Candidiasis, also known as candidiasis vulvovaginitis, is an infection caused by different types of Candida fungi, the most frequent being Candida albicans. The present study reports an effective strategy, which opens...Candidiasis, also known as candidiasis vulvovaginitis, is an infection caused by different types of Candida fungi, the most frequent being Candida albicans. The present study reports an effective strategy, which opens new avenues for the treatment of this public health problem. The MAC<sup>®</sup> Methodology, conventional laser light-emitting (LLLT)/LED) methods are based on the biphasic response demonstrated many times in LLLT research and as with other forms of drugs, a “drug” (irradiation parameters) and a “dose” (irradiation times) and the “Arndt-Schulz Law” is often cited as a suitable model to describe the dose-dependent effects of LLLT. This method uses photopharmaceuticals, cell markers and the use of correct parameters for each case to induce the acceleration of tissue repair. The present study shows a case of a 32-year-old patient diagnosed with recurrent candidiasis 4 years ago. Eighteen sessions were performed (every other day) using a photoactivated component (Methylene blue 1% + Clotrimazole 1%) and LED phototherapy (red, blue and violet) with emission times of 60 - 260 seconds for each applicator, according to the dose recommendations of the scar acceleration method (MAC<sup>®</sup>). At the sixth treatment session there was a noticeable decrease in the itching sensation reported by the patient. In session 11 she reported feeling a great improvement, indicating that she no longer felt itching in any area after 18 sessions. The present case demonstrates new methodologies to treat common problems in the population that have a positive impact on the quality of life. This methodology has a promising future because it is non-invasive and requires a great biological transformation for inflammatory, fungal and viral control.展开更多
Neutrophils, crucial players in the effector phase of the immune response, are recognized as important mediators of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Through the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytok...Neutrophils, crucial players in the effector phase of the immune response, are recognized as important mediators of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Through the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, they modulate the function of T and other lymphoid cells. Countless reports have highlighted the importance of these cells as efficient antimicrobial agents and annotated their involvement in the pathology of infectious and noninfectious diseases. The development of modern, sophisticated technologies has allowed the study of the functions of these cells in clinical settings. These advanced technologies include fluorescence-activated cell sorters, confocal microscopy, automated cell image analyzers, and live cell analysis instruments. Unfortunately, the cost of these modern instruments, maintenance, reagents, and the need for qualified technicians prohibit their use in low-income laboratories and universities in developing countries. With this in mind, we propose a series of basic tests that can be used in low-input clinical laboratories and universities to evaluate the function of neutrophils in health and disease. Our methodology allows us to assess in a practical and low-cost manner the functions of neutrophils in the phagocytic process, including opsonization, ingestion, ROI production (NBT reduction), myeloperoxidase content, phagosome-lysosome fusion, microbicidal activity, and NET production. Thus, under a disadvantageous ambiance, this may guide physicians in deciding whether a patient’s illness involves phagocytic defects without imposing a heavy financial burden.Graphical Abstract[-rId13-]展开更多
Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia of high prevalence in the population, especially in the elderly. Its main electrical characteristics are the interval between two successive irregular R waves, absence of P ...Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia of high prevalence in the population, especially in the elderly. Its main electrical characteristics are the interval between two successive irregular R waves, absence of P waves and presence of f waves between QRS complexes. The most common symptoms of atrial fibrillation are irregular palpitations associated with dyspnea, dizziness, feeling tired, fatigue and general malaise, but not all patients have any symptoms. The present report presents the history of an elderly patient who arrived at the hospital’s emergency department with irregular heart rhythm and palpitations. The patient’s symptoms, associated with the electrocardiogram results, indicated paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Electrical cardioversion was performed, and after, cardiac ablation via the femoral vein at the hospital’s cardiology service. There were no complications during the procedure. As a routine imaging exam after ablation, control esophagogastroduodenoscopy was requested to verify that there was no formation of atrio-esophageal fistula developed by the invasive ablation procedure and electrocardiogram, which showed normal sinus rhythm. The patient remained in the cardiac intensive care unit for observation for 24 hours. After the electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation procedures, the patient improved his clinical picture of atrial fibrillation and was discharged after 24 hours of hospitalization. He received treatment to perform at home, to reduce acid reflux into the esophagus and to prevent thrombosis. He did not present pulmonary thromboembolism after hospital discharge. It is believed, therefore, that this form of treatment and management of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is effective for the solution of the proposed problem and can also serve as a reference for other professionals within the cardiology service.展开更多
NEM®?brand eggshell membrane is a novel dietary supplement that has been clinically shown to alleviate arthritis joint pain and stiffness;however the mechanism of action is not well understood. Preliminary evi...NEM®?brand eggshell membrane is a novel dietary supplement that has been clinically shown to alleviate arthritis joint pain and stiffness;however the mechanism of action is not well understood. Preliminary evidence from an?in vitro?study of?NEM®?indicated that the mechanism of action may be based on the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.?In vivo?studies were therefore initiated to evaluate the effects of?NEM®?on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines following oral administration in rats.?NEM®?was administered daily at doses of 6.13 mg/kg bw/day (Study 1), 10.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 2), or at doses of 0 (control), 26.0 or 52.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 3) by oral gavage for 7 consecutive days. Inflammation was induced in the Study 3 rats by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide. Changes in plasma cytokine levels from baseline following 7 days of oral supplementation with?NEM®?at 6.13 mg/kg bw/ day (Study 1) were statistically significant at Day 8 for IL-2, TIMP-1 and VEGF, at Day 21 for IL-10, and at Day 35 for MCP-1, MCP-3 and TIMP-1, and at 10.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 2) were statistically significant at Day 8 for VEGF, at Day 21 for MIP-1β, MIP-2 and VEGF, and at Day 35 for MCP-3, MIP-1β, MIP-2 and VEGF. Changes in serum cytokine levels versus control at 26.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 3) were statistically significant at all time-points for IL-1β?and at 1.5 hours for IL-10, and at 52.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 3) were statistically significant at 1.5 hours for IFN-γ, IL-1β?and IL-10, and at 3 hours for IL-1β, and at 24 hours for IL-10. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that oral supplementation with?NEM®?can influence both early-phase pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β?and TNF-α?(Study 3), as well as later-phase cytokines like MCP-1, MIP-1α?&?β, RANTES and VEGF (Study 1 & 2). These studies provide a possible basis for the mechanism of action of?NEM®?in vivo.展开更多
