OBJECTIVETo construct an animal model infected by Trichophyton rubrum.

METHODSThree different strains of Trichophyton rubrum were separated from clinical specimen for the infection of guinea pigs. Corticosteroids were given before and after the construction of animal model to facilitate the infection. Direct microscopy, culture, and histopathologic methods were adopted to verify the construction.

RESULTSTen days after the inoculation of Trichophyton rubrum, with the intervention of corticosteroid, the guinea pigs were examined. Prominent scales and inflammation could be seen on the inoculation site of the Trichophyton rubrum infected guinea pig. Scales and hairs of Trichophyton rubrum infected guinea pig dealt with 10% potassium hydroxide, hypha out of the hair and microconidia or hypha in the hair shaft could be seen. Seven days after the inoculation of scales and hair on SDA plate, cultures of Trichophyton rubrum showed that the colonial morphology were identical to the original dermatophytes. PAS staining of infected guinea pig skin tissue showed that hypha and microconidia could be seen in the infundibula and hair root.

CONCLUSIONWith the intervention of corticosteroid, a stable guinea pig model infected by Trichophyton rubrum were successfully constructed.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Tinea ; immunology ; microbiology ; Trichophyton ; pathogenicity ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the co-culture of keratinocytes with Malassezia isolates which cause the pityriasis versicolor with different color and to analyze the changes of cytokines associated with melanogenesis.

METHODSThe effects of Malassezia species with different proportions on the growth rate of keratinocytes was assessed with 5 g/L methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Co-culture of keratinocytes and Malassezia species were performed with isolates from hyer- and hypo-pigmentation areas of pityriasis versicolor. The supernatants were collected at different time points, and the changes of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), nerve growth factor-beta (NGF-beta), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), stem cell factor (SCF) were recorded. Three control groups were established accordingly.

RESULTSWhen the ratio between keratinocytes and Malassezia species was lower than 1: 10, the growth rate of keratinocytes was not affected by Malassezia (P > 0.05). When the ratio was increased above 1:20, the growth rate of keratinocytes was significantly inhibited by Malassezia (P < 0.01). The secretions of IL-1alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and ET-1 was significantly increased after the co-culture of keratinocytes and Malassezia (P < 0.01), while those of b-FGF, NGF-beta, and SCF had no significant changes (P > 0.05). Compared with the isolates from the hypo-pigmentation area, ET-1 induced by isolate from hyperpigmentation area significantly increased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWhen Malassezia isolates are co-cultured with keratinocytes, the secretions of cytokines associated with melanogenesis may differ from each other. ET-1 may play certain role in the hyper-pigmentation of pityriasis versicolor.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Malassezia ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Melanins ; biosynthesis ; Tinea Versicolor ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the method to obtain good aesthetic and functional results in surgical management of craniomaxillofacial fibrous dysplasia and correct the grotesque deformity.

METHODSAccording to the type of the lesions, different excision and reconstruction methods were used.

RESULTS19 cases (4 monostotic cases and 15 polyostotic cases) were surgically treated. The period of follow-up range from 9 months to 5 years, all patients obtained satisfactory aesthetic and functional results. No relapse happened during follow up.

CONCLUSIONSBased on modern craniomaxillofacial techniques and computer aided design, extensive radical excision and craniomaxillofacial skeleton reconstruction could be safely accomplished, and the better results were obtained, both aestheticly and functionally.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; Child ; Computer-Aided Design ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; surgery ; Facial Bones ; Female ; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skull ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDbeta-glucan is the major structure component of Candida albicans (C. albicans) cell wall. It has been demonstrated that Dectin-1 as the principal C-type lectin pattern-recognition receptor (PRR) can recognize fungal beta-glucan and induce immune responses. In this study, we sought to clarify whether insoluble beta-glucan from the cell wall of C. albicans (CaIG) could induce immune responses in human THP-1 monocytes (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) and to determine the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSHuman THP-1 monocytes were challenged with CaIG in vitro. The mRNA expression of Dectin-1, Toll-like receptors (TLR2), proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-alpha) and chemokine (IL-8) was assayed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The secretion of TNF-a and IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). H(2)O(2) release was determined by microplate fluorescent assay. Western blotting was used to analyze IkappaB-a phosphorylation and degradation.

