Objective To report a case of foot hyalohyphomycosis due to Fusarium subglutinans. Methods Medical history was collected and physical examination performed for this patient.Biopsy samples were obtained from the inner side of right ankle of this patient and subjected to pathological examination. Discharge was collected from the lesions for direct microscopic examination and culture.Results A 72-year-old woman presented with an ulcer on the right foot for 3 years.Physical examination disclosed an ulcer,measuring 3 cm x 1.5 cm,with a moist surface and obvious tenderness,at the inner side of the right ankle.Proliferation of dusky-red granulomatous tissue was observed at the base of the ulcer.Pathological examination revealed necrotic granulomatous tissue and slender,septate and hyaline hypha-like structure in the superficial dermis with scattered infiltration of inflammatory cells.PAS staining showed sausage-like hypha and scattered orbicular-ovate spores.Microscopic examination of lesional discharge exhibited septate, branching and hyaline hypha.The isolated fungus was identified as Fusarium subglutinans by culture,and appeared to be highly sensitive to terbinafine,nystatin and amphotericin B.The lesion completely healed after 2 months of treatment with oral terbinafine (0.25 g,twice a day).Conclusions This is a case of foot hyalohyphomycosis due to Fusarium subglutinans,and terbinafine is effective for this condition.

OBJECTIVETo test the dissolution rate of silymarin dropping pill as well as to be compared with other three commercial products of the silymarin.

METHODBy UV spectrophotometry, we studied the dissolution conditions of silymarin dropping pill and compared its dissolution rate with Yiganling tablets (film-coating, sugar-coating) and Legalon capsule which are available in the market.

RESULTThe dissolution parameters T50 and Td of silymarin dropping pill, Yiganling tablet (film-coating), Yiganling tablet (sugar-coating) and Legalon capsule are 6.78, 9.85 min, 51.01, 73.78 min, 74.35, 86.97 min and 53.10, 72.65 min.

CONCLUSIONThe dissolution rate of silymarin dropping pill is superior to that of two kinds of Yiganling tablets and Legalon capsule.

Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Tablets

Objective Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD)used to be evaluated by an-alyzing the characteristics of the brain gray matter via diffuse tensor imaging (DTI).This study was to characterize the damage to the mi-crostructural integrity of the brain gray matter in aMCI and AD patients using the mean diffusivity ( MD) of DTI and to investigateits transformation rules. Methods This retrospective study included 30 cases ofaMCI, 30 cases of AD, and another 30 normal controls. We measured the MD values of the whole brain gray matter , established the MD network of the water molecules in the gray matter , char-acterized the small-world network, and performed correlation analysis by neuropsychological assessment . Results Compared with the normal controls, the MDnetworks of the aMCI and AD groupsexhibited abnormal small world characteristics , namely, a higher clustering coefficient and a longer path , which reflected the damage to themicrostructure of the gray matter , and theaverage connectivity in the aMCI patients was lowerthan that in thenormal controls but higher than that in the AD group ( P<0.05) .The MD values of the gray matter were negatively correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale scores in the 11 hub regions of the brain , including the bilateral hippo-campus and the limbic system ( P<0.05) . Conclusion The diffusion feature of the water molecules in the brain gray matter of the aMCIpatient may help to detect early ADand reflect the damage to the brain microstructure in patients with neurodegenerative diseases .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the differentially expressed genes between the Stress fracture (SF) cases and controls.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted and purified from peripheral blood sample of 3 SF cases and 3 controls who conducted a 1:1 matched case-control study, then used for Human Genome Array analysis. The hybridization data were analyzed using SAM software. Parts of these genes were analyzed and identified by real-time PCR.

RESULTSUpregulated and downregulated genes were 22 and 1, respectively. Thus the highest ratio and most significant cytokine was tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 10c (TNFRSF10C). The result of real-time PCR shows that TNFRSF10C was over-expressed in 3 cases and low-expressed in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONObvious difference exists in gene expression between SF cases and controls, showing there may be a lot of genes involving in the occurrence and development of SF. Meanwhile, the identification of the specific genes is helpful for biomechanics study, early diagnosis and screening of SF.

Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Fractures, Stress ; blood ; metabolism ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 10c ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate biological functions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 4A (NS4A).

METHODSYeast-two hybrid technique was performed to seek proteins in hepatocytes interacting with HCV NS4A. HCV NS4A bait plasmid was constructed by ligating the NS4A gene with carrier plasmid pGBKT7, then it was transformed into yeast AH109 (alpha type). The transformed yeast cells were amplified and mated with yeast cells Y187 (alpha type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid pACT2 in 2 x YPDA medium. Diploid yeast cells were plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing X-alpha-gal for selection two times. After extracting plasmid from blue colonies, plasmid DNA was transformed into competent E.coli and analyzed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics methods.

RESULTSAmong twenty-two positive colonies there were eleven positive for metallothionein 2A, three for eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1, two for albumin, two for RNA binding motif protein 21, two for myomesin, one for cytochrome C oxidase II, and one for ATPase.

CONCLUSIONSGenes of HCV NS4A interacting proteins in hepatocytes were successfully cloned and the results pave the way for studying the biological functions of NS4A and associated proteins.

Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo search for an effective method of reducing intraoperative blood loss in radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP).

