emergence of ultrathin two-dimensional black phosphorus (B.P.) nanosheets as a robust platform promises the clinical translation and biomedical applications of inorganic nanosystems based on their intriguing nature of easy biodegradation and single phosphorus composition, as necessarily required in vivo. This review summarizes and discusses the very recent developments and paradigms of ultrathin B.P. nanosheets in versatile biomedical applications, ranging from design/fabrication strategies, theranostic nanomedicine (PDT/PTT/chemotherapy, synergistic therapy and fluorescence/photoacoustic-based bio-imaging) to biosensing applications. The unique biological behavior and toxicity issue of these B.P. nanosheets are also discussed to guarantee their safe clinical translation. It is highly expected that the elaborately designed/engineered B.P. nanosheets will emerge as one of the most representative biodegradable inorganic nanosystems for versatile and immense biomedical applications to benefit the health of human beings.

AbstractVibrio parahaemolyticusis a major cause of foodborne gastroenteritis in China, Japan, and other countries. The pandemic O3:K6 clone, which harbors thermostable direct hemolysin [tdh] gene and toxRS/newgene, is mainly responsible for the foodborne outbreaks after 1995. Previous studies showed that genes in the pathogenicity island-1 (VPaI-1) and VPaI-5 are harbored only by pandemic strains, whereas genes in VPaI-7 and type III secretion system 2 are closely associated with tdh-positive strains of V. parahaemolyticus. In this study, we examined the distribution of genes encoding VPaI-2, VPaI-3, VPaI-4, VPaI-6, type VI secretion systems (T6SS), biofilm, and type I pilus in 71 food and 116 clinical strains of V. parahaemolyticus. The results showed that most of the pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticusharbored the complete genes of VPaI-2, T6SS, and type I pilus. In contrast, most of the pathogenic strains (harboring tdhgene or TDH-related hemolysin [trh] gene) and nonpathogenic strains (harboring neither tdhgene nor trhgene) contained partial genes of VPaI-2, T6SS, and type I pilus. Genes of VPaI-4 were exclusively present in the pandemic strains. Genes of VPaI-3 were present in most of the pandemic strains and a small percentage of nonpathogenic strains, mainly O3:K6 strains. VPaI-6 and biofilm-associated genes were harbored by almost all the strains, irrespective of their pandemic, pathogenic, or nonpathogenic traits.

AbstractVibrio parahaemolyticusis a major foodborne pathogen in China, Japan, and other Asian countries. In this study, we collected 437 strains of V. parahaemolyticusand investigated their serotypes, distribution of virulence genes, and presence of pandemic O3:K6 clone strains. A total of 327 strains were isolated from food and 110 strains were isolated from active surveillance hospitals or food outbreaks during 2005 to 2008. Presence of the tdhand trhgenes is the key characteristic of virulent strains. Positive for both the tdhgene and group-specific polymerase chain reaction is the key characteristic of pandemic strains. A total of 9 O serogroups and 62 serovars were identified in all strains. Nine O serogroups and 56 serovars existed in 327 foodborne strains, and 6 O serogroups and 20 serovars existed in 110 clinical strains. Among the 327 food isolates, 6 isolates belonged to the pandemic clone with the orf8gene (1 isolate was O1:KUT (untyped) and 5 isolates were O3:K6) and 4 isolates carried the trhgene (2 isolates belonged to O1:KUT and 2 isolates belonged to O5:KUT and O5:K17). Seventy-nine percent of the clinical isolates were pandemic strains, 9.4% of which lacked the orf8gene. O3:K6 was the main serovar of the pandemic strains accounting for 83.5% of the clinical pandemic strains. Pandemic clonal serovars included O3:K6, O1:KUT, O1:K25, O1:K26, and O4:K68, and the newly emerging serovars O1:K36, O3:K25, and O3:K68 identified in the current study. O3:K6 was the dominant serovar in pandemic strains. All pandemic isolates had identical arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction fragment patterns, but did not share similar antibiotic sensitivity patterns. These results suggest that high serodiversity of V. parahaemolyticuswas present in foodborne strains. Pathogenic isolates, especially pandemic isolates, were present in high-priced iced seafood and became the potential risk factor in food.

