Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic impact of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for fungal pathogens in fluid samples,and to evaluate the feasibility of fast PCR diagnostic method for the invasive fungal infection.Methods The sterility body fluid samples from 60 cases hospitalized immunocompromised patients with clinical underlying diseases and suspect of invasive infections with fungi between January 2008 and December 2011 were processed for microscopy and cultures.Applying fungal ITS4 and ITS86 universal primers to amplify pathogenic fungi genes from the sterility body fluid with method of rapid PCR.The results were compared between the standard and PCR methods.Results Humoral direct clinical specimens by PCR amplification of DNA fragments with the scan results were similar.Positive rate of PCR test with clinical body fluid samples and the traditional fungal cultivation was similar.There was no significant statistical difference [38.3％ (23/60) vs 33.3％ (20/60),P ＞ 0.05].Conclusions PCR test is feasibility with clinical fungal diagnosis from directly humoral specimens.To amplify the clinical sterility body fluid samples with ITS fungal universal primers and PCR method might provide an accurate and rapid approach to detect the pathogenic fungi.Its methods on early diagnosis and prognosis of invasive fungal infections are of guiding significance.

Objective To explore the relationship between ERG4 gene overexpression and azole resistance in clinical Candida albicans strains. Methods The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)M27-A2 broth microdilution method was conducted to evaluate antifungal susceptibility of 34 clinical Candida albicans isolates in vitro. Total RNA was extracted from these Candida albicans strains and transcribed into cDNA. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of ERG4 gene. Statistical analysis was carried out by a two-sample t-test. Results The expression level of ERG4 mRNA was significantly higher in fluconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (4.20 ± 2.56 vs. 1.72 ± 1.33, t = 3.99, P < 0.05), higher in itraconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (3.60 ± 2.47 vs. 1.66 ± 1.61, t = 3.71, P < 0.05), and higher in voriconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (3.99 ± 2.72 vs. 2.07 ± 1.58, t = 2.91, P <0.05). Further more, increased ERG4 mRNA expression was also observed in isolates cross-resistant to all the three azole antifungal agents compared with those susceptible to all of them (4.49 ± 2.73 vs. 1.69 ± 1.82, t = 3.81, P < 0.05). Conclusions The overexpression of ERG4 gene may be associated with cross resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole in clinical Candida albicans strains, but its exact role is expected to be investigated through downregulation of the ERG4 gene.

Objective To investigate the effect of fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans on the expression of endocellular interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in cytokineinduced natural killer (NK) cells.Methods NK cells were cultured with Aspergillusfumigatus or Candida albicans by non-contact or direct-contact methods with a ratio of NK cells to fungus of 10 ∶ 1.The expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 in NK cells were evaluated by flow cytometry after co-cultured for 6 h.Analysis of variance or SNK-q test was used to compare the expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 among different groups.Results The IFN-γexpression rates in NK cells with direct contacting to Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae,or to different morphotypes of Candida albicans were (20.12 ± 0.53) ％,(20.69 ± 0.34) ％ and (20.8 ±0.37)％ respectively,while IFN-γexpression in NK cells with indirect contacting to fumigatus hyphae,or to different morphotypes of Candida albicans were (21.40 ± 0.53) ％,(20.57 ± 1.09) ％ and (20.20 ±0.51) ％ respectively,and all were significantly higher than that in the blank group [(15.11 ± 2.60) ％,all P ＞ 0.05].The IFN-γ expression rates in the Aspergillus fumigatus spores direct and indirect contacting groups were (14.33 ± 0.98) ％ and (14.97 ± 1.53) ％,which were not of significant difference compared with the blank group (P ＞ 0.05).The IL-4 expression rates in NK cells with direct contacting to different morphotypes of Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans were (1.25 ± 0.06) ％,(1.21 ± 0.03) ％,(1.22 ± 0.46) ％ and (1.26 ± 0.11) ％,while those in indirect contacting groups were (1.21 ± 0.06) ％,(1.25 ±0.04)％,(1.27 ±0.03)％ and (1.26 ±0.1)％,which were not of significant difference compared with the blank group [(1.23 ± 0.05) ％,all P ＞ 0.05].Conclusion Fungus stimuli can reduce the secretion of IFN-γ in NK cells,but have not significant influence on the secretion of IL-4.

Objective To discuss the importance of balloon occlusion test before interventional treatment of the intracranial giant intemal carotid artery aneurysms and to sum up the nursing experience in assisting the procedure. Methods Proper perioperative nursing measures were carried out for 12 patients, who suffered from intracranial giant internal carotid artery aneurysm and underwent spring coil occlusion treatment. Nursing measures included mental care, observation of the vital signs, prevention of the complications, etc. Results Neither death nor exacerbation of the condition occurred in all the 12 patients. The patients were discharged from the hospital with a mean hospitalization of nine days. During a follow-up period ranged from 4 months to one year, seven patients had no disagreeable feeling, one patient complained of discomfort but no abnormality was found on follow-up DSA, and disappearance of the aneurysm was observed in 4 patients. Conclusion The monitoring of the vital signs, the prevention of the complications and the standard nursing care are the key points for ensuring a successful operation in treating intracranial giant intemal carotid artery aneurysms with spring coil occlusion.

