Human Alpha Defensin 5 Expression in the Human Kidney and Urinary Tract

The mechanisms that maintain sterility in the urinary tract are incompletely understood. Recent studies have implicated the importance of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in protecting the urinary tract from infection. Here, we characterize the expression and relevance of the AMP human alpha-defensin 5 (HD5) in the human kidney and urinary tract in normal and infected subjects.Using RNA isolated from human kidney, ureter, and bladder tissue, we performed quantitative real-time PCR to show that DEFA5, the gene encoding HD5, is constitutively expressed throughout the urinary tract. With pyelonephritis, DEFA5 expression significantly increased in the kidney. Using immunoblot analysis, HD5 production also increased with pyelonephritis. Immunostaining localized HD5 to the urothelium of the bladder and ureter. In the kidney, HD5 was primarily produced in the distal nephron and collecting tubules. Using immunoblot and ELISA assays, HD5 was not routinely detected in non-infected human urine samples while mean urinary HD5 production increased with E.coli urinary tract infection.DEFA5 is expressed throughout the urinary tract in non-infected subjects. Specifically, HD5 is expressed throughout the urothelium of the lower urinary tract and in the collecting tubules of the kidney. With infection, HD5 expression increases in the kidney and levels become detectable in the urine. To our knowledge, our findings represent the first to quantitate HD5 expression and production in the human kidney. Moreover, this is the first report to detect the presence of HD5 in infected urine samples. Our results suggest that HD5 may have an important role in maintaining urinary tract sterility

Study of eta-eta ' mixing from measurement of B-(s)(0) -> J/psi eta((')) decay rates

A study of B and Bs meson decays into J/ψ η and J/ψ η′ final states is performed using a data set of proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, collected by the LCHb experiment and corresponding to 3.0 fb−1 of integrated luminosity. The decay B0 → J/ψ η′ is observed for the first time. The following ratios of branching fractions are measured: B(B0→J/ψη′)B(B0s→ J/ψη′)=(2.28±0.65 (stat)±0.10 (syst)±0.13 (fs/fd))×10−2,B(B0→ J/ψη)B(B0s→ J/ψη)=(1.85±0.61 (stat)±0.09 (syst)±0.11 (fs/fd))×10−2, where the third uncertainty is related to the present knowledge of fs/fd, the ratio between the probabilities for a b quark to form a Bs or a B0 meson. The branching fraction ratios are used to determine the parameters of η − η′ meson mixing. In addition, the first evidence for the decay Bs → ψ(2S)η′ is reported, and the relative branching fraction is measured, B(B0s→ ψ(2S)η′)B(B0s→ J/ψη′)=(38.7±9.0 (stat)±1.3 (syst)±0.9(B))×10−2, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of J/ψ and ψ(2S) mesons

Estudo clínico aberto multicêntrico da efetividade e tolerabilidade do gel de adapaleno a 0,1%* em pacientes com acne vulgar Multicentric open clinical study of the efficacy and tolerability of adapalene 0.1% gel* in patients with acne vulgaris

FUNDAMENTOS: O adapaleno é um derivado do ácido naftóico, com propriedades biológicas similares às do ácido retinóico e utilizado no tratamento da acne vulgar. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a eficácia e a tolerabilidade do adapaleno 0,1% gel no tratamento da acne vulgar leve à moderada, em pacientes residentes no Brasil. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Os pacientes aplicaram o gel à noite, durante 12 semanas, e foram avaliados quanto à efetividade pelo número de lesões em cada visita e quanto à tolerabilidade ao produto nas consultas da segunda e da décima segunda semana. RESULTADOS: Dos 125 pacientes, 81,6% completaram as 12 semanas de tratamento, e 10,4% dos casos terminaram o estudo antes do período estabelecido por estarem livres de lesões. Os resultados permitem confirmar a marcante atividade antiinflamatória, antiproliferativa e na diferenciação celular dos ceratinócitos. Houve diminuição dos comedões e das lesões inflamatórias, com resposta satisfatória no eritema, no ressecamento e na descamação da pele. Efeitos adversos pouco graves foram relatados em apenas 9,6% dos pacientes. CONCLUSÕES: O adapaleno, neste estudo e nos vários que o antecederam, vem-se mostrando uma das melhores opções de tratamento tópico para os casos leves a moderados de acne vulgar.<br>BACKGROUND: Adapalene, a naftoic acid derivative with biological properties similar to those of the retinoic acid, is indicated in the treatment of acne vulgaris. OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out to evaluate the therapeutic action of adapalene 0.1% gel and its tolerability in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris in patients living in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients applied the gel at night for 12 weeks; and were evaluated regarding the efficacy and tolerability of the product according to the number of lesions observed at each of the 2-week and 12-week visits. RESULTS: Out of 125 patients, 81.6% completed 12 weeks of therapy and 10.4% of the cases left the study before week 12 because they were found to be lesion-free. Results allow us to confirm its effect upon keratinocyte cellular differentiation with antiinflammatory and antiproliferative properties. Adapalene induces a marked decrease in comedos and inflammatory lesions. Mild adverse events were reported in less than 10% of patients. CONCLUSION: Adapalene has been shown to be one of the best topical therapies for mild or moderate acne both in the present study and in previous studies