AbstractVibrio parahaemolyticusis one of the most important pathogens capable of causing foodborne gastroenteritis in China, Japan, and other countries. Pathogenic V. parahaemolyticushas been known to produce either thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH), TDH-related hemolysin (TRH), or both. The emergence of a new clone in 1995, V. parahaemolyticusO3:K6, has resulted in the first documented pandemic spread of V. parahaemolyticus. In this study, 235 isolates from clinical and food sources were characterized by determining the presence of known virulence factors (tdh, trh), systematic genetic markers (toxRS/new, pandemic group-specific sequence [PGS], orf8) specific for V. parahaemolyticusO3:K6 clone and its clonal derivatives, three important genomic islands (GIs) (VPaI-1, VPaI-5, and VPaI-7), and two type III secretion systems (T3SS1 and T3SS2). Our results showed that all 235 isolates harbored all or part of the T3SS1 genes. All the 103 tdh-positive strains harbored all or part of the VPaI-7 and T3SS2 genes. A total of 91 isolates including six foodborne isolates belonged to a pandemic clone in which eight isolates lacked orf8. All pandemic strains harbored VPaI-1 and VPaI-5 except one O4:K68 strain that lacked VPaI-5 altogether. Twelve clinical pathogenic strains had VPaI-7 and T3SS2 but lacked VPaI-1 and VPaI-5. Thirteen nonpathogenic clinical strains and 119 foodborne strains, including six foodborne pathogenic trh-positive strains, only harbored T3SS1 genes. These results indicated that O3:K6 and its serovariants were the main pandemic clone in China. VPaI-1 and VPaI-5 genes were specifically correlated with pandemic strains while VPaI-7 and T3SS2 were closely associated with tdh-positive strains.

This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Escherichia coliO157:H7 in Chinese food products. The prevalence of these pathogens was 3.46, 5.79, 7, 0.24, and 0, respectively. Raw meats were mainly contaminated with Salmonella(39/365, 10.7), L. monocytogenes(26/365, 7.1), and S. aureus(40/365, 11), while cooked food products were mainly contaminated with L. monocytogenes(45/384, 11.7) followed by S. aureus(12/384, 3.1), and raw milk was mainly contaminated with S. aureus(34/209, 16.3) and Salmonella(4/209, 1.9). Antimicrobial resistance was evaluated in Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus. Antimicrobial resistance for L. monocytogeneswas most frequently observed for cefotaxime (51/72, 70.8) followed by furazolidone (40/72, 55.6). Multiple resistance (resistance to ≥2 antibiotics) was observed for 63.9 (46/72) of L. monocytogenesisolates. Resistance of Salmonellawas most frequently observed to amoxicillin (11.6), ticarcilline (11.6), cephalothin (11.6), and cefuroxime (11.6). Multiple resistance was observed for 16.3 (7/43) of the Salmonellaisolates. Staphylococcus aureuswas resistant to penicillin (93.1) followed by tetracycline and oxacillin COAG (49.4 and 37.9, respectively). About 79 (69/87) of S. aureusisolated demonstrated multiple resistance. The data showed that raw meat, cooked food products, and raw milk were most commonly contaminated with foodborne pathogens and many pathogens were resistant to different antibiotics. The study provided useful information for assessment of the possible risk posed to Chinese consumers, which has significant public health impact in China.

This study was performed to describe a rare case of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) that was successfully treated with bromocriptine in a male patient with gynecomastia and hyperprolactinemia. A 20-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of breast enlargement and galactorrhea. Physical examination revealed bilateral breast enlargement, porous discharge, and a 3-cm left breast lump in the 10-o’clock quadrant. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a 1.2-mm pituitary tumor. Laboratory analysis revealed hyperprolactinemia with low serum testosterone and elevated prolactin and estradiol levels. The lump in the left breast was examined by ultrasonography and mammography, and a core needle biopsy revealed chronic inflammation. The patient’s galactorrhea and breast lump disappeared after 3 months of treatment with bromocriptine at 2.5 mg once a day. His serum prolactin level also normalized. Following a review of this case, the patient was diagnosed with gynecomastia with hyperprolactinemia complicated by rare GLM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of concurrent gynecomastia and GLM.