OBJECTIVETo investigate the co-culture of keratinocytes with Malassezia isolates which cause the pityriasis versicolor with different color and to analyze the changes of cytokines associated with melanogenesis.

METHODSThe effects of Malassezia species with different proportions on the growth rate of keratinocytes was assessed with 5 g/L methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Co-culture of keratinocytes and Malassezia species were performed with isolates from hyer- and hypo-pigmentation areas of pityriasis versicolor. The supernatants were collected at different time points, and the changes of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), nerve growth factor-beta (NGF-beta), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), stem cell factor (SCF) were recorded. Three control groups were established accordingly.

RESULTSWhen the ratio between keratinocytes and Malassezia species was lower than 1: 10, the growth rate of keratinocytes was not affected by Malassezia (P > 0.05). When the ratio was increased above 1:20, the growth rate of keratinocytes was significantly inhibited by Malassezia (P < 0.01). The secretions of IL-1alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and ET-1 was significantly increased after the co-culture of keratinocytes and Malassezia (P < 0.01), while those of b-FGF, NGF-beta, and SCF had no significant changes (P > 0.05). Compared with the isolates from the hypo-pigmentation area, ET-1 induced by isolate from hyperpigmentation area significantly increased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWhen Malassezia isolates are co-cultured with keratinocytes, the secretions of cytokines associated with melanogenesis may differ from each other. ET-1 may play certain role in the hyper-pigmentation of pityriasis versicolor.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Malassezia ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Melanins ; biosynthesis ; Tinea Versicolor ; microbiology

Objective To lay the foundation for studying the possible pathogenesis of epilepsy and the anti-epileptic mechanism of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction through the bioinformatic analysis of target gene prediction and signal pathway of miRNA-146a-5p in hippocampus of epileptic rats. Methods Lithium-pilocarpine was used to induce seizures in rat models. The experiment rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction group, with 20 rats in each group. The method of miRNA expression profiling was used to observe the miRNA differential expression of hippocampus neuron cell of rats. The expression level of miRNA-146a-5p was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. MiRDB was used for target gene prediction of miRNA-146a-5p, and miRTarBase and DAVID were used for enrichment analysis on the GO function and KEGG signaling pathway. Results The attack times and grades of the rats in Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction group were significantly lower than those in the model group from behavioral observation. MiRNA microarray analysis showed that the expression level of miRNA-146a-5p in model group was 2.107 times normal control group (P＜0.05), and the expression level decreased to 1.377 times after treatment with Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction (P＜0.05). The results of RT-PCR was consistent with that of miRNA microarray, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). MiRNA-146a-5p target gene prediction results had 140 target genes by GO, and there were 14 annotation information of biological process (P＜0.05), 9 annotation information of cellular component (P＜0.05), 11 annotation information of molecular function (P＜0.05). Enrichment analysis of KEGG biological pathway showed that 140 target genes of miRNA-146a-5p were enriched in EB virus infection signal pathway and thyroid hormone signaling pathway (P＜0.05). Conclusion miRNA-146a-5p is closely related to the inflammatory reaction after epilepsy, and Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction can control epilepsy possibly by controlling the inflammatory reaction after epilepsy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the severity of early myocardial injury in rats with 30% full thickness burn at plateau and the protective effects of Rhadiola Astragalus Codonopsis Compound (RACC) on the rat myocardial injury.

METHODSOne hundred and four Wistar rats with 30% full thickness burn were randomly divided into RACC application (R, n = 48) and scalding group 1 (S, n = 48), and another 8 healthy Wistar rats as control group 2 (C, n = 8). Four ml of RACC was garaged into the rat stomach in R and 4 ml isotonic saline in S groups respectively, but no treatment in C group. Blood samples from the aorta were harvested in 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 postburn hours (PBH) for blood gas analysis and for the determination of the changes in myocardial enzymes. Rat heart was harvested for pathomorphological examination.

