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Recently, the 2019 novel coronavirus has rapidly spread throughout China. The medical staff at dermatology departments of some hospitals in Hubei province also participated in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019. However, many problems emerged during this period. Some medical staff at dermatology departments lacked abilities to deal with emergencies, self-protect, and to conduct surveys on skin diseases occurring in this period. In this article, the authors highlight common problems in and give advice on dermatology teaching about national public health emergencies to healthcare workers, undergraduate students, graduate students and senior residents, hoping that healthcare workers at dermatology departments will calmly deal with public health emergencies in the future.
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Objective To visualize blood flow changes in verruca vulgaris noninvasively with laser speckle contrast analysis (LSCA), and to evaluate the relationship of size and location of warts with efficacy of laser treatment. Methods Pulsed dye laser(PDL)was used to treat 30 verruca vulgaris lesions in 17 patients. In order to evaluate therapeutic effect of PDL, LSCA was performed to observe blood flow in warts and their surrounding normal skin, and to calculate speckle flow index (SFI)values before laser treatment, and at 10 minutes as well as on 3 weeks after laser treatment. Results Before PDL treatment, SFI values were significantly higher in warts than in their surrounding normal skin (11.600 ± 1.190 vs. 5.280 ± 0.481, t = 8.169, P < 0.01). Compared with those before the treatment, SFI values in warts significantly decreased at 10 minutes(3.112 ± 0.484, t = 4.407, P < 0.01)and on week 3(7.315 ± 1.083, t = 3.294, P < 0.01)after the treatment, and were significantly higher on week 3 than at 10 minutes (t = 4.646, P < 0.01). SFI values in surrounding normal skin significantly increased at 10 minutes after the treatment compared with those before the treatment (20.260 ± 2.063 vs. 5.296 ± 0.708, t = 6.770, P < 0.01), but were significantly lower on week 3 than at 10 minutes (4.941 ± 0.616, t = 6.964, P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed between SFI values in surrounding normal skin on week 3 after the treatment and those before the treatment (t = 0.378, P = 0.707). The efficacy of laser treatment was associated wart size and location. Changes of blood flow(|ΔSFI|)were significantly higher in warts measuring less than 0.5 cm2 in size than in those equal to or more than 0.5 cm2 (t = 2.287, P < 0.05), and significantly differed among warts at different sites (F =15.71, P < 0.01). The greatest changes of blood flow in warts were observed on fingers, followed by the dorsum of feet, toes, palms and soles and periungual areas. Conclusions Blood flow in verruca vulgaris is markedly increased compared with that in normal skin. PDL can clear verruca vulgaris by solidifying and gasifying capillaries. LSCA may be used to evaluate the efficacy of laser on verruca vulgaris more quantitively by monitoring regional blood flow.
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Objective To detect the expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) as well as p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in the lesions of lichen planus.Methods Biopsy specimens were collected from the lesions of 32 patients with lichen planus and normal skin of 12 healthy human controls and subjected to paraffin embedding.Immunohistochemical avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method was used to detect the expressions of NGF,TrkA and p75NTR.Results NGF and TrkA,which were located in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes,were strongly or moderately expressed in the lesional skin specimens,but absent or weakly expressed in the normal skin specimens (both P ＜ 0.01).No significant differences were observed in the expression of p75NTR between the lesional and normal skin specimens,or in the expressions of NGF,TrkA or p75NTR among specimens from patients in different age groups,patients of different gender or lesions at different sites (all P ＞ 0.05).There was a positive correlation between the expression of NGF and TrkA in the lesions of lichen planus (R2 =0.535,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion NGF may play a certain role in the development of lichen planus via its highaffinity receptor TrkA.
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Listeria monocytogenes (LM), a Gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium, can be used as an effective exogenous antigen expression vector in tumor-target therapy. But for successful clinical application, it is necessary to construct attenuated LM stain that is safe yet retains the potency of LM based on the full virulent pathogen. In this study, attenuated LM and recombinants of LM expressing melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) were constructed successfully. The median lethal dose (LD(50)) and invasion efficiency of attenuated LM strains were detected. The recombinants were utilized for immunotherapy of animal model of B16F10 melanoma. The level of MIA mRNA expression in tumor tissue was detected by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific sequence, meanwhile the anti-tumor immune response was assayed by flow cytometric analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay. The results showed the toxicity and invasiveness of attenuated LM were decreased as compared with LM, and attenuated LM expressing MIA, especially the double-genes attenuated LM recombinant, could significantly induce anti-tumor immune response and inhibit tumor growth. This study implicates attenuated LM may be a safer and more effective vector for immunotherapy of melanoma.
