Objective To investigate the role of immunophenotyping in distinguishing mycosis fun- goides (MF) from lichen planus and psoriasis.Methods The expression of CD1a,CD4,CD8,ICAM-1, LFA-1,HLA-DR,CD30 and CD7 was measured by ABC immunohistochemical technique in specimens ob- tained from lesional skin of 15 cases of MF,17 cases of lichen planus and 17 cases of psoriasis,and in the skin of 6 healthy controls.Results In the lesional epidermis of MF,the density of cells positive for CD1a, CD30 or ICAM-1,was significantly higher (mononuclear cells,P＜0.001;dendritic cells,P＜0.01) than that in the lesional epidermis of lichen planus,psoriasis and in the skin of healthy controls.The density of cells positive for CD4 or CD8 and of dendritic cells positive for HLA-DR was higher in lesional epidermis of MF than in that of lichen planus.The linear density of CD1a-positive cells (P＜0.01),the percentages of cells positive for ICAM-1 (P＜0.05) or LFA-1 (P＜0.05) were all higher in the lesional dermis of MF than in that of lichen planus.As far as the CD7-positive cell density was concerned,it was higher in the lesional dermis of lichen planus and psoriasis than in that of MF and skin of healthy controls (P＜0.01), while no difference was found between the epidermis of MF and that of lichen planus or psoriasis.Conclu- sion There are differences in the expression of CD1a,CD4,CD8,ICAM-1,LFA-1,HLA-DR,CD30 and CD7 in the lesional skin of MF,lichen planus and psoriasis,which may provide a clue to the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Objective To investigate the expression of survivin and bcl-2 in human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lesions and cell line SCL-1. Methods Tissue samples from 60 patients with SCC and 10 normal human controls were immunohistochemically stained to detect the expressions of survivin and bcl-2.Western blot was used to measure the expressions of bcl-2 and survivin proteins in HaCaT human keratinocytes and SCL-1 human squamous cell carcinoma cells. Results In normal control tissues, there was no expressions of survivin or bcl-2, while in SCC, the expression rates of bcl-2 and survivin were 70% and 60%, respectively,and there was no statistical correlation between the expressions of bcl-2 and survivin (P >0.05). Neither the expression of survivin nor that of bcl-2 was correlated to patients' age, gender or lesional site (all P >0.05). A statistical correlation was observed between the pathological stage in patients and expression of bcl-2 as well as between lymph node metastasis and expression of survivin (both P < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase in the expression of survivin and bcl-2 in SCL-1 cells compared with HaCaT cells. Con-clusion In SCC, survivin and bcl-2 seem to play their roles via different anti-apoptotic pathways.

Objective To investigate the in vitro effect of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and ATRA on the morphological transition, proliferation of and apoptosis in a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCL-1. Methods Cultured SCL-1 cells were divided into 6 groups to be treated with ATRA of 1 μmol/L, various concentrations ( 100, 500, 1000 U/ml) of IFN-γ, the combination of ATRA of 1 μmol/L and IFN-y of 1000 U/ml,respectively, or to remain untreated. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the cell proliferation and apoptosis. The morphological features of apoptotic cells were observed by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and inverted phase contrast microscope after 1% propidium iodide staining. Results IFN-γ could inhibit the proliferation of SCL-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the most pronounced inhibitory effect was observed at a dose of 1000 U/ml . ATRA and IFN-γ induced an apoptosis in SCL-1 cells, and the early apoptosis rate was 4.84%, 11.96% and 18.71% in SCL-1 cells after treated with ATRA of 1 μmol/L, IFN-γ of 1000 U/ml and their combination, respectively. A series of morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis,such as bipolar changes, were observed in SCL-1 cells treated with ATRA and IFN-γ, with the presence of many early apoptotic cells, which showed a trend towards benign differentiation. Conclusions Within a certain concentration range, IFN-γcan promote the differentiation, but inhibit the proliferation of SCL-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and ATRA could enhance the effects of IFN-γ.

Goiter, Nodular ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; Thyroidectomy

Objective To investigate the effects of baicalein and acitretin on the apoptosis in a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SCL-12. Methods Cultured SCL-12 cells were treated with different concentrations of baicalein (3.125, 6.25, 12.5 μmol/L) and acitretin (2.5, 5.0, 10.0 μ mol/L), alone or in combination, for 48 hours. Subsequently, cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, and cell apoptosis by ELISA as well as annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide double staining. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Fas mRNA in SCL-12 cells. Results The cell proliferation of SCL-12 cells was inhibited by baicalein and acitretin alone or in combination. The combination of baicalein and acitretin at the three tested concentrations, except for that of baicalein at 3.125 μmol/L and acitretin at 2.5 μmol/L, more strongly inhibited the proliferation of SCL-12 cells compared with baicalein or acitretin alone, and the inhibitory effect was in a dose-dependent manner. The early apoptosis rate was 9.39% ± 1.52%, 20.86% ± 2.16%,36.85% ± 3.26% in SCL-12 cells treated with baicalein of 3.125 μmol/L, acitretin of 5.0 μmol/L alone and their combination, respectively, significantly higher than that in untreated cells (4.39% ± 0.64%, all P <0.05); the induction of apoptosis in SCL-12 cells by the combination of baicalein and acitretin was stronger than that by baicalein or acitretin alone (F = 138.44, P < 0.05). Baicalein and acitretin alone or in combination significantly increased the mRNA expression of Fas in SCL-12 cells, and the effect of their combination was stronger than that of baicalein or acitretin alone. Conclusions Baicalein and aeitretin could inhibit the growth of and induce the apoptosis in SCL-12 cells, and the effect is enhanced by the combination of baicalein and acitretin, which may be associated with the upregulation of Fas expression in SCL-12 cells.

Objective To investigate the expression of haptoglobin(Hp)mRNA and protein in nor-mal human epidermal cells and human keratinocyte cell line-HaCaT cells.Methods In situ hybridization and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of Hp mRNA in normal human epidermal cells and HaCaT cells.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Hp on normal human epidermal cells.Im-munohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect Hp expression on HaCaT cells.Results There was Hp mRNA expression in normal human keratinocytes and HaCaT cells.There was no Hp mRNA expres-sion in normal human epidermal Langerhans cells.There were some Hp positive dendritic cells in normal human epidermis.There was no obvious Hp protein staining in the HaCaT cells by immunohistochemistry.There was Hp protein band from HaCaT cells by Western blot.Conclusions There is Hp mRNA expression in normal human keratinocytes and HaCaT cells which suggests that normal human keratinocytes and HaCaT cells have the ability to synthesize Hp protein.Normal human epidermal Langerhans cells have no ability to synthesize Hp protein.There is small amount of Hp protein in HaCaT cells.

Objective To investigate the influences of UVA on the secretion and expression of chemokine CXCL11/I-TAC by HaCaT cells induced by interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Methods HaCaT cells were cultured in the presence of IFN-7 and TNF-a and irradiated with UVA of 2, 4 and 8 J/cm~2, respectively; those cells receiving neither treatment with IFN-γ or TNF-α nor UVA irradiation served as the negative control, and those receiving only cytokine treatment but no irradiation as the positive control. After another 24-hour culture, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the protein levels of CXCL11/I-TAC in the supernatant of HaCaT celb, real time PCR to measure the mRNA expression of CXCL11/I-TAC in these HaCaT cells. Results As far as the negative control HaCaT cells were concerned, there was a minor secretion of CXCL11/I-TAC protein and expression of CXCL11/I-TAC mRNA. After treatment with IFN-7 and TNF-a of 10 μg/L, the protein and mRNA expressions of CXCL11/ I-TAC were synergistically upregulated, whereas the induced secretion and expression of CXCL11/I-TAC by HaCaT cells were dose-dependently inhibited by UVA irradiation. Conclusions UVA irradiation inhibits the secretion and expression of CXCL11/I-TAC by HaCaT cells, which in turn suppresses the chemotaxis of Th1/ Tel cells in some degree.

Objective To detect human papillomavirus(HPV)DNA in peripheral blood of patients with condyloma acuminata(CA).Methods Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to amplify the HPV DNA in skin lesions and peripheral blood of30patients with CA,and20normal blood donors as controls.Re-striction endonucleases Rsa I and Pst I were used for HPV DNA typing.The PCR products from1patient who was HPV positive for both skin lesions and peripheral blood,were cloned and sequenced.Results HPV DNA was identified in all CA skin lesions.HPV DNA was identified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBM-Cs)from8of30(26.7%)patients and in none of20control subjects(P

Objective To investigate the distributions of haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes and their clinical significance in five skin diseases. Methods Haptoglobin phenotypes were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in a discontinuous buffer system, and then confirmed by staining with silver nitrate. Results The distribution of Hp1-1, Hp2-1, Hp 2-2 of Han ethnic group was 9.9 percent, 46.9 percent, 43.2 percent, respectively. Compared with normal controls, the frequency of Hp2-2 in SLE group (59.3%) was markedly high, especially in those with kidney damage, that of Hp2-1 in psoriasis(30.9%) was low, and that of Hp1-1 in eczema was high, especially in those without exudation (27.4%). There was no statistical significance for the distributions of Hp phenotypes in secondary syphilis and condyloma acuminatum. Conclusion Hp phenotypes might be associated with the pathogensis and some clinical manifestations in SLE, psoriasis of eczema.

Objective To investigate the incidence of extra intestinal organ damage in infants with acute rotavirus (RV) infection,the relative risk factors in patients with extra intestinal organ damage,the significance of procalcitonin(PCT)in those infants with multiple organ injury.Methods One hundred and three infants with acute diarrhea whose rotavirus antigens were positive and 65 negative ones were divided into two groups.The differences between these two groups in incidences of extra intestinal organ damage were analyzed.Meanwhile,variables from the clinical data that may lead to extra intestinal organ damage were analyzed.Then,the relationship of multiple organ damage and serum concentration of PCT was also analyzed.Results There were significant differences between positive group and negative group in the rates of respiratory system injury,myocardial damage and hepatic involvement (P ＜ 0.05).High fever was the only high risk factor in myocardial damage through multi factor Logistic regression analysis.There were also significant differences among the group with multiple organ damage and only one extra intestinal organ damage and no extra intestinal organ damage in serum concentration of PCT(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion It is common to be attacked by extra intestinal organ damage in infants with acute rotavirus infection.High fever is the risk factor for RV enteritis complicated with myocardial damage.The elevation of PCT concentration suggest that multiple organ injury out of the intestinal tract may take place in infants with acute RV infection.