Background/Aims. NLRP3 inflammasome, an inflammasome which consists of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain- (Nod-) like receptor3 (NLRP3) scaffold, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) containing a CARD adaptor, and pro-caspase-1, is assembled after the cytoplasmic leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) of NLRP3 sense pathogens or danger signals. In recent years, the role of inflammasome in cardiovascular diseases has attracted mounting attention, and the in-depth study of its mechanism is gradually clear. Materials. The NLRP3 inflammasome controls the activation of the proteolytic enzyme caspase-1. Caspase-1 in turn regulates the maturation of the proinflammasome cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, which leads to an inflammatory response. We made a mini-review on the association of regulatory mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome with the development of cardiovascular diseases systematically based on the recent research studies. Discussion. The inflammasome plays an indispensable role in the development of atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases (CHD), and heart ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and NLRP3 inflammasome may become a new target for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Effective regulation of NLRP3 may help prevent or even treat cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion. This mini-review focuses on the association of regulatory mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome with the development of cardiovascular diseases, which may supply some important clues for future therapies and novel drug targets for cardiovascular diseases.

We have investigated newly reported pneumoconiosis cases in the province of Hubei, China from 2008 to 2013, to identify the major problems and challenges, and explore possible solutions for its prevention and control. We analyzed the data on new cases of pneumoconiosis from annual reports, including case distributions, patient ages, exposure duration, disease stages, and enterprise types. A total of 3665 new pneumoconiosis cases were reported between 2008 and 2013 in Hubei Province. Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis, which accounted for 97.19% of the total, were the most common types. The duration of exposure of 33.32% cases was less than 10 years. Most of the new pneumoconiosis cases worked in industries that produced coal, nonferrous metal, or building materials. About 42.46% of pneumoconiosis cases were from small and medium-sized enterprises. The proportion of cases with combined pneumoconiosis and tuberculosis was 6.6%, and the incidence of tuberculosis was highest in workers with silicosis. The current situation of pneumoconiosis in China is serious. Lack of attention to occupational health, inefficient surveillance, and weak occupational health services may have contributed to the increased new pneumoconiosis cases.

Background/Aims. Nucleotide diversity may affect the immune regulation of tuberculosis (TB) patients, leading to the individual susceptibility to TB. In recent years, there are a lot of researches on the association of host genetic factors and TB susceptibility which has attracted increasing attention, and the in-depth study of its mechanism is gradually clear.Materials. We made a minireview on the association of many candidate genes with TB based on recent research studies systematically, such as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene, the solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1) gene system, the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, the mannan-binding lectin (MBL) gene, the nitric oxide synthase 2A (NOS2A) gene, the speckled 110 (SP110) gene, and the P2X7 receptor (P2X7) gene. The discovery of these candidate genes could reveal the pathogenesis of TB comprehensively and is crucial to provide scientific evidence for formulating the related measures of prevention and cure.Discussion. The host genes play important roles in the development of TB, and the host genes may become new targets for the prevention and treatment of TB. Effective regulation of host genes may help prevent or even treat TB.Conclusion. This minireview focuses on the association of host genes with the development of TB, which may supply some clues for future therapies and novel drug targets for TB.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the major pathogen of tuberculosis (TB). With the growing problem of M. tuberculosis resistant to conventional antibiotics, especially multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively-drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), the need for new TB drugs is now more prominent than ever. Among the promising candidates for anti-TB drugs, anti-mycobacterial peptides have a few advantages, such as low immunogenicity, selective affinity to prokaryotic negatively charged cell envelopes, and diverse modes of action. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the anti-mycobacterial peptides, highlighting the sources, effectiveness and bactericidal mechanisms of these antimicrobial peptides. Most of the current anti-mycobacterial peptides are derived either from host immune cells, bacterial extraction, or mycobacteriophages. Besides trans-membrane pore formation, which is considered to be the common bactericidal mechanism, many of the anti-mycobacterial peptides have the second non-membrane targets within mycobacteria. Additionally, some antimicrobial peptides play critical roles in innate immunity. However, a few obstacles, such as short half-life in vivo and resistance to antimicrobial peptides, need overcoming before clinical applications. Nevertheless, the multiple functions of anti-mycobacterial peptides, especially direct killing of pathogens and immune-modulators in infectious and inflammatory conditions, indicate that they are promising candidates for future drug development.

Background The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in low and middle-income countries is a significant public health and social concern. TB is a common infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which has a widespread infection rate. Health care-seeking delay maybe one of the most important neglected risk factors for the spread of TB. Objectives The aim of this study was to understand the situation of health care-seeking delay among rural tuberculosis patients in Hubei Province, and explore its risk factors. Methods A total of 1408 rural tuberculosis patients were surveyed using a standard structured questionnaire in three cities of Hubei Province during the past two years. Results For the 1408cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 39.70% of them were health care-seeking delayed. Logistic regressions indicate that the Han nationality, farming careers, the over 45 min walk to the township’s hospital, and awareness of the national TB free treatment policy, were significantly associated with higher odds of a delay in care seeking. Conclusions The prevalence of health care-seeking delay among tuberculosis patients was high in rural areas. It is essential to take comprehensive targeted interventions to reduce care-seeking delay.