Antimicrobial peptides of the vaginal innate immunity and their role in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases.

Some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are produced in the vaginal innate immune system and play an important role in protecting this organ against pathogenic agents. Moreover, sexually transmitted diseases have become a major problem in human societies and are rapidly spreading. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes (superbugs) can pose a major threat to human societies and cause rapid spread of these diseases. Finding new antimicrobial compounds to fight superbugs is therefore essential. It has been shown that AMPs have good potential to become new antibiotics. The most important AMPs in the vaginal innate immune system are defensins, secretory leucocyte protease inhibitors, calprotectin, lysozyme, lactoferrin and elafin, which play an important role in host defence against sexually transmitted infections, modulation of immune responses and anticancer activities. Some AMPs, such as LL-37, magainin 2 and nisin, show both spermicidal and antimicrobial effects in the vagina. In this summary, we will discuss vaginal AMPs and continue to address some of the challenges of using peptides to control pathogens that are effective in sexually transmitted diseases.

Synthesis and dosimetry features of novel sensitive thermoluminescent phosphor of LiF doped with Mg and Dy impurities.

Lithium fluoride doped with Mg and Dy was fabricated for the first time using melting method. The optimum concentrations of impurities and thermal treatment were studied to achieve high thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity. TL sensitivity of the fabricated phosphor is close to that of TLD-100 powder. Tm-Tstop technique was used to identify the number of overlapped TL glow peaks. Initial rise, isothermal decay and computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) methods were applied to obtain kinetic parameters of the prepared TL material. Three component glow peaks were distinguished at temperatures 395, 448 and 510 K. Other TL properties such as fading, linearity of dose response and reusability are also presented and discussed.

Improved gas sensing activity in structurally defected bilayer graphene.

Graphene is a two-dimensional material with a capability of gas sensing, which is here shown to be drastically improved by inducing gentle disorder in the lattice. We report that by using a focused ion beam technique, controlled disorder can be introduced into the graphene structure through Ga(+) ion irradiation. This disorder leads to an increase in the electrical response of graphene to NO(2) gas molecules by a factor of three in an ambient environment (air). Ab initio density functional calculations indicate that NO(2) molecules bind strongly to Stone-Wales defects, where they modify electronic states close to the Fermi level, which in turn influence the transport properties. The demonstrated gas sensor, utilizing structurally defected graphene, shows faster response, higher conductivity changes and thus higher sensitivity to NO(2) as compared to pristine graphene.

Numerical correlation between nerve conduction velocity and compound nerve action potential of median nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and normal group.

BACKGROUND: Electrodiagnostic studies have a major role in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The parameters used in this regard include nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and compound nerve action potential (CNAP). In some individuals, recording sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) and as a result NCV is impossible. This study aims at determining the numerical correlation between CNAP and NCV calculated through SNAP METHODS: NCV and CNAP in 100 hands of 50 electrophysiologically and clinically asymptomatic individuals and 100 hands of 70 patients with CTS were surveyed. The correlation between NCV and CNAP was determined using independent t-test and regression model. RESULTS: The results indicated that there is a significant correlation between sex, group, CNAP and NCV statistically (P(value) < 0.05). Pearson correlation coefficient was -0.95. Agreement between NCV and CNAP was proved based on Bland Altman plot. CONCLUSIONS: There is numerical correlation between NCV and CNAP that we can use it when we are not able to calculate NCV through SNAP.

Structural and functional aspects of the thoracic stomach.

The acid secretory and emptying function of the thoracic stomach was evaluated in 10 patients, following total oesophagectomy and gastric pull-up for oesophageal cancer. All patients had a Heinecke Mickulicz pyloroplasty. Endoscopic features and histological review of endoscopic biopsies were also studied in these patients. Acid secretion was higher in those with prolonged emptying. This was however, not statistically significant. Gastritis was more severe in those with prolonged emptying. Endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis was found unreliable while histopathology of endoscopic biopsy gave definite evidence of gastritis.