Objective To analyze the sensitivity of clinical isolates of Candida albicans to flucona- zole,to detect mutations in their ERG11 genes,and to investigate the correlation between ERG11 gene mutation and resistance to fluconazole.Methods Candida albicans was identified from clinical isolates of Candida spp..The sensitivity to fluconazole was detected in vitro by microdilution-basesd method and Rosco tablets method.Three pairs of primers were designed to amplify three fragments of ERG11 gene(483 bps, from 295 bp to777 bp;482bps,from 723 bp to 1204 bp;489 bps,from 1179 bp to 1667 bp)after the extracting of genomic DNA.PCR products were sequenced.Results Eighty clinical isolates of Candida spp.were collected,which included 52 isolates of Candida albicans,all of which were sensitive to flucona- zole.Nineteen mutations were detected in ERG11 gene of 5 fluconazole-sensitive clinical isolates.Of the 19 mutations,14 were samesense mutations,and the remaing 5 missense mutations(T495A,A530C, G640A,A945C and G1609A),resulting in amino acid substitution D116E,K128T,E165K,E266D and V488I,respectively in lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase.E165K was a novel mutation.Conclusions The clinical isolates of Candida albicans were highly sensitive to fluconazole;E165K and V488I might not lead to the resistance of Candida albicans to fluconazole.

OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion in treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSSixty cases of KOA were randomly divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group and a conventional moxibustion group, 30 cases in each one. Dubi (ST 35), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) and Heding (EX-LE 2) on the affected side were selected in two groups. In heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the techniques of circling moxibustion, sparrow-pecking moxibustion, moving moxibustion and mild moxibustion were applied. In conventional moxibustion group, the mild moxibustion was used, 2 to 3 cm far from the skin of the acupoints selected. Lysholm scale for the assessment of knee joint function was adopted to evaluate the efficacy. The scores of joint pain, morning stiffness, joint swelling and walking ability were compared before and after treatment in two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of joint pain, morning stiffness, joint swelling and walking ability after treatment were all apparently improved as compared with those before treatment in either group (all P < 0.05). The improvement in the above-mentioned indices in heat-sensitive moxibustion group was much more apparent as compared with that in conventional moxibustion group (all P < 0.01). The effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in heat-sensitive moxibustion group and was 73.3% (22/30) in conventional moxibustion group. The effective rate in heat-sensitive moxibustion group was obviously superior to that in conventional moxibustion group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion is superior to that of conventional moxibustion in the treatment of KOA. This therapy can more significantly improve the symptoms and physical signs of the patients with KOA.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genetic association between schizophrenia and polymorphism of D-amino acid-oxidase (DAAO) gene.

METHODSA total of 112 parent/offspring trios in which the proband met the Amerecan Classification and Diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders (Fourth Revised Edition) were included in this study. Correlation analysis between schizophrenia and DAAO gene polymorphism and haplotype relative risk analysis were conducetd by using PCR and SNP typing in all the nuclear families.

RESULTSThe rs3918347 allele was correlated to schizophrenia (P = 0.014). Allele A was a protective factor (Z = -2.37) and allele G the hazard factor (Z = 2.37). The frequency of rs3918347 allele A was 0.41 and that of the allele G was 0.59. The rs3741775, rs3825251 and rs4964770 alleles were not associated with schizophrenia. Three haplotypes of C/G in the rs3825251-rs3918347, G/T in the rs3918347-rs4964770, C/G/T in the rs3825251-rs3918347-rs4964770 were associated with schizophrenia (P = 0.021, 0.036, and 0.028, with genotype frequencies of 0.33, 0.28, and 0.15, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe nucleotide polymorphism of DAAO gene is associated with schizophrenia in Chinese population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Schizophrenia ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE To establi sh the fingerprint of Cnidium monnieri and a method for the content determination of 4 kinds of coumarins. METHODS Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography （UPLC） method was adopted to establish the fingerprints of 21 batches of C. monnieri ； their similarities were evaluated with Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprint （2012 edition）；common peaks were identification by comparison with reference substance. Using 10 common peak areas as variables ，cluster analysis was performed for 21 batches of C. monnieri by the method of between groups. The relative correction factors of xanthotoxin ，bergapten and imperatorin were calculated by the same UPLC method with osthole as the internal reference. The contents of them were calculated by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker （QAMS），and compared with the results of external standard method. RESULTS Totally 10 common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of 21 batches of C. monnieri ；the similarities ranged from 0.997 to 1.000. Peak 4 was identified as xanthotoxin ，peak 8 as bergapten ，peak 9 as imperatorin and peak 10 as osthole. A total of 21 batches of samples were divided into 3 categories，of which S 7 was clustered into one category ，S14 was clustered into one category ，and the other 19 batches were clustered into one category. The relative deviations of the contents of xanthotoxin ，bergapten and imperatorin determined by QAMS and external standard method were in the range of 0.88％ -1.07％ ，2.22％ -2.29％ ，0.67％ -2.93％ ，respectively. CONCLUSIONS UPLC fingerprint of C. monnieri is successfully established ，and QAMS method for content determination of 4 coumarins is also established.

The dried stems of Schisandra henryi var. henryi were extracted with 95% ethanol and the extracts were further subjected to partition, affording the ethyl acetate extracts(EtOAc Extrs.).The EtOAc Extrs.were separated and purified with silica gel and octadecyl-silylated silica gel column chromatography, preparative HPLC and preparative TLC. Thirteen known compounds were obtained and identified by spectral methods including MS and NMR, all of which were elucidated as t-cadinol(1), cadinane-4β,5α,10β-triol(2), cadinane-5α, 10α-diol-2-ene(3), oxyphyllenodiols A(4), 1β, 4β-dihydroxyeudesman-11-ene(5), cyperusol C(6), (7R)-opposit-4(15)-ene-1β,7-diol(7), dysodensiol E(8), epi-guaidiol A(9), aromadendrane-4β,10β-diol(10), tricyclohumuladiol(11), caryolane-1,9β-diol(12), and guaidiol A(13). Compounds 3, 5-10, and 13 were separated from the genus for the first time, while compounds 1-13 were separated from this species for the first time.

The mammalian epididymis not only plays a fundamental role in the maturation of spermatozoa, but also provides protection against various stressors. The foremost among these is the threat posed by oxidative stress, which arises from an imbalance in reactive oxygen species and can elicit damage to cellular lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. In mice, the risk of oxidative damage to spermatozoa is mitigated through the expression and secretion of glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPX5) as a major luminal scavenger in the proximal caput epididymidal segment. Accordingly, the loss of GPX5-mediated protection leads to impaired DNA integrity in the spermatozoa of aged Gpx5