Objective To evaluate the in vitro activity of seven imidazole antifungals against clinical isolates of common Candida species.Methods According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) microdilution method M27-A3,the in vitro activity of luliconazole,ketoconazole,miconazole,econazole,clotrimazole,sertaconazole and bifonazole was determined among 183 clinical isolates belonging to 5 species of Candida.Results The minimal inhibitory concentration range was 0.03-8 (geometric mean:0.067) mg/L for ketoconazole,0.03-16 (geometric mean:0.071 ) mg/L for miconazole,0.03-8 (geometric mean:0.207) mg/L for econazole,0.03-8 (geometric mean:0.061 ) mg/L for clotrimazole,0.03-16 (geometric mean:0.187) mg/L for sertaconazole and 0.03 -＞16 (geometric mean:1.050) mg/L for bifonazole. Luliconazole exhibited a superior activity against the 5 species of Candida in vitro,with the MIC range being 0.03-8 mg/L,geometric mean MIC 0.087 mg/L,MIC50 0.06 mg/L and MIC90 0.5 mg/L,respectively.However,some Candida isolates were identified to be relatively insensitive to these tested antifungals,including luliconazole.Conclusion All the tested imidazole antifungals,except for bifonazole,show an excellent activity against Candida species in vitro,but there exist a few Candida strains with relative insensitivity.

ObjectiveTo dynamically observe the paradoxical effect (inhibitory at low concentratin but promotive at high concentration) of caspofungin and micafungin across Candida species in vitro.MethodsA broth microdilution testing was performed following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI) M27-A2 document to observe the paradoxical effect of caspofungin and micafungin across 85 Candida strains.The growth of Candida was observed on a daily basis for 7 days.ResultsAt 48 hours,the prevalence of paradoxical growth in C.albicans,C.glabrata,C.parapsilosis,C.tropicalis,C.dubliniensis and other species of Candida was 90％,20％,41.7％,37.5％,33.3％ and 28.6％ respectively after caspofungin treatment,and 5％,0,0,25％,33.3％and 0 respectively after micafungin treatment.The concentration range of caspofungin required for the paradoxical growth of C.albicans,C.glabrata,C.parapsilosis,C.tropicalis,C.dubliniensis and other species of Candida was 4-16,8-32,8-32,2-8,2-8,8-32 μg/ml respectively,and that of micafungin for the paradoxical growth of C.albicans,C.tropicalis and C.dubliniensis was 4-16,4-32 and 1-8 μg/ml,respectively.After 48 hours,the prevalence of paradoxical growth still increased in C.parapsilosis,C.glabrata,and other species of Candida following caspofungin treatment,and in C.albicans and C.glabrata following micafungin treatment.ConclusionsThe occurrence,and time of occurrence,of paradoxical effect of echinocandins is Candida speciesand drug-specific.The prevalence of paradoxical effect is higher for caspofungin than for micafungin,which seems unrelated to their MICs against Candida species.

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical efficacy and safety of surrounding needle, moxibustion and hot compress of TCM herbs for localized scleroderma.

METHODSForty-two cases of localized scleroderma were randomly divided into an acupuncture + herb group (23 cases, group A) and a heparin sodium group (19 cases, group B). Both the two groups were orally administrated with centella triterpenes tablets and vitamin E, group A was additionally treated with surrounding needle at local area, moxibustion at affected site and Hegu (LI 4), Zu sanli (ST 36) as well as hot external application of "hot compress herbs" at local location, while group B was treated with external application of heparin sodium cream. Both the two groups were treated for consecutive 6 months, and scores of skin sclerosis, joint pain and function were compared before and after the treatment. Also the efficacy and safety of TCM syndrome were assessed.

