sTNFRs and their analogues are of interest for the clinical treatment of these IVD pathologies, AZD6738 mw although information on the effects of sTNFR on human IVD cells remains unknown.

Methods. IVD cells were isolated

from surgical tissues procured from 15 patients and cultured with or without 1.4 nmol/L TNF-alpha (25 ng/mL). Treatment groups were coincubated with varying doses of sTNFRII (12.5-100 nmol/L). Nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and interleukin-6 (IL6) levels in media were quantified to characterize the inflammatory phenotype of the IVD cells.

Results. Across all patients, TNF-alpha induced large, statistically significant increases in NO, PGE(2), and IL6 secretion from IVD cells compared with controls (60-, 112-, and 4-fold increases, respectively;

P < 0.0001). Coincubation of TNF-alpha with nanomolar doses of sTNFRII significantly attenuated the secretion of NO and PGE(2) in a dose-dependent manner, whereas IL6 levels were unchanged. Mean IC(50) values for NO and PGE(2) were found to be 35.1 and 20.5 nmol/L, respectively.

Conclusion. Nanomolar concentrations of sTNFRII were able to significantly attenuate the effects of TNF-alpha on primary human IVD cells in vitro. These results suggest this sTNFR to be a potent TNF antagonist with potential to attenuate inflammation in IVD pathology.”
“In order to investigate the immune role of ribosomal protein L10 (RPL10/QM-like gene) in marine fish, we challenged the large yellow croaker Pseudosciaena (= Larimichthys) crocea, the www.selleckchem.com/products/Lapatinib-Ditosylate.html most important marine fish culture species in China, by injection with a mixture of the bacteria Vibrio harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus (3: 1 in volume). Microarray analysis and real-time

PCR were performed 24 and 48 h post-challenge to isolate and identify the QM-like gene from the gill P. crocea (designated PcQM). The expression Danusertib ic50 level of the PcQM gene did not changed significantly at 24 h post-challenge, but was significantly downregulated at 48 h post-challenge, suggesting that the gene had an immune-modulatory effect in P. crocea. Full-length PcQM cDNA and genomic sequences were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR. The sequence of the PcQM gene clustered together with those of other QM-like genes from other aquatic organisms, indicating that the QM-like gene is highly conserved in teleosts.”
“Aims: In east-Asian countries, while almost all Helicobacter pylori strains possess the cytotokine-associated gene A (CagA) gene, serum CagA antibody is not detected in some infected subjects. We aimed to clarify the association between anti-CagA antibody and gastric cancer in east-Asian countries. Materials and methods: We performed a meta-analysis of case-control studies with age- and sex-matched controls, which provided raw data in east-Asian countries. Results: Ten studies with a total of 4325 patients were identified in the search.

Thirty-six unique publications Selleck NSC-23766 were reviewed.

Results: Of all therapies in complementary and alternative medicine, only xylitol has been studied in well-designed, randomized, blinded trials; it is likely effective, but compliance limits its applicability.

Conclusions: Management of acute otitis media begins with watchful waiting. Herbal eardrops may help relieve symptoms. Homeopathic treatments may help decrease pain and lead to faster resolution. Prevention should be emphasized with elimination of risk factors, such as second hand smoke and bottle-feeding, as well as maintaining nutrition and vaccinations. Vitamin supplementation may be helpful. Probiotics and xylitol may be beneficial as well.

Traditional Chinese/Japanese therapies show promising results but remain speculative until further research is conducted. Severe cases of otitis media with complications or those that fail to improve with observation or CAM (after 48-72 h) should be treated with antibiotics and, in some cases, surgical intervention. It is best to consult a physician when making treatment decisions for full guidance on the risks and benefits of any treatment option. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The aim of present study was to determine the anti-diabetic effect of methanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus L. (SMe) in alloxan

