Objective:To analyze clinical characteristics of ketosis-associated prurigo pigmentosa after ketogenic diet and bariatric surgery.Methods:Clinical data were collected from patients with ketosis-associated prurigo pigmentosa, who were diagnosed and treated in Department of Dermatology, Peking University People′s Hospital from September 2018 to September 2020. The clinical characteristics, sequelae and therapeutic effect of dietary modification were analyzed and summarized.Results:A total of 6 patients with ketosis-associated prurigo pigmentosa were collected, including 5 females who developed prurigo pigmentosa after ketogenic diet, and 1 male who developed prurigo pigmentosa after bariatric surgery. The skin lesions mainly involved the chest, back, waist and abdomen, and rarely involved the eyelids, axillae, elbows and mons pubis. Common skin lesions included urticaria-like erythema, papules and pigmentation arranged in a reticular distribution, and rare skin lesions included mung bean- to soybean-sized blisters, whose walls were liable to break. Among 5 patients undergoing routine urine analysis, 4 were positive (from + to ++++) for ketone bodies in the urine, and 3 were positive for urinary protein (+) . Pathological examination in 2 patients showed epidermal spongiosis, scattered necrotic keratinocytes, basal cell liquefaction, lymphocyte infiltration in the superficial dermis, and erythrocyte extravasation. The 6 patients were advised to eat staple foods. After dietary modification, 5 patients were nearly cured within 1 week; 1 patient, who continued ketogenic diet for weight loss, still received marked improvement after the treatment with minocycline at a dose of 100 mg/d in spite of restriction of carbohydrate intake. The levels of urinary ketone bodies and urinary protein in the 6 patients all returned to normal within 1 week after treatment.Conclusions:Ketosis plays an important role in the occurrence of prurigo pigmentosa. Dietary modification alone or adjuvant medical treatment such as minocycline is effective for the treatment of ketosis-related prurigo pigmentosa.

Objective To investigate neuroprotective effect of AM-36 on secondary brain injury following traumatic brain injury(TBI)in rats.Methods A total of 38 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an experimental group,a control group and a sham operation group,then sustained to moder- ate TBI.AM-36(0.1 ml/100 g)was administered intraperitoneally in the experimental group and isoton- ic saline solution was administered intraperitoneally in the control and the sham operation groups at 30 mi- nutes,24 and 48 hours after TBI,respectively.The brain water content was determined at 24 hours after TBI.Rats were sacrificed by decapitation at 24 hours or one week after TBI for observing histological changes in peripheral cortex,thalamus and hippocampus by means of Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and Fluoro-Jade(F-J)staining.Results The brain water content of bilateral hemispheres 24 hours after TBI in the experimental group was significantly decreased,compared to that of the control group.Histo- logical examination revealed less degenerating neurons(F-J positive neurons)in the cortex,thalamus, CAI and CA3 of the hippocampus in AM-36 treated rats 24 hours and one week after injury(P＜0.05). Conclusion Systemic administration of AM-36 at the early stage after TBI can decrease brain water content and exert neuroprotective effect on TBI.F-J staining can be used for histopathologic quantitation of neuronal damage,for it can accurately exhibit pathologic changes following TBI induced by fluid per- cussion.

Mycoepoxydiene is a novel antitumor agent extracted from marine lignicolous fungi HLY-2, which is Diaporthe phaseolorum by molecule identification. The medium optimization for mycoepoxydiene by orthogonal design and the comparison of submerged fermentation and solid state fermentation were studied. The rusult is that the maximal yield of the compound is 543mg/L, which is 43 times compared to the customary half-seawater PD medium and 15 times to the best submerged condition. This optimum culture medium included potato 250g/L, seawater 300mL/L, glucose 30g/L, lactose 50g/L, KH_ 2 PO_ 4 0.65mmol/L and (NH_ 4 )_ 2 SO_ 4 1g/L in the solid state condition. Differentiation analysis between submerged and solid state fermentation, and antitumor activity of these ferment products were also studied. The antitumor activity of products of the optimum medium approached the pure compound.

Aims To study the role of NGF/Trk A sig-naling pathway in Memantine ( MEM) improving APP/PS1 transgenic mice cognitive deficits and to explore its possible mechanisms. Methods Cognitive perform-ance was assessed by Morris water maze( MWM) , pas-sive avoidance test( PAT) and locomotivity test. Aβ1-42 protein levels were determined by immunohistochemis-try. The activities of AChE and ChAT were also exam-ined by ELISA and colorimetry. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of NGF and its receptor TrkA and the downstream ERK pathway. Results MEM treatment significantly ameliorated the cognitive deficits, dramatically reduced the Aβ1-42 overexpres-sion. MEM increased the activity of choline acetyl-transferase( ChAT) , while decreased that of acetylcho-line esterase( AChE) . Moreover, MEM activiated NGF signaling by increasing the phosphorylation of TrkA fol-lowing the increased phosphorylation of c-Raf, ERK1/2 and downstream effector CREB after MEM treatment. Conclusion MEM treatment may activate the NGF/TrkA signaling in APP/PS1 mice to reduce amyloidosis and cognitive deficits.

This study is to investigate the effect and mechanism of puerarin on DNA damage of HaCaT cells induced by UVB. Puerarin pre-treated cells were irradiated with UVB at 30 mJ x cm(-2). Twenty four hours after irradiation, DNA damage was detected by comet assay, ceramide was measured by thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography, intracellular free calcium ion was analyzed by flow cytometry, the phosphorylation level of p38 protein was examined by Western blotting method. Levels of DNA damage, ceramide, free calcium ion and p-p38 protein were elevated in UVB model cells. Contrary to the model group, all indicators above were reduced in all groups pre-treated by puerarin. Puerarin restrains the ceramide accumulation to block downstream p38 MAPK pathway and calcium ion rising, therefore reduces DNA damage in HaCaT cells induced by UVB.
Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Ultraviolet Rays ; adverse effects ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression characteristics of the gene of coiled-coil domain-containing protein 70 (Ccdc70) in the mouse testis and its potential role in spermatogenesis.

METHODSUsing expression profile microarray, we screened the mouse testis-specific gene Ccdc70, studied its expression characteristics in the mouse testis by RT-PCR, real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry, followed by bioinformatic analysis of the Ccdc70 protein.

RESULTSThe Ccdc70 gene was expressed highly in the testis but lowly in the epididymis of the mice. The Ccdc70 protein was expressed mainly in the spermatocytes and round spermatids of the testis and in the epithelial cells of the epididymis. Bioinformatic analysis showed a structural domain in the Ccdc70 protein, which was highly conserved in mammalian evolution.

CONCLUSIONThe Ccdc70 gene is highly expressed in the mouse testis and mainly in the spermatocytes, round spermatids, and epididymal epithelial cells, which indicates that it is involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm maturation.

Animals ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mice ; Proteins ; genetics ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Testis ; metabolism

Aged ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo report the preliminary experience in clinical application of 3.0 T intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) neuronavigation system in China.

METHODSFrom September 2010 to March 2011, a consecutive series of 122 patients with intracranial lesions underwent operations in guidance with 3.0 T iMRI. A retrospective analysis was conducted regarding clinical efficiency.

RESULTSAmong 122 procedures, the numbers of intraoperative scanning were 2 - 4 times with an average of 2.6. The qualities of images were excellent. Due to the discovery and further possibility of resection of residual tumors, the ratio of gross total resection was increased from 71.7% to 90.0% in cerebral gliomas (n = 60), while from 75.9% to 93.1% in macroadenomas (n = 29). There were 6.7% of all patients occurred postoperative paralysis, but only 3.3% of patients had persistent paralysis at 1 - 2 months follow-up. There was no iMRI-related adverse event occurred. During the same period, more than 2500 patients underwent diagnostic MRI scanning.

CONCLUSIONS3.0 T iMRI neuronavigation system provides high-quality intraoperative structural, functional and metabolic images for real time tumor resection control and accurate functional preservation, resulting in an improvement in maximal safe brain surgery. The system is cost-effective.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Glioma ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuronavigation ; methods ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMultidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) is an important and emerging hospital-acquired pathogen worldwide. This study was conducted to identify the sources of MDRAB and its role in respiratory tract colonization and nosocomial pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

METHODSWe conducted a prospective active surveillance study of MDRAB in three ICUs at a Chinese Hospital from April to August 2011, to identify the sources of MDRAB and its role in respiratory tract colonization and nosocomial pneumonia.

RESULTSOne hundred and fourteen (13.0%) MDRAB isolates were detected from 876 specimens, with a sensitivity of 11.6% (55/474) in screening of the pharyngeal and tracheal swabs, and 14.7% (59/402) of the sputum/endotracheal aspirates. MDRAB colonization/infection was found in 34 (26.8%) of 127 patients, including 16 (12.6%) cases of pure colonization and 18 (14.2%) cases of pneumonia (two pre-ICU-acquired cases of pneumonia and 16 ICU-acquired cases of pneumonia). Previous respiratory tract MDRAB colonization was found in 22 (17.3%) patients: eight (6.3%) were pre-ICU-acquired colonization and 14 (11.0%) ICU-acquired colonization. Of eight pre-ICU-colonized patients, five were transferred from other wards or hospitals with hospitalization > 72 hours, and three came from the community with no previous hospitalization. Overall, 6/22 colonized patients presented with secondary pneumonia; only two (9.1%) colonized MDRAB strains were associated with secondary infections. Respiratory tract MDRAB colonization had no significant relationship with nosocomial pneumonia (P = 0.725). In addition, acute respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, renal failure, and prior carbapenem use were risk factors for MDRAB colonization/infection.

CONCLUSIONSA high proportion of cases of MDRAB colonization/infection in ICU patients were detected through screening cultures. About one-third were acquired from general wards and the community before ICU admission. The low incidence of MDRAB colonization-related pneumonia questions the appropriateness of targeted antibiotic therapy.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cross Infection ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; drug therapy ; microbiology

Objective To study the situation of HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Tianjin during 2008-2009 and to provide reasonable evidence for intervention strategy.Methods Transect investigations in MSM were conducted three times during 2008-2009.Blood samples were collected and detected to identify the recent HIV infection with IgG-capture BED-enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) before HIV incidence was estimated.Results 1799 specimens were tested and the HIV prevalence rates of each study were 6.7％,8.6％ and 6.2％,while the incidence rates were 2.7％,2.5％ and 2.8％,respectively.The estimated incidence rates among these testees were 5.36％ and 5.52％ per year in 2008 and 2009.Conclusion Results of this study showed that the HIV incidence stabilized at high level among MSM in Tianjin,calling for the effective interventions be taken for HIV/AIDS control and prevention.