Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of compound Bletilla Striata cream in the treatment of patients with second degree hand rhagadia. Methods: Totally 146 patients with second degree hand rhagadia were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group with 73 cases in each. The treatment group was treated with compound Bletilla Striata cream, while the control group was treated with urea ointment. The treatment course was 10 days. The time of paln disappearance, keratoder-ma softening and rhagadia healing were compared between the two groups, and the efficacy and adverse drug reactions of the two groups were also observed and compared. Results:After the first treatment course, the curative rate of the treatment group was 94. 5%, which was higher than that of the control group (82. 2%) with statistical significance (P<0. 05). The total effective rate of the two groups was both 100% without statistical significance (P>0. 05). The time of keratoderma softening and rhagadia healing in the treatment group was significant shorter than that in the control group (P<0. 05), while the time of paln disappearance showed no significant difference between the two groups(P>0. 05). Conclusion: Compound Bletilla Striata cream in the treatment of second degree hand rhagadia is effective and safe, which shows good prospect for clinical application.

Objective To investigate the effect of Candida albicans and its components on the expression level of human beta-defensin-2 mRNA (HBD-2) in keratinocytes in vitro. Methods Different components of Candida albicans were isolated by lyticase, repeated freezing and thawing, sonication, and centrifugation. The keratinocytes and HaCaT cell lines were co-cultured with Candida albicans and its cellular components for 24 h. The expression level of HBD-2 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Low expression level of HBD-2 mRNA in the unstimulated keratinocytes and HaCaT cells was detected. The HBD-2 mRNA expression levels in the keratinocytes stimulated by Candida albicans, the extract of its cell wall, and pure mannan were significantly increased (P 0.05). Conclusions Candida albicans, the extract of cell wall of Candida albicans, and commercial mannan can increase the expression level of HBD-2 mRNA in keratinocytes.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and mutation of TGFBI gene in a Chinese pedigree affected with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from 35 members including 11 patients from the pedigree. The 17 exons and splicing region of introns of the TGFBI gene were amplified by PCR. The products were directly sequenced and compared with GenBank database to identify potential mutation. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to predict the effect of mutation on proteins.

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation (p.R124C) was found in exon 4 of the TGFBI gene in all patients from the pedigree but not among unaffected members. The mode of inheritance of corneal dystrophy in this pedigree was identified as autosomal dominant. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the p.R124C mutation may be functionally deleterious. The phenotype of corneal dystrophy in the pedigree was determined to be LCD I type.

CONCLUSIONThe p.R124C mutation of the TGFBI gene probably underlies the pathogenesis of LCD in this Chinese pedigree. Genetic testing can facilitate proper diagnosis of this type of corneal dystrophy.