Subcutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus diffluens in a patient with sporotrichoid lesions case report, features of the case isolate and in vitro antifungal susceptibilities.

Environmental fungi, in particular primary pathogens and Cryptococcus spp. can be responsible for skin lesions mimicking sporotrichosis. In this paper, we report a case of subcutaneous cryptococcosis in an apparently healthy, young male patient due to a non-C. neoformans Cryptococcus species, C. diffluens. The isolate showed in vitro phenotypic switching that may affect virulence and host inflammatory and immune responses, and in vitro resistance to amphotericin B and 5-flucytosin. This species shares several phenotypic traits with C. neoformans, and, therefore, decisive diagnosis should be based on biopsy and culturing results followed by molecular identification.     

人胎儿睾丸发生过程中表皮生长因子与细胞增殖核抗原的表达

目的　观察表皮生长因子 (EGF)与细胞增殖核抗原 (PCNA)在人胎儿睾丸发生过程中的表达特征 ,探讨两者在睾丸发生中的作用。　方法　用SP免疫细胞化学技术检测了人胎儿 12～ 32周睾丸间质细胞、支持细胞、生殖细胞EGF、PCNA阳性细胞表达率。　结果　EGF在胎儿 12周龄睾丸组织未见表达 ,16～ 32周龄睾丸间质细胞呈阳性表达 ,16～ 2 0周为表达高峰 ,随着胎龄的增长呈逐渐下降趋势 (P <0 0 1) ;PCNA在胎儿睾丸间质细胞、支持细胞和生殖细胞均有不同程度表达 ,16～ 2 0周为表达高峰 ,随着胎龄的增长呈逐渐下降趋势 (P <0 0 1)。　结论　EGF与PCNA在人胎儿睾丸发育过程中有不同程度的表达 ,表明EGF与PCNA在睾丸发育过程中起着一定的作用     

Health education for pregnant women: the role of background characteristics

This was a pilot study with the purpose of determining the effect of health education in enhancing the self-care agency of pregnant women and to define the role of their background characteristics in the success of this education. Subjects of this study were 30 pregnant women who visited a university hospital for check. The success of the given education was measured by pre- and post-tests that were applied before and after health education using "self-care agency scale". Data were evaluated according to t-test and variance analysis. After health education, the self-agency scores of the pregnant women increased significantly (P < 0.05). It was defined that pregnant women with the least self-care agency scores before health education, displayed the best progress after the education.     

妊娠高血压患者血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的测定及其临床意义

本文测定了３０例正常育龄妇女，２８例正常妊娠以及３６例妊娠征患者血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的水平，结果发现，轻度妊高生与正常妊娠相比，血浆中ＣＧＲＰＫ是有下降但不显著（Ｐ〉０．０５）。中重度妊高征与正常妊娠相比，差异有非常显著性，因此推测，妊娠状态下血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的减少可能是妊娠高血压症产生的重要原因之一。     

Arginine selective biosensor based on arginase-urease immobilized in gelatin

Arginase and urease enzymes were immobilized on the surface of pH electrode by using gelatin membrane which is then cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Sensor response was maximum when 2.5 mM, Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5) was used at 25 degrees C. The biosensor response depends linearly on arginine concentration between 0.025-0.310 mM with response time 10 min. Furthermore, application of the system for the arginine detection in serum samples was also tested.     

Morphology of the lumbar spinal canal in normal adult Turks

Pathological changes can occur in the diameters of the lumbar spinal canal. Therefore, assessing the canal size an important diagnostic procedure. Two hundred plain anterioposterior radiographs of the lumbar spine were examined. The sample consisted of 100 males and 100 females. The transverse diameter of the bony spinal canal (interpedicular distance), which was measured as the minimum distance between the medial surfaces of the pedicles of a given vertebra, was measured. In addition, the transverse diameter of the vertebral body, which was measured as the minimum distance across the waist of the vertebra, was measured. The distances were measured to the nearest one tenth of a millimetere using a Vernier caliper. At all levels (L1 - L5) the transverse diameters of the lumbar spinal canal were approximately 1 - 1.5 mm higher in males than in females. The intersegmental differences increased proximodistally, in both sexes. The ratio of the transverse diameter canal to the width of the vertebra ranged from 0.55 to 0.60 mm in both sexes. The distribution of the different lumbar canal types were 47% A, 42% B, 11% C. Additionally, subtypes were determined and classified.     

Clinical, electrophysiological and magnetic resonance imaging findings in carpal tunnel syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to compare them with electrophysiological findings. METHODS: Routine motor and sensory nerve conduction examinations and needle EMG were performed in 42 hands of 22 patients, who were clinically diagnosed as having CTS in at least one wrist. RESULTS: Of 29 wrists with clinically and electrophysiologically confirmed CTS, MRI could detect abnormality in 18 wrists (62%). Median nerve was found to be abnormal in MRI in 1 of 2 wrists with suspected clinical symptoms and proven CTS by electrophysiological examination. MRI was abnormal in 1 of 4 wrists with normal clinical and electrophysiological examination. MRI was abnormal in 46, 7% of wrists with mild CTS, in 61.6% of moderate CTS and in 100% of severe CTS. Volar bulging of the flexor retinaculum was detected in a single wrist with severe CTS. Enlargement of median nerve was observed in 3 of 5 severe CTS. CONCLUSION: MRI could be useful in the diagnosis of unproven cases in CTS. It also provides anatomical information that correlate well with electrophysiological findings in regard of the severity of median nerve compression.