Objective: This study aims to observe the morphological characteristics of bacterial biofilm on the surface of ureteral stents and analyze distribution characteristics of pathogens on the bacterial biofilm and drug resistance. Methods: Ureteral stents were sampled from 129 patients. A scanning electron microscope was used to observe the morphological characteristics of bacterial biofilms, and the Congo red medium was applied to screen bacterial biofilm strains on the renal pelvis section, ureter section, and bladder section respectively. Urine culture was performed, and the drug sensitive test analysis was carried out for the pathogenic bacteria detected. Results: Bacterial biofilms can be observed on the surface of ureteral stents, and these bacteria are embraced by large amounts of fiber membranes. A total of 107 patients were found to be positive for biofilms with a positive rate of 82.9%. The positive rates of the bladder section, ureter section, renal pelvis section, and urine culture were 85.0, 42.9, 67.3, and 24.3% respectively. Pathogenic bacteria mainly concentrated on Escherichia coli, and the drug resistance rate of the bacterial biofilm strains on the ureteral stent was relatively higher. Conclusion: The bacterial biofilm on the ureteral stent is an important factor that induces catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

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GPI-IL-2 gene-modified tumor cells can make the TEXs contain GPI-IL-2, resulting in increased antitumor effects. Our study provided a feasible approach for exosome-based tumor immunotherapy.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storm is closely associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and lethality. However, drugs that are effective against inflammation to treat lethal COVID-19 are still urgently needed. Here, we constructed a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific CAR, and human T cells infected with this CAR (SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T) and stimulated with spike protein mimicked the T-cell responses seen in COVID-19 patients, causing cytokine storm and displaying a distinct memory, exhausted, and regulatory T-cell phenotype. THP1 remarkably augmented cytokine release in SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T cells when they were in coculture. Based on this “two-cell” (CAR-T and THP1 cells) model, we screened an FDA-approved drug library and found that felodipine, fasudil, imatinib, and caspofungin were effective in suppressing the release of cytokines, which was likely due to their ability to suppress the NF-κB pathway in vitro. Felodipine, fasudil, imatinib, and caspofungin were further demonstrated, although to different extents, to attenuate lethal inflammation, ameliorate severe pneumonia, and prevent mortality in a SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian hamster model, which were also linked to their suppressive role in inflammation. In summary, we established a SARS-CoV-2-specific CAR-T-cell model that can be utilized as a tool for anti-inflammatory drug screening in a fast and high-throughput manner. The drugs identified herein have great potential for early treatment to prevent COVID-19 patients from cytokine storm-induced lethality in the clinic because they are safe, inexpensive, and easily accessible for immediate use in most countries.

To analyze the bacterial biofilm (BF) formation in patients with malignancy undergoing double J stent indwelling and its influencing factors. Methods: A total of 167 patients with malignant tumors who received double J stent indwelling in the hospital from January 2018 to January 2021 were included in the study. The urine and double J stent samples were collected for bacterial identification and observed for BF formation on the surface of the urinary catheter under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the influencing factors of BF. Results:The BF formation rate was 34.73% (58/167). The BF formation rate of positive specimens cultured in urine and double J stent was significantly higher than that of negative ones (P<0.05). Staphylococcus was the main BF bacteria in double J stent and urine culture specimens, followed by Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, and Acinetobacter. Compared with the non-BF group, the number of viable bacteria in the double J stent and urine and the catheterization time in the BF group rose markedly (P<0.05). Advanced age, chemotherapy, anemia, indwelling time ≥90d, and urinary tract infection were risk factors for BF formation in patients with malignancy undergoing double J stent indwelling (P<0.05). Conclusion:There is a high rate of BF formation in patients with malignancy undergoing double J stent indwelling, with Staphylococcus as the dominant species. Treatment requires enhanced urinary catheter management and nutritional status to inhibit BF formation and lower the rate of urinary catheter-related infections.