RESULTSExposure of THP-1 monocytes to CaIG led to increased gene expression and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-8. CaIG induced H(2)O(2) release in a time-dependent manner. CaIG hydrolyzed with zymolyase failed to induce gene expression and secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and H(2)O(2) release. CaIG up-regulated the mRNA of Dectin-1, whereas the mRNA level of TLR2 was not altered. THP-1 monocytes challenged with CaIG resulted in the activation of NF-kappaB in a time-dependent manner. Dectin-1 inhibitor laminarin blocked the CaIG-induced production of TNF-alpha and H(2)O(2) in THP-1 monocytes, but no such effect was observed in pretreatment with anti-TLR2 neutralizing antibody and the LPS inhibitor (polymyxin B).

CONCLUSIONCaIG may play a role in activation of immune responses in human THP-1 cells through Dectin-1, not TLR2.

Blotting, Western ; Candida albicans ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Wall ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lectins, C-Type ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta-Glucans ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of comprehensive control and prevention for chronic diseases in demonstration plot of Chongqing.

METHODSResidents were enrolled through multi-stage stratified random sampling method from 17 districts or counties which had successfully established demonstration plots and 21 districts or counties which had not established demonstration plots (non-demonstration plot for short) yet on May, 2012. Questionnaire was designed to survey awareness of health knowledge, health behaviors and utilization of health supportive tools. The results were analyzed by SPSS 15.0 software.

RESULTSWe investigated 15 108 residents, 6156 of which were in demonstration plot and others (8951) were not. The findings revealed the percentage of the people who were aware the national action of health lifestyle in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot were 44.4% (2734/6157) and 40.2% (3598/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the hypertension risk of too much sodium were 72.4% (4458/6156) and 67.5% (6042/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the cardinal vascular disease (CVD) risk of obesity and overweight were 77.2% (4753/6157) and 69.6% (6230/8951), respectively. About the residents' health behaviors in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot, the utilization rates of salt restriction scoop or pot were 23.5% (1447/6157) and 17.9% (1602/8951), and the utilization rates of oil restriction pot were 16.7% (1028/6157) and 11.8% (1064/8951), respectively. Totally, 33 of the 37 indexes were shown higher in demonstration plot than that in non-demonstration plot (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe chronic diseases comprehensive control and prevention in demonstration plot was more effective, and the remarkable improvement of health knowledge and behaviors level had been achieved in demonstration plot.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Chronic Disease ; prevention & control ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universal Precautions ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate whether continuous mild high temperature (increased temperature without causing significant damage to host cells) can inhibit the biofilm formation of Aspergillus niger (A.niger) and its vitality.Methods A.niger biofilms were formed on a coverslip in 24-well tissue culture plate and were checked at the time points 4,8,10,16,24,48 and 72 hours.Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to image and quantify A.niger biofilm formation under three different continuous mild high temperatures at 37℃,39℃,and 41℃.Furthermore,2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) assay was used to quantify the dynamic growth of A.niger biofilm under the above conditions.Results Compared with the culture condition 37℃,CLSM analysis at 39℃ or 41℃ showed that higher temperature induced later germination at 4 hours (t=8.603,P=0.047;t=14.550,P=0.008),poorer hyphal elongation at 8 hours(t=35.118,P=0.039;t=63.450,P=0.006),poorer polar growth,and reduced biofilm thickness from 10 to 24 hours.The XTT assay showed that higher temperature (39℃ or 41℃) lead to lower vitality at 10 hours,higher vitality at 16 hours,but finally lower vitality from 24 to 72 hours (t=24.262,P=0.038;t=7.556,P=0.031).Conclusion Continuous mild high temperature may have a negative regulatory effect on biofilm formation of A.niger and its vitality.