Cryptococcus neoformans(CN) is a kind of opportunistic fungal pathogen which has a predilection for the central nervous system,resulting in devastating meningitis.The management of cryptococcal meningitis remains challenging because of its high mortality,the toxicity and uncertainty effect of antifungal therapy.In recent years,the study of the mechanism of neurotropism of CN has made a great progress.Many violence factors of this pathogen and several signal pathways of the host involved in this process have been discovered.Combination therapy with immunotherapy to regular antifungal treatment has become an important adjuvant method.The present review will concisely present current progress of pathogenesis and immunotherapy of cryptococcal meningitis.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that genetical y modified Schwann cel s can survive for a longer time in vivo, and promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery. OBJECTIVE:To transfect human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene into rat Schwann cel s cultured in vitro via PLXSN vector, and to detect the telomerase activity and biological characteristics of Schwann cel s. METHODS:Schwann cel s from Wistar rats were cultured in vitro and transfected by PLXSN vector with (hTERT group) or without hTERT (empty vector group). Normal Schwann cel s were selected as control group. RT-PCR and western blot methods were used to detect the hTERT protein and mRNA levels in Schwann cel s, and flow cytometry was used to measure the cel cycle distribution. Cel growth was observed by cel growth curve and MTT colorimetric method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 48 hours after transfection, the mRNA and protein expressions of hTERT were remarkably seen in Schwann cel s. Compared with the control and empty vector groups, the cel s grew faster, the number of cel s at G 0/G 1 Schwann cel s cultured in vitro. phase was reduced, but the number of S phase cel s was increased in the hTERT group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that PLXSN vector-mediated hTERT transfection of Schwann cel s can significantly improve the activity of telomerase in Schwann cel s as wel as promote the proliferation of Schwann cells cultured in vitro.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of Tianmeng capsule in the treatment of climacteric female with burning mouth syndrome(BMS).METHODS:A total of 248 climacteric female of patients with BMS were randomly assigned to receive Tianmeng capsule plus comprehensive psychotherapy(experiment group,n=124)or VitB1+Oryzanol +VitE plus comprehensive psychotherapy(control group,n=124)for 1 month.RESULTS:The total effective rate was 91.9% for the experiment group versus 48.4% for the control group(P

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Laryngectomy ; rehabilitation ; Larynx, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phonation

Objective To explore the influnce and related factors analysis postpartum community visit for 6 months old infants exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).Methods 800 women in Daqing city communities delivered in January,2009 to December,2010 were selected into study based on simple random sampling.Using the questionnaire surveyed the influence of the postpartum community visit for 6 months old infants EBF.Results Reclaimed effective questionnaires were 790 ;6 months old infants EBF rate was 65.06％ ;the receiving postpartum community visit group's 6 months of EBF rate 7 4.8 7 ％) was significantly higher than the not receiving postpartum community visit group (38.50％),difference was statistically significant(x2 =90.54,P ＜ 0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that main related factors of 6 months old infants EBF were the first breast feeding time,whether or not to accept the postpartum visit,mode of delivery and mother's education degree,respectively.Conclusion Postpartum community visit can promote 6 months old infants for EBF,but still need to pay more attention to coordination and improvement.

