Objective To determine the in vitro antifungal effects of closantel against Candida albicans.Methods A microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)of fluconazole alone and in combination with closantel against Candida albicans standard strain CAF-2.Ten strains of Candida albicans were cultured in RPMI-1640 liquid culture containing 10％ calf serum with or without the presence of closantel at 16 mg/L,followed by the observation of hypha formation.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to observe the ultrastructure of Candida albicans CAF-2 strain after exposure to closantel at 16 mg/L for 24 hours.Results Closantel could inhibit the growth of Candida albicans,and enhance the antifungal effect of fluconazole against Candida albicans in vitro.The percentage of Candida albicans forming hypha was 91.2％ ± 3.9％ in untreated Candida albicans,significantly higher than that in closantel-treated Candida albicans (29.8％ ± 5.1％,t =30.24,P ＜ 0.05).As TEM showed,closantel-treated Candida albicans gave a round,oval or pleomorphic appearance,with an irregular budding from the cell surface.Further more,the electron dense layer in the outer layer of cell wall was absent or unevenly distributed,the transparent layer was irregularly thickened,some cell membrane was locally disrupted or collapsed,and intracellular vacuoles increased after closantel treatment.Scanning microscopy revealed a rough surface,sparse and irregular budding of Candida albicans after treatment with closantel.Conclusion Closantel exhibits a promising anti-Candida albicans property in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of acupuncture with different filiform needles on structure of fascial connective tissues, cellular activity, arrangement and content of collagen fibers in acupoint area of rats.

METHODSA total of 32 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a thin needle group, a medium needle group and a thick needle group, 8 rats in each one. Except for the blank group, rats in the remaining groups were treated with horizontal acupuncture at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) towards Conception Vessel with different filiform needles, and twirling mild reinforcing-reducing method was applied, once a day. Rats in the blank group were treated with identical anesthesia, grasping and fixation. After 3-day intervention, the fascial connective tissue of acupoint area was collected. HE staining, immumohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and MASSON staining were adopted to observe the morphology of fascial connective tissues, expression of PCNA in cells and arrangement and expression of collagenous fiber.

RESULTSAfter acupuncture in each group, the consistency of morphology of fascial connective tissues and arrangement of collagenous fiber were changed; the expression of PCNA protein in the fascial connective tissue in each group was significantly increased (P<0. 01, P<0. 05). The area distribution of collagenous fiber were changed, and that in the thin needle group was insignificantly increased compared with that in the blank group (P>0. 05), and that in the medium needle group and thick needle group were reduced compared with that in the blank group (both P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture with different filiform needles can change the local tissue morphology of acupoints, strengthen cell activity and adjust the exyression of collagenous fiber protein, which may be one of the cellular biomechanics principles of the acupuncture therapy's "regulating meridians" effects. However, the stimulation is produced by different fifiform needles, and the complex relationships exist between cells and collagen fibers.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; Fascia ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Meridians ; Needles ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors 1-3 (S1P1- 3) in the corpus cavernosum of castrated male rats and its relationship with the NOS/NO/cGMP and RhoA/Rho kinase signaling pathways.

METHODSWe equally randomized 18 eight-week-old healthy male SD rats into a sham-operation control, a castration, and a testosterone replacement (TR) group and harvested the bilateral testes and epididymides from the rats in the latter two groups, followed by 4 weeks of subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate at 3 mg per kilogram of the body weight per day for those in the TR group and that of plant oil for those in the control and castration groups. At the age of 12 weeks, we measured the serum testosterone (T) level and maximum intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP) of the animals and determined the expressions of SlP1-3, eNOS, P-eNOS, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the corpus cavernosum by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe serum T level was significantly decreased in the rats of the castration group as compared with those of the control and TR groups ([0.41 ± 0.04] vs [16.01 ± 1.02] and [15.84 ± 1.32] nmol/L, P < 0.01), with no statistically significant difference between the latter two groups. The ICPmax/MAP at 0 V, 3 V, and 5 V electric stimulation was remarkably lower in the rats of the castration group (0.088 ± 0.014, 0.323 ± 0.014, and 0.432 ± 0.012) than in those of the control group (0.155 ± 0.011, 0.711 ± 0. 010, and 0.819 ± 0.024) and TR group (0.153 ± 0.012, 0.696 ± 0.017, and 0.763 ± 0.027) (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the latter two groups. With GAPDH as internal control, the animals of the castration group showed markedly reduced expressions of S1P1 ([49.99 ± 3.39]%), eNOS ([46.82 ± 3.81]%) , and P-eNOS ([45.42 ± 4.35]%) in comparison with those in the control group ([72.57 ± 3.06], [89.76 ± 3.98], and [82.53 ± 8.92] and TR group ([71.77 ± 4.43], [87.19 ± 4.23], and [79.82 ± 7.38]%) (P < 0.01) , while the expressions of S1P2, S1P3, ROCK1, and ROCK2 were significantly upregulated in the castration group ([82.35 ± 4.13], [61.03 ± 5.14], [74.50 ± 4.02], and [69.83 ± 5.75]%) as compared with those in the control group ([41.67 ± 1.68], [31.66 ± 2.67], [35.69 ± 5.56], and [39.85 ± 7.17]%) and TR group ([42.80 ± 3.87], [32.25 ± 4.22], 38.06 ± 5.21], and [42.36 ± 4.44]%) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAndrogen deficiency induces significant reduction of ICPmax/ MAP in male rats, which is possibly associated with the decline of S1P1 in the corpus cavernosum, inhibition of the eNOS/NO/cGMP signaling pathway, increased expressions of S1P2 and S1P3, and activation of the RhoA/Rho kinase signaling pathway.

