OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the polymorphisms of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene intron 1 at position + 874 and Condyloma Acuminata (CA).

METHODSIFN-gamma gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (intron 1 at position + 874) were detected in 156 subjects, including 76 patients with recurrent CA (CA group) and 80 healthy controls (control group), by polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers.

RESULTSNo significant difference of IFN-gamma 1 + 874 was found between CA group (TT, TA, and AA frequencies were 10.5%, 34.2%, and 55.3%, respectively) and control group (TT, TA, and AA frequencies were 7.5%, 30.0%, and 62.5%, respectively) (chi2 = 0.959, P = 0.619).

CONCLUSIONIFN-gamma gene polymorphism (intron 1 at position + 874) is not correlated with recurrent CA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Condylomata Acuminata ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between blood eosinophil (EOS)level and steroid doses in patients of bullous pemphigoid (BP).

METHODSA total of 82 untreated BP inpatients (n=49) and outpatients (n=33) were enrolled in this study. The blood EOS level and the steroid doses before and after treatment were recorded. The correlation between EOS level and steroid doses was analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSEOS increased in 69 BP patients (84.15%); on the contrary, only 10% of normal controls had increased EOS (t=1.99,P<0.001). In 44 inpatients, the blood EOS remained high before steroid treatment, and quickly returned to normal level after the disease became stable. There was a linear correlation between EOS and steroid doses (Spearman analysis,r=0.496,P<0.001). In 5 patients who were treated by non-steroid approach, EOS level also declined after the disease was resolved.

CONCLUSIONEOS can be one of useful indicators for the application of steroids in the treatment of BP.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by extensive fibrosis, vasculopathy, and activation of the immune system. Its pathogenesis and mechanisms have not been identified. Studies have shown that environmental and genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis and development of SSc. Although the concordance for the disease among identical twins is low, concordance for antoantibodies associated with SSc and for fibroblast gene expression profiles is higher. However, the candidate-gene approach has not established clear associations between polymorphisms and SSc. Based on the involvement of SSc, the candidate gene can be screened from three groups: fibrosis, immune response, and vascular disease. This article summarizes the recent advances in these three aspects.
Fibrillins ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; genetics ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), a rare inherited disease, is believed to be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. EVER1/2 genes, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, and the biological characteristics of HPV itself may play roles in the pathogenesis of HPV infection.
Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Papillomavirus Infections ; complications ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo determine the correlation between DNA load of human papillomavirus (HPV) and recurrence of condyloma acuminata (CA).

METHODSThe HPV6/11 and HPV16/18 DNA load of 31 cases of primary CA and 32 cases of recurrent CA were detected by real-time fluorogenic quantitative PCR.

RESULTSAmong the 63 CA patients, 62 cases were HPV6/11 DNA positive. The positive rate was 98.4%. The ranges of HPV6/11 DNA load in primary and recurrent CA were 1.4x10(3)-6.7x10(7) copies/ml and 1.2x10(4)-3.6x10(8) copies/ml respectively. Of 62 cases with HPV6/11 DNA positive, 7 cases were HPV16/18 DNA positive (11.3%). The ranges of HPV16/18 DNA load in primary and recurrent CA were 1.9x10(3)-1.6x10(4) copies/ml and 1.4x10(5)-1.7x10(7) copies/ml respectively. The HPV6/11 and HPV16/18 DNA load in recurrent CA were higher than in primary CA (P < 0.05). The DNA load of HPV6/11 was positively correlated with times of recurrence and course of disease (r=0.37 and 0.30 respectively).

CONCLUSIONCertain correlation exists between DNA load of HPV and recurrence of CA.

Adult ; Condylomata Acuminata ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology ; Recurrence ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the levels of antidesmoglein (DSG) 1, 3 antibodies in the sera of patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) and alopecia.

METHODSSera from PNP patients, bullous pemphigoid patients, and normal healthy subjects were collected and 2 tissue samples from 2 healthy scalps were resected. Anti-DSG 1, 3 antibodies in the sera of PNP patients were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Indirect immunofluorescent assay was used to detect whether the antibodies in the sera of PNP patients binds with the follicular epithelium of normal healthy scalp.

RESULTSAnti-DSG3 autoantibody was strongly positive and anti-DSG1 weakly positive in one patient, while both two antibodies were negative in the other patient. Their sera could bind to keratinocytes and follicular epithelium in human scalp. Immunofluorescent signals were found on the intercellular epidermal cell surface and outer root sheath of the follicular epithelium. However, the immunofluorescent signals in the section incubating with serum of bullous pemphigoid were only found on basal membrane zone. No signals were found in the section incubating with normal healthy serum.

CONCLUSIONAlopecia in PNP patients are correlated with the anti-DSG3.

Adult ; Alopecia ; etiology ; immunology ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Desmoglein 1 ; immunology ; Desmoglein 3 ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; immunology ; Pemphigus ; complications ; immunology

BACKGROUNDPeutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease. STK11/LKB1 gene germline mutations have been identified as responsible for PJS. In our study, we investigated the molecular basis of PJS and evaluated correlation between the STK11 mutations and the Chinese population.

METHODSWe collected three pedigrees of PJS and screened the 9 exons and their flanking intronic sequences of STK11/LKB1 gene in the probands and normal individuals in the families using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing.

RESULTSSequencing of the STK11 gene in the probands of 3 families revealed two novel mutations (c180C-->G and c998-1002delGCAGC) in exon 1 and exon 8, respectively. The mutation of c180C-->G resulted in a premature termination codon. The other mutation, a deletion of five nucleotides (998-1002delGCAGC) in exon 8, predicted to generate a translational frameshift and a termination at codon 1070.

CONCLUSIONSThe growing number of mutations in PJS pedigrees suggests the molecular basis of PJS. STK11 gene mutation can be detected in most patients with PJS.

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of seroresistance of syphilis and analyze its relevant factors.

METHODSThe clinical data of 131 patients with syphilis were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of seroresistance was investigated and the correlation between seroresistance and factors including age, gender, original titer, disease course, and medications were analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence of seroresistance was not significantly different among patients with different ages and genders, but was significantly different among patients with different disease courses, antibody titers, and medications. Patients with a baseline serum rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer of greater than 1: 8, a latent course, or a macrolide therapy history had higher incidences of seroresistance (i. e., 61%, 45.6%, and 72.7% respectively) than those who had a lower RPR titer, a primary course, or a benzathine penicillin therapy history.

CONCLUSIONSyphilis patients with a high baseline RPR titer, a latent course, and a macrolides therapy are prone to be seroresistant.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Macrolides ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reagins ; blood ; Syphilis ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Syphilis Serodiagnosis ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the effectiveness of immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detecting human papilloma virus (HPV) in condyloma acuminata (CA).

METHODSHPVs in CA tissues from 60 patients were detected by immunofluorescence and PCR, respectively. Different subtypes of HPVs were also identified with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

RESULTSThe positive detective rates of immunofluorescence and PCR were 56.67% (34/60) and 96.67% (58/ 60), respectively (P < 0.01). RFLP results showed HPV6 and HPV11 were the main subtypes in the detected virus, which accounted for 98.28%.

CONCLUSIONThe sensibility of PCR is superior to that of immunofluorescence.

Condylomata Acuminata ; virology ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 11 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Human papillomavirus 6 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of neuronal differentiation induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) on the tolerance-dosage of ultraviolet radiation of PC12 Cells.

METHODSNeuron-differentiated PC12 cells and untreated PC12 cells were exposed to different ultraviolet radiation dosage of 10, 30, 60, 80, 100, and 200 mJ/cm2. Cell survival rates were determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSNeuron-differentiated PC12 cells had increased tolerance dose to ultraviolet radiation with noticeable apoptosis at the radiation dose of 100 mJ/cm2 in contrast to 30 mJ/cm2 for normal PC12 cells.

CONCLUSIONNeuronal differentiation exerts the effect of increasing the tolerance dose of PC12 cells to ultraviolet radiation.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Ultraviolet Rays