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Objective To investigate the cross-talk between extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal transduction pathways in A375 human melanoma cells.Methods Cultured A375 cells were randomly divided into 5 groups:control group receiving no treatment,two U0126 (a selective inhibitor of the ERK signaling pathway) groups treated with U0126 of 10 and 5 μmol/L,and two BMS-345541 groups treated with BMS-345541 of 10 and 5 μmol/L.After 24-hour treatment,Western blot and reverse transcription PCR were performed to measure the protein expressions of NF-κB P65,phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα),ERK1/2,as well as p-ERK1/2,and the mRNA expressions of NF-κB P65 and ERK1,respectively.One-way analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD)-t test were carried out for statistical analysis.Results After 24 hours of treatment with U0126 of 10 and 5 μmol/L,a significant decrease was noted in the relative expression level of NF-κB p65 protein (0.60 ± 0.04 and 0.56 ± 0.06 vs.1.54 ± 0.15,both P＜ 0.01) and mRNA (0.79 ± 0.05 and 0.75 ± 0.04 vs.0.86 ± 0.05,both P ＜ 0.01),but a statistical increase in that of p-IκBα protein (0.90 ± 0.05 and 0.70 ± 0.02 vs.0.61 ± 0.03,both P ＜ 0.01) in the two U0126 groups compared with the control group; significant differences were observed in the expression level of p-IκBo protein (P ＜ 0.01) but not in that of NF-κB p65 protein (P ＞ 0.01) between the two U0126 groups.The relative expression levels of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 proteins as well as ERK1 mRNA were significantly higher in the control A375 cells than those in the cells treated with BMS-345541 of 10 μmol/L (0.73 ± 0.07,0.75 ± 0.09,1.51 ± 0.02,all P ＜ 0.01),but similar to those treated with BMS-345541 of 5 μmol/L (0.94 ± 0.11,0.99 ± 0.04,1.62 ± 0.03,all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion There is a cross-talk between ERK and NF-κB signal transduction pathways in A375 melanoma cells.
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Objective To analyze Candida species causing vulvovaginal candidiasis in Qingdao and surrounding areas.Methods Vaginal discharge specimens were collected from 362 patients with suspected vulvovaginal candidiasis in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College from May 2011 to November 2011,and subjected to routine fungal culture.The Candida isolates were identified by using Sabouraud dextrose agar,CHROMagar medium,germ tube test with serum,and API 20C AUX Clinical Yeast System.Results Totally,313 (86.46％) Candida strains were isolated from the specimens of 362 patients.Of these Candida strains,275 were identified as Candida albicans,38 as non-albicans Candida species,including 13 Candida glabrata strains,8 Candida parapsilosis strains,7 Candida tropicalis strains,5 Candida krusei strains,1 Candida lusitaniae strain,1 Candida dubliniensis strain,1 Rhodotorula mucilaginosa strain,1 Pichia ohmeri strain and 1 Trichosporon mucoides strain.Conclusions As far as vulvovaginal candidiasis is concerned,Candida albicans is still the most prevalent pathogen,and Candida glabrata appears to be the predominant species in pathogenic non-albicans Candida species.
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Objective To evaluate the possible correlation between anxiety state and serum angiontensin Ⅱ levels in patients with vitiligo.Methods Sixty patients with progressive vitiligo and 30 normal human controls were included in this study.Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used to evaluate the anxiety state,and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the serum level of angiontensin Ⅱ,in these subjects.Results SAS score was significantly increased in patients compared with the controls (46.13 ±11.72 vs.36.73 ± 12.59,t =3.50,P ＜ 0.01),and 48.3％ of the patients were affected by anxiety.The SAS score and prevalence of anxiety were statistically higher in female than in male patients (t =2.47,x2 =4.58,both P ＜ 0.05),in unmarried than in married patients (t =2.59,P ＜ 0.01; x2 =6.17,P ＜ 0.05),in patients with lesions on exposed areas than in those with lesions on unexposed areas (t =3.60,P ＜ 0.01; x2 =5.84,P ＜0.05).In patients affected by anxiety,the level of serum angiontensin Ⅱ was significantly elevated compared with patients without anxiety (63.83 ± 10.92 vs.40.74 ± 8.70 ng/L,t =9.09,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Patients with vitiligo are usually affected by anxiety.The serum level of angiontensin Ⅱ is closely correlated with anxiety state in patients with vitiligo as well as with the development of vitiligo,and may have an impact on the initiation and progression of vitiligo.
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Objective To observe the effect of thymic peptide on the serum levels of IL-10 and IFN-? in patients with varruca planea and the effect of treatment.Methods Double-antibody sandwich ELISA was used to detect the serum levels of interleukin-10(IL-10) and interferon-gamma(IFN-?) in normal persons and varruca planea patients with thymic peptide and control before and after treatment.Results Before treatment,the serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in patients,while the levels of IFN-? were significantly lower than that in normal people(P0.05).The levels of IL-10 in the thymic peptide group were lower than those of control group,while the levels of IFN-? were higher than those of control group after treatment (p
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Objective To observe the effect of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) in killing Demodex in vitro and in the treatment of demodicidosis. Methods ① The experiment of in vitro killing Demodex with 1% and 2% SDBS was conducted. ② A clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the therapeutic effect in the treatment of demodicidosis with 2% SDBS and 2% metronidazole emulsion. Patients with demodicidosis were randomly divided into trial and control groups (31 cases each). They were treated with 2% SDBS ointment and 2% metronidazole ointment twice a day in the early morning and evening respectively for eight weeks consecutively. Inflammatory lesions of face, Demodex infestation and scores of erythema were measured to evaluate the effect before and after treatment. ③ Follow-up was carried out for two months to evaluate the effect and side-effects after 8 weeks' treatment. Results ① 2% SDBS killed all Demodex in vitro after 5h, there was significant difference between the 2% SDBS and 2% metronidazole (69