Objective To identify the pathogens of 50 cases of fungal corneal ulceration by using semi-nested PCR amplification of ITS2 region.Methods Fifty isolates of fungal corneal ulceration and 3standard fungal strains cultures were collected and their DNAs were extracted.Their ITS2 regions were amplified by semi-nested PCR and sequenced.The results were compared with the nucleotide sequences in the NCBI GenBank.The pathogens of the fungi were identified and their distribution were analysed.Results The sequences results of the 3 standard fungal strains were consistent with the information in the GenBank.The pathological microorganisms of 50 cases of fungal corneal ulceration were:24 Fusarium (48％),including 17 Fusarium solani,6 Fusarium oxysporum and 1 Fusarium verticillioide; 10 Aspergillius (20％),including 5 Aspergillius flavus,3 Aspergillius sydowii and 2 Aspergillius nidulans; 6 Penicillium (12％),including 2 Penicillium citreo-viride,2 Penicillium multicolor and 2 Penicillium oxalicum ;5 Candida (10％),including 3 Candida albicans and 2 Candida parapsilosis; 3 Cladosporium (6％),including 2 Cladosporium herbarum and 1 case of Cladosporium cladosporioides ; 1 case of Neurospora crassa (2％) ;1 Alternaria alternata(2％).Conclusion Semi-nested PCR amplification of ITS2 region was proved to be a fast,simple and accurate method to identify pathogens of fungal corneal ulceration,and may be useful for personalized treatment and epidemiological investigation of local fungi.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the significance of changes in the expression 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) for the development of Kawasaki disease (KD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of GR and 11β-HSD in peripheral blood monocytes, both in the acute phase of the disease and after treatment. Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expression levels of GR and 11β-HSD. RESULTS: The expression levels of GRβ, GRβ, and 11β-HSD1 mRNA in the acute phase were significantly higher than levels at baseline (p<0.01) and after treatment (p<0.05). The 11β-HSD2 mRNA levels were lower in the acute phase than in the normal group (p<0.01), and they were significantly higher after treatment than before (p<0.01). Western blot results were consistent with the real-time PCR results. The coronary artery lesion group exhibited significantly different 11β-HSD2 expression levels from that of the group with normal coronary arteries (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: GR and 11β-HSD expression changes in the acute phase of KD are important factors for regulating inflammatory responses in KD.
Blotting, Western ; Coronary Vessels ; Monocytes ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Oxidoreductases* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid* ; RNA, Messenger

The open reading frame of Spinacia oleracea Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (SoBADH) was retrieved from Spinacia oleracea and inserted into the Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector pBin438, which was driven by CaMV35S promoter, and produced the new binary vector pBSB. A. tumefaciens LBA4404 carrying this plasmid was used in genetic transformation of plants. Forty-five primary transgenic plants were detected by PCR and verified by the Southern blotting from 65 regenerated plants, of which 27 transgenic plants had only one copy of T-DNA. The Northern blotting and Western blotting analysis indicated that the SoBADH gene had been transcribed mRNA and expression protein in the transgenic cotton lines. The testing of SoBADH activity of transgenic plant leaves showed that the enzyme activity was much higher than that of the non-transgenic cotton. The growth of transgenic plants was well under the salinity and freezing stress, whereas the non-transgenic plant grew poorly and even died. Challenging with salinity, the height and fresh weight of transgenic plants was higher compared with those of non-transgenic plants. Under the freezing stress, the relative conductivity of leaf electrolyte leakage of the transgenic cotton lines was lower than that of non-transgenic plants. These results demonstrated that the SoBADH gene could over express in the exogenous plants, and could be used in genetic engineering for cotton stress resistance.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Betaine-Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cold Temperature ; Gossypium ; enzymology ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; enzymology ; genetics ; Salinity ; Spinacia oleracea ; enzymology ; genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; genetics

At present,there are many difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of acute vestibular syndrome(AVS).For example,complex and difficult identification of the cause of disease,uneven diagnosis and treatment levels of clinical doctors,weak humanistic care awareness,lack of communication skills,intrinsic affinity and other reasons,which make it difficult for AVS patients in the process of diagnosis and treatment,and cannot receive timely and effective treatment,resulting in an exacerbation of doctor-patient conflicts.Therefore,it is recommended to explore new paths of AVS diagnosis and treatment work using the humanistic care concept,respect each other between doctors and patients,build a team of medical staff with the value orientation of"humanistic care",and promote the organic unity of theory and practice of"humanistic care",with a view to better promoting the implementation of AVS diagnosis and treatment work,helping more patients rebuild confidence,enhancing quality of life,and improving the doctor-patient relationship.

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) increased recently and there was still not a screening index to predict MetS. The aim of this study was to estimate whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a novel marker for systemic arterial stiffness, could predict MetS in Chinese community population.

METHODSA total of 2 191 participants were recruited and underwent medical examination including 1 455 men and 756 women from June 2011 to January 2012. MetS was diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Multiple Logistic regressions were conducted to explore the risk factors of MetS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to estimate the ideal diagnostic cutoff point of baPWV to predict MetS.

RESULTSThe mean age was (45.35±8.27) years old. In multiple Logistic regression analysis, the gender, baPWV and smoking status were risk factors to MetS after adjusting age, gender, baPWV, walk time and sleeping time. The prevalence of MetS was 17.48% in 30-year age population in Shanghai. There were significant differences (χ(2) = 96.46, P < 0.05) between male and female participants on MetS prevalence. According to the ROC analyses, the ideal cutoff point of baPWV was 1 358.50 cm/s (AUC = 60.20%) to predict MetS among male group and 1 350.00 cm/s (AUC = 70.90%) among female group.

CONCLUSIONBaPWV may be considered as a screening marker to predict MetS in community Chinese population and the diagnostic value of 1 350.00 cm/s was more significant for the female group.

Adult ; Ankle Brachial Index ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve