Antimicrobial peptides, a cluster of small peptides secreted by the majority of creatures, have been demonstrated with activity against a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa, yeast, fungi, viruses and even tumor cells. These peptides have some features such as broad spectrum , high effi-cacy and stability, little drug resistance. A lack of new antibiotics combined with emerging multi-drug resis-tance issues demands that new antimicrobial strategies be explored for treating these infections. It has been proposed that the antimicrobial peptides might form the foundation for a new class of clinically useful an-timicrobials. We review the advantages of these molecules in construction features and bioactivity, with the focus on the mechanism and clinical applications.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide ; toxicity ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between Apnea Graph (AG) analysis of airway obstruction and cephalometric assessment of the posterior airway space in the diagnosis of obstructive level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), so as to improve the preoperative diagnostic accuracy and the therapeutic outcome.

METHODSThirty patients (28 males and two females) who were diagnosed with severe OSAHS (mean AHI 58.6) by overnight polysomnography in recent 3 months were enrolled. The ages of the patients ranged from 35 to 59 years old with the median age of 41.5 years old. The mean body mass index (BMI, x(-) ± s) was (28.8 ± 4.1) kg/m(2). Mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was (58.6 ± 16.4)/h. The lowest oxygen saturation was averaged to 0.69 ± 0.09. All patients underwent AG study as well as cephalometric analysis preoperatively. A correlation analysis was performed between the percentage of lower level obstructions measured by AG and the posterior airway space (PAS) evaluated by cephalometric analysis.

RESULTSAll of the 30 patients had the obvious narrow PAS of 4.4 - 10.8 mm, with the average of (7.6 ± 2.1) mm. Their constituent ratios of lower level obstruction ranged from 2 to 87 percent with the median ratio of 15.5% [9.0%; 35.8%]. Among all the patients, only 2 cases had more than 50 percent obstruction of the airway at lower level, 8 cases had 30 to 40 percent obstruction, and 6 cases had the narrow PAS less than 6 mm. The constituent ratio of lower level obstructions had a negative rectilinear correlation with the data of PAS (r = -0.6511, P < 0.01), which meant the patient with a higher percentage of lower obstruction had the tendency to have a corresponding narrower PAS. Two cases whose constituent ratios of lower level obstructions were not compatible with the rectilinear tendency due to tonsillar hypertrophy were reported.

CONCLUSIONSAG analysis of airway obstruction and cephalometric assessment of the PAS could provide comparable and consistent results for the diagnosis of obstructive level in OSAHS. However, the tonsillar hypertrophy should be considered when using AG to identify the airway obstruction.

Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Tongue ; diagnostic imaging ; Transducers, Pressure

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence rate of anterior knee pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and identify the related factors.

METHODSThis prospective, double-blind clinical trial involved a total of 128 patients scheduled for primary ipsilateral cemented three-component TKA for osteoarthrosis. The patients were randomized into two groups to receive operations for TKA with patellar resurfacing (experimental group) or not (control). The incidence of anterior knee pain was observed in these patients and the factor affecting the occurrence of anterior knee pain and knee was analyzed.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for a mean of 16.5 months (range 6~24 months). The incidence rate of anterior knee pain was 10.9% (7/64) in the experimental group, showing no significant difference from the rate of 14.1% (9/64) in the control group. But the 52 patients with varus or valgus knee showed a significantly higher incidence rate of anterior knee pain (21.2%, 11/52).

CONCLUSIONTKA with patellar resurfacing can not decrease the incidence of anterior knee pain, and varus or valgus before the operation is associated with a higher risk of anterior knee pain.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; methods ; China ; epidemiology ; Denervation ; methods ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; surgery ; Patella ; surgery ; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome ; epidemiology ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the usefulness of the intraoperative photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and fluorescence-guided resection of malignant gliomas.

METHODSFifteen consecutive patients with malignant gliomas received doses of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD, 2 mg/kg body weight) 48 hours before induction of anesthesia. After the tumors recognized by bare eyes they were removed routinely. The fluorescence around 690 nm excited by laser beam (wavelength 632.5 nm) was detected by laser electronic spectrum analyzer and then fluorescing tissue was removed whenever it was considered safel. Tissue samples derived from the walls of tumor cavities after resection and PDD were sent for histological examination. Compared with the result of the histological examination, the sensitivity and specificity of PDD were calculated and recorded. Early postoperative MRI or CT were done to determine the extend of the resection of the tumors. Surgical mortality and morbidity were also recorded.

RESULTSIntraoperatively, in all of 15 cases tumor areas with HPD fluorescence could be recognized by laser electronic spectrum analyzer. On the basis of 106 tissue samples derived from 15 tumors, a sensitivity of 90.6%, a specificity of 96.8% and an accuracy of 94.3% of PDD were achieved. In 2 cases the resection of residual tumor were performed after finding left tumors by PDD. Complete resection of contrast-enhancing tumor was accomplished in 9 patients (60%). Residual intraoperative tissue fluorescence left unresected for safety reasons predicted residual enhancement on MR images in 5 of the 6 remaining patients. No perioperative deaths and one case of morbidity were encountered.

CONCLUSIONSIntraoperative photodynamic diagnosis following resection of malignant gliomas can detect residual tumor tissue with high accuracy. Photodynamic diagnosis and fluorescence-guided resection of malignant gliomas have a positive role in improving the radicality of malignant glioma resection.

Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Glioma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Hematoporphyrin Derivative ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Photosensitizing Agents ; Retrospective Studies ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Treatment Outcome

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activators ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glucokinase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Molecular Conformation ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Sulfones ; pharmacology ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analysis the early complications of tibial fracture and its related factors, and propose a solution.

METHODSFrom December 2003 to December 2013,38 patients with early complications of tibial plateau fracture after operation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 35 males and 3 females, aged from 37 to 69 years old (averaged 42.3 years). According to Schatzker classification, 3 cases were classified as type II, 2 cases as type III, 2 cases as type IV, 19 cases as type V, 12 cases as type VI. The intervals between injury and operation ranged from 9 hours to 9 days, 26 cases within 3 days. Fifteen cases were treated with internal fixation of plates and 23 were treated by plate fixation and bone transplantation. Early complications included skin necrosis in 15 cases, infection in 6 cases, osteofascial compartment syndrome in 3 cases, common peroneal nerve injury in 2 cases, the superficial peroneal nerve injury in 3 cases, popliteal artery injury in 2 cases, loss of reduction in 7 cases.

RESULTSThe wound of 14 cases healed at the first stage and 24 cases healed delay. Hospitalization days ranged from 7 to 67 days (averaged 25.6 days). All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months with an average of 16.4 months. The fracture healing time ranged from 3 to 9 months (averaged 6.9 months). According to Merchant knee function evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 19 cases, good in 12, fair in 5 and poor in 2.

CONCLUSIONEarly complications of tibial fracture after operation is closely associated with the severe fracture complexity and related with preoperative preparation, surgical timing, operation incision selection and surgical technique. Early detection and timely processing reduce damage.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Abscess ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Animals ; Bites and Stings ; complications ; Cats ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pasteurella multocida ; isolation & purification ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial ; drug therapy ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of potassium channel blocker (tetraethylammonium [TEA], aminopyridine [4-AP], glibenclamide [Glib]) on the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells in vitro.

METHODSThe primary culture was prepared by collagenase dissociation of minced prostatic tissues. Cells were cultured in serum-free prostate epithelial cell growth media and identified by immunocytochemical studies. TEA and 4-AP at the concentration of 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L and Glib at the concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mol/L were added, and after 24, 48 and 72 hours of culturing, a cell column diagram was drawn and the cell number counted. The post-passage cell growth was observed by MTT assay and Hoechst33258 nucleus staining.

RESULTSThe cultured cells showed the typical morphological features of epithelia, with positive stain. MTT assay and Hoechst33258 staining showed that TEA, 4-AP and Glib at the increasing concentration effected different degrees of proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells after 24, 48 and 72 h (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe potassium channel blocker is a direct physiological regulator of the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Thermostable alpha-amylase from Pyrococcus furious is an important industrial enzyme in brewing and alcohol production. Eexpression of the thermostable a-amylase in plants can reduce greatly costs in the production of alcohol using crop plants. A chloroplast expression vector, p64A, containing the thermostable alpha-amylase gene from Pyrococcus furious, was constructed with clpP-trnL-petB-chlL-rp123-rpl2 as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii plastid homologous recombinant fragments and spetinomycin-resistant aadA gene as select marker. The plasmid p64A was transferred into the chloroplast genome of C. reinhardtii by the biolistic method. Nine independently transformed lines were obtained by 100 mg/L spectinomycin selection. PCR amplification, Southern blot analysis of the transgene and cultivation in the dark all showed that the a-amylase gene had been integrated into chloroplast genome of C. reinhardtii. The activity of amylase expressed in the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii was detected by amylase activity assay and found to be as high as 77.5 u/g fresh weight of cells. These experimental results demonstrated the possibility of using transgenic chloroplasts of plant as bioreactors for production of industrial enzymes.
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii ; genetics ; Chloroplasts ; genetics ; Enzyme Stability ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyrococcus furiosus ; enzymology ; alpha-Amylases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism