Objective To explore the difference of gene sequence between the yeast- and the hyphal-form of Candida albicans. Methods The genomic DNA of both the yeast-form and the hyphal-form of seven isolates were extracted. The isolates were obtained from the same patient infected with HIV, but their sensitivities to fluconazole were different. These isolates were derived from the same C.albican strain as identified by chromosomal analysis and DNA subtype analysis. DNA fragments (310 bp) of ERG11 were amplified by PCR and the difference of DNA sequence between the two forms of each isolates was compared by DNA sequencing. Results Three isolates were found to have sequence difference between the yeast- and the hyphal-form of C. albicans at the position of 1 547 bp, 1 587 bp and 1 617 bp. Conclusion The sequence difference of ERG11 gene exists between the yeast- and the hyphal-form of C. albicans.

?AlM: To evaluate the expressions and significances of endoplasmic reticulum stress related protein ( BlP ) , hypoxia-inducible factor-1α ( HlF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) in the retina of diabetic rats.
?METHODS:Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley ( SD) rats were chosen and divided randomly into 6 groups:normal control 2mo (C2m, n = 12), diabetes mellitus 2mo (D2m, n=12), normal control 4mo (C4m, n=12), diabetes mellitus 4mo (D4m, n = 12), normal control 6mo (C6m, n=12) and diabetes mellitus 6mo (D6m, n=12 ) . The diabetes mellitus mouse were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 0. 1mol/L streptozotocin (STZ, 65mg/kg). The expression of BlP, HlF-1α and VEGF in the retina were detected by enzyme- linked immuno sorbent assay. The location of BlP, HlF-1α and VEGF in epiretinal membranes were investigated by immunohistochemistry staining.
?RESULTS: BlP were significantly increase than control groups in all DM groups with the course of diabetes ( P<0. 01). HlF-1α were detected higher than control groups in all DM groups (P< 0. 05), but there was no statistical significance among treatment groups. VEGF in D4m and D6m groups were higher than control groups (P<0. 05), and there was statistical significance between D4m and D6m groups. BlP can be detected in control groups a little, mainly in the inner limiting membrane and ganglion cell layers. HlF - 1α cannot be detected in control groups, meanwhile it can be detected in all layers in DM. VEGF can be detected in control groups a little, it mainly be detected in inner nuclear layer, outer nuclear layer, around retinal vessel and ganglion cell layers in DM groups.
?CONCLUSlON:The expressions of BlP, HlF-1α and VEGF increase in the retina of diabetic rats than control groups with progressive of diabetes mellitus, both endoplasmic reticulum stress and HlF-1α signal path play important role in the progress of diabetic retinopathy.

Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Count ; Female ; Fetal Hypoxia ; pathology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Neuroglia ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To retrospectively analyze the treatments of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (nvAF) in elderly patients aged 80 years and over,and to investigate the influencing factors for occurrence of stroke and transient ischemic attack(TIA)and relationships between antithrombotic therapy and stroke or TIA.Methods 101 elderly patients with nvAF were enrolled and grouped according to the occurrence of stroke/TIA and antithrombotic-correlated bleeding.The influencing factors were retrospectively analyzed and antithrombotic schemes were compared.Results Incidence rate of stroke/TIA was 28.7％ (29/101).Among all patients,70 cases were treated with antiplatelet therapy,19 cases were treated with anticoagulation therapy,while 12 cases received no antithrombotic (antiplatelet or anticoagulation) therapy before stroke.Both the nvAF time course and the antithrombotic strategy were significantly different between post-AF stroke/TIA group and non-postAF stroke/TIA group(both P＜0.05).The difference was reflected in ratios of antiplatelet therapy/anticoagulation therapy.The proportion of anticoagulation therapy was higher in non stroke/TIA group(x2 =5.778,P =0.016).Different antiplatelet therapy scheme significantly affected occurrence of stroke/TIA(P＜0.05).There was no significant effect of antithrombotic schemes on hemorrhagic events(x2=0.708,P =0.702).Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension,coronary heart disease,cancer,diabetes and previous stroke history,as well as nvAF duration were the independent risk factors for post-AF stroke/TIA(OR=1.351,95 ％CI:1.129-1.617).Conclusions Currently,the proportion using anticoagulation therapy is low,and single antiplatelet therapy is the main regimen in the elderly patients with nvAF.For elderly patients with nvAF,anticoagulation therapy has a protective effect against the occurrence of post-nvAF stroke/TIA,meanwhile there is no significantly increased risk of bleeding,which makes anticoagulation therapy advisable in the elderly.The nvAF time course is one of the risk factors,which is worth experts' attention in risk evaluation of thrombus in elderly patients.

