Objective Acne vulgaris remains a major problem in dermatological practice. Phototherapy for acne with blue and red light-emitting diode (LED) arrays has recently attracted attention.The aim of this study is to observe the clinical effect of the blue and red light combination phototherapy on acne. Methods 65 individuals were recruited: 25 females and 5 males. Patients underwent treatment of 20-25 minutes blue light and 5-10 minutes combined light treatment twice per week. Continuous irradiation for 4 weeks was as 1 session. Mild acne vulgaris was treated for 1 session, moderate and severe acne were treated for 1 or 2 sessions. Results After system treatment, the acne lesion was reduced apparently without side effect. The effective rate of mild acne vulgaris, moderate acne vulgaris and severe acne vulgris was 80 %, 89.4 % and 88.2 %, respectively. Conclusion The combination of blue and red light-emitting diode therapy for acne vulgaris is effective. This therapy is convenient without side effect, and it is a new preferable modality for the treatment of acne.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of 800 nm diode laser for removing unwanted hair of Ⅲ-Ⅴ skin type.Methods A total of 114 patients were treated with 800 nm diode laser on 234 sites.Four sessions were performed at an interval of 6-8 weeks.Percentage of hair reduction was evaluated 3 months after each session by comparing the terminal hair count to the baseline values.Follow-up was performed 6-8 months after the last session.In addition,subjective satisfaction of physicians and patients was evaluated according to a four-grade scale and the satisfaction rates were calculated.Results After fouth session,97.01％ of patients had more than 40 ％ hair reduction,and 83.33 ％ patients had more than 60 ％ hair reduction.Hyperpigmentation was observed on 15 (6.41％) sites,and disappeared after 6-8 months follow-up.The satisfactory rates of the physicians and the patients were 98.25 ％ and 96.12 ％,respectively,with no statistical difference (x2 =3.33,P＞0.05).Conclusions 800 nm diode laser for removing unwanted hair of Ⅲ-Ⅴ skin type is a safe and effective treatment option for hair removal,with relatively less side effect.

Recombinant Fl-V (rFl-V) fusion protein is the main ingredient of the current candidate vaccine against Yersinia pestis infection, which has been under investigation in clinical trial in USA. We investigated the soluble expression conditions of rF1-V in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) that we constructed before. After scale-up and optimization of fermentation processes, we got the optimized fermentation process parameters: the culture was induced at the middle exponential phase with 50 µmol/L of IPTG at 25 °C for 5 h. Soluble rFl-V protein was isolated to 99% purity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography and gel filter chromatography. The protein recovery was above 20%. Protein identity and primary structure were verified by mass spectrometry and Edman sequencing. Results of purity, quality and western blotting analysis indicated that the target protein is a consistent and properly folded product. Furthermore, the immunogenicity of various antigens formulated with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant was evaluated in mice. Serum antibody titers of 4 groups including 20 µg rFl, rV and rFl-V and 10 µg rFl+10 µg rV, were assayed by ELISA after 2 doses. The antibody titers of anti-Fl with 20 µg rFl-V were obviously higher than titers with other groups; meanwhile there were no significant difference of anti-V antibody titers among them. These findings confirm that rFl-V would be the active pharmaceutical ingredient of the plague subunit vaccine.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Antibody Formation ; Antigens, Bacterial ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Mice ; Plague ; prevention & control ; Plague Vaccine ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; Vaccines, Subunit ; immunology ; Yersinia pestis

Objective To study the feasibility of a simple random sampling on surveys at the community level and to evaluate the quality of samples under survey.Methods A simple random sample of households was taken,based on the electronic listings of community households from Gongshu and Xiacheng districts of Hangzhou city.One of the adults aged 18 to 64 years in the sampled households was identified with KISH method to finish a questionnaire survey.More than 500 people from the sample size was required in each district.Results Of 950 sampled households in Xiacheng district,511 (53.8%) finished the survey while 506 (36.7%) out of the 1380 sampled households in Gongshu district did.The proportions of non-response due to the following reasons as:none with eligible age in the households,relocation of the original household,mass relocation of the community,and errors in the household listings etc.were 38.3% and 43.5% respectively,in the two districts.Proportions attributed to non-response and refusal to response of sampled household or individual were 8.0% and 19.9% respectively.No statistical significant differences in age and gender were found between the surveyed samples and the population in the sampled households,or in gender between the populations in the sampled households and in Hangzhou city.However,the population in the sampled households showed a more aging population structure than the population in Hangzhou city.Conclusion In a geographically limited area,using a simple random sampling method to do the survey is feasible,based on the electronic listings of household.Enough time spent during the household visit guarantees the interviewers to get a representative sample of the sampling frame.There is an urgent need for the timeliness,completeness and accuracy of electronic household listings to be improved.

Objective To discuss continuous negative pressure suction and different negative pressure monitoring after the external ear reconstruction operation stage Ⅱ,aiming to improve the security of the plastic surgery.Methods A lot of 87 microtia patients aged 6-15 years were randomly selected as control group from Feb.2010 to Mar.2012,and other 87 cases of microtia were also randomed as experimental group from Apr.2012 to Apr.2014.The experimental group adopted the continuous negative pressure suction and the pressure value was set as 3.99-5.32 kPa (30-40 mmHg);the control group adopted the method of traditional intermittent negative pressure drainage and the suction pressure was set as 3.99-7.98 kPa (30 60 mmHg).After the operation,the two groups were observed and compared under continuous negative pressure suction.The capacity,color changes,length of time,and pressure value of the drain were monitored and observed,finding out their correlation with the operation effectiveness.Results For the experimental group,the incidence of subcutaneous hydrops and skin flap necrosis was lower (P＜0.05),and the primary healing rate was higher than the control group (P＜0.01).The capacity of drain was relevant to the type of the plastic surgery,different from 5 to 20 ml;the color changed gradually from blood color to faint yellow;the extubation time was generally from 7 to 10 days.The optimal pressure value was 3.99-5.32 kPa (30-40 mmHg);there was proportional relation between the effectiveness of monitoring drainage and the operation effectiveness.Conclusions Continuous negative pressure suction monitoring after operation contributes to improve the plastic surgery effectiveness,and the patients are satisfied with the result.

Objective To compare Montreal cognitive assessment-basic ( MoCA-B ) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) in screening cognitive dysfunction of acute stroke patients. Methods The cognitive function of patients (n=83) with acute stroke onset within 10 days (including new cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage) were assessed using MMSE and MoCA-B. The classification of patients with cognitive impairment was compared between the two scales. The consistency of cognitive impairment and affected domains assessed by MMSE or MoCA with experts were evaluated. Results ①There were 32 cases (38.6%) with abnormal MMSE score and 40 cases (51.8%) with abnormal MoCA-B score. ②The the diagnostic consistency of MoCA-B with experts was 89.16%. The false positive of MMSE was 2.41%and the false negative (rate of missed diagnosis) was 16.87%.False positives of MoCA-B were 4.82%and false negatives (rate of missed diagnosis) were 6.02%.③Among the 51 patients with normal MMSE, 15 had abnormal MoCA-B (29.4%). There were significant differences between these two score system in executive function, verbal fluency, directivity, abstraction, delayed recall, visual perception, naming and other cognitive domains (P＜0.05). Conclusion MoCA-B scale may be more sensitive and better than MMSE scale in screening for cognitive impairment in patients with acute stroke.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between Pi and Shen by observing the relationship between the metabolism of aristolochic acid (AA) and mRNA and protein expression levels of organic anion transporting polypeptide (oatp) superfamily member 2a1 and 2 b1 (oatp2al and oatp2bl) in renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues of Pi deficiency syndrome (PDS) model rats.

METHODSTotally 46 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the blank group (n = 12), the PDS group (n = 22), the AA-I group (n = 6), and the PDS AA-I group (n = 6). PDS model was established by subcutaneously injecting Reserpine at the daily dose of 5 mg/kg for 16 successive days. Carotid intubation was performed in 6 rats selected from the blank group and the PDS group. Pharmacokinetics of AA-I were detected at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I. AA-I concentrations in renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues of 10 rats selected from the PDS group were determined. Normal saline was administered to 6 rats selected from the PDS group and the blank group by gastrogavage. Renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues were collected in the AA-I group and the PDS AA-I group at 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I. mRNA and protein expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 in each tissue were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank group, plasma concentrations of in vivo AA-I were obviously higher in the PDS group at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of AA-I were obviously decreased at 60 min after gastrogavage of AA-I; AA-I concentrations in renal and large intestinal tissues were elevated; AA-I concentrations in small intestinal tissues were obviously reduced in the PDS group. There was no statistical difference in mRNA expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 in the aforesaid three tissues of rats between the blank group and the PDS group. Compared with the blank group, mRNA expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 decreased in small intestinal tissues of the AA-I group, and the mRNA expression level of oatp2a1 in large intestinal tissues significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the PDS group, mRNA expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 increased in renal tissues of the PDS AA-I group (P < 0.05); mRNA expression levels of oatp2b1 increased in large intestinal tissues of the PDS AA-I group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe difference in AA-I metabolism might be associated with changed expression levels of oatp2a1 and oatp2b1 in renal, small intestinal, and large intestinal tissues under Pi deficiency induced loss of transportation. Shen and Dachang played important roles in substance metabolism under Pi deficiency state, which proved Pi-Shen correlated in Chinese medical theories.

Animals ; Anions ; Aristolochic Acids ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Kidney ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Organic Cation Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Peptides ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) inducing angiogenesis on the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone and its mechanisms after focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODThe middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to mice for 30 minutes to establish the model. The rats were divided into sham group, model group, BYHWD group and endostatin group. BYHWD (20 g x kg(-1), ig) and endostatin (10 μg, sc) were administered 24 h after ischemia once a day for consecutively 14 days. At 14 d after ischemia, the density of micro-vessel and the number of neuroblasts in the ischemia border zone were determined by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression of cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTCompared with the model group, BYHWD significantly increased the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), and significantly increased the SDF-1 and BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01). Compared with BYHWD group, endostatin significantly reduced the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), as well as the SDF-1, BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBYHWD could promote the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone via inducing angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia, the mechanism may be correlated with up-regulating the expression of SDF-1 and BDNF.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cerebral Ventricles ; pathology ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; analysis ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology

Background: In China, most patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are diagnosed at a late stage and con-sequently have a poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate potential factors associated with the clinical stage of NPC at diagnosis. Methods: Data were obtained from 118 patients with early-stage NPC and 274 with late-stage NPC who were treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between August 2014 and July 2015. Patients were individually matched by age, sex, and residence, and a conditional logistic regression model was applied to assess the associa-tions of clinical stage at diagnosis with socioeconomic status indicators, knowledge of NPC, physical examinations, patient interval, and risk factors for NPC. Results: Although knowledge of early NPC symptoms, smoking cessation, and patient interval were important fac-tors, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, motorbike ownership, and physical examination exhibited the strong-est associations with the clinical stage of NPC at diagnosis. Compared with smoking fewer than ten cigarettes a day, smoking 10–30 cigarettes [odds ratio (OR) 4.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–14.68] or more than 30 cigarettes (OR 11.46; 95% CI 1.26–103.91) was associated with an increased risk of late diagnosis. Compared with not owning a motorbike, owning a motorbike (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.23–0.64) was associated with early diagnosis. Subjects who under-went physical examinations were less likely to receive a late diagnosis than those who did not undergo examinations (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.28–0.89). However, indicators of wealth were not significant factors. Conclusions: Initiatives to improve NPC patient prognosis should aim to promote knowledge about early symptoms and detection, health awareness, and accessibility to health facilities among all patients, regardless of socioeconomic status.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical findings and treatment of paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) with Castleman's disease.

METHODSTo investigate the clinical, histopathologic and CT findings of 8 cases paraneoplastic pemphigus with Castleman's disease.

RESULTSAll of 8 patients were diagnosed PNP first and were found Castleman's tumor incidently during routine examination. All 8 cases showed severe erosion or ulcer of the oral mucosa with various skin lesions. Histopathologically, there were intraepidermal acantholytic vesicle, basal cell liquefaction, necrotic keratinocytes in the epidermis and lymphocyte infiltration in the upper dermis. CT scan appeared solitary mass in these patients. Some of them were attacked by bronchiolitis obliterans. All 8 patients were failed by use of predisone. Obvious relief of PNP and pulmonary lesion occurred after tumor was rescted.

CONCLUSIONSParaneoplastic pemphigus with Castleman's disease is a rare disease. The key step is to find and resect the tumor in abdomen. CT scan should be used to detect the tumor in patients with PNP, especially, when predisone was failed in treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Castleman Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pemphigus, Benign Familial ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies