Objective To explore the clinical characteristics ,diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of phaeohyphomycosis. Methods Clinical data were collected, including history, physical examination, cranial and spinal imaging. Brain biopsy was performed. Data of the pathology and incubation of brain tissue were analyzed. Responsiveness to treatment was followed up. Results A previously healthy three and half years old boy was presented to our unit, with a three- month history of recurrent headache, vomiting, progressive paraplegia accompanied by urinary continence and constipation. A computed tomogram scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed multiple lesions located in the region of the parietal - occipital lobes, periventricular area and frontal lobe, with prominent surrounding edema and irregular peripheral enhancement of the mass after the administration of contrast materials. A cerebral biopsy was performed and the pathological report was cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. The culture of the tissue and cerebrospinal fluid grew a same fungus identified as exo-phiala dermatitidis. The patient's response to therapy was poor, the parents of the boy gave up therapy, and the boy died 1 month later. Conclusions Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala dermatitidis is rare, but the most serious form of fungus infection. Pathology and incubation of the tissue are essential for diagnosis. There is no curative therapy and the prognosis is poor.

To explore the prevention effect of the joint combination of Yindanxinnaotong soft capsule (YDXNT) and exercise (swimming) on atherosclerotic rats. The method of 3 x 3 factorial design, including two factors (YDXNT and swimming) and three levels (0, 1, 2 g x kg(-1) YDXNT; 0, 0.5, 1 h swimming), was mainly adopted. The atherosclerotic rat model was established by ligating their left common carotid arteries and feeding high-fat diet. After 8 weeks, blood samples were collected from their thoracic aorta to determine blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen (FIB), nitric oxide (NO), 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) endothelin (ET) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2). The tissues of left common carotid arteries of the rats were collected to detect the positive expression of SM22alpha and determine the semi-quantitation through the immunohistochemical staining. The result showed that the combination of YDXNT and swimming can significantly decrease the plasma viscosity (F = 3.241, P = 0.017), the high and low shear blood viscosity (F = 6.444, P = 0.001; F = 3.002, P = 0.024) and FIB (F = 4.046, P = 0.005). The increased NO and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) and the decreased ET and TXB2 indicated a significant interaction (P < 0.05). The swimming showed an obvious main effect in the expression of up-regulated protein SM22alpha (F = 8.088, P = 0.001). The study suggested that the combined administration of YDXNT and swimming could improve the hemorheological parameters of atherosclerotic rats, protect the vascular endothelium, inhibit the vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis and positively prevent the atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swimming

OBJECTIVETo study whether alisol B could inhibit complement 3a (C3a) induced renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

METHODSThe in vitro cultured human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were intervened with 5 ng/mL transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), 0.1 micromol C3a, and 0.1 micromol C3a + 10 micromol alisol B, respectively. The mRNA and protein expressions of alpha-SMA, E-cadherin, and C3 were detected using RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence, respectively.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expressions of C3 in HK-2 cells were up-regulated after intervention of C3a (P < 0.01), the mRNA and protein expressions of alpha-SMA in HK-2 cells were obviously enhanced (P < 0.01), the mRNA and protein expressions of E-cadherin obviously decreased (P < 0.01). When compared with the group intervened by exogenous C3a, after intervention of alisol B, the mRNA and protein expressions of alpha-SMA in HK-2 cells were obviously reduced (P < 0.01), the mRNA and protein expressions of E-cadherin obviously increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExogenous C3a could induce renal tubular EMT. Alisol B was capable of suppressing C3a induced EMT.

Actins ; metabolism ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cholestenones ; pharmacology ; Complement C3a ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of the multiple locus variable numbers of tandem repeats (MLVA) in genotype Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from Tibet, and to understand the characteristics of genotype and distribution.

METHODS217 M. tuberculosis strains were collected from six regions of Tibet. Twenty tandem repeats loci in the total genome of M. tuberculosis (MTB) were analyzed by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis method. The characteristics on polymorphism of DNA fingerprinting of 217 MTB strains were analyzed with BioNumerics 3.0 software.

RESULTS217 M. tuberculosis strains detected with 20 MLVA loci were classified to 19 genotypes with 87.6% of the stains belonging to Beijing genotype and the other 18 genotypes were scattered,accounted for 1.38% and 0.92% strains, respectively. Beijing genotype was not significantly associated with the resistance to all of the four drugs and BCG vaccination.

CONCLUSIONIt is concluded that the strains of MTB isolated in Tibet present definite polymorphism and most of the epidemic strains belonged to Beijing family genotype and MTB genotyping. The Beijing genotype was not recognized as the one transferred from some of the drug resistance strains or from BCG vaccination. Being a fast and simple technique, MLVA method, seemed a better molecular typing method and could be used for genotyping in M. tuberculosis and monitoring pathogen.

