Role of IL-17 family cytokines in the progression of IPF from inflammation to fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal chronic interstitial lung disease with no established treatment and is characterized by progressive scarring of the lung tissue and an irreversible decline in lung function. Chronic inflammation has been demonstrated to be the pathological basis of fibrosis. Emerging studies have revealed that most interleukin-17 (IL-17) isoforms are essential for the mediation of acute and chronic inflammation via innate and adaptive immunity.

[MRI findings of cerebral schistosomiasis in acute stage：establishment of experimental model of acute cerebral schistosomiasis with rabbits].

Objective: To establish an experimental model of acute cerebral schistosomiasis japonica and explore the MRI manifestations of acute cerebral schistosomiasis.

Methods: Rabbits were divided into 3 groups with 10 rabbits in each group. The rabbits in the experimental group were directly injected with suspension fluid of eggs (0.

Role of CT perfusion imaging in patients with variously differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To explore the characteristics of variously differentiated gastric cancers on computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging, including specific perfusion parameter values, and potential clinical applications in the prognosis assessment of gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients with gastric cancer confirmed by gastroscope pathology were studied prospectively using CT perfusion imaging examinations on a 64-slice spiral CT scanner. The acquired volume data were used for calculations, mapping, and analysis by using an abdominal tumor perfusion protocol (deconvolution method) in the CT perfusion software package to measure 4 parameters: blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), and the permeability surface (PS) area product.

Microarray and KOG analysis of Acanthamoeba healyi genes up-regulated by mouse-brain passage.

Long-term cultivation in a laboratory could reduce the virulence of Acanthamoeba. To identify virulence factors of Acanthamoeba, the authors compared the transcription profiles of long-term cultivated Acanthamoeba healyi (OLD) and three times mouse-brain passaged A. healyi (MBP) using microarray analysis and eukaryotic orthologous group (KOG) assignments.

Microarray analysis of differentially expressed genes between cysts and trophozoites of Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Acanthamoeba infection is difficult to treat because of the resistance property of Acanthamoeba cyst against the host immune system, diverse antibiotics, and therapeutic agents. To identify encystation mediating factors of Acanthamoeba, we compared the transcription profile between cysts and trophozoites using microarray analysis. The DNA chip was composed of 12,544 genes based on expressed sequence tag (EST) from an Acanthamoeba ESTs database (DB) constructed in our laboratory, genetic information of Acanthamoeba from TBest DB, and all of Acanthamoeba related genes registered in the NCBI.

[Progress on classification and identification of Acanthamoeba].

As a pathogenic free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba is easy to be recognized at the genus level, but difficult to identify at species level on the morphological basis. This review summarizes the methods for Acanthamoeba species classification and identification.

[Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA gene of endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba sp. CB/S1 isolated from soil].

The endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba sp. CB/SI was identified by orcein-carmine staining and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The endosymbiont bacteria were rod-shaped and darkly stained, and irregularly localized within the cytoplasm.

Endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba isolated from domestic tap water in Korea.

In a previous study, we reported our discovery of Acanthamoeba contamination in domestic tap water; in that study, we determined that some Acanthamoeba strains harbor endosymbiotic bacteria, via our molecular characterization by mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (Mt DNA RFLP). Five (29.4%) among 17 Acanthamoeba isolates contained endosymbionts in their cytoplasm, as demonstrated via orcein staining.

Acanthamoeba healyi: expressed gene profiles with enhanced virulence after mouse-brain passage.

The virulence of Acanthamoeba can be attenuated by long-term in vitro cultivation, and can be recovered by serial mouse-brain passage via intranasal inoculation. Recovery is concomitant with changes in expression of virulence-related genes. To investigate the virulence factors of Acanthamoeba, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from two kinds of cDNA libraries-long-term in vitro cultivated A.

Construction of EST database for comparative gene studies of Acanthamoeba.

The genus Acanthamoeba can cause severe infections such as granulomatous amebic encephalitis and amebic keratitis in humans. However, little genomic information of Acanthamoeba has been reported. Here, we constructed Acanthamoeba expressed sequence tags (EST) database (Acanthamoeba EST DB) derived from our 4 kinds of Acanthamoeba cDNA library.

Keratitis by Acanthamoeba triangularis: report of cases and characterization of isolates.

Three Acanthamoeba isolates (KA/E9, KA/E17, and KA/E23) from patients with keratitis were identified as Acanthamoeba triangularis by analysis of their molecular characteristics, a species not previously recognized to be a corneal pathogen. Epidemiologic significance of A. triangularis as a keratopathogen in Korea has been discussed.

Acanthamoeba: keratopathogenicity of isolates from domestic tap water in Korea.

In a previous study, we reported on the contamination rate of free living amoeba, including Acanthamoeba, isolated from contact lens storage cases (CLSC) and domestic tap water in Korea. In an effort to evaluate the potential kerato-pathogenicity of 5 isolates from CLSC and 17 isolates from domestic tap water, we have conducted an investigation into the morphological features, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) phenotypes, 18S rDNA sequences, and drug sensitivities of these isolates, and have compared the results with those of 20 amoebic keratitis (AK) isolates from Korea, as well as 14 reference strains. Cysts from 22 isolates obtained from CLSC and domestic tap water showed typical characteristics of morphological group 2.

Molecular characterization of bacterial endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba isolates from infected corneas of Korean patients.

The endosymbionts of 4 strains of Acanthamoeba (KA/E9, KA/E21, KA/E22, and KA/E23) isolated from the infected corneas of Korean patients were characterized via orcein stain, transmission electron microscopic examination, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Double membrane-bound, rod-shaped endosymbionts were distributed randomly throughout both the trophozoites and cysts of each of Acanthamoeba isolates. The endosymbionts of KA/E9, KA/E22, and KA/E23 were surrounded by electron-translucent areas.

[Genetic identification of Acanthamoeba sp. CJY/S1 and CJY/S2 isolated from soil].

Two isolates of Acanthamoeba sp. CJY/SI and CJY/S2 were received from soil in Yanji of Jilin Province. Full 18S rDNA gene was amplified using PCR, cloned and sequenced.

Molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba isolated from amebic keratitis related to orthokeratology lens overnight wear.

In an effort to characterize, on the molecular scale, the Acanthamoeba initially isolated from the cornea of an amoebic keratitis patient associated with overnight-wear orthokeratology lens in Korea, we conducted mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism, 18S rDNA sequencing, and drug sensitivity analyses on the isolate (KA/PE1). The patient was treated with polyhexamethylene biguanide, chlorhexidine and oral itraconazole, which resulted in resolution of the patientos ocular inflammation. The majority of the molecular characteristics of the KA/PE1 were determined to be identical, or quite similar, to those of A.