To investigate the role of ERC,6 gene in the growth rate and antifungal susceptibility,Aspergillus fumigatus strain with extra copies of ERG6 gene was constructed.Open reading frame (ORF) of putative ERG6 gene was searched in A.fumigatus genome.A PCR fragment, ERG6 ORF sandwiched by its flanking sequences (about 1 kb respectively),was amplified and was then subcloned into vector pRG-AMA1- NotI to produce a recombinant plasmid pERG6,which was further transformed into uracil auxotroph A.fumigatus strain AF293.1 to produce the transformant AF-pERG6.In the same time,empty plasmid pRG-AMA1-NotI was also transformed into A.fumigatus strain AF293.1 to produce the transformant AF-empty as a control.Radial growth of the transformants was tested on minimal medium (MM) and YAG medi- um.Antifungal susceptibilities of these resahing transformants,AF-pERG6 and AF-empty,to the common antifungal agents were performed by using both disk diffusion and broth microdillution methods.A.fumigatus genome contains a ERG6 gene,of which the ORF size is 1 256 bp.Comparing to Candida albicans and Sacchromyces cerivisiae sterol methyltransferase,A.fumigatus Erg6p had 57% and 50% identity, and had 70% and 63% similarity in amino acid sequences,respectively.Radial growth of transformant AF-pERG6 was slower than that of transformant AF-empty.The antifungal susceptibilties of transformant AF-pERG6 to the antifungal drugs itraconazole,voriconazole,terbin- aline,amphotericin B,caspofungin and grisefolvin were same to that of transformant AF-empty.In A.fumigatus,extra copies of ERG6 gene have no effect on antifungal susceptibilities to itraconazole,voriconazole,terbinafine,amphotericin B,caspofungin and grisefolvin.Radial growth of A.fumigatus harboring extra copies of ERG6 gene becomes slower compared to the control.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) profiles of serum of myasthenia gravis patients, and to identify the differential proteomic expressions between normal persons and myasthenia gravis patients with spleen and kidney deficiency syndrome. METHODS: Samples of serum protein were extracted by repeated freeze-thaw method and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Differential proteomic expressions between the myasthenia gravis patients and the normal control persons were identified by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, silver staining, image-master 2-DE software analysis, peptide mass fingerprinting based on matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), BioWorks and NCBI software database searching. RESULTS: The two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles of serum proteins were successfully established by 2-DE. Twenty-one of the significant differential proteins were selected and identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Eight of them were finally identified. CONCLUSIONS: The 2-DE profiles of serum proteins were established and the differential proteomic expressions were identified by proteome technique in our study. This can be an experimental basis for further research of the pathogenesis and treatment of myasthenia gravis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of male age on the pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 7,533 cycles of IVF-ET performed between January 1, 2009 and October 31, 2013. We divided the samples into three groups according to the female age (< 30, 30-34, and 35-38 yr), each again subdivided into six groups based on the male age (< 30, 30-32, 33-35, 36-38, 39-41, and ≥ 42 yr). We compared the rates of implantation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth among different age groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in basal E2, FSH, endometrium thickness on the day of hCG administration, number of oocytes retrieved, and days of embryo transfer among different male age groups (P > 0.05). The implantation rate showed an age-dependent decrease in the < 30, 30-32, 33-35, 36-38, 39-41, and ≥ 42 yr male groups, 41.1, 42.0, 39.5, 31.3, 40.7, and 48.6% among the women aged < 30 years (P < 0.05), 40.3, 36.4, 35.1, 35.3, 29.4, and 37.3% among the women aged 30-34 years (P < 0.05), and 48.2, 17.8, 25.3, 23.5, 22.1, and 23.8% among the women aged 35-38 years (P < 0.05). The miscarriage rate was significantly higher in the ≥ 39 yr than in the 30-32 and 33-35 yr male age groups among the women aged 30-34 years (P < 0.05), but showed no remarkable differences among the other male age groups in the women aged < 30 and 35-38 years (P > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of pregnancy and live birth among different male age groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMale age has some influence on the rates of implantation and miscarriage but not on the rates of pregnancy and live birth in IVF-ET.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; epidemiology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

