The calcium gate encoded by CCH1 and MID1 genes is the main channel for external calcium absorption. As one of the important secondary messengers, the elevation of calcium concentration could activate some pathways to take part in various cell processes. In this study, we used CCH1 and MID1 mutant strains and also constructed their complementary strains to study the effect of drug tolerance and virulence of Candida albicans after CCH1 or MID1 deletion. By drug plate sensitivity assay and the broth microdilution method, we compared the changes between different strains. Moreover, we added calcium channel blocker and inhibitors to analyze the effect of calcium concentration on drug action. After the deletion of CCH1 or MID1 gene, the strain exhibited an obvious sensitivity to FLUC and ITRA, and the drug action was regulated by the calcium concentration. In a mouse model of intravenous infection, we found that attenuated virulence of cch1delta/delta or mid1delta/delta strain is specifically due to a loss of CCH1 or MID1 gene.
Animals ; Calcineurin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Candidiasis ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; genetics ; Female ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Virulence

Objective:To document any improvement in the breathing control of stroke survivors with dysarthria after practicing Liuzijue qigong.Methods:A total of 157 stroke survivors with dysarthria and abnormal respiration control were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. Both groups were given traditional breathing training and basic articulation training (including articulatory organ training and speech training). The observation group also received training in Liuzijue qigong. It requires inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while producing the speech sounds xu, he, hu, si, chui and xi. The training lasted two weeks. Both groups were then evaluated using the modified Frenchay dysarthria assessment. Maximum phonation time, maximum counting ability and volume were also recorded as secondary indexes.Results:After the 2-week intervention, significant improvement was observed in the average scores on all of the indexes, with all of the observation group′s average scores except for volume significantly better than those of the control group. The average volume scores were significantly improved, but not significantly different.Conclusion:Supplementing basic articulation training with Liuzijue qigong can improve respiratory function and the speaking ability of stroke survivors with dysarthria. It is worthy of wider clinical application.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a primary lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia, and is generally considered to be a subtype of lichen planopilaris due to similar histopathological changes. Its etiology is still unclear. With the deepening of research on this disease, more and more cases of frontal fibrosing alopecia have been reported in China and other countries. This review summarizes research progress in pathogenesis, clinical and pathological characteristics, and treatment of frontal fibrosing alopecia.

Objective: To compare diagnostic performance of traditional vertical section technique, horizontal section technique and modified Ho-Vert technique for classical lichen planopilaris. Methods: Clinical data were collected from patients with classical lichen planopilaris in Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Wuxi People′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 1st 2015 to January 1st 2019. With the help of dermoscopy, 2 scalp specimens were obtained from each patient and sliced horizontally and vertically respectively by using modified Ho-Vert technique. The horizontal and vertical sections were read separately or simultaneously, and histopathological changes were observed. Results: Totally, 21 patients with classical lichen planopilaris were enrolled into this study, including 15 males and 6 females. Their age was 50.0 ± 13.6 years, and the average course of disease was 18 months. The patients mainly presented with multifocal or confluent patchy hair loss, and scalp atrophy, perifollicular hyperkeratosis, loss of follicular ostia, fibrous white dots and orbit sign were observed. On the horizontal sections, lichenoid lymphocytic infiltration around the infundibulum and isthmus of hair follicles and follicular micro-scars could be observed in all patients, and the dermo-epidermal interface could be seen in 7 patients. On the vertical sections, lichenoid lymphocytic infiltration around the infundibulum and isthmus of hair follicles only could be observed in 9 patients, follicular micro-scars could be seen in 4, and the dermo-epidermal interface could be observed in all patients. Moreover, the detection rates of interfollicular interface dermatitis, follicular keratotic plugs, lymphocytic infiltration around sebaceous glands, atrophy or disappearance of sebaceous glands and inflammatory infiltration around hair follicle bulbs were significantly different between the horizontal and vertical sections. In combination with clinical manifestations, 7 patients could be exactly diagnosed with lichen planopilaris according to findings from horizontal sections, and 9 could be diagnosed exactly according to findings from vertical sections, while 21 could be diagnosed exactly according to histopathological findings from both horizontal and vertical sections. Conclusion With the help of dermoscopy, modified Ho-Vert technique can improve the efficacy of pathological diagnosis of classical lichen planopilaris, by multidimensionally showing histopathological changes.

Depression is a mental disorder with high morbidity, disability and relapse rates. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), a traditional Chinese medicine, has a long history of clinical application in the treatment of cerebral and mental disorders, but the key mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here we showed that GEB exerted anti-depressant effect in mice through regulating gut microbial metabolism. GBE protected against unpredictable mild stress (UMS)-induced despair, anxiety-like and social avoidance behavior in mice without sufficient brain distribution. Fecal microbiome transplantation transmitted, while antibiotic cocktail abrogated the protective effect of GBE. Spatiotemporal bacterial profiling and metabolomics assay revealed a potential involvement of Parasutterella excrementihominis and the bile acid metabolite ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the effect of GBE. UDCA administration induced depression-like behavior in mice. Together, these findings suggest that GBE acts on gut microbiome-modulated bile acid metabolism to alleviate stress-induced depression.
Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Plant Extracts ; Ginkgo biloba