BCG Vaccine ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Genotype ; Minisatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tibet

OBJECTIVETo investigate the knowledge and the attitude toward prostate cancer (PCa) among Chinese city men and raise some suggestions for the improvement of the present state.

METHODSIn October 2007, a questionnaire investigation was conducted among males in 17 Chinese cities on the knowledge of PCa in the following 6 aspects: general state of PCa susceptible city men, basic knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, management and outcome, and attitude toward the treatment of PCa. The influences of education on their scores were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSWe distributed 1,700 copies of the questionnaire and collected 376 (22.1%) valid ones. The subjects averaged 67.1 +/- 10.1 years of age, 80.1% with junior high school education and above. As for the basic knowledge of PCa, 92.6% of them admitted hearing of it, but only 45.5% knew what it was, with statistically significant differences among men of different educations. The most common accesses to PCa knowledge were media (43.3%), hospital consultation (25.2%) and health booklets (10.1%). Of the total number of subjects, 32.7% regarded "Father has prostate cancer" as a risk factor, 82.2% knew that PCa could be treated by surgery, but only 8.9% knew that " hormonotherapy has an important role in PCa treatment". More positive attitudes toward PCa treatment and its consequence were found among those with higher education.

CONCLUSIONPCa susceptible men in Chinese cities have insufficient knowledge on the disease. Strengthened education in this aspect can improve the present state and promote early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Aged ; China ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Men ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

Objective：This study was designed to evaluate the genetic stability on chromosome 16q22 24 in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: Tissue samples from fifty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumors were examined by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis with a panel of 8 microsatellite polymorphic markers distributed along the chromosome 16q22 24. Results: LOH was observed at one or more loci in 24 cases (48％ ) and the prevalence of MSI was detected in 9 cases (18％ ). But the genomic alterations scattered along the region, neither common deletion or instability region was found. Conclusions: The status of genetic stability in chromosome 16q22 24 suggests that the genomic alterations on chromosome 16q22 24 may be involved in the development of NPC.

Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7(MMP-7) mRNA in LOVO cells of colon cancer induced by TF/F Ⅶ a and its signal pathway.Methods We transfected LOVO cells stably with RNAi plasmid targeting to tissue factor to get TFRNAi LOVO cells and detected efficiency of interference in TFRNAi LOVO cells based on Western blot analysis;Expression of MMP-7 was evaluated in LOVO cells treated with 100 nmol/L FⅦa in 0 h、4 h、8 h、12 h、24 h based on RT-PCR and Northern blot.Expression of MMP-7mRNA was determined in quiescent LOVO cells treated with different doses of FⅦa(0 nmol/L、10nmol/L、50 nmol/L、100 nmol/L、200 nmol/L)for 8 h based on Northern blot.Quiescent LOVO cells were treated for 0 h、4 h、8 h、12 h、16 h、24 h with 100 nmol/L FⅦa to evaluate the expression of p-P38;The expression level of MMP-7mRNA induced by 100 nmol/L FⅦa for 8 h in LOVO cells blocked by 10retool SB203580 0.5 h previously and in TFRNAi LOVO cells were measured by Northern blot.Results Northern blot analysis revealed that FⅦa markedly increased the expression of MMP-7mRNA in a time-and dose-dependent manner.Western blot analysis confirmed that FⅦa stimulates p-P38 in a time-dependent manner.SB203580 block 59.2% expression of MMP-7mRNA in LOVO cells induced by TF/FⅦa.In TFRNAi LOVO cells,the expression of MMP-7mRNA induced by TF/FⅦa was 48% less than that in normal LOVO cells.Conclusions TF/FⅦa Complex induces the expression of MMP-7mRNA in LOVO cells in vitro,possibly through P38 pathway.

