Erythroderma with complicated etiology is one of the severe skin diseases and has high mortality,of which the incidence was 0.5％-1.5％ in skin diseases.Erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) is the commonest type of erythroderma.In addition,there are drug-induced erythroderma,erythroderma secondary to preexisting dermatoses,malignancy-related erythroderma,and idiopathic erythroderma of unknown etiology.Erythroderma of different etiologies has various clinical manifestations,resulting in relevant curative effects and outcomes.In this article,we retrospectively investigated 205 erythroderma patients about clinical symptoms,auxiliary examination and treatments,and evaluated the efficacy and prognosis.There were 84 cases of EP among 205 patients,10 cases of erythroderma caused by specific drugs,77 cases of erythroderma secondary to preexisting dermatoses (excluding psoriasis),7 cases of erythroderma patients suffering from malignancy and 27 cases with unknown causes.We concluded that the etiology of male patients in different age groups had significant difference.The incidence of EP was the highest among all types.The EP was commonly accompanied with hypoproteinemia,and changed into psoriasis vulgaris after treatment.Drug-induced erythroderma was commonly accompanied with fever,and mostly cured by systematic steroid therapy.For erythroderma secondary to preexisting der matoses,the original dermatoses must be actively treated to achieve a satisfying prognosis.Erythroderma with malignancy or unknown causes had long-term duration,poor response to the treatment,and high potential to relapse.Therefore,clarifying the etiology,providing an appropiate and individual regimen,and regular follow-up are crucial for the successful treatment of erythroderma with unknown causes.

BACKGROUNDThe association between vulnerability of plaque assessed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and plasma levels of fibrinolytic biomarkers was determined in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few data are available on the relationship between the levels of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and virtual histological intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) signs of plaque instability.

METHODSEighty-nine patients with ACS were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected to measure t-PA levels by liquid phase bead flow cytometry. Eighty-nine nonbifurcate lesions (identified by coronary angiography and ECG) were investigated using IVUS before catheterization. IVUS radiofrequency data obtained with a 20 MHz catheter were analyzed with IVUS virtual histological software. The areas of plaque and media were calculated and lesions were classified into two groups: VH-IVUS derived thin cap fibroatheroma (VH-TCFA) and non-VH-TCFA plaque.

RESULTSPlasma t-PA level in the patients with TCFA was significantly lower than that with non-TCFA ((1489+/-715) pg/ml vs (2163+/-1004) pg/ml). Decreased plasma levels of t-PA were associated with plaque vulnerability. Plasma levels of t-PA correlated negatively with plaque plus media and necrotic core in plaque in patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONSt-PA is an independent risk factor and a powerful predictor of vulnerable plaques. Decreased levels of t-PA may reflect instability of atherosclerotic plaques and might therefore serve as noninvasive determinants of those at high risk for consequent adverse events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on transdifferentiation of human embryonic lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts and the effects of lentinan on the transdifferentiation.

METHODSThe human embryonic lung fibroblasts were cultured in vitro, and fibroblasts were treated with different concentrations of IL-1β and lentinan. The proliferation activity of the human embryonic lung fibroblasts was evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein was measured by immunocytochemistry. The levels of fibronectin (FN), typeⅠcollagen (ColⅠ) and α-SMA mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the untreated control group, the absorbance value of cell proliferation, α-SMA protein levels, FN, ColⅠand α-SMA mRNA expression were significantly up-regulated after different concentrations of IL-1β (0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL) treatment for 48 hrs (P<0.01). Lentinan treatment inhibited up-regulation of the cell proliferation activity, α-SMA protein levels, FN, ColⅠand α-SMA mRNA expression induced by IL-1β in a dose-independent manner (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLentinan can suppress human embryonic lung fibroblast proliferation, fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and extra cellular matrix synthesis induced by IL-1β.

Actins ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Transdifferentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Lentinan ; pharmacology ; Myofibroblasts ; cytology

Objective To investigate the effect of 4-hydroxytamoxifen on the expression of pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) in GH3 prolactinoma cells. Methods RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the expressions of PTTG mRNA and protein in human GH3 prolaetinoma cells. Different concentrations of estradiol (E2) or 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHTam) were addedl into the hormone-depleted medium, and the viable cell number and expression levels of PTTG mRNA and protein were measured. Results The growth of OH3 prolaetinoma cells was significantly inhibited in hormone-depleted medium. E2 at a concentration of 1×10<'-8> mol/L obviously promoted the cell growth, the effect of which was inhibited by the application of OHTam (1×10<'-6> mol/L) to cause slowed cell growth. The expressions of PTTG at both the mRNA and protein levels were detected in detected in untreated GH3 prolactinoma cells, and OHTam at the concentration of 1×10<'-6> mol/L significantly inhibited their expressions. Conclusion The growth of GH3 cells is estrogen-dependant and can be inhibited by estrogen antagonist OHTam, which also results in reduced expression of PTTG gene in the cells.

Objective Ventricular resynchronization might be achieved via minimally invasive left ventricular epicardial lead placement Method Six patients with congestive heart failure underwent minimally invasive left ventricular epicardial lead placement after failed coronary sinus cannulation were followed up for 1 year, cardiac function and LV lead threshold were evaluated. Results There were no inhospital deaths, intraoperative complications and diaphragm stimulation. Correct lead positioning was achieved in all 6 patients. LV lead thresholds remained unchanged [(1.2±0. 5)Vvs(l.l±0. 4) V , P = 0. 68 ] at 12 months follow-up. Improvements on 6 min walking test [ ( 327 ± 77) m vs (267 ± 68) m, P = 0.001], LVEF[(26.1 ±6.0)% vs (38.2 ± 4.7)% ,P = 0.004], and NYHA functional class were evidenced at 12 months follow-up. Conclusion Minimally invasive left ventricular epicardial lead placement is a safe and reliable technique and should be considered as an alternative option in case of difficult coronary venous anatomy and inability to position the lead for resynchronization therapy.

Purpose::Under-foot impact loadings can cause serious lower limb injuries in many activities, such as automobile collisions and underbody explosions to military vehicles. The present study aims to compare the biomechanical responses of the mainstream vehicle occupant dummies with the human body lower limb model and analyze their robustness and applicability for assessing lower limb injury risk in underfoot impact loading environments.Methods::The Hybrid III model, the test device for human occupant restraint (THOR) model, and a hybrid human body model with the human active lower limb model were adopted for under-foot impact analysis regarding different impact velocities and initial lower limb postures.Results::The results show that the 2 dummy models have larger peak tibial axial force and higher sensitivity to the impact velocities and initial postures than the human lower limb model. In particular, the Hybrid III dummy model presented extremely larger peak tibial axial forces than the human lower limb model. In the case of minimal difference in tibial axial force, Hybrid III's tibial axial force (7.5 KN) is still 312.5% that of human active lower limb's (2.4 KN). Even with closer peak tibial axial force values, the biomechanical response curve shapes of the THOR model show significant differences from the human lower limb model.Conclusion::Based on the present results, the Hybrid III dummy cannot be used to evaluate the lower limb injury risk in under-foot loading environments. In contrast, potential improvement in ankle biofidelity and related soft tissues of the THOR dummy can be implemented in the future for better applicability.

To study the absorption kinetics of paeoniflorin lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (Pae-LLCN) in different intestinal segments of rats and compare them with paeoniflorin(Pae) solution. Rat everted gut sac models were adopted for intestinal absorption test, and Pae content was determined by HPLC method to study the absorption characteristics of Pae-LLCN in rat duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon, and investigate the effects of different drug concentrations on intestinal absorption. Results showed that Pae-LLCN and Pae were well absorbed at different intestine segments and different concentrations. The absorption constant Ka was increased with the increasing of the drug concentration, indicating possible passive absorption. The accumulative absorption volume Q and absorption constant Ka of Pae-LLCN were higher than those of Pae at each intestinal segment(P<0.05). The results revealed that Pae-LLCN and Pae could be well absorbed in whole intestinal segments and its mechanism may be passive absorption. LLCN can effectively improve the intestinal absorption of Pae.

Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous/surgery* ; Humans ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Diseases/pathology* ; Splenic Neoplasms/surgery*