Abstract: Objective To screen out a more universally applicable culture medium for the isolation and culturing of pathogenic fungi through comparing the performance of various universal fungal culture media, to optimize the fungal culturomics technique, and to better apply it to the culturomics research of pathogenic fungi. Methods Multiple common fungal culture media Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), modified Dixon (mDixon), modified LeemingNotman agar (MLNA), etc., and a new pan-fungal medium (PF) were used to culture 40 strains of common pathogenic fungi to determine the growth states of strains under different conditions. Based on that, PF, SDA, PDA, mDixon and MLNA, a total of 5 culture media, were used to isolate and culture a simulated sample (suspension of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus), 10 human samples (4 fecal samples and 6 vaginal secretion samples) and 3 environmental samples. Results The positive growth rates of 40 strains of pathogenic fungi in the 7 media were as follows: PDA 95.0% (38/40), SDA 95.0% (38/40), BHI 95.0% (38/40), YPD 90.0% (36/40), mDixon 95.0% (38/40), MLNA 87.5% (35/40), PF 100.0% (40/40). For the simulated samples, PF could effectively promote the self-limited growth of filamentous fungi, performing better in isolation and culture. For the human samples and environmental samples, PF showed the same versatility as SDA and PDA. Conclusions In the isolation and culturing of pathogenic fungi, PF medium can effectively isolate and culture most fungal species. Meanwhile, PF can make the fast-growing fungi show self-limited growth and clear edges, and not easy to cross-contamination, which indicates it is conducive to the isolation and identification of single colonies. PF medium outperforms other common media in isolating strains from unknown samples in culturomics, which illustrates PF medium can be effectively used for the study of fungal culturomics.

In this study, 17 kinds of Dendrobium species of Fengdous including 39 individuals were collected from 4 provinces. Mitochondrial gene sequences co I, nad 5, nad 1-intron 2 and chloroplast gene sequences rbcL, matK amd psbA-trnH were amplified from these materials, as well as nrDNA ITS. Furthermore, suitable sequences for identification of Dendrobium species of Fengdous were screened by K-2-P and P-distance. The results showed that during the mentioned 7 sequences, nrDNA ITS, nad 1-intron 2 and psbA-trnH which had a high degree of variability could be used to identify Dendrobium species of Fengdous. However, single fragment could not be used to distinguish D. moniliforme and D. huoshanense. Moreover, compared to other combined fragments, new type combined fragments nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2 was more effective in identifying the original plants of Dendrobium species and could be used to identify D. huoshanense and D. moniliforme. Besides, according to the UPGMA tree constructed with nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2, 3 inspected Dendrobium plants were identified as D. huoshanense, D. moniliforme and D. officinale, respectively. This study identified Dendrobium species of Fengdous by combined fragments nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2 for the first time, which provided a more effective basis for identification of Dendrobium species. And this study will be helpful for regulating the market of Fengdous.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution and drug resistance spectrum of clinical bacterial and Candida isolates.

METHODSMost of the bacterial isolates were identified using automated BD Phoenix, and a few with K-B method carried out manually. Candida isolates were identified by color-display plate and K-B method.

RESULTSThe most common isolates in the 2478 strains were P. aeruginosa (15.6%), E. coli (11.5%), C. albicans (9.6%), K. pneumoniae (9.3%), S. aureu (8.2%), and S. epidermidis (7.5%). In gram-negative isolates, the antibiotics with the lowest resistance rate were meraopenem (14.4%), cefoperazone/Sulbactam (14.8%), Imipenem (21.9%), piperacillin/tazobactam (27.4%), ceftazidime (30.0%), amikacin (31.1%), and cefepime (33.1%). The detection rate of E.coli and K. pneumoniae isolates producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) were 47.4% and 37.3% respectively. In gram-positive isolates, the antibiotics with the lowest resistance rate were vancomycin (0.9%), teicoplanin (1.1%), nitrofurantoin (6.9%), amikacin (20.1%), chloramphenicol (30.7%), and cefoperazone/sulbactam (31.5%). The methecillin-resistant rates of S. aureu , S. epidermidis, and S. haemolyticus were 57.1%, 65.0%, and 66.0%. For Candida isolates, the most sensitive antibiotics were amphotericin B (0.3%), nystain (0.3%), itraconazole (5.6%), fluconazole (9.4%), and fluorocytosine (9.4%).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest high rate of ESBL production and oxacillin resistance of the bacteria isolated in the hospital. More rational use of antimicrobial agents is crucial for reducing the drug-resistance of the bacteria, and effective measures must be taken to reduce dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Candida ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Oxacillin ; pharmacology ; beta-Lactamases ; biosynthesis

