Anti-HIV-1 protease activity of lanostane triterpenes from the vietnamese mushroom Ganoderma colossum

Four new lanostane triterpenes, colossolactone V (1), colossolactone VI (2), colossolactone VII (3), and colossolactone VIII (4), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the Vietnamese mushroom Ganoderma colossum, together with the known compound colossolactone E (5). The structures of 1- 4 were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, and their absolute configurations were determined by CD spectroscopy and the Mosher ester method. Compounds 1- 5, as well as two previously isolated compounds [schisanlactone A (6) and colossolactone G (7)] from the same mushroom, were evaluated for inhibition of HIV-1 protease, with IC 50 values for the most potent compounds ranging from 5 to 13 microg/mL.     

Differential flow cytometric detection of intracellular cytokines in peripheral and peritoneal mononuclear cells of women with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of endometriosis is related to functional changes in CD3+ and CD14+ cells observed both at the local and systemic level. Here we investigated whether, and if so, how the body compartment influences cytokine expression in stimulated peritoneal and peripheral CD3+ and CD14+ cells of women with endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: Isolated peripheral blood (PB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) mononuclear cells from women with endometriosis were cultured under non-adherent conditions and stimulated with PMA and ionomycin for 6h to induce intracellular cytokine synthesis of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-8 by CD3+ cells or with LPS for 9h to produce TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, and IL-8 by CD14+ cells. RESULTS: The percentages of positive CD3+ cells stained for TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were significantly higher and those stained for IL-8 were significantly lower in PF compared with PB, this being independent of the stage of endometriosis. In contrast, the percentages of CD14+ cells producing TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, and IL-8 were significantly higher in PB than PF of women with endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes derived from the peripheral and peritoneal compartments of women with endometriosis differentially respond to stimulated cytokine synthesis induction. However, it is difficult to state whether the observed phenomenon is more related to body compartment influence per se or to the presence of endometriosis.     

手术及药物治疗垂体催乳素腺瘤的成本效果分析

目的 了解手术及药物治疗垂体催乳素腺瘤的效果,和达到相同效果时两种治疗方案的最小成本.方法 回顾性分析经鼻经蝶垂体腺瘤切除手术(TSS)治疗和药物治疗的垂体催乳素腺瘤患者的资料,分析两种治疗方案的效果,并设计出两种垂体催乳素腺瘤治疗过程的马尔科夫概率决策模型.将得出的数据拟合人马尔科夫概率决策模型,得出达到相同治疗效果时两种方案的最小成本.结果 微腺瘤患者中手术治疗者的血清催乳素水平止常化率为85%(22/26),药物治疗者为95%(19/20),两者比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);大腺瘤患者中药物治疗者血清催乳素水平正常化率为5/5,手术治疗者为45%(19/42),两者比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).根据马尔科夫概率决策模型测算,微腺瘤患者经手术治疗达到血清催乳素水平正常化的成本为人民币25 129.25元,采用药物治疗的成本为人民币24 943.99元,两者相当.大腺瘤患者采用药物治疗的费用为人民币25 344.38元,经手术治疗的费用为人民币35 208.20元.结论 垂体催乳素微腺瘤患者经手术治疗,可达到与药物治疗相同的效果,且费用相当.大腺瘤患者手术治疗比药物治疗效果差,且费用较高.应用马尔科夫概率决策模型来预测垂体催乳素腺瘤患者一生的治疗费用是一种有效的方式.     

Aerobic vaginitis--diagnostic problems and treatment

The diagnostic criteria and treatment of aerobic vaginitis--AV--have been summarized in this review. An expansion of mixed aerobic microflora, especially Group B Streptococcus--GBS, Escherichia coli--E. coli, Enterococcus spp., and the development of inflammation of the vaginal mucous membrane due to a decreasing amount of Lactobacillus spp., have been observed in women with AV. Disruptions of the vaginal ecosystem during AV cause an increase in pH to >6, a decrease in lactates concentration and an increase in proinflammatory cytokines concentration in vaginal discharge. An optimal treatment scheme for AV, which includes antibacterial agents and simultaneously normalizes the vaginal ecosystem, has not been established until today.     

The analysis of CFTR mutations in men with azoospermia, oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia

Mutations in cystic fibrosis transductance regulator gene (CFTR) are known to result in some forms of male infertility. An association between CFTR gene mutations and obstructive azoospermia in cystic fibrosis (CF) and in congenital unilateral and bilateral absence of vas deferens (CUAVD, CBAVD) has been proven. However, the role of CFTR gene mutations in the etiology of non-obstructive azoospermia, as well as in the regulation of spermatogenesis remains unsolved. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of CFTR mutations in patients diagnosed with different forms of spermatogenesis impairment MATERIAL: The molecular analyses were performed in the group of 93 infertile men, diagnosed with either azoospermia, oligospermia or asthenoteratozoospermia. RESULTS: The results of the study revealed the presence of F508del and IVS8-T in 5.4% of analyzed cases. No difference in CFTR gene mutations frequencies among patients with azoospermia, oligospermia and asthenoteratozoospermia has been observed. CONCLUSION: The CFTR gene mutations frequency in men with nonobstructive azoospermia, oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia is similar to those observed in general population.