0.05);however,the urine G-actin con-centrations were significantly higher in renal involved patients than those of non-renal involved patients(P0.05)in SLE patients.Conclusions The elevated G-actin concentration in the blood of SLE may inhibits the DNaseⅠactivity,which may be one of possible causes to render the decreased DNaseⅠactivity in the blood.

Objective To explore the characteristics of DNA antigen deposited in the skin lesions of patients with lupus erythematosus (LE). Methods Thirty-two LE skin specimens were collected. The deposited immune complexes were obtained by cryoprecipitation methods. Then the samples were digested by protease. Finally DNA was extracted with phenol and chloroform. The size of DNA fragments was detected on agarose gel electrophoresis. Ten kinds of probes were used to analyze the origin of these DNA molecules by dot hybridization. Results DNA fragments were successfully isolated from 27 skin specimens with four kinds of different sizes including band-I (20 000 bp), band-Ⅱ (1 300 bp), band-Ⅲ (800-900 bp) and band-Ⅳ (100-120 bp). In 15 specimens most of DNA was identified as band-I. In 2 specimens band-Ⅰ, -Ⅱ and -Ⅲ were all noticed, while all four bands were detected in 10 specimens. There was a positive correlation between small-sized fragments (100-200 bp) and disease activity (P

Objective In order to study the pathogenesis of human papillomavirus(HPV) and seek for a therapeutic approach of the diseases caused by HPV, the construction of HPV18 E6E7 antisense RNA expressing recombinants was studied. Methods We amplified the HPV18 E6E7 816bp by PCR with HPV18 plasmid DNA as the template. pLNSX retroviruses were used as vectors,the HPV18 E6E7 retrovirus recombinants were constructed. And then the recombinants were cleaved with restriction endonuclease and hybridized with Southern blot for identifying the inserting direction and special check respectively. Results and conclusion The HPV18 E6E7 antisense RNA retrovirus expressing recombinants were screened and obtained,which had laid the foundation of studying the function of E6E7 genes further and explore whether the antisense technique can adjust and control the expression of E6E7 genes.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of betamethasone neomycin ointment in treatment of patients with subacute eczema. METHODS: The clinical trial was performed on patients with limited, subacute eczema by a randomized double blind method. Hydrocortisone neomycin ointment was chosen as controls. RESULTS: There were 45 patients involved in this study, including 23 patients in betamethasone neomycin ointment group and 22 patients in hydrocortisone neomycin ointment group. The total integra decrease of betamethasone neomycin ointment group [ 12.26 ? 2.42 to 5.61 ? 2.23 ( d 7 ), 2.83 ? 2.06 ( d 14 )] was better than that of hydrocortisone neomycin ointment group [ 13.18 ? 2.28 to 9.18 ? 3.72 ( d 7 ), 6.82 ? 3.46 ( d 14 )] on the 7th and 14th day after the treatment (P

Objective To explore the role of mouse dermis-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mdMSC) on skin repair. Methods mdMSC and human dermal fibroblasts were isolated and identified. Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured alone or eoeultured with mdMSC in Transwell chambers with the density ratio of human dermal fibroblasts to mdMSC being 2/5, 1/1, and 2/1. On day 4 and 8 of culture, the expression levels of hydroxyproline and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) 1 were measured in the supematant of monoculture and coculture by alkaline hydrolysis and ELISA respectively. Results The level of hydro-xyproline was significantly higher in the supematants of coculture system with a density ratio of 2/5 and 1/1 than that in monoculture supematants of human dermal fibroblasts on day 8 (both P < 0.05). Elevated level of TGF-betal was observed in all coculture supematants on day 8 (all P < 0.01) and in the supernatants of coculture system with a density ratio of 1/1 on day 4 (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the expression level of TGF-betal and hydroxyproline in the coculture supernatants (r = 0.108, P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion In vitro coculture with mdMSC can increase the production of hydroxyproline and TGF-betal by fibroblasts, which may be a mechanism underlying the facilitation of skin repair by mdMSC.

Objective To explore the role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of chronic eczema. Methods Twenty-seven patients with chronic eczema were enrolled into this study along with 12 normal human controls. The severity of eczema was evaluated by eczema area and severity index (EASI) in patients. Skin specimens and vein blood samples were obtained from all the subjects. Reverse-transcription PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of IL-18 and IFN-γ in the skin tissue, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the protein expression of IL-18 and IFN-γ in the sera of these subjects. Results The mRNA expression level in patients and controls was 1.04±0.29 pg/mL and 0.52±0.15 pg/mL for IL-18, respectively, 0.96±0.34 pg/mL and 0.47±0.12 pg/mL for IFN-γ, respectively; a significant increase was observed in the mRNA expression level of both IFN-γ and IL-18 in the patients than in the controls (both P<0.01). Moreover, the mRNA expression level of both IFN-γ and IL-18 positively correlated with the severity of eczema in patients (r=0.737, 0.883, both P<0.01). The protein expression level of IL-18 and IFN-γ was 475.8±59.4 pg/mL and 10.1±7.0 pg/mL, respectively, in the patients, 123.6 ±29.5 pg/mL and 11.1±3.4 pg/mL, respectively, in the controls; a statistical difference was observed in the protein expression level of IL-18 (P<0.01), but not in that of IFN-γ(P>0.01), between the patients and controls. No significant correlation was observed betweenthe serum level of IL-18 or IFN-γ and sererity of eczema in the patients (both P>0.01). Conclusions IL-18 may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic eczema. Also, in local lesions, IL-18 seems to correlate with the induction of production of Th1 type cytokines, such as IFN-γ which could subsequently mediate hypersensitivity response.

Objective To investigate the expression of survivin in keloid, and its significance in the development of keloid. Methods Tissue samples were obtained from 25 patients with keloid (12 males and 13 females, aging from 4 to 44 years with a disease course of 1-18 years), and 15 normal skin samples obtained from surgical operation served as the controls. Streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (SABC) method was applied to detect the expression of survivin in these samples. Results No expressin of survivin was observed in normal controls, while it was expressed in 80.0% (20/25) of the keloid samples with the predominant distribution in fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells. The positivity rates of survivin were 57.14% (4/7), 81.81% (9/11) and 100% (7/7) in tissues of low-grade, moderate-grade and high-grade keloid, respectively, with no significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.133 ). Similarly, no signifi- cant difference was observed in the positivity rate of survivin between recurrent patients and untreated patients (90.91% (10/11 ) vs 71.43% (10/14), P = 0.341 ). Conclusion Survivin might play a role in the development of keloid.

Objectives To detect anti-basement membrane zone(BMZ)antibodies in systemic lupus ery-thematosus(SLE)patients and to explore its association with clinical manifestations.Methods Anti-BMZ anti-bodies were examined by indirect immunofluorescence in the sera of70patients with SLE.The correlation between anti-BMZ antibodies and clinical data of SLE was analyzed.Results Anti-BMZ antibodies could be found in the sera of about70%SLE patients,including IgG,IgM,IgA.They predominantly bound to the epidermis,but also bound to the dermis or both.The positive rate of anti-BMZ antibodies was significantly higher in patients with skin lesions than that of patients without skin lesions.There is no significant difference between the two groups in ac-tive and remission,kidney involvement,arthritis,alopecia,photoallergy,positive anti-dsDNA antibodies and the posi-tive rate of anti-BMZ antibodies.Conclusion Anti-BMZ antibodies presents in the sera of SLE patients with high positive rate.It is correlated with the development of skin lesions of SLE patients,but not with the activity of SLE,other clinical manifestations and anti-dsDNA antibodies.Anti-BMZ antibodies may be involved in the pathogenlic mechanism of the development of skin lesions in SLE patients.

Objective To investigate the expression and secretion of mice DNaseI gene plasmid transfected into bone marrow (BM-MSCs) mesenchymal stem cells. Methods The plasmids of mouse DNaseI gene had been transfected into the BM-MSCs of mice by liposomes. The expression of DNaseI gene in the BM-MSCs was detected by western blotting and the DNaseI activity was measured by DNA-methyl green substrate colorimetry. Results About 30% BM -MSCs were transfected with mice plasmid DNaseI gene, DNaseI was expressed in the transfected BM-MSCs and active DNaseI could be detected in the supernatant of cell culture. Conclusion The mice DNaseI gene plasmid can be transfected into mice BM -MSCs by liposomes and DNaseI gene can be expressed by the transfected BM-MSCs and active DNaseI can be secreted. This may provide potential target for the treatment of SLE.

Objective To investigate the role of the expression of latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein-1 (LTBP-1) and transforming growth factor beta receptor type Ⅱ(TGF-beta R Ⅱ) in the pathogenesis of condyloma acuminatum (CA). Methods Samples were resected from the lesions of 30 patients with CA and prepuces of 17 normal human controls. The mRNA and protein expressions of LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and a streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase staining technique, respectively. Results As shown by Real time PCR, the mRNA expression levels of LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ were significantly higher in CA tissues than those in the controls, with the average value of 2 (-Delta Delta α) being 2.46 and 3.43, respectively. A lower intensity of stainning was observed for LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ in CA tissues compared with the normal controls (182.51±9.89 vs 167.78±12.56, 187.35± 11.23 vs 170.15±13.21, t = 5.62, 3.70 respectively, both P <0.01). Conclusion The decrease in the expres-sion of both LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ may lead to the abnormality in the activation of TGF-beta and signal transduction pathways.