Clinical and Pathological Features of Pilomatrixoma in Children: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pilomatrixoma is a benign skin neoplasm that is common in children and is often misdiagnosed. This study aimed to summarize the clinical and pathological features of pilomatrixoma in children. METHODS: Data on demographic information, clinical and pathological features, diagnosis, and treatment of 171 patients with pilomatrixoma from Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 5.7 (standard deviation [SD] = 3.9) years old, and there were 2 age peaks (≤1 year old, 5-11 years old) and 2 age valleys (2-4 years old, ≥12 years old). The mean disease course was 9.3 (SD = 14.1) months, 69.0%, 86.5%, and 95.3% of the patients' disease course in 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months, respectively. The mean tumor volume was 0.6 (SD = 1.0) cm3, and 81.3% of the patients' tumor volume ≤1.0 cm3. Tumors were distributed sequentially in the head and neck (77.2%), upper limbs (12.9%), trunk (7.6%), and lower limbs (2.3%). The correct rates of clinical and ultrasonic diagnosis were 50.9% and 38.6%, respectively. The two most common pathological features of pilomatrixoma were shadow cells (99.4%) and basaloid cells (94.7%). There were no significant differences in age, disease course, or tumor volume between the male and female patients (p > 0.05). The age and tumor volume of the patients in different body parts were significantly different (P1 = 3.10E-05 and P2 = 5.60E-05, respectively). The correlation between the disease course and tumor volume was positively significant (p ≤ 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the disease course and tumor volume in patients with tumors at upper limbs (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The age of children with pilomatrixoma presented 2 peaks and 2 valleys. Most patients had disease courses in 24 months and with tumor volumes ≤1.0 cm3. The correct rates of clinical and ultrasonic diagnosis were relatively low. The head and neck were the most common distribution sites of pilomatrixoma, and shadow cells and basaloid cells were the most common pathological features. The tumor volume was positively correlated with disease course in patients with pilomatrixoma.

Building (001) oriented FAPbI3 films for high-performing perovskite solar cells.

The solution processed FAPbI3 perovskite usually suffers from chaotic orientations. Herein, a template structure of oriented 2D perovskite is used to obtain a high-quality FAPbI3 film with (001) preferred orientation by cation exchange. The highly oriented BA2PbI4 serves as a growth template and promotes the (001) orientation of the 3D perovskite. The dominantly (001) orientated FAPbI3 perovskite exhibits uniform surface morphology and suppressed film defects.

Interfacial engineering eliminates energy loss at perovskite/HTL junction.

Realizing efficient FAPbI3-based devices with high open-circuit voltage (VOC) is still challenging, due to severe energy loss between the n-type perovskite and p-type hole-transporting layer (HTL). Here, we developed a strategy involving controlling the formation of iodine vacancies in order to induce formation of p-type perovskite and hence mitigate such energy loss. Post-deposition of n-butylamine iodide was discovered to induce an n-to-p-type transition in the FAPbI3 perovskite and hence form the p-type perovskite/p-type HTL junction. The resultant device realized a VOC of as high as 1.12 V, a value ∼14.3% higher than that of the corresponding n-type FAPbI3 device (0.98 V).

Working memory deficit in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of fMRI studies examining frontal and parietal brain activity.

INTRODUCTION: The role of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings in investigation of working memory (WM) deficit in schizophrenia patients is still debatable. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of fMRI findings of the frontal and parietal brain activity in investigation of WM deficit in schizophrenia patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Database to conduct a comprehensive search up to January 2023. Functional MRI findings of schizophrenia patients were compared with healthy patients in comparative studies for assessing their WM capacity in terms of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and parietal region activation. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool was used to evaluate the research quality. RESULTS: Ten trials and 676 schizophrenia patients were included in our analysis. For the comparative assessment of primary outcome - alteration in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and parietal region activity in schizophrenic patients versus healthy controls - we found the pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.58 [95% CI: 1.09-2.29], I 2 = 61% and p = 0.01 and risk ratio (RR) was 1.27 [95% CI: 1.06-1.53], I 2 = 55% and p = 0.01. The AUC value of 0.944 indicates a favourable overall diagnostic performance of fMRI for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: fMRI findings showing abnormalities in the parietal and frontal regions can be used to study schizophrenia patients' WM deficits.

Efficacy and safety of oxymetazoline for the treatment of rosacea: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Since there is currently no conclusion on the efficacy and adverse effects of oxymetazoline, this meta-analysis attempts to explore its efficacy and adverse events, so as to provide guidance for clinical medication. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from the establishment of the database to May 2021. We included studies that patients were randomly assigned to receive oxymetazoline or vehicle, and we excluded duplicate publications, research without full text, incomplete information or inability to conduct data extraction, animal experiments, reviews, and systematic reviews. STATA 15.1 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The pooled results show that the 3 (RR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.53-2.03), 6 (RR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.47-2.00), 9 (RR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.40-1.90), 12 (RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.18-1.67) -hours CEA success rate and the 3 (RR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.34-2.03), 6 (RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.43-2.14), 9 (RR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.33-2.00), 12 (RR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.45-2.18) -hours SSA success rate after oxymetazoline treatment for rosacea is significantly higher than that of vehicle. Additionally, the pooled results show that the incidence of TEAEs after treatment with oxymetazoline is significantly higher than that of vehicle (RR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.10-1.2). However, our analysis of specific adverse events found that the oxymetazoline group was only significantly higher than the vehicle group in the incidence of application-site dermatitis (RR = 8.91, 95% CI: 1.76-45.23), and there was no statistical significance in the difference in the incidence of other adverse events. CONCLUSION: Oxymetazoline is effective and can be selected for the treatment of persistent facial erythema of rosacea. Additionally, application-site dermatitis was the most important one.

Caizhixuan hair tonic regulates both apoptosis and the PI3K/Akt pathway to treat androgenetic alopecia.

PURPOSE: Caizhixuan hair tonic (CZX) is a topical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, its active compounds and underlying mechanism for treating AGA are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of CZX on hair growth promotion in AGA mice and to explore the active components and mechanism. METHODS: Testosterone propionate was administered subcutaneously to mice to establish an AGA mouse model. The therapeutic effects of CZX on AGA were evaluated by observing skin colour changes, hair growth time, and average hair length; calculating the hair growth score; and performing skin histopathological analysis. Following that, CZX chemical components were analysed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). Network pharmacology was used to predict the major effects and possible mechanisms of CZX for the treatment of AGA. Furthermore, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed to assess the expression of key genes and proteins involved in PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways in order to validate CZX's predicted mechanism in AGA. RESULTS: CZX promoted hair growth and improved the pathological morphology of hair follicles in the skin. In UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis, 69 components from CZX were isolated. Based on network pharmacology, CZX alleviated AGA by regulating PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways. According to RT-qPCR and Western blotting, CZX upregulated the expressions of PI3K, Akt, and Bcl-2, while downregulating that of Bax and caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS: CZX promotes hair growth to treat AGA by regulating the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles in melanoma immune response and immunotherapy.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key immune regulators of the tumor microenvironment. They reshape the immune microenvironment and prevent antitumor immune responses via their immunosuppressive cargo, thereby determining cancer responsiveness to treatment. In the immune microenvironment of melanoma, tumor-derived EVs influence tumor progression by regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. Tumor-derived EV-based therapy is a cutting-edge and promising strategy for inhibiting melanoma progression and enhancing antitumor immunity. This review aimed to summarize the regulatory roles of EVs in the immune responses and immunotherapy of patients with melanoma. This paper provided insights into future exploration directions and potential clinical strategies targeting EVs for melanoma treatment.

Identification of a CD4-binding site-directed antibody with ADCC activity from a chronic HIV-1B'-infected Chinese donor.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) plays an important role in controlling HIV-1 invasion and replication in vivo. Isolation and identification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with ADCC activity help design effective vaccines and develop novel treatment strategies. In this study, we first identified a broad neutralizer who had been infected with an HIV-1B' strain for over 10 years. Next, through probe-specific single-B-cell sorting and PCR amplification, we obtained genes for variable regions of the heavy chain (VHs) and light chain (VLs) of six antibodies and ligated them into expression vectors. After antibody expression and ELISA screening, we obtained a CD4-binding site-directed antibody (451-B4), whose VH and VL originated from the IGHV1-24 and IGLV1-40 germlines, respectively. Although 451-B4 neutralized only the SF162 tier 1 pseudovirus and 398F1 tier 2 pseudovirus, it could mediate comparable ADCC activity to a broadly neutralizing antibody, VRC01. The 451-B4 antibody will be a useful candidate for developing an ADCC-based treatment strategy against HIV-1 replication or latent infection in vivo.

Relationship Between Vitamin D Level and Mortality in Adults With Psoriasis: A Retrospective Cohort Study of NHANES Data.

PURPOSE: Studies have shown an increased risk for mortality in patients with psoriasis. Furthermore, research has demonstrated an inverse relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level and all-cause mortality. This study investigated the association between 25(OH)D level and all-cause mortality in US adults with psoriasis. METHODS: Data from NHANES (1999-2014 and mortality data through December 31, 2015) were analyzed. Quartiles of 25(OH)D level were created based on 25(OH)D levels among patients. Cox proportional hazards models were used for estimating hazard ratios (95% CI) for all-cause mortality. FINDINGS: A total of 82,091 participants were enrolled in the NHANES study from 1999 to 2014. Overall, 610 patients with psoriasis were identified in NHANES. The mean (SD) duration of follow-up was 5.61 (3.38) years (3427.92 person-years). The hazard ratio for mortality in the fully adjusted model was 0.12 (95% CI, 0.02-0.60; Ptrend = 0.01) in patients with a high 25(OH)D concentration compared to those with 25(OH)D deficiency. IMPLICATIONS: The 25(OH)D concentration was significantly inversely associated with all-cause mortality among these patients with psoriasis. Studies have shown an increased risk for mortality in patients with psoriasis compared to the general population. Vitamin D is not regularly metabolized in patients with psoriasis due to their skin abnormality. Vitamin D supplementation has been associated with a reduced mortality in patients with psoriasis. In practice, attention to vitamin D level is crucial, as is the use of vitamin D supplementation, for improving the health of these patients.

A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Semaphorin 3A and Acitretin on the Proliferation, Migration, and Apoptosis of HaCaT Cells.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is significantly elevated in psoriatic patients and is associated with the severity of the psoriasis. Due to the effect of inhibiting production of VEGF, acitretin can effectively treat psoriasis. Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) restrain tumor growth and angiogenesis by partially reversing VEGF effects on tumor. However, the role of Sema3A in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is unclear. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of VEGF, Sema3A, and acitretin on HaCaT cells, to see whether Sema3A could be a beneficial factor in psoriasis, as well as acitretin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Functional analysis of VEGF, Sema3A, and acitretin was carried out using HaCaT cells cultured under different treatments. Cell counting kit-8 method, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, transwell migration, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot test were performed to measure proliferation, colony formation, migration, apoptosis, and the expression of Bcl2, Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9 of HaCaT cells. RESULTS: Sema3A and acitretin inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, and migration of HaCaT cells, while induced the apoptosis of HaCaT cells by inhibiting the expression of Bcl2, and promoting the expression of Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9, which were opposite to VEGF. Sema3A and acitretin partially reversed the function of VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: Like acitretin, exogenous supplement of Sema3A may correct the abnormal proliferation and apoptosis procedure of HaCaT cells, and partially reverse the function of VEGF.

No exonic mutations at GJB2, GJB3, GJB4, GJB6, ARS (Component B), and LOR genes responsible for a Chinese patient affected by progressive symmetric erythrokeratodermia with pseudoainhum.

OBJECTIVE: Progressive symmetric erythrokeratodermia (PSEK) is characterized by symmetric and growing erythematous hyperkeratotic patches over the body shortly after birth, particularly trunk and limbs, the buttocks, and the face, sometimes together with palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK). The GJB2, GJB3, GJB4, GJB6, ARS (Component B), and LOR gene mutation might contribute to PSEK manifestation. This study aimed to identify sequence alteration of these genes in a Chinese PSEK patient with pseudoainhum. METHODS: Genomic DNA was purified from the patient's peripheral blood. Mutation analysis of target genes was performed by direct sequencing using ABI 3730 sequencer RESULTS: No exonic mutations was identified in the aforementioned genes. CONCLUSIONS: The result underlines the genetic heterogeneity of PSEK and other related erythrokeratodermas.

TNIP1/ANXA6 and CSMD1 variants interacting with cigarette smoking, alcohol intake affect risk of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common multi-factorial skin disease, in which gene-gene and gene-environment interactions may affect the onset, manifestation and clinical course. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the underlying gene-environment interaction among several established susceptibility genes, cigarette smoking and alcohol intake. METHODS: Using a two-stage case-control design, we searched for pairwise interactions between cigarette smoking and alcohol intake respectively with 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at ERAP1, PTTG1, CSMD1, GJB2, SERPINB8, ZNF816A and TNIP1/ANXA6 that have been associated with risk for psoriasis in 7,223 subjects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Significant interactions were found for alcohol intake with rs3762999 (p=0.0257) and rs999556 (p=0.0071) at TNIP/ANXA6; and for cigarette smoking with rs7007032 (p=0.0023) and rs10088247 (p=0.0023) at CSMD1. CONCLUSION: This study provides empirical evidence for the gene-environment interactions between TNIP1/ANXA6 and alcohol use, CSMD1 and cigarette smoking, highlighting the importance of gene-environment interactions in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.