The majority of the world’s population suffers from gingivitis/periodontitis. This inflammatory process is caused by several bacterial species inside the dental plaque. In vivo and in vitro experiments were set up. T...The majority of the world’s population suffers from gingivitis/periodontitis. This inflammatory process is caused by several bacterial species inside the dental plaque. In vivo and in vitro experiments were set up. The patients of the in vivo group were divided into a noni and a control group. Both groups contained patients that suffered from gingivitis/periodontitis who were introduced to practice standardized, good oral hygiene. The patients in the noni group additionally used noni juice for mouth wash two times a day. The Papillae-Bleeding-Index (PBI) was evaluated comparing the status of inflammation in both groups. Bacterial probes were isolated from the patient’s gingival pouches for species identification and to carry out in vitro experiments for possible antimicrobial effects of noni juice. The Papillae-Bleeding-Index (PBI) in the noni group has “highly significantly” improved from an average of 2.25 at the beginning of the observation period (t0) to 1.01 after four weeks of noni treatment (t1), compared to a change from 2.11 at t0 to 1.95 at t1 inthe control group. A comparison of the differences of the PBI-values (t0-t1) between the noni and the control group was highly significant using a t-test on a level of p = 0.01. Only small inhibition zones were observed in the agar diffusion test on agar plates coated with aerobic, anaerobic and Candida cultures isolated from the patients gingival pouches after treatment with original or neutralized noni juice in different concentrations. Weak bacteriostatic effects occurred in the agar dilution experiments with noni juice in higher concentrations (native and neutralized noni juice). The present investigation has shown that the combination of good oral hygiene and the administration of noni juice was a promising treatment for gingivitis and periodontitis. The additional treatment with noni juice significantly mitigated the gingival inflammation.展开更多
The aim of this study is to assess the adverse effects of lead, a well-documented non-essential element that occurs naturally in the environment, on Channa punctatus, in relation with ROS production and oxidative stre...The aim of this study is to assess the adverse effects of lead, a well-documented non-essential element that occurs naturally in the environment, on Channa punctatus, in relation with ROS production and oxidative stress. Fishes were sampled, acclimatized and kept treated or untreated with lead (9.43 mg/L) under observation for 4 days. At day 4, respiratory burst activity, lipid peroxidation activity and superoxide dismutase level increased significantly in treated group as compared to the control. On the contrary, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione activity decreased on treatment with lead. These results suggest that heavy metal like lead induces oxidative stress, influences the antioxidant defense system and may lead to physiological disorders rendering the health and survival of exposed fish to a compromised state.展开更多
Chronic systemic inflammation is associated with many conditions of aging such as atherosclerosis. Lowering high n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios are commonly found in Western diets aids in preventing ...Chronic systemic inflammation is associated with many conditions of aging such as atherosclerosis. Lowering high n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios are commonly found in Western diets aids in preventing inflammatory-related diseases. However, it is not clear whether dietary interventions designed to alter n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios can reduce systemic inflammation in younger adults. Studies that evaluate PUFA intake often use subjective data from food frequency questionnaires or food records rather than more precise physiological measures of PUFAs (e.g. plasma levels). Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study that analyzed data from the experimental parent study of younger adults (n = 18), was to determine whether plasma PUFA levels were associated with levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, and if supplementation with n-3 PUFAs was correlated with rising n-3 PUFA concentrations in plasma and decreasing n-6:n-3 ratios. In the parent study, participants received daily either placebo or n-3 PUFA softgels (1.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and 1.2 g docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]). EPA and DHA are the biologically active components in fish oil. Measures included blood for PUFA quantification at baseline and four weeks later, when blister wounds were created and wound fluid and saliva were collected. The saliva samples were used to measure CRP in the present study. We report that CRP was significantly and negatively correlated with total n-3 PUFAs (tau-β = ?0.373, p = 0.031) and positively correlated with n-6:n-3 ratios (tau-β = 0.320, p = 0.063). Those consuming EPA + DHA supplements had significantly higher concentrations of total n-3 PUFAs and significantly lower n-6:n-3 ratios (p The present study has shown that beneficial levels of n-3 PUFAs and n-6:n3 ratios were achieved with 4-weeks of EPA + DHA supplementation and were associated with reduced CRP in young adults. EPA + DHA supplementation for some young adults may help prevent inflammatory conditions later in life.展开更多
The aim is to optimize the anti-inflammatory effect and the therapeutic dose and time window of picrosede II by orthogonal test in cerebral ischemic injury in rats. The forebrain ischemia models were established by bi...The aim is to optimize the anti-inflammatory effect and the therapeutic dose and time window of picrosede II by orthogonal test in cerebral ischemic injury in rats. The forebrain ischemia models were established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) methods in 30 Wistar rats. The successful models were randomly divided into sixteen groups according to orthogonal experimental design and treated by injecting picroside II intraperitoneally at different ischemic time with different dose. The concentrations of aquaporins 4 (AQP4), matrix metalloproteinases9 (MMP9) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) in serum and brain tissue were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the therapeutic effect of picroside II in cerebral ischemic injury. The best therapeutic time window and dose of picroside II in cerebral ischemic injury were 1) ischemia 2.0 h with 20 mg/kg and 1.5 h with 20 mg/kg body weight according to the concentration of AQP4 in serum and brain tissue;2) ischemia 1.5 h with 20 mg/kg and ischemia 2.0 h with 20 mg/kg according to the concentrations of MMP9 in serum and brain tissue;and 3) ischemia 1.5 h with 10 mg/kg and ischemia 1.5 h with 20 mg/kg according to the concentrations of COX2 in serum and brain tissue respectively. According to the principle of the lowest therapeutic dose with the longest time window, the optimized therapeutic dose and time window were injecting picroside II intraperitoneally with 10 - 20 mg/kg body weight at ischemia 1.5 - 2.0 h in cerebral ischemic injury.展开更多
The treatment of one of the most common urological diseases, a chronic aseptic prostatitis, is an exigeant problem. Used methods of pharmacotherapy are insufficiently effective and after treatment, as a rule, there co...The treatment of one of the most common urological diseases, a chronic aseptic prostatitis, is an exigeant problem. Used methods of pharmacotherapy are insufficiently effective and after treatment, as a rule, there comes a recrudescence. The efficiency of new prostatotropic agent Prostamax is studied in the present work, this drug is related to bioregulator peptides at experimental chronic aseptic inflammation of prostate gland. It is established that Prostamax reduces intensity of signs of a chronic inflammation (swelling, hyperemia of vessels, lymphoid infiltration), prevents development of sclerotic and atrophic processes. It is shown that the agent intensifies sexual activity of animals. Efficiency of the preparation Prostamax surpasses that among widespread prostatotropic agents derived from the extract of Serenoa repens and prostate of animals.展开更多
