ObjectiveTo seek experimental evidence of epidermal barrier dysfunction in psoriasis,and to provide a basis for adjuvant therapy of psoriasis.MethodsPhysiometric methods were used to determine the value of sebum content,transepidermal water loss(TEWL) and water content of stratum corneum in 60 patients with psoriasis and 48 normal human controls.The ultrastructure of lamellar bodies was observed with transmission electron microscopy,and the expression of acid ceramidase in normal skin and psoriatic lesions was detected by using immunohistochemical techniques.ResultsCompared with the normal skin,TEWL value was increased(P ＜ 0.01),but water content of stratum corneum decreased(P ＜ 0.01 ) in psoriatic lesions,and sebum content was similar between normal skin and psoriatic lesions.As electron microscopy showed,lamellar bodies in keratinocytes were reduced in number with a disorganized arrangement and irregular size in psoriatic lesions.The expression of acid ceramidase also decreased in psoriatic epidermis.Conclusions The function of epidermal barrier in psoriasis is impaired,and to restore epidermal barrier function and enhance hydration may serve as an important adjuvant therapy of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate a new endoscopic transaxillary technique for release of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) in congenital muscular torticollis (CMT).

METHODSFrom May 2008 to March 2014, a total of 25 cases (male 7 and female 18), ranging in age from 14 to 31 years (mean age, 17.6 years), were operated for torticollis by endoscopic-assisted surgery. The sternal and clavicular attachments of the sternocleidomastoid were released by skin lift approach.

RESULTSThe primary healing was achieved in all the 25 cases with no injury of major vessels or nerves. The patients were followed up for 6 months with satisfactory result and invisible scar.

CONCLUSIONSThe subcutaneous endoscopic transaxillary and skin lift approach for the CMT provides good functional and cosmetic outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Axilla ; Cicatrix ; Clavicle ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neck Muscles ; surgery ; Torticollis ; congenital ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Y0, then the diagnosis of hypertension with liver cirrhosis obtained. The positive rate of diagnosis is 95% and the specificity is 96% and 91% respectively, much better than those in type B ultrasonography or gastric endoscopy, 78% or 75% respectively (P

Objective To investigate the correlation of epidermal distribution of lamellar bodies and expression of ceramidase with skin barrier dysfunction in polymorphous light eruption.Methods Forty-seven patients with polymorphous light eruption and 40 healthy volunteers were recruited into this study.Noninvasive instruments were used to measure skin sebum content,transepidermal water loss(TEWL)and water content in stratum corneum in all of the subjects.Then,tissue specimens were obtained from the lesions at sunexposed sites in the patients and normal skin of the healthy volunteers.The ultrastructure and distribution of lamellar bodies were observed with transmission electron microscopy in five lesion and control specimens.Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of ceramidase in the tissue specimens.Results Compared with the normal skin from healthy volunteers,the lesions from patients showed decreased number of lamellar bodies in the granular layer and prick cell layer with a disorganized arrangement.Ceramidase was positively expressed in 20 lesion specimens and 36 normal control specimens,weakly expressed in 21 lesion specimens and 4 normal control specimens,and negative in 6 lesion specimens; there was a significant difference in the expression of ceramidase between the lesion specimens and normal control specimens(P ＜ 0.01).The lesions also showed high TEWL(34.2191 ± 12.70 vs.16.8350 ± 6.50,P ＜ 0.01),lower water content in stratum corneum(22.7319 ± 8.71 vs.29.4250 ± 5.08,P ＜ 0.01)and similar skin sebum content compared with the normal skin.Conclusions There is a disturbance in the synthesis of ceramide in patients with polymorphous light eruption,which may contribute to the impairment of skin barrier.

Objective To evaluate the effects of Prinsepia utilis Royle oil (PURO) on the synthesis of ceramide and expression of acid ceramidase N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 1 (ASH1),and to explore the mechanisms underlying its moisturizing and skin barrier-repairing effects.Methods Keratinocytes from human foreskin tissue were classified into 2 groups to be cultured in keratinocyte-serum free medium (K-SFM) with or without the presence of PURO.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the level of ceramide in the culture supernatant of keratinocytes at 0,3,8,24 and 48 hours.The back of nude mice was divided into 4 areas,i.e.,test area,matrix area,blank control area and negative control area.Acetone and ether were used to destroy the epidermal barrier in the test,matrix,and blank control areas,then,the former 2 areas were topically treated with emulsions containing 1％ PURO and matrix,respectively,and the blank control area remained untreated.The epidermal barrier remained intact and untreated in the negative control area.Noninvasive methods were used to determine transepidermal water loss (TEWL),epidermal moisture content and skin lipid content in these areas on day 0,1,3,and 7.Skin tissue was obtained from these areas on day 0 and 7 followed by an immunohistochemical study for the quantification of ASH1 expression.Results The level of supernatant ceramide increased with time in the PURO-treated keratinocytes,which was significantly higher at 24 hours and 48 hours than at 0 hour (1.3817 ± 0.100 and 1.3737 ± 0.047 vs.0.7630 ± 0.143,both P ＜ 0.05).The supernatant ceramide was also elevated in the PURO-treated keratinocytes compared with untreated keratinocytes at 24 and 48 hours (both P ＜ 0.05).Noninvasive skin tests showed a gradual decrease in the TEWL,but an increase in the epidermal moisture content and skin lipid content with time in the 3 epidermal barrier-destroyed areas.As far as the test area was concerned,TEWL value was significantly lower on day 3 and 7 than on day 0 (10.85 ± 0.64 and 8.01 ± 0.58 vs.12.65 ± 0.71,both P ＜ 0.05),while a significant increment was observed in the skin lipid content on day 3 and 7 compared with day 0 (29.14 ± 0.40 and 31.30 ± 0.88 vs.27.02 ± 0.65,both P ＜ 0.05),as well as in the epidermal moisture content on day 1,3 and 7 compared with day 0 (13.98 ± 0.28,15.00 ± 0.38 and 15.86 ± 0.18 vs.11.74 ± 0.62,all P＜ 0.05).On day 7,there was a statistical decline in TEWL value,but an elevation in epidermal moisture content,skin lipid content and ASH1 expression in the test area compared with the matrix area and blank control area (all P ＜ 0.05).Also,the expression of ASH1 was upregulated on day 7 compared with day 0 in the 3 barrier-destroyed areas (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion PURO may exert skin-moisturizing and barrier-repairing effects by enhancing the synthesis of ceramide and expression of acid ceramidase ASH1.

Objective To investigate the role of activated cylic AMP(cAMP) signaling in chemical-induced podocyte injury.Methods Eight-weeks-old male BalB/C mice were randomly divided into three groups:control group,Adriamycin (ADR) group and Forskolin+ADR group.ADR nephropathy models were established by tail intravenous injection,and part of them were injected Forskolin,an agonist of adenylate cyclase,intraperitoneally.Phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) was detected by laser confocal microscopy,morphology of foot processes were determined with transmission electron microscope,and WT-1 expression in glomeruli were detected by immunohistochemistry.Conditionally immortalized podocytes were treated with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN),Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) agonist 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP (2Me),protein kinase A (PKA) antagonist H89 and its agonist pCPT-cAMP(pCPT).Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of Epac,caspase3 and cleaved caspase3.PKA activity was assayed using cAMP-dependent protein kinase detection system.Cell viability was determined by a cell count kit and podocyte apoptosis was estimated by TUNEL staining.Mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by JC-1 staining.Results (1)Compared with ADR group,the urine albumin decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05) among Forskolin + ADR group and the WT-1 positive cells per glomerulus increased obviously (P ＜ 0.05).(2)PAN decreased podocyte number in a time-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05),pre-treatment with pCPT obviously inhibited PAN induced podocyte decrease (P ＜0.05),but H89 prevented the effect of pCPT in a dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05).(3)JC-1 staining showed that the percentage of podocyte with green fluorescence for control,PAN and pCPT+PAN group were (12.67±2.15)％,(31.35±4.60)％ and (16.96 ± 2.51)％ respectively (P ＜ 0.05),and pretreatment with H89 inhibited the effect of pCPT (P ＜ 0.05).(4) PAN promoted podocyte apoptosis and cleaved caspase3 expression (P ＜ 0.05),and pretreatment with pCPT significantly prevented PAN-induced podocyte apoptosis and cleaved caspase3 expression (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions cAMP signaling activation ameliorated podocyte injury in ADR nice and PAN-induced podocyte apoptosis,and cAMP/ PKA pathway may mediate these processes.

Objective　To study efficacy of 2,4-dibromo-5, 5-d imethylhydantoin in killing vegetative forms of bacteria and spores of B. subtil is var.niger, and efficacy of 2,4-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin in dest roying antigenicity of HBsAg. Methods　Neutralizer test and efficacy of so lution of 2,4-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin in killing vegetative forms of ba cteria and spores. Neutralizer test and efficacy of solution of 2,4-dibromo-5, 5-dimethylhydantoin in destroying HBsAg antigenicity in suspension. Resul ts　The killing rate of Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. was 100 % a fter exposure to its solution containing 4 mg*L-1 and 2 mg*L-1 av ailable bromo after 10 min and 20 min. The killing rate of spores of Bacil lus subtilis var. Niger also was 100% after exposure to its solution co ntainin g 2 000 mg*L-1 available bromo after 30 min. Its solution containing 1 0 00 mg*L-1 available bromo with could destroy HBsAg in su spension for 5 min. Conclusions　2,4-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoi n can effe ctively kill vegetative forms of bacteria and spores of B. subtilis var.ni ger, and can completely destroy the antigenicity of HBsAg in the water.

Objective To understand well this disease,8 children with familial periodic paralysis(FPP) were reported and the(rela)-ted literatures were reviewed.Methods The hereditary characters,clinical manifestations,auxiliary examination and managements were summarized retrospectively in 8 cases of FPP patients hospitalized from January 1996 to December 2005,and etiopathogenis and diagnosis were also analyzed.Results Six cases of FPP were diagnosed as hypokalemic periodic paralysis,and all occured as an autosomal dominant condition.During paralytic episodes,the patients showed obviously low serum potassium levels [1.9-2.8 mmol/L,(2.4?0.38) mmol/L)] and hypokalemic electrocardiogram findings,such as U-wave.The level of blood glucose was lower than normal range.Other 2 cases with normal serum potassium ion level at attack were diagnosed as normokalemic periodic paralysis with autosomal dominant pattern.One of the two cases,the level of blood glucose was lower.Thyroid functions,renal functions and electromyograms were all normal in 8 cases.Conclusions FPP is a group of relatively uncommon inherited disorders known as the skeletal muscle channelophathies.It can be diagnosed by hereditary characters,clinical manifestataions,auxiliary examinations.

Objective:To investigate the effect of glucocorticoid on treating class IV lupus nephritis(LN) by comparing the content of serum transforming growth factor beta(TGF ? 1).Methods:The study consisted of 33 objects,15 health controls as well as 18 cases of IV LN.The level of serum TGF ? 1 was analyzed by ELISA.Results:The level of serum TGF ? 1 was greatly reduced after the patients were treated with glucorcorticoid.Conclusion:Timely and sufficient glucocorticoid may prevent IV LN from developing into glomerulosclerosis.