Defensins, a family of 3-4 KD cationic peptides, have been found recently in the cytoplasmicgranules of human, rabbit, guinea pig and rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils and rabbit alveolarmacrophages. The defence roles of these molecules, such as antimicrobial activity, viral inactiva-tion, tumor cell cytotoxicity, chemotactic and opsonic actions, etc. have been adequately studied.In order to investgate the role of Defensins in the neutrphil-mediated pathological process ofsome diseases, we isolated and purified human neutrophil Defensins. By using Sephadex G100and Bio-gel P10 gel filtration chromatography, the purified molecules were obtained. The puritywas identified by AU-PAGE,SDS-PAGE, and amino acid composition analysis. In vitro fugicidalactivity of the purified human neutrophil Defensins against Candida albicans was also examined.When incubated with 33 Mol concentration of human Defensins, more than 90% of Candida,al-bicans were killed in the methylene blue assay system.

Notch signal pathway is closely related to the organism's development and a variety of cancers. Current models available for screening modulators of Notch signal pathway all use mouse Notch protein as substrates and those models which use human Notch protein have not been reported. To make the screen results much more reliable, the authors cloned a truncated form of human Notch1 called N100, and built the screening models for the use of it instead of mouse Notch protein. The models included an in vitro screening model based on the purified gamma-secretase enzyme and a cell model using luciferase reporter system. The screening models then have been verified by the known modulators of Notch signal pathway and the IC50 values have been obtained. The verified models can be used to screen modulators of human Notch signaling pathway effectively and it can lay the foundation for finding new modulators of this kind effectively.
Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases ; Animals ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Humans ; Luciferases ; Mice ; Receptors, Notch ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Signal Transduction

The status quo and application of acupuncture therapy in Oman is introduced in this article. The gene -ral medical condition of Oman is comparatively backward. Function of local traditional medicine is limited. Indications of acupuncture in Oman are various pain syndromes and motor impairment after stroke. However, it is lack of systematic training and management of acupuncture practitioners. And the number of acupuncture clinic is comparatively inadequate. Therefore, qualified acupuncture training, publicity and cooperation with international organizations are highly recommended in the future.
Acupuncture Therapy ; trends ; Humans ; Oman

Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Etanercept ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use

In recent years,the effects of ultrasound combined with microbubble contrast agent in treatment of tumors has been become a new research hot point,which may have great potential in tumor treatment.Low-power ultrasound radiating microbubble embolization angiogenesis therapeutics has been widely used in tumor treatment.Among them the following foundation research aspects can make great breakthrough,such as : target drug delivery,target gene therapy,increasing high-intensity focused ultrosound therapy efficiency etc.

Objective: To examine the expression and promoter CpG island methylation of glutathione S-transferase M3 (GSTM3) gene in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), and to evaluate the relationship of expression, methylation of GSTM3 gene with the metastasis and oncogenesis of ccRCC. Methods: Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique, we examined GSTM3 expression in surgical specimens of 24 primary ccRCCs and adjacent non-malignant tissues, 14 metastatic ccRCCs and 2 ccRCC cell lines (RCC05-TXJ,RCC05-ZTJ) with different metastatic potentials. RCC05-TXJ cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium and treated with DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of GSTM3 in response to 5-Aza-CdR treatment. Nested bisulfite sequencing PCR and DNA sequencing were used to analyze different methylation locuses in GSTM3 gene promoter in 10 primary ccRCCs and adjacent non-malignant tissues. We also examined the methylation level in 10 primary ccRCCs and the corresponding non-malignant tissues as well as 8 metastatic tissues by nested methylation-specific PCR. Results: Expression of GSTM3 gene in metastatic ccRCC cells (RCC05-TXJ) was lower than that in the non-metastatic ccRCC cells (RCC05-ZYJ). Down-regulation of GSTM3 gene expression was found in 17 of the 24 primary ccRCCs as compared with the non-malignant tissue. Expression of GSTM3 in the metastatic ccRCCs was lower than that in primary ccRCCs. 5-Aza-CdR treatment increased GSTM3 expression in RCC05-ZYJ. Methylation in GSTM3 promoter was found in 4 of 10 ccRCC tissues, 2 of 10 adjacent tissues, and 1 of 8 metastatic tissues. No significant difference was found between ccRCC and adjacent tissues (P = 0.628) or ccRCC and metastatic disease (P = 0.314) due to limit number of cases. Conclusion: Our findings support that promoter aberrant methylation is one of the major mechanisms of GSTM3 gene down-regulation in ccRCC. The preliminary identification of GSTM3 promoter methylation sites may provide a basis for further study.

This paper recommends the early diagnosis of epidemic hemorrhagicfever with immunoenzymatic direct staining (IDS) to study the patient'speripheral white blood cells. The samples of blood smears from 63 patientswere examined under the microscope with this metbod. In 54 patients, the results were positive (85. 71%). We systemically observed 10 blood sam-ples from the patients in different courses of the disease, and found thatduring the period of recovery the results were negative. This method wasalso used to observe the blood smears from both 22 patients infected withother viruses and 20 healthy persons, and a negative result was obtained.It was demonstrated that IDS had stronger specificity. The advantages ofthis method are that blood samples are easily taken, carried and preserved,and that the experimental method is simple. Thus, IDS is of practical signifi-cance in preventing and treating the disease.

Objective To evaluate the values of computer tomography in differential diagnosis of parotitis and tumors.Methods CT findings of the 18 parotitis cases and 25 parotid tumors cases proved by pathology was analysed retrospectivety statistically.Results Most of parotitis appeared in both side(10/18),all of the parotid tumors were in unilateral parotid(25/25)(?0.05)).The border of the unilateral and local parititis was clear(2/5),mixed tumors were well-defined(5/6)(?

Objectives To summarize the experience of nursing care to children with dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia.Methods The nursing histories of 11 cases of children dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia were retrospectively looked into for summarizing the nursing measures.Results The diseases were both effectively controlled in all the children,who were given maintenance therapy by oral taking of hormone after discharge.Conclusion Such nursing measures as close observation of disease,enhanced nursing and first aid of respiratory failure,nursing of infection and secondary infection,care after mesenchymal stem cells transplantation,strengthened disinfection and isolation,are of significance for controlling the disease.

OBJECTIVE:To establish an HPLC method for determining the content of main components in minocycline hydrochloride sustained-release tablets.METHODS:The sample was separated on ODS-C_(18)column with the mobile phase consisted of 0.2 mol?L~(-1)ammonium oxalate-0.01 mol?L~(-1)edetate disodium-dimethylformamide-tetrahydrofuran (600:180:120:80)at a flow rate of 1.5 mL?min~(-1).The detection wavelength was set at 280 nm and the sample volume was 20?L.RESULTS:The linear range of minocycline was 0.05～0.5 mg?mL~(-1)(r=0.999 8)and the average recovery was 99.11%,RSD=0.5%.CONCLUSIONS:This method was proved to be accurate and reliable,sensitive and reproducible,and it can be used for determining the content of this tablets.