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that brain abnormalities in infants with laboratory-confirmed Zika infection include microcephaly, disrupted brain growth, intracranial calcificati...Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that brain abnormalities in infants with laboratory-confirmed Zika infection include microcephaly, disrupted brain growth, intracranial calcifications, and abnormal eye findings—it is not known presently if the Zika virus itself causes any of these. In a recent 2016 review of Zika dealing with possible brain abnormalities appearing with Zika, Melo et al. mention that among the Flaviviruses, which Zika is, such brain insults and pathologic findings are practically unheard of. Melo et al. conclude that until more cases are diagnosed and more histopathological proofs are obtained, the possibility of other causes besides Zika cannot be ruled out. This paper considers just such other possible causes that have, to this point, escaped general notice. The Aedes aegypti and other Aedes species can transmit tiny viral-like, cell-wall-deficient mycobacterial forms, independent of viruses, yet prevalent in the very same Rhesus Monkey used in the original 1952 Zika communication—which spoke of “A filterable transmissible agent”. In addition, the universal fetal prenatal vaccination of Brazilian neonates is considered, strongly discouraged by The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, which forbids BCG vaccination of pregnant women and those immunosuppressed or already having tuberculosis (TB) or AIDS. And finally thought is focused on the prime candidate itself, towards explaining what an alternative cause for “Zika” might look like—an infectious agent with transmissible, filterable, viral-like forms. One which can be transmitted by the very same Aedes mosquitoes that carry Zika—one that is neurotrophic, and extremely prevalent in Brazil—and that can disrupt brain growth, cause microcephalus, cause a fever, is sexually transmissible, instigates Guillain-Barré syndrome and causes cranial calcifications—the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes the Mycobacterium africanum prevalent, yet completely ignored, in the Rhesus mo展开更多
Objective: To study a comprehensive proteomic analysis of celecoxib in oseteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. Methods: OA chondrocytes were stimulated with celecoxib, IL-1β and IL-1β together with celecoxib. Proteins we...Objective: To study a comprehensive proteomic analysis of celecoxib in oseteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. Methods: OA chondrocytes were stimulated with celecoxib, IL-1β and IL-1β together with celecoxib. Proteins were extracted from the cells and subjected to 2-dimensional differential image gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Proteins of interest were identified by mass spectrometry. Results: Eighty-six protein spots showed significantly different intensities with each reagent or reagent combination. AAA+ protein, HSP47/Serpin, cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II-beta regulatory subunit, alpha-actin-4 and tubulin decreased with the addition of celecoxib, while apolipoprotein A-V, glutamate carboxipeptide 2, mitochondrial stress-70 protein, sorting nexin-9 and GRP78 increased with the addition of celecoxib. GRP78 is a stress protein and may be chondroprotective. Celecoxib modulated IL-1β stimulated chondrocytes, and CD200R and moesin were identified as such resulting proteins. Conclusion: Protein profiles of OA chondrocytes changed after administration of celecoxib. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the function of each protein in OA chondrocytes.展开更多
Background: The value of periodontal dressing and its effects on periodontal wound healing have been questioned. Besides, the early healing of the gingival and periodontal wounds in oral cavity should be emphasized to...Background: The value of periodontal dressing and its effects on periodontal wound healing have been questioned. Besides, the early healing of the gingival and periodontal wounds in oral cavity should be emphasized to promote the treatment outcome. Several studies pointed out a potential positive effect of silver nanoparticles (NPs) on the healing process of skin wounds. The present work aimed to design silver NPs periodontal dressing and then, evaluated its effects on gingival wound healing following operation. Methods: Thirty healthy adolescent female rabbits were used in this study. They had intact teeth and the clinical and radiographic examination revealed no periodontal disease. Silver NPs were added to carbonate methyl cellulose as base with two different concentrations of 25% v/v (Group A) and 50% v/v (Group B). On the basis of simple randomized allocation, gingivectomy was performed at the buccal gingiva of the left and right mandibular incisors and subsequently, untreated wounds in the control area were covered with periodontal pack and periodontal dressings A and B were applied in the test regions. Histological changes were monitored in day 4 and 7 post operation to evaluate the inflammatory and repair stage of healing process. Results: We observed significant difference in the inflammatory and repair parameters of the healing process between surgical sites treated with this periodontal dressing and control group. Besides, wounds treated with silver NPs dressing in general terms had all the hallmarks of relatively complete healing one week post operatively. Conclusion: The results indicated positive potential therapeutic effects for this new formulation of periodontal dressing on acceleration of surgical wound healing that led to improvement of periodontal treatment consequences following operation.展开更多
We have previously demonstrated that acute treatment with low dose methamphetamine is neuroprotectivein a rat model of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using gene expression analysis, we further showed that metham...We have previously demonstrated that acute treatment with low dose methamphetamine is neuroprotectivein a rat model of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using gene expression analysis, we further showed that methamphetamine treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes after severe TBI. Therefore, to further investigate the potential effects of methamphetamine treatment on the neuroinflammatory response, we examined immunofluorescent staining of Iba1 and CD68, two marker of neuroinflammation, in the rat lateral fluid percussion injury model of severe TBI. In this study, we observed temporal and spatial alterations in the pattern of Iba1 and CD68 labeling within two weeks after severe TBI. In general, methamphetamine treatment did not dramatically alter the pattern of Iba1 and CD68 staining. However, we did observe a unique and significant drug-induced increase of Iba1 labeling within the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrusat 48 hours post injury. We also observed rod-shaped Iba1+?cells within the core lesion in the cortex. These cells showed variable staining with CD68 and aligned most closely with MAP2+?neuronal processes. Thus, acute treatment with low-dose methamphetamine after severe TBI caused a transient bilateral increase of Iba1+?cells within the granule layer of the dentate gyrus but did not alter the overall temporal and regional pattern of Iba1 and CD68 staining within the cortex, periventricular white matter, fimbria, or thalamus.展开更多
Objective: To explore the effects of Anwei decoction (AD) on the protein expression of TFF in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG). Methods: Forty-eight healthy rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal co...Objective: To explore the effects of Anwei decoction (AD) on the protein expression of TFF in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG). Methods: Forty-eight healthy rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group, pathologic model group, Anwei Decoction group, and Weifuchun group. CAG was induced in rats with N-methy-N-nitro-N-nitrogua-nidine (MNNG). The protein expression of TFF in rats’ gastric mucosa was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with that in the normal control group, the protein expression of TFF1 was significantly enhanced in the pathologic model, Anwei Decoction and Weifuchun groups (both P TFF1 was significantly higher in the Anwei Decoction group than in the Weifuchun group (P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, the protein expression of TFF2 was significantly enhanced in the pathologic model, Anwei Decoction and Weifuchun groups (both P < 0.01). The protein expression level of TFF2 was significantly higher in the Anwei Decoction group than in the Weifuchun group (P < 0.01). In comparison with the pathologic model group, the protein expression of TFF3 was remarkably reduced in Anwei Decoction and Weifuchun groups (both P < 0.01). but there was no difference between the group of Anwei decoction and the group of Weifuchun (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Anwei decoction may be effective in the treatment of CAG by enhancing the protein expression of TFF1, TFF2 while reducing that of TFF3 in gastric mucosas.展开更多