Objective: To investigate the relation between nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit (nAChR) genes and schizophrenia, and the relation between tag single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1317286, rs1044396, rs6494212, rs16969968, and rs684513) and schizophrenia in Han Chinese people. Methods: The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network among nAChR protein and 350 proteins encoded by schizophrenia-related susceptibility genes was constructed through the String database to explore whether nAChR genes were associated with schizophrenia in these known databases. Then, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CHRNA3 (rs1317286), CHRNA4 (rs1044396), CHRNA7 (rs6494212), and CHRNA5 (rs16969968, rs684513) were analyzed in a sample of 1,035 schizophrenic patients and 816 healthy controls. The interaction between the markers was analyzed using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) software. Power analysis was performed using the Quanto program. Results: There are no significant differences in genotype or allele distribution were identified between the patients and controls (p>0.05). The haplotypes constructed by four markers rs1317286, rs6494212, rs16969968, and rs684513 were not associated with schizophrenia either. However, a significant association between models made of rs1317286, rs1044396, rs6494212, and rs684513 and schizophrenia was revealed in interaction analysis (p<0.05). Conclusion The nAChR protein may have effects on the development of schizophrenia through the interaction with proteins encoded by schizophrenia-related susceptibility genes, but no relation was found between selected polymorphisms and schizophrenia in the collected Han Chinese people. However, interaction analysis suggested four-SNP model has an important effect on schizophrenia.

BACKGROUNDSome studies suggested that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection could reduce the clinical pregnancy rate and double the spontaneous abortion rate compared with non-infected women after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). But some other studies showed there was no difference between HPV infected and non-infected groups of ART outcomes. The role of HPV infection in infertile women undergoing IVF treatments has been a controversial issue which this article attempts to investigate.

METHODSThis is a retrospective analysis of 3880 infertile women undergoing IVF treatment at Peking University Third hospital reproductive medical center in 2008. Patients with abnormal thin-layer preparation cytologic test (TCT) results who underwent fresh cycle embryo transfer were divided into an HPV positive group (n = 56) and an HPV negative group (n = 56). The clinical parameters were compared (using Student's t-test and chi-squared test). Univariate and multivariate analyses were taken to see if HPV infection affects the clinical pregnancy rate.

RESULTSOf the 3880 cases 157 had TCT abnormality (4.0%). Of the 149 patients who had HPV test results, 112 women (81.2%) received a fresh cycle embryo transfer. Each group had 56 cases. The patients were of similar age and BMI, basic hormone levels, and infertile factors were similar. The gonadotropin use, oocyte retrieval number, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate and newborn condition were all similar between groups. Analyses showed neither HPV infection nor HPV hybrid capture (HC) II results affected clinical pregnancy rate after IVF treatments, but the FSH level did.

CONCLUSIONHPV positivity did not appear to impact assisted reproductive technology (ART) success. "Extensive treatment" for HPV before IVF was not recommended because treatment time will increase age and reduce ovarian function, which will lead to inferior IVF outcomes.

Adult ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Papillomavirus Infections ; complications ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of endoscopic modified agger nasi approach for the surgical treatment of frontal sinus diseases.

METHODSThe data of patients undergoing modified agger nasi approach for frontal diseases were prospectively collected since January 2009, including demographic data, findings at surgery, presence of postoperative symptoms, endoscopic appearance of the frontal recess and sinus, and complications.

RESULTSNineteen patients were enrolled from January 2009 to August 2010. Seventeen patients had chronic rhinosinusitis, in which 13 patients (76.5%) completely healed, 3 patients (17.6%) improved and 1 patient (5.9%) failed. Two patients had frontal sinus and anterior ethmoid sinus inverted papilloma, with no recurrence. The patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months, medium 16 months. No severe complication occurred. No frontal recess adhesion was found. Four sides of frontal recess showed stenosis caused by tissue hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONThe modified agger nasi approach provides excellent access to frontal recess and frontal sinus, with good effect for preventing re-stenosis after surgery.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Frontal Sinus ; surgery ; Frontal Sinusitis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; surgery ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

The neuroprotective effect of propofol against intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats was investigated. ICH was induced in rats by infusion of collagenase (Type VII) 0.5 U (1 U x microL(-1)) into the left caudate nucleus. Three doses of propofol were given intraperitoneally (i.p.) 10 min before collagenase infusion. Effects of propofol on neurological behavioral scores, brain water content (BWC), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissue, expression level of caspase-3 were studied. In propofol groups (30 and 100 mg x kg(-1)), the neurological behavioral score, BWC and the content of MDA were significantly lower than those in ICH group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), whereas the activity of SOD was higher than that in ICH group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, propofol (15, 30, and 100 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited caspase-3 expression in dose-dependent manner (r = 0.877). Brain damages caused by ICH in rats can be alleviated by propofol, which mechanism might be attributed to its antioxidant activity.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Edema ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; chemically induced ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Collagenases ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Propofol ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThis study was focused on the clinical effects of topical steroid for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in Chinese adults.

METHODSThe CRS patients were randomly selected in the department of otorhinolaryngology, first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen university between november 2010 and December 2011. Thirty-four CRS patients with polyps (CRSwNP) or CRS without polyps (CRSsNP), no prior surgeries were included. These patients were prescribed to use budesonide nasal spay for three months. Evaluation included visual analog score (VAS), sino-nasal outcome test-20(SNOT-20), CT scan (Lund-Mackay score). SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSFour patients were lost to follow up, while the other 30 patients finished the 3-months' follow up. Except for smelling disturbance which was not statistically changed (t = 0.902, P > 0.05), VAS for nasal blockage (baseline: 4.84 ± 3.15, after treatment: 2.26 ± 2.27), rhinorrhea (baseline: 6.03 ± 2.93, after treatment: 1.96 ± 2.23), headache (baseline: 1.68 ± 2.66, after treatment: 0.42 ± 0.95), facial pressure (baseline: 2.04 ± 2.97, after treatment: 0.58 ± 1.42) and general symptom (baseline: 6.00 ± 2.75, after treatment: 2.71 ± 1.90) were statistically decreased (t value was 4.386, 6.740, 2.445, 2.980, 6.989, respectively, all P < 0.05). VAS of nasal blockage, rhinorrhea and general symptom were statistically decreased after one-month's treatment (all P < 0.05), but no statistical improvements were observed between first, second and the third month (all P > 0.05). SNOT-20 was significantly decreased after treatment (t = 3.687, P < 0.01). 22.2% patients were cured on CT scan.

CONCLUSIONSTopical steroid improves objective symptoms and quality of life in CRS patients. Some of the patients can be cured in CT scores. The symptoms improvements begin from the first month, but do not change during the latter two months.

Administration, Intranasal ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

In this study, 17 kinds of Dendrobium species of Fengdous including 39 individuals were collected from 4 provinces. Mitochondrial gene sequences co I, nad 5, nad 1-intron 2 and chloroplast gene sequences rbcL, matK amd psbA-trnH were amplified from these materials, as well as nrDNA ITS. Furthermore, suitable sequences for identification of Dendrobium species of Fengdous were screened by K-2-P and P-distance. The results showed that during the mentioned 7 sequences, nrDNA ITS, nad 1-intron 2 and psbA-trnH which had a high degree of variability could be used to identify Dendrobium species of Fengdous. However, single fragment could not be used to distinguish D. moniliforme and D. huoshanense. Moreover, compared to other combined fragments, new type combined fragments nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2 was more effective in identifying the original plants of Dendrobium species and could be used to identify D. huoshanense and D. moniliforme. Besides, according to the UPGMA tree constructed with nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2, 3 inspected Dendrobium plants were identified as D. huoshanense, D. moniliforme and D. officinale, respectively. This study identified Dendrobium species of Fengdous by combined fragments nrDNA ITS+nad 1-intron 2 for the first time, which provided a more effective basis for identification of Dendrobium species. And this study will be helpful for regulating the market of Fengdous.
DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; classification ; genetics ; Genes, Chloroplast ; Genes, Plant ; Introns ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical approaches, methods and techniques of repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea via frontal sinus under transnasal endoscopy.

METHODSCerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, located at the posterior wall of the frontal sinus (n = 9) and posterior lateral wall of the frontal recess (n = 4) had been repaired surgically. A transnasal endoscopic approach was chosen in 12 patients and combined approach was used in 1 patient during the first procedure. Three patients needed the second surgery. Among them, one patient needed to repair CSF rhinorrhea, 1 patient needed to treat intracranial abscess of frontal lobe via combined approach and another one was treated because of the complication of frontal cyst.

RESULTSTwelve patients were successfully repaired in the first surgery. Only 1 patient needed second surgery. Two patients occurred complications. One was intracranial infection after surgery, external drainage and packing in the frontal sinus was used. Another was obstructive cyst in frontal sinus, transnasal endoscopic frontal sinusotomy was performed.

CONCLUSIONSCSF rhinorrhea which located at the posterior wall of the frontal sinus can be successfully repaired via transnasal endoscopic approach if the leak was visible under endoscopy. The size of the frontal ostium and leak vantage should be considered to prevent the drainage of the frontal sinus which would result in obstructive cyst in frontal sinus, frontal sinusitis and intracranial infection. Combined approach was suggested to the patients that leakage could not be seen in frontal sinus or frontal ostium was difficult to enlarge.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; surgery ; Child ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Frontal Sinus ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult