ABSTRACT
Objective To estimate the performance of Wood's lamp examination in the diagnosis of superficial cutaneous fungal infections. Methods Totally, 129 patients, who were diagnosed with superficial cutaneous fungal infections according to clinical medical history and signs, were enrolled in this study. Wood's lamp examination of lesions was carried out. Cutaneous samples were obtained from the patients and subjected to microscopic examination and fungal culture. Results Wood's lamp examination was positive in 84% and 85.7% of patients with tinea versicolor and malassezia folliculitis, respectively; among these patients positive for Wood's lamp examination, 92.9% were positive for fungal culture, and 87.5% for microscopic examination. In patients clinically diagnosed with tinea manus and pedis, tinea corporis or tinea cruris, 8.3% were positive for Wood's lamp examination, while 85.4% were positive for fungal examination. There was a high consistency between Wood's lamp examination and fungal examination in patients with tinea versicolor and malassezia folliculitis, but not in those with tinea manus and pedis, tinea corporis or tinea cruris. Conclusions Wood's lamp examination shows a high specificity and sensitivity and is useful in the diagnosis of tinea versicolor and malassezia folliculitis, but seems unapplicable for the diagnosis of tinea manus and pedis, tinea corporis or tinea cruris.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of isotretinoin erythromycin gel, a gel containing isotretinoin (0.05%) and erythromycin (2%), versus adapalene gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Methods A multicenter, randomized, open, parallel-controlled clinical study was conducted. A total of 192 patients with mild to moderate (Grade Ⅰ -Ⅲ ) acne vulgaris were enrolled in this study according to the grading criteria for acne severity in guidelines for the treatment of acne in China. Efficacy analysis was carried out in 169 patients and safety analysis in 190 patients. The patients were classified into trial group (n = 86) and control group (n = 83 ) to be treated with isotretinoin erythromycin gel or adapalene gel once a night for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated at the baseline, on week 2, 4 and 6 during the treatment for the count of comedones (both open and closed), inflammatory papules and pustules, severity of acne and local or general adverse effects. Results After the start of treatment, the response rate gradually increased and severity of acne decreased in both groups. On week 6, the total response rate was 51.16% in the trial group and 40.96% in the control group (P ＞ 0.05), while a greater reduction in the count of pustules and inflammatory lesions was observed on week 4 and 6 in the trial group with a lower severity grade of acne compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ). Adverse reactions were similar in both groups and manifested as tolerable local irritation. Conclusions The efficacy of isotretinoin erythromycin gel is similar to that of adapalene gel in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris, however, isotretinoin erythromycin gel seems superior to adapalene gel in reducing inflammatory lesions and rapidly improving severity of acne vulgaris.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of long-term repeated treatment of facial wrinkles with application of botulinum toxin A (BTXA). Methods A total of 52 patients had received 8 injections in seven years with BTXA against facial wrinkles, including forehead wrinkles, fishtail lines, glabellas wrinkles, and nasal dorsum transverse wrinkles. Besides day 1 (baseline) and day for the next injection (end-point), follow-up visits were scheduled on 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after every injection. The therapy effect and safety were evaluated. Results For all the patients, it began to take effect on day 3 or 4 after the treatment and best effect appeared on 1 month post-treatment. Patients' selfevaluation as grade 1 for the improvement of forehead wrinkles, fishtail lines, glabellas wrinkles and nasal dorsum transverse wrinkles, accounted for 100%, 97.1%, 99.8% and 99%, respectively. Correspondingly, cases as grade 2 accounted for 0, 2.9%, 0.2% and 1.0%. Grades 3 to 5 had not been reported. With the repetition of treatment, the efficiency increased. The average of effective duration was (7.8±1.1) months, which lasted longer with the injection times increased (r= 0.256, P= 0.02). Adverse reactions observed in the previous several injections, including ecchymosis, feeling of tightness, rigid expression and severer wrinkles near the injected site, which were mild and the incidence rate decreased after the following injections (r= 0.850, P= 0.01). Severe adverse effects, such as allergic reaction,headache, blepharoptosis and dysraphism of eyes had not happened in all the 52 patients. Conclusion Long-term repeated application of BTXA against facial wrinkles is safe and the efficacy is confirmed. The approach can be applied repeatedly to those who have indications and good tolerance.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the different expression pattern of Src-homology2 domain phosphatase (SHP)-1 and SHP-2 in human papiilomavirus (HPV)6/11 infected condyloma acuminatum (CA) and the significance of the difference. Methods HPV6/11 related CA cases were diagnosed by in situ hybridization. The expression and distribution of SHP-1 and SHP-2 were examined by SP immunohistochemistry technique in skin samples from 40 HPV 6/11 positive CA cases and 20 healthy control (foreskins). Results The positive rates of SHP-1 and SHP-2 were 80% and 85% respectively in CA, which were significantly higher than those in healthy control cases (only 35% and 30%, respectively, X2=11.87,P<0.01; X2 =18. 15,P<0. 01) . The SHP-1 and/or SHP-2 positive cells in CA skin lesions were mainly distributed in prickle layer, showing as brown yellow, with the positive staining located in cytoplasm. Contrastively, the SHP-1 and/or SHP-2 positive cells in healthy controls were rare and mainly distributed in basal layer, showing as pale yellow with the positive staining located in cytoplasm. There was no significant correlation between the expression of SHP-1 and SHP-2 in CA( rs = 1.0, P>0.05 ). Conclusion The expressions of SHP-1 and SHP-2 increase in HPV6/11 positive CA, which suggest that with the infection of HPV6/11, SHP-1 and SHP-2 may play a regulatory role in the proliferation of keratinocytes.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the expression of tyrosine phosphatase containing c-Src homology SH2 (SHP-2) in condyloma acuminatum. Methods Phosphorylated tyrosine and SHP-2 were detected in skin lesions of 30 patients with condyloma acuminatum, tumor tissues of 13 cases of cervical cancer and normal foreskin tissues of 11 normal controls by SP immunohistochemical stain. Results In the foreskin tissue, the phosphorylated tyrosine and SHP-2 were mainly expressed on the nuclei of kerotinocytes adjacent to the basal layer, and the number of cells with positive expression was not so many. In condyloma acuminatum, the positive cells arranged in patches, phosphorylated tyrosine and SHP-2 distributed in the cytoplasm. In cervical cancer, the expression of phosphorylated tyrosine and SHP-2 were mainly in the cytoplasm, diffusely distributed, and not in the nuclei. The positive expression rates of phosphorylated tyrosine and SHP-2 in condyloma acuminatum and cervical cancer were 96.67% (29/30) and 100% (13/13), respectively. However the cytoplasm of normal foreskin showed negative expression(0/11). Conclusions There is an aberrant activation of phosphorylated tyrosine and SHP-2 in condyloma acuminatum and cervical cancer. SHP-2 may play an important role in the carcinogenesis.