OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene and the stability of carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODSPolymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the ALOX5AP gene was analyzed in 152 cases of acute infarction with stable plaque, and 132 cases of acute infarction with vulnerable plaques, by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Carotid artery plaque was analyzed by carotid artery color ultrasound.

RESULTSThe frequencies of SG13S114 AA genotype and the A allele in the vulnerable plaque group were higher than that in the stable plaque group (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the ALOX5AP gene may be associated with the instability of atherosclerosis. And the SG13S114 A allele may be a risk factor of vulnerable plaques.

5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical classification method of keloids and providing a thread for the treatment of keloids.

METHODSTo summarize the 600 cases of keloid patients we accepted and diagnosed from November 2004 to October 2012, and filling in keloid patients information sheet, recording the keloids form by photographs, analyzing the treatment, putting forward the classification method of keloids in clinic.

RESULTSAccording to the position and quantity that keloids grow, the keloid patients are divided into four major categories:one in single site, one in each site, more than one in single site and more than one in each site; According to the area and thickness of keloids, the keloid single lesion is divided into four subclasses: type of small area and thin, type of small area and thick, type of large areas and thin,type of large areas and thick; According to the number of lesions, keloid multiple lesions is divided into two subgenera: isolated multiple and dispersion multiple, different kinds of keloids suit different methods of treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical classification method of keloids can be used to provide thought for the treatment of keloids, and have a good application value.

Humans ; Keloid ; classification ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of importing triamcinolone acetonide into hypertrophic scars with skin roller needles.

METHODSThirty-two cases with burn hypertrophic scar were treated. The skin roller needles were moved back and forth on the hypertrophic scars with triamcinolone acetonide dropping on the scar surface at the same time. So the triamcinolone acetonide could be imported into the scar through needles and needle holes. The effect was evaluated as cured, effective, and no effect. The Vancouver scaring criteria and visual analogue scale was used to assess the scar color, thickness, texture and feeling before and after treatment, as well as at the untreated scar area (control).

RESULTSThirty-two cases were treated 1-3 times, including 28 cases with cured result and 4 cases with effective result. The total effective rate was 100%. The scar color, thickness, texture and feeling was significantly different between the scar before and after treatment, or between the treated and untreated scar (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSImporting triamcinolone acetonide into hypertrophic scars with skin roller needles is effective. It is a new method for the treatment of large hypertrophic scar with medicine.

Burns ; complications ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; instrumentation ; Needles ; Treatment Outcome ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; administration & dosage

AIMTo study the effect of the recombined human growth hormone(rhGH) on secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), epidermal growth factor (EGF) in rats with obstructive jaundice.

METHODSSixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, sham-operated (group A), common biliary duct-ligated (group B), biliary duct-ligated plus rhGH-treat for one week (group C), biliary duct-ligated plus rhGH-treat for two weeks (group D), each group had 15 rats. Except group A, the rats of other groups were operated with biliary duct-ligated. Until two weeks after operation, the rats of group A and B were killed. After operation, the rats of group C were treated with rhGH hypodermic injection (0.75 U x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for one week, and then killed. The rats of D group were treated with rhGH hypodermic injection (0.75 U x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for two weeks, and then killed. All procedures were performed aseptically. Total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), prealbumin(PA), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), sIgA, EGF were measured.

RESULTSCompared with group A, in group B, C, D, serum level of PA, IGF-1 and sIgA, EGF level of gastric and intestinal juice were lower, but TB, ALP were higher, there were significant difference. Compared with group B, the rats with treatment of rhGH in group C and D had higher sIgA and EGF and lower intestinal bacterial translocation.

CONCLUSIONIn objective jaundice rats, rhGH can protect their hepatic function, intestinal physical-barrier function and immune-barrier function, and reduce intestinal bacterial translocation.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; metabolism ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the rules of proliferation of epithelial cells of sweat glands in deep partial-thickness burn wound and its transdifferentiation towards epidermal cells during healing process to explore its mechanisms.

METHODSTwenty-eight patients with limbs and trunk burn hospitalized in the Fourth People's Hospital of Taizhou City of Jiangsu Province and the Second Hospital of Shandong University from January 2004 to December 2007 were enrolled in the study. Tissue samples of deep partial-thickness burn wound (DPBW, n = 37), superficial partial-thickness burn wound (SPBW, n = 21), and normal skin (NS, n = 10) were harvested. Expressions of cytokeratin 10 (CK10), bcl-2, P63, CK14 and CK19 of epithelial cells in glandular secretory portion (GSP) in DPBW, SPBW and NS were detected with immunohistochemical double staining method.

RESULTSIn NS, CK19, CK14 and CK10 expressed in medium intensity in GSP epithelial cells, P63 and CK14 weakly expressed in basal myoepithelial cells, while no expression of bcl-2 or P63 was observed in all CK10 positive terminally differentiated cells. In SPBW, no change of the construction of GSP and above-mentioned proteins during healing process was observed. In DPBW, as examined on 7(th) post burn day (PBD), expression of P63 and bcl-2 in GSP epithelial cells was enhanced. In DPBW on 8 - 10 PBD, bcl-2, P63, CK19 and CK14 strongly positive solid island-like epithelial structure was formed by proliferation, migration and squamous epithelization of basal cells. Such structure, along with granulation tissue, migrated towards the superficial layer of wounds. The hyperplasia of squamous epithelium resulted in complete reepithelialization. In DPBW, bcl-2, CK14, CK19 and P63 still strongly expressed in hyper-proliferative epidermal basal and suprabasal layers on 13 - 30 day after healing.

CONCLUSIONSDuring the natural healing process of DPBW, monolayer epithelium (CK19 and CK10 positive) of GSP slowly develops into stratified squamous epithelium (bcl-2, P63, CK19, and CK14 positive), suggesting that the epithelial-epidermal transdifferentiation of GSP undergoes slow retrodifferentiation process of stem cells and transient amplifying cells, resulting in the imbalance between lagged growth of epithelium and the hyperplasia of granulation tissue, constituting one of the important mechanisms of disturbance in DPBW repair.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-10 ; metabolism ; Keratin-14 ; metabolism ; Keratin-19 ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Sweat Glands ; cytology ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDKeratinocyte growth factor (KGF) significantly influences epithelial wound healing. The aim of this study was to isolate KGF phage model peptides from a phage display 7-mer peptide library to evaluate their effect on promoting epidermal cell proliferation.

METHODSA phage display 7-mer peptide library was screened using monoclonal anti-human KGF antibody as the target. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to select monoclonal phages with good binding activity. DNA sequencing was done to find the similarities of model peptides. Three-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, immunofluorescence assay and quantitative real-time PCR analysis were employed to evaluate the effect of the phage model peptides on epidermal cells.

RESULTSThirty-three out of fifty-eight (56.9%) of the isolated monoclonal phages exhibited high binding activity by ELISA. Ten of fifteen obtained phage model peptides were similar to KGF or epidermal growth factor (EGF). MTT assay data showed that four (No. 1 - 4) of the ten phage model peptides could promote epidermal cell proliferation. The expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) mRNA in the KGF control group and the two phage model peptide groups (No. 1 and No. 2) increased. Expression of c-Fos mRNA and c-Jun mRNA in the KGF control group increased, but did not increase in the four phage model peptide groups (No.1 - 4).

CONCLUSIONFour phage model peptides isolated from the phage display 7-mer peptide library can safely promote epidermal cell proliferation without tumorigenic effect.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo access the prevalence of menopause-like symptoms, and their related factors in old and middle-aged males in the area of Hefei.

METHODSThis study included 1 026 males aged over 45 years that came to the clinic for health examination. We collected their personal data, and evaluated their general health status and the results of the questionnaire investigation using the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale.

RESULTSThe total incidence of menopause-like symptoms was 64.7% among the old and middle-aged males in Hefei area, of which 58.1% were mild, 30.9% moderate and 11.0% severe. The average AMS score was 31.2 +/- 6.8, in which the scores on psychological, physical and sexual function symptoms were 8.3 +/- 2.1, 12.4 +/- 4.8 and 9.3 +/- 4.5, respectively. Sexual function symptoms were increased significantly with the increase of age (P < 0.05), but psychological and physical symptoms showed no obvious correlation with age (P > 0.05). The main risk factors of menopause-like symptoms included age, smoking, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, but physical exercise was an important protective factor against them.

CONCLUSIONWith the increase of age, the prevalence of male menopause-like symptoms rises and sexual function declines gradually, but psychological and physical scores are not affected significantly. Age, general health status and lifestyle are closely associated with the prevalence of menopause-like symptoms among old and middle-aged males.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Andropause ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changing regular of specific cytokeratin (CK) markers expressing in human pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH), keloids (Ke) and hypertrophic scar (HS) lesion, and to explore the correlation between such changes and the different outcomes of wound repair.

METHODSHistopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) double staining methods were used in samples of human PEH, Ke, HS and NS to determine the distribution characteristics and changing regularity of CKs in epidermal tissues.

RESULTSNo CK8&18 and CK17 expressed in epidermis of NS group, while CK8&18(+) cells and CK17(+) cells were detected in epidermis of active-stage Ke, HS and PEH. The quantities of CK8&18(+) cells and CK17(+) cells ranked as follows: PEH > Ke > HS and HS > Ke > PEH (P < 0.05). CK19(+) cells and CK5&6(+) cells expressed similar changing trend, while reverse trend of CK10(+) cells was detected in epidermal cells, with local epidermal hyperplasia, cells morphological changes and sub-epidermal inflammatory reaction.

CONCLUSIONDifferent degree of de-differentiation and terminal differentiation imbalance are found in epidermal cells of active-stage PEH, Ke and HS, which hint the correlation between the abnormal proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells and the different outcomes of wound repair.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epidermis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Infant ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

Membrane (M) protein genes of 20 infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains isolated in China between 1995 and 2004 were sequenced and analyzed. The M genes of twenty isolates were composed of 672 to 681 nucleotides, encoding polypeptides of 223 to 226 amino acid residues. Variations of the deduced amino acids of M gene mainly occurred at positions 2 to 17 and 221 to 233, comparing with that of the IBV strain LX4. There were deletions or insertions in the M gene of Chinese isolates at amino acid position 2 to 6, leading to the loss or gain of a glycosylation site. Phylogenetic tree based on amino acid sequences of M genes from 20 Chinese isolates and 34 reference strains showed that they were classified into five distinct clusters. Most of the Chinese IBV strains were included in clusters II and IV, forming distinct groups. The isolates in cluster II showed a close evolutionary relationship with Taiwan isolates. Furthermore, recombination especially the recombination between field isolates and vaccine strains had been observed while comparing the phylogeny of M genes with those of S1 and N genes.
Amino Acid Sequence ; China ; Genetic Variation ; Infectious bronchitis virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics

BACKGROUNDTransforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is known to have a role in keloid formation through the activation of fibroblasts and the acceleration of collagen deposition. The objective of this current study was to isolate TGF-β1 phage model peptides from a phage display 7-mer peptide library to evaluate their therapeutic effect on inhibiting the activity of keloid fibroblasts.

METHODSA phage display 7-mer peptide library was screened using monoclonal anti-human TGF-β1 as the target to obtain specific phages containing ectogenous model peptides similar to TGF-β1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to select monoclonal phages with good binding activity, which underwent DNA sequencing. MTT assay and apoptosis assessment were used to evaluate the biological effects of the phage model peptides on keloid fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence assay was employed to show the binding affinity of the model peptides on phages causing keloid fibroblasts. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was carried out to detect the expressions of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) mRNA, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA and TGF-β receptor II (TβRII) mRNA in keloid fibroblasts.

RESULTSSpecific phages with good results of ELISA were beneficiated. Four phage model peptides were obtained. The data of MTT showed that TGF-β1 and one phage model peptide (No. 4) could promote keloid fibroblasts proliferation, however, three phage model peptides (No. 1 - 3) could inhibit keloid fibroblasts proliferation. The results of apoptosis assessment showed that the three phage model peptides could slightly induce the apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts. The data of immunofluorescence assay revealed that the model peptides on phages rather than phages could bind to keloid fibroblasts. The findings of quantitative real-time PCR analysis suggested that the expressions of NF-κB mRNA and CTGF mRNA in the three phage model peptide groups decreased, while the expression of TβRII mRNA slightly increased.

CONCLUSIONSThree phage model peptides isolated from a phage display 7-mer peptide library can inhibit keloid fibroblasts proliferation and induce the apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts. They can inhibit the activity of keloid fibroblasts by blocking TGF-β1 binding to its receptor and then regulating the expressions of NF-κB, CTGF and TβRII.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; immunology