Facial dermatosis associated with Demodex: a case-control study.

Demodex has been considered to be related with multiple skin disorders, but controversy persists. In this case-control study, a survey was conducted with 860 dermatosis patients aged 12 to 84 years in Xi'an, China to identify the association between facial dermatosis and Demodex. Amongst the patients, 539 suffered from facial dermatosis and 321 suffered from non-facial dermatosis. Demodex mites were sampled and examined using the skin pressurization method. Multivariate regression analysis was applied to analyze the association between facial dermatosis and Demodex infestation, and to identify the risk factors of Demodex infestation. The results showed that total detection rate of Demodex was 43.0%. Patients aged above 30 years had higher odds of Demodex infestation than those under 30 years. Compared to patients with neutral skin, patients with mixed, oily, or dry skin were more likely to be infested with Demodex (odds ratios (ORs) were 2.5, 2.4, and 1.6, respectively). Moreover, Demodex infestation was found to be statistically associated with rosacea (OR=8.1), steroid-induced dermatitis (OR=2.7), seborrheic dermatitis (OR=2.2), and primary irritation dermatitis (OR=2.1). In particular, ORs calculated from the severe infestation (≥5 mites/cm(2)) rate were significantly higher than those of the total rate. Therefore, we concluded that Demodex is associated with rosacea, steroid-induced dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and primary irritation dermatitis. The rate of severe infestation is found to be more correlated with various dermatosis than the total infestation rate. The risk factors of Demodex infestation, age, and skin types were identified. Our study also suggested that good hygiene practice might reduce the chances of demodicosis and Demodex infestation.

Effect of topical application of terbinafine on fungal keratitis.

BACKGROUND: Fungal keratitis is a rare but serious corneal disease that may result in loss of vision. The poor prognosis might be due to limited treatment option. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of 0.25% terbinafine eye drops comparing with 5% natamycin suspension on fungal keratitis. METHODS: A retrospective clinical trial was performed on 90 patients presenting with direct smear and/or culture positive fungal keratitis at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing, China from January 2006 to May 2008. Corneal ulcers were categorized as mild or severe. Forty-five patients were treated with topical terbinafine and the next 45 cases received topical natamycin hourly. RESULTS: Filamentous fungi were found in corneal scrapings among all 90 cases. Fungal cultures were positive in 64 patients (71%). Species of Fusarium and Aspergillus were the principal isolates. Forty (89%) patients showed favorable response to terbinafine, while forty-two (93%) patients exhibited favorable response to natamycin (P > 0.05). The mean course of treatment was significantly showed in the terbinafine treatment group than natamycin group ((26.5 +/- 11.2) days versus (19.3 +/- 6.4) days; P < 0.05). In terbinafine group, twenty patients with ulcers smaller than 4 mm had favorable outcome, while 20 of 25 patients with ulcers more than 4 mm in diameter had favorable response (P < 0.05). Twenty-seven patients with depth of infiltration less than half of stroma thickness had favorable response to terbinafine, while 13 of 18 patients with depth of infiltration more than half of stroma responded to terbinafine. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that topical terbinafine is an effective antifungal drug for the management of filamentous mycotic keratitis, particularly in cases with smaller and shallower ulcers. Its mean duration of treatment was longer than natamycin.

Novel mutations of the ATP2A2 gene in two families with Darier's disease.

Darier's disease (DD) is an autosomal dominant genodermatology. Mutations in the ATP2A2 gene encoding sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium pumping ATPase type 2 (SERCA2) have been identified as the molecular basis of DD. The aim of this study was to report two Chinese pedigree of DD and to explore the genetic mutations. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out to amplify the exons and flanking intron boundaries of the ATP2A2 gene followed by direct sequencing. Two novel missense mutations were identified, a change of C203 to A (A68E) in exon 3 was found in one family and a change of C2759 to T (S920F) in exon 19 in the other, which were located within the transmembrane domain of SERCA2, highly conserved during evolution. The A68E and S920F mutations might be regarded as the causes of the disease in two Chinese families, but these were not tested functionally. Additional functional experiments are necessary to verify the relevance and suitability of these findings for future use in genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

[Inhibiting proliferation of cultured rat lens epithelial cells by bFGF antisense oligonucleotides and their liposomes].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) antisense oligonucleotides and their liposomes on the proliferation of cultured rat lens epithelial cells (LECs). METHODS: The rat LECs were cultured and bFGF antisense oligonucleotides (AONs), sense oligonucleotides (SONs), AON liposomes, SON liposomes were added to second passage of cells supplied with DMEM while empty liposomes served as controls. MTT assay was used to examine the proliferation of LECs, and RT-PCR was performed to quantify bFGF mRNA expression in LECs 24 h after treatment. RESULTS: The Shapes of rat LECs were polygonal after 24 h in culture. Cell confluence was reached in 2 - 3 weeks. After subculture, confluence was occurred in 1 - 2 weeks. The results of MTT assay were showed that the absorption (A) value of bFGF AONs was 0.138 +/- 0.074, and that of bFGF SONs and DMEM control were 0.325 +/- 0.097 and 0.370 +/- 0.079, respectively. The A value of AONs was significantly less than SONs and DMEM alone (P = 0.024, P = 0.005). The absorption (A) value of bFGF AON liposomes was 0.128 +/- 0.032, and that of bFGF SON liposomes and liposomes alone were 0.238 +/- 0.120 and 0.348 +/- 0.017. The absorption (A) value of AON liposomes was not significantly different from that of liposomes negative control (P = 0.000). By RT-PCR, the amounts of PCR product for bFGF AONs, SONs and DMEM control were 0.33 micro g, 0.99 micro g, 0.85 micro g. The amounts of PCR product of bFGF AON liposomes, SON liposomes and liposomes only were 0.23 micro g, 0.48 micro g, 0.56 micro g. CONCLUSIONS: The proliferation of cultured rat LECs is inhibited by the treatment of the antisense oligonucleotides, the inhibition is correlated with decreased expression of bFGF mRNA.