Animals ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Orchiectomy ; Penis ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; pharmacology ; rho-Associated Kinases ; metabolism

Purpose To study the effect of overexpressing either wild type or a familial Alzheimer disease mutant presenilin 1 (mPS1) on tau phosphorylation in neuroblastoma NG-108 cells. Methods Three different plasmids transfected NG-108 cells respectively. Immunostaining and confocal microscopic technique were used to study the distribution of presenilin 1 and phosphorylated tau. Immunoblot test was applied to investigate the change of tau phosphorylation. Results Immunostaining showed that in brain of sporadic Alzheimer disease, PS1 mainly distributed in neuron and partially colocalized with the phosphorylated tau. Immunoblot tests showed that the cells transected either wild type PS1 or mPS1 contained more phorphorylated tau than the control cells. However, MTT test showed no significant difference between mock transfected cells and the wPS1 or mPS1 transfected cells. In addition, after transfection of the constructed PS1-EGFP vector, overexpressed EGFP-PS1 was located at cell surface membrane and subcellular organelles at earlier time at 12 hr, then EGFP-PS1 diffused in cytosol. Immunocytochemical observations demonstrated that some of the PS1-EGFP transfected cells contained more phosphorylated tau protein, which formed aggresome with PS-1-EGFP. When treated with phosphotase inhibitor okadaic acid, in the PS1-EGFP transfected cells accumulated more phosphorylated tau than the un-transfected cells. Conclusions Wild type PS1 is possibly involved in tauopathy in sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Objective:The blocking effects in ICAM 1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASON) on the ICAM 1 expression of renal tubular epithelial cell was investigated to probe the potential applicability of the ASON drug in renal tubulointerstitial diseases.Methods:The mouse ICAM 1 ASON was transducted into the mouse renal tubular epithelial cells with the presence of liposome DOTAP.Another oligodeoxynucleotide,which has the same base composition as the ICAM 1 ASON but a different sequence,was also transfected into the cells as a control.ICAM 1 expression of the epithelial cells was induced by interleukin 1.The changes of ICAM 1 protein expression by the cells were measured by immunohistochemistic stainging with anti ICAM 1 antibody.ICAM 1 mRNA expression of the epithelial cells was examined by RT PCR and Northern blotting methods.Results:①ICAM 1 ASON inhibited the ICAM 1 and ICAM 1 mRNA expressions of the epithelial cells induced by IL 1 at dosages of both 100 and 200 nmol/L.②The control oligodeoxynucleotide has no effect on the ICAM 1 expression of the epithelial cells.Conclusion:These data demonstrate that ICAM 1 ASON can selectively inhibit the ICAM 1 expression of the cells.It suggests that the ICAM 1 ASON might be applied in treatment of renal tubular interstitial diseases.

Objective To evaluate the pulmonary protection of dexmedetomidine in combination with parecoxib in pa?tients undergoing thoracotomy with one-lung ventilation. Methods Eighty patients undergoing elective resection of esopha?geal or lung cancer, including both sex, aged 40-70 yr, ASAⅠ-Ⅲ, were randomly divided into four groups (n=20), dexme?detomidine group (D group), parecoxib group (P group), dexmedetomidine in combination with parecoxib group (DP group) and control group (C group). Dexmedetomidine 1μg/kg was infused in ten minutes and then continued infusion at the rate 0.6μg·kg-1·h-1 until the chest was closed in group D. Parecoxib 40 mg was infused 10 min before the induction of anesthesia in group P. DP group was given parecoxib 40 mg and parecoxib 40 mg 10 min before the induction of anesthesia. The equal volume of normal saline was given in group C. Blood samples were collected for determination of blood gas analysis and the serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 immediately after the induction of anes?thesia (T1), 30 min (T2) and 60 min(T3) after one-lung ventilation, and at the end of the operation (T4). Oxygenation index (OI) was calculated. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with time T0, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 (except IL-8 at the time T2 in DP group) were significantly increased, and OI was decreased in all groups at the time T2-4 (P<0.05). Compared with group C, concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 decreased and OI increased significantly at the time T2-4 in D group, P group and DP group (P<0.05). There were no obvious differences in concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and OI value between D group and P group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Combination of dexmedetomidine and parecoxib can further mitigate inflammatory response, improve lung oxygenation dur?ing one-lung ventilation, and provide pulmonary protection in patients undergoing thoracotomy.