METHODSWe performed RRP for 100 patients with prostate cancer, 50 (group A) with the Walsh or Poor method for handling the dorsal venous complex (DVC), and the other 50 (group B) through the following three additional procedures for hemostasis: first placing a #7 prophylactic suture in the distal position of DVC, then ligating the vascular bundle of the prostatic apex with continuous 4-0 Vicryl sutures, and lastly placing a 4-0 absorbable suture followed by freeing the neurovascular bundle (NVB) or freeing NVB before suturing the remained levator ani myofascia and the deep layer of Denovilliers' fascia above the rectal serosa with 4-0 Vicryl. We assessed the effects of the three hemostatic methods in RRP by comparing the volumes of intraoperative blood loss and transfusion, operation time and perioperative levels of hemoglobin.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between groups A and B in age, PSA, Gleason score, clinical stage, prostate volume, operation time and perioperative hemoglobin levels (P>0.05). The volumes of intraoperative blood loss and transfusion were markedly higher in group A ([1103.00 +/- 528.03] ml and [482.00 +/- 364.60] ml) than in B ([528.00 +/- 258.96] ml and [140.00 +/- 266.28] ml) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntraoperative blood loss in RRP could be significantly decreased by placing a prophylactic hemostatic suture in the distal position of DVC, continuous suture of the vascular bundle of the prostatic apex after cutting off the urethra, and placing a fine absorbable suture above NVB or continuous suture of the remained levator ani mony fascia and the deep layer of Denovilliers'fascia above the rectal serosa with absorbable sutures after freeing NVB.

Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; prevention & control ; Hemostatic Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance ; epidemiology ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prevalence ; Rural Health ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Health

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of early serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in acute cerebral infarction and its significances.

METHODSSerum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in 30 health subjects and 35 patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) within 6 hours of onset were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); neurological deficits scores (NDS) in all cases were determined, and Spearman test was used for correlation.

RESULTSThe serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in ACI group were markedly higher than those in health subjects and there was a positive correlation of TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels with 6 h NDS (rs=0.89 and 0.93, P<0.001) and with NDS progression (rs=0.90 and 0.91, P<0.001). Early serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in progressive cerebral infarction (PCI) group were evidently higher than those in stable cerebral infarction (SCI)[(49.56+/-12.12) pg/L compared with (24.30+/-7.4) ng/L and (39.76+/-7.88) ng/L compared with (20.78+/-6.28) ng/L, respectively, P<0.01)].

CONCLUSIONThe early serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in ACI markedly increase and are closely correlated with disease severity; which may be of value in PCI risk evaluation.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; Early Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate biological functions of non-structural protein 4B (NS4B) of hepatitis C virus (HCV), yeast-two hybrid technique was performed to seek proteins in hepatocytes interacting with HCV NS4B.

METHODSHCV NS4B bait plasmid was constructed by ligating the NS4B gene with carrier plasmid pGBKT7 and transformed into yeast cells AH109 (type alpha). The transformed yeast cells were amplified and mated with yeast cells Y187 (alpha type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid pACT2 in 2 x YPDA medium. Diploid yeast cells were plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-alpha-gal for selecting two times. After extracting plasmid from blue colonies, plasmid DNA was transformed into competent Escherichia coli and analysed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics.

RESULTSFive genes in eight positive colonies were obtained. There were one NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3, one cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, one retinol binding protein 4, one reticulon 3-A (RTN3) and one fibrinogen gamma polypeptide (FGG).

CONCLUSIONGenes of HCV NS4B interacting proteins in hepatocytes were successfully cloned and the results paved the way for studying the biological functions of NS4B and associated proteins.

Blotting, Western ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Library ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protein Binding ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

For effectively enhancing the anti-leukemia effect of chemotherapeutic agents, and meanwhile decreasing the side effect of these agents, the study has been made to explore the synergistic effect of low dose irradiation (LDI) combined with Ara-C on murine leukemia and its mechanism. Firstly, an optimal scheme of low dose total body irradiation combined with Ara-C was established in L615 leukemia (T lymphocytic leukemia) mouse model. The machanism of the enhancing effect was explored by patho-morphological observation, examination of residual leukemia cells, the expression of GM-CSF on the surface of marrow stromal cells and in the bone marrow cultural supernatants. The results showed that the optimal scheme was 300 cGy irradiation at 4 days after inoculation of leukemic cells followed by Ara-C 30 mg/kg x 3 days in an interval of 1, 2 or 3 days after irradiation. The mean survival time of the L615 leukemia mice in LDI + Ara-C combined treatment groups was longer than that of control groups. The percentage of long-term survival mice (> 30 days) was the highest (58% - 72%), too. 17% of the mice were be cured. The numbers of blood leukocytes and marrow nucleated cells were transiently decreased in combined treatment group, and then recovered rapidly. Slight myelosuppression and marrow sinus dilation and congestion were seen after 300 cGy irradiation. The expression of GM-CSF either on the stromal cells or in marrow cultural supernatant after irradiation increased strikingly (P < 0.05). Therefore, LDI combined with Ara-C possesses synergistic effect. The mechanism is possibly related to three facts: LDI could increase the permeability of bone marrow sinus; LDI could promote marrow stromal cells to produce some cytokines (such as GM-CSF, etc.) which drive leukemia cells into cell cycle to make the cells more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents; and LDI could augment Ara-C-induced cytotoxicity through the mechanism of apoptosis.