RESULTSThe rat myocardial tissue injury in R and S groups was obvious at 3 PBH and ameliorated gradually thereafter, up to the degree in C group at 72 PBH. The serum levels of myocardial enzymes in R and S groups were significantly higher than those in C group (P < 0.01). Whereas the enzymes in R group were much lower than those in S group (P < 0.01). It was indicated by blood gas analysis that the pH in R and S groups was lower than that in C group (P < 0.05), while that in R group at 12 - 24 PBH was higher than that in S group (P < 0.05). In addition, the base excess in R and S groups was lower than that in C group (P < 0.01), while that in R group at 6 PBH was higher than that in S group (P < 0.05 approximately 0.01). The PaCO2 in R and S groups was evidently lower than that in C group (P < 0.05 approximately 0.01), while that in R group at 48 PBH was no different to that in C group (35.70 +/- 4.23 mmHg vs 37.50 +/- 6.53 mmHg, P > 0.05). The PaO2 in R and S groups at 3 approximately 24 PBH was higher than that in C group and decreased gradually (P > 0.05). There was no difference in SaO2 among 3 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRACC exhibited beneficial to the protection of rat heart from myocardial injury at plateau induced by severe burn.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Burns ; drug therapy ; Codonopsis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective:To observe serum levels of high sensitive C reactive protein(hsCRP),interleukin(IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular dis-ease(ICVD),and analyze their correlation with blood lipids and anticardiolipin antibody(ACA)levels.Methods:A total of 45 ICVD patients treated in our hospital from Mar 2015 to Aug 2016 were regarded as ICVD group.An-other 45 non-ICVD patients treated in our hospital during the same period were regarded as non-ICVD control group.Serum levels of hsCRP,IL-6,TNF-α,HGF,blood lipids and ACA were observed and compared between two groups,and correlation among serum levels of hsCRP,IL-6,TNF-α and HGF,blood lipids and ACA levels were analyzed in ICVD patients.Results:Compared with non-ICVD control group,there were significant rise in se-rum levels of hsCRP[(4.69 ± 1.31)mg/L vs.(8.87 ± 1.56)mg/L],IL-6[(12.17 ± 4.33)mg/L vs.(34.26 ± 5.15)mg/L],TNF-α[(28.45 ± 2.18)pg/ml vs.(48.35 ± 3.15)pg/ml],HGF[(502.34 ± 15.36)pg/ml vs. (876.25 ± 18.15)pg/ml],ACA[(4.11 ± 0.65)IU/L vs.(7.89 ± 1.02)IU/L],total cholesterol[(4.68 ± 1.12) mmol/L vs.(5.57 ± 1.21)mmol/L],low density lipoprotein cholesterol[(2.62 ± 0.49)mmol/L vs.(3.24 ± 0.87) mmol/L]and triglyceride[(1.42 ± 0.31)mmol/L vs.(1.84 ± 0.37)mmol/L],and significant reduction in serum level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol[(1.28 ± 0.25)mmol/L vs.(1.02 ± 0.22)mmol/L]in ICVD group,P=0.001 all.Pearson correlation analysis indicated that serum levels of hsCRP,IL-6,TNF-α and HGF were signifi-cant positively correlated with serum levels of ACA,TC,LDL-C and TG(r=0.468~0.632,P<0.05 or <0.01), and significant inversely correlated with HDL-C level(r= -0.571~ -0.511,P<0.05 or < 0.01)in ICVD pa-tients.Conclusion:Serum levels of hsCRP,IL-6,TNF-α and HGF significantly rise in ICVD patients,and they are closely correlated with levels of blood lipids and ACA,which can serve as important indexes monitoring ICVD.

Objective To understand the status of HIV infection and sexual behaviors with men and women among men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) and documented for HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men to the general population.Methods 300 participants were recruited by using "snowballing" sampling in Chengdu and Guangzhou,respectively.Participants completed the questionnaire and HIV test.The questionnaire included social demographic characteristics,number of male sexual partners,sexual behaviors and condom use in the past 6 months.Relations with female sexual partners,vaginal intercourse and condom use in the past 12 months were also studied.Results Of the 600 oarticioants,the overall prevalence of HIV infectionwas 26.2％ and the detection rate of HIV-positives in this survey was 8.5％.In the past 6 months 28.0％ of the participants had 5 or more male sexual partners and the percentage of MSMW who had used condoms consistently during anal sex intercourse with men,was 44.2％.Of the participants,52.3％ had used condoms in the last three anal sex events and 63.0％ in the last event.In the past 12 months,86.0％ of the participants who had vaginal sex with female partners and the proportions of MSMW who had wife,girlfriend,lover,female casual partner and female commercial partner were 65.0％,27.2％,1.5％,12.7％,4.5％,respectively.About a third of the MSMW had always used condoms when having vaginal sex in the past 12 month.In the last three vaginal sex events,the proportion of participants who had never used condoms was 36.5％.In the past 6 months,55.7％ of the MSMWs had used condoms consistently during anal sex with men in Chengdu,which was higher than those MSMW in Guangzhou (32.7％).In the past 12 months,the proportion of MSMW who had used condoms consistently during vaginal sex was 38.3％,which was higher than MSMW of Guangzhou (25.3％).Among those HIV-positive MSMWs,91.1％ had anal sex with men in the past 6 months and 49.7％ HIV-positive MSMW had used condoms consistently during anal sex with men.The number of HIV-positive MSMW who had used condoms in the last or last three anal sex events with men,accounted for 60.5％ and 69.4％,respectively.In the past 12 months,82.8％ of the HIV-positive participants had vaginal sex with women.Of the HIV-positive participants,42.0％ used condoms consistently and the percentage of HIV-positive MSMWs who used condom during last three vaginal sexes was 47.8％.In the past 6 months,the percentage (4.3％) of MSMW who were HIV-positive prior to the survey and never used condoms during anal sex with men was lower than the percentage (22.0％) of MSMW who were HIV-positive found in this survey.In the past 12 months 12.9％ of the MSMW who were HIV positive prior to the survey never used condoms when having vaginal sex event,which was lower than MSMW (46.3％) who were HIV positive in this survey.Conclusion The prevalence of HIV infection had reached a quite high level and with high rates of unprotected anal sex with men and vaginal sex with women among MSMWs,indicating that the inherent bridging aspect of MSMW might accelerate the spreading of HIV infection to the general population.

