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

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.

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 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 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 role of gamma curve fitting technique of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in quantitative analysis of microcirculation in renal solid lesions. Methods A total of fifty patients with renal parenchyma solid lesions were performed contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The images were analysed by computer with gamma fitting analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonic system. The quantitative parameters were obtained by the time-intensity curves, such as ascending slope (a3), descending slope (a2), arrival time (AT), time to peak intensity (TTP), basic intensity (BI), peak intensity, amplification (AMP), area under the curve (AUC), mean transit time (MTT) and perfusion index (PI). The parameters were compared between renal malignant and benign solid lesions. Results Fast-in and fast-out was the main perfusion mode in renal malignant tumors while slow-in and slow-out was found in renal angiomyolipoma (AML). The perfusion modes in renal malignant tumors and renal AML were fast-in and fast-out in 28 cases and 0 case, fast-in and slow-out in 4 cases and 1 case, slow-in and fast-out in 5 cases and 1 case, and slow-in and slow-out in 1 case and 10 cases, respectively. There were significant differences in the quantitative parameters such as a2, AUC and PI between renal malignant tumors and renal AML obtained by the time-intensity curves (P<0.05). Conclusion Gamma fitting analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound system can provide quantitative information of microcirculation of renal tumors, which helps to differentiate benign renal tumors from malignant ones.

Objective To investigate the relationship of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 with the occurrence of chloasma.Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 40 patients with chloasma and 40 healthy human controls,and skin samples were also collected from the lesions of 10 of the patients and normal skin of 10 of the healthy controls.Real time (RT)-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in skin lesions and blood samples.An immunohistochemical test was conducted to observe the expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in skin lesions.Statistical analysis was carried out by t test.Results The expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNAs were both significantly higher in skin lesions of the patients than in normal skin of the controls (9.72 ± 2.93 vs.5.10 ± 2.69,t =3.67,P＜ 0.01; 9.52 ± 2.88 vs.4.77 ± 1.90,t =4.36,P＜ 0.01),while no significant difference was found in the mRNA expressions of TLR2 or TLR4 in peripheral blood between the patients and controls (both P ＞ 0.05).As the immunohistochemical test revealed,TLR2 was absent in both the epidermis and vascular endothelial cells in 6 normal control skin samples,weakly expressed in the basal layer of the epidermis but absent in vascular endothelial cells in 4 normal skin samples,and no TLR4 expression was observed in either the epidermis or vascular endothelial cells in these control skin samples.Among the 10 skin samples from chloasma lesions,3 showed TLR2 expression in the whole epidermis,7 in both basal cell layer and prickle cell layer but not in vascular endothelial cells in the superficial dermal layer,all showed strong TLR4 expression in the basal cell layer and weak TLR4 expression in the prickle cell layer,and 3 exhibited TLR4 expression in vascular endothelial cells in the superficial dermal layer.Conclusion TLR-mediated immune responses in local skin might be related to the occurrence of chloasma.

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 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.