RESULTSCompared with that before the treatment, the scores of skin sclerosis, joint pain and joint function in the group A after treatment were significantly decreased (all P < 0.01), the score of skin sclerosis in the group B was improved (P < 0.05), and the three types of score in the group A was obviously lower than those in the group B (both P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 86.4% (19/22) in the group A, which was superior to 52.6% (10/19) in the group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe surrounding needle, moxibustion and external application of "hot compress herbs" could improve skin sclerosis in patients with localized scleroderma, which has obvious efficacy and relative safety.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Young Adult

Even though mutations in LMNA have been reported in patients with typical dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and atrioventricular block (AVB) previously, the purpose of this study was to disclose this novel genetic abnormality in one Chinese family with the atypical phenotype of progressive AVB followed by DCM with normal QRS interval. Genome-wide linkage analysis mapped the AVB gene in this family to a marker at chromosome 1q21.2, where the LMNA gene was located. Direct DNA sequence analysis revealed a heterozygous G to A transition at nucleotide 244 in exon 1 of LMNA, which resulted in an E82K mutation. The E82K mutation co-segregated with all affected individuals in the family, and was not present in 200 normal controls. Further clinical evaluation of mutation carriers showed that 5 of 6 AVB patients exhibited mild DCM with a late onset of age in the fourth and fifth decades. Ejection fractions were documented in 5 patients with DCM, but 4 showed a normal value of [Symbol: see text]50%. Echocardiography showed that atrial dilatation occurred earlier than ventricular dilatation in the patients. This study suggests that progressive AVB with normal QRS interval and accompanying DCM at later stages may represent a distinct type of DCM. The molecular mechanism by which the E82K mutation causes AVB as the prominent phenotype in DCM may be a focus of future studies.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with butylphthalide in treatment of acute cerebral ischemic stroke.Methods Eighty-three patients with acute cerebral ischemic stroke in the department of neurology of the Leqing People′s Hospital. And the included 83 cases were randomly divided into treatment group ( n =40 ) and control group ( n =43 ) . All of the included patients were underwent treatment of anti -platelet and depressurization.Patients in the control group were also treated with edaravone 30 mg+0.9%sodium chloride 100 mL intravenous transfusion bid ×14 d. And patients in the treatment group were administered butylphthalide 200 mg po, tid ×14 d. After treatment, the clinical efficacy and neurological function between the two groups were evaluated. Results The total clinical efficacy was not statistical significant (82.50% vs 76.74%) between the two groups ( P>0.05) , but the treatment group had the trend of higher compared to control group.The neurological score of the two groups were all improved significantly (P<0.05).And the treatment group was superior to control group (P<0.05).The adverse incidence rate were 10.00% and 4.65% in the treatment and control group respectively with no statistical different (P>0.05).ConclusionEdaravonecombinedwithbutylphthalideintreatmentofacutecerebralischemicwas effective and safe.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure among residents in Chongqing area.

METHODSA total of 5246 residents aged 15 and over in Chongqing area were enrolled in this study by use of stratified sampling and cluster sampling methods. Data on blood pressure (SBP, DBP), pulse, height, body weight, waist and hip circumferences as well as questionnaire survey were analyzed.

RESULTSThe level of SBP and DBP and hypertension prevalence rate were significantly positively correlated with BMI (all P < 0.01). SBP, DBP levels and hypertension prevalence rate were significantly higher in people with abdomen obesity than people with normal waist circumference (all P < 0.01). BMI, waist circumference in hypertensive residents were significantly higher than non-hypertensive residents (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBlood pressure level and hypertension prevalence rate were closely related with BMI and waist circumference among residents in Chongqing area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Urban Population ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Young Adult

AIMTo design and synthesize new phenyloxyisobutyric acid analogues as antidiabetic compounds.

METHODSEight new target compounds were synthesized by combination of lipophilic moieties and acidic moiety with nucleophilic replacement or Mitsunobu condensation. The eight compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and MS.

RESULTSIn vitro insulin-sensitizing activity (3T3-L1 adipocyte) demonstrated, that the cultured glucose concentration of up-clear solution detected with GOD-POD assay were 5.942, 6.339, 6.226 and 6.512 mmol x L(-1), respectively, when rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, compounds A and B were added to the insulin-resistant system.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro insulin-sensitizing activity of target compound A is in between that of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, and activity of target compound B is slightly less than that of pioglitazone.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; drug effects ; Animals ; Butyrates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of cold autologous blood cardioplegic solution on the heart of infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD).

METHODSNinety-six infants with CCHD who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomly and equally divided into three groups: histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution, cold non-autologous blood cardioplegic solution, and cold autologous blood cardioplegic solution. The right auricular tissues were taken before aortic cross-clamping and at 30 minutes after aortic declamping, and ATP level and energy charge (EC) in the myocardium were measured. Venous blood was collected before and immediately after CPB, and the serum levels of creatine kinase (CK)-MB and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured. The clinical parameters, such as the re-beat time and re-beat rate during CPB, cardiac index, dependence on positive inotropic agents, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 2 hours after CPB, the incidence rate of arrhythmia within 24 hours after CPB, and postoperative complications and mortality, were recorded.

RESULTSAt 30 minutes after aortic declamping, the three groups showed significantly decreased ATP and EC levels (P<0.05), and the cold autologous blood group had significantly higher ATP and EC levels than the other two groups (P<0.05). Immediately after CPB, the three groups showed significantly increased serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI (P<0.05), and the cold autologous blood group had significantly lower serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI than the other two groups (P<0.05). The cold autologous blood group had significantly better outcomes than the other two groups in terms of the re-beat time during CPB and the dependence on positive inotropic agents and LVEF at 2 hours after CPB (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCold autologous blood cardioplegic solution is superior to HTK and cold non-autologous blood cardioplegic solutions in preserving myocardial energy and reducing myocardial injury in infants with CCHD who undergo CPB, thus providing a better protective effect on the heart.

Cardioplegic Solutions ; pharmacology ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; metabolism ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mannitol ; pharmacology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Potassium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Procaine ; pharmacology ; Ventricular Function, Left

The chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel is liquid at room temperature but gels rapidly when heated to body temperature. This hydrogel are wildly used for cell encapsulation, drug delivery or tissue-engineered scaffolds. The system can sustain the release of macromolecules over a period of several hours to a few days. However, with low-molecular-weight compounds, the release is generally completed within 24 h. To prepare a functional chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel for slow release both broad-spectrum antibiotic chlorhexidine and growth factor recombined human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), The beta-cyclodextrin was used to prepare an inclusion complex with chlorhexidine, and then the latter was incorporated into the chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel system. Simultaneously, rhBMP-2 was added into the hydrogel system. By HAAKE viscosity measuring instrument, we contrasted the viscoelastic properties of system with or without objective factors. And the in vitro release kinetics of chlorhexidine and rhBMP-2 was investigated by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) respectively. The results showed that the addition of chlorhexidine/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex to the thermosensitive solution did not change the gelling behavior of the thermosensitive system. Further, the in vitro release profiles demonstrated that the release rate of chlorhexidine and rhBMP-2 from hydrogel became slower, controlled delivery over at least 1 month. By first preparing chlorhexidine/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, and then mixing the IC and rhBMP-2 into the chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel, a functional chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel system with ability of slow release both rhBMP-2 and chlorhexidine is successfully made.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Chlorhexidine ; administration & dosage ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemical synthesis ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Hydrogels ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Temperature ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and pulmonary artery pressure in children with congenital heart disease.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-six children with congenital heart disease undergoing surgical treatment were enrolled as subjects. The serum level of apelin was determined before surgery and at 7 days after surgery. The ratio of pulmonary artery systolic pressure to aortic systolic pressure (Pp/Ps) was calculated before extracorporeal circulation. According to the Pp/Ps value, patients were classified into non-pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) group, mild PAH group, moderate PAH group, and severe PAH group. Pulmonary artery mean pressure was estimated by echocardiography at 7 days after surgery.

RESULTSThe non-PAH group had the highest serum level of apelin before and after surgery, followed by the mild PAH group, moderate PAH group, and severe PAH group (P<0.05). All groups had significantly increased serum levels of apelin at 7 days after surgery (P<0.05). The serum level of apelin was negatively correlated with pulmonary artery pressure before surgery (r=-0.51, P<0.05) and at 7 days after surgery (r=-0.54, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe decrease in serum apelin level is associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease. The significance of serum apelin in predicting the development and degree of pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease deserves further studies.

Apelin ; Blood Pressure ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; blood ; Infant ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology