Lyme disease is continuing worldwide spread and its prevalence still presents raising tendency.The causative agent is Borrelia Burgdorferi(Bb) and the special biological intermedia is ixodid ticks(Ixodes scaputaris).The current study on the genetic strain of Bb and the interpretation of laboratory diagnosis(microscopic,immunologic and biomolecular test)results as well as the preparation of vaccine for the disease are made in this review.

Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an ubiquitous and important transcription factor. It regulates antioxidant response elements (AREs)-mediated expression of antioxidant enzyme and cytoprotective proteins. A large body of research showed that Nrf2-Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, Keap 1)-ARE signaling pathway is involved in the endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nrf2 increases the expression of a number of cytoprotective genes, protects cells and tissues from the injury of a variety of toxicants and carcinogens. As a result, Nrf2 enhances the expression of glutathione and antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase, and subsequently scavenging free radicals. Air pollution especially from PM2.5 particles, is associated with an increasing morbidity of inflammatory pulmonary diseases and their deterioration. More and more studies demonstrated that Nrf2 was a novel signaling molecule in the modulation of inflammatory responses in these inflammatory respiratory diseases, such as asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. Therefore, Nrf2 targeting might be a therapeutic target, which will provide clinical benefit by reducing both oxidative stress and inflammation in asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. This review focused on the relationship between Nrf2 and inflammatory respiratory diseases and oxidative stress.
Acute Lung Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Transferase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50-69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria, followed them up for 5 years, and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

RESULTSTotally, 653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, of whom 283 were treated with oral statins (group 1) while the other 370 with none (group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS, Qmax, and prostate volume (PV) (P > 0.05). During the follow-up, 24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up, but significantly lower in the former group (4.27 +/- 1.16, 4.63 +/- 1.05, 5.27 +/- 0.96, 6.41 +/- 1.04, 7.21 +/- 1.21, and 7.93 +/-1.50) than in the latter (4.24 +/- 1.35, 5.26 +/- 1.23, 6.84 +/- 1.20, 8.75 +/- 1.84, 10.82 +/- 3.01, and 12.98 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax, though markedly higher in group 1 ([26.56 +/- 2.09], [24.06 +/- 1.94], [21.33 +/- 1.66], [19.24 +/- 1.54], [17.44 +/- 1.53], and [16.27 +/- 1.37] ml/s) than in group 2 ([26.74 +/- 2.40], [23.62 +/- 2.01], [20.63 +/- 1.69], [17.72 +/- 1.48], [14.82 +/- 1.11], and [11.86 +/- 1.24] ml/s) (P < 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV, but remarkably smaller in the former group ([19.82 +/- 4.94], [22.60 +/- 4.99], [25.80 +/- 5.20], [27.92 +/- 5.05], [29.11 +/- 5.24], and [29.97 +/- 5.26] ml) than in the latter ([20.21 +/- 4.78], [24.30 +/- 4.98], [28.50 +/- 5.14], [32.84 +/- 4.77], [36.99 +/- 4.78], and [40.90 +/- 4.78] ml) (P < 0.01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy.

CONCLUSIONOral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

Aged ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Longitudinal Studies ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.

METHODSRWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax.

CONCLUSIONSimvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To discuss the value of applying psychological therapy for patients with cerebral apoplexy in recovery.Methods In recent years,65 patients with cerebral apoplexy admitted in our hospital were randomly selected and divided into observation group and control group.Patients in the control group only received the conventional treatment and those in the observation group received psychological treatment on the basis of the traditional therapy.Psychological characteristics,activity of daily living and the improvement of nerve function were compared between two groups before and after treatment.Results After treatment,mental improvement,FMA,MBI in the observation group were significantly better than those of control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion To improve the prognosis of patients with cerebral apoplexy effect,physical and mental development should be equally emphasized.Psychological intervention has become a key for stroke rehabilitation treatment,which significantly improves the treatment compliance,rehabilitation and the quality of life in patients.

Objective To observe the effects of hypnosis therapy on rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury.Methods The data were randomly selected from 66 cases of patients with spinal cord injury treated in our hospital from November 2011-November 2012.According to the treatment,the patients were divided into research group and control group.Control patients were given routine therapy,and patients in the research group were given hypnosis therapy,we observed and compared the recovery of two groups of patients after treatment.Results After treatment,the spinal cord function score (SCIM) of patients in the research group was better than control group,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05) After treatment,the depression and anxiety scale (HAMD,HAMA) of patients in the research group was better than control group,the difference had statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05) The quality of life after treatment of research group patients (WHOQOL BREF) was better than control group,the difference had statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Hypnosis therapy helps to improve depression and anxiety in patients with spinal cord injury,improve patients with spinal cord function independently,should be widely used in clinical treatment and promotion.

Objective To analyze the therapeutic effect of acute stroke dysphagia using rehabilitation therapy.Methods A total of 94 cases diagnosed with dysphagia after acute stroke were randomly selected from January 2012 to May 2013 in our hospital.The patients were equally divided into control group and research group.The control group received the conventional support treatment and the research group received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment.The results of swallowing dysfunction recovery of two groups were compared.Results After the treatment for 3 weeks,swallowing disorder degree score and swallowing function ratings were improved in both groups and the research group's scores were significantly higher than those of the control group (P ＜0.05) Conclusion Application of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment for dysphagia in patients with acute stroke has significant curative effect and is worth promoting.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Metaplasia ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Gland ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Parotid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Pneumoconiosis ; prevention & control ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Young Adult