Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) in the pathogenesis of secondary syphilis, and their relationship with RPR titers and clinical manifestations in secondary syphilis. Methods The serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-? were tested by ELISA. RPR titers of the patients were determined simultaneously. Histopathology was performed if skin lesions were present. Results Thirty three cases of secondary syphilis were studied. The average levels of serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-? were 78.7?82.5 pg/mL, 171.9?117.9 pg/mL and 115.7?67.9 pg/mL, respectively, in syphilis group, which were significantly higher in comparison with those in controls (P

[Objective] To investigate the m vitro effect of asiaticoside on the proliferation of and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression by keloid-derived fibroblasts.[Methods] Tissue samples from patients with keloid were obtained for primary culture of fibroblasts.After 3 to 7 passages,the fibroblasts were incubated with different concentrations (100,10,1,0.1,0.01 mg/L) of asiaticoside or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 24,48 and 72 hours followed by the determination of cell viability by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were carried out to quantify the expression of CTGF in the fibroblasts at 48 hours after treatment with different concentrations of asiaticoside.The morphology of fibroblasts was observed before and after the treatment with asiatieoside.[Results] As morphological observation showed,different concentrations of asiaticoside induced an obvious apoptosis and growth inhibition in fibroblasts.The growth of fibroblasts was suppressed by asiaticoside of 1-100 mg/L in a dose-dependent manner (r =0.95,0.90,0.92 for 24-,48- and 72-hour treatment respectively,all P ＜ 0.01 ),and one-factor analysis of variance revealed statistical differences in the growth inhibition rate in fibroblasts between different treatment durations for each tested concentration of asiaticoside (all P ＜ 0.01 ).There was a strong expression of CTGF in untreated fibroblasts,which was weakened by the treatment with asiaticoside for 48 hours.The number of CTGF-positive fibroblasts per 100 cells was 73 in untreated fibroblasts,significantly higher than that in fibroblasts treated with asiaticoside at 1 mg/L (54,t =4.34,P ＜ 0.01 ) and 10 mg/L (46,t =6.26,P ＜ 0.01 ),and statistical differences were observed between the fibroblasts treated with asiaticoside at 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L (t =1.95,P ＜ 0.05).Western blot also showed that the expression of CTGF was inhibited by 48-hour treatment with asiaticoside,and the inhibitive effect displayed a trend to increase with the rise in the concentration of asiaticoside.[Conclusion] Asiaticoside can effectively inhibit the oroliferation of and CTGF expression by fibroblasts in vitro.

Objective To compare broth microdilution and agar dilution methods for in vitro testing of activities of fluconazole,ketoconazole and itraconazole against clinical Malassezia isolates.Methods Broth microdilution and agar dilution methods were used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)of fluconazole,ketoconazole and itraconazole for 27 clinical strains(5 species)of Malassezia.Results The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)ranges of fluconazole,ketoconazole and itraconazole were 0.25-≥64 mg/L,≤0.03-0.5 mg/L and ≤0.03-0.125 mg/L respectively as shown by broth microdilution method,2-≥64 mg/L,≤0.03-0.5 mg/L and ≤0.03-0.25 mg/L respectively as revealed by agar dilution method.Both methods demonstrated that itraconazole possessed the strongest activity against Malassezia species,followed by ketoconazole and fluconazole.The agreement rate in MICs between the two methods was 78.8％,85.2％ and 88.9％,respectively for fluconazole,ketoconazole and itraconazole,with the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs)being 0.88,0.80 and 0.76 respectively.Conclusions Fluconazole,ketoconazole and itraconazole are highly active against Malassezia species in vitro,and itraconazole is the most active.Broth microdilution and agar dilution method coincide well in,and are applicable for,the antifungal susceptibility testing of Malassezia species in vitro.

A 70-year-old female patient presented with several cutaneous masses on the left neck and trunk for 40 years. Some masses were removed by surgical operation more than 10 years prior to the presentation, but recurred subsequently along with an increase in lesion number. Persistent dull pain emerged at the lesion sites 2 months prior to the presentation and the masses on the left neck ulcerated 10 days prior to the presentation. Histopathology showed tumor cell clumps in the dermis with benign eccrine spiradenoma components in the centre region and carcinomatous components in the periphery. The carcinomatous components included slightly atypical cells and hyaline degeneration. Immunohistochemically, carcinoembryonic antigen and epithelial membrane antigen were observed in the tumor tissues. The case was diagnosed as eccrine spiradenocarcinoma. The masses were surgically removed, but recurred 1 month later, increased in size and number and ulcerated 3 months later, and the patient died 6 months after the surgery.

Objective To analyze clinicopathologic features of sebaceoma. Methods Clinical, pathologic and immunohistochemical findings from 31 cases of sebaceoma were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathologic features of sebaceoma were investigated. Results There were 9 males and 22 females. The patients′ age was 53.90 ± 15.40 years, and the clinical course was 9.41 ± 13.75 years. Sebaceoma predominantly affected the face. The common lesion of sebaceoma was red, yellowish?red, skin?colored or slight brown papules, with no subjective symptoms in most cases. Histopathologically, neoplasms had symmetric structures, and were located in the dermis. Epidermal involvements were found in 9 cases. The neoplasm cells were mainly composed of basaloid cells, a few mature sebocytes and some transition cells. The proportion of mature sebocyts was less than 1%in 26 cases, less than 20%in 2 cases, and 20%-40%in 3 cases. Mitoses were occasionally found in 5 cases. One patient was complicated by eccrine poroma. Varying amounts of ducts were found in all the patients. Immunohistochemical staining showed that epithelial membrane antigen was expressed on ducts and mature sebocytes in all the patients, while epithelial antigen was undetected in any of the patients. Carcinoembryonic antigen, androgen receptor and D2?40 were found in 20, 24 and 28 patients with sebaceoma, respectively. Conclusions The diagnosis of sebaceoma mainly depends on histopathological examination. Combined immunohistochemical detection of epithelial membrane antigen, androgen receptor and D2?40 is beneficial to its differential diagnosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the predisposing factors and pathogenic fungal species of Malassezia folliculitis in different geographical areas and body sites.MethodsTotally,241 patients diagnosed with Malassezia folliculitis were asked to complete a questionnaire.The content of hair follicles was obtained and subjected to fungal smear and culture examination.Fungal species were identified according to morphological,physiological and biochemical features.Results Of the 241 patients with Malassezia folliculitis,204 (84.65％) were positive for smear examination.A total of 259 specimens were collected from these patients,and fungal culture grew 213(82.24％) strains,of which,209 belonged to Malassezia species,4(1.54％) to Candida species.Among the 209 Malassezia strains,186 were activated and subjected to species identification which resulted in 6 species,including M.furfur (111 strains,59.68％ ),M.sloofiae (43 strains,23.12％ ),M.sympodialis (17 strains,9.14％),M.globosa (9 strains,4.84％),M.pachydermatis (4 strains,2.15％),and M.obtuse(2 strains,1.08％ ).Of the pathogenic fungi of Malassezia folliculitis,M.furfur predominated in the chest,back,abdomen,face and neck,M.sloofiae in the upper limbs,shoulders and vertex,M.globosa in the lower limbs.There were obvious differences in the distribution of pathogenic fungal species at different body sites in a same host,and M.furfur with M.sloofiae or M.sympodialis appeared to be the most common pathogens.ConclusionsIn this study,6 Malassezia species are identified in patients with Malassezia folliculitis in Nantong and Nanjing area,M.furfur and M.sloofiae appear to be the dominant pathogens.

【Objective】 To provide reference for fine management of blood donors by classifying and analyzing different types of blood donors from domestic blood stations. 【Methods】 The resident population of 15 regions in China from 2016 to 2019 were taken as the research object, among which the blood donors were divided into three categories: age-eligible citizens, registered donors and donated donors. The average value and proportion of the three categories were calculated and statistically analyzed. 【Results】 The resident population of the 15 regions varied greatly. The mean 95% CI of the proportion of age-eligible citizens to resident population from 2016 to 2019 was (60.16%, 67.84%); registered donors to age-eligible citizens and resident population was (2.21%, 2.86%) and (1.41%, 1.79%), respectively; donated donors to registered donors, age-eligible citizens and resident population was (84.63%, 91.68%), (1.93%, 2.55%) and(1.23%, 1.59%), respectively. 【Conclusion】 There were differences in the number and proportion of different types of blood donors in different regions. The fine management of blood donors can help blood stations carry out more effective recruitment and retention strategies.