[The retrospective study of serum aspergillus galactomannan (GM) antigen assay in invasive aspergillosis on hematological diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the optical density index of serum aspergillus galactomannan (GM) assay and invasive aspergillosis (IA). METHODS: From Jan 2008 to Dec 2011, 825 hematological diseases patients with neutrophil count <0.5×109/L9 by continuous blood count tests were admitted into our hospital. The optical density index of GM assay was ≥0.5 at least once. Of 825 patients, 247 cases were manifested as fever during hospitalization. The optical density index of GM antigen was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the sensitivity and specificity of optical density ranged in 0.5-1.5. RESULTS: In this study, the sensitivity and specificity of GM assay with continuous twice samples (73% and 93%, respectively) were higher than single sample (66% and 80%, respectively) when optical density index ≥1.0. 69 cases were diagnosed as proven IA with the incidence rate of 8.36%. CONCLUSION: The cut-off level for serum GM antigen assay should be decided as optical density index in two continuous samples of ≥1.0.

Metoprolol attenuates pressure overload-induced myocardial hypertrophy through modulating Dryk1A-ASF-CaMKIIδ signaling pathways / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Previous study showed that the signaling pathway of dual-specificity tyrosine-phosphorylated and regulated kinase 1A (Dyrk1A)-alternative splicing factor (ASF)- alternative splicing of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIδ (CaMKIIδ) is related to myocardial hypertrophy. The aim of present study was to determine the effect and related mechamism of metoprolol on pressure overload induced myocardial hypertrophy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pressure overload-induced hypertension was induced by coarctation of suprarenal abdominal aorta in rats. Rats were randomly divided into sham-operated control, hypertension and hypertension plus metoprolol (30 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) groups (n = 10 each). Blood pressure, the left ventricular weight to body weight ratio and cardiomyocytes area were measured, the protein expression of Dyrk1A and ASF were determined by Western blot and mRNA expression of alternative splicing of CaMKIIδ was detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four weeks after coarctation, cardiac hypertrophy was evidenced in rats of hypertensive group, and the protein expression of Dyrk1A was significantly upregulated, while the expression of ASF was significantly downregulated, the mRNA expression of CaMKIIδ A and B were significantly upregulated and mRNA expression of CaMKIIδ C was significantly downregulated compared to those in sham-operated control rats (all P < 0.05). Treatment with metoprolol effectively attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and reversed pressure overload induced changes on Dyrk1A and ASF, and alternative splicing of CaMKIIδ (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Metoprolol attenuates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy possibly through modulating Dryk1A-ASF-CaMKIIδ signaling pathways.</p>