OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnosis and treatment of invasive lung aspergillosis after liver transplantation.

METHODSRoutine sputum culture was performed. Itraconazole and fluconazole were used to prevent fungal infection prophylactically. Amphyotericin B was only used on aspergillosis. In 54 patients receiving, liver transplantation, 3 patients with lung aspergillosis were reviewed.

RESULTSOf the 3 patients 2 died and 1 recovered.

CONCLUSIONSOver-immunosuppression is a main risk factor for aspergillosis. Amphotericin B is still the best choice for the treatment of aspergillosis and its gradual, interrupted, low concentration administration, cooperated with itraconazole can ease the side effects.

Adult ; Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of CD4(+)CD28(-) T cell and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cell (Treg) subsets in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSTwenty-eight patients with angiographically established CAD were recruited in this study, including 16 with unstable angina (UA group) and 12 with stable angina (SA group). Eleven patients with chest pain syndrome served as the control group. The proportions of peripheral CD4(+)CD28(-) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg subsets were determined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

RESULTSThe proportions of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg were significantly lower in UA group (6.55-/+2.45%) than in SA (14.01-/+4.92%) and control groups (13.55-/+3.87%). The proportions of CD4(+)CD28(-) T cells were significantly higher in UA group (10.55-/+4.76%) than in SA (2.64-/+1.33%) and control (2.75-/+1.55%) groups.

CONCLUSIONAlterations of circulating T-lymphocyte subsets occur in patients with UA. The changes of Treg and CD4(+)CD28(-) T cells may lead to breakdown of peripheral autoimmune tolerance and play an important role in the development and progression of CHD.

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; immunology ; CD28 Antigens ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of human urotensin II (HU II) on secretion of adrenomedullin (ADM) from human vascular endothelial cells (HVEC) and its mechanism.

METHODSIn cultured HVEC, different concentrations of HUII were used to stimulate the ADM secretion from HVEC, and the inhibitors of different signal transduction pathway were used to investigate their effects on ADM secretion. The contents of ADM in medium were determined by radio immunoassay.

RESULTSHUII stimulated secretion of ADM from HVEC in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. The contents of ADM in the experiment groups were changed compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). The increase of ADM could be inhibited by inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (PD(98059)), inhibitor of P38 kinase (SB(202190)), inhibitor of calmodulin (W(7)) and inhibitor of Ca(2+) (nicardipine) (P < 0.05). The inhibition ratio in those groups was 68%, 78%, 24% and 25% respectively. But the inhibitor of Calcineurin (CaN) and inhibitor of protein kinase C (H(7)) had no influence on the secretion of ADM from HVEC (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe stimulated effect of HUII on the ADM secretion from HVEC may be mediated by Ca(2+), ERKs, CaM-PK and P38 signal transduction pathways.

Adrenomedullin ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Signaling ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; secretion ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Urotensins ; pharmacology