Adenoma, Acidophil ; metabolism ; Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; Codon ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exons ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine on atrioventricular node (AVN) conduction function in the healthy volunteers.Methods Sixteen healthy volunteers of both sexes,aged 18-30 yr,with body mass index of 19-26 kg/m2,were included in the study.Dexmedetomidine was infused in a loading dose of 1.0 μg/kg over 10 min,followed by an infusion of 0.5 μg · kg-1 · h 1 for 50 min (Dose Ⅰ);1-2 weeks later,dexmedetomidine was infused in a loading dose of 1.5 μg/kg over 10 min,followed by an infusion of 0.75 μg · kg-1 · h-1 for 50 min (Dose Ⅱ).Before infusion of dexmedetomidine (T0) and at 15 and 35 min of infusion (T1.2),AVN Wenckebach point,AVN 2 ∶ 1 block point,AVN relative refractory period (AVNRRP),and AVN effective refractory period (AVNERP) were measured.Results AVN Wenckebach point and AVN 2 ∶ 1 block point were significantly decreased,and AVNRRP and AVNERP were significantly prolonged at T1,2 compared with those at T0 (P＜0.05).Compared with Dose Ⅰ,AVN Wenckebach point at T2 and AVN 2 ∶ 1 block point at T1,2 were significantly decreased,and AVNRRP and AVNERP were significantly prolonged at T1,2 in the subjects receiving Dose Ⅱ] (P＜0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can inhibit AVN conduction function in the healthy volunteers,and the inhibitory effect is enhanced with the increasing doses.

As one of the major geriatric syndromes,frailty exerts adverse effects on life expectancy and quality of life of the elderly.Because of its importance,a number of methods and tools have been introduced for the assessment of frailty.Malnutrition,as an independent risk factor,interacts with frailty and is involved in its progression.This article reviews recent studies on frailty and malnutrition.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Cholecystectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Wild birds (mainly Anseriformes and Charadriiformes) are recognized as the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). The long-term surveillance of AIVs in wild birds has been conducted in North America and Europe since 1970s. More and more surveillance data revealed that all the HA and NA subtypes of AIVs were identified in the wild ducks, shorebirds, and gulls, and the AIVs circulating in wild birds were implicated in the outbreaks of AIVs in poultry and humans. Therefore, the AIVs in wild birds pose huge threat to poultry industry and human health. To gain a better understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of AIVs in wild birds, we summarize the transmission of AIVs between wild birds, poultry, and humans, the main results of surveillance of AIVs in wild birds worldwide and methods for surveillance, and the types of samples and detection methods for AIVs in wild birds, which would be vital for the effective control of avian influenza and response to possible influenza pandemic.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; Birds ; virology ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Sentinel Surveillance ; veterinary

Objective To explore the effects of combining tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-αt) inhibitor with adenosine A2b receptor antagonist CVT-6883 on asthmatic lung irflammation in mice.Methods A total of 40 female Balb/c mice were evenly randomized into 5 groups,including normal control group,asthma group,CVT-6883 group,CVT-6883 + etanercept group,and etanercept group.The pathological changes in the lungs were determined and the number of white blood cells(WBC) and eosinophil(EOS) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was counted by cell count in each group.The levels of TNF-α in BALF were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of adenosine A2b receptor mRNA in the lung tissues were measured by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results 1.The lung tissue in asthma group,dyed by HE,was found to have a large number of airway inflammatory cell infiltration,thickening of the bronchial mucosa,the alveolar septa widened and fracture.In the CVT-6883,CVT-6883 + etanercept and etanercept group,the pathological changes were relieved.2.The WBC and EOS counts in BALF of the asthma group[(413.8 ±5.8)/L,(139.3 ± 1.4)/L] were higher than those of the normal control group [(24.0 ± 1.3)/L,(1.8 ± 0.1)/L,P ＜ 0.05].The WBC and EOS counts of the CVT-6883 group[(111.5 ±3.8)/L,(3.3 ±0.1)/L],the etanercept group + the CVT-6883 group[(173.8 ±3.9)/L,(10.4 ± 0.2)/L],and the etanercept group[(138.4 ± 3.0)/L,(4.1 ± 0.1)/L] were lower than those of the asthma group (P ＜0.05).3.Compared with the control group(100.4 ± 5.7) ng/L,the TNF-α concentration of the asthma group (145.2 ± 8.8) ng/L was significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05) ; the TNF-α concentration of CVT-6883 group (130.9 ± 5.9) ng/L,CVT-6883 + etanercept group(115.7 ± 8.2) ng/L and the etanercept group(122.0 ± 8.7) ng/L,were significantly decreased compared with asthma group (P ＜ 0.05).4.In asthma group (8.9 ± 1.1) compared with the control group(0.6 ± 0.2),the A2bAR (adenosine A2b receptor) mRNA expression was upregulated (P ＜ 0.05) ; CVT-6883 group(1.6 ±0,3),CVT-6883 + etanercept group(2.5 ±0.6) and the etanercept group(5.3 ±0.4),the A2bAR(adenosine A2b receptor) mRNA expression was significantly decreased compared with asthma group (all P ＜0,05).Conclusion Combination of TNF-α inhibitor with adenosine A2b receptor antagonist can reduce asthmatic lung inflammation.