Objective To study the serum sex hormones changes in female patients with acne. Methods The serum levels of testosterone(T), free testosterone(FT)﹑estradiol(E 2) and sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG) were measured in 50 female patients with acne and 15 normal individuals. Results The result showed that the serum FT levels in the patients were significantly higher than those in normal individuals(P

Objectives To investigate the serum levels of IL-13 and n erve growth factor (NGF) and their clinical significance in patients with system ic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods The serum levels of IL-13 and NGF were m easured by ELISA in 35 SLE patients and 15 normal controls. Results The serum levels of IL-13 and NGF in patients with active SLE were both significantly high er than those in patients with inactive SLE (IL-13: 92.69 ? 9.87 pg/mL versus 5 4.22 ? 9.31 pg/mL, P

The changes in the levels of serum interleukin-13 (IL-13) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their clinical significance were investigated. Sandwich ELISA was used to determine the levels of serum IL-13 and NGF in 35 SLE patients and 15 normal controls. The results showed that the levels of serum IL-13 (92.69+/-9.87 pg/ml) and NGF (339.69+/-25.60 pg/ml) in active SLE patients were significantly higher than those in inactive SLE patients (IL-13, 54.22+/-9.31 pg/ml; NGF, 300.89+/-33.51 pg/ml) (P<0.01). The inactive patients also had significantly increased serum levels of IL-13 and NGF as compared with normal controls (IL-13, 35.20+/-12.70 pg/ml; NGF, 111.40+/-32.54 pg/ml; P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the serum IL-13 levels were correlated with disease activity index of SLE (SLEDAI), ESR and serum levels of C3 (r= 0. 813, 0.504, -0.605, respectively). The serum NGF levels were also correlated with above markers (r=0.442, 0.338, -0.463, respectively). The serum levels of IL-13 and NGF had a positive correlation (r=0.506, P<0.01). It was suggested that IL-13 and NGF might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE and closely correlated with disease activity.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods ; Interleukin-13/*blood ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*blood ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/etiology ; Nerve Growth Factors/*blood

0.05, both). The mean levels of 5-LO and LTC4-S mRNA expression in active SLE group were significantly higher than those in normal controls respectively (P0.05). Conclusion The levels of 5-LO and LTC4-S mRNA expression in active SLE group increase markedly, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE and provide a valuable scientific basis for the clinical use of specific 5-LO inhibitors and cysteinyl leukotrienes receptor antagonists.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect and safety of diammonium glycyrrhetate(DG) in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.　Methods:48 patients were randornly divided into two groups treated group(28 cases)and controlled group(20 cases). Both were given DG or common drugs, respectively.　Results:Effective rate was 67.9%(19/28), mean effect-begining time was 17.42±2.36 days in the treated group, they were significantly increased in comparison with controlled group(Effective rate was 30.0%, mean effect-begining time was 25.65±3.54 days). Any side effect was not occurred in treated group. 　Conclusion:DG is effective and safe in the treatment patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of electric acupuncture,surrounding acupuncture and cotton moxibustion in the treatment of herpes zoster.Methods Forty cases with herpes zoster were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 20 patients in each group.The treatment group was treated with electric acupuncture,surrounding acupuncture and cotton moxibustion,while the control group was treated with valaciclovir and vitamin B1.In the two groups severity of pain and the time of pain beginning to ease,pain lasting blisters disappearing,incrustation and decrustation during treatment were observed and recorded,referring to the People's Republic of China Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Standard(Chinese disease diagnosis and efficacy standard)for efficacy evaluation.Results There was significant difference between the treatment group and the control group with regard to the cure rate(75% versus 35%,P＜0.05);however,the total effective rates of two groups had no significant difference(P＞0.05).After treatment VAS score in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group(P＜0.05);in treatment group the time of pain beginning to ease and pain lasting were significantly less than those in control group(P＜0.05);the time of blister disappearing in treatment group was significantly faster than that in control group(P＜0.01);the time of incrustation and decrustation in treatment group were significantly less than those in control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The advantages of electric acupuncture,surrounding acupuncture and cotton moxibustion in the treatment of herpes zoster were shown as faster pain easing,shorter pain lasting,shorter duration of blister and incrustation.This treatment for herpes zoster is safe,effective and affordable.

