Objective:To investigate the clinical features of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients with angioedema (AE) .Methods:Clinical data were collected from adult outpatients with active CSU diagnosed and treated at the First Hospital of China Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021, and analyzed retrospectively. The data included gender, age, disease duration, the presence or absence of angioedema, urticaria activity score for one day, prior treatments, previous history, family history, laboratory test results, therapeutic effect, and adverse reactions. Their treatment regimens were based on the Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of urticaria (2018) and the American guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urticaria (2014). Statistical analysis was carried out by using Mann-Whitney U test, two-independent-sample t test, Chi-square test, corrected Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Results:A total of 131 CSU patients were collected, including 78 females and 53 males. Their age at the first visit was 44.6 ± 13.3 years, and the disease duration ( M[ Q1, Q3]) was 4.0 (2.0, 10.0) months. Among these CSU patients, there were 58 with AE and 73 without AE. The disease duration was significantly longer in the CSU patients with AE (6.0 [3.0, 24.0] months) than in those without AE (3.5 [2.0, 6.0] months; Z = -2.78, P = 0.005). The urticaria activity score for one day was also significantly higher in the CSU patients with AE (5.0 [3.0, 5.3] points) than in those without AE (4.0 [3.0, 5.0] points; Z = -2.63, P = 0.008). The CSU patients with AE showed a decreased proportion of patients completely controlled by licensed-dose second-generation H1-antihistamines (sgAHs) (8.6%, 5/58) compared with those without AE (24.7%, 18/73), but an increased proportion of patients uncontrolled by licensed-dose sgAHs (91.4%, 53/58) compared with those without AE (74.0%, 54/73; Z = -2.53, P = 0.011) ; there were no significant differences in the proportions of patients completely controlled or uncontrolled by updosed sgAHs alone or combinations of 2- to 4-fold equivalent-dose sgAHs, or in the proportions of patients completely controlled or uncontrolled by combination therapy with 4-fold equivalent-dose sgAHs and non-H1-antihistamines between the CSU patients with AE and those without AE ( P > 0.05) . Conclusion:Compared with the CSU patients without AE, the CSU patients with AE had a longer disease duration, higher disease activity, a lower proportion of patients completely controlled by licensed-dose sgAHs, and a higher proportion of patients uncontrolled by licensed-dose sgAHs.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between food-specific IgG (sIgG) antibodies and phenotypes of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) .Methods:Serum samples were collected from outpatients with active CSU, symptomatic dermographism (SD) , or acute urticaria (AU) , and healthy controls from 5 third-grade class-A hospitals such as the First Hospital of China Medical University between April 2014 and March 2015. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to detect serum levels of 90 food-sIgG antibodies and total IgE, Western blot analysis to detect levels of 20 allergen-specific IgE antibodies, and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay to detect levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase IgG antibodies and anti-thyroglobulin IgG antibodies. Comparisons of normally distributed quantitative data between two groups and among several groups were performed by t test and one-way analysis of variance, respectively; comparisons of non-normally distributed quantitative data between two groups were performed by Mann-Whitney U test; for comparisons of proportions, chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test were used. Results:A total of 248 patients with CSU, 22 with SD, 15 with AU and 13 healthy controls were recruited. The cut-off level for sIgG positivity was 100 U/ml (at least 2+) , and the positive rate of food-sIgG antibodies was slightly higher in the patients with CSU (176/248, 70.97%) , SD (15/22, 68.18%) and AU (11/15) than in the healthy controls (7/13; χ2 = 1.80, P = 0.615) . Among the 248 CSU patients, the proportion of patients with family history of allergic diseases was significantly higher in the sIgG-positive group (71/176, 40.34%) than in the sIgG-negative group (19/72, 26.39%; χ2 = 4.30, P = 0.042) , while no significant difference was observed in the 1-day urticaria activity score (UASday) between the two groups ( Z = 0.18, P = 0.859) . Totally, 177 CSU patients completed 12- to 40-week treatment; their condition could be completely controlled by second-generation H1-antihistamines, and there was no significant difference in the required dosage of second-generation H1-antihistamines between the sIgG-positive group (128 cases) and sIgG-negative group (49 cases; Z = -1.06, P = 0.298) . Conclusions:The prevalence of family history of allergic diseases was relatively high in food-sIgG-positive patients with CSU. However, food-sIgG could not be used as an indicator to reflect the disease activity of CSU and treatment response.