Objective To explore the effects of excise-induced fatigue on the microloop plasticity of prefrontal cortex through observing the expression of parvalbumin positive neurons in prefrontal cortexes of rats induced by exhaustive exercise,so as to find out the possible mechanism of the central regulation of exercise-induced fatigue by measuring the expression of NMDAR2B receptors.Methods Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into an exhausted group (E),a repeated exhaustion group (RE) and a control group (CG),each of 12.For group E,the adjusted Bedford incremental load of treadmill exercise program was employed:the initial treadmill speed was 8.2 m/min,lasting for 15 minutes,then increased to 15 m/min for another 15 minutes,and finally increased to 20 m/min till exhaustion.For RE group,they were given continuous treadmill exercises to exhaustion for consecutive 7 days.The immunofluorescence technique was used to observe the expression of PV+ interneurons after exhausted treadmill running.The Western blotting technique was used to determine the expression of NMDAR2B in the tissue of the prefrontal cortex.Results After the exhausted treadmill running,the expression of PV+ interneurons in the prefrontal cortexes of both E and RE groups increased significantly compared with the control group(P＜0.01).The immunofluorescence results indicated that NMDAR2B positive neurons were seen in group E,but not obviously in group CG and RE.The Western blotting showed that compared with CG group the protein expression of NMDAR2B in prefrontal cortexes of group E was relatively high,and that of group RE was relatively low,but without significant difference (P＞0.05).The running distance and prefrontal cortex NMDAR2B expression were found negatively correlated (P＜ 0.01).Conclusions Exhaustive exercises have an impact on the plasticity in rats' prefrontal cortex neural network through regulating the local loop of PV positive neurons.This plasticity of the prefrontal cortex is involved in the regulation of central fatigue.The present study might provide morphological basis for the research of central mechanism of the exercise-induced fatigue.

OBJECTIVE: To study the modulation of Jianjining Recipe (JJNR), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine for invigorating spleen and kidney on differential protein expression in spleen of rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). METHODS: EAMG rats were randomly divided into four groups: untreated group, JJNR-treated group, Qiangji Jianli capsule (QJJLC, a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine)-treated group and prednisolone acetate (PA)-treated group. After therapeutic intervention with the above drugs for four consecutive weeks, the level of differential protein expression was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Twelve differential proteins were identified by comparing EAMG rats and normal rats. The levels of allograft inflammatory factor-1, peroxiredoxin I and actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 5 were significantly regulated by JJNR (P<0.01). These proteins were closely associated with immune response and cell movement. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that there are differential protein expressions between EAMG rats and normal rats. Furthermore, as a Chinese medicine prescription with effect of invigorating spleen and kidney, JJNR can effectively regulate the levels of some EAMG-related protein expression.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Virus Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Viruses ; genetics ; metabolism

In recent years,with the increasing of immunocompromised patients in clinical practice,invasive candidiasis has been increased accordingly. Although several antifungal drugs,including polyenes,azoles,5-flucytosine,and echinocandins,have been used widely to treat invasive candidiasis,the treatment failure that caused by the resistance of Candida albicans to these antifungal drugs have been reported widely. Here,we reviewed the molecular mechanisms of resistance to azoles,polyenes,5-flucytosine,and echinocandins,such that to provide an update on these issues.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics, location, treatment and prognosis of periosteal osteosarcoma. Methods The data of 1 patient with periosteal osteosarcoma was retrospectively analyzed, and the 35 cases reported in CNKI database in recent years were analyzed. Results The patient of periosteal osteosarcoma was female and 16 years old. Periosteal osteosarcoma occurred in the tibia. The patient was treated with extensional resection, and had no recurrence and metastasis 3 months after operation. Among the 35 patients reported in the literature, the age of onset ranged from 14 to 35, the female was slightly more than the male (19 cases vs. 16 cases), and the lesion site was mainly in the tibia and femur. The 35 patients underwent surgical treatment, and 4 cases had metastasis;6 cases were treated by surgery combined with chemotherapy. Conclusions Female patients with periosteal osteosarcoma were slightly more than male, and the lesion site is mainly in the tibia and femur. The chemotherapy effect is not exact, and extensional resection is the most effective treatment method. The transfer site and the characteristics are not exact.

Objective To compare the clinical characteristics of community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) and hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (HA-AKI) patients.Methods Hospital network system was employed to screen the clinical data of adult patients in the First Affiliated Hospital in Xinjiang Medical University in January to July 2013.A total of 19 528 patients were screened,and 544 AKI patients were identified based on KIDGO (Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes) AKI guidelines.Three hundred and thirty patients were included in HA-AKI group and 214 patients in CA-AKI group.Clinical variables including mortality were analyzed retrospectively.Results The incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients was 2.8％ (544/19 528):1.7％ in CA-AKI group and 1.1％ in HA-AKI group.The mean age in CA-AKI group was significantly older than that in HA-AKI group [(62.9 ± 16.8) years vs (56.6± 15.9) years].Medical patients in CA-AKI group accounted for 62.4％,and surgical patients in HA-AKI group accounted for 64.1％.The co-morbid diseases were cardiac disease,hypertension,diabetes and chronic liver disease.Majority of AKI was caused by pre-renal etiologies.The length of hospitalization was significantly shorter in CA-AKI group compared to that in HA-AKI group [12(8,20) days vs 19 (12,27) days,P ＜ 0.01].Compared to that in HA-AKI group,all-cause mortality was significantly lower in CA-AKI group (11.5％ vs 20.1％,P=0.005).Results by multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the common independent risk factors of AKI in both groups were ICU hospitalization and shock.The independent risk factor of AKI in CA-AKI group was diabetes (OR=3.019).In contrary,the independent risk factors of AKI in HA-AKI group were elderly (≥65 years) (OR=3.303),oliguria (24 h urine volume ＜ 400 ml) (OR=6.906),use of antiinflammatory drugs (OR=13.079) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (OR=17.778).Conclusions The incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients is not rare,among which both communityacquired and hospital-acquired AKI are mainly caused by pre-renal etiologies.All-cause mortality is lower in community-acquired AKI compared to that in hospital-acquired AKI and the independent risk factors are different between CA-AKI and HA-AKI.

Objective To investigate the effects of 3％ and 7.5％ hypertonic saline (HS) on hemorrhagic shock patients in Emergency Department.Methods From December 2008 to February 2012,patients older than 15 years with severe trauma and systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤70 mmHg or 70 to 90 mmHg with heart rate≥ 108 per minute were divided into three groups randomly (random number).Group A:patients treated with 3％ hypertonic saline (HS) 300 mL + lactated Ringer' s solutions (LRS).Group B:patients treated with 7.5％ HS 300 mL + LRS.Group C:patients treated with LRS.The mean arterial pressure (MAP),blood pressure (BP),heart rate (HR) were recorded before infusion and at 10,30,45,60 minutes successively after infusion.Incidence of complications and mortality rates were compared between groups.Results Atotal of 148 patients were enrolled in this study.Compared with LRS grouop,MAP was restored more promptly and maintained persistently in 3％ HS group and 7.5％ HS group,and the total volume of fluid infused was decreased to almost 50％ of LRS in the first 1 hour.No significant differences in MAP levels were observed between group A and B except 30 minutes after infusion.Single bolus of 7.5％ HS infusion resulted in increased of HR to mean 127 beats per minute at 10 minutesafter fluid resuscitation.Higher incidence of arrhythmia and transient hypotension occurred in 7.5％ HS group.There were no statistical differences of changes of electrolytic indices,mortality rates,incidences of ARDS and MODS among three groups.Conclusions Resuscitation with 3％ HS provide similar benefits and lower risk of complications compared with 7.5％ HS and LRS.This study demonstrates the practicability and safety of 3％ HS for fluid resuscitation of patients with hypovolemic shock.