Summary: The changes in the levels of serum interleukin-13 (IL-13) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their clinical significance were investigated. Sandwich ELISA was used to determine the levels of serum IL-13 and NGF in 35 SLE patients and 15 normal controls. The results showed that the levels of serum IL-13 (92.69±9.87 pg/ml) and NGF (339.69±25.60 pg/ml) in active SLE patients were significantly higher than those in inactive SLE patients (IL-13, 54.22±9.31 pg/ml; NGF, 300.89±33.51 pg/ml)(P<0.01). The inactive patients also had significantly increased serum levels of IL-13 and NGF as compared with normal controls (IL-13, 35.20±12.70 pg/ml; NGF, 111.40±32.54 pg/ml; P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the serum IL-13 levels were correlated with disease activity index of SLE (SLEDAI), ESR and serum levels of C3 (r= 0.813, 0.504, -0.605, respectively). The serum NGF levels were also correlated with above markers (r=0.442, 0.338, -0.463, respectively). The serum levels of IL-13 and NGF had a positive correlation (r=0.506, P<0.01). It was suggested that IL-13 and NGF might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE and closely correlated with disease activity.

Objective:To explore the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular adenoma.Methods:The clinical data of 23 hepatocellular adenoma patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from May 2013 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Fifteen patients were female, the age ranged from 21 to 60. The maximum tumor diameter was from 2.5 cm to 15 cm.Most patients (15/23) were asymptomatic. There were 20 cases (87%) with single lesion and 3 cases (13%) with multiple lesions. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI showed enhancement in the arterial phase, and de-enhancement in the portal phase as well as in the delayed phase. All cases underwent tumor resection. Hepatocellular adenoma was confirmed by pathology with partial canceration in one case and intratumoral hemorrhage in two cases. Sixteen cases were misdiagnosed preoperatively, 20 were followed up with the median follow-up time of 36 months. Recurrence was not found.Conclusion:Hepatocellular adenoma is uncommon and often misdiagnosed. Preoperative diagnosis is dependent on MRI.Given the fact of high rate misdiagnosis and a tendency of canceration,resection is recommended.

ObjectiveTo compare the differences in thyroid hormone levels between adolescents with and without suicidal ideation， and to explore the association between thyroid hormone/suicidal ideation and the antidepressant treatment. MethodsA total of 100 patients were divided into non-suicidal ideation group and suicidal ideation group according to the SIOSS. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone （TSH）， triiodothyronine （T3）， thyroxine （T4）， free triiodothyronine （FT3） and free thyroxine （FT4） were compared between the two groups as well as their changes after 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment. ResultsThe levels of FT3， FT4 and T4 in the non-suicidal ideation group were higher than those in the suicidal ideation group. After 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment， the levels of FT3， FT4 and T4 in the suicide ideation group were higher than those before the treatment. The FT3 level in the male non-suicidal ideation group was higher than that in the suicidal ideation group. The levels of FT4 and T4 in the female non-suicidal ideation group were higher than those in the suicidal ideation group （all P<0.05） ConclusionThere are differences in thyroid hormone levels between adolescents with and without suicidal ideation （both with first-episode depression）， and patients with suicidal ideation have significant changes after treatment with antidepressants.

YfiBNR is a recently identified bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) signaling system in opportunistic pathogens. It is a key regulator of biofilm formation, which is correlated with prolonged persistence of infection and antibiotic drug resistance. In response to cell stress, YfiB in the outer membrane can sequester the periplasmic protein YfiR, releasing its inhibition of YfiN on the inner membrane and thus provoking the diguanylate cyclase activity of YfiN to induce c-di-GMP production. However, the detailed regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report the crystal structures of YfiB alone and of an active mutant YfiB(L43P) complexed with YfiR with 2:2 stoichiometry. Structural analyses revealed that in contrast to the compact conformation of the dimeric YfiB alone, YfiB(L43P) adopts a stretched conformation allowing activated YfiB to penetrate the peptidoglycan (PG) layer and access YfiR. YfiB(L43P) shows a more compact PG-binding pocket and much higher PG binding affinity than wild-type YfiB, suggesting a tight correlation between PG binding and YfiB activation. In addition, our crystallographic analyses revealed that YfiR binds Vitamin B6 (VB6) or L-Trp at a YfiB-binding site and that both VB6 and L-Trp are able to reduce YfiB(L43P)-induced biofilm formation. Based on the structural and biochemical data, we propose an updated regulatory model of the YfiBNR system.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Biofilms ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Cyclic GMP ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Dimerization ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Tryptophan ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Vitamin B 6 ; chemistry ; metabolism