Objective:To investigate the clinical features of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients with angioedema (AE) .Methods:Clinical data were collected from adult outpatients with active CSU diagnosed and treated at the First Hospital of China Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021, and analyzed retrospectively. The data included gender, age, disease duration, the presence or absence of angioedema, urticaria activity score for one day, prior treatments, previous history, family history, laboratory test results, therapeutic effect, and adverse reactions. Their treatment regimens were based on the Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of urticaria (2018) and the American guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urticaria (2014). Statistical analysis was carried out by using Mann-Whitney U test, two-independent-sample t test, Chi-square test, corrected Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Results:A total of 131 CSU patients were collected, including 78 females and 53 males. Their age at the first visit was 44.6 ± 13.3 years, and the disease duration ( M[ Q1, Q3]) was 4.0 (2.0, 10.0) months. Among these CSU patients, there were 58 with AE and 73 without AE. The disease duration was significantly longer in the CSU patients with AE (6.0 [3.0, 24.0] months) than in those without AE (3.5 [2.0, 6.0] months; Z = -2.78, P = 0.005). The urticaria activity score for one day was also significantly higher in the CSU patients with AE (5.0 [3.0, 5.3] points) than in those without AE (4.0 [3.0, 5.0] points; Z = -2.63, P = 0.008). The CSU patients with AE showed a decreased proportion of patients completely controlled by licensed-dose second-generation H1-antihistamines (sgAHs) (8.6%, 5/58) compared with those without AE (24.7%, 18/73), but an increased proportion of patients uncontrolled by licensed-dose sgAHs (91.4%, 53/58) compared with those without AE (74.0%, 54/73; Z = -2.53, P = 0.011) ; there were no significant differences in the proportions of patients completely controlled or uncontrolled by updosed sgAHs alone or combinations of 2- to 4-fold equivalent-dose sgAHs, or in the proportions of patients completely controlled or uncontrolled by combination therapy with 4-fold equivalent-dose sgAHs and non-H1-antihistamines between the CSU patients with AE and those without AE ( P > 0.05) . Conclusion:Compared with the CSU patients without AE, the CSU patients with AE had a longer disease duration, higher disease activity, a lower proportion of patients completely controlled by licensed-dose sgAHs, and a higher proportion of patients uncontrolled by licensed-dose sgAHs.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between food-specific IgG (sIgG) antibodies and phenotypes of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) .Methods:Serum samples were collected from outpatients with active CSU, symptomatic dermographism (SD) , or acute urticaria (AU) , and healthy controls from 5 third-grade class-A hospitals such as the First Hospital of China Medical University between April 2014 and March 2015. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to detect serum levels of 90 food-sIgG antibodies and total IgE, Western blot analysis to detect levels of 20 allergen-specific IgE antibodies, and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay to detect levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase IgG antibodies and anti-thyroglobulin IgG antibodies. Comparisons of normally distributed quantitative data between two groups and among several groups were performed by t test and one-way analysis of variance, respectively; comparisons of non-normally distributed quantitative data between two groups were performed by Mann-Whitney U test; for comparisons of proportions, chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test were used. Results:A total of 248 patients with CSU, 22 with SD, 15 with AU and 13 healthy controls were recruited. The cut-off level for sIgG positivity was 100 U/ml (at least 2+) , and the positive rate of food-sIgG antibodies was slightly higher in the patients with CSU (176/248, 70.97%) , SD (15/22, 68.18%) and AU (11/15) than in the healthy controls (7/13; χ2 = 1.80, P = 0.615) . Among the 248 CSU patients, the proportion of patients with family history of allergic diseases was significantly higher in the sIgG-positive group (71/176, 40.34%) than in the sIgG-negative group (19/72, 26.39%; χ2 = 4.30, P = 0.042) , while no significant difference was observed in the 1-day urticaria activity score (UASday) between the two groups ( Z = 0.18, P = 0.859) . Totally, 177 CSU patients completed 12- to 40-week treatment; their condition could be completely controlled by second-generation H1-antihistamines, and there was no significant difference in the required dosage of second-generation H1-antihistamines between the sIgG-positive group (128 cases) and sIgG-negative group (49 cases; Z = -1.06, P = 0.298) . Conclusions:The prevalence of family history of allergic diseases was relatively high in food-sIgG-positive patients with CSU. However, food-sIgG could not be used as an indicator to reflect the disease activity of CSU and treatment response.

