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Leishmaniasis is a prevalent cause of death and animal morbidity in underdeveloped countries of endemic area. However, there is few vaccine and effective drugs. Antimicrobial peptides are involved in the innate immune response in many organisms and are being developed as novel drugs against parasitic infections. In the present study, we synthesized a 5-amino acid peptide REDLK, which mutated the C-terminus of Pseudomonas exotoxin, to identify its effect on the Leishmania tarentolae. Promastigotes were incubated with different concentration of REDLK peptide, and the viability of parasite was assessed using MTT and Trypan blue dye. Morphologic damage of Leishmania was analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Cellular apoptosis was observed using the annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit, mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit and flow cytometry. Our results showed that Leishmania tarentolae was susceptible to REDLK in a dose-dependent manner, disrupt the surface membrane integrity and caused parasite apoptosis. In our study, we demonstrated the leishmanicidal activity of an antimicrobial peptide REDLK from Pseudomonas aeruginosa against Leishmania tarentolae in vitro and present a foundation for further research of anti-leishmanial drugs.
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Objective To: compare the application value of Fogarty balloon and conventional balloon for occlusion of internal iliac artery during caesarean section for pernicious placenta previa (PPP). Methods: Data of 57 pregnant women with PPP were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into group A (n=27, using Fogarty balloon) and group B (n=30, using percutaneous transluminal angioplastry [PTA] conventional balloon)for internal iliac artery occlusion. The balloons were placed into bilateral internal iliac arteries before cesarean section. After the delivery of fetus, the balloons were dilated. Whether the balloons were deflated immediately depended on the amount of intraoperative bleeding after complete separation of placenta. The patients were treated with DSA-guided uterine artery embolization, hysterectomy or transferred into intensive care unit (ICU) after cesarean section if necessary. The clinical outcomes were analyzed and classified into good (discharge smoothly after cesarean section) and poor (occurring postoperative complications, needing uterine artery embolization, hysterectomy or getting ICU admission). The differences of duration time of cesarean section, intraoperative bleeding volume, blood transfusion, uterine artery embolization, duration of hospitalization and clinical outcomes were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: The duration time of cesarean section of group A was significantly shorter than that of group B ([72.37±17.39]min vs [86.93±27.79]min, t=-2.40, P=0.02). The proportion of transfusion of group A was lower than that of group B (44.44% [12/27]) vs 73.33% [22/30], χ2=4.93, P=0.03). The intraoperative bleeding volume (500[300]ml vs 700[150]ml, U=190, P<0.01) and the blood transfusion volume (0 [400]ml vs 400 [800]ml, U=249, P=0.01) of group A were significantly lower than those of group B. There was no significant difference of uterine arterial embolization (χ2=1.52, P=0.22), duration of hospitalization (t=-0.12, P=0.91)nor clinical outcomes (χ2=1.38, P=0.24) between the two groups. Conclusion: Compared with PTA conventional balloon, Fogarty balloon is more effective in blocking internal iliac artery blood flow during cesarean section, which can further reduce the volume of intraoperative bleeding and shorten the duration of cesarean section.
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The present study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors for Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats from Liaoning province, northeastern China. From October 2014 to September 2016, sera of 651 cats, including 364 domestic cats and 287 feral cats (332 females and 319 males) were assessed. They were tested for the presence of D. immitis antigen using SNAP Heartworm RT test kit. In this population, the average prevalence was 4.5%. Age and rearing conditions (feral or domestic) were found to be associated with the prevalence of D. immitis. The prevalence was significantly higher in feral cats compared with domestic cats (8.4% vs 1.4%, P 0.05), but older cats (≥3 years old) showed a statistically higher prevalence compared with younger cats ( 0.05), all these results suggest that outdoor exposure time may be one of the most important factors for D. immitis prevalence in cats. Results reveal that D. immitis are prevalence in domestic and feral cats in northeastern China, which indicates that appropriate preventive measures should be taken to decrease the incidence of feline heartworm disease in Liaoning province, northeastern China.
