Objective To assess the antimicrobial resistance and resistance-related mutations in rpoB and katG genes in Mycobacteria tuberculosis isolates from patients with cutaneous tuberculosis. Methods Seven strains of Mycobacteria were isolated from lesions or secretions of patients with cutaneous tuberculosis and identified as M. tuberculosis. Proportion method was used to test the susceptibility of M. tuberculosis isolates to rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin and ethambutol. PCR and sequencing were performed to analyze the mutations in rpoB and katG genes. Results Of the 7 isolates of M. tuberculosis, 1 was resistant to rifampicin,isoniazid and ethambutol simultaneously, and the other 6 were sensitive to rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin and ethambutol. All the 7 isolates were positive for the amplification of rpoB and katG genes by PCR. DNA sequencing revealed two mutations at codon 531 (TCG to TTG) and codon 315 (AGC to ACC) in the multi-drug resistant strain, which were absent in the other 6 strains. Conclusion Multi-drug resistance has emerged in M. tuberculosis isolates from patients with cutaneous tuberculosis, which is likely to be related to improper treatment.

Objective To analyze the differential expression of caveolin-2 in the psoriasis vulgaris and normal skin tissues, and investigate the relationship between caveolin-2 and the development of psoriasis vulgaris. Methods The expression of caveolin-2 mRNA and protein in psoriasis vulgaris patients and normal skin tissues were detected by quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot respectively. Results The quantitative PCR showed that the expression of caveolin-2 mRNA significantly decreased in the psoriasis vulgaris skin tissues when compared with the normal skin tissues (P < 0.01). The immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the caveolin-2 protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of the basal layer cells in the normal skin tissues, but the caveolin-2 protein was not expressed in the lesions of psoriasis vulgaris. And the results of Western blot showed that the expression of caveolin-2 protein was significantly reduced in the psoriasis vulgaris skin tissues compared with the normal skin tissues. Conclusion The expression of caveolin-2 was reduced or lost in lesional epidermis of psoriasis vulgaris patients, which may serve as an aetiological factor in the development and or progression of psoriasis.

Objective To investigate the lymphocyte subsets,natural killer(NK) and soluble interleukin-2 receptors(SIL-2R) in syphilis patients with negative HIV and evaluate its clinical significance.Methods T-lymphocyte subsets,NK lymphocyte and SIL-2R were measured with flowcytometry(FCM) and enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay(ELISA) from 60 cases of untreated group(28 cases),treated group(32 cases) and controls group(30 cases) in patients with latent syphilis.Results The percentage of CD_8 in untreated group(0.33?0.08) was markedly higher than controls group(0.25?0.04)(P

Objective To evaluate the clinical usefulness of Treponema pallidum IgM Western blot (TP-IgM-WB) test in the diagnosis of neonatal congenital syphilis. Methods Eight cases of neonatal congenital syphilis, whose mothers were diagnosed as syphilis at different pregnant stages, were tested by TRUST, TPPA, FTA-ABS-19S-IgM and TP-IgM-WB. The results and clinical manifestations were analysed. Results Three of 8 cases presented clinical manifestations of congenital syphilis, including typical cutaneous lesions, syphilitic pneumonia, and multi-system failure. The others were asymptomatic. In all 8 cases TP-IgM-WB was positive. Of them 7 cases FTA-ABS-19S-IgM was positive. Six cases (including 3 symptomatic) were positive to all four tests. One case was positive to FTA-ABS-19S-IgM and TP-IgM-WB, but negative to TRUST and TPPA. One case was negative to FTA-ABS-19S-IgM, but positive to TPPA, TP-IgM-WB and TRUST, and TRUST titer was 4 times as high as her mother. Conclusions In view of its high specificity and sensitivity, TP-IgM-WB could be used as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of both symptomatic and asymptomatic neonatal congenital syphilis.

Objective To analyze the status quo of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of the elderly in recent years in Shenzhen, to explore the characteristics of temporal and spatial distribution,and to establish prediction model of STDs of the elderly in Shenzhen. MethodsUsing the surveillance system data of STDs from 2005 to 2009 in Shenzhen city, the incidence, temporal and spatial distribution of syphilis and gonorrhea were analyzed in the elderly aged 50 years and over by SaTScan. The incidence prediction model of STDs was established by Eviews 5.0.Results (1)The incidences of the two kinds of STDs from 2005 to 2009 in Shenzhen were on the rise and on more marked increase in male than in female. The rising velocity in over-60 year age group was similar with in 50-59 year age group. The rising velocity of syphilis was faster than gonorrhea. (2)The space-time distribution analysis showed there were clusters of the STDs in elderly men in 2005 in Lianhua and Meilin districts (P = 0. 026, RR= 2.13). (3) ARIMA (0, 1,1) (0,0, 1) 12 model was a suitable forecasting model for STDs in elderly men in Shenzhen. Conclusions