<strong>Introduction:</strong> Infertility is a health problem that does not cause death, disability or physical pain;however, it is a crisis for couples who see their life plans threatened and suffer not ...<strong>Introduction:</strong> Infertility is a health problem that does not cause death, disability or physical pain;however, it is a crisis for couples who see their life plans threatened and suffer not only at the time of diagnosis and during treatments, but in multiple daily situations. <strong>Scientific Problem:</strong> There are no published studies on the characteristics of the infertile patient who has required surgical treatment, which is attended at the Territorial Center for Assisted Reproduction, Cienfuegos. <strong>Objective:</strong> To characterize the patients with infertility diagnosis who underwent surgical treatment and were treated at the Territorial Center for the care of the infertile couple in the province of Cienfuegos. <strong>Methodological Design:</strong> A descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional study of a series of cases was carried out at the Territorial Center for Assisted Reproduction, inserted in the Department of External Consultation of the General University Hospital, Dr. “Gustavo Aldereguía Lima” in Cienfuegos, in the period from January 2015 to December 2016. The variables studied were: age, skin color, pelvic inflammatory disease, personal pathological history, number of pregnancies, number of deliveries, number of abortions, age of the first sexual relations, cause of infertility, time attending the consultation, previous pelvic surgery, preoperative diagnosis, type of surgery, type of treatment and results of the surgery. <strong>Results:</strong> A predominance of age was obtained between 26 and 35 years of previous pelvic inflammatory disease, Bronchial Asthma as a personal pathological antecedent, previous pelvic surgery, number of pregnancies between 1 and 2, induced abortion among other results.展开更多
In order to understand pathogenic mechanism of allergic dermatitis, it is important to find morphological changes of the internal structure of the skin by non-invasive imaging. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is po...In order to understand pathogenic mechanism of allergic dermatitis, it is important to find morphological changes of the internal structure of the skin by non-invasive imaging. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is powerful tool for in vivo tomographic imaging of the internal microstructure in biological tissue. In this study, we prepared the animal model of genuine pig with allergic dermatitis developed by chemical administration to examining their skin inflammation by microscopic observations with OCT images captured continuously, aiming at tracking the morphological changes in the skin structure induced by the chronological inflammation. As a result, epidermis thickening became evident as the days passed since Day 7, and the capillary vessel expansion was confirmed since Day 14;the process of inflammation development was successfully observed.展开更多
Inflammatory granulomatous diseases are cha- racterized by a high concentration of granu- lomas in tissue interstitium in which phagocytic cells that produce active oxygen and nitrogen metabolites are accumulated. Bec...Inflammatory granulomatous diseases are cha- racterized by a high concentration of granu- lomas in tissue interstitium in which phagocytic cells that produce active oxygen and nitrogen metabolites are accumulated. Because of their high reactivity, free radicals react with unsatu- rated fatty acids that are components of mem- brane phospholipids, activate lipid peroxidation processes (LPP), the products of which have a cytotoxic effect. The role of free radicals in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications has been proved. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the activity of lipid peroxidation processes in the liver of rats with silica-induced granulomatous inflammation, allo- xan diabetes and their combination. The expe- riment involved male albino rats divided into four main groups. The first group were rats with silica granulomatous inflammation (SL rats);the second group were alloxan diabetic rats (DB rats);and the third group were alloxan diabetic rats, in which silica granulomatous inflammation was induced 8 days after the disease onset (DB_SL rats), the fourth group were rats that were injected saline physiological solution into the tail vein (control rats). Rats were withdrawn from the experiment within different time pe- riods after the induction of pathological pro- cesses. LPP activity in liver homogenates was determined by the relative concentration of lipo- peroxides in the heptane-isopropanol system and the concentration of products of the reac- tion with 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substan- ces (TBARS). The severity of carbohydrate meta- bolism disorders was evaluated through the measurement of the blood level of glucose, daily urine volume and the relative weight of the kindneys. We found that silica administration activated LPP in the liver of SL rats;we ob- served the accumulation of primary products on day 1 after administration and later that of TBA- RS followed by normalization of their concen- tration by day 21 of the experiment. TBARS con- centration was higher in D展开更多
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major inflammatory joint disease that causes cartilage destruction, bone erosions, and joint destruction. Oxidative stress is elevated in RA patients implying reactive oxygen species (RO...Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major inflammatory joint disease that causes cartilage destruction, bone erosions, and joint destruction. Oxidative stress is elevated in RA patients implying reactive oxygen species (ROS) are possible mediators of tissue damage. ROS trigger a cascade of events through nuclear factors’ activation (NF-kappa B), which up-regulates gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate the immune responses causing inflammation. As ascorbic acid can reduce oxidative stress, decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and suppress the activation of NF-kappa B, we suggest that millimolar concentration of ascorbic acid may be useful in RA treatment. In our study we analyzed the effect of intravenous vitamin C (IVC) treatment on eleven subjects with RA. Our data suggest that IVC therapy with dosages of 7.5 g - 50 g can reduce inflammation. The level of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein levels was decreased on average by 44%. Based on our pilot study, we hypothesize that IVC therapy can be a useful strategy in treating RA.展开更多
We assessed incidence and outcomes of patients with ventilator-associated respiratory infections (VARI) due to tracheobronchitis (VAT) and pneumonia (VAP), including length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and ventil...We assessed incidence and outcomes of patients with ventilator-associated respiratory infections (VARI) due to tracheobronchitis (VAT) and pneumonia (VAP), including length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and ventilator days. We also examined pathogens, rate of progression from VAT to VAP, and impact of antibiotic therapy for VAT. Data analysis included 234 patients, 100 patients (43%) had at least moderate (+++) bacterial growth in their semi-quantitative endotracheal aspirate (SQ-ETA) cultures. VAT and VAP were each diagnosed in 34 (15%) patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen isolated and had the highest rate of progression from VAT to VAP. Seven (21%) of the 34 patients were diagnosed with VAT that later progressed to VAP in averaged 3 days. Patients diagnosed with VAT had significantly more ventilator days (9 vs 6, p p < 0.001) and hospital days (22 vs 17, p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the clinical outcomes of the 25 VAT patients with timely, appropriate antibiotics compared to the 9 VAT patients who did not receive timely appropriate antibiotics. VAT was a risk factor for increased ventilator days, longer length of ICU and hospital stay. The time window from VAT to VAP allowed physicians to identify the pathogens and sensitivity profile needed to treat VAT with appropriate antibiotics. Data from well-designed studies were needed to assess the impact of early, appropriate antibiotic therapy for VAT, the choice of antibiotics, as well as the duration and route of administration.展开更多
