[The Expression of microRNA-221 in Endometriosis and Its Impact on Endometrial Stromal Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of microRNA-221 (miR-221) in endometrial tissues and its impact on the proliferation of ectopic endometrial stromal cells. METHODS: Endometrial stromal cells were isolated, cultured and identified from normal endometrial tissues (taken from patients without endometriosis) and ectopic endometrial tissues (taken from patients with ovarian endometriosis). The expression of microRNA-221 was detected by stem-loop qRT-PCR. Changes in the expression of miR-221-3p in endometrial stromal cells exposed to estraldiol (10-8 mol/L) for 48 h were detected. The effects of miR-221-3p inhibitor on the expressions of miR-221-3p, phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and cell proliferations were compared with those of the negative control (NC, 10 nmol/L). RESULTS: The expression of miR-221-3p in ectopic endometrial tissues was 4.2 times higher than that in normal endometrial tissues (P=0.039): 2.66 times higher in ectopic endometrial stromal cells compared with normal endometrial stromal cells (P=0.029). But no differences in the expression of miR-221-5p were found (P>0.05). No differences in the change of miR-221-3p expression after exposure to estrogen for 48h were found between normal and ectopic stromal cells. Inhibition of miR-221-3p function was associated with decreased cell proliferation (P=0.018) and increased expression of PTEN gene (P=0.021). CONCLUSION: The expression of microRNA-221 is upregulated in ectopic endometrial tissues and ectopic endometrial stroma cells. Inhibiting the function of miR-221-3p may result in increased PTEN expression and decreased cell proliferation in endometrial stromal cells.

[Effect of modified wuhua decoction on skin barrier function in facial corticosteroid addictive dermatitis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Wuhua Decoction (WHD) on corticosteroid addictive dermatitis (CsAD) and in improving patients' facial skin barrier function. METHODS: Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the 38 in the treated group treated with WHD together with oral administration of levocetirizine tablet, while the 37 in the control group treated with levocetirizine tablet alone in the same way, 30 days as a course. Skin erythema dose (ED) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of patients were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: Five cases in the treated group and 7 cases in the control group were dropped out. The total effective rate was 69.7% (23/33 cases) in the treated group and 10.0% (3/30 cases) in the control group respectively, with the score of objective symptoms reduced from 5.48 +/- 1.60 before treatment to 1.24 +/- 1.62 after treatment and the score of subjective symptoms reduced from 7.06 +/- 1.54 to 1.55 +/- 1.72 in the treated group, while in the control group, the two indexes reduced from 5.57 +/- 1.25 to 3.27 +/- 1.55 and from 6.77 +/- 1.36 to 3.07 +/- 1.36 respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups and the efficacy in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P <0.01). Skin ED decreased significantly in the treated group after treatment, and insignificantly in the control group. TEWL began to decrease on the 15th day in the treated group, while it was unchanged in the control group; on the 30th day, although a decrease was shown in both groups, its reduction was lower in the treated group (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: WHD has significant clinical efficacy on CsAD, it could reduce the skin ED and quickly recover the injured facial skin barrier function.

[Clinical effect of treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin on patients with glucocorticosteroid induced facial dermatitis and its effect on skin barrier function].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin (abbr. as CHM) on glucocorticosteroid (GCS) induced facial dermatitis, and its effect in repairing skin barrier function. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients were randomly assigned into two groups, 68 in the treated group treated with CHM and 47 in the control group treated by oral administration of loratadine 10 mg once a day and ketotifen 1 mg once every night. The volume of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of patients was measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate was 77.9% (53/68) and 14.9% (7/47) in the treated group and the control group respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups, and it was better in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The decrease of TEWL in the treated group was also superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin has significant clinical efficiency on GCS induced facial dermatitis and in repairing the skin barrier function.