induced diabetic rabbits. It was further aimed to determine the effect of SMe on various biochemical AZD8931 ic50 parameters, namely blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, lipoproteins (HDL and LDL), liver functions (SGOT and SGPT), serum creatinine and urea level in alloxan induced diabetic rabbits. Rabbits were divided into five groups: one non-diabetic control, treated with vehicle and four experimental (diabetic) groups. The experimental Ricolinostat in vivo groups can be described as diabetic negative control, treated with vehicle, diabetic positive control, treated with 80 mg/kg of diamicron, a reference drug; and diabetic treated with 150 or 300 mg/kg of SMe. Pre- and post-experimental lipid profile,

liver function and kidney function of rabbits was determined. The SMe at the dose of 300 mg/Kg body weight significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the blood glucose level, plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL in treated rabbits as compared to diabetic rabbits. This dose significantly increased the level of HDL (36.95 +/- 2.95) in treated group as compared to diabetic group. The activity of SGOT and SGPT also significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in treated diabetic rabbits. The effect of SMe treatment on serum creatinine values was non-significant (p > 0.05).”
“Chronic urticaria, recurrent angioedema and non-allergic asthma have all been associated with pseudoallergic reactions to food ingredients. For atopic dermatitis and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, this association is controversial. Pseudoallergic reactions can be elicited by additives as well as by natural food ingredients.

It was concluded that increasing in temperature up to 50 degrees C or changing in dropping rate has a little effect on

reducing the size of PLGA particles. The residual solvent content in the final suspension was less than 0.1 ppm that is in appropriate range for biomedical application. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. I Appl Polym Sci 116: 528-534, 2010″
“Background: Estimates of excess mortality associated with body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) have been calculated for the US population.

Objective: The objective of this article is to compare the excess mortality associated with BMI levels to the excess mortality associated with other anthropometric variables.

Design: For the 1988-1994 Third National Health and Nutrition Examination www.selleckchem.com/products/azd2014.html Survey, estimates of excess deaths were calculated for standard BMI levels and for comparable levels of percentage body fat, waist circumference, hip and arm circumferences, waist-hip ratio, the Epacadostat sum of 4 skinfold thicknesses, and waist-stature ratio. The outcome

measure is the percentage of deaths in the full sample in excess of those predicted for the reference category.

Results: For the level equivalent to BMI < 18.5, estimates of excess deaths ranged from 0.3% for waist-hip ratio to 2.4% for percentage body fat. All except waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waiststature ratio were significantly greater than zero (P < 0.05). For the level equivalent to BMI 25 to > 30, the percentage of excess deaths was 0.1% for percentage body fat and negative for all other variables; estimates were significantly below zero only for circumferences and waist-stature ratio. For the level equivalent to BMI >= 30, estimates ranged from-1.7% for waist circumference to 1.5% for percentage of fat; none were significantly different from zero. Estimates for allcause mortality, obesity-related JQ1 price causes of death, and other causes of death showed no statistically significant or systematic differences between BMI and other variables.

Conclusion: In this population-based study, attributable fractions of deaths were similar across measures. Am J Clin Nutr 2009; 89: 1213-9.”
“Background Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases

such as psoriasis vulgaris represent a risk group for developing serious complications after influenza virus infection. By vaccinating this cohort such complications might be prevented. The objective was to determine the vaccination rate among patients with moderate to severe psoriasis and to explore the surrounding circumstances.

Patients and methods A nationwide, non-interventional, cross-sectional study was performed in 1,229 adults with confirmed psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. The survey consisting of 15 questions about vaccination and vaccination adherence was distributed to patients enrolled in the psoriasis patient registry PsoBest.

Results About 28 % of the patients (95 %-CI 24.0-31.6) were vaccinated. The mean age was 58 years, 40 % were females.

Under high electric field, the high polarity of the crystal phases favored high-maximum, remnant, and irreversible polarization of the films. The lower crystallinity of the

films with the same crystal phases GDC-0973 mouse led to a higher maximum and remnant polarization but a lower irreversible polarization. Under direct-current electric field, the discharged energy efficiency was mainly dominated by the polar nature of crystal phases. Under an electric field below 300 MV/m, the discharged energy density and energy loss of the three kinds of films were rather close, regardless of the phase transition. When the electric field was over 300 MV/m, the overall discharged energy density was dominated by the practical breakdown strength. gamma-PVDF with a proper crystallinity and crystal grain size is expected to realize an energy density over 10 J/cm(3) under an electric field over

400 MV/m. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 122: 1659-1668, 2011″
“The precise aetiology of benign prostatic BAY 73-4506 hyperplasia (BPH) remains unclear; however, it is known that immunological inflammatory processes have a role in the pathogenesis of BPH initiation and progression. Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) inducible expression is closely correlated with prostatic disease, including prostate cancer and BPH. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between NOS2 polymorphisms and BPH. With a cohort of 205 controls and 229 BPH subjects, we genotyped three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOS2 gene, including rs2779248 (promoter, -278 T/C), rs10459953 (5′-untranslated region) and rs2297518 (exon 16, missense, Ser608Leu), using direct sequencing and restriction fragment BKM120 nmr length polymorphism. The genotypic and allelic frequencies between control and BPH subjects were compared, and the associations among the BPH subjects were analyzed. SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer and HelixTree programmes were used to analyze SNPs.

There was no association on SNPs between control and BPH subjects. When BPH subjects were analyzed, there was no association on SNPs between the low and high prostate-specific antigen groups. However, one SNP (rs10459953, odds ratio [OR] = 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.29-0.65, P < 0.0001, in codominant model; OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.12-0.46, P < 0.0001, in dominant model; and OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.24-0.86, P = 0.015, in recessive model) was associated with prostatic volume in BPH. We detected a strong association in genotype frequencies of NOS2 SNP (rs10459953) between subjects with small and large prostatic volume in BPH. The result suggests that NOS2 may be associated with prostatic volume in BPH.”
“Carbon diffusion is observed in single crystal alpha-Al2O3 substrates from carbon and Ti2AlC thin films synthesized via pulsed cathodic arc deposition. Diffusion was found to occur at substrate temperatures of 570 degrees C and above.

The five mares were presented because of acute distention of the abdomen, dyspnoea, stiff gait and a lack of appetite. After a gradual release of the excessive amount of allantoic fluid, an abortion was induced in all five mares. The foals were either born dead or euthanized. The mares recovered quickly. One mare conceived within the same season, one remained barren despite several cycles

of natural breeding, and no data were available on the other three mares. In this series, the condition is reported for the first time in two Shetland ponies, both pregnant with foals sharing a close genetic background. In both cases, the condition led to hyperlipidemia. The condition as it occurs in nulliparous mares is also discussed. Finally, Geneticin solubility dmso the possible involvement of placentitis in the pathogenesis is emphasized.”
“This

study aimed to report on original aortic valve reconstruction for patients on dialysis.

Aortic valve reconstruction has been performed on 404 cases from April 2007 through September 2011. Among them, 54 cases on haemodialysis were retrospectively studied. Forty-seven patients had aortic stenosis, 5 had aortic regurgitation (AR), and 2 had infective endocarditis. Mean age was 70.2 +/- 8.5 years. There were 35 males and 19 females. There were 27 primary aortic valve reconstructions, 11 with selleck chemical CABG, 6 with ascending aortic replacement, 5 with mitral valve repair and 4 with maze. First, in the procedure, harvested pericardium was treated with 0.6% glutaraldehyde solution. After resecting the cusps, we measured the distance between commissures with original sizing instrument. Then, the pericardium was trimmed with the original template. Three cusps were sutured to each annulus.

Peak pressure gradient averaged to 66.0 +/- 28.2 mmHg preoperatively, and decreased to 23.4 +/- 10.7, 13.8 +/- 5.5 and 13.3 +/- 2.3 mmHg, 1 week, 1 year, and 3 years after the operation, respectively. No calcification was detected with echocardiographic selleck compound follow-up. Recurrence of AR was not recorded with the mean follow-up

of 847 days except for 1 case reoperated on for infective endocarditis 2.5 years after the operation. Three hospital deaths were recorded due to non-cardiac causes. Other patients were in good condition. There was no thromboembolic event.

Medium-term results are excellent. Since warfarin for dialysis patients becomes problematic, a postoperative warfarin-free status is desirable. Aortic valve reconstruction can provide patients with a better quality of life without warfarin.”
“Gram-negative, free-living bacterial strain ptl-3(T) was isolated from Himalayan valley soil, India. Polyphasic taxonomy was performed including morphological characterization, fatty acid analysis, biochemical tests, 16S rRNA and nifH gene sequence analyses.

The picroside I and II content in various plant parts of P. kurrooa collected from different altitudes, viz. Sonemarg (2,740 m a.s.l.), Tangmarg (2,690 m a.s.l.), and Pulwama (1,630 m a.s.l.)

in the north-western Kashmir Himalayas was analyzed by HPLC. A considerable degree of variation in picroside content was observed. Picroside I and II was highest in populations collected from Sonemarg followed by Tangmarg, suggesting that picroside click here accumulation is directly correlated with altitudinal change. More picroside I was found in the rhizome and roots of the Pulwama population as compared to Tangmarg samples, whereas the quantity of Picroside II was reduced in plants from Pulwama compared to the Tangmarg population, suggesting that cultivation of P. kurroa at lower altitude reduces the picroside content. The quantities of picrosides also varied spatially, being highest in rhizome followed by roots, inflorescence and leaves in the populations from all three locations. The study concludes that picroside I and II accumulation depends on altitude, which could help in the selection and collection of superior genotypes with

uniform effects for utilization by the pharmaceutical industry.”
“We present the experimental realization and characterization of a broadband acoustic metamaterial with strongly anisotropic KU55933 effective mass density. The metamaterial is composed of arrays of solid inclusions in an air background, and the anisotropy is controlled by the rotational asymmetry of these inclusions. Transmission and reflection measurements inside a one-dimensional waveguide are used to extract the relevant components of the effective density tensor together with the effective bulk modulus of the metamaterial. Its broadband anisotropy is demonstrated by measurements that span 500-3000 Hz. Excellent agreement between these

measurements and numerical simulations confirms Fer-1 chemical structure the accuracy of the design approach. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3552990]“
“The present study is aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of long-acting risperidone on early onset schizophrenia in adolescent patients. A total of 31 adolescent patients (13 – 18 years) with schizophrenia met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia and their symptoms were stable when orally taking risperidone or olanzapine. They were admitted into a 24 week, open-label study on the long-acting risperidone. Risperidone was administered every 2 weeks at a dose of 25, 37.5 and up to a maximum dose of 50 mg. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) and the Extrapyramidal symptom rating scale (ESRS) were used to assess the improvement in the symptoms.

The following correlates were independently associated with underreporting alcohol consumption in FMI: not receiving HIV treatment, being BMS-777607 mouse followed up

by a hepatologist for HCV infection and reporting a history of injecting drug use. Conclusions: These results highlight the difficulties in alcohol consumption assessment which HCV specialists may face when suggesting to their HIV/HCV co-infected patients that they cease drinking completely. Patient awareness about the real need to reduce their alcohol use before starting HCV therapy may also contribute to underreporting. Innovative strategies for alcohol risk-reduction, including the promotion of controlled consumption and access to multidisciplinary teams, should be implemented for HIV/HCV co-infected patients in order to reduce barriers to HCV treatment. Panobinostat concentration (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Habitat fragmentation, caused by the expansion of agriculture in natural areas, may be one of the strongest impacts humans have on the ecosystem. These changes can decrease the number of individuals in a population, leading to endogamy. In allogamous species, endogamy can have a negative effect on reproductive capacity. In this study, we analyzed the effects of forest fragmentation on microsporogenesis and pollen viability in Eugenia uniflora L., a tree species native to the Atlantic Forest. We analyzed

4 populations, 3 of which were connected by forest corridors and 1 of which was isolated by agricultural fields on all sides. For microsporogenesis analysis, 9000 meiocytes

representing all stages of meiosis were evaluated. To perform the pollen viability test, we evaluated 152,000 pollen grains. Microsporogenesis was stable in plants from populations that were connected by forest corridors (abnormalities, less than 6%), while microsporogenesis in plants from the isolated population showed a higher level of abnormalities this website (13-29%). Average pollen viability was found to be more than 93% in the non-isolated populations and 82.62% in the isolated population. The chi(2) test showed that, in the isolated population, the meiotic index was significantly lower than that in the non-isolated populations (P = 0.03). The analysis of variance for the percentage of viable pollen grains confirmed the significant difference between the isolated and non-isolated populations. Our data show that forest fragmentation has a direct effect on microsporogenesis and pollen viability in E. uniflora and can directly influence the reproductive capacity of isolated populations of this species.”
“Substantial evidence suggests an increasing burden of hypertension (HTN) in urban sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, data on HTN prevalence in rural SSA are sparse. In a cross-sectional study, we investigated magnitude and correlates of HTN in rural SSA.

7% efficacy for dichloromethane check details extract) and AWM (56% efficacy, with dose-dependent effect for dichloromethane extract) and the leaf on LMI (49.4% efficacy). These results suggest that T. citrifolia possess anthelmintic activity against H. contortus. The active ingredients responsible for the activity could be the alkaloid compounds present in the plant parts of the plant. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 194-K strain has been established to be able to produce two bacteriocins, one of which was identified as the known lantibiotic nisin A, and the other 194-D bacteriocin

represents a polypeptide with a 2589-Da molecular mass and comprises 20 amino acid residues. Both bacteriocins were produced in varying proportions in all of the studied culture media, which support the growth of the producer. Depending on the cultivation medium, the nisin A content was 380- to 1123-fold lower in the 194-K stain culture broth than that of the 194-D peptide. In comparision to nisin A Bacteriocin 194-D possessed a wide range of antibacterial activity and suppressed the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. An optimal selleck chemicals llc medium for 194-D bacteriocin synthesis was shown to be a fermentation medium which

contained yeast extract, casein hydrolysate, and potassium phosphate. The biosynthesis of bacteriocin 194-D by the 194-K strain in these media occurred parallel to producer growth, and its maximal accumulation in the culture broth was observed at14-20 h of the strain’s growth.”
“More effective vaccines against Toxoplasma gondii may contribute to the control of this pathogen that has major veterinary and public health significance. In this study, two recombinant plasmids pcDNA/TgSAG1 and pVAX/mIL-18 containing T. gondii SAG1 (TgSAG1) and murine cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18) were evaluated for their ability to protect mice against T. gondii challenge. Mice were given two intramuscular immunizations :3 weeks apart, and challenged with click here T. gondii 3 weeks later. All

animals vaccinated with pcDNA/TgSAG1 alone or with pVAX/mIL-18 developed specific anti-TLA (T. gondii lysate antigen) antibodies and specific lymphocyte proliferative responses. Co-injection of pVAX/mIL-18 significantly increased the production of IFN-gamma and IL-2. Further, challenge experiments showed that co-immunization with pVAX/mIL-18 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the survival rate (60%), compared with pcDNA/TgSAG1 alone (40%). Therefore, codelivery of the IL-18-secreting plasmid potentiates the induction and maintenance of the type 1 helper T-cell immune response and may be a potent strategy for enhancing the protective efficacy of vaccines against T. gondii. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Enzymatic oxidative degradation of EDTA and EDTA complexes with metals has been investigated using immobilized cells of Chelativorans oligotrophicus LPM-4.

METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive patients with precapillary PH received a prostanoid in our center. Data at prostanoid initiation included modality of center referral, medical history, New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, exercise capacity, echocardiographic parameters, and hemodynamics.

RESULTS: Overall survival at 1,

2, and 3 years was 85%, 69%, 55%, respectively. Non-survivors had worse NYHA class III/IV (17/12) than survivors (27/1; p < 0.01) and exercise capacity on 6-minute-walk distance (254 +/- 114 vs 354 +/- 91 meters; p < 0.01). Non-survivors were more frequently referred on oral therapy (83% vs 36%; p < 0.01) SB202190 manufacturer and had a higher rate of urgent prostanoid treatment (69% vs 17%;p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) found the independent prognostic factors were urgent prostanoid therapy (2.0 [1.1-3.9]) and NYHA class (3.5 [1.5-8.2]). Survivors had a significant response to prostanoid, improving NYHA class from 2.8 +/- 0.4 to 2.3 +/- 0.5 (p = 0.002), 6-minute walk distance from check details 354 +/- 91 to 426 +/- 82 meters (p = 0.0001), and pulmonary hemodynamics (pulmonary artery pressure from 56 +/- 13 to 44 +/- 18 mm Hg [p < 0.05]; cardiac index from 2.0 +/- 1.2

to 3.1 +/- 1.2 liters/min/m(2) [p = 0.002], and pulmonary vascular resistance from 17 +/- 10 to 8 +/- 6 WU [p = 0.001]).

CONCLUSIONS: Referral of patients on oral treatment to a tertiary PH center is delayed and significantly affects prognosis. J

Heart Lung Transplant 2012;31:364-72 (C) 2012 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.”
“Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients frequently develop some form of ocular motor dysfunction during the disease. In previous studies, ocular motor abnormalities were found to correlate with clinical disability and with impaired cognitive performance. The objective of this study was to assess the pursuit ocular movement (POM) frequency in relapsing-remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) MS patients by using a vision-based non-intrusive eye tracker. POM frequency was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in CBL0137 cost MS patients compared to normal controls. No differences between RR and SP-MS patients and no correlation between POM and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score were found. This exploratory study suggests that our vision-based system is a new simple non-intrusive method showing impairment of POM values in MS patients, even in the absence of association with clinical disability (EDSS). Future works on larger cohorts of MS patients might validate this eye tracking in MS clinical practice.”
“We present the theoretical modeling and prototype demonstration of a three-dimensional broadband, low-loss, dual-polarization, and high-directivity lens antenna using gradient index (GRIN) metamaterials, which is composed of multi-layer microstrip square-ring arrays.

01). BMD was positively correlated with the failure load of the lumbar endplate. (3) The strongest position

of the lumbar endplate was the posterolateral region closest to the pedicles and the failure loads tended to increase from anterior to posterior regions of the lumbar endplates. (4) Anlotinib nmr The failure load distribution did not change with the BMD decrease. (5) The differences of the failure loads between the lumbar segments were significant (P < 0.05). The failure loads of the lumbar endplates showed an increasing tendency from L1-L5 segments.

Conclusion. The differences in the anatomic structures of different regions are the histologic foundation of biomechanical properties of lumbar endplates. It is necessary that BMD should be measured before operation and implants should be placed in posterior-lateral regions of lumbar endplates so that subsidence syndrome

can be reduced as much as possible. In addition, the fact that the endplates AZD8186 of the upper lumbar segments with the lower strength have higher risk of subsidence should be concerned about by spine surgeons and implant designers.”
“Cryptococcosis causes significant morbidity and mortality in the world. Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a kind of subacute or chronic pulmonary fungal disease. We present a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis with a trachea wall invasion-like malignant tumor in an immunocompetent patient and a literature review. The 44-year-old man, a nonsmoker, suffered from mild dyspnea and white sputum with intermittent blood streaks.

A computed tomography (CT) scan of his chest showed two possibly malignant lesions in the right hilum and upper-right field of his lung, which have higher uptake values of fluorodeoxyglucose on positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. Lung biopsy pathology showed scattered fungal spores and positive periodic selleck kinase inhibitor acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. The immune status and blood tumor markers were all normal in this patient. The titer of Cryptococcus antigen latex agglutination test was 1:1,280. Under fiberoptic bronchoscopy, a prominent new mass on the right wall of the trachea blocked most of the right main bronchus. To reduce the symptoms of airway obstruction, treatment by bronchoscopy, i.e. ablation and endotracheal stent, was used. As his symptoms were aggravated by the use of itraconazole, amphotericin B liposome was used as antifungal treatment. All these methods led to a better prognosis. We conclude that pulmonary cryptococcosis may mimic lung neoplasms radiologically and bronchoscopically, even in immunocompetent patients.”
“Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa), rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, is known to have medicinal benefits in the treatment of arteriosclerosis and inflammation. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of cheonnyuncho seed powder (OHS) on postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.