Background and Purpose: Kimura’s Disease (KD) is a rare benign chronic eosinophlic inflammatory disorder, characterized by angiolymphoid proliferation with peripheral eosinophilia and elevated serum immunoglobulin E....Background and Purpose: Kimura’s Disease (KD) is a rare benign chronic eosinophlic inflammatory disorder, characterized by angiolymphoid proliferation with peripheral eosinophilia and elevated serum immunoglobulin E. Most lesions occur in the head and neck regions. To the best of our knowledge, the relationship between subcutaneous cheek lesion of KD and the surrounding structures including superficial musculoaponeurotic systems (SMAS) has never been reported. The purpose of this study was to describe MR imaging findings of cheek subcutaneous lesion of KD and adjacent SMAS. Materials and Methods: Seven cheek subcutaneous lesions of 5 patients histopathologically proved KD were evaluated. We retrospectively evaluated the MR imaging findings of subcutaneous lesions for signal intensity in each imaging sequence, the border of the lesions, and appearance of SMAS. Results: All cheek lesions were displacing normal fat tissue. These lesions showed ill-defined border (7/7), slightly high signal intensity on T1-weighted images (7/7), and intermediate (1/7) or high signal intensity (6/7) on T2-weighted images. Cheek lesions were enhanced by intravenous injection of gadolinium to signal intensity close to that of fat tissue (3/4), and in one case, the avid enhancement of the mass was seen (1/4). All lesions attached to the outer surface of SMAS, however, only one out of 7 lesions distributed below the SMAS without tearing of the layers. SMAS below the lesion showed high signal intensity on T2-weighted images in two lesions (2/7). Conclusion: KD should be included in the differential diagnosis when a cheek mass presents with non-specific signal intensities and irregular border, which attaches to but does not interrupt SMAS on MR imaging.展开更多
文摘Candidiasis, also known as candidiasis vulvovaginitis, is an infection caused by different types of Candida fungi, the most frequent being Candida albicans. The present study reports an effective strategy, which opens new avenues for the treatment of this public health problem. The MAC<sup>®</sup> Methodology, conventional laser light-emitting (LLLT)/LED) methods are based on the biphasic response demonstrated many times in LLLT research and as with other forms of drugs, a “drug” (irradiation parameters) and a “dose” (irradiation times) and the “Arndt-Schulz Law” is often cited as a suitable model to describe the dose-dependent effects of LLLT. This method uses photopharmaceuticals, cell markers and the use of correct parameters for each case to induce the acceleration of tissue repair. The present study shows a case of a 32-year-old patient diagnosed with recurrent candidiasis 4 years ago. Eighteen sessions were performed (every other day) using a photoactivated component (Methylene blue 1% + Clotrimazole 1%) and LED phototherapy (red, blue and violet) with emission times of 60 - 260 seconds for each applicator, according to the dose recommendations of the scar acceleration method (MAC<sup>®</sup>). At the sixth treatment session there was a noticeable decrease in the itching sensation reported by the patient. In session 11 she reported feeling a great improvement, indicating that she no longer felt itching in any area after 18 sessions. The present case demonstrates new methodologies to treat common problems in the population that have a positive impact on the quality of life. This methodology has a promising future because it is non-invasive and requires a great biological transformation for inflammatory, fungal and viral control.
文摘Neutrophils, crucial players in the effector phase of the immune response, are recognized as important mediators of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Through the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, they modulate the function of T and other lymphoid cells. Countless reports have highlighted the importance of these cells as efficient antimicrobial agents and annotated their involvement in the pathology of infectious and noninfectious diseases. The development of modern, sophisticated technologies has allowed the study of the functions of these cells in clinical settings. These advanced technologies include fluorescence-activated cell sorters, confocal microscopy, automated cell image analyzers, and live cell analysis instruments. Unfortunately, the cost of these modern instruments, maintenance, reagents, and the need for qualified technicians prohibit their use in low-income laboratories and universities in developing countries. With this in mind, we propose a series of basic tests that can be used in low-input clinical laboratories and universities to evaluate the function of neutrophils in health and disease. Our methodology allows us to assess in a practical and low-cost manner the functions of neutrophils in the phagocytic process, including opsonization, ingestion, ROI production (NBT reduction), myeloperoxidase content, phagosome-lysosome fusion, microbicidal activity, and NET production. Thus, under a disadvantageous ambiance, this may guide physicians in deciding whether a patient’s illness involves phagocytic defects without imposing a heavy financial burden.Graphical Abstract[-rId13-]
基金funded in part by the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Level Personnel—Brazil(CAPES)—Finance Code 001 by the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development—Brazil(CNPq)—Doctorate GDby Research Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul(FAPERGS).
文摘Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia of high prevalence in the population, especially in the elderly. Its main electrical characteristics are the interval between two successive irregular R waves, absence of P waves and presence of f waves between QRS complexes. The most common symptoms of atrial fibrillation are irregular palpitations associated with dyspnea, dizziness, feeling tired, fatigue and general malaise, but not all patients have any symptoms. The present report presents the history of an elderly patient who arrived at the hospital’s emergency department with irregular heart rhythm and palpitations. The patient’s symptoms, associated with the electrocardiogram results, indicated paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Electrical cardioversion was performed, and after, cardiac ablation via the femoral vein at the hospital’s cardiology service. There were no complications during the procedure. As a routine imaging exam after ablation, control esophagogastroduodenoscopy was requested to verify that there was no formation of atrio-esophageal fistula developed by the invasive ablation procedure and electrocardiogram, which showed normal sinus rhythm. The patient remained in the cardiac intensive care unit for observation for 24 hours. After the electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation procedures, the patient improved his clinical picture of atrial fibrillation and was discharged after 24 hours of hospitalization. He received treatment to perform at home, to reduce acid reflux into the esophagus and to prevent thrombosis. He did not present pulmonary thromboembolism after hospital discharge. It is believed, therefore, that this form of treatment and management of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is effective for the solution of the proposed problem and can also serve as a reference for other professionals within the cardiology service.
文摘NEM®?brand eggshell membrane is a novel dietary supplement that has been clinically shown to alleviate arthritis joint pain and stiffness;however the mechanism of action is not well understood. Preliminary evidence from an?in vitro?study of?NEM®?indicated that the mechanism of action may be based on the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.?In vivo?studies were therefore initiated to evaluate the effects of?NEM®?on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines following oral administration in rats.?NEM®?was administered daily at doses of 6.13 mg/kg bw/day (Study 1), 10.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 2), or at doses of 0 (control), 26.0 or 52.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 3) by oral gavage for 7 consecutive days. Inflammation was induced in the Study 3 rats by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide. Changes in plasma cytokine levels from baseline following 7 days of oral supplementation with?NEM®?at 6.13 mg/kg bw/ day (Study 1) were statistically significant at Day 8 for IL-2, TIMP-1 and VEGF, at Day 21 for IL-10, and at Day 35 for MCP-1, MCP-3 and TIMP-1, and at 10.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 2) were statistically significant at Day 8 for VEGF, at Day 21 for MIP-1β, MIP-2 and VEGF, and at Day 35 for MCP-3, MIP-1β, MIP-2 and VEGF. Changes in serum cytokine levels versus control at 26.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 3) were statistically significant at all time-points for IL-1β?and at 1.5 hours for IL-10, and at 52.0 mg/kg bw/day (Study 3) were statistically significant at 1.5 hours for IFN-γ, IL-1β?and IL-10, and at 3 hours for IL-1β, and at 24 hours for IL-10. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that oral supplementation with?NEM®?can influence both early-phase pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β?and TNF-α?(Study 3), as well as later-phase cytokines like MCP-1, MIP-1α?&?β, RANTES and VEGF (Study 1 & 2). These studies provide a possible basis for the mechanism of action of?NEM®?in vivo.