Objective To evaluate the effects of extracts of Semen Coicis (ESC) on a BALB/c mouse model of atopic dermatitis (AD),and to explore its potential mechanism.Methods Forty specific pathogen-free (SPF) female BABL/c mice were randomly divided into blank group (8 mice,receiving no treatment) and AD model group (32 mice).The mice in the model group were topically treated with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in acetone/olive oil to establish the mouse model of AD.After modeling,8 mice in the blank group and 8 in the model group were sacrificed immediately.The other 24 mice in the model group were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups:model control group receiving no treatment,ESC group and ESC vehicle group topically treated with ESC and ESC vehicle respectively once every day on the back and aural region of the mice for 28 consecutive days.Changes in skin lesions were observed by naked eyes every day.A thickness tester was used to measure the thickness of skin lesions on the left ear before modeling,at completion of modeling and 12 hours after the final treatment.At 12 hours after the final treatment,the mice in the above 3 groups were sacrificed,and the eyeballs were removed for collecting blood.Then,the sera were isolated,and skin tissue specimens were obtained from the skin lesions on the back.These tissue sections were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and toluidine blue staining for observing the infiltration of inflammatory cells in skin lesions.An immunohistochemical study was performed to determine the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3),Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the serum levels of IgE,interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-/ (IFN-γ).Results After 28-day treatment,skin lesions were improved in the ESC group.Compared with the model control group,the ESC group showed a significantly lower clinical symptom score (1.50 ± 0.58 vs.2.50 ± 0.58,P ＜ 0.05),decreased lesional thickness on the left ear ([0.31 ± 0.01] mm vs.[0.33 ± 0.01] mm,P ＜ 0.05),and lower number of infiltrating mast cells per high-power field (15.18 ± 1.64 vs.28.94 ± 1.28,P ＜ 0.05).Immunohistochemical findings indicated that the ESC group showed significantly lower expression of AQP3,TLR2 and TLR4 compared with the model control group,and decreased AQP3 expression in the spinous layer.Compared with the model control group,the ESC group showed significantly lower total serum IgE and IL-4 levels,but higher IFN-γ levels (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Topical ESC is effective for the treatment of skin lesions in mouse models of AD,likely by regulating serum levels of IgE,IL-4 and IFN-γ and affecting the expression of AQP3,TLR2 and TLR4.

Objective To investigate the effect of three Scutellaria baicalensis extracts (baicalin,baicalein and wogonin) on the apoptosis of a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line,SCL-1.Methods Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to detect the proliferation of cultured SCL-1 cells treated with different concentrations (12.5,25,50,75 and 100 μmol/L) of baicalin,baicalein and wogonin for various durations (12,24 and 48 hours).Some SCL-1 cells were treated with baicalin,baicalein and wogonin of 12.5 μ mol/L respectively for 48 hours followed by the detection of cell apoptosis by double staining with annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide in combination with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),as well as estimation of cell cycle by flow cytometry.The 50％ inhibitory concentration was determined by line regression model and inner insert method,and statistical analysis was carried out by Student's t test,one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA),and Student-Newman-Keuls-q test.Results Baicalin,baicalein and wogonin all inhibited the proliferation of SCL-1 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner (all P ＜ 0.01).Under the same conditions (treatment concentration and duration),baicalein showed the strongest inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SCL-1 cells,followed by wogonin and baicalin (all P ＜ 0.01).All the Scutellaria baicalensis extracts induced the apoptosis of SCL-1 cells and arrested them in G1-phase.The percentage of cells in G1 phase was 56.37％ ± 2.41％,74.23％ ± 2.02％ and 64.15％ ± 1.87％,and early apoptosis rate was 8.09％ ± 1.02％,24.13％ ± 0.76％ and 14.45％ ± 1.57％,in SCL-1 cells treated with baicalin,baicalein and wogonin of 12.5 μmol/L for 48 hours,respectively,compared to 45.04％ ± 1.93％ and 4.12％ ± 0.29％ in the untreated control cells respectively (F =83.29,186.37,respectively,both P ＜ 0.01).Similarly,there was a downward trend from baicalein to wogonin and baicalin in the effect on cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of SCL-1 cells.Conclusions Scutellaria baicalensis can inhibit the growth and induce the apoptosis of SCL-1 cells,which may provide new ideas for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with traditional Chinese drugs.

Dermatology ; history ; History, 15th Century ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; blood ; Signal Transduction ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; blood

Objecfive To study the effects of some cytokines such as TNF-α,IL-6 and IFN-γ as well as lipopolysaccharide on CD68 expression in HaCaT cells.Methods Human HaCaT keratinocytes were randomly divided into natural proliferation group (without stimulation),IFN-γ-stimulated group,TNF-α-stimulated group,LPS-stimulated group and IL-