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Animals , Male , Mice , Cancer Vaccines , Genetics , Allergy and Immunology , Extracellular Matrix Proteins , Genetics , Allergy and Immunology , Listeria monocytogenes , Allergy and Immunology , Melanoma , Genetics , Allergy and Immunology , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Vaccines, Attenuated , Genetics , Allergy and ImmunologyABSTRACT
Objective To analyze fungal isolates from patients with superficial fungal infections during 1960-2006.Methods Fungal strains isolated from patients with superficial (mucocutaneous and cutaneous)fungal infections and identified in the Medical Mycology Clinical Laboratory,Department of Dermatology and Venereology,Union Hospital,from 1960 to 2006 (data from September 1991 to July 1992 were unavailable),were subjected to a classification and statistical analysis.Clinical samples for mycological examination were taken from outpatients or inpatients of different departments in hospitals of Hubei province and surrounding areas.Morphological,physiological and biochemical methods were applied for species identification.Results A total of 11 989 Candida strains were isolated,which belonged to 23 species and 16 genera.They fell into 3 groups,i.e.,dermatophytes,Candida and yeasts (including Malassezia),and non-dermatophyte moulds.Since 287 strains of moulds were suspected to be contaminating fungi,11 702 residual isolates were analyzed.Of the analyzed isolates,Candida species (5642/11 702,48.2％ )and dermatophytes (5279/11 702,45.1％ )predominated,followed by yeasts (449/11 702,3.8％) and Malassezia species (332/11 702,2.8％).The most frequently isolated species was Trichophyton rubrum (3865/11 702,33.0％),Candida albicans (3110/11 702,26.6％ ) and non-albicans Candida species (2532/11 702,21.6％ ).Dermatophyte strains were mostly isolated from lesions of smooth skin with an exception of palmoplantar and interdigit regions (1787/5279,37.7％).The most common dermatophyte species was Trichophyton rubrum,followed by Trichophyton violanceum.Candida was mainly isolated from mucous membrane lesions (4099/5642,72.7％),with Candida albicans being the predominant species.Conclusions Candida species and dermatophytes predominate in patients with superficial fungal infections during 1960-2006,with Trichophyton rubrum being the most common species.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors TrkA and p75NTR in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and dermatofibroma.MethodsAvidin-biotin immunohistochemical(ABC) method was used to detect the expressions of NGF and its receptors TrkA and p75NTR in paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 17 cases of DFSP and 15 cases of dermatofibroma.Results NGF and TrkA were highly expressed in both DFSP and dermatofibroma specimens,with no significant difference between the two groups of specimens (x2 =0.11,0.02,respectively,both P ＞ 0.05),while the expression of p75NTR was significantly higher in DFSP than in dermatofibroma specimens(x2 =32,P ＜ 0.01 ).The expression of NGF was positively correlated with that of p75NTR in DFSP(R2 =0.623,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionNGF may play a certain role in the development of DFSP via its high-affinity receptor TrkA and low-affinity receptor p75NTR.
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Listeria monocytogenes (LM), a Gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium, can be used as an effective exogenous antigen expression vector in tumor-target therapy. But for successful clinical application, it is necessary to construct attenuated LM stain that is safe yet retains the potency of LM based on the full virulent pathogen. In this study, attenuated LM and recombinants of LM expressing melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) were constructed successfully. The median lethal dose (LD(50)) and invasion efficiency of attenuated LM strains were detected. The recombinants were utilized for immunotherapy of animal model of B16F10 melanoma. The level of MIA mRNA expression in tumor tissue was detected by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific sequence, meanwhile the anti-tumor immune response was assayed by flow cytometric analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay. The results showed the toxicity and invasiveness of attenuated LM were decreased as compared with LM, and attenuated LM expressing MIA, especially the double-genes attenuated LM recombinant, could significantly induce anti-tumor immune response and inhibit tumor growth. This study implicates attenuated LM may be a safer and more effective vector for immunotherapy of melanoma.
