ABSTRACT
To report the first case of chronic disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis in China. A 49-year-old male patient presented with papules and nodules of the skin for 1 year, and papules and ulcers on the oral mucosa for 2 months. Skin examination showed the edema of the left foot, multiple crusting ulcers on the sole of the left foot, ulcers with a granular base in the interdigital regions between the third and fourth toes as well as fourth and fifth toes of the left foot, accompanied by punctate hemorrhage and exudation; there were multiple papules, nodules, and plaques on the dorsum and medial side of the left foot and the left knee, with ulcers and crusts in the center; 2 papules were observed on the left wrist, and 1 papule on the left upper lip with a crusted surface; red plaques with ulcers and punctate hemorrhage were observed on the gingival mucosa, buccal mucosa, labial mucosa, and palate, and the lesions mainly occurred on the left side. Ultrasonography of superficial lymph nodes showed bilateral cervical and supraclavicular lymph node enlargement, which was more obvious on the left side. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen showed diffuse miliary nodular shadows, and cordlike, cloudy flocculent and nodular high-density shadows in both lungs, as well as obvious thickening of the left adrenal gland in the abdomen. Yeast cells were observed by immunofluorescent staining of biopsy tissues from the oral mucosa and left lower limb. Histopathological examination of biopsy tissues from the oral mucosa and left lower limb showed granulomatous inflammation, and refractive double-membrane yeast cells could be observed inside or outside the multinucleated giant cells, without or with a single bud or multiple buds; periodic acid-Schiff staining and hexamine silver staining of the above biopsy tissues were positive. Fungal culture of the left lower limb lesion in Sabouraud dextrose agar medium at 25℃ and 37℃ both yielded fungal hyphae. Metagenomics sequencing of the oral mucosal tissue and alveolar lavage fluid indicated the infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The diagnosis of chronic disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis was confirmed. After 1-month oral treatment with itraconazole capsules at a dose of 400 mg/d, the lesions on the skin and oral mucosa markedly improved, and computed tomography imaging of the lung and left adrenal gland also showed obvious improvement. The dose of itraconazole was reduced to 200 mg/d after 3 months. The patient′s condition further improved during a 10-month follow-up.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the epidemiological and molecular biological characteristics of heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) in blood culture. Methods:hVISA was detected using Mueller-Hinton agar containing 5 μg/ml of teicoplanin (MHA5T) and Populats profiles/area under the curve (PAP/AUC). Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec ( SCCmec), Staphylococcus aureus protein A ( spa) and accessory gene regulator ( agr) typing and multilocus-sequence typing (MLST) were analyzed using PCR. Difference in autolysis between hVISA and vancomycin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) isolates were evaluated with Triton X-100-inducd autolysis. Expression of vraR, mgrA, icaA, icaR, pbp4 and agr genes in hVISA and VSSA strains were detected by real-time PCR. Results:The positive detection rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in blood culture was 39.5% (136/344) in our hospital. Among the MRSA strains, there were 31 strains of hVISA (22.8%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of vancomycin were mainly 1.5 μg/ml (54.8%) and 2 μg/ml(25.8%)against hVISA isolates, and 0.5 μg/ml (46.7%) and 0.75 μg/ml (39.0%) against VSSA isolates. The predominant clone of hVISA was ST239- SCCmecⅢ-t030- agrⅠ accounting for 71.0% (22/31). The autolysis of hVISA isolates decreased significantly as compared with that of VSSA isolates ( χ2=13.583, P=0.032). Compared with VSSA strains, the expression of vraR, mgrA and icaA genes in hVISA strains increased by 1.58, 1.53 and 1.06 times ( P<0.01), while the expression of icaR, agr and pbp4 genes decreased by 0.85, 0.61 and 1.03 times ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The prevalence rate of hVISA in our hospital reached 22.8% and the main epidemic clone was ST239- SCCmecⅢ-t030- agrⅠ, which should be paid great attention to clinically. Rational use of antibiotics, strengthening the prevention and control of nosocomial infection, and avoiding the spread of hVISA strains and the emergence of VISA and VRSA (vancomycin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus) were also necessary.
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Objective To study the expression of tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-a) and correlation with TNF-a in breast cancer. Methods We used SABC method to detect the expression of TNF-a in 112 cases of primary breast cancer, and analysis the relationship between TNF-α with histologic grades and ER. Results The positive expression rate of TNF-α in breast cancer was higher than those of normal tissues and lobular hyperplasia of the breast (X2 =8.573, P =0.014). There was no significant correlation between histologic grades and TNF-α (X2 =1.304, P =0.521). TNF-a had a positive correlation with ER in breast cancer (X2=11.949, P =0.001). Conclusion The positive expression rate of TNF-α in breast cancer was higher than those of normal tissues and lobular hyperplasia of the breast.TNF-α had a positive correlation with ER in breast cancer, but the exact mechanism is unclear.
ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the expression of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER-2) in breast cancer and its correlation with Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). Methods We used SABC method to detect the expression of HER-2 and TNF-α in 112 cases of primary breast cancer, and analyzed the association of HER-2 expression with clinicopathological features and TNF-α expression. Results The positive expression rate of HER-2 in breast cancer was 35.71% (40/112), of which, the expression rate was 35.05% (34/97) in 97 invasive tubic breast cancer, and 33.33% (2/6) in invasive lobular breast cancer,25.00% (1/4) in mucinous carcinoma, and 50. 00% (2/4) in intraductal carcinoma. There was no significant correlation between HER-2 and any clinicopathological features of primary breast cancer ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). The expression of HER-2 in breast cancer had no signiciant association with TNM stage, age, age of menarche,menopause, gravidity, parity and family history of cancer ( Ps ＞ 0. 05 ), The positive rate of TNF-α was 23.61% (17/72) when HER-2 was negative, whereas the positive rate of TNF-α was 52. 50% (21/40) when HER-2 was positive. The expression of HER-2 was signiciantly positively correlated with the expression of TNF-α (r = 0. 881, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion HER-2 expression had a positive correlation with TNF-α in breast cancer,but the specific mechanism is still unclear.