Objective To study the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes,geographical distribution,and the sites of infection of Trichophyton rubrum(T.rubrum).Methods The genotypes were determined by Southern blotting with a probe amplified from the small-subunit rDNA and adjacent internal transcribed spacer(ITS)regions.The phenotypes of T.rubrum were determined by conventional method.Results Twenty genotypes(DNA type A to T)and5phenotypes(villous,furrowed,granular,powdery,and woolly)were recognized among49strains of T.rubrum.Genotype A prevailed in all phenotypes except granu-lar type.Type B represented the most common genotype among the strains of villous type and furrowed type.Type A took the first place in powdery type and woolly type.All of the type A strains were from Dalian.Seven of9type B strains were from Nanjing.Six type C strains were all from Nanjing.The majority strains of21strains isolated from tinea unguium were type C,most of the16strains isolated from tinea cruris and tinea corporis were type A,8strains from tinea pedis were type B,and4strains from tinea capitis were type C.Conclusion There are certain possible relationships between genotypes and phenotypes,geographical distri-bution and sites of infection of T.rubrum.

Objective To study the effect of small diameter graft (0.8 cm) splenocaval or mesocaval shunts combined with pericardial devascularization in the treatment of portal hypertensive variceal bleeding. Methods Splenocaval shunts were performed in 14 patients and mesocaval shunts were done in 24 patients, in combination with pericardial devascularization. Results The average decrease of free portal pressure was 6.6±1.2 cm. There was no significant changes in liver function postoperatively (P>0.05). Platelet counts and leukocyte counts were back to normal in splenocaval shunt patients postoperatively (P< 0.05). Operative mortality was 3%. Pyrexia developed in 4 patients, intractable ascites in 1 patient, chylons ascites in 1 patient, hepatic encephalopathy in 1 patient, intraabdominal infection in 1 patient and stress ulceration in 1 patient. All patients recovered after expectant treatment except one who died from severe intraabdominal infection. 35 patients received follow-up between 6 months and 3 years, total effective rate was 89%, 2 patients died from recurrent variceal bleeding, the shunt potency rate was 80% in 1 year and 75% in 3 years. Esophagogastric varices disappeared or alleviated as shown by endoscopy in 25 patients on 6 months postoperatively. Conclusions Small diameter portosystemic graft shunts combined with poricardial devascularization is an effective therapy for bleeding esophagogastric varices with a low rate of hepatic encephalopathy. Splenocaval shunt alleviates hypersplenism concurrently.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical carcinoma. Methods TAC(DDP, EPI and BLM) was applied in 68 patients with cervical carcinoma. Therapeutic efficacy and side effects were documented. Results After 1～3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, clinical symptoms remission rares reached 100% ,response rate were 100% (40/40) in Ⅰ b～Ⅱ a,90.9% (20/22) in Ⅱ b and 50% (2/4)in Ⅲ a, respectively. Radical resection reached 91.2 %, and only 6 patients of advanced disease failed to radical resection and turned to radiotherapy. Conclusion Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a safe and effective therapeutic option which could alleviate clinical symptoms, decrease tumor size, down-staging and increase the radical resection rate.

Objective To study the pros and cons of two methods of infusing itraconazole injectionand prevent the blockage of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and improve patients' satisfaction with nursing technology.Methods 172 patients infusing itraconazole were divided into two groups by random digital table method.86 cases established an independent infusion pathway as the control group,another 86 cases using PICC for itraconazole injection and withdrawing plunger of the syringe about 0.5 ml before and after the infusion and then pulsing-flushing it with 10 ml normal saline as the experimental group.Then compared the blockage rate of PICC and the patients' satisfaction with nursing technology.Results The blockage rate of the two groups had no significant difference (x2 =0.206,P ＞ 0.05) while patients' satisfaction with nursing skills was distinct,and the experimental group's was 96.51％ (83/86),much higher than 16.28％ (14/86) of the control group.Conclusions Withdrawing taken before and after the infusion of itraconazole injection could effectively prevent catheter blockage and improve patients' satisfaction with nursing technology.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the DNA polymorphism of Sporothrix schenckii (S. schenckii) and to find the relationship between DNA patterns and geographic areas and clinical manifestations.

METHODThe total DNA was extracted with hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide. Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay was used to study DNA typing of 24 strains of S. schenckii collected from different areas and isolated from different clinical types.

RESULTSOf seven random primers used, three primers (OPAA11, OPD18 and OPB07) gave good reactions, the sequences of which were 5'-ACCCGACCTG-3', 5'-GAGAGCCAAC-3', 5'-GGTGAC~GCAG-3' respectively. The RAPD patterns of the 24 isolates were not completely identical, showing certain degrees of hereditary variability. Different isolates showed a common conserved DNA band with the same primer. Different clinical types showed different genotypes.

CONCLUSIONRAPD analysis is useful in DNA typing of S. schenckii, the DNA band type of which is related to geographic origin and Clinical manifestation.