Calcaneus ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Radiography ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Dacryocystitis ; surgery ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; surgery ; Young Adult

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Endothelins ; secretion ; Humans ; Polyphenols ; pharmacology ; Propanolamines ; pharmacology ; Tea ; chemistry ; Weightlessness Simulation

Objective:To analyze the correlation between 21-gene recurrence score (RS) and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with Lumina type breast cancer, and to explore its significance in individualized treatment.Methods:The clinicopathological data of 59 patients with surgical resection and pathological diagnosis of Lumina type breast cancer in Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital from May 2018 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of 21 gene and RS was calculated. According to the 21-gene RS, the patients were divided into low recurrence risk group (RS < 18 points), intermediate recurrence risk group (RS 18-31 points) and high recurrence risk group (RS > 31 points). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were made to evaluate the correlations between different recurrence risk and clinicopathological characteristics of patients and their influence on the choice of adjuvant chemotherapy.Results:Based on the 21-gene RS, 29 patients were in low recurrence risk group, 22 cases were in intermediate recurrence risk group, and 8 cases were in high recurrence risk group. Single-factor analysis showed that age ( P = 0.012), maximum mass diameter ( P = 0.031), histological grade ( P = 0.036), progesterone receptor (PR) level ( P = 0.015), Ki-67 positive index ( P = 0.049) and molecular typing ( P = 0.010) were influencing factors of 21-gene RS recurrence risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age and Ki-67 positive index were negatively correlated with 21-gene RS recurrence risk (both P < 0.05). After grouping according to the 21-gene RS, 17 patients in the intermediate recurrence risk group (according to the traditional postoperative recurrence risk grouping method for breast cancer) were classified as low recurrence risk group, and 4 patients in the low recurrence risk group were classified as intermediate recurrence risk group ( χ2 = 4.535, P = 0.033). After grouping based on 21-gene RS, the number of patients who needed chemotherapy in individualized treatment decreased. Of the 17 cases, 11 cases did not undergo postoperative chemotherapy, and the remaining patients received chemotherapy. The postoperative follow-up period was 11-22 months. As of March 2020, there was no recurrence or disease progress. Conclusion:The 21-gene RS can provide objective basis for the individualized precise treatment and prognosis prediction for patients with early-stage Lumina type breast cancer.

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of ICAM-1 (CD54) in pediatric tumor and acute leukemia (AL), so as to understand the distribution of ICAM-1 and its clinical significance. The expression of ICAM-1 in tissues of 46 pediatric tumor patients were detected by immunohistochemistry, and in bone marrow cells of 60 pediatric acute leukemia (AL) patients were detected by flow cytometry. 46 pediatric tumor patients included 10 lymphoma, 3 hepatoblastoma, 6 neuroblastoma, 2 rhabdomyosarcoma, 6 Ewing's bone sarcoma, 2 fibrosarcoma, 5 primitive neuroectodermal tumor, 11 nephroblastoma and 1 osteosarcoma. 60 AL pediatric patients included 20 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients and 40 acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) patients containing 20 M1, M2, M3 patients and 20 M4, M5. The results indicated that expression of ICAM-1 was more positive in all 3 hepatoblastoma cases, which represent a higher positive rate than that in lymphoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma of bone and osteosarcoma. However, no expression of ICAM-1 was observed in fibrosarcoma, nephroblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor patients. On the other hand, the expression rate of ICAM-1 was 55 in ALL, 65 in ANLL M1, M2, M3, and 50 in ANLL M4, M5. It is concluded that the expression of ICAM-1 in pediatric tumor and AL has variability. The ICAM-1 positive expression is observed in hepatoblastoma and ANLL M1, M2, M3 patients, whereas it is undetectable in fibrosarcoma, nephroblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor patients.
Child ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy

Objective: To investigate whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) can be used as biomarkers to assess the degree of motor dysfunction of stroke survivors. Methods: Sixty partially-paralyzed stroke survivors were given Fugl-Meyer assessments (FMAs) and MEP tests and assessed using DTI seeking any correlations among the results. The receiver operating characteristics curves (ROCs) were prepared to determine the tests′ efficacy in assessing severe motor dysfunction. Results: ① Asymmetry in the fractional anisotropy (aFA) of the peduncles cerebra as measured by DTI was negatively correlated with the FMA scores of the upper and lower limbs on the affected side. The aFA values of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) were negatively correlated with the FMA scores of the affected upper limb, but not with the FMA scores of the affected lower limbs. The abnormalities in central motor conduction time and motor threshold, which are MEP parameters, were negatively correlated with the FMA scores of the affected limbs. ② The ROCs showed that the aFA value of the PLIC was the best indicator for assessing severe upper limb motor dysfunction, with a cut-off value of 0.167 giving the best discrimination. MEP waveform loss could also be used. It has high sensitivity but low specificity. ③ A combination of DTI and MEP can improve specificity in assessing severe motor dysfunction in the upper limbs. Conclusion DTI and MEP can both be used to evaluate motor dysfunction in stroke survivors. They have high clinical value for assessing severe motor dysfunction of the upper limbs.