Objectives To construct the cancellous bone explant model and a method of culturing these bone tissues in vitro, and to investigate the effect of mechanical load on growth of cancellous bone tissue in vitro.
Methods Cancellous bone were extracted from rabbit femoral head and cut into 1-mm-thick and 8-mm-diameter slices under sterile conditions. HE staining and scanning electron microscopy were employed to identify the histomorphology of the model after being cultured with a new dynamic load and circulating perfusion bioreactor system for 0, 3, 5, and 7 days, respectively. We built a three-dimensional model using microCT and analyzed the loading effects using finite element analysis. The model was subjected to mechanical load of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000μεrespectively for 30 minutes per day. After 5 days of continuous stimuli, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were detected. Apoptosis was analyzed by DNA ladder detection and caspase-3/8/9 activity detection.
Results After being cultured for 3, 5, and 7 days, the bone explant model grew well. HE staining showed the apparent nucleus in cells at the each indicated time, and electron microscope revealed the living cells in the bone tissue. The activities of AKP and TRAP in the bone explant model under mechanical load of 3000 and 4000μεwere significantly lower than those in the unstressed bone tissues (all P<0.05). DNA ladders were seen in the bone tissue under 3000 and 4000μεmechanical load. Moreover, there was significant enhancement in the activities of caspase-3/8/9 in the mechanical stress group of 3000 and 4000με(all P<0.05).
Conclusions The cancellous bone explant model extracted from the rabbit femoral head could be alive at least for 7 days in the dynamic load and circulating perfusion bioreactor system, however, pathological mechanical load could affect the bone tissue growth by apoptosis in vitro. The differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts might be inhibited after the model is stimulated by mechanical load of 3000 and 4000με.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) combined adjuvant chemotherapy in postponing relapse and metastasis of radical resected Ib-IIIa stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and to explore its effect in improving their quality of life (QOL) and clinical symptoms.

METHODSWe designed a cohort study of 336 radical resected Ib-IIIa NSCLC patients by analyzing disease free survival (DFS) using Log-rank test. They were randomly assigned to the control group (155 cases, treated by adjuvant chemotherapy group) and the test group (181 cases, treated by adjuvant chemotherapy combined CM). By using controlled method, 60 radical resected NSCLC patients undergoing NP/NC program in 2012 (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2, combined with cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1 and day 8/on day 1 or on day 1, 2, and 3; or carboplatin AUC = 5 on day 1) were assigned to the control group (29 cases) and the test group (31 cases). QOL scores (using EORTC QLQ-LC43 questionnaire) and TCM symptoms scores were compared between the two groups before chemotherapy, peri-chemotherapy (one day before the 2nd course of chemotherapy) , and after chemotherapy (20 days after ending the 4th course of chemotherapy).

RESULTS(1) The median DFS was longer in the test group than in the control group, but with no statistical difference between the two groups (42.73 months vs 35.57 months , P = 0.179). In the subgroup analysis, there was statistical difference in IIIa stage DFS. The median IIIa stage DFS of was longer in the test group than in the control group with statistical difference (27.87 months vs 19. 93 months, P = 0.047). (2) In the control study, repeated measured data indicated there was significant difference in physical functions between the two groups (P < 0.05). Total scores for health states decreased more in the test group than in the control group, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). Scores for constipation and CM syndrome scores were higher in the test group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCM had advantages in postponing DFS of radical resected NSCLC patients, especially in IIIa stage. CM could improve their QOL and clinical symptoms during adjuvant chemotherapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Quality of Life ; Vinblastine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the protected effect of Yindan Xinnaotong capsule (YDXNTC) and main components compatibility on myocardium ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODGlobal ischemia/reperfusion was adopted to induce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) in isolated rat heart. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control, model, YDXNTC, Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) group, ethanol extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-E) group, aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-H) group, mixed compatibility of other components in YDXNTC (MC), GBE and SM-E compatibility (GSEC), GBE and SM-H compatibility (GSHC), and SM-E and SM-H compatibility (SEHC). During the experiment, electrocardiogram was recorded to observe cardiac arrest time, heart resuscitation time, regaining normal rhythm time, the incidence and duration of arrhythmias (VT/VF). At the end of reperfusion, hearts were arrested and homogenated to assay the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I.

RESULT(1) YDXNTC, SM-E, SM-H and MC elevated cardiac arrest time, also reduced rebeating time, restoring normal rhythm time as well as the duration of arrhythmia, but no remarkable impact on VT/VF occurrence. GBE was effective for incidence of VT/VF, also achieved good effect on shortening rebeating time, restoring normal rhythm time and arrhythmia duration. Likewise, obviously reduced rebeating time, restoring normal rhythm time and arrhythmia duration, and evaluated cardiac arrest time were also exhibited in compatibility groups except that no lengthened cardiac arrest time was detected in GSHC. And the incidence of VT/VF was decreased by GSEC. (2) YDXNT, ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), ethanol extract of salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-E), GBE and SM-E compatibility (GSEC), and SM-E and aqueous extract of salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-H) compatibility (SEHC) could improved SOD and decreased MDA level SM-H, mixed compatibility of other elements in YDXNTC (MC) and GBE and SM-H compatibility (GSHC) showed a role on MDA reduction. (3) LDH was declined by YDXNT and SM-H. CK-MB was reduced by GBE, SM-E, SM-H, and GSEC. (4) The release of cTnI was only inhibited by GSEC.

CONCLUSIONYDXNTC, primary materials and main components compatibility has a certain protection effect on MIRI, its mechanism may be related to antioxidant and calcium overload reduction.

Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Capsules ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electrocardiography ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Troponin I ; metabolism