Serial anti-tuberculous immune responses during the follow-up of patients with tuberculous pleurisy.

Little is known about the decay kinetics of interferon (IFN)-γ response and its influencing factors in tuberculous pleurisy. We enrolled thirty-two patients with tuberculous pleurisy prospectively and followed up at month 0, 6, and 9, at which time peripheral venous blood was drawn for interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) by means of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT). Demographic and clinical data were captured.

Genetic influence of Toll-like receptors on non-HIV cryptococcal meningitis: An observational cohort study.

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a significant source of mortality, the pathogenesis of which has not been fully understood, especially in non-HIV infected populations. We aimed to explore the potential genetic influence of Toll-like receptor (TLR) on non-HIV CM.

Methods: This observational cohort study was done in two stages: a discovery stage and a validation stage.

Treating chronic hepatitis B virus: Chinese physicians' awareness of the 2010 guidelines.

Aim: To investigate Chinese physicians' awareness of the 2010 guidelines on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: This was a quantitative survey that investigated the characteristics and practices of physicians who were treating patients with hepatitis B, the profile of their patients and physician practices regarding the diagnosis and treatment of HBV at the time of the survey. Participants were randomly selected from available databases of Chinese physicians and requested to complete either an online or paper-based survey.

Histological outcome for chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir vs lamivudine-based therapy.

Aim: To compare the histological outcome of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with entecavir (ETV) or lamivudine (LAM)-based therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 42 CHB patients with advanced fibrosis (baseline Ishak score ≥ 2) or cirrhosis who were treated with ETV or LAM-based therapy in Beilun People's Hospital, Ningbo between January 2005 and May 2012. The patients enrolled were more than 16 years of age and underwent a minimum of 12 mo of antiviral therapy.

Dectin-2 polymorphism associated with pulmonary cryptococcosis in HIV-uninfected Chinese patients.

Dectin-2 is a C-type lectin receptor that can recognize critical structures of fungi and involve in the host immune response after pulmonary fungal infections. We aimed to investigate the association between Dectin-2 genetic polymorphisms and cryptococcosis among a series of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected Chinese patients. In this case control study, a total of 251 patients with cryptococcosis and 464 healthy controls were included.

Validation of thwaites' diagnostic scoring system for the differential diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis and bacterial meningitis.

To compare the clinical features of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and bacterial meningitis (BM) and to validate Thwaites' diagnostic scoring system for the differential diagnosis of TBM and BM, a retrospective review of 211 patients with TBM or BM who were admitted to Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, from 2007 to 2012 was conducted. The clinical characteristics and laboratory data were compared, and Thwaites' diagnostic scores were assessed at the time of admission for the differential diagnosis of TBM and BM. Significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in general information, clinical features, and cerebrospinal fluid characteristics.

In vitro and in vivo evidence for amphotericin B as a P-glycoprotein substrate on the blood-brain barrier.

Amphotericin B (AMB) has been a mainstay therapy for fungal infections of the central nervous system, but its use has been limited by its poor penetration into the brain, the mechanism of which remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in AMB crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The uptake of AMB by primary brain capillary endothelial cells in vitro was significantly enhanced after inhibition of P-gp by verapamil.

Identification of clinically relevant fungi and prototheca species by rRNA gene sequencing and multilocus PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Background: Multilocus PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) is a new strategy for pathogen identification, but information about its application in fungal identification remains sparse.

Methods: One-hundred and twelve strains and isolates of clinically important fungi and Prototheca species were subjected to both rRNA gene sequencing and PCR/ESI-MS. Three regions of the rRNA gene were used as targets for sequencing: the 5' end of the large subunit rRNA gene (D1/D2 region), and the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2 regions).

Lactic acidosis during telbivudine treatment for HBV: a case report and literature review.

All oral nucleoside analogues against hepatitis B virus, with an exception of telbivudine, have been reported causing lactic acidosis (LA). Here we report the first case of chronic hepatitis B developing severe refractory LA during telbivudine monotherapy. A 36-year-old man of Chinese origin received telbivudine antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B.

Expert recommendations on the application of interferon for chronic hepatitis B.

To help the clinicians correctly and scientifically apply interferon for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, more than 40 experts majored in infectious and liver diseases updated the 'Expert recommendations on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon (2007)' following a systematic literature review, summary of clinical experiences and thorough consultation and discussion. The updated expert recommendations primarily included fundamental new knowledge of the use of interferon and individualized interferon therapy. Specifically, we provided recommendations for implementing optimized therapeutic regimens based on quantitative changes in hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA levels 24 weeks after interferon therapy.

Association of Fcγ receptor IIB polymorphism with cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-uninfected Chinese patients.

Background: As important regulators of the immune system, the human Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) have been demonstrated to play important roles in the pathogenesis of various infectious diseases. The aim of the present study was to identify the association between FCGR polymorphisms and cryptococcal meningitis.

Methodology/principal Findings: In this case control genetic association study, we genotyped four functional polymorphisms in low-affinity FcγRs, including FCGR2A 131H/R, FCGR3A 158F/V, FCGR3B NA1/NA2, and FCGR2B 232I/T, in 117 patients with cryptococcal meningitis and 190 healthy controls by multiplex SNaPshot technology.

Retrospective study of 61 patients with adult-onset Still's disease admitted with fever of unknown origin in China.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), as a category of connective tissue diseases, has about 5∼9% of fever of unknown origin (FUO) cases. Diagnosis of AOSD was challenging because of its nonspecific characteristics. The present study analyzed clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in a series of patients with AOSD from eastern China.

Genotypes coding for mannose-binding lectin deficiency correlated with cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-uninfected Chinese patients.

Background: There is increasing evidence that mannose-binding lectin (MBL) has a complex role in many diseases, particularly in infectious diseases. However, the relationship between MBL deficiency and cryptococcal meningitis has not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between MBL polymorphism and non-HIV cryptococcal meningitis.

Epidemiology and risk factors for non-Candida albicans candidemia in non-neutropenic patients at a Chinese teaching hospital.

The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of nosocomial candidemia and identify risk factors involved in infections caused by non-C. albicans Candida species in a Chinese tertiary care center over a 10-year period. A total of 102 cases of nosocomial candidemia in non-neutropenic patients admitted from 1998 through 2007 were included in the study.

Cryptococcal meningitis in non-HIV-infected patients in a Chinese tertiary care hospital, 1997-2007.

Information remains sparse about non-HIV patients with cryptococcal meningitis in the era of triazole therapy. Particularly of interest are the clinical manifestations and prognosis of the infection in these previously healthy patients. We retrospectively reviewed 154 non-HIV-infected patients with cryptococcal meningitis who presented in our hospital from 1997 to 2007.

[Evaluation of low-dose amphotericin B and flucytosine in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose amphotericin B (< 0.7 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and flucytosine in patients with non-AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis.

Methods: In non-AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis admitted to Huashan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai from January 1998 to December 2007, 31 were initially treated with low-dose amphotericin B and flucytosine for more than 1 week.

[Factors associated with mortality in cryptococcal meningitis].

Objective: To investigate factors associated with mortality in non-AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 154 cases of non-HIV cryptococcal meningitis in a tertiary care hospital in China, from 1997 through 2007.

Results: The 1-year attributable mortality was 19.

[The polymorphism of cytochrome P(450) 2C19 gene in patients with invasive fungal infections.].

Objective: To investigate the polymorphism profile of cytochrome P(450) 2C19 (CYP2C19) in Chinese patients with invasive fungal infections.

Methods: Two major single nucleotide polymorphism loci of the CYP2C19 gene (CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3) were genotyped with PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 134 patients with invasive fungal infections and 134 healthy volunteers. Allele frequencies and the proportions of metabolizer phenotypes were compared.

[Clinical analysis of 78 cases of parasitic encephalopathy].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, therapeutic approaches and outcomes of parasitic encephalopathy.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out to analyze 78 cases of parasitic encephalopathy in Huashan Hospital between June 2003 and June 2008.

Results: There were 52 male and 26 female patients with a mean age of (34.

[A clinical study of 49 cases of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis].

Objective: Studying the proven and probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) cases of some hospitals in Shanghai to provide evidence for the improvement of IPA clinical diagnosis and therapy.

Methods: Forty-nine IPA cases were retrospectively analyzed for demography data, host factors, underlying conditions, chest CT, microorganism and histopathology examination, as well as therapy and clinical outcome.

Results: Of 49 subjects including 19 (38.