Search

BackgroundThere have been reports of increasing azole resistance in Candida tropicalis, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Here we report on the epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility of C. tropicalis causing invasive candidiasis in China, from a 9-year surveillance study.MethodsFrom August 2009 to July 2018, C. tropicalis isolates (n = 3702) were collected from 87 hospitals across China. Species identification was carried out by mass spectrometry or rDNA sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility was determined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute disk diffusion (CHIF-NET10–14, n = 1510) or Sensititre YeastOne (CHIF-NET15–18, n = 2192) methods.ResultsOverall, 22.2% (823/3702) of the isolates were resistant to fluconazole, with 90.4% (744/823) being cross-resistant to voriconazole. In addition, 16.9 (370/2192) and 71.7% (1572/2192) of the isolates were of non-wild-type phenotype to itraconazole and posaconazole, respectively. Over the 9 years of surveillance, the fluconazole resistance rate continued to increase, rising from 5.7 (7/122) to 31.8% (236/741), while that for voriconazole was almost the same, rising from 5.7 (7/122) to 29.1% (216/741), with no significant statistical differences across the geographic regions. However, significant difference in fluconazole resistance rate was noted between isolates cultured from blood (27.2%, 489/1799) and those from non-blood (17.6%, 334/1903) specimens (P-value < 0.05), and amongst isolates collected from medical wards (28.1%, 312/1110) versus intensive care units (19.6%, 214/1092) and surgical wards (17.9%, 194/1086) (Bonferroni adjusted P-value < 0.05). Although echinocandin resistance remained low (0.8%, 18/2192) during the surveillance period, it was observed in most administrative regions, and one-third (6/18) of these isolates were simultaneously resistant to fluconazole.ConclusionThe continual decrease in the rate of azole susceptibility among C. tropicalis strains has become a nationwide challenge in China, and the emergence of multi-drug resistance could pose further threats. These phenomena call for effective efforts in future interventions.

In the title compound, C14H13N3O3, the pyrazoline ring assumes an envelope conformation with the furanyl-bearing C atom at the flap position. The dihedral angle between the furan and nitrobenzene rings is 84.40 (9)°. Weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

In the title compound, C16H15N3O2, the planar [maximum deviation 0.156 (2) Å] pyrazoline ring is nearly coplanar with the 3-nitrophenyl group and is approximately perpendicular to the phenyl ring, making dihedral angles of 3.80 (8) and 80.58 (10)°, respectively. Weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Background: Hepatoprotective effects of Chinese herbal medicine Schisandra Chinensis (Schisandra) have been widely investigated. However, most studies were focused on its lignan extracts. We investigated the effects of Schisandra polysaccharide (SCP) in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and studied its effect on sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) and the related genes. Methods: The mouse model of NAFLD was established by feeding mice with a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Effect of SCP-treatment (100 mg/kg, once daily for 12 weeks) on biochemical parameters and liver histopathology was assessed. Relative levels of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) and their gene expressions were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot. Results: SCP significantly reduced the liver index by 12.0%. Serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were decreased by 31.3, 28.3, 42.8, 20.1 and 15.5%, respectively. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased by 26.9%. Further, SCP lowered hepatic TC and TG content by 27.0% and 28.3%, respectively, and alleviated fatty degeneration and necrosis of liver cells. A significant downregulation of mRNA and protein expressions of hepatic lipogenesis genes, SREBP-1c, fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and the mRNA expression of liver X receptor α (LXRα) was observed in NAFLD mice treated with SCP. SCP also significantly reduced the hepatic expression of SREBP-2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the hepatoprotective effects of SCP in a mouse model of NAFLD; the effects may be mediated via downregulation of LXRα/SREBP-1c/FAS/ACC and SREBP-2/HMGCR signaling pathways in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To investigate the root canal morphology and anatomy of maxillary second molars using transparent tooth technique and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and explore the consistency of 2 methods in identifying root canal configurations and morphology. METHODS: Fifty extracted maxillary second molars were scanned by CBCT and analyzed using assistant software. Root canal configurations of each root were identified based on Vertucci's classification and recorded. All transparent teeth samples were made with modified root canal staining technique, and the root canal configurations of each root were classified based on Vertucci's classification. The results were analyzed statistically with SPSS17.0 software package. RESULTS: According to transparent tooth technique, type I was the most common configuration in distobuccal root and palatal root. An additional configuration type 3-2-2 was found in the present study, which was not included in Vertucci's classification. The wide variety of canal systems was seen in the mesiobuccal root. Type I configuration was most prevalent (54.4%), followed by Type II, IV, V, VI. The prevalence of second canal in mesiobuccal root (MB2) was 41.3%. The results of canal morphology and configuration were consistent between transparent tooth technique and CBCT. CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary second molars have the most complex root and canal morphology, especially for the mesiobuccal root. For identifying root canal and root anatomy, CBCT can be used as an alternative to transparent tooth technique in clinical practice. The application of 3D reconstruction based on CBCT helps us to visualize the root canal anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]