Proximal tubular FHL2, a novel downstream target of hypoxia inducible factor 1, is a protector against ischemic acute kidney injury.

Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2) is an adaptor protein that may interact with hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) or β-catenin, two pivotal protective signaling in acute kidney injury (AKI). However, little is known about the regulation and function of FHL2 during AKI. We found that FHL2 was induced in renal tubular cells in patients with acute tubular necrosis and mice model of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI).

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: An effective method for identification and phylogenetic analysis of Leishmania species.

Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid and reproducible method that has been widely applied for the identification of bacteria and fungi. However, this technique has not yet been applied in clinical laboratories for parasitology, such as for the study of the protozoan Leishmania.

Methodology: By using MALDI-TOF MS, mass spectra database entries (MSPs) were created with 7 World Health Organization reference strains in order to establish a rapid method for Leishmania species identification.

Performance of a new Candida anti-mannan IgM and IgG assays in the diagnosis of candidemia.

Candida is one of the most frequent pathogens of bloodstream infections, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Rapid immunological detection methods are essential in the early diagnosis of candidemia. Anti-mannan is one of host-derived biomarkers against cell wall components of Candida.

[Preliminary Study on PCR Method for Laboratory Diagnosis with Fecal Specimens of Infection].

Objective: To develop a PCR method for （ ) detection in fecal specimens, and to compare the performance of PCR to that of microscopy and ELISA.

Methods: Two pairs of self-designed primers and 2 pairs of primers from references based on small subunit ribosome RNA (SSU rRNA) fragment of standard strain were synthetized. DNA from reference strain were amilified by the conventional PCR using the 4 pairs of primers.

Case Report: Morphologic and Genetic Identification of Cerebral Sparganosis.

A 50-year-old Chinese woman with a history of weakness and paroxysmal seizures of the left limb presented to our hospital with a ten-day history of neck pain. Imaging showed that there was a mass in the frontal lobe of her brain. On resection of the mass, a motile worm was identified.

A rapid high-resolution melting method for differentiation of Leishmania species targeting lack gene.

Objectives: The aim of this research is to verify that if lack gene can be used for differentiation of Leishmania under HRM assay.

Methods: Two specific primers were designed targeting polymorphic sites on the lack gene sequence. DNA from promastigotes of six species of Leishmania based on reference strains were tested following a HRM protocol.