Baseline cytokine response in immunocompetent PC host compared with the controls.

<p>(A)Serum IFN-γ level was significantly reduced in the PC patients (***<i>P</i> < 0.001). No significant differences in IL-2, IL-10, IL-4 and IL-12 levels were observed between the two groups. (B) Serum IFN-γ levels was higher in the nodules subgroup than in the non-nodules subgroup (*<i>P</i> < 0.05); similar levels of the other cytokines was observed in the two subgroups. (C) Serum IFN-γ levels was higher in the surgical treatment subgroup than in the non-surgical subgroup; the amounts of the other cytokines were similar in the two subgroups.</p

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the immunocompetent patients with PC.

<p>Demographic and clinical characteristics of the immunocompetent patients with PC.</p

Baseline supernatant IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in rhIL12-stimulated PBMCs <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(A) Concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the supernatant of PBMCs without rhIL12 stimulation was similar between the patients and controls, between the nodules and non-nodules subgroups and between surgical and non-surgical treatment subgroups. (B) rhIL-12 stimulated the release of IFN-γ; increase in IFN-γ level was lower in the patients (4.47-fold) than in the controls (7.40-fold) (**<i>P</i> < 0.01); rhIL-12 did not stimulate IL-4 secretion in the supernatant of PBMCs in both groups. No differences in IFN-γ or IL-4 levels were observed between the nodules and non-nodules subgroups and between surgical and non-surgical treatment subgroups.</p

Supernatant IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in rhIL-12-stimulated PBMCs <i>in vitro</i> following the effective therapy.

<p>(A) Supernatant IFN-γ and IL-4 levels after the effective therapy were not significantly different from the baseline. (B) rhIL-12 stimulation significantly increased the median levels of supernatant IFN-γ compared with the baseline (**<i>P</i> < 0.01). (C) Supernatant IFN-γ level was much higher in different subgroups compared with the baseline (**P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.01). (D.E) No significant difference in the supernatant IL-4 level and increment of changes in IL-4 was observed following the effective therapy compared with baseline.</p

The Role of <i>Cryptococcus</i> in the Immune System of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis Patients

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>To investigate the role of <i>Cryptococcus</i> in the immune system of immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) by analysing the dynamic changes of patients’ immune status before and after antifungal therapy.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The level of the serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -10 and -12 was measured before and after 6-months of treatment. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 immunocompetent PC patients and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and incubated with recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12) for 48 h. Then the concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the supernatant were analysed.</p><p>Results</p><p>Baseline serum IFN-γ level was significantly lower in the PC patients as compared with the control group (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The serum IL-2 and IFN-γ of PC patients were significantly increased after appropriate treatments (<i>P</i> < 0.05 and <i>P</i> < 0.001 when compared to their baseline levels). The productions of IFN-γ in the culture supernatant of PBMCs showed no significant difference between the control and PC patients both before and after antifungal treatments. RhIL-12 is a potent stimulus for IFN-γ production. Culture PBMCs collected from PC patients before treatments had a smaller increase of IFN-γ production in the present of rhIL-12 than the control (<i>P</i> < 0.01); PBMCs from PC patients completing 6-months of treatment showed a comparable increase of IFN-γ production by rhIL-12 stimulation to the control group.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>In apparently immunocompetent patients with PC, a normalization of serum IFN-γ was achieved after recovery from infection. This suggests that <i>Cryptococcus</i> infection per se can suppress the immune system and its elimination contributes to the reestablishment of an immune equilibrium.</p></div

Influence of the effective therapy on the serum cytokine response in immunocompetent PC patients.

<p>(A) Average levels of the serum IL-2 and IFN-γ were significantly higher following effective therapy than at baseline (*<i>P</i> < 0.05 and **<i>P</i> < 0.001), whereas IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 levels were similar to baseline. (B) Serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the non-nodules group compared with the baseline (**<i>P</i> < 0.01 and ***<i>P</i> < 0.001); in the nodule group, only the IFN-γ levels were much higher compared with the baseline (*<i>P</i> < 0.05); the effective therapy did not affect the secretions of IL-10, IL-4 and IL-12. (C) Serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the non-nodules group compared with the baseline (**<i>P</i> < 0.01 and ***<i>P</i> < 0.001); in the nodules group, only IFN-γ levels were much higher compared with the baseline (*<i>P</i> < 0.05); the effective therapy did not affect the secretion of IL-10, IL-4 and IL-12.</p

Additional file 1: of The pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase/adenosine deaminase ratio differentiates between tuberculous and parapneumonic pleural effusions

Excel: Pleural fluid results of LDHADA of the TPE and PPE patients. (XLS 26 kb

Additional file 1: of Comparison of modified wet suction technique and dry suction technique in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for solid lesions: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

SPIRIT 2013 checklist. (DOC 124 kb

Genesis of late carboniferous granitoid intrusions in the Dayinsu area, West Junggar, Northwest China: evidence of an arc setting for the western CAOB

<p>The Dayinsu area is located in the northern part of the West Junggar district near the border between China and Kazakhstan and is an important component of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The Dayinsu area hosts numerous granitoid plutons in Devonian–Carboniferous volcano–sedimentary strata. The older Laodayinsu and Kubei (345–330 Ma) plutons are located in the west with the younger Bayimuzha and Qianfeng (330–325 Ma) plutons in the east. The whole-rock SiO₂ contents of the four granitoid plutons range from 52.22 to 68.42 wt.% and total alkaline contents (K₂O + Na₂O) range from 4.94 to 9.16 wt.%. The granites are enriched in large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements with depletions in Nb, Ta, Ce, Pr, P, and Ti. The plutons are metaluminous with I-type signatures. The geochemistry of the intrusions suggests that they formed in a subduction zone setting, and subsequently underwent fractional crystallization during emplacement, with higher degrees of fractionation in the eastern sector than in the west. Similarities in the geochronology and geochemical characteristics of the granitoid plutons in Dayinsu to those in the Tabei district (west to Dayinsu area) suggest that both districts are part of the Carboniferous Tarbagatay Mountain intrusive event. The early Carboniferous (345–324 Ma) granitoid intrusions in the Tarbagatay Mountain likely formed in an island arc subduction setting during the evolution of the CAOB.</p

Novel Peptides from Sturgeon Ovarian Protein Hydrolysates Prevent Oxidative Stress-Induced Dysfunction in Osteoblast Cells: Purification, Identification, and Characterization

This study aimed to explore antioxidant peptides derived from sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii) ovaries that exhibit antiosteoporotic effects in oxidative-induced MC3T3-E1 cells. The F3–15 component obtained from sturgeon ovarian protein hydrolysates (SOPHs) via gel filtration and RP-HPLC significantly increased the cell survival rate (from 49.38 ± 2.88 to 76.26 ± 2.09%). Two putative antioxidant-acting peptides, FDWDRL (FL6) and FEGPPFKF (FF8), were screened from the F3–15 faction via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and through prediction by computer simulations. Molecular docking results indicated that the possible antioxidant mechanisms of FL6 and FF8 involved blocking the active site of human myeloperoxidase (hMPO). The in vitro tests showed that FL6 and FF8 were equally adept at reducing intracellular ROS levels, increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and protecting cells from oxidative injuries by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and activating the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) signaling pathway. Moreover, both peptides could increase differentiation and mineralization abilities in oxidatively damaged MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, FF8 exhibited high resistance to pepsin and trypsin, showcasing potential for practical applications