Objective To evaluate the effects of extracts of Semen Coicis (ESC) on a BALB/c mouse model of atopic dermatitis (AD),and to explore its potential mechanism.Methods Forty specific pathogen-free (SPF) female BABL/c mice were randomly divided into blank group (8 mice,receiving no treatment) and AD model group (32 mice).The mice in the model group were topically treated with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in acetone/olive oil to establish the mouse model of AD.After modeling,8 mice in the blank group and 8 in the model group were sacrificed immediately.The other 24 mice in the model group were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups:model control group receiving no treatment,ESC group and ESC vehicle group topically treated with ESC and ESC vehicle respectively once every day on the back and aural region of the mice for 28 consecutive days.Changes in skin lesions were observed by naked eyes every day.A thickness tester was used to measure the thickness of skin lesions on the left ear before modeling,at completion of modeling and 12 hours after the final treatment.At 12 hours after the final treatment,the mice in the above 3 groups were sacrificed,and the eyeballs were removed for collecting blood.Then,the sera were isolated,and skin tissue specimens were obtained from the skin lesions on the back.These tissue sections were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and toluidine blue staining for observing the infiltration of inflammatory cells in skin lesions.An immunohistochemical study was performed to determine the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3),Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the serum levels of IgE,interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-/ (IFN-γ).Results After 28-day treatment,skin lesions were improved in the ESC group.Compared with the model control group,the ESC group showed a significantly lower clinical symptom score (1.50 ± 0.58 vs.2.50 ± 0.58,P ＜ 0.05),decreased lesional thickness on the left ear ([0.31 ± 0.01] mm vs.[0.33 ± 0.01] mm,P ＜ 0.05),and lower number of infiltrating mast cells per high-power field (15.18 ± 1.64 vs.28.94 ± 1.28,P ＜ 0.05).Immunohistochemical findings indicated that the ESC group showed significantly lower expression of AQP3,TLR2 and TLR4 compared with the model control group,and decreased AQP3 expression in the spinous layer.Compared with the model control group,the ESC group showed significantly lower total serum IgE and IL-4 levels,but higher IFN-γ levels (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Topical ESC is effective for the treatment of skin lesions in mouse models of AD,likely by regulating serum levels of IgE,IL-4 and IFN-γ and affecting the expression of AQP3,TLR2 and TLR4.

Objective To investigate the effect of three Scutellaria baicalensis extracts (baicalin,baicalein and wogonin) on the apoptosis of a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line,SCL-1.Methods Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to detect the proliferation of cultured SCL-1 cells treated with different concentrations (12.5,25,50,75 and 100 μmol/L) of baicalin,baicalein and wogonin for various durations (12,24 and 48 hours).Some SCL-1 cells were treated with baicalin,baicalein and wogonin of 12.5 μ mol/L respectively for 48 hours followed by the detection of cell apoptosis by double staining with annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide in combination with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),as well as estimation of cell cycle by flow cytometry.The 50％ inhibitory concentration was determined by line regression model and inner insert method,and statistical analysis was carried out by Student's t test,one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA),and Student-Newman-Keuls-q test.Results Baicalin,baicalein and wogonin all inhibited the proliferation of SCL-1 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner (all P ＜ 0.01).Under the same conditions (treatment concentration and duration),baicalein showed the strongest inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SCL-1 cells,followed by wogonin and baicalin (all P ＜ 0.01).All the Scutellaria baicalensis extracts induced the apoptosis of SCL-1 cells and arrested them in G1-phase.The percentage of cells in G1 phase was 56.37％ ± 2.41％,74.23％ ± 2.02％ and 64.15％ ± 1.87％,and early apoptosis rate was 8.09％ ± 1.02％,24.13％ ± 0.76％ and 14.45％ ± 1.57％,in SCL-1 cells treated with baicalin,baicalein and wogonin of 12.5 μmol/L for 48 hours,respectively,compared to 45.04％ ± 1.93％ and 4.12％ ± 0.29％ in the untreated control cells respectively (F =83.29,186.37,respectively,both P ＜ 0.01).Similarly,there was a downward trend from baicalein to wogonin and baicalin in the effect on cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of SCL-1 cells.Conclusions Scutellaria baicalensis can inhibit the growth and induce the apoptosis of SCL-1 cells,which may provide new ideas for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with traditional Chinese drugs.

Dermatology ; history ; History, 15th Century ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; blood ; Signal Transduction ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; blood

Objecfive To study the effects of some cytokines such as TNF-α,IL-6 and IFN-γ as well as lipopolysaccharide on CD68 expression in HaCaT cells.Methods Human HaCaT keratinocytes were randomly divided into natural proliferation group (without stimulation),IFN-γ-stimulated group,TNF-α-stimulated group,LPS-stimulated group and IL-6 stimulated group.The work concentration of TNF-α,IL-6,IFN-γ and LPS was 50 mg/L.HaCaT cells were collected after 24-hour treatment with the cytokines followed by the examination of CD68 expression with flow cytometry,immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription(RT)-PCR,respectively.Results Compared with untreated HaCaT cells,the count of CD68-positive cells was elevated in cells stimulated by TNF-α(t=3.60,P<0.01),IL-6(t=3.93,P<0.01),IFN-γ(t=2.38,P<0.05)and LPS(t=2.52,P<0.05),and the effect of TNF-α and IL-6 was stronger than that of IFN-γ and LPS.Among the four cytokines,only IL-6 enhanced the mean fluorescence intensity of CD68-positive cells (t=8.34,P<0.01).After 24-hour treatment with TNF-α,IFN-γ and IL-6,CD68 expression was observed in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of HaCaT cells and was stronger in cells treated with TNF-α and IL-6 than in those with the other cytokines.A significant increase was observed in the CD68 mRNA expression after 24-hour treatment with TNF-α (t=4.34,P<0.01),IL-6 (t=7.52,P<0.01)and IFN-γ (t=2.81,P<0.05);TNF-α and IL-6showed a stronger promotive effect than IFN-γ.Conclusion IL-6,TNF-α,IFN-γ and LPS can upregulate the CD68 expression in HaCaT cells.

BACKGROUND:Study confirmed that the de-epidermized dermis(DED)can be used as dermal substitute and may form epidermal structure after incubating keratinocytes.However,the cell biological activity,tissue structure characteristics and the basement membrane component analysis of dermal substitute have been reported less.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the cell activity and the tissue structure characteristics of DED.METHODS:Skin flap was treated with 56℃ phosphate buffered solution to remove the epidermis,and the dermal cell components were deleted by freezing and thawing with liquid nitrogen to obtain DED.The DED cell activity was detected with tissue culture method,hematoxylin nuclear staining was used to determine the DED cell nuclei,and vimentin immunohistochemistry was applied for fibroblast determinations.The basement membrane and its components were detected using Periodic Acid-Schiff staining and collagen type Ⅳ immunohistochemistry.Van Gieson stain,Weigart stain and those double staining were respectively used to determine DED collagen fibers and elastic fibers.The DED ultrastructure was observed under transmission and scanning electron microscope.RESULTS AND CONCLUSlON:Using tissue culture method,the cultured DED did not exhibit cell growth at 2 weeks.Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed no nuclear in DED,vimentin immunohistochemistry showed no vimentin expressed in DED.Van Gieson staining showed DED collagen fibers were stained as rose red,Weigert staining showed DED elastic fibers were stained as pu rplish black double staining further demonstrated uniform arrangement of collagen fibers and elastic fibers.DED surface and the remaining appendages were strongly positive for Periodic Acid-Schiff staining,and type Ⅳ collagen expression was significant.Transmission and scanning electron microscope results showed that,the DED elastic fibers and collagen overlap arranged with pore intervals,they intercrossed into a network.There is no living cell component in DED,dermal matrix surface and appending organ luminal wall still retain glycogen,type Ⅳ collagen and other basement membrane components,dermal matrix is rich in collagen and elastic fibers.it is a three-dimensional collagen matrix similar to in vivo dermis.

Objective:To investigate the expression of Th1 chemokine CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,Th2 chemokine CCL22 and their receptors in the lesions of bullous pemphigoid (BP).Methods:Immunohistochemical assay was performed to detect the expression of CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,CCL22 and their receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 in BP lesions and normal control skin.Results:CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,CCL22,CXCR3 and CCR4 were overexpressed in BP lesions than those in normal control skin (P＜0.01).The positive rates of CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11 and CXCR3 in BP lesions were 50%(15/30),46.7%(14/30),46.7%(14/30) and 53.3%(16/30),respectively.The positive rates of CCL22 and CCR4 were 66.7% (20/30) and 56.7% (17/30).Conclusion:The overexpression of Th1 chemokine CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,Th2 chemokine CCL22 and their receptors may play important roles in the pathogenesis of BP.

Objective To study the expression and significance of cyclin A1 in the skin of wild-type mice at RNA level.Methods Thirty 6-12-week old wild-type Kunming mice(15 male and 15 female)were included in this study.In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of cyclin A1 mRNA in the skin of head and neck of the mice.The skin treated without probe was regarded as negative control and the testis of male mice was taken as positive contr01.Results The expression of cyclin A1 mRNA was found in sebaceous glands of 25 mice and in epidermis of 12 mice.Strong positive staining of sebaceous glands was seen in 50% and positive staining in 33.3% of sections,whereas strong positive and positive staining of epidermis was seen in 13.3% and 20% of sections.respectively.The positive rate of sebaceous glands was 83.3%,much higher than that of epidermis(33.3%).Conclusions There is a quite high expression of eyelin A1 mRNA in the skin sebaceous gland and epidermis of head and neck of wild-type mice.Especially a strong expression is in the sebaceous glands.It indicates that cyclin A1 mRNA may play a certain role in the physiological function of sebaceous glands and epidermis of the skin.