LL-37 is the only member of the cathelicidin family known to exist in human acting as an endogenous antibiotic.After removal of the highly conserved N-termini of precursor hCAP18,a 15 000 C-terminal fragment called LL-37 bearing all of the known biological acivity hitherto is liberated by proteinase.LL-37 is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negtive bacteria.Its antibacterial activity depends on the formation of ?-helical conformation.The cytotoxic activity of LL-37 is inhibited by apolipoprotein A-Ⅰ(apoA-Ⅰ) in the plasma,thereby it can function as a scavenger of LL-37 and prevent host cell damage.In addition to its microbicidal activity,LL-37 has several other functions such as chemotactic,angiogenic action and the ability to bind and neutralize the endotoxin.

Lipoxygenase(LOX) is related to emergence and development of many diseases, such as acute and chronic inflammation, atherosclerosis, hypertension and tumor. Therefore, the inhibition of LOX may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Many kinds of flavonoids, such as chalcones, flavonols, flavones and flavanols, have inhibitory effect on 5-LOX, 12-LOX and 15-LOX probably through inhibiting expression of LOX, bonding to the enzyme or reacting with free radicals generated at the active site of the enzyme. Their inhibitory activities are related to their structures. The inhibitory effects of flavonoids on LOX maybe one of mechanisms of flavonoids' some biological functions, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease.

icating that Fas/FasL plays an impertant role in the regulation of immune/inflammation response in the CNS, and such role does not depend on the apoptotic pathway, This article reviews its progress in research on the inflammatory response in the CNS.

indicators of oxidative stress.

Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Progesterone Congeners ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the optimal surgical timing for rib internal fixation.Methods The clinical data of 143 patients with rib fracture were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into early phase fixation group (62 cases) and late phase fixation group (81 cases) according to the time from trauma to internal fixation.The ratio blood lose and body surface area,pulmonary complications and the changes of C reactive protein level before and 5 days after operation were recorded and compared.Results All the patients were healing.The median C reactive protein before operation in late phase fixation group was 45 mg/L,in early phase fixation group was 23 mg/L,there was statistical difference (P ＜ 0.01).The ratio blood lose and body surface area in early phase fixation group was (334.19 ± 37.53) ml/m2,the rate of pulmonary complications was 22.6％(14/61),in late phase fixation group was (438.99 ± 55.24) ml/m2 and 38.3％ (31/81),there were statistical differences (P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05).The median C reactive protein 5 days after operation in early phase fixation group was 189 mg/L,in late phase fixation group was 258 mg/L,there was statistical difference (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Early phase (72 hours) rib internal fixation is expected to reduce patient trauma of systemic reactions,reduce the incidence of bleeding and pulmonary complications.

AIM: After human lung epithelial cells (A549) infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), inducer cells over-express active transmitter. The study investigated the expression changes in nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein, nitric oxide (NO) and malonaldehyde (MDA) on human lung epithelial cells (A549) infected with RSV. METHODS: Experiments were performed at the Laboratory of Etiology and Immunology, Anhui Medical University between December 2006 and May 2007. ① Gyopreserved virus broliferated in Hep-2 cells after recovery. A549 cells infected with RSV in vitro were used to collect cells and cellular culture supernatant at hours 4, 8, 16 and 24. Cells non-infected with RSV were served as controls. ② Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to evaluate the expression of iNOS mRNA. The expression of iNOS protein and NF-?B was detected by Western-Blot. The concentrations of NO and MDA were measured by nitrate reductase method and thiobarbituric acid method. RESULTS: ①The basal expression of NF-?B was increased with the prolongation of RSV infection to A549 cells. ②RSV infection to A549 increased the amounts of mRNA and protein of iNOS in a time-dependent manner. The expression of iNOS mRNA was about 12 times as many as basal expression. RSV infection promoted the expression of iNOS protein, which was higher than the control group. The activities of NF-?B significantly were positively correlated with the mRNA and protein expression of iNOS. ③RSV could improve A549 cells secreting NO and MDA, but the NO levels rose slowly during the 24 hours of infection. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory response of RSV can increase the activity of NF-?B and it is positive correlated with the increase in iNOS mRNA and protein levels.

Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System ; Drug Approval ; Drug Resistance ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Immune Adherence Reaction ; Male ; Treatment Failure ; Tuberculosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; genetics

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of the ureteroscopic lithotripsy in treatment of ureteral calculi in children. Methods, From March 2008 to May 2009, thirteen pediatric patients with ureteral stones were admitted to our department. There were six males and seven females, with an age range of 23 months to 11 years old. Six patients with stones located at the lower segments of the ureter, four at the middle segments, two at the upper segments, and one at pyelo-ureteral junction and lower ureter. The average diameter of the stones was (1.1 ± 0.47) cm (range 0.6 - 2.0 cm). The patients were placed in a lithotomy position; under general or venous anesthesia, ureteroscopy was performed using a semirigid ureteroscope (WOLF Fr 7.5/6), and the ureteral orifice was dilated to 10-12 Fr. Then holmium laser (1.5 J, 10 Hz) or pneumatic lithotripter was employed to fragment the stones (diameter of fragment less than 3 mm). Fr4. 7 double-J stent was placed after operation and was removed 4 weeks later. Results: Eleven of the 13 patient underwent successful lithotripsy, with the first time successful rate being 84.6%. The mean lithotripsy time was 8 min and the mean operation time was 21 min. There was slight bleeding during operation, but with no noticeable perforation of ureter or post operation fever, etc. Post-operation B ultrasound examination and X ray image revealed no residual stones with diameter > 3 mm in the 11 cases. Partial fragmentation was achieved in one patient with stone at upper ureter segment and one patient with stone at pyelo-ureteral junction and lower ureter, and the stones were excreted after extracorporreal shock wave lithotripy. Conclusion: Ureteroscopic lithotripsy is safe and effective in treatment of children with ureteral stones, which might become one of the first line treatment for children.

Objective: To construct DNA vaccines expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and/or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and to determine their immunoactivity. Methods: Recombinant plasmids pIRES-PS-MA-mGM-CSF, pIRES-PSMA, and pIRES-mGM-CSF were constructed with DNA vaccine vector pIRES. After identified by endonuclease digestion, the above 3 plasmids and blank pIRES vector were used to immunize C56BL/6 mice (n=15). LDH release assay was used to exam the cytotoxicity of cytolytic T lymphocytes in each group. Results: We successfully constructed the above mentioned recombinant plasmids. Mice in pIRES-PSMA-mGM-CSF immunized group had the highest specific cytotoxicity, followed by pIRES-PS-MA and pIRES-mGM-CSF immunized groups. The blank pIRES group had the lowest cytotoxicity (P<0.05). The cytotoxicity was the highest in all 4 groups at an effector/target ratio of 10/1. Conclusion: The bicistronic DNA vaccine expressing PSMA and mGM-CSF may have a promising therapeutic value in gene therapy of prostate cancer.