Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis

BACKGROUNDTrichosporon asahii (T. asahii) is one of the most important pathogenic fungus in the genus of trichosporon. Although the species identification of T. asahii was based upon the complicated results of morphologic, biochemical and biologic examination, the morphology characteristic is still the first clue to the species. Some common structures of T. asahii had been described such as arthrofilaments and arthroconidia, but other important structures of T. asahii were unclear.

METHODSSix strains of T. asahii were incubated on the slant and micro culture of Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 30 degrees C for 7 days. Samples were fixed using 2% paraformaldehyde and 2.5% glutaraldehyde. T. asahii was observed under scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSThe detailed characteristics of the diverse sites of germination, as well as some uncommon structures such as giant cell, sarcinate, and club-shaped macroconidia, were presented. The pseudohyphae of T. asahii were noted to produce true hyphae, either along the longitude axis or on the flank. T. asahii was noted to have blastic and thallic conidiation. Digitated branches, trichoid structures and septa inside the spores were detected.

CONCLUSIONThese results may add our knowledge to the structure and development of T. asahii.

Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Spores, Fungal ; growth & development ; ultrastructure ; Trichosporon ; growth & development ; ultrastructure

Objective To explore the possible relationship between environmental contamination by Aspergillus and invasive aspergillosis.Methods From November 2005 to October 2006,samples were collected from the environment (air in corridors,air in wards,surfaces and tap water) twice a month,and from patients (nose,pharynx and sputum) at a liver transplantation department (LTD),neurologic surgery intensive care unit (NSICU) and central intensive care unit (CICU) in our hospital,and subjected to fungal culture.The Aspergillus density was determined in these environments.The isolates of Aspergillus flavus were genotyped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay to investigate the origin of infection.Results The mean aspergillus density was 12,10.75,0 and 20 cfu/m~3 at LTD,NSICU,CICU and corridors respectively.The five most prevalent species of aspergillus in these environments in decreasing order were Aspergillus flavus,Aspergillus fumigatus,Aspergillus niger,Aspergillus versicolor and Aspergillus clavatus.RAPD demonstrated that the genotypes ofA.flavus isolated from two patients were identical to those of the environmental strains in NSICU.The A.flavus genotypes from 3 patients in CICU were all different from those of the environment strains in CICU,but the genotypes were identical from two of the three patients.Conclusions Aspergillus contamination of different degree does exist at LTD,NSICU and CICU. The genotypes of A.flavus are identical from patients and environment in NSICU,suggesting that the clinical infection may originate from hospital environment.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the preliminary regulation between the skin cell toxicity of EOs and drug property char-acteristics of Chinese materia medica(CMM)on the same platform.METHODS The physicochemical parameters of 33 kinds of EOs were measured.MTT assays were applied to evaluate the cell toxicity of EOs on human HaCaT keratinocytes.Finally, data mining technique was applied to analyse experimental data for the purpose to illustrate the relationship between skin cell toxicity of EOs and drug properties of CMMs.RESULTS By non-linear canonical correlation analysis,high correlation(P=0. 041 1<0.05)was found between skin cell toxicity of EOs and channel tropism property of CMMs.EOs with the properties of liver,lung,stomach,kidney and large intestine channel possess lower skin cell toxicity.However,EOs with the properties of heart,pericardium,spleen,bladder,san-jiao and gall bladder channel possess higher skin cell toxicity.A mathematical model between drug property including four mature,five flavor,channel tropism of CMMs and skin cell toxicity of EOs was estab-lished based on non-linear canonical correlation analysis.In the model,significant correlation was found(P=0.041 4<0.05). EOs from CMMs with the properties of cool nature,bitter flavor plus liver or lung or kidney or large intestine channel might be superior in safety towards the skin cells.On contrary,EOs from CMMs with the properties of hot nature,sweet flavor plus heart or pericardium or spleen or bladder or san-jiao or gall bladder channel might be superior in toxicity towards the skin cells. CONCLUSION The skin cell toxicity of EOs is affected by drug property characteristics of CMMs,especially channel tropism property.

Trichosporon species now ranks as the second most common cause of disseminated yeast infections with a high mortality rate. Breakthrough trichosporonosis in patients receiving echinocandins therapy is being recognized recently. We present a case of breakthrough trichosporonosis with acute viral myocarditis while receiving caspofungin therapy. Trichosporon infection should be considered in patients, who have risk factors for invasive fungal infection and develop unexplained clinical manifestations of infection despite treatment with echinocandins.
Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Echinocandins ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lipopeptides ; Treatment Outcome ; Trichosporonosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology

Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Epinephrine ; metabolism ; Female ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synaptic Transmission

BACKGROUNDInvasive fungal infections have constituted an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. In this study, a surveillance project was conducted in three different intensive care units of two large tertiary hospitals in China.

METHODSA one-year surveillance project was conducted in two tertiary hospitals which located in northern China and southwest China respectively. Air, surfaces and tap water were sampled twice a month in a central intensive care unit, a bone marrow transplant unit, a neurosurgery intensive care unit and a live transplant department. Environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature and events taking place, for example the present of the visitors, healthcare staff and cleaning crew were also recorded at the time of sampling.

RESULTSThe air fungal load was 91.94 cfu/m(3) and 71.02 cfu/m(3) in the southwest China hospital and the northern China hospital respectively. The five most prevalent fungi collected from air and surfaces were Penicillium spp., Cladospcrium spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp. and Saccharomyces spp. in the southwest China hospital, meanwhile Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp. and Cladospcrium spp. in the northern China hospital. The least contaminated department was intensive care units, and the heaviest contaminated department was neurosurgery intensive care unit. Seventy-three percent of all surfaces examined in the northern China hospital and eighty-six percent in the southwest China hospital yielded fungi. Fifty-four percent of water samples from the northern China hospital and forty-nine percent from the southwest China hospital yielded fungi.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggested that the fungus exist in the environment of the hospital including air, surface and water. Air and surface fungal load fluctuated over the year. Air fungal load was lower in winter and higher in summer and autumn, but seldom exceeded acceptable level. The higher values were created during May to August in the northern China hospital and May to June and September to October in the southwest China hospital. A correlation between air fungal load and humidity, as well as personnel was observed.

Air Microbiology ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Fungi ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Intensive Care Units ; Water Microbiology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the function and possible mechanisms of PIAS3 expression on the invasion of TJ905 cells.

METHODSPIAS3 overexpression vectors were constructed and PIAS3 siRNA were chemically synthesized, which were separately transfected into TJ905 cells for upregulation or downregulation of PIAS3 expression levels in TJ905 cells. After that, the invasive effects of TJ905 cells were measured by Transwell assay, and the expression of PIAS3, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)3, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 were identified by Western blot.

RESULTSIn vitro transfection efficiency of plasmids and oligonucleotides were separately 85.3% ± 3.1% and 95.1% ± 2.9%. PIAS3 overexpression plasmid transfection in vitro could effectively improve the expression of PIAS3 protein in TJ905 cells and inhibit the invasion of TJ905 cells (P < 0.05), and cell penetration ratio reduced from 87.9% ± 9.3% to 37.3% ± 7.9% compared with control group, while it upregulated TIMP3 and downregulated MMP-2, MMP-9 protein expression (P < 0.05); PIAS3 siRNA transfection could inhibit the PIAS3 protein expression of TJ905 cells and promote the invasion of TJ905 cells (P < 0.05), and cell penetration ratio increased from 83.9% ± 7.1% to 93.2% ± 3.1% compared with control group, while it downregulated TIMP3 and upregulated MMP-2, MMP-9 protein expression (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPIAS3 expression is closely related to the invasion properties of glioma TJ905 cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Vectors ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Molecular Chaperones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Protein Inhibitors of Activated STAT ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 ; metabolism ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, superficial and deep mycoses caused by trichosporon were occasionally reported. In 2001, we reported the first case of disseminated trichosporonosis caused by Trichosporon asahii (T. asahii) in China. In this study, the pathogenicity of T. asahii was investigated in a murine model of disseminated trichosporonosis.

METHODSSeventy-five mice were randomly divided into 7 groups. Each group was inoculated with T. asahii, through intradermal, gastrointestinal tract or intravenous injection. The mice in the experimental groups were given an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CY) to induce granulocytopenia. Mice in the therapeutic group were given both liposomal amphotericin B and fluconazole. The main viscera of the mice were examined by means of tissue culture and pathologic sections.

RESULTSIn the two intravenous inoculation groups, T. asahii was isolated from at least one organ in 10 of the 12 granulocytopenic mice and 2 of the 14 immunocompetent mice. Two of the 7 mice in the granulocytopenia group presented with lesions in the inoculation position, but none of the 30 mice in the granulocytopenia and the control group which were inoculated intradermally or through the gastrointestinal tract had viscera infection. In the therapeutic group, the ratio of consequently dead mice, the number of involved viscera, and the incidence of systemic infection were significantly less than the untreated group. Acute purulent inflammation and granulomatous inflammation were the main pathological changes in the course of the infection. Arthrospores and filaments were found in the focus.

CONCLUSIONST. asahii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes cutaneous and visceral infections in immunologically impaired hosts. An immunocompetent host was to be infected by the invading T. asahii. Several organs, namely the liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen and heart, were predisposed. The therapy of combining liposomal amphotericin B with fluconazole can prevent the host from an infection and inhibit the diffusion of the infection.

Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fluconazole ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mycoses ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Random Allocation ; Trichosporon ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of paeoniflorin against PM2.5-induced damage in BEAS-2B cells and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSWith a factorial design, this study was performed to observe the protective effects of different doses of paeoniflorin against PM2.5-induced BEAS-2B cell growth inhibition and the effects of paeoniflorin on the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell cultures.

RESULTSExposure to increased PM2.5 concentrations caused significant decrease in the cell survival rate (P<0.05) with a clear dose-response relationship (r=-0.759, P<0.05). Treatment of the cells with paeoniflorin significantly attenuated PM2.5-induced inhibition of BEAS-2B cell survival (P<0.05), but the effect of paeoniflorin was not dose-dependent (P>0.05). PM2.5 exposure also significantly increased the contents of MDA and intracellular ROS (P<0.05), and paeoniflorin obviously antagonized these effects of PM2.5.

CONCLUSIONPaeoniflorin can protect BEAS-2B cells from PM2.5-induced growth inhibition, and the mechanism might be related to the anti-oxidant effects of paeoniflorin.