文摘The majority of the world’s population suffers from gingivitis/periodontitis. This inflammatory process is caused by several bacterial species inside the dental plaque. In vivo and in vitro experiments were set up. The patients of the in vivo group were divided into a noni and a control group. Both groups contained patients that suffered from gingivitis/periodontitis who were introduced to practice standardized, good oral hygiene. The patients in the noni group additionally used noni juice for mouth wash two times a day. The Papillae-Bleeding-Index (PBI) was evaluated comparing the status of inflammation in both groups. Bacterial probes were isolated from the patient’s gingival pouches for species identification and to carry out in vitro experiments for possible antimicrobial effects of noni juice. The Papillae-Bleeding-Index (PBI) in the noni group has “highly significantly” improved from an average of 2.25 at the beginning of the observation period (t0) to 1.01 after four weeks of noni treatment (t1), compared to a change from 2.11 at t0 to 1.95 at t1 inthe control group. A comparison of the differences of the PBI-values (t0-t1) between the noni and the control group was highly significant using a t-test on a level of p = 0.01. Only small inhibition zones were observed in the agar diffusion test on agar plates coated with aerobic, anaerobic and Candida cultures isolated from the patients gingival pouches after treatment with original or neutralized noni juice in different concentrations. Weak bacteriostatic effects occurred in the agar dilution experiments with noni juice in higher concentrations (native and neutralized noni juice). The present investigation has shown that the combination of good oral hygiene and the administration of noni juice was a promising treatment for gingivitis and periodontitis. The additional treatment with noni juice significantly mitigated the gingival inflammation.
文摘The aim of this study is to assess the adverse effects of lead, a well-documented non-essential element that occurs naturally in the environment, on Channa punctatus, in relation with ROS production and oxidative stress. Fishes were sampled, acclimatized and kept treated or untreated with lead (9.43 mg/L) under observation for 4 days. At day 4, respiratory burst activity, lipid peroxidation activity and superoxide dismutase level increased significantly in treated group as compared to the control. On the contrary, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione activity decreased on treatment with lead. These results suggest that heavy metal like lead induces oxidative stress, influences the antioxidant defense system and may lead to physiological disorders rendering the health and survival of exposed fish to a compromised state.
文摘Chronic systemic inflammation is associated with many conditions of aging such as atherosclerosis. Lowering high n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios are commonly found in Western diets aids in preventing inflammatory-related diseases. However, it is not clear whether dietary interventions designed to alter n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios can reduce systemic inflammation in younger adults. Studies that evaluate PUFA intake often use subjective data from food frequency questionnaires or food records rather than more precise physiological measures of PUFAs (e.g. plasma levels). Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study that analyzed data from the experimental parent study of younger adults (n = 18), was to determine whether plasma PUFA levels were associated with levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, and if supplementation with n-3 PUFAs was correlated with rising n-3 PUFA concentrations in plasma and decreasing n-6:n-3 ratios. In the parent study, participants received daily either placebo or n-3 PUFA softgels (1.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and 1.2 g docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]). EPA and DHA are the biologically active components in fish oil. Measures included blood for PUFA quantification at baseline and four weeks later, when blister wounds were created and wound fluid and saliva were collected. The saliva samples were used to measure CRP in the present study. We report that CRP was significantly and negatively correlated with total n-3 PUFAs (tau-β = ?0.373, p = 0.031) and positively correlated with n-6:n-3 ratios (tau-β = 0.320, p = 0.063). Those consuming EPA + DHA supplements had significantly higher concentrations of total n-3 PUFAs and significantly lower n-6:n-3 ratios (p The present study has shown that beneficial levels of n-3 PUFAs and n-6:n3 ratios were achieved with 4-weeks of EPA + DHA supplementation and were associated with reduced CRP in young adults. EPA + DHA supplementation for some young adults may help prevent inflammatory conditions later in life.
文摘The aim is to optimize the anti-inflammatory effect and the therapeutic dose and time window of picrosede II by orthogonal test in cerebral ischemic injury in rats. The forebrain ischemia models were established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) methods in 30 Wistar rats. The successful models were randomly divided into sixteen groups according to orthogonal experimental design and treated by injecting picroside II intraperitoneally at different ischemic time with different dose. The concentrations of aquaporins 4 (AQP4), matrix metalloproteinases9 (MMP9) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) in serum and brain tissue were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the therapeutic effect of picroside II in cerebral ischemic injury. The best therapeutic time window and dose of picroside II in cerebral ischemic injury were 1) ischemia 2.0 h with 20 mg/kg and 1.5 h with 20 mg/kg body weight according to the concentration of AQP4 in serum and brain tissue;2) ischemia 1.5 h with 20 mg/kg and ischemia 2.0 h with 20 mg/kg according to the concentrations of MMP9 in serum and brain tissue;and 3) ischemia 1.5 h with 10 mg/kg and ischemia 1.5 h with 20 mg/kg according to the concentrations of COX2 in serum and brain tissue respectively. According to the principle of the lowest therapeutic dose with the longest time window, the optimized therapeutic dose and time window were injecting picroside II intraperitoneally with 10 - 20 mg/kg body weight at ischemia 1.5 - 2.0 h in cerebral ischemic injury.
文摘The treatment of one of the most common urological diseases, a chronic aseptic prostatitis, is an exigeant problem. Used methods of pharmacotherapy are insufficiently effective and after treatment, as a rule, there comes a recrudescence. The efficiency of new prostatotropic agent Prostamax is studied in the present work, this drug is related to bioregulator peptides at experimental chronic aseptic inflammation of prostate gland. It is established that Prostamax reduces intensity of signs of a chronic inflammation (swelling, hyperemia of vessels, lymphoid infiltration), prevents development of sclerotic and atrophic processes. It is shown that the agent intensifies sexual activity of animals. Efficiency of the preparation Prostamax surpasses that among widespread prostatotropic agents derived from the extract of Serenoa repens and prostate of animals.
文摘Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that brain abnormalities in infants with laboratory-confirmed Zika infection include microcephaly, disrupted brain growth, intracranial calcifications, and abnormal eye findings—it is not known presently if the Zika virus itself causes any of these. In a recent 2016 review of Zika dealing with possible brain abnormalities appearing with Zika, Melo et al. mention that among the Flaviviruses, which Zika is, such brain insults and pathologic findings are practically unheard of. Melo et al. conclude that until more cases are diagnosed and more histopathological proofs are obtained, the possibility of other causes besides Zika cannot be ruled out. This paper considers just such other possible causes that have, to this point, escaped general notice. The Aedes aegypti and other Aedes species can transmit tiny viral-like, cell-wall-deficient mycobacterial forms, independent of viruses, yet prevalent in the very same Rhesus Monkey used in the original 1952 Zika communication—which spoke of “A filterable transmissible agent”. In addition, the universal fetal prenatal vaccination of Brazilian neonates is considered, strongly discouraged by The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, which forbids BCG vaccination of pregnant women and those immunosuppressed or already having tuberculosis (TB) or AIDS. And finally thought is focused on the prime candidate itself, towards explaining what an alternative cause for “Zika” might look like—an infectious agent with transmissible, filterable, viral-like forms. One which can be transmitted by the very same Aedes mosquitoes that carry Zika—one that is neurotrophic, and extremely prevalent in Brazil—and that can disrupt brain growth, cause microcephalus, cause a fever, is sexually transmissible, instigates Guillain-Barré syndrome and causes cranial calcifications—the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes the Mycobacterium africanum prevalent, yet completely ignored, in the Rhesus mo
文摘Objective: To study a comprehensive proteomic analysis of celecoxib in oseteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. Methods: OA chondrocytes were stimulated with celecoxib, IL-1β and IL-1β together with celecoxib. Proteins were extracted from the cells and subjected to 2-dimensional differential image gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Proteins of interest were identified by mass spectrometry. Results: Eighty-six protein spots showed significantly different intensities with each reagent or reagent combination. AAA+ protein, HSP47/Serpin, cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II-beta regulatory subunit, alpha-actin-4 and tubulin decreased with the addition of celecoxib, while apolipoprotein A-V, glutamate carboxipeptide 2, mitochondrial stress-70 protein, sorting nexin-9 and GRP78 increased with the addition of celecoxib. GRP78 is a stress protein and may be chondroprotective. Celecoxib modulated IL-1β stimulated chondrocytes, and CD200R and moesin were identified as such resulting proteins. Conclusion: Protein profiles of OA chondrocytes changed after administration of celecoxib. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the function of each protein in OA chondrocytes.
文摘Background: The value of periodontal dressing and its effects on periodontal wound healing have been questioned. Besides, the early healing of the gingival and periodontal wounds in oral cavity should be emphasized to promote the treatment outcome. Several studies pointed out a potential positive effect of silver nanoparticles (NPs) on the healing process of skin wounds. The present work aimed to design silver NPs periodontal dressing and then, evaluated its effects on gingival wound healing following operation. Methods: Thirty healthy adolescent female rabbits were used in this study. They had intact teeth and the clinical and radiographic examination revealed no periodontal disease. Silver NPs were added to carbonate methyl cellulose as base with two different concentrations of 25% v/v (Group A) and 50% v/v (Group B). On the basis of simple randomized allocation, gingivectomy was performed at the buccal gingiva of the left and right mandibular incisors and subsequently, untreated wounds in the control area were covered with periodontal pack and periodontal dressings A and B were applied in the test regions. Histological changes were monitored in day 4 and 7 post operation to evaluate the inflammatory and repair stage of healing process. Results: We observed significant difference in the inflammatory and repair parameters of the healing process between surgical sites treated with this periodontal dressing and control group. Besides, wounds treated with silver NPs dressing in general terms had all the hallmarks of relatively complete healing one week post operatively. Conclusion: The results indicated positive potential therapeutic effects for this new formulation of periodontal dressing on acceleration of surgical wound healing that led to improvement of periodontal treatment consequences following operation.
文摘We have previously demonstrated that acute treatment with low dose methamphetamine is neuroprotectivein a rat model of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using gene expression analysis, we further showed that methamphetamine treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes after severe TBI. Therefore, to further investigate the potential effects of methamphetamine treatment on the neuroinflammatory response, we examined immunofluorescent staining of Iba1 and CD68, two marker of neuroinflammation, in the rat lateral fluid percussion injury model of severe TBI. In this study, we observed temporal and spatial alterations in the pattern of Iba1 and CD68 labeling within two weeks after severe TBI. In general, methamphetamine treatment did not dramatically alter the pattern of Iba1 and CD68 staining. However, we did observe a unique and significant drug-induced increase of Iba1 labeling within the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrusat 48 hours post injury. We also observed rod-shaped Iba1+?cells within the core lesion in the cortex. These cells showed variable staining with CD68 and aligned most closely with MAP2+?neuronal processes. Thus, acute treatment with low-dose methamphetamine after severe TBI caused a transient bilateral increase of Iba1+?cells within the granule layer of the dentate gyrus but did not alter the overall temporal and regional pattern of Iba1 and CD68 staining within the cortex, periventricular white matter, fimbria, or thalamus.
文摘Objective: To explore the effects of Anwei decoction (AD) on the protein expression of TFF in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG). Methods: Forty-eight healthy rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group, pathologic model group, Anwei Decoction group, and Weifuchun group. CAG was induced in rats with N-methy-N-nitro-N-nitrogua-nidine (MNNG). The protein expression of TFF in rats’ gastric mucosa was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with that in the normal control group, the protein expression of TFF1 was significantly enhanced in the pathologic model, Anwei Decoction and Weifuchun groups (both P TFF1 was significantly higher in the Anwei Decoction group than in the Weifuchun group (P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, the protein expression of TFF2 was significantly enhanced in the pathologic model, Anwei Decoction and Weifuchun groups (both P < 0.01). The protein expression level of TFF2 was significantly higher in the Anwei Decoction group than in the Weifuchun group (P < 0.01). In comparison with the pathologic model group, the protein expression of TFF3 was remarkably reduced in Anwei Decoction and Weifuchun groups (both P < 0.01). but there was no difference between the group of Anwei decoction and the group of Weifuchun (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Anwei decoction may be effective in the treatment of CAG by enhancing the protein expression of TFF1, TFF2 while reducing that of TFF3 in gastric mucosas.
文摘<strong>Introduction:</strong> Infertility is a health problem that does not cause death, disability or physical pain;however, it is a crisis for couples who see their life plans threatened and suffer not only at the time of diagnosis and during treatments, but in multiple daily situations. <strong>Scientific Problem:</strong> There are no published studies on the characteristics of the infertile patient who has required surgical treatment, which is attended at the Territorial Center for Assisted Reproduction, Cienfuegos. <strong>Objective:</strong> To characterize the patients with infertility diagnosis who underwent surgical treatment and were treated at the Territorial Center for the care of the infertile couple in the province of Cienfuegos. <strong>Methodological Design:</strong> A descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional study of a series of cases was carried out at the Territorial Center for Assisted Reproduction, inserted in the Department of External Consultation of the General University Hospital, Dr. “Gustavo Aldereguía Lima” in Cienfuegos, in the period from January 2015 to December 2016. The variables studied were: age, skin color, pelvic inflammatory disease, personal pathological history, number of pregnancies, number of deliveries, number of abortions, age of the first sexual relations, cause of infertility, time attending the consultation, previous pelvic surgery, preoperative diagnosis, type of surgery, type of treatment and results of the surgery. <strong>Results:</strong> A predominance of age was obtained between 26 and 35 years of previous pelvic inflammatory disease, Bronchial Asthma as a personal pathological antecedent, previous pelvic surgery, number of pregnancies between 1 and 2, induced abortion among other results.
文摘In order to understand pathogenic mechanism of allergic dermatitis, it is important to find morphological changes of the internal structure of the skin by non-invasive imaging. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is powerful tool for in vivo tomographic imaging of the internal microstructure in biological tissue. In this study, we prepared the animal model of genuine pig with allergic dermatitis developed by chemical administration to examining their skin inflammation by microscopic observations with OCT images captured continuously, aiming at tracking the morphological changes in the skin structure induced by the chronological inflammation. As a result, epidermis thickening became evident as the days passed since Day 7, and the capillary vessel expansion was confirmed since Day 14;the process of inflammation development was successfully observed.
文摘Inflammatory granulomatous diseases are cha- racterized by a high concentration of granu- lomas in tissue interstitium in which phagocytic cells that produce active oxygen and nitrogen metabolites are accumulated. Because of their high reactivity, free radicals react with unsatu- rated fatty acids that are components of mem- brane phospholipids, activate lipid peroxidation processes (LPP), the products of which have a cytotoxic effect. The role of free radicals in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications has been proved. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the activity of lipid peroxidation processes in the liver of rats with silica-induced granulomatous inflammation, allo- xan diabetes and their combination. The expe- riment involved male albino rats divided into four main groups. The first group were rats with silica granulomatous inflammation (SL rats);the second group were alloxan diabetic rats (DB rats);and the third group were alloxan diabetic rats, in which silica granulomatous inflammation was induced 8 days after the disease onset (DB_SL rats), the fourth group were rats that were injected saline physiological solution into the tail vein (control rats). Rats were withdrawn from the experiment within different time pe- riods after the induction of pathological pro- cesses. LPP activity in liver homogenates was determined by the relative concentration of lipo- peroxides in the heptane-isopropanol system and the concentration of products of the reac- tion with 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substan- ces (TBARS). The severity of carbohydrate meta- bolism disorders was evaluated through the measurement of the blood level of glucose, daily urine volume and the relative weight of the kindneys. We found that silica administration activated LPP in the liver of SL rats;we ob- served the accumulation of primary products on day 1 after administration and later that of TBA- RS followed by normalization of their concen- tration by day 21 of the experiment. TBARS con- centration was higher in D
文摘Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major inflammatory joint disease that causes cartilage destruction, bone erosions, and joint destruction. Oxidative stress is elevated in RA patients implying reactive oxygen species (ROS) are possible mediators of tissue damage. ROS trigger a cascade of events through nuclear factors’ activation (NF-kappa B), which up-regulates gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate the immune responses causing inflammation. As ascorbic acid can reduce oxidative stress, decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and suppress the activation of NF-kappa B, we suggest that millimolar concentration of ascorbic acid may be useful in RA treatment. In our study we analyzed the effect of intravenous vitamin C (IVC) treatment on eleven subjects with RA. Our data suggest that IVC therapy with dosages of 7.5 g - 50 g can reduce inflammation. The level of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein levels was decreased on average by 44%. Based on our pilot study, we hypothesize that IVC therapy can be a useful strategy in treating RA.
文摘We assessed incidence and outcomes of patients with ventilator-associated respiratory infections (VARI) due to tracheobronchitis (VAT) and pneumonia (VAP), including length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and ventilator days. We also examined pathogens, rate of progression from VAT to VAP, and impact of antibiotic therapy for VAT. Data analysis included 234 patients, 100 patients (43%) had at least moderate (+++) bacterial growth in their semi-quantitative endotracheal aspirate (SQ-ETA) cultures. VAT and VAP were each diagnosed in 34 (15%) patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen isolated and had the highest rate of progression from VAT to VAP. Seven (21%) of the 34 patients were diagnosed with VAT that later progressed to VAP in averaged 3 days. Patients diagnosed with VAT had significantly more ventilator days (9 vs 6, p p < 0.001) and hospital days (22 vs 17, p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the clinical outcomes of the 25 VAT patients with timely, appropriate antibiotics compared to the 9 VAT patients who did not receive timely appropriate antibiotics. VAT was a risk factor for increased ventilator days, longer length of ICU and hospital stay. The time window from VAT to VAP allowed physicians to identify the pathogens and sensitivity profile needed to treat VAT with appropriate antibiotics. Data from well-designed studies were needed to assess the impact of early, appropriate antibiotic therapy for VAT, the choice of antibiotics, as well as the duration and route of administration.
文摘Background and Purpose: Kimura’s Disease (KD) is a rare benign chronic eosinophlic inflammatory disorder, characterized by angiolymphoid proliferation with peripheral eosinophilia and elevated serum immunoglobulin E. Most lesions occur in the head and neck regions. To the best of our knowledge, the relationship between subcutaneous cheek lesion of KD and the surrounding structures including superficial musculoaponeurotic systems (SMAS) has never been reported. The purpose of this study was to describe MR imaging findings of cheek subcutaneous lesion of KD and adjacent SMAS. Materials and Methods: Seven cheek subcutaneous lesions of 5 patients histopathologically proved KD were evaluated. We retrospectively evaluated the MR imaging findings of subcutaneous lesions for signal intensity in each imaging sequence, the border of the lesions, and appearance of SMAS. Results: All cheek lesions were displacing normal fat tissue. These lesions showed ill-defined border (7/7), slightly high signal intensity on T1-weighted images (7/7), and intermediate (1/7) or high signal intensity (6/7) on T2-weighted images. Cheek lesions were enhanced by intravenous injection of gadolinium to signal intensity close to that of fat tissue (3/4), and in one case, the avid enhancement of the mass was seen (1/4). All lesions attached to the outer surface of SMAS, however, only one out of 7 lesions distributed below the SMAS without tearing of the layers. SMAS below the lesion showed high signal intensity on T2-weighted images in two lesions (2/7). Conclusion: KD should be included in the differential diagnosis when a cheek mass presents with non-specific signal intensities and irregular border, which attaches to but does not interrupt SMAS on MR imaging.
