Clinical Features of Adult/Adolescent Atopic Dermatitis and Chinese Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic recurrent dermatitis with profound itching. Most patients have personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. Several criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of AD. Although the clinical features of childhood AD have been widely studied, there has been less large-scale study on adult/adolescent AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features of adult/adolescent patients with chronic symmetrical eczema/AD and to propose Chinese diagnostic criteria for adult/adolescent AD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A hospital-based study was performed. Forty-two dermatological centers participated in this study. Adult and adolescent patients (12 years and over) with chronic symmetrical eczema or AD were included in this study. Questionnaires were completed by both patients and investigators. The valid questionnaires were analyzed using EpiData 3.1 and SPSS 17.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 2662 valid questionnaires were collected (1369 male and 1293 female). Of all 2662 patients, 2062 (77.5%) patients had the disease after 12 years old, while only 600 (22.5%) patients had the disease before 12 years old, suggesting late-onset eczema/AD is common. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine (80.4%) patients had the disease for more than 6 months. One thousand one hundred and forty-four (43.0%) patients had a personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. One thousand five hundred and forty-eight (58.2%) patients had an elevated total serum IgE and/or eosinophilia and/or positive allergen-specific IgE. Based on these clinical and laboratory features, we proposed Chinese criteria for adult/adolescent AD. Of all 2662 patients, 60.3% were satisfied with our criteria, while only 48.2% satisfied with Hanifin Rajka criteria and 32.7% satisfied with Williams criteria, suggesting a good sensitivity of our criteria in adult/adolescent AD patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Late-onset of eczema or AD is common. The clinical manifestations of AD are heterogeneous. We have proposed Chinese diagnostic criteria for adolescent and adult AD, which are simple and sensitive for diagnosis of adult/adolescent AD.</p>

Correlation between CYP17 gene polymorphisms and female post adolescent acne in Han population in Hunan Province / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between androgen-related CYP17 gene polymorphisms and female post adolescent acne in Han population in Hunan Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The female patients with post adolescent acne and high levels of androgen (A group), those without high levels of androgen (B group) and healthy subjects (C group) were enrolled. The CYP17 gene polymorphism was investigated by PCR using DNA samples from peripheral blood lymphocytes. The T-->C transition in the risk allele (A2) produced a new recognition site for the restriction endonuclease MspA1 I. Three genotypes of androgen-related CYP17 gene (A1A1, A1A2, and A2A2) were determined and confirmed by sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of the A1A2 gene was similar in the cases and controls (P>0.05). The frequency of A2A2 gene was not significantly different between groups A and C (P>0.05). The frequency of A2A2 gene was significantly different between groups A and B and between groups B and C (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The presence of base substitution in androgen-related CYP17 gene at -34 bp (T-->C) increases the risk of post adolescent acne in female subjects with increased androgen levels.</p>

Clinical analysis of childhood acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the etiology, clinical features and treatment of childhood acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data from 20 cases of childhood acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis from 1990 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eighteen cases had a history of medication, including the use of penicillin (n=6), cephalosporins (n=3), sulphonamides (n=2), algopyrin (n=2), vaccines (n=2 ) and anti-cold drugs (n=3). Fever and generalized erythematous pustules were observed in all 20 cases. Histopathologic examination revealed spongiform superficial pustules and papillary edema. The patients were asked to stop taking suspected sensitizing drugs and received glucocorticoid treatment (1-2 mg/kg daily). After 3-5 days of the treatment, symptoms were improved and the dosage of glucocorticoid was gradually reduced. All patients were healed within 20 days after treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cause of AGEP is mainly attributed to the use of antibiotics, sulphonamides, antipyretic analgesics and vaccines in children. AGEP is characterized by fever and widespread pustular eruption of the skin. Removal of sensitizing factors and glucocorticoid administration is important in the treatment of AGEP in children.</p>

Establishment of systemic lupus erythematosus-like murine model with Sm mimotope / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) -like murine model by immunizing BALB/C mice with Sm mimotope.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sm mimotope was identified by screening a 12-mer random peptide library with monoclonal anti-Smith antibody. Sm mimotope was initially defined with sandwich ELISA, DNA sequencing, and deduced amino acid sequence; and BALB/C mice were subcutaneously injected with mixture phages clones. Sera Sm antibody, anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) of mice were detected using direct immunofluorescence; kidney histological changes were examined by HE staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Five randomly selected peptides were sequenced and the amino acid sequences IR, SQ, and PP were detected in a higher frequency. High-titer IgG autoantibodies of dsDNA, Sm, and ANA in the sera of experiment group were detected by ELISA 28 days after having been immunized by Sm mimotope. Proteinuria was detected 33 days later; immune complex and nephritis were observed in kidney specimens.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SLE-like murine model can be successfully induced by Sm phage mimotope.</p>

Protective effect of resveratrol against oxidative damage of UVA irradiated HaCaT cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the photoprotective effect and possible mechanisms of resveratrol for ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiated HaCaT cells.@*METHODS@#HaCaT cells under UVA irradiation with 5J/cm(2) were interfered with 0.01 mmol/L and 0.1 mmol/L resveratrol. The testing objects were divided into a control and a UVA irradiation group, and then we detected the proliferation capacity with methylthiazdyl tetrazolium (MTT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, content of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) with hydroxylamine, colorimetric, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods. The ultrastructure was observed under electron microscope.@*RESULTS@#Resveratrol could enhance the proliferation activity, SOD, GSH-Px activity of HaCaT cells under UVA irradiation, decrease the content of MDA in dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The electron microscope revealed that resveratrol could relieve the injury of HaCaT cells' ultrastructure.@*CONCLUSION@#Resveratrol can relieve the inhibition to HaCaT cell proliferation,injury of their ultrastructure and oxidation by UVA irradiation. The protection is dose-dependent. That resveratrol raises the oxidase activity and clears the oxyradical may account for these results.

Hepatitis C virus infection combined with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, to investigate the influence of HCV infection, and to analyze the clinical appearances and experimental immunological characters of SLE.@*METHODS@#Serum of 92 SLE patients and 58 normal control people was taken, and the HCV infection and experimental immunological characters were detected. SLE patients were divided into HCV infection group and non-HCV infection group according to the detective results. The immunological characters and clinical appearances were analyzed in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Thirteen of the 92 SLE patients were HCV positive, while only 2 of the 58 normal controls were positive. There were no significant differences in the clinical features including oral ulcer, arthritis, serositis, nephropathy, neural disorder, fever, as well as in the laboratory results including ANA, Anti-Ro/SSA, Anti-La/SSB, Anti-Sm, IgG and IgM in the two groups. HCV positive patients showed a lower frequency of butterfly erythema and positivity for Anti-dsDNA, and a higher frequency of cutaneous vasculitis, liver damage, positivity for RF and low C3, C4 levels.@*CONCLUSION@#Patients with SLE showed a high prevalence of HCV infection, and HCV may cause some clinical and immunological changes in SLE.

Effects of CD147 on the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 by fibroblasts and the invasion of melanoma cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate a possible role of CD147 in the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) by fibroblasts and the invasion of melanoma cells.@*METHODS@#We cocultured CD147-expression melanoma cells with fibroblasts and examined the MMP-9 expression of fibroblasts by zymography and the invasion of melanoma cells by transwell invasion assay.@*RESULTS@#MMP-9 expression was enhanced in conditioned media, while cocultured with melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, and CD147 antibody inhibited the production of MMP-9 in the fibroblasts. When fibroblasts were cultured at the bottom of the lower compartment of transwell invasion model, the number of melanoma cells that invaded significantly increased. Addition of anti-CD147 antibody to the upper compartment transwell invasion model resulted in the significant inhibition of the melanoma cell invasion in reconstituted basement membrane.@*CONCLUSION@#CD147 expressed in melanoma cells plays an important role in the melanoma cell invasion by stimulating the production of MMP-9 by fibroblasts.

Influences of UVA irradiation on the cell morphology and iNOS expression of cultured human fibroblasts and HaCaT cells / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To compare the effects of UVA irradiation on cell morphology,quantity and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein in human fibroblasts versus a kerati- nocyte cell line HaCaT.Methods Human fibroblasts and HaCaT cells were cultured and irradiated by 5 J/cm~2 UVA.Then,at 24,48 and 72 h after the stimulation,the cell morphology was observed under an in- verted microscope,and iNOS mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry method,respectively.Results After the irradiation,human fibroblasts showed shrinkage at the three time points,the quantities of the cells began to decrease significantly at 24 h (P