Objective To investigate the relationship between vaginal and intestinal Candida in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis by using microbiological and molecular methods. Methods The samples of vaginal discharge and anal swabs were collected from 148 cases with vulvovaginal candidiasis,followed by fungal culture, identification, purification and genome DNA extraction. The genome sequences from respective locations were aligned and typed according to their homology analyzed by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR. Patients with vulvovaginal infection or those with infections in intestine and vulvovagina were pooled respectively, while the recurrent incidences after local anti-fungal treatments were analyzed. Results Candida albicans is the dominant pathogen in 148 cases with vulvovaginal candidiasis (91.9% , 136/148) ; 33. 1% (49/148) of patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis were infected in both intestine and vulvovagina. While 92% (22/24) of patients with intestinal and vaginal Candida infection showed high homology. The recurrent rate of patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis complicated with concurrent intestinal Candida infection (7/14) was significantly higher than that of solo vaginal infected patients [21% (6/29)] after vaginal treatment (P < 0. 05) . Conclusions The infection of vulvovaginal candidiasis is highly associated with the concurrent infection of intestinal Candida. The recurrent rate is high in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis with concurrent infection of intestinal Candida after vaginal treatment. The general management to those patients infected by both vulvovaginal and intestinal Candida is necessary in reducing the recurrence of the disease.

Hepatic carcinomas were induced with the administration of diethyl-nitrosamine (DEN) in rats. The morphological changes of the liver tissues in the course of carcinogenesis could be divided into 3 successive stages: the nonspecific changes reacting to the drug toxicity, non-cancerous hyperplastic nodules of hepatocytes and ductular cystadenomatous lesions,and the lesions of genuine malignancy including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.The ultrastructural alterations of hepatocellular carcinoma showed a complicate picture and were related to the differentiation of the tumor cells. In one case of cholangiocarcinoma, numerous cytoplasmic dense-core granules similar to the neurosecretary granules seen in apudoma were found in some of the tumor cells, which is postulated to be a special type of cholangiocarcinoma. On the basis of the results, Ihe histogenesis of the neoplasms after DEN administration is considered to originate from hyperplastic nodules of hepatic cells and ductular hyperplasia.

Objective To characterize the differential protein expression in the progeny of human liver ceils surviving from ionizing radiation by the proteomic analysis.Methods Two-dimensional electrophoresis gel coupled with mass spectrometry was used to explore the specific protein expression in the progeny of 7702 human liver cells surviving from ionizing radiation.Alterations in expression level of protein spots between the control and the progeny groups were statistically analyzed by ImageMaster 2D Platinum software and mass spectrometry was used to identify the protein spots with significantly altered expression-level.Results The progeny of irradiated ceils were derived from human liver cell line exposed to 0,2,4,6 Gy of 60Co γ-irradiatian.A total of 42 differentially expressed proteins between the control and the progeny of the irradiated cells groups were screened,of which 17 were identified by matrix assistant laser desorption ion-top off light-mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS)analysis,including 4 up-regulated and 13 down-regnlated proteins.Conclusions The differentially expressed proteins profile could be significantly altered in the progeny of irradiated cells.The proteomics approach has the potential to detect the protein changes relevant to radiatian-induced genomic instability(RIGI).Further study of differentially expressed proteins would likely reveal the molecular mechanisms of gene expression in RIGI.

The hybrid PET/MR has been gradually applied in clinical practice.However,the hybrid PET/MR is a com plex advanced technique,and it brings to the new challenges,especially regarding the workflow and scan protocols.The guidelines for hybrid PET/MR in brain imaging include information related to the indications and contraindications,preparation before examination,procedures of examination (PET imaging,conventional MRI brain imaging and special MRI imaging for brain disease),application of radiopharmaceutical and MRI contrast-enhanced agent.The purpose of the guidelines is to offer a framework that would be practical and helpful for clinical PET/MR brain imaging.In PET tracers,the guidelines only limit to the 18 F-FDG.

Objective To investigate the differential expression profile in the progeny of human liver cells surviving from ionizing radiation.Methods Complemental DNA gene chip was used to measure the transcriptional profile in progeny of HL-7702 cells exposed to 0, 2, 4, and 6 Gy of 60Co γ-rays, and the differentially expressed genes HAVCR2 and RAN were further identified by real-time PCR.Results The transcription level of 262 genes, 2746 genes and 3406 genes changed in the progeny of survival cells at 2, 4 and 6 Gy, respectively.A total of 71 common differentially expressed genes were screened, most of which were associated with transduction, cell cycle regulation, cellular immunity, cytoskeleton and movement, cell replication and repair mechanism.Conclusions Ionizing radiation could induce the expression changes of many genes, which might reveal the molecular mechanisms of gene expression in radiation induced genomic instability.

Objective To explore the mechanism of up-regulation of tubular liver-type fatty acid binding-protein (L-FABP) in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and its renoprotective role.Methods Murine mesangial cells (MCs) from primary cell culture were cultured with aggregated IgA (AIgA) (10 to 250 mg/L) for 48 hours. The supernatant after culture was collected as AIgA-MC medium. Murine proximal tubular cell line (mProx) stably expressing human L-FABP (hL-FABP) by transfection (mProx-L) were cultured with AIgA, AIgA-MC medium and /or neutralizing anti-TNF-α antibody and recombinant murine TNF-α, respectively. AIgA-MC medium (AIgA final concentration was 25 mg/L) was cultured with mProx and mProx-L cells. The mRNA expressions of hL-FABP and MCP-1 of the cells were detected by real-time PCR. The protein expressions of hL-FABP and 4-HNE of the cells were detected by Western blotting. Results (1) The hL-FABP mRNA and protein expression stimulated by AIgA-MC medium was significantly higher as compared to AIgA (P＜0.01). (2) Pre-incubation of neutralizing anti-TNF-α antibody (final concentration was 1 and 5 mg/L) with mProx-L cells could significantly suppress the up-regulation of hL-FABP protein expression induced by AlgA-MC medium (P＜0.05 and P＜0.01).(3) Recombinant murine TNF-α (final concentration was 50 and 250 ng/L) also induced a significant up-regulation of hL-FABP expression (P＜0.01). (4) After the stimulation of AIgA-MC medium, both 4-HNE protein expression and MCP-1 mRNA expression were significantly suppressed in mProx-L cells compared to those of mProx cells (P ＜0.05 and P＜0.01). Conclusion Mesangial cell-derived TNF-α can induce up-regulation of tubular L-FABP expression. Overexpression of tubular L-FABP may lessen the progression of IgAN by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators.

The guidelines for standard nursing in the PET/MR imaging examination included preparation of examination,injecting drug,observing during scanning,post scanning care,management of adverse reaction of contrast agent and radiation protection.The purpose of these guidelines could were to provide the practical and effective management for nursing care in PET/MR imaging,and offer a framework for nurses that could provide useful and helpful in clinical practice and research.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided percutaneous endomyocardial septal cryoablation of in vitro porcine hearts and to compare its effect with the percutaneous endomyocardial radiofrequency ablation.Methods:Experiment 1: Six in vitro porcine hearts were divided into 1 min ( n=2), 3 min ( n=2) and 5 min ( n=2) groups according to the cryoablation time, and all were subjected to ultrasound-guided percutaneous intra-myocardial septal cryoablation at 100% power respectively. After cryoablation, ultrasound images, the size of the solid dissection of the ice ball, and the size of the necrotic area after melting of the frozen ice ball were measured. Experiment 2: The in vitro porcine hearts were divided into cryoablation group ( n=3) and radiofrequency ablation group ( n=3), and ultrasound-guided percutaneous endomyocardial septal cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation were performed with 100% cryo power and 40 W radiofrequency power, and the extent of complete necrotic area and incomplete necrotic area were compared between the two ablation methods after 1 min. Results:Experiment 1: In the 1 min cryoablation time group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured by ultrasound was (8.00±0.84)mm, the short diameter of the puck measured by solid was (8.38±1.19)mm, and the short diameter of the necrotic zone measured by solid was (8.35±0.83)mm; in the 3 min group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured by ultrasound was (19.4±0.28)mm, and the short diameter of the puck measured by solid was (19.03±0.33)mm, solid measurement of the short diameter of the necrotic zone was (19.16±0.25)mm; in the 5 min group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured under ultrasound was (26.4±2.54)mm, solid measurement of the short diameter of the puck was (26.01±0.24)mm, and solid measurement of the short diameter of the necrotic zone was (24.82±0.25)mm. Randomized blocks analysis of variance was performed on this data and the difference of block Factor b (freezing time: 1 min, 3 min, 5 min) among the three groups was statistically significant( F=505.884, P<0.001). The SNK- q test showed that all three groups differed from each other(all P<0.05). The analysis results for the treatment factors K (measurement modality-ultrasound image measurements, solid anatomical measurements of the puck, and measurements of the necrotic area after melting of the frozen puck) was not statistically significant ( F=0.470, P=0.635). Experiment 2: In the RF ablation group ( n=3), the ratio of incomplete necrotic zone to the radius of the RF ablation area was 0.64±0.01; in the cryoablation group ( n=3), the ratio of incomplete necrotic zone to the radius of the ablation area was 0.26±0.02. The difference was statistically significant( P=0.002) and it can be considered that the incomplete necrotic zone of cryoablation was smaller than that of RF ablation. Conclusions:Percutameous intramyocardial septal cryoablation is controllable in scope, ultrasound image evaluation of ablation area is more accurate and incomplete necrosis area is small, which may have potential applications in cardiac ablation.

OBJECTIVETo optimize pre-coated multiple-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to improve its efficiency in cytogenetic diagnosis of acute leukemia.

METHODSThe original multiple-probe FISH techniques were optimized by adjusting the cell density and adding a process of protease digestion. Cytogenetic anomalies were detected in 141 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia/ myelodysplastic syndromes (AML/MDS) using the modified technique, and 35 of the patients were also examined using the original technique. The successful detection rate and positive site detection rate were compared between the modified and original techniques.

RESULTSModification of the pre-coated multiple-probe FISH technique resulted in an significant increase of the successful detection rate (from 85.3% to 100%) and the positive site detection rate (from 5.1% to 8.6%) in ALL patients; in AML/MDS patients, the successful detection rate was significantly improved from 67.4% to 99.8% and the positive site detection rate from 3.5% to 6.0% (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe modified pre-coated multiple-probe FISH technique can significantly increase the diagnostic efficiency of cytogenetic abnormalities in leukemic patients.

Chromosome Aberrations ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective To investigate the effects of ligustilide (LIG) on extracellular recombinant human heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) induced inflammatory reactions in the THP-1 cells and the related mechanisms.Methods THP-1 cells were differentiated to macrophages by incubation with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA).The immunofluorescence method was used to screen the optimum transfection concentration of MyD88 siRNA.The macrophages were divided into six groups (n =3),including blank control (siRNA transfection reagent),model (siRNA transfection reagent + HSP60 10 mg/L),negative control (MyD88 negative control + HSP60 10 mg/L),LIG group(siRNA transfection reagent + HSP60 10 mg/L +LIG 20 mg/L),RNA interfering(RNAi) group(MyD88 siRNA + HSP60 10 mg/L) and RNAi + LIG group (MyD88 siRNA + HSP60 10 mg/L + LIG 20 mg/L).The protein expression level of MyD88 and phosphonuclear factor-κB (p-NF-κB) in macrophages and the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the culture supernatant were assessed by Western blot analyses or ELISA,respectively.Results (1)The protein expression levels of MyD88 (1.196 ± 0.125 vs.0.341 ± 0.063,P ＜ 0.01) and p-NF-κB(0.817 ±0.034 vs.0.312 ±0.046,P ＜0.01) were significantly higher in the model group than those in the blank control group.The protein expression levels of MyD88 (0.554 ± 0.043) and p-NF-κB(0.538 ±0.063) in the RNAi group were significantly lower than those in the model group (all P ＜0.01) but significantly higher than those in the blank control group (all P ＜ 0.05).The protein expression levels of MyD88(0.694 ±0.087,P ＜0.05) and p-NF-κB(0.669 ±0.043,P ＜0.01)in the LIG group were markedly lower than those in the model group,but higher than those in the RNAi group (P ＜ 0.05) and the blank control group (P ＜ 0.01).The protein expression levels of MyD88 (0.409 ± 0.069) and p-NF-κB(0.395 ±0.046) in the RNAi + LIG group were significantly lower than in the model group (all P ＜ 0.01) and in the LIG group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),and were similar to the blank control group (P ＞ 0.05).The expression level of p-NF-κB in the RNAi + LIG group was significantly lower than in the RNAi group (P＜0.05).(2) The contents ofTNF-α((312.24±28.69) ng/Lvs.(5.99 ±1.03) ng/L,P＜ 0.01) and IL-6 ((233.45 ± 57.77) ng/L vs.(2.25 ± 0.67) ng/L,P ＜ 0.01) were significantly higher in the model group than in the blank control group.The contents of TNF-α((235.66 ±25.12) ng/L) and IL-6((131.59 ± 13.99) ng/L) were significantly lower in the RNAi group than in the model group (P ＜0.01) The contents of TNF-α ((258.13 ± 44.80) ng/L) and IL-6 ((175.92 ± 28.27) ng/L) were also significantly lower in the LIG group than in the model group (P ＜ 0.05) while the content of IL-6 was significantly higher in the LIG group than in the RNAi group(P ＜0.01).The contents of TNF-α((88.57 ± 16.10) ng/L) and IL-6((59.99 ± 10.31) ng/L) were significantly lower in the RNAi + LIG group than those in the model group,the RNAi group and the LIG group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusions The MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway is one of the key signaling pathways of human HSP60 induced inflammation in THP-1 cells.Ligustilide could exhibit the anti-inflammatory effect probably by inhibiting the MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.