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Objective To investigate the potential role of Spa-1 in the development and metastasis of EMPD.Methods Tissue specimens were resected from 17 patients with primary EMPD,12 patients with invasive EMPD and 9 normal human controls.Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the expression of spa-1 and Ki-67.Results Positive staining was observed for Spa-1 in cytoplasm,and for Ki-67 in cell nuclei.Spa-1 and Ki-67 were weakly expressed in the basal layer of normal skin.The expression of Spa-1 and Ki-67 in EMPD tissue were statistically higher than those in the normal control tissue (both P<0.01).Increased expression of Spa-1 was noted in invasive EMPD tissue compared with in situ EMPD tissue.The expression of Spa-1 was positively correlated with that of Ki-67 in the tissue of EMPD.Conclusion Spa-1 may play a certain role in the initiation and progression of EMPD.
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Mental retardation is defined by significant limitations in intellectual function and adaptive behavior that occur before 18 years of age. Many chromosomal diseases come with mental retardation. We reported two Chinese families with partial trisomy 9p and other chromosome partial monosomy, clinical features of mental retardation and mild facial and pinkie anomalies. In the family 1, we showed that the proband carried a trisomy 9p21.3→pter and monosomy 21q22.3→qter by using fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Molecular genetic analysis defined the precise breakpoint on chromosome 9p between markers D9S1846 and D9S171, an interval of about 2.9 Mb on 9p21.3, and the breakpoint on chromosome 21q between markers D21S1897 and D21S1446, a region of about 1.5 Mb on 21q22.3. In the family 2, a patient with trisomy 9p21.3→pter and monosomy 5p15.33→pter, and a de novo maternal balanced translocation between chromosomes 5 and 9 was identified in his mother. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis defined the precise breakpoints on chromosome 9p21.3 and chromosome 5p15.33. Further clinical investigation found that any individual had no refractoriness eczema disease except the proband in this family. These results further implicate that trisomy 9p is associated with mental retardation, and that there may be key gene duplication on chromosome 9p21.3→9pter responsible for mental retardation and mild facial anomaly. This result has been applied successfully in prenatal diagnosis of the second family.
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Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of live-attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (LM)-based vaccines expressing the gene encoding a melanoma differentiation antigen,MART-1,on malignant melanoma and their mechanism.Methods The constructed plasmid pERL3-MART-1 was used to transform live-attenuated LM by electroporation to construct recombinant LM.i.e.△inlB LM-MART-1 and △actA/△inlB LM-MART-1.The half lethal dose (LD50) of attenuated listeria strains was determined by concentration gradient dilution method.C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups,namely PBS group,△inlB LM-MART-1 group and △actA/△inlB LM-MART-1 group.Mice were inoculated by intraperitoneal injection of O.1 LD50 of each rLM strain or PBS only.One week later,the mice were injected subcutaneously with 1×105 B16F10 cells(a mouse melanoma cell strain)in 200μl of PBS.Reimmunization was performed on day 14 and 21.Subsequently,the growth of tumor and survival of tumor bearing mice were observed.All mice were killed on day 28,and tumor tissue as well as splenocytes were obtained from these mice for the detection of MART-1 gene expression by real-time quantitative PCR and the percentage of CD4+CD25+T cell by flow cytometry.Results The recombinant △inlB LM-MART-1 and △actA/△inlB LM-MART-1 were constructed successfully.The LD50 of △inlB LM and △actA/△inlB LM was lower than LM-EGDe by 100 and 10 000 times respectively.Compared with PBS,the tumor growth was inhibited with △inlB LM-MART-1 by 46.95%(F=6.3,P<0.05),and by 83.96% with △actA/△inlB LM-MART-1(F=37.8,P<0.01).The relative expression level of MART-1 in △inlB LM-MART-1 group and △actA/△inlB LM-MART-1 group was 8.988±0.207 and 11.315±0.445 times that in PBS group (both P<0.05).The percentage of CD4+CD25+T cells in splenocytes was (2.52±0.20)%,(1.14±0.13)% and (0.44±0.15)% in PBS group,△ialB LM-MART-1 group and △actA/△inlB LM-MART-1 group,respectively;the differences were statistically significant between the three groups (all P<O.01).Conclusions The attenuated LM carrying MART-1 gene has a lower virulence than LM reference strain,and could efficiently suppress the growth of melanoma and lengthen the survival of melanoma-beating mice.
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Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects of L. monocytogenes expressing melanomainhibiting activity(MIA)gene on malignant melanoma.Methods The plasmid pERL3-hly-MIA was constructed and used to transform live L.monocytogenes by electroporation.Atier culture.the transformed L.monocytogenes,namely LM-hly-MIA,was harvested for the detection of MIA protein by Westem Blot.A total of 24 mice were divided into three groups,namely control group,LM group and LM-hly-MIA group,to be immunized with physiological saline,L.monocytogenes and LM-hly-MIA,respectively.One day after the immunization.mice were subcutaneously inoculated with 0.1 mL of B16 cells at a concentration of 1×107/mL.One week later.reimmunization was performed.The size and weight of tumors were observed and measured in these mice.Results Enzyme digestion and Western blot confirmed the Successful construction of plasmid pERL3-hly-MIA.The average weight of tumors in mice was 4.33±0.91 gram.3.36 ±0.41 gram and 1.89±0.52 gram,respectively in the control group,LM group and LM-hly-MIA group,respectively(P＜0.05).with the inhibition rates of tumor growth being 22.4%and 61.5%in LM group and LM-hly-MIA group.respectively.Conclusion The attenuated strain of L.monocytogenes expressing MIA gene could evidently inhibit melanoma growth.
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Objective To investigate the expressions of B7-H1 and PD-1 on peripheral leukocytes from patients with Henoch-Schtmlein purpura(HSP)and their significance.Methods Peripheral leukocytes were obtained from 36 patients with HSP(HSP group)and 24 healthy human controls(control group).Immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry were used to measure the expressions of B7-H1 and PD-1 on peripheral leukocytes.The expression of both two molecules was compared between the HSP group and control group as well as between patients with Henoch-Sch(o)nlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)(n=9)and those without(n=27).SPSS 12.0 for Windows was used for data analysis.Results The expression rate of B7-H1 on monocytes significantly increased(24.43%±25.79%vs 7.69%±8.31%,t=3.62,P＜0.011),while that of PD-1 decreased(0.84%±1.96%vs 2.28%±1.95%,t=2.78,P＜0.01)in HSP group compared with those in the control group.No significant difference was revealed in the expression of B7-H1 or PD-1 on lymphocytes between HSP group and control group(both P＞0.05).There was a significant increase in the expression of B7-H1 on monocytes(44.81%±12.36%vs 17.63%±25.63%,t=3.05,P＜0.01)and lymphocytes(8.78%±2.10%vs 5.65%±3.96%,t=2.25,P＜0.05)in patients with HSPN compared with those without.Conclusion There is a high expression of B7-H1.but low expression of PD-1 on peripheral blood monocytes from patients with HSP.suggesting that B7-H1 and PD-1 may play a certain role in the Dathogenesis of HSP.
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Objective To evaluate the targeted killing of malignant melanoma cells by aclarubicin liposomes conjugated with vascular endothelial growth factor(ADM-VEGF-SSL)in vitro.Metheds To detect the binding abilitv of liposomes to malignant melanoma(MM)cells,the human malignant melanoma cell line A375 was cultured in the presence of ADM-VEGF-3H-SSL or ADM-3H-SSL for 2 days followed by the detection of radioactivity of these cells.Then.A375 cells were cultured with various concentrations(0.01,0.1,1,10,100 mol/L)of ADM-VEGF-SSL,ADM-SSL or free ADM for 48 hours in the 48-hour cytotoxity test,or for 0.5 hour followed by another 48-hour culture in drug-free medium in the 0.5-hour cytotoxity test.After that,MTT assay was used to detect the survival rate of these cells.Results ADM-VEGF-SSL could specifically bind to and kill A375 cells.The binding rate of ADM-VEGF-SSL was 2.15 folds as high as that of ADM-SSL.The survival rate of A375 cells after being treated with ADM-VEGF-SSL for 48 hour was similar to that with flee ADM(P＞0.05).but lower than that with ADM-SSL(P＜0.05),while the survival rate of melanocytes treated with ADM-VEGF-SSL was higher than that with free ADM or ADM-SSL(both P＜0.05).As shown by the 0.5-hour cytotoxity test.shortening the treatment course did not attenuate the effect of ADM-VEGF-SSL on A375 cells.Conclusions ADM-VEGF-SSL can specifically recognize A375 cells.efficiently deliver adriamycin into tumor cells,markedly inhibit the proliferation of A375 cells,and eventually,a targeted kill of these cells is realized.
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In order to analyze the in vivo expression of Candida albicans secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAP) in human vaginal infection, the vaginal secretion from 29 human subjects was collected by vaginal swab, and the expression of SAP1-SAP6 was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using specific primer sets. It was found that Sap2 and Sap5 were the most common genes expressed during infection; Sap3 and Sap4 were detected in all subjects and all 6 SAP genes were simultaneously expressed in some patients with vaginal candidiasis. It was suggested that the SAP family is expressed by Candida albicans during infection in human and that Candida albicans infection is associated with the differential expression of individual SAP genes which may be involved in the pathogenesis of vaginal candidiasis.
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In order to analyze the in vivo expression of Candida albicans secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAP) in human vaginal infection, the vaginal secretion from 29 human subjects was collected by vaginal swab, and the expression of SAP1-SAP6 was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using specific primer sets. It was found that Sap2 and Sap5 were the most common genes expressed during infection; Sap3 and Sap4 were detected in all subjects and all 6 SAP genes were simultaneously expressed in some patients with vaginal candidiasis. It was suggested that the SAP family is expressed by Candida albicans during infection in human and that Candida albicans infection is associated with the differential expression of individual SAP genes which may be involved in the pathogenesis of vaginal candidiasis.
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OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of compound glycyrrhizin plus mizolastine for patients with generalized neurodermatitis(GND)and its influence on patietents' psychology.METHODS:60 patients with GND were randomly assigned to receive compound glycyrrhizin plus mizolastine(treatment group)or mizolasitine alone(control group)for 28 days.The psychological factors were examined before and after treatment using self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),and the curative effects and the psychological changes between two groups were compared.RESULTS:The SAS scores of treatment group and control group were 30.53? 1.50 and 33.20? 1.67,respectively(P
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In order to investigate the role of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) in cell proliferation and carcinogenesis in condyloma acuminatum (CA), immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression of MDM2 protein and mRNA in normal skin and skin lesions of CA of vulva. PCR was also used to detect HPV types. The results showed that in 32 observed CA specimens, the expression of MDM2 protein and mRNA was detected in 18 (56.25%) and 22 (68.75%) respectively, while the co-expression of MDM2 protein and mRNA was found in 14. PCR results revealed that HPV6/11 and HPV16/18 subtypes were shown in 28(87.5%) and 4 (12.5%) respectively out of 32 CA specimens. Out of the 18 positive specimens expressing MDM2 protein, HPV6/11 subtypes were shown in 15 and HPV16/18 subtypes in 3. In 22 positive specimens expressing MDM2 mRNA, HPV6/11 subtypes were shown in 18 and HPV16/18 subtypes in 4. No expression of MDM2 protein and MDM2 mRNA was observed in normal skin. Our study indicated that the overexpression of MDM2 might be involved in malignant proliferation and carcinogenesis of CA.
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Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic , Metabolism , Condylomata Acuminata , Metabolism , Microbiology , Pathology , Papillomaviridae , Papillomavirus Infections , Metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 , Genetics , RNA, Messenger , GeneticsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To develop an assay for the determination of berberine hydrochloride in berberine hydrochloride tablets,and to compare the results measured by colormetric method with the assay described in Chinese Pharmacopoeia 1995 for assessing the correlation of the two methods.METHODS Potassium dichromate colormetric method was selected to determine the content, and the 0.2 mg*mL-1Potassium dichromate was used as the reference solution. The absorbency was measured at 421 nm.RESULTS The calibration curve for berberine hydrochloride was linear within the concentration range of 4.0～28.0 μg*mL-1(r=0.9999).The average recovery was 100.05%(n=5),and the RSD was 0.43%.The analytical results for berberine hydrochloride between the two methods was found to be correlated.CONCLUSION The method was proved to be simple, precise and reproduciable. It can be used for the quantitative determination of berberine hydrochloride. It is especially practicable for rapid analysis in production.
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Objective To evaluate the profile of proliferating T cells and dendritic cells ( DCs ) in the skin infiltrates of patients with mycosis fungoides ( MF) in different stages. Method Paraffin section and immunohistochemisty with monoclonal antibody were used to detect the expression of special antigen per section. Results The numbers of Ki-67+ cells and cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen ( CLA+) cells both increased significantly in the skin infiltrates of MF. Most Ki-67+ cells expressed both CLA and CD4 antigen. The number of Ki-67+ cells was significantly higher ( P
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Objective To study the percentage and the distribution of nosocomial infection, and susceptibility of related pathogens to antibiotics in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods The clinical data of in patients with SLE in our hospital from June, 1990 to June, 1998 were analyzed. The susceptibility of the pathogens to antimicrobial agents was tested by K-B paper dilution method. Results The percentage of nosocomial infection in these cases was 16.1％ . The major pathogens were staphylococcas aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida. The most highly resistant microbes were E.coli, S.arueus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusions The nosocomial infection is one of the most common complication of SLE in the in patients. It is necessary to examine the pathogens regularly and use antibacterial agents according to the susceptibility.