Letrozole for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A retrospective study.

This retrospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of letrozole for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Totally, 136 cases of infertility women with PCOS were analyzed. Of those, 68 patients received letrozole, and were assigned to Letrozole group.

Percutaneous nerve electrical stimulation for fatigue caused by chemotherapy for cervical cancer.

This retrospective study investigated the effectiveness of percutaneous nerve electrical stimulation (PNES) for fatigue caused by chemotherapy for cervical cancer survivors.Totally, 83 cases of fatigue caused by chemotherapy for cervical cancer survivors were analyzed. All these cases were assigned to a treatment group (n = 43), and a control group (n = 40).

The effects of rhEPO intervention for perinatal intrauterine herpes virus infection on preventing brain injury in preterm infants.

The ability of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) to protect preterm infants against perinatal intrauterine herpes virus infection-induced brain injury was studied. In total, 120 women infected with perinatal intrauterine herpes virus were randomized into four groups: A, B, C and D, and were given 1,500 IU (mother, pre-partum), 3,000 IU (mother, pre-partum), 250 IU/kg (infant, post-natal), and no rhEPO, respectively. Hemoglobin (Hb), reticulocyte (Ret), hematocrit (Hct), neuron specific enolase (NSE), myelin basic protein (MBP), and S100 protein B (S100B) levels were measured immediately (T) and at 1 week (T), 2 weeks (T), and 4 weeks (T) post-delivery.

Molecular cloning, sequence analysis and phylogeny of first caudata g-type lysozyme in axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).

Lysozymes are key proteins that play important roles in innate immune defense in many animal phyla by breaking down the bacterial cell-walls. In this study, we report the molecular cloning, sequence analysis and phylogeny of the first caudate amphibian g-lysozyme: a full-length spleen cDNA library from axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). A goose-type (g-lysozyme) EST was identified and the full-length cDNA was obtained using RACE-PCR.

Structural and functional characterization of CATH_BRALE, the defense molecule in the ancient salmonoid, Brachymystax lenok.

Thick-lipped lenok, Brachymystax lenok is one of the ancient fish species in China and northeast Asia countries. Due to the overfishing, the population of lenok has been declined significantly. Cathelicidins are innate immune effectors that possess both bactericidal activities and immunomodulatory functions.

[Progress in cathelicidins antimicrobial peptides research].

Cathelicidins are a family of multi-functional antimicrobial peptides found in almost all types of vertebrates, where they play vital roles in the immune system. As they possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, cathelicidins are not only strongly resistant to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but they are also active against many antibiotic-resistant clinical bacteria, adopting a special antimicrobial mechanism that is unlikely to lead to microbial resistance. Cathelicidins likewise possess simple structures, and low hemolytic and cytotoxic activities.

Cathelicidin-BF, a snake cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide, could be an excellent therapeutic agent for acne vulgaris.

Cathelicidins are a family of antimicrobial peptides acting as multifunctional effector molecules in innate immunity. Cathelicidin-BF has been purified from the snake venoms of Bungarus fasciatus and it is the first identified cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide in reptiles. In this study, cathelicidin-BF was found exerting strong antibacterial activities against Propionibacterium acnes.

Molecular cloning and characterization of novel cathelicidin-derived myeloid antimicrobial peptide from Phasianus colchicus.

Cathelicidins were initially characterized as a family of antimicrobial peptides. Now it is clear that they fulfill several immune functions in addition to their antimicrobial activity. In the current work, three cDNA sequences encoding pheasant cathelicidins were cloned from a constructed bone marrow cDNA library of Phasianus colchicus, using a nested-PCR-based cloning strategy.