OBJECTIVE To survey the distribution and diversity of bacteria among COPD patients in our hospital′s comprehensive intensive care unit(ICU).METHODS All 166 strains of bacteria were divided into three groups:from noninvasive positive pressure ventilation,from mechanical ventilation and from standard medical treatment and compared their difference.RESULTS The most common pathogens were Candida albicans(38.8%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(10.2%) and Escherichia coli(8.2%) in the standard medical treatment group;C.albicans(45.5%),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(9.1%) and K.pneumoniae(9.1%) in the noninvasive positive pressure ventilation group;however,P.aeruginosa(23.2%),C.albicans(17.9%)and Acinetobacter baumannii(12.6%) in the mechanical ventilation group,respectively.Accompanying with the mechanical ventilation,the resistant-drug rates were observably increased.CONCLUSIONS The percentage of Gram-negative bacilli and fungal infection in the COPD patients of comprehensive ICU is very high.So we should supervise and control the results of antibiotics susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Special anatomical location makes eye lens expose to stressful situation in a long term, so it needs persistent protection to resist stress. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) exert self-protective defensive effect under the stress.OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in mRNA expression of HSPs in the lens under the condition of exogenous stress.DESIGN: Repeated measurement, controlled observation trial.SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital Affiliated to Jiamusi University.PARTICIPANTS: Human lens endothelial cells B3 (LEC-B3) were obtained from the Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit was purchased from Bao Biotechnology Company, Japan.METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Congenital Malformation, Ministry of Public Health,China Medical University between September 2003 and September 2004. LEC-B3 of the exponential growth was used for the experiment. Thermal or oxidative stress on LEC-B3 cells were produced by 30-minute exposure at 45 ℃ or incubated for 30 minutes in DMEM supplemented with 50 mmol/L H2O2. Some stressful cells were allowed to recuperate after exposure to stress in normal culture medium at 37 ℃ for 0, 2, 4, 6, 16 and 24 hours, separately. The expressions of HSP27 and HSP70 in the LEC-B3 were detected by RT-PCR.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expressions of HSP27 and HSP70 in LEC-B3.RESULTS: HSPs existed in both physiological and stressful situation. The levels of HSPmRNA were increased 2 hours after both stresses. But the expressions of HSP27 and HSP70 got to the summit at different intervals from 2 hours to 6 hours in each group. Subsequently, they were decreased gradually in each group, but they all could maintain a high level at 16 hours.CONCLUSION: Stressful environment induces the over-expressions of HSP27 mRNA and HSP70 mRNA in LEC-B3. This may play an important protective role in lens epithelial cells in responding to cellular stress.

Objective To study the content of isorhynchophylline from different regions and different harvest time.Methods The content of isorhynchophylline in Uncaria rhynchophylla from different regions and different harvest time was tested by HPLC. The Waters Symmetry C18 color (4.6 mm× 250 mm, 5 μm), mobile phase of methanol - 0.01 mol/L ammonium acetate buffer (pH 8.0) (60:40), column temperature 25℃, 20 μl sample volume, velocity of 1.0 ml/min, detection wavelength of 246 nm were setted.Results The isorhynchophylline can be detected in different regions and different harvest time, with the highest content was found in Ningming county and from September to February of the next year.Conclusion The content of isorhynchophylline in Uncaria rhynchophylla varied from different regions and harvest times. The best harvest time is during September to February of the next year.

Nimotuzumab,a humanized monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can combine with extracellular domain of EGFR and inhibit downstream signaling pathways to prevent tumor growth.Clinical researches show that nimotuzumab has significant anti-tumor activity in several solid tumors such as squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck,nasopharyngeal carcinoma,malignant glioma and so on,with advantages of good tolerance and low incidence of rashes.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of gram-stained sputum smears in elderly patients with ventilator-associated lower respiratory infection (VALRI).Methods 368 elderly patients undergoing mechanical ventilation over 48 hours in ICU were retrospectiely analyzed from Jun 2009 to Jun 2011.42 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (with good-quality sputa and presence of the same microorganism in sputum and blood cultures).58 gram-stained smears and sputum cultures were obtained and analyzed.Results The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria by gram-stained smears were 82.35％ and 78.05％,80.49％ and 82.35％,respectively.The positive and negative predictive value of Gram-positive bacteria and Gramnegative bacteria were 63.64％ and 91.43％,91.67％ and 60.87％,respectively.The coincidence rates in diagnosing Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria were 81.03％ and 79.31％,respectively.Conclusions Gram-stained sputum smear is reliable in diagnosing ventilator-associated lower respiratory infection in elderly patients,and has a certain clinical significance in guiding to the selection of antibiotics.