Optimization of ZnAl/Chitosan Supra-Nano Hybrid Preparation as Efficient Antibacterial Material.

The menace of antimicrobial resistance continues to increase and hence the need to discover new antibiotics, especially alternative and effective sources such as hybrid organic-inorganic, organic-organic materials, and other combinations. In this study, an antimicrobial hybrid supra-nano material was prepared by the bi-titration synthesis method of chitosan (CS) and ZnAl layered double hydroxide. Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal gravimetric (TGA/DTG), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses indicated that the ZnAl/CS hybrid exhibited low crystallinity with high thermal stability.

[Investigation of a case of foreign imported falciparum malaria in Xilin County, Baise City].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of an imported falciparum malaria patient in Xilin County, Baise City, so as to provide the reference for improving the diagnosis and treatment of falciparum malaria patients in the future.

Methods: The epidemiological and clinical data were collected and analyzed.

Results: The patient had lived in Africa where the malaria was epidemic.

Role of IL-18 Gene Promoter Polymorphisms, Serum IL-18 Levels, and Risk of Hepatitis B Virus-related Liver Disease in the Guangxi Zhuang Population: a Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and HBV-related diseases and whether these polymorphisms influence its expression in the Guangxi Zhuang population.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 129 chronic HBV infected (CHB) patients, 86 HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and 160 healthy controls in our study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods were used to detect IL-18 gene -607C/A, -137G/C polymorphisms, and an ELISA kit was employed to determine serum IL-18 levels.

Relationships between the Osteocalcin gene polymorphisms, serum osteocalcin levels, and hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Background: Available evidence has demonstrated that osteocalcin may play a role in pathogenesis of cancer, and mutation of the osteocalcin gene may be involved in the cancer development. The aim of this study is to determine whether osteocalcin gene polymorphisms are associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 515 subjects were divided into four groups: 129 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 62 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC), 154 patients with HBV-related HCC, and 170 healthy controls.

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of probiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in children.

Unlabelled: The efficacy of probiotics supplementation in children undergoing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy remains controversial. This study aimed to meta-analyze whether probiotics supplementation in triple therapy could improve H.

Myeloperoxidase polymorphism, menopausal status, and breast cancer risk: an update meta-analysis.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a metabolic/oxidative lysosomal enzyme secreted by reactive neutrophils at the sites of inflamed organs and tissues during phagocytosis. MPO has been either directly or indirectly linked to neoplasia, which is a well-established risk factor for many types of cancer. A large number of studies have reported the role of MPO G-463A polymorphism regarding breast-cancer risk.

XRCC1 Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp, and Arg280His polymorphisms in esophageal cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Background: The X-ray repair cross-complementation group 1 (XRCC1) protein plays an important role in base excision repair.

Aim: To elucidate the role of XRCC1 Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp and Arg280His genotypes in esophageal cancer risk, all available studies were considered in the present meta-analysis.

Methods: Eligible studies were identified by searching several electronic databases for relevant reports published before June 2012.

Interferon-gamma induces p11 gene and protein expression in human epithelial cells through interferon-gamma-activated sequences in the p11 promoter.

The effect of interferon (IFN)-gamma on p11 expression was studied in two human epithelial cell lines (BEAS-2B and HeLa). Treatment with IFN-gamma resulted in increased steady-state levels of p11 mRNA and protein expression, with a time-dependent and dose-dependent effect. Transient transfection experiments of a reporter gene construct containing 1498 bp of the 5'-flanking region of the p11 promoter demonstrated that IFN-gamma induced p11 gene expression at the transcriptional level.

Oxidative stress induces arachidonate release from human lung cells through the epithelial growth factor receptor pathway.

Oxidative stress is thought to be a factor influencing many inflammatory responses, including arachidonic acid (AA) release. We have studied the effect of hydrogen peroxide on AA and prostaglandin E(2) release, cytosolic phospholipase (cPLA(2)) steady-state mRNA, cPLA(2) protein levels, cPLA(2) enzyme activity, and cPLA(2) phosphorylation in a human lung epithelial cell line: A549 cells. Hydrogen peroxide caused a dose-dependent increase of A23187-stimulated AA and prostaglandin E(2) release, with a maximum effect at 1 h.

Epidermal growth factor induces p11 gene and protein expression and down-regulates calcium ionophore-induced arachidonic acid release in human epithelial cells.

p11, a member of the S-100 family of proteins, is the cellular ligand of annexin II and also interacts with the C-terminal region of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)), inhibiting cPLA(2) activity and arachidonic acid (AA) release. It has been reported that epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces cPLA(2) activation or cPLA(2) expression and subsequent AA release. It was of interest to study the effect of EGF on p11 production and on AA release in human epithelial cells (HeLa).

85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 mediates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation in human lung epithelial cells.

The 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) plays an important role in the control of arachidonic acid metabolism. This study was designed to investigate the possible contributions of cPLA(2) and group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) in the regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-mediated gene transcription in human airway epithelial cells. Primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells and human lung epithelial cell lines BEAS 2B, A549, and NCI-H292 all express PPARgamma and -beta.