Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the important component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, contributes to the integrity of the outer membrane, and protects the cell against bactericidal agents. LPS, also called endotoxin synonymously, is well known as a potent inducer of the innate immune system that often causes septic shock in the intensive cares. Chemically, the amphiphilic LPS is made up of three parts, i.e., hydrophobic lipid A, hydrophilic core oligosaccharide chain, and hydrophilic O-antigenic polysaccharide side chain. Specially, the lipid A is known to be responsible for a variety of biological effects during Gram-negative sepsis. LPS can elicit a strong response from innate immune system and result in local or systemic adverse reactions. LPS can trigger massive inflammatory responses and may result in immunopathology, for which the molecular basis is mediated by the signal path- way of LPS. In recent years, a tremendous progress has been made in determining the associated proteins and receptors in the LPS signaling that leads to the disease. This review gives a summary of recent progresses of research on LPS and LPS receptors.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; Drug Design ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; chemistry

Currently, all the conventional antibiotics have developed corresponding drug-resistant pathogenic strains, which have increasingly become a serious threat to people's health. Development of completely new types of antibiotics is one of effective ways to solve the drug resistance issue. Antimicrobial peptides with broad-spectrum antibacterial and antimicrobial activity and wild variety become the ideal alternative to traditional antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides are derived from wide range of sources, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Mechanism of function of the antimicrobial peptides and the investigation approaches of different antimicrobial peptides also vary dramatically. In this paper, we give an overview of preparation, antibacterial mechanisms, and research methodology of antimicrobial peptides.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; pharmacology ; Humans

Problem-based learning (PBL) teaching method combined with formative evalua-tion was used in the teaching practice of pediatrics education. This method was implemented by four phases: courses designing, group-preparing, problems-organizing and teaching practice. The method was evaluated by students' feedback and survey results of patients, teachers and teaching councilors. It was showed that the teaching effects of PBL combined with formative evaluation was better than tra-ditional teaching method in pediatrics teaching.

Objective To investigate whether the bilateral nipple discharge with the background of hypothyroidism and pituitary tumor causes intraductal neoplasm. Methods Clinical data of 222 bilateral nipple discharge patients with hypothyroidism or pituitary tumor undergoing mammary ductoseopy (MDS) examination were analyzed. Those diagnosed as intraductal papilloma received surgery and pathological exam. 158 cases with inflammatory comedomastitis diagnosed by MDS received milk duct washing with gentamycin, dexamethasone and corresponding medical treatment. Results Among the 222 cases, 158 cases(71.17%) were diagnosed as inflammatory comedomastitis by MDS, 64 cases (28.83%) were diagnosed as intraduetal papilloma (64/222) by MDS and received operation,59 cases were pathologically diagnosed as intraductal papilloma,the other 5 cases were pathologically diagnosed as mammary duct ectasia. The pathological coincidence was 92.2% and no breast cancer was observed. 68.10% of inflammatory comedomastitis cases suffered from breast pain. There were no significant difference in the disease distribution of the ethnic groups. During pre-menopause period, the incidence of period neoplasia is higher in pituitary tumor than hypothyroidism; However, during the post-menopause the situation was vice versa. The color of niplle discharge is mostly milk-like in patients with pituitary tumor, while serous in patients with hypothyroidism. 71.19% of duct papilloma locate at the branch of the main duct. Conclusion The bilateral nipple discharge with hypothyroidism or pituitary are usually concomitant with intraduetal lesions. Mammary ductosopy is helpful to discover intraduetal neoplasia.

In this study,the common critical medical cases were organically combined with SimMan simulation system,which enabled students to deeply understand the diagnosis,treatment of disease and clinical operation as consulting real patients.Also,it could improve their clinical thinking ability,clinical skills and operational level.

This study is aimed to evaluate the clinical application of the millimeter wave and magnetism light compound therapy. The EHF-98B MMW. RL compound therapy apparatus made in the University of Electronic Technology(Chengdu) was used in 171 patients. The superficial, skin lesions or the visceral reflected skin regions (acupoints) were directly exposed to the light from the apparatus. All the cases were divided into five groups, namely skin mucosa superficial lesions, trauma of the bone and joint soft tissue, surgical incision, ENT infections, and rare intricate diseases. The therapeutic effects observed in the groups were analyzed and evaluated by means of 4 levels. As for the 171 patients, the cure rate was 42.7% (73 patients), the effective rate 25.1%(43 patients), the improvement rate 31%(53 patients), and no effect constituted 1.2%(2 patients). The total effective rate was 98.8%. This therapy was especially effective for treating chronic cervicitis, cervical erosion, soft tissue trauma, surgical incision. Also it was effective for treating some rare intricate diseases, e.g. sterility, vitiligo, Behcet disease. So the millimeter wave and magnetism light compound therapy may find wide clinical applications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Joint Diseases ; therapy ; Magnetics ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases ; therapy ; Phototherapy ; Skin Diseases, Infectious ; therapy ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; therapy

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognosis of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and drug combined with endoscopic treatment in patients with liver cirrhosis and esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB).Methods:From January 2012 to December 2013, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University, the data of 147 patients with liver cirrhosis and EGVB undergoing TIPS or drug combined with endoscopic treatment were retrospectively collected, with 87 cases in TIPS treatment group and 60 in drug combined with endoscopic treatment group.The 5 years follow-up data were analyzed, and the overall survival rates, rebleeding-free survival rates and hepatic encephalopathy-free survival rates at 6 weeks, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years after treatment of two groups were compared. Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Z test, log-rank test and trend test were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were no significant differences in age, gender, etiology, Child-Pugh classification, initial liver function, coagulation function, liver ascites, previous history of hepatic encephalopathy, blood pressure and preoperative blood transfusion history between the TIPS treatment group and combination of drugs and endoscopy treatment group (all P>0.05). Forty-one patients died within 5 years, of which 20 (48.8%) died of rebleeding and 6 (14.6%) died of hepatic encephalopathy. There were no significant differences in 6-week, 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates between the TIPS group and drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (all P>0.05), however the 5-year overall survival rate of the TIPS treatment group was higher than that of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (78.4% vs. 63.2%), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.06, P=0.048). The 6-week, 1-year, 2-year, 5-year rebleeding-free survival rates of the TIPS group were 97.7%, 96.5%, 88.9% and 70.9%, respectively, which were all higher than those of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (86.7%, 53.3%, 43.3% and 27.1%), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=2.35, 6.39, 6.26 and 4.80, all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in hepatic encephalopathy-free survival rates at 6 weeks, 1 year and 2 years after treatment between the TIPS group and drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (all P>0.05), however the 5-year hepatic encephalopathy-free survival rate of the TIPS treatment group was lower than that of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (67.7% vs. 86.7%), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.28, P=0.030). The lower the Child-Pugh classification, the higher the cumulative 5-year survival rate ( χ2=6.75, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the 5-year overall survival rate in patients with the same Child-Pugh classification between the TIPS group and the drug combined with endoscopic treatment group (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The efficacy of TIPS is better than that of the drug combined with endoscopic treatment in treating EGVB. Even the long-term risk of hepatic encephalopathy of TIPS is higher, the short-term, middle-term and long-term rebleeding rate are decreased. Patients with Child-Pugh grade C do not need to avoid TIPS when choosing the treatment, the earlier the TIPS used, the better survival benefit will be obtained.

Objective To explore the immune mechanism in the systemic lupus erythematosus MRL/lpr mice at different months of age, and to provide the basis for research of its pathogenesis. Methods 3-,4-,5- and 6-month old female MRL/lpr mice, and wild type C57 female mice were used in this study, 10 mice per each group. Their organ coefficients were determined. ELISA was performed to detect the serum levels of double stranded DNA(ds-DNA) antibody. The interleukins IL-2,IL-4,IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in spleen tissue were detected. Flow cytometry was used to assess the content of spleen lymphocyte CD3 cells and CD4/CD8 cell ratio. Results Compared with the 3-month old wild-type C57 mice,the spleen coefficient,the blood concentration of ds-DNA antibody,IL-2 and TNF-α in the 3- to 6-month old MRL/lpr mice were significantly increased(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the concentrations of interleukin IL-4(P> 0.05). The blood concentration of IL-17 in the 5- and 6-month old MRL/lpr mice was significantly lower(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)than that in the 3-month old MRL/lpr mice. The rest indexes of MRL/lpr mice showed no obvious changes or significant difference in the mice at different ages. Compared with the 3-month old C57 mice,the spleen CD3 lymphocyte concentration in the MRL/lpr mice was significantly decreased(P< 0.01). With the increasing age, the CD3 lymphocyte concentration and D4 +/CD8 +cell ratio in the MRL/lpr mice were decreased, however, showing a non-significant difference(P ﹥0.05). Conclusions The data obtained in this study indicate that 3-month old lupus MRL/lpr mice have already immune injury,increasing with the increase of age of the mice.

Objective To seperate fetal nucleated red blood cells (fNRBCs) from the whole maternal peripheral blood effectively by designing a circular channel microfluidic chip. Methods A microfluidic chip is designed by utilizing the margination in blood flow and the specific adhesion characteristics of immuno-agent anti-CD147. With the whole umbilical cord blood, the effects of different shear forces on the enrichment of fNRBCs was studied by immunofluorescence counting. Results Increasing shear rate in microfluidic chip could improve the number of captured fNRBCs compared with the static adhesion. With the increase of shear rate of blood flow, the number of the captured cells increased at first, and then decreased. Conclusions The use of microfluid chip can effectively seperate fNRBCs from the whole blood. The results provide an experimental reference for the non-invasive prenatal diagnosis research and the exploration on the mechanism of fetal cell migration.

Background: TAM receptors (Tyro3, Axl and Mertk), as subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases, are intracellular negative feedback regulators and play a crucial role in regulating inflammation and immune response. Aims: To study the expressions and clinical value of TAM receptors in serum and intestinal mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Forty⁃five patients who were initially diagnosed as active UC from June, 2020 to May, 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University were enrolled prospectively. Fifteen healthy subjects were served as the control group. Eight cases each in moderate UC group and healthy control group were selected randomly for detection of TAM receptors in serum and intestinal mucosa by ELISA, real⁃time PCR and Western blotting. The correlations of serum Tyro3 with routine clinical indicators of UC were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression level of TAM receptors in intestinal mucosa in all UC patients and the healthy controls. Results: Expressions of Axl and Mertk were not fully consistent in serum and intestinal mucosa in UC patients. While the serum Tyro3 level, as well as the intestinal Tyro3 mRNA and protein expressions were consistently increased in moderate UC patients than in controls (all P<0.05). Serum level of Tyro3 was positively correlated with platelet count and C⁃reactive protein, and negatively correlated with albumin in moderate UC patients (r=0.97, r=0.96, r=-0.86, all P<0.05). Positivity rate of Tyro3 in intestinal mucosa of UC patients was positively correlated with the disease severity (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Tyro3 is closely related to UC and positively correlated with the disease severity. It might be a promising novel molecular marker and therapeutic target of UC.