Objective To report two cases of Candida parapsilosis-caused candidiasis characterized by verrucous nodules and masses,and to assess their clinical features,diagnosis and treatment.Methods A medical history including medication history and therapeutic response was carefully collected from two male patients.Physical examination was carried out with a focus on skin lesions.Diagnosis was made according to medical history as well as physical,mycological and histopathological examination findings.Antifungal agents were given at a high enough dose in time.After lesions improved,the doses of antifungal agents were tapered gradually,and drugs were withdrawn until patients completely healed.Compound preparations containing both antifungal agents and glucocorticoids were also topically applied in the early period of treatment.Results Both patients were diagnosed as Candida parapsilosis-caused candidiasis characterized by verrucous nodules and masses,and cured after 100-day supporting treatment and antifungal treatment with oral itraconazole,etc.Conclusions Candida parapsilosis-caused candidiasis should be managed with combination therapy mainly including antifungal agents.To achieve a satisfying efficacy,antifungal agents should be given early at a high enough dose for a long enough period.

Objective To explore the relationship between polymorphisms of XbaI and MspI loci of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) gene and -75 bp,+83 bp loci of apolipoprotein AI (ApoAI) gene and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Kazaks of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,China.Methods These loci were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP).Two hundred and five patients with CHD and two hundred and thirty six controls were involved.Results There were significant distinctions among low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),triglyceride (TG) and the ApoAI/ApoB ratio between the two groups,but no significant distinction among the polymorphism frequencies of the four sites between the two groups.The polymorphism coalition frequency of X-/Ms++/M1+-/M2++ (named Coalition 11) was significantly higher in CHD compared to the control group (14.6％ vs.7.2％,P ＜ 0.05).The level of total cholesterol (TC) in Coalition 1 1 was significantly higher and the level of the ApoAI/ApoB ratio in Coalition 11 was significantly lower than Coalition 1～10 in CHD patients.The level of the ApoAI/ApoB ratio of Coalition 11 was significantly lower than the Coalition 1～10 in control group.The levels of ApoAI/ApoB ratio of Coalition 3 were significantly higher compared to Coalition 11 in the two groups,respectively.The level of LDL-C of Coalition 3 was significantly lower than in the Coalition 11 in control group.The level of TC of Coalition 5 was significantly higher than Coalition 3 in the CHD group.The level of the ApoAI/ApoB ratio of Coalition 5 was significantly lower than in Coalition 3 or Coalition 1～10 of the two groups,respectively.The level of LDL-C of Coalition 5 was significantly higher than in Coalition 3 in control group.The ratio of ApoAI/ApoB was negatively related to TC,LDL-C and was positively related to HDL-C,both in CHD and control groups.Conclusion Coalition 11 of the 4 loci polymorphisms of the ApoB and ApoAI genes was correlated with CHD in Kazaks,and perhaps the ratio of ApoAI/ApoB was the most diagnostic parameter related with CHD among all lipid parameters.CHD may also be associated with Coalition 5,and,perhaps,Coalition 3 may have been confirmed as a protection factor against CHD,if more samples were enrolled.

Objective To analyze fungal isolates from patients with superficial fungal infections during 1960-2006.Methods Fungal strains isolated from patients with superficial (mucocutaneous and cutaneous)fungal infections and identified in the Medical Mycology Clinical Laboratory,Department of Dermatology and Venereology,Union Hospital,from 1960 to 2006 (data from September 1991 to July 1992 were unavailable),were subjected to a classification and statistical analysis.Clinical samples for mycological examination were taken from outpatients or inpatients of different departments in hospitals of Hubei province and surrounding areas.Morphological,physiological and biochemical methods were applied for species identification.Results A total of 11 989 Candida strains were isolated,which belonged to 23 species and 16 genera.They fell into 3 groups,i.e.,dermatophytes,Candida and yeasts (including Malassezia),and non-dermatophyte moulds.Since 287 strains of moulds were suspected to be contaminating fungi,11 702 residual isolates were analyzed.Of the analyzed isolates,Candida species (5642/11 702,48.2％ )and dermatophytes (5279/11 702,45.1％ )predominated,followed by yeasts (449/11 702,3.8％) and Malassezia species (332/11 702,2.8％).The most frequently isolated species was Trichophyton rubrum (3865/11 702,33.0％),Candida albicans (3110/11 702,26.6％ ) and non-albicans Candida species (2532/11 702,21.6％ ).Dermatophyte strains were mostly isolated from lesions of smooth skin with an exception of palmoplantar and interdigit regions (1787/5279,37.7％).The most common dermatophyte species was Trichophyton rubrum,followed by Trichophyton violanceum.Candida was mainly isolated from mucous membrane lesions (4099/5642,72.7％),with Candida albicans being the predominant species.Conclusions Candida species and dermatophytes predominate in patients with superficial fungal infections during 1960-2006,with Trichophyton rubrum being the most common species.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of automated fluorescence microscopic imaging and computer-aided diagnosis system (AFMICADS) in the auxiliary diagnosis of superficial cutaneous fungal infections. Methods: Totally, 106 outpatients and inpatients with suspected superficial fungal infections were enrolled from clinical departments of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between July 2018 and September 2018. A total of 126 specimens were collected, including 83 skin scales and 43 nail parings. Each specimen was divided into 3 groups to be examined by conventional fungal microscopy, culture with modified Sabouraud dextrose agar and fluorescence microscopy (artificial fluorescence microscopy and AFMICADS-based fluorescence microscopy) respectively. A positive result was defined as that conventional fungal microscopy and/or fungal culture was positive. Consistency rate, sensitivity and specificity of the 3 microscopic methods were calculated. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 10.0 software by using McNemar test and Kappa test for analyzing difference in the positive rate, as well as consistency, between the 3 microscopic methods and the positive standard, and by using efficiency test for comparing the consistency rate among the 3 microscopic methods. Results: Of 126 specimens, 124 (98.4%) were positive for artificial fluorescence microscopy, and 123 (97.6%) for AFMICADS-based fluorescence microscopy. Both positive rates of the above 2 microscopic methods were significantly higher than the positive rate of the positive standard (77.8%, both P < 0.001) . The sensitivity, specificity and consistency rate of AFMICADS-based fluorescence microscopy were 100%, 10.7% and 80.2% respectively, and those of artificial fluorescence microscopy were 100%, 7.1% and 79.4% respectively. Additionally, no significant difference in the consistency was observed between the AFMICADS-based and artificial fluorescence microscopy (P > 0.05) . Conclusion The accuracy of AFMICADS-based fluorescence microscopy in the diagnosis of superficial cutaneous fungal infections is similar to that of artificial fluorescence microscopy.