DNA, Fungal ; analysis ; Humans ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Sporothrix ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the ettect and side-ettect of fluoxetine and combination of fluoxetine and Chinese or Tibetan medicine in treating senile depression in plateau district. Methods Ninety patients with diagnosis of senile depression conformed to CCMD-3 standard, in plateau district of 2260 - 3200 m altitude were randomly divided into three groups and treated with fluoxetine (group A), fluoxetine plus Sanpu Xinnao Xin granule (group B) and fluoxetine plus Xiaoyao pill (group C), respectively, 30 cases in each group. Therapeutic effects were evaluated with Hamilton' s depressive scale (HAMD) and treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) after 6 weeks treatment.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the therapeutic effects between the three groups. The adverse reaction in Group B and C was less than that in Group A (P<0.01). Conclusion Sanpu Xinnao Xin granule and Xiaoyao pill can raise the tolerance of patients with senile depression in plateau area against the adverse reaction of fluoxetine.

Aged ; Altitude ; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation ; therapeutic use ; Depressive Disorder ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fluoxetine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy is the most common treatment regimen for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Whether chronomodulated infusion of chemotherapy can reduce its toxicity is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the toxic and therapeutic effects of sinusoidal chronomodulated infusion versus flat intermittent infusion of cisplatin (DDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by radiotherapy in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. Patients with biopsy-diagnosed untreated stages III and IV NPC (according to the 2002 UICC staging system) were randomized to undergo 2 cycles of sinusoidal chronomodulated infusion (Arm A) or flat intermittent constant rate infusion (Arm B) of DDP and 5-FU followed by radical radiotherapy. Using a "MELODIE" multi-channel programmed pump, the patients were given 12-hour continuous infusions of DDP (20 mg/m2) and 5-FU (750 mg/m2) for 5 days, repeated every 3 weeks for 2 cycles. DDP was administered from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, and 5-FU was administered from 10:00 pm to 10:00 am each day. Chronomodulated infusion was performed in Arm A, with the peak deliveries of 5-FU at 4:00 am and DDP at 4:00 pm. The patients in Arm B underwent a constant rate of infusion. Radiotherapy was initiated in the fifth week, and both arms were treated with the same radiotherapy techniques and dose fractions. Between June 2004 and June 2006, 125 patients were registered, and 124 were eligible for analysis of response and toxicity. The major toxicity observed during neoadjuvant chemotherapy was neutropenia. The incidence of acute toxicity was similar in both arms. During radiotherapy, the incidence of stomatitis was significantly lower in Arm A than in Arm B (38.1% vs. 59.0%, P = 0.020). No significant differences were observed for other toxicities. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 88.9%, 82.4%, and 74.8% for Arm A and 91.8%, 90.2%, and 82.1% for Arm B. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 91.7%, 88.1%, and 85.2% for Arm A and 100%, 94.5%, and 86.9% for Arm B. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rates were 82.5%, 79.1%, and 79.1% for Arm A and 90.2%, 85.2%, and 81.7% for Arm B. Chronochemotherapy significantly reduced stomatitis but was not superior to standard chemotherapy in terms of hematologic toxicities and therapeutic response.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose Fractionation ; Drug Chronotherapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Radiotherapy, High-Energy ; Stomatitis ; etiology ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDIn March 2013, human cases of infection with a novel A (H7N9) influenza virus emerged in China. The epidemic spread quickly and as of 6 May 2013, there were 129 confirmed cases. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of the confirmed cases, determine the impacts of bird migration and temperature changes on the H7N9 epidemic, predict the future trends of the epidemic, explore the response patterns of the government and propose preventive suggestions.

METHODSThe geographic, temporal and population distribution of all cases reported up to 6 May 2013 were described from available records. Risk assessment standard was established by analysing the temperature and relative humidity records during the period of extensive outbreak in three epidemic regions in eastern China, including Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. Risk assessment maps were created by combining the bird migration routes in eastern China with the monthly average temperatures from May 1993 to December 2012 nationwide.

RESULTSAmong the confirmed cases, there were more men than women, and 50.4% were elderly adults (age >61 years). The major demographic groups were retirees and farmers. The temperature on the days of disease onset was concentrated in the range of 9°C-19°C; we defined 9°C-19°C as the high-risk temperature range, 0°C-9°C or 19°C-25°C as medium risk and <0°C or >25°C as low risk. The relative humidity on the days of disease onset ranged widely from 25% to 99%, but did not correlate with the incidence of infection. Based on the temperature analysis and the eastern bird migration routes, we predicted that after May, the high-risk region would move to the northeast and inland, while after September, it would move back to north China.

CONCLUSIONSTemperature and bird migration strongly influence the spread of the H7N9 virus. In order to control the H7N9 epidemic effectively, Chinese authorities should strengthen the surveillance of migrating birds, increase poultry and environmental sampling, improve live poultry selling and husbandry patterns and move from a "passive response pattern" to an "active response pattern" in focused preventive measures.

Animals ; Birds ; China ; epidemiology ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; Temperature