ObjectiveTo identify the pathogens causing complicated skin and soft tissue infection and their susceptibility to antibiotics.MethodsThe clinical data on and aetiological examination findings in 99 cases of complicated skin and soft tissue infection were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsTotally,99 bacterial strains were isolated,including 51 Gram-positive bacteria(29 community-associated,22 hospital-acquired)and 48 Gram-negative bacteria ( 13 community-associated,35 hospital-acquired).Of the Gram-positive bacteria,staphylococci were the most common bacteria,which showed a high resistance rate to erythromycin (95.45％),penicillin G(72.73％),clindamycin,oxacillin and levofloxacin,but a high sensitivity to teicoplanin,vancomycin,linezolid,fusidic acid and moxifloxacin.Besides,the community-associated staphylococci possessed a higher sensitivity to trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole,tetracycline and ciprofloxacin than the hospital-acquired staphylococci did(all P ＜ 0.05).Notably,11 of the 99 isolates were identified as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).The four predominant Gram-negative bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella pneumonia,Escherichia coliand Acinetobacter baumannii.These Gram-negative bacteria,especially the hospital-acquired Gram-negative bacteria,exhibited high resistance to levofloxacin,trimethoprim + sulfamethox azole and gentamicin but favorable sensitivity to carbapenems,tobramycin,piperacillin and tazobactam.ConclusionsComplicated skin and soft tissue infection is caused by various species of bacteria with high resistance to common antibiotics.Therefore,the results of drug sensitive tests should serve as the basis for proper use of antibiotics in the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infection.

Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Interdigitating ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of relaxing needling plus joint needling from the Internal Medicine in treating post-stroke spastic hemiplegia.MethodTotally 121 eligible subjects were randomized intoan ordinary acupuncture group (61 cases) and a relaxing-joint needling group (60 cases). The two groups were treated for 2 weeks, 5 sessions each week. The spasm of the lower limb was evaluated by using Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA), modified AshworthScale (MAS), Tardieu Scale, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) before and after treatment. Besides, 4 patients from each group were randomly selected for the three-dimensional gait analysis, and the dorsi-extension, range of motion (ROM) of ankle, strephenopodia, and heel-raising height were observed.Result and ConclusionRelaxing-joint needling and ordinary acupuncture both can produce significant efficacies in treating post-stroke spastic hemiplegia. The relaxing-joint needling produced more significant efficacies in improving the body balance, ROM, muscular tension, and lower limb spasticity compared to ordinary acupuncture. It’s plausible that relaxing-joint needling improves the strephenopodia and hemiplagia gait through renovating body balance, ROM, muscular tension, and lower limb spasticity. Since the three-dimensional gait analysis can analyze the dorsi-extension, strephenopodia, and heel-raising height, thus it can be used to evaluate the change of the spastic gait of post-stroke hemiplegia in amore objective, elaborate, and correct way.

OBJECTIVETo explore therapeutic effects of modified femoral prosthesis applied in the initial posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom April 1, 2012 to January 1, 2013, 156 patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty by the same director of orthopedic surgeon. Sixty-one patients were treated with modified femoral prosthesis, including 7 males and 54 females, with an average age of (68.34 +/- 5.41) years old; and 95 patients were treated with conventional designed femoral prosthesis, including 14 males and 81 females, with an average age of (69.92 +/- 5.11) years old. Indexes including age, body mass index, Insall-Salvati index, type of prosthesis, occurrence rate of patella click syndrome, postoperative line of force of lower extremity and postoperative function of the knee joint were observed and recorded. And American Knee Society (AKS) score was used to evaluate the clinical results.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 36 to 56 weeks, with a mean of 45.31 weeks. Among patients in the conventional designed femoral prosthesis group, 7 patients had patella click syndrome, but there was no patient having patellar click syndrome in the modified femoral prosthesis group. Postoperative knee activity of patients in the modified femoral prosthesis group was (110.98 +/- 10.32) degrees, which was better than (107.05 +/- 8.61) degrees in the conventional designed femoral prosthesis group. The AKS score in the modified femoral prosthesis group was 129.79 +/- 9.63 during 21 to 28 days after operation, which was higher than 126.85 +/- 7.79 in the conventional designed femoral prosthesis group.

CONCLUSIONNew designed femoral components are effective to reduce the occurrence rate of postoperative patellar click syndrome and obtain better early functional recovery from knee surgery.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Femur ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Knee Prosthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies