Objective To profile the phenotype and pathogens of cutaneous and mucous mycoses in a dermatology outpatient clinic in Nanchang region. Methods A review was performed to assess cutaneous and mucous mycoses diagnosed in the dermatology outpatient clinic of Dermatology Hospital of Jiangxi Province from 2006 to 2008. The relationship of clinical phenotype and pathogens to season, patients' age and gender was analyzed. Results A total of 7251 cases were collected, and the ratio of male to female patients was 2.3: 1. The most prevalent mycoses included tinea cruris (2702, 37.1%), pityriasis versicolor (1505, 20.8%) and tinea manus (727, 10.0%). In total, 4953 fungal strains were isolated from all the patients except for those with pityriasis versicolor, of them, Trichophyton rubrum accounted to 69.9%, Candida to 20.4%, and Trichophyton violaceum to 4.5%. Season, patients' age and gender were found to be associated with clinical phenotypes and pathogens of mycoses. Conclusions In the dermatology outpatient clinic of Nanchang region, tinea cruris is the most common superficial fungal disease, with the predominant pathogen being Trichophyton rubrum. Trichophyton violaceum is the primary pathogen of tinea capitis, which is different from other reports.

AIM: To investigate the expression of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 in retinoblastoma (RB) and normal retinal tissues and their clinicopathological significance and interrelationship.METHODS: Envision immunohistochemistry stainings of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 were performed in 30 enucleated eyeballs with retinoblastoma and 15 specimens of normal retina tissue, which had been routinely imbedded with paraffin.RESULTS: Positive rate of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expression was higher in RB tissue than in normal control (P<0.01), while TIMP2 expression was lower in RB than in normal retinal tissue (P<0.01). Samples from RB cases of clinical stage Ⅰ, differentiated type, and life span≥2 years had lower positive rate in expression of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 than those from RB cases of clinical stage Ⅲ, undifferentiated type, and life span<2 years (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while samples from RB cases of differentiated type, optic nerve unaffected, and life span≥2 years had markedly higher positive rate in expression of TIMP2 than those from RB cases of undifferentiated type, optic nerve involved and life span<2 years (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In RB tissues, EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expressions were highly consistent (P<0.05), whereas TIMP2 expression is highly inconsistent with EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 expression levels (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The expression level of EMMPRIN, MMP1, MMP9 and TIMP2 may be an important marker of RB progression, invasion and prognosis. There exist internally mutual regulation relations among them.

Animals ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; mortality ; surgery ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; economics ; methods ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Male ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUNDAn apnea test is essential in the clinical determination of brain death. This study was conducted to analyse complications associated with the apnea test in the determination of the brain death.

METHODSOn 93 adult patients in coma in Zhejiang Province of China from January 2003 to December 2006, 179 apnea tests were performed as a part of the determination of brain death. Potential risk conditions and complications were analysed during apnea tests.

RESULTSDuring apnea, serious cardiac arrhythmia did not occur in all patients. Complications occurred in 37 of 179 (21%) apnea tests. Hypotension occurred in 30 patients (17%) and it was observed in 8/94 (9%) tests with baseline value of systolic arterial blood pressure not less than 120 mmHg, and 22/85 (26%) less than 120 mmHg (P < 0.05). Severe hypoxaemia occurred in 10 patients (6%) of which 3/138 (2%) tests with baseline value of arterial oxygen pressure not less than 200 mmHg, and 7/41 (17%) less than 200 mmHg (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrated that complications occurred mostly in patients with inadequate baseline systolic arterial blood pressure and preoxygenation. Adequate precautions during the apnea tests may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and oxygenation complication.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apnea ; physiopathology ; Brain Death ; diagnosis ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; etiology ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo identify whether SH3GL1 gene serves as a disease associated gene of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODSPositioning candidate cloning: "case-sibling or case-family control design" research scheme based on family constellation was designed. Fifty-six AIS patients (15 male and 41 female, mean age 15 years old, ranged from 8 to 22 years old, Cobb angle from 25 degrees to 110 degrees , average Cobb angle of 67.5 degrees ) from November 2007 to December 2008 were recruited. In all patients, blood preparation was collected, and genome DNA was extracted. According to nucleotide sequence of gene SH3GL1, primer pair for PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing with 10 exons as emphasis was designed. Sequence comparative analysis for exon sequencing result between sib pairs or family pairs, and that between sib pair or family pairs and NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) were conducted through Vector NTI Advance 10.3 software to judge whether basic group mutation occurred or not. Amino acid sequence comparative analysis for prediction was made.

RESULTSTen exons of the candidate gene SH3GL1 were successfully amplified and cloned in genome DNA of an AIS sib pair and family pairs, and the sequencing obtained positive results. Twelve basic group mutations were found in 10 exons of the candidate gene SH3GL1 of patients with AIS. These mutations were located in the second exon (3 mutations), the fourth exon (1 mutations), the fifth exon (4 mutations), the sixth exon (1 mutations), the eighth exon (1 mutations), and the tenth exon (2 mutations, noncoding region). If basic group in 515 of mRNA was mutated to T, termination codon(TAG) came into being and open reading frame was altered. The sequence of protein showed brachytmema protein was encoded, which could cause changes of primary structure.

