Adult ; Andrology ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; drug therapy

No abstract available.
Humans ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

No abstract available.
Phenylketonurias*

BACKGROUND: The large surfaces of the skin are often initial site of contact between microorganism and human. The skin are coated with epidermis and epithelial cells can recognize microorganism and mount a fast defense through the production of various inducible antibiotic peptides. This leads to chracteristic broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Recent studies introduce us new peptides with antimicrobial activity such as P,-defensins and cathelicidins. They are expressed on the epithelia and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which are first lines of defence from various invasive environments. Futhermore, they are considered very interesting and important endogenous antibiotics. Our previous study has shown that the expression of human defensin(hBD-2) mRNA, which is potent antibiotic peptide against Gram-negative bacteria(P. aeruginosa), was upregulated with ultraviolet(UV) irradiation, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in HaCaT cells. A novel hBD-3, 5-kDa, nonhemolytic antimicrobial peptide, was demonstrated a salt-insensitive broad spectrum of potent antimicrobial activity against many potentially pathogenic microbes in especially, multiresistant S. aureus. We have analyzed the expression patterns of hBD-3 in HaCaT cell lines. OBJECTIVE: This research have done in order to evaluate the expression and regulation of hBD-3 mRNA in human keratinocyte cell lines. METHODS: HaCaT cell lines were used to all culture experiments. Cultured human keratinocytes were stimulated with UV irradiation or TNF-α or LPS to determine whether hBD-3 mRNA production occurred. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was per-formed to amplify hBD-3 cDNA from stimulated keratinocytes in a time dependant manner, and densitometry was used to verify the specificity of RT-PCR amplication products. RESULTS: Expression of hBD-3 was upregulated with UV irradiation, TNF-α and LPS in Ha-CaT cells compared to control CONCLUSIONS: Human keratinocytes are capable to induce hBD-3 mRNA, as well as hBD-2, in response to UV irradiation, TNF-α and LPS. suggesting that these cells could play an important role against the bacterial infection and UV light damage in human skin.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections ; Cathelicidins ; Cell Line* ; Densitometry ; DNA, Complementary ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Fungi ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Peptides ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin ; Ultraviolet Rays

No abstract available.
Silver*

Adolescent ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Hypertensive Encephalopathy ; etiology ; Male ; Transplantation, Homologous

No abstract available.
Meningitis, Bacterial*

Objective To prepare recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) sustained-release microspheres and evaluate their morphology, rhEGF releasing activities and cell proliferation activity in vitro and compare difference of rhEGF sustained-release microspheres and rhEGF in facilitaring ulcer healing in diabetic rats. Methods (1) rhEGF sustained-release microspheres were prepared by the modified double emulsion method. Morphology of the microspheres was detected by transmission electron microscope and size distribution measured by laser granularity meter/Zeta electric potential meter. ELISA assays were applied to determine rhEGF releasing. (2)Proliferation of mouse fibroblasts was analyzed by MTr method. (3) Diabetic rat models were prepared and divided into four groups, ie, rhEGF sustained-release mierospheres group (Group A), rhEGF stock solution group (Group B), blank sustainedrelease mierospheres group (Group C) and PBS meustruum control group (Group D), which were given drug once a day. The wound healing rate was calculated by taking photographs at days 3,7,14 and 21. Skin specimens from the wound edge were harvested partially for observation of hydroxyproline (HYP) contents. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect integrin 131 and keratin-19 and measure their positive staining area ratio. Results (1) The particle diameter of rhEGF sustained-release microspheres was 193.5 nm, with relative uniform particle diameter distribution. There showed no conglutination among rhEGF susrained-release microspheres, with good dispersibility. Releasing drug lasted for 24 hours and accorded with Higuchi release kinetic model. (2) Different concentrations of rhEGF sustained-release microspheres could promote the proliferation of mouse fibroblast, especially the concentration of 10 μg/L (P <0.05, compared with the control). (3) From the 7th day after treatment, Group A had the fastest wound healing rate, with statistical difference compared with other three groups (P < 0.05). Group A had higher HYP contents and positive area ratio of integrin β1 and keratin-19 than Group B. Conclusions rhEGF sustained-release microspheres prepared by the modified double emulsion method have uniform particle size and can last release for 24 hours. Compared with rhEGF stock solution, rhEGF sustained-release microspheres have faster and better ulcer healing and higher healing quality in diabetic rats.

Objective To explore the changes and clinical significance of levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and endostatin in smokers. Methods In a case-control study,levels of serum VEGF and endostatin were determined in 82 smokers with lung cancer,82 pair-matched smokers without lung cancer and 20 healthy non-smokers by enzyme-linked immunoabsent assay(ELISA) or competitive enzyme immunoassay.Results The level of serum VEGF in smokers with lung anncer[(16.1±7.9)ng/ml]was markedly higher than that in the other two groups(both P＜0.01).The level of serum VEGF in smokers without lung cancer was significantly higher than that in healthy non-smokers(P＜0.05).The level of serum endostatin in smokers with lung cancer was significantly higher than that in healthy nonsmokers(P＜0.01),but was not significantly different from that in smokers without lung cancer(P＞0.05),and that in smokers without lung cancer was significantly higher than that in healthy non-smokers (P＜0.05).Notably,the ratio of endostatin to VEGF in smokers with lung cancer(1.3±0.5)was significantly lower than that in the other two groups(both P＜0.01).However.there was no significant difference in it between smokers without lung cancer and healthy non-smokers(P＞0.05).The level of serum VEGF correlated significantly to that of endostatin in smokers both with and without lung cancer(P＜0.01).Conclusions These findings suggest that smoking may result in imbalance of levels of serum endostatin and VEGF leading to tumorigenesis.The ratio of endostatin to VEGF can be used as an early diagnostic indicator for lung cancer in smokers.Periodic determination of levels of serum VEGF and endostatin as well as the ratio of endostatin to VEGF is of clinical importance.

No abstract available.
Hyperostosis, Cortical, Congenital*