Objective To investigate the diagnostic value and optimal threshold value of plasma 1,3-β-D-glucan test (G test)in the invasive fungal infections (IFI).Methods 46 patients diagnosed with IFI in our hospital from February 2012 to March 2014 were enrolled in this study,and 30 patients without IFI underwent surgical elective surgery in our hospital were selected as the neg-ative controls.The plasma 1,3-β-D-glucan content was quantitatively detected by using MB-80 microbial dynamic rapid detection system and its supporting G test kit.The results were evaluated by ROC curve for the determination of the optimal threshold value of G test.Results The plasma 1,3-β-D-glucan levels were (45.28±44.50)pg/mL in the IFI group and (8.62±4.85)pg/mL in the control group respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05 ).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal threshold value of plasma 1 ,3-β-D-glucan used for diagnosis of IFI was 14.7 pg/mL;the area under the curve was up to 0.937;95% CI was between 0.888 and 0.990;the sensitivity and specificity were 88.9% and 90.3% respectively;G test had a better diagnostic efficiency.Conclusion The plasma 1 ,3-β-D-glucan test has a diagnostic application value for IFI,which can be used as the early warning indicator of IFI.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the instant gastrointestinal ultrasound contrast agent in the digestive diseases. Methods Five hundred and seventy-nine patients received the examination of the color Doppler after they drinked the ultrasonic contrast agent. Then the results were analyzed by consistency analysis. Results There was high consistency between the two examinations in the normal control, gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and gastric leiomyoma. The Kappa value was 0.768, 0.913, 0.925, 0.939 and 1.000, respectively. But the consistency in the gastric polyp was low , the Kappa value was 0.368. Conclusion The color Doppler through the instant gastrointestinal ultrasound contrast agent has high diagnostic value in the common diseases of the digestive system.

Objective To investigate the effect of benazepril on intergrin-linked kinase (ILK) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in glomerular mesangial cells induced by high-glucose.Methods The mesangial cells from SD rat (HBZY-1) were cultured conventionally and randomly divided into four groups:normal glucose (D-glucose 5.5 mmol/L,group NG),mannitol-treated group (mannitol 20 mmol/L,group MG),high glucose (D-glucose 30 mmol/L,group HG),Benazepril-treated high glucose group (D-glucose 30 mmol/L + Benazepril 10 μmol/L,group ACEI).Cells from NG,MG,HG,ACEI gronps were harvested after 3,6,12,24,48 and 72 hours of treatment respectively.The mRNA expressions of ILK and α-SMA were detected by RT-PCR.The protein levels of ILK and α-SMA were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence.Results The expressions of ILK mRNA and protein in HG group were significantly increased compared with those in NG group (all P ＜ 0.05).The increased expressions of ILK and α-SMA in HG group were time-dependent and the expression reached the peak at 48 h (ILK,P ＜ 0.05) or 72 h (α-SMA,P ＜ 0.01).The expressions of ILK and α-SMA in ACEI group were lower than those in HG group (all P ＜ 0.01),but failed to rescue to the same level as those in NG.There was no significant differences of ILK expressions between MG group and NG group at the same time point (P ＞ 0.05).The expressions of α-SMA mRNA and protein in MG were higher than that in NG (P ＜ 0.05),which suggest that high osmotic pressure could cause the increasing of α-SMA.Conclusions Benazepril can decrease the expressions of ILK and α-SMA to inhibit the process of fibrosis in DN and mediate the phenotypic transformation of glomerular mesangial cells.The phenotypic transformation of glomerular mesangial cells in glucose may also depend on high osmotic pressure in DN.

Objective To observe the effects of uric acid (UA) on mitochondrial oxidative damage and apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2),and investigate the possible mechanism.Methods HK-2 cells were exposed to UA (480 μmol/L,720 μmol/L) for different time (0 h,24 h,48 h)in vitro.The mitochondrial ROS production was detected by MitoSOX staining.The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by JC-1 staining.The expressions of prohibitin and AIF were examined by Western blotting and irnmunofluorescence cytochemistry.The cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining.Results The mitochondrial ROS production in HK-2 cells exposed to 480 μ mol/L UA was increased than that of control group at 24 h (P ＜ 0.05),and increased gradually with UA concentration and incubation time increasing,while the mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced at the same time.There were no significant changes in AIF expression and apoptosis rate of HK -2 cells exposed to 480 μmol/L UA for 24 h compared with that of control group (P ＞ 0.05),while both of them were up-regulated when HK-2 cells were exposed to 480 μmol/L UA for 48 h and 720 μmol/L JA for 24 h and 48 h (P ＜ 0.05).The prohibitin expression in HK-2 cells exposed to 480 μmol/L UA was reduced than that of control group at 24 h (P ＜ 0.05),and down-regulated gradually with UA concentration and incubation time increasing.Conclusion Uric acid can induce the mitochondrial ROS production increased,the mitochondrial membrane potential reduced,the prohibitin expression down-regulated and the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway activated in HK-2 cells.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the features of gray scale and colour Doppler sonography for carotid body tumor, to improve the sonographic diagnostic accuracy.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed of sonographic material of 18 carotid body tumors by gray scale sonography and 11 by colour Doppler sonography, with comparison with other diseases which are frequently misdiagnosed as carotid tumor.

RESULTSWell-defined, even weakly hypoechoic masses were noted on gray scale ultrasonogram at the carotid bifurcation, commonly broadening the carotid bifurcation and often encasing the common, external and internal carotid arteries. Disorderly non-echoic channel- like structures in the tumor were sometimes observed. Colour Doppler sonography showed abundant flow in the tumor. The non-echoic channel- like structures were vascularities. Seventeen masses diagnosed by ultrasound were proved to be carotid body tumors. The other was confirmed as a neurogenic tumor, giving an accuracy rate of 94.4% for sonographic diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSonographic examination of the carotid body tumor is highly accurate. It is safe and reliable.

Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Body Tumor ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color