In order to study the possible role of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (slL-2R) in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, we measured the levels of slL-2R in the sera and the tissue fluids from skin lesions and uninvolved skin from 41 patients with vitiligo, using the method of sandwich ELISA with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The results showed that the overall level of serum sIL-2R from patients with vitiligo was significantly higher, than that from normal control group (P0.05). The level of serum sIL-2R from patients with vitiligo in progressive stage was significantly higher than that in stable stage (P

Objective To study the relationship between the therapeutic principle and prescription of traditional Chinese medicine and the experimental pharmacologic effects in relation to the treatment of eczema. Methods Murine DNFB allergic contact dermatitis was used as an animal model, and was treated with 4 traditional Chinese medicinal compounds which were composed of Chinese materia medica with activities to suppress type Ⅳ allergic reaction. Results The results showed that the effect of compound Ⅲ composed of Paeoniae obovata Maxim(赤芍), Fructus Gardeniae(栀子), Herba Schizonepetae(荆芥), Herba Spirodelae(浮萍) and Poria(茯苓), possessing multiple potencies of cooling and promoting blood, clearing heat, expelling wind and eliminating dampness, was strongest among the compounds tested, and the compound up regulated the serum level of calcitonin gene related peptide which was lowered in the mice with DNFB induced dermatitis. Conclusion It is suggested that the compounds with suppressive effect on type Ⅳ allergic reaction might improve the therapeutic effect in clinical practice.

Objective To study the role of beta endorphin (?-EP) in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Methods Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure the levels of ?-EP in plasma from 40 patients and tissue fluid of lesional and non lesional skin from 33 patients with vitiligo. Results Plasma levels of ?-EP were significantly higher in patients with generalized(11.74?3.47 pmol/L), local(8.31?2.57) and segmental(8.61?2.61) vitiligo than those in normal controls(6.69?1.46). Tissue fluid levels of ?-EP were significantly higher in lesional skin (9.25?4.49 and 10.24?4.37) than those in non lesional skin (5.50?2.84 and 6.12?1.61) from patients with local and segmental vitiligo. Increased levels of ?-EP were observed in tissue fluid from both lesional and non lesional skin in patients with generalized vitiligo, however, no significant difference of ?-EP levels was found between the two kinds of skin tissue. Conclusion It is suggested that ?-EP might play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on protein Calbindin-D28k expression in hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia,and to investigate its influence on rats neurological behavior.Methods Male SD rats were randomized into blank control group,model group and acupuncture group,10 rats in each group.The rat model of focal cerebral ischemia was established by chemical-stimulation-induced occlusion of the unilateral middle cerebral artery.Acupuncture group received acupuncture of acupoints of Baihui and Shuigou,one time per day for 7 days.The changes of protein Calbindin-D28k expression in hippocampus of rats were observed before and after treatment,and the score of rats neurological behavior was observed after the modeling for 1~2 hour(s)and after treatment.Results Calbindin-D28k expression was decreased in the hippocampus of model group(P

Objective To study the chemical constituents of Clematis manshurica. MethodsThe extract from the roots and rhizomes of C. manshurica was subjected to chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column. The compounds obtained were identified on the basis of their physicochemical and spectroscopic evidences. ResultsEleven compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated as squalene (Ⅰ), friedelin (Ⅱ), hexacosoic acid (Ⅲ), ?-sitosterol (Ⅳ), stigmasterol (Ⅴ), oleanolic acid (Ⅵ), ?-daucosterol (Ⅶ), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (Ⅷ), methyl 3, 4-dihydroxy-phenyl lactate (Ⅸ), 5R-dihydro-5-hydroxymethyl-2(3H)-furanone (Ⅹ), 5R-5-hydroxymethyl-2(5H)-furanone (Ⅺ). ConclusionAll the compounds except for ?-sitosterol are isolated from the plant for the first time.

Objective To study the possible role of cytokines interleukin-1beta(IL-1?),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8),tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-?)and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF)in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.Methods The serum levels of IL-?,IL-6,IL-8,TNF-?,and GM-CSF were measured in50patients with vitiligo and20healthy volunteers with radioimmunoassay.Results The serum level of IL-6and GM-CSF in focal type and generalized type of vitiligo,and the serum level of IL-1?in generalized type were significantly higher than those in normal controls.In segmental type of vitiligo,the serum levels of all the cytokines tested were not significantly different from those in normal controls.The GM-CSF levels in focal type and generalized type,and the IL-6level in generalized type of the progressive stage were significantly higher than those in the stable stage.Conclusion IL-6and GM-CSF may be involved in the autoimmune mechanism of non-segmental type of vitiligo.

Objective To study the relationship between nitric oxide(NO)and some cytokines and the pathogenesis of vitiligo.Methods Nitric acid reductase assay and ELISA were used to determine the serum levels of NO,and IFN-?,IL-10and IL-12in32patients with vitiligo,compared with18normal controls.The levels of these molecules in suction blister fluids,including involved skin and uninvolved skin from20patients,were also determined.Results The serum levels of NO and IFN-?in vitiligo patients were significantly higher than those in controls,and the serum level of IL-10in the patients was significantly lower than that in controls.The serum level of IFN-?in generalized type of vitiligo and the serum level of NO in localized type of vitiligo in active stage were higher than those in stable stage.The NO level in suction blister fluid of localized vitiligo of involved skin was significantly higher than that of uninvolved skin.Conclusion These findings suggest that NO,IFN-?and IL-10might be involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

ibits tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in murine B16 melanoma cells. Hence, N-acetylglucosamine may serve as a skin lightening agent in the future.

[Objective] To estimate the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on melanogenesis in human melanocytes and underlying mechanisms.[Methods] Epidermal melanocytes were obtained from circumcision specimens of children,and subjected to primary culture.After 2 to 5 passages,the melanocytes were treated with different concentrations of ginsenoside Rb1,dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO,vehicle control),forskolin at 10 μmol/L(positive control) or remained untreated (blank control).After additional culture for 72 hours,methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and NaOH lysis method were used to evaluate cell viability and melanin content in melanocytes respectively,spectrophotometer to determine dopa oxidase activity of tyrosinase,Western blot to quantify the protein level of tyrosinase,microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF),phosphorylated and total cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB and t-CREB) in melanocytes.[Results] After treatment with ginsenoside Rbl of 25,50 and 100 μmol/L for 72 hours,the melanocytes experienced no significant changes in viability (P ＞ 0.05 ),but a significant dose-dependent increase in melanin content (112.4％± 5.7％,155.7％ + 6.3％,217.2％ ± 11.7％ vs.100％,P＜ 0.05 or 0.01) and tyrosinase activity(117.9％ ± 5.7％,158.2％ ± 9.6％,182.6％ ± 10.0％ vs.100％,P＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ) compared with the vehicle control melanocytes.The protein expressions of tyrosinase,MITF and p-CREB were statistically higher in melanocytes treated with ginsenoside Rb1 of 100 μmol/L for 72 hours than in the vehicle control melanocytes (225.4％ ± 12.8％ vs.100％ ± 7.9％,313.5％ ± 16.7％ vs.100％ ± 9.8％,322.5％ ± 21.1％ vs.100％ ± 9.1％,all P＜ 0.01).The increase in MITF protein expression was inapparent in melanocytes at 8 hours after the treatment with ginsenoside Rb1 of 100 μmol/L,but statistically significant at 24 hours compared with the melanocytes at baseline (P＜ 0.01).The pretreatment with H-89 (a 8elective inhibitor of PKA) at 10 μmol/L,significantly suppressed the ginsenoside Rb1 (100 μmol/L for 72 hours) -induced phosphorylation of CREB,increase in MITF,tyrosinase expression,as well as tyrosinase activity and melanin content in melanocytes (all P ＜ 0.01 ).[Conclusion]s Ginsenoside Rb1could enhance the melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity in normal human melanocytes.The PKA/CREB/MITF/ tyrosinase signaling pathway may contribute to the pro-melanogenic effect of ginsenoside Rb1.

Objective To evaluate the effect of salicylic acid on skin barrier function and the efficacy of salicylic acid combined with flumetasone ointment for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods Sixtyfour patients with AD (including 31 males and 33 females) aged 18 to 58 years were recruited into the present study.Four lesional areas of similar size and severity were selected at the similar body sites of both sides of each patient,and randomly classified into four groups to be topically treated with compound flumetasone ointment (containing 0.02％ flumetasone and 3％ salicylic acid,compound flumetasone group),flumetasone 0.02％ ointment (flumetasone group),salicylic acid 3％ ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group),respectively;two normal skin areas were chosen from apparently normal skin on the similar body sites of both sides of each patient and topically treated with salicylic acid 3％ ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group) respectively.All of these preparations were applied twice a day for 3 weeks.Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured by a Tewameter MPA580 (Courage & Khazaka,Germany) at the baseline as well as on week 1,2 and 3 after initiation of treatment.Symptom and sign scores were evaluated before and after the treatment.Meanwhile,two normal skin areas were selected on bilateral forearm of 30 healthy controls and treated with 3％ salicylic acid ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group) respectively twice a day for 3 weeks,and TEWL was measured before treatment as well as on week 1 and 3 after initiation of treatment.Results In the healthy controls,TEWL value showed no significant difference between the salicylic acid group and control group at any of these time points.As far as the lesional skin was concerned,no statistical difference was observed in TEWL value at the baseline between the four groups ((34.26 ± 20.82) vs.(33.02 ±16.71) vs.(34.16 ± 18.03) vs.(33.81 ± 17.11) g· m-2· h-1,P ＞ 0.05),but significant difference was noted after treatment (repeated measurement data analysis of variance,F =39.57,P ＜0.01),with the TEWL value being (22.38 ± 16.16),(17.04 ± 12.74),and (15.34 ± 13.13) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the compound flumetasone group on week 1,2 and 3,(24.63 ± 17.08),(20.37 ± 9.53),(19.06 ± 9.17) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the flumetasone group,(26.49 ± 8.59),(21.91 ± 8.46),(21.20 ± 9.38) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the salicylic acid group,and (29.80 ± 12.48),(26.16 ± 8.31),(25.52 ± 6.05) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the control group.In detail,the decrease in TEWL value was stronger in the compound flumetasone group than in the flumetasone group on week 1,2,and 3 (all P ＜0.05),in the salicylic acid group than in the control group (P ＜0.05 or 0.01),but similar between the flumetasone group and salicylic acid group.In non-lesional skin,the salicylic acid group showed a more intense decrease in TEWL value compared with the control group on week 2 and 3 (both P ＜0.05).Both the cure rate and response rate were significantly higher in the compound flumetasone group than in the flumetasone group (53.1％ vs.34.4％,x2 =4.57,P＜0.05;83.1％ vs.64.1％,x2 =6.90,P＜0.01).Conclusions The salicylic acid 3％ ointment shows a reparative effect on skin barrier in patients with AD,and the compound flumetasone ointment is superior to the flumetasone ointment in the treatment of AD.