Objective To compare the sensitivity and specificity of venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test versus several other laboratory tests in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Methods Lumber puncture was conducted to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from untreated outpatients with latent syphilis (LS) or serofast outpatients with LS. Then, VDRL test, rapid plasma regain (RPR) test, Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay, fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) test and protein quantification were performed on these CSF samples. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were compared between VDRL test and four other laboratory tests in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Results Totally, 61 cases of latent syphilis were included in this study. The sensitivity, specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 93.44% (57/61), 99.32%(293/295), 96.61%(57/59), 98.65% (293/297)for CSF-RPR, respectively, 91.80% (56/61), 82.71% (244/295), 52.34% (56/107),97.99 (244/249) for CSF-TPPA, respectively, 93.44% (57/61), 82.71% (244/295), 52.78%(57/108), 98.39%(244/248) for CSF-FTA-ABS, respectively, and 49.18%(30/61), 97.29% (287/295), 78.95% (30/38),90.25% (287/318) for CSF protein quantification, respectively. Conclusions CSF-VDRL cannot be replaced by CSF-RPR, -TPPA, -FTA-ABS, or CSF protein quantification in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. CSF-RPR shows a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, with an increased diagnostic capability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) compared with CSF-TPPA, CSF-FTA-ABS or CSF protein quantification.

Objective To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of garlicin on oxidative stress injury of human melanocytes.Methods There were blank group,control group,hydrogen peroxide group,garlicin group,experiment 1,2 and 3 groups.No cells in the blank group were only added with complete culture medium.The control group was added with complete medium;0.4 mmol/L hydrogen peroxide complete medium was added to the hydrogen peroxide group.Garlicin group was added with freshly prepared garlicin complete culture medium with concentration of 40 μmol/L;Experiment groups 1,2,and 3 were treated with different concentrations of garlicin (80,40,and 20 μmol/L garlicin complete medium,respectively) to interfere with melanocytes treated with 0.4 mmol/ L hydrogen peroxide during logarithmic growth period.After 24 h of drug intervention,the cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope.The protective effect of garlicin on melanocytes damaged by oxidative stress was measured by MTT colorimetric method.Results Different concentrations of garlicin had different protective effects on melanocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide.It could be concluded that the activity of melanocytes in hydrogen peroxide group decreased significantly (43.610 ± 3.872)％ (P＜0.05),but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.345).The activity of melanocytes in experimental group 1 was significantly decreased (58.223 ± 2.806) ％ but higher than that in experimental groups 2 and 3 (P＜0.05).Conclusions Allicin inhibits the production of intracellular ROS in human melanocytes induced by H2 O2,regulates oxidative stress in human melanocytes,and counteracts H2O2-induced apoptosis.Therefore,allicin may be a protective factor in mediating oxidative stress in the body.

Objective:To explore the differential expression of Toll-like receptor 7/9 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in skin lesions between patients with vitiligo and healthy individuals as well as their clinical significance.Methods:We collected vitiligo patients in the Guangzhou Institute of Dermatology and Venerology from June 2016 to June 2018. There were 24 vitiligo patients, 12 males and 12 females, aged 5 to 65 (28.75±13.12) years, with medical history of 14 days to 20 years. The expression levels of TLR7/9 and MyD88 in skin lesions were determined from 24 patients with vitiligo and 20 healthy controls by immunohistochemistry.Results:The expression levels of TLR7 and MyD88 in skin lesions were significantly higher in patients with vitiligo than that in the controls, and the difference was statistically significant. The expression level of TLR9 in skin lesions was significantly higher in patients with vitiligo than that in the controls, while no significant difference was observed between the two groups.Conclusions:The expression level of TLR7 and TLR9 is elevated in skin lesions from patients with vitiligo. The abnormal expression level of TLR7 and TLR9 possibly participates in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy for nanoscale microneedle injection of compound betamethasone combined with 308 nm excimer laser in the treatment of stable vitiligo patients.Methods:A total of 80 patients with stable vitiligo were enrolled in Guangzhou Dermatology Hospital from May 2018 to May 2020. There were 40 patients (21 males and 19 females) in control group, aged 17-65 (32.4±1.7) years, and 40 patients (20 males and 20 females) in observation group, aged 18-67 (28.7±1.8) years. The control group was treated with compound betamethasone injection packet combined with 308 nm excimer laser. The observation group was treated with nanoneedle injection of compound betamethasone combined with 308 nm excimer laser. We compared the clinical efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups.Results:Comparison of clinical efficacy showed that after 3 months of treatment, the total effective rates of the observation group and the control group were 80.00% and 67.50%, respectively, with significant difference (χ 2=4.560, P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the white spot area of the control group was (9.89±1.65) cm 2, which was significantly higher than that of the observation group (7.83±1.78) cm 2 ( t=5.370, P<0.05). Conclusions:The nanoneedle injection of compound betamethasone combined with 308 nm excimer laser in the treatment of stable vitiligo is effective and safe.

Objective To discuss the genotype and phenotype features of 187 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) and analyze their genotype-phenotype relationship.Methods A total of 187 patients genetically diagnosed as having SCA3 from 160 families were enrolled from our hospital from 2005 to 2015.Detailed medical histories were collected.SPSS 22.0 was conducted to statistically analyze the genotypes and pathogenic CAG expansions of A TXN3 gene in the patients.Results One hundred males and 87 females suffered SCA3.Mean age at onset was 35.43±11.17 years.The ranges of pathogenic CAG expansion were 65-86 repeats,with mean pathogenic CAG expansion of 74.11±3.56 repeats.A negative correlation was found between number of CAG repeats and age of onset (r=-0.815,P=0.000).Frequencies of the patients with tendon hyporeflexia were 28.9％ and 6.0％,respectively,in the smaller pathogenic CAG expansion group (≤74) and larger pathogenic CAG expansion group (＞74),with significant difference (P＜0.05).Frequencies of patients with rigidity were 27.8％ and 49.4％,respectively,in the smaller pathogenic CAG expansion group and larger pathogenic CAG expansion group,with significant difference (P＜0.05).Conclusions SCA3 is neurodegenerative disorder with high clinical and genetical heterogeneity.There are distinct correlations between number of pathogenic CAG expansion and age of onset,frequency ofhyporeflexia and rigidity.