Objective To explore the experience and methods of neuro-endoscopy in minimally invasive treating intracranial diseases.Methods The surgery effect and complications of minimally invasive treatment under neuro-endoscopy on 52 patients with intracranial diseases,admitted to our hospital from October 2010 to March 2013,were retrospectively summarized; in these 52 patients,20 had pituitary adenoma,20 had hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage,1 had intracranial hematoma followed arteriovenous malformation,2 had intracranial hematomas after brain injury,2 had cholesteatoma,2 had optic canal decompression,2 had cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea,1 had multi-separated subacute subdural hematoma and the last 2 had arachnoid cyst.Results Except for 1 patient having cholesteatoma appeared bleeding of the petrosalvein intraoperatively,which resulted in cerebellum hemorrhage following postoperative venous hemorrhagic infarction and unfavourable prognosis,the rest of the patients recovered well; in 20 patients having hypophysoma,15 (75％) achieved total resection of the pituitary adenoma,and no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea occurred; in 23 cases of intracranial hematomas,22 were cleared satisfactorily,and the left one occurred rehemorrhage in one side but craniotomy hematoma removal was successfully performed again.The eyesight of 2 patients with optic canal decompression was improved obviously.The repair effects of 2 patients with cerebrospinal fluid leakage were very good without intracranial infection or recurrence.The 2 patients with arachnoid cyst recovered satisfactorily without other complications.One patient with multi-separated subacute subdural hematoma recovered with hematoma clear postoperative satisfactorily; and one patient with cholesteatoma postoperative recovered satisfactorily with tumor resection.Conclusion Neuro-endoscopy has many advantages such as exposed wide range,good deep lighting,minimally invasive and high efficiency in endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal skull base surgery and intracranial hematomas removal.

BACKGROUNDIt is uncertain whether genotypes of Candida albicans (C. albicans) are associated with colonizing body locations or variant conditions of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are significant associations between strain genotypes and body sites of infection and to determine the potential pathogenesis of cutaneous candidiasis at multiple locations.

METHODSA total of 151 strains of C. albicans were isolated from 74 infant patients with cutaneous candidiasis and 61 female patients with vaginal candidiasis. Patients were grouped according to the body sites and underlying conditions of infection. Genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the 25S rDNA and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of ALT repeats digested with EcoRI and Clal.

RESULTSTen genotypes were detected. There were significant differences in genotype frequencies between the two groups. However, we found no clear association between genotypes and the sites of cutaneous infection or the underlying conditions of vaginal candidiasis (VVC). In addition, strains of C. albicans from multiple cutaneous locations of the same patient had identical genotypes.

CONCLUSIONSPopulations of C. albicans from patients with cutaneous and vaginal candidiasis were genetically different. However, the lack of genetic difference between strains from different body sites with cutaneous infections or from different underlying conditions for VVC suggests no evidence of genotype selection for different skin surfaces or patients with different underlying conditions for VVC.

Candida albicans ; classification ; genetics ; Candidiasis, Cutaneous ; virology ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUNDCandida albicans (C. albicans) strains can spontaneously switch at a very low frequency from white to opaque phase. The ability to switch reversibly between white and opaque phenotype and contributes to the pathogenicity of C. albicans. White and opaque switching can be induced by various environmental signals. Previous study showed that opaque cells switch en masse to white when transferred in vitro to 37°C, the temperature of their animal host. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of different concentration of carbon dioxide and temperature on white-opaque switching, and to determine the different anti-candida killing activity of white and opaque form by human monocyte-macrophage cell line THP-1.

METHODSWhite-opaque switching and opaque-white switching were assayed. Modified Lee's medium supplemented with phloxine B was used to detect white and opaque forms of C. albicans under 0.03% CO2 at 25°C, 0.03% CO2 at 37°C and 5% CO2 at 37°C. Growth curve of C. albicans was monitored using OD value at 630 nm simultaneously. White and opaque forms of C. albicans and THP-1 cells were cocultured at ratio of 1:10. Colony serial dilutions were used to assay for intracellular candidacidal activity. MTT assay was used to measure the extracellular candidacidal activity.

RESULTSPhenotype switching was successfully induced in vitro in all three strains of C. albicans. When evaluating white to opaque switching, opaque colony proportion of all colonies was 0.572 ± 0.087, 0.920 ± 0.030 and 0.985 ± 0.026 exposure of white cells to 0.03% CO2 at 25°C, 0.03% CO2 at 37°C and 5% CO2 at 37°C. When evaluating opaque to white switching, opaque colony proportion of all colonies was 0.600 ± 0.114, 0.983 ± 0.003 and 0.998 ± 0.003 exposure of white cells to 0.03% CO2 at 25°C, 0.03% CO2 at 37°C and 5% CO2 at 37°C. No significant difference of white or opaque form growth rate was found among three conditions (P > 0.05). THP-1 mediated extracellular anti-candida activity in white form was (79.80 ± 3.71)% and (56.28 ± 19.12)% at different dilution ratio, which were significantly lower than that in opaque form (100%, P < 0.01). THP-1 mediated intracellular anti-candida activity in white form ((62.98 ± 5.02)%) was significantly lower than that in opaque form ((87.07 ± 1.80)%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSOur results showed that opaque form is more vulnerable and less virulent than that in white form. It suggested that higher concentration of CO2 and 37°C in host niches stabilize the less virulent opaque cell of C. albicans, which might have implications for pathogenesis, commensalism and mating.

Candida albicans ; pathogenicity ; Carbon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Phagocytosis ; Phenotype ; Temperature ; Virulence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of left ventricular structure and function in patients with liver cirrhosis and their correlation with the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score.

METHODSA total of 89 cirrhotic patients admitted between June, 2012 and June, 2014 and 30 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. According to MELD score, the cirrhotic patients were divided into 3 groups with MELD scores ≤9, between 10 and 19, and ≥20. The parameters of the left ventricle in resting state were measured using Doppler echocardiography, including left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), left atrial diameter (LAD), ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac output (CO), mitral flow velocity, and E wave deceleration time (DT), and evaluated their relationship with MELD score.

RESULTSCompared with the control subjects, the cirrhotic patients showed significantly increased LVESD, LVEDD, IVST, LAD, CO and DT but reduced VE/VA ratio (P<0.05 or 0.01). The values of LVESD, LVEDD, IVST, LAD and DT increased gradually with MELD scores (P<0.05 or 0.01). VE/VA ratio was higher in patients with MELD score of 10-19 than in those with MELD score ≤9, and decreased significantly in those with MELD score ≥20. Of the cirrhotic patients, 55% were found to have left atrial enlargement and 44% had a VE/VA ratio ≤1; left atrial enlargement and a VE/VA ratio below 1 were more common in patients with a MELD score ≥20 than in those with lower MELD scores. The LAD, LVEDD and DT were positively correlated with MELD scores (r=0.208, 0.319 and 0.197, respectively; P<0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe patients with liver cirrhosis can have cardiac function deficiency manifested mainly by left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in positive correlation with the severity of liver disease.

Cardiac Output ; Case-Control Studies ; End Stage Liver Disease ; physiopathology ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective Toinvestigatethestatusoftick-borneRickettsiaeinfectionsamongmurine-likeanimalsin differentareasofZhejiangprovince.Methods Liverandspleensamplesofmurine-likeanimalscapturedthroughnight trapping method were collected from Anji,Jinhua and Tiantai County according to their geographic locations and historical detection of Rickettsiae .Nest-PCR tests were used to determine the presence of the 16S rRNA genes of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia ,and the heat shock protein genes (groEL)of Rickettsiae (including typhus and spotted fever group)and Orientiainthesesamples.Results Atotalof851murine-likeanimalsbelongingto14specieswerecaptured.The predominant species were Rattus confucianus (30.32%),Apodemus agrarius (18.80%) and Thallomys paedulcus (1 1.75%)and they were significantly different among three areas (P<0.05 ).48 Rickettsia positive were found in 562 tested samples with the positive rate of 8.54%,among which the percentage of Anaplasma,typhus group Rickettsia, Orientia,Ehrlichia and spotted fever group Rickettsia were 3.38%,1.78%,1.78%,1.07% and 0.53% respectively. The positive rates of Anaplasma in Jindong (4.76%)and Anji (4.27%)were significantly higher than that in Tiantai (P<0.05 )while the spotted fever group Rickettsia were found only in Tiantai County.Moreover,Rattus confucianus-the predominant species of Zhejiang Province-had the highest infection rate of tick-borne Rickettsiae up to 14.97%.Co-infections with several Rickettsiae were existed among the same species.Conclusion Rickettsiae infections exist widely among different areas of Zhejiang province and the positive rates are significantly different among species.