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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical value of serum 1,3-beta-D-glucan (BG) and galactomannan (GM) detection for early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients after renal transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples collected from 69 renal transplant recipients were divided into diagnosis group, clinical diagnosis group, suspected diagnosis group, and non-infected group for detection of serum BG and GM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean serum levels of BG in the diagnosis group, clinical diagnosis group, and suspected diagnosis group were significantly higher than that in non-infected group (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of BG was 69.49%, 70%, 93.18% and 35.71% for IA diagnosis, respectively. The serum levels of GM in the 3 diagnosis groups were also significantly higher than that in the non-infected group (P<0.05) with the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 84.75%, 90%, 96.15% and 52.63% for IA diagnosis, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increased serum BG and GM levels can serve as the evidence for early diagnosis of IA with a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in renal transplant recipients.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Aspergillosis , Diagnosis , Early Diagnosis , Kidney Transplantation , Mannans , Blood , Sensitivity and Specificity , beta-Glucans , BloodABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect and underlying mechanisms of ghrelin in a rat model of renal fibrosis. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups , including sham operation +saline or brain gut peptide treatment group , model + saline or brain gut peptide treatment group. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was established by left ureteral ligation. 7 days and 14 days after operation, the rats were sacrificed , while the kidney tissue of obstruction side was harvested for pathlogical changes through Masson coloration. Expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) and phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3) in renal tissues were analyzed through immunohistochemistry. Expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 mRNA was detected by real-time-PCR. Apoptosis kidneys cells were marked with TUNEL. Results Ghrelin inhibited renal fibrosis by reducing the production of collagen , restraining extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and decreasing the expression of α-SMA. Meanwhile, ghrelin inhibited the accumulation of myofibroblasts by blocking the transforming growth factor-β1/Smad3 (TGF-β1/Smad3) signaling pathway. Moreover, ghrelin could attenuate renal tubular cell apoptosis induced by UUO injury. Conclusion Ghrelin can reduce renal fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis induced by UUO , demonstrating that ghrelin is a potent antifibrotic agent that may have therapeutic potential for patients with obstructive nephropathy.
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ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effectiveness and adverse effects following low doses versus traditional doses of amphotericin B liposome (L-AmB) in the treatment of patients with invasive pulmonary fungal infections (IPFI) after renal transplantation.MethodsA total of 26 postrenal transplantation patients with IPFI between Jan. 2005 and Mar. 2011in Zhujiang hospital received L-AmB treatment identified low doses group (0.2-0.5 mg·kg-1·d-1,n =19) or traditional doses group (1-5 mg· kg-1,d-1,n =7) were reviewed.ResultsThe treatment duration in low doses group and traditional doses group was 20.3 +12.7 and19.3 ±13.2 days respectively (P＞0.05).The effective rate in low doses group and traditional doses group was 84.2％ and 57.1％ respectively (P＞0.05).The overall dosage was significantly less in the low doses group (414.7 ± 241.7 mg) than in the traditional doses group (1158.8 ± 928.0 mg) (P＜0.05).The incidence of adverse effect was significantly lower in the low doses group than in the traditional doses group (21.1％ vs.85.7％,P＜0.05).ConclusionThe effectiveness of low doses of L-AmB protocol in the treatment of IPFI postrenal transplantation patients was similar to that of traditional doses of L-AmB protocol,but the incidence of adverse effects in low doses of L-AmB protocol was significantly lower.
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Objective To investigate the protective effect of Ganyu capsule on the experimental hepatic injury in mice and rats.Methods Acute hepatic injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 %CCl4 10mL/kg and D-galactosamine 500 mg/kg in mice;Cirrhosis was induced by 40 %CCl4 adding with variousagents in rats.The biochemical parameters such as serum ALT were examined and the histopathological changes of hepatic tissue was measured.Results Ganyu capsule could obviously inhibit the increase of serum ALT and AST activity and reduce the content of collagen in liver and the deseverity of hepatic fibrosis.Conclusion Ganyu capsule has protective effects on the acute and chronic hepatic injury in mice and rats.