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Animals , Cats , Female , Humans , Male , China , Dirofilaria immitis , Dirofilaria , Dirofilariasis , Incidence , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
Objective To detect and analyze the resistance at the stomach meridian acupoints in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes, summarize the status of asthenia-sthenia at stomach meridian under this condition, in order to guide the clinical therapy with acupuncture and moxibustion.Methods From 2010 January to 2013 December, 83 CAG patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes were collected from No.306 Hospital of the PLA, the surface resistances on the bilateral stomach meridian stomach acupoints were detected,including Lidui, Neiting, Xiangu,Chongyang, Jiexi, Fenglong, Zusanli, Liangqiu, and the non-acupoints 1cm lateral to the point were set as controls. Zhu auricle holographic detector was adopted to detect the resistance at 20 points (about 0.5 cm2around the acupoints) in each acupoint, and the average value was calculated as the resistance value.Results Theresistances on the leftChongyang andright Chongyang were (9.64 ± 2.03) k? and (9.68 ± 2.02) k?, respectively, both were significantly lower than those on other acupoints, with statistically significant difference (allP<0.01); theresistances on the leftLiangqiu andright Liangqiu were (13.44 ± 2.11) k? and (13.68 ± 2.12) k?, respectively, both were significantly higher than those on other acupoints (all P<0.01).Conclusions The resistance on the stomach meridian stomach acupoints in CAG patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes is different, which may reflect the basic pathogenesis of CAG being the weakness of the spleen and stomach, qi stagnation and blood stasis.
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Objective To investigate the effects of low-frequency sound waves (16~160 Hz) of somatosensory music on healthy people’s microcirculation in kidney and bladder meridians;To discuss the collateral channels biophysical mechanisms in somatosensory music treatment. Methods Low-frequency sound waves of somatosensory music were played near the 30 healthy people’s kidney and bladder meridians orderly. At the same time, Laser Doppler Flowmetry was used to analyze microcirculation in meridian acupoints.Results The low-frequency acoustic waves with different frequencies had significantly different effects on kidney and bladder meridians. The effects of the same frequency on different acupoints of the same meridian were similar. The G1 (49.00 Hz) showed the most significant effects on the kidney meridian (P<0.01);G2 (98.00 Hz) showed the most significant impact on bladder meridian (P<0.01).Conclusion The kidney and bladder meridians have selective absorption characteristics to the low-frequency sound waves of different frequencies. Specific frequency sound waves can cause resonance in kidney and bladder meridians.
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Objective To observe the effect of Huahongjiangxiantang on hemorheology and plasma fibrinogen (FIB).Methods 100 patients with hypertension were randomly divided into two groups:the treatment group ( n=50) which were treated with Huahongjiangxian-tang,and the control group( n=50)were treated with Aspirin.Hemorheology and plasma fibrin were detected before and after treatment for 8 weeks.Results After 8 weeks treatment,there were significant depressions in whole blood viscosity(low shear rate),RBC deformability index and RBC aggregation index( P＜0.01 ),and better than the control group( P ＜0.05 ).There were significant changes in whole blood viscosity ( high shear rate),plasma viscosity,RBC rigidity index and plasma fibrin ( P ＜ 0.05 ).A number of indicators declined significantly in control group ( P ＜ 0.05 );The rate of platelet aggregation to improve the situation in the control group was better than that of the treatment group,but there was no statistical significance.Conclusion Huahongjiangxiantang can effectively reduce blood viscosity in patients with hypertension and improve the body's red blood cell function and fibrinolysis,benefit to the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and reduce the occurrence of thrombotic events.
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Objective To investigate the mechanism of Chinese herb in preventing recurrence of ulcerative colitis. Methods One hundred and three UC patients were divided into treatment group and control group randomly. The treatment group was treated by Chinese herb and the control group was treated by Sulfasalazine. After treated for three months, fifty three full remission patients were followed-up. CD4+, CD8+ and CD3+ cell count were performed and influence of Chinese herb on recurrence was observed. Results Either the cell count of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ or the percentage of CD8+ in the peripheral blood was significantly higher in recurrence group than those in the control (P