ABSTRACT
[Objective] To evaluate the efficacy of autologous whole blood injections in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria and positive autologous serum skin test (ASST).[[Methods]] After assessment of clinical history,patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria underwent skin prick test (SPT) and ASST.Then,100 patients with positive ASST but negative SPT for common allergens were randomly classified into treatment group (n =60) and control group (n =40).Oral loratadine was given to all the patients with a gradual tapering to the least maintenance dose.Patients in the treatment group were also injected with autologous whole blood once a week for 12 times.Patients were evaluated by urticaria activity score (UAS) and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) at the baseline,the end of the 3rd and 6th month after the initial treatment.The total amount of antihistamines required for the control of urticaria every month was calculated.The UAS,DLQI,accumulative amount of administrated antihistamines,and the diameter of wheal/flush induced by autologous serum were compared by t test before and after the treatment,and the efficacy was compared by rank sum test between the two groups.[Results] No significant difference was observed between the control and treatment group in UAS at the baseline (5.73 ± 0.51 vs.5.32 ± 0.79,P＞ 0.05).The UAS reached 1.57 ± 1.42 and 0.69± 0.92 with a decrease rate of 69％ and 81％ in the treatment group,and 3.65 ± 1.53 and 2.65 ± 1.61 with a decrease rate of 35％ and 53％ in the control group,respectively at the end of the 3rd and 6th month,and statistical difference was observed for the decrease in both groups at the two time points (all P ＜ 0.05).The total amount of antihistamines required for the control of urticaria per month averaged 8.63 pills and 3.83 pills respectively in the treatment group after 3 and 6 months of treatment,significantly less than that in the control group (16.85 and 15.27 pills,respectively).[Conclusion]s The combination of oral antihistamine and autologous whole blood injections can not only reduce disease activity and improve patients' quality of life,but also decrease the total amount of antihistamines required for the control of urticaria.
ABSTRACT
Objectives To construct a cDNA subtractive library of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in anagen with suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and clone differentially expressed genes related to DPCs in anagen. Methods Total RNA was isolated from DPC of anagen and telogen follicles. Then ds cDNAs were synthesized in turn using SMART cDNA synthesis technique. After cDNAs from anagen and telogen follicle DPCs were hybridized with each other twice and underwent two rounds of nested PCR, PCR products were ligated with arms of T/A plasmid vectors to set up the subtractive library. Selected clones were verified by reverse Nothern blot and DNA sequencing, and the acquired sequences were analyzed for homology based on Genbank nucleotide database. Results cDNA subtractive library of DPCs in anagen follicle was set up successfully with high subtractive efficiency. Thirty-five genes were identified with 22 known functional genes and 13 unknown functional genes. Conclusions These results demonstrate the effectiveness and sensitivity of SSH in detecting differentially expressed genes from a small amount of clinical samples. Information about such alterations in gene expression might be useful for elucidating the genetic events in hair follicle growth regulation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the expressions of C/EBPs mRNA and protein in the sebaceous gland and to study the relationship between C/EBPs and the differentiation of sebocytes. Methods RT-PCR and immunhischemistry were used to detect the expressions of C/EBPs mRNA and protein in the embryo and adult sebaceous glands. Results The lowest expression of C/EBP? mRNA in the sebaceous gland was found in embryonic period, but increased gradually during the developmental stages. The expression of C/EBP? mRNA in the sebaceous gland showed different expression patterns, i.e. it maintained at low level in all of the developmental stages. Expressions of C/EBP? and ? protein were found in the nuclei of sebocytes in embryonic period but in the basal cell layer of sebaceous glands in maturation phase. Conclusion The expression patterns of C/EBPs are different in the sebaceous gland from embryonic to adult stages, suggesting that C/EBP? and ? may play important roles in the development of human sebaceous gland.
ABSTRACT
Objective To screen and clone the genes related to alopecia areata. Methods Dermal papillae of lesional and non lesional follicles were separated from alopecia areata scalp respectively. Suppression subtractive hybridization was used to investigate the difference of expressed genes in dermal papillae of lesional (tester) and non lesional (driver) follicles, and the differentially expressed genes in dermal papillae of lesional follicles were cloned and sequenced. Results A subtractive library of dermal papillae of lesional follicles from alopecia areata was established. A differentially expressed gene in dermal papillae of lesional follicles was successfully cloned and proved to be an autoantigen gene. Conclusions The subtractive library may contain the differentially genes related to alopecia. The autoantigen gene related to alopecia areata need to be further investigated.