CONCLUSIONSH3GL1 is possibly one of the disease associated genes of AIS.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Male ; Scoliosis ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Young Adult

Objective To establish a quantitative RT-PCR method with self-quenched fluorogenic probe for detection of bcr/abl mRNA in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia for providing a useful tool for diagnosis of CML,evaluation of therapeutic effect and monitoring of minimal residual disease(MRD). Methods bcr/abl gene from cultured K562 cells was amplified by conventional RT-PCR.The standard quantitative plasmid was constructed by A-T clone method.The self-quenched fluorogenic quantitative RT- PCR method(FQ-RT-PCR)for determination of bcr/abl mRNA was established successfully using the ABI PRISM 7000 PCR Detector.The linear range,sensitivity,stability,and repetitiveness of the method were determined.The marrow samples from 25 CML patients and 3 ALL patients were assessed.Results The sensitivity of the FQ-RT-PCR was 10 copies/?l recombined plasmid,and bcr/abl mRNA can be detected from 1 K562 cell in 10~5 normal cells.The linear range was 10~2-10~9 copies/?l recombined plasmid.The coefficient variation(CV)value was 2.1% in intra-assay and 6.1% in inter-assay.The median ber/abl mRNA expression level was 4.50?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-89.00)?10~4],5.45?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(2.95-19.30)?10~4 ],13.00?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(4.10-89.00)?10~4] and 2.35?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-5.12)?10~4] in 25 CML patients,11 patients in the incipient chronic phase,6 patients in blastic crisis,8 patients in chronic period after treatment,respectively.The bcr/abl mRNA level in blastic crisis was significantly higher than that in chronic phase(q= 3.41,P

BACKGROUND:Two-dimensional radiographs and plaster models are used to evaluate the changes in the maxillary bone and airway after rapid maxillary expansion,but the shortcomings like distortion,one-sidedness,and overlapping appear.Cone-beam CT can effectively solve the above problems and achieve the three-dimensional reconstruction and measurement of the maxillary bone and airway.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the morphological changes of nasomaxillary complex and upper airway in adolescent patients with malocclusion after rapid maxillary expansion by cone-beam CT and Dolphin software.METHODS:Thirty adolescent patients with malocclusion were enrolled to receive rapid maxillary expansion.All patients underwent cone-beam CT examination before and after treatment,and Dolphin software was used for image processing,three-dimensional reconstruction,fixed point and measurement,to evaluate the morphological changes of the nasomaxillary complex and upper airway.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment,the nasal cavity and maxillary width was increased by (2.13±1.80) and (4.12±2.15) mm,respectively (P ＜ 0.05);the coronal diameter and area of the airway on the hard plate was increased by (3.30±2056) mm and (75.37±53.92) mm2,respectively (P ＜ 0.05),and all above indexes showed significant difference compared with baseline.While the sagittal diameter of the airway on the hard plate showed no significant changes.After treatment,the upper airway showed a significant increase in the area and volume at the nasopharynx,which was increase by (33.57±57.10) mm2 and (1 009.59±1 350.91) mm3,respectively (P ＜ 0.05).The upper airway showed no significant changes in the area and volume at the velopharynx and glossopharynx,as well as the height at each part.To conclude,in the growing patients with malocclusion after rapid maxillary expansion,the nasomaxillary complex and area and volume of upper airway at the nasopharynx showed a significant increase,but the airway at the velopharynx and glossopharynx reveal no significant changes.

OBJECTIVETo screen and identify apoptosis related proteins and explore the mechanism of harringtonine (HT)-induced K562 cells apoptosis.

METHODSFlow cytometry was used to distinguish K562 cells in the earlier stage of apoptosis from those in the later stage of apoptosis by annexin V and PI staining. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) coupled with computer image analysis was used to detect the changes in protein expression in the two stages of apoptosis. Proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprint in combination with database searching.

RESULTSK562 cells treated with HT for 5 and 24 hours were in the early and later stages of apoptosis respectively. Statistical analysis showed 3 spots disappeared, 7 spots with decreased intensity and 10 spots with increased intensity in the 24 h HT induced apoptotic cells as compared with that in 5 h HT induced ones. Ten spots were selected on the basis of the intensity and the significant changes in abundance. Among them, 5 apoptosis related proteins were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF: keratin 9, BTF3, TrpRS, RS and prohibitin.

CONCLUSIONSUp-regulation of TrpRS, RS, prohibitin and down-regulation of BTF3 were involved in inhibition of transcription and protein synthesis in the apoptotic K562 cells induced by HT, whereas up-regulation of keratin 9 was related to apoptosis resistance.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Harringtonines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proteome ; metabolism

Eleven flavonol glycosides were isolated from the ethanol extract of Lysimachia clethroides by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified as astragalin (1), isoquercitrin (2), isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin-3-O-β-D-6"-acetylglucopyranoside (4), quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), prunin (6), 2-hydroxynaringin-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferol-3-O-rutinonoside (8), kaempferol-3-O-robinobioside (9), rutin (10) and kaempferol-3,7-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11). Among them, compounds 4, 7 and 11 were obtained from the Lysimachia genus for the first time, while compounds 3, 5 and 9 were firstly reported from this plant. In the preliminary assays, compounds 2, 6 and 8 possessed significant inhibition against aldose reduc- tase, with IC50 values of 2.69, 1.00, 1.80 μmol · L(-1), respectively; none of compounds 1-11 exhibited obvious cytotoxic activity (IC50 > 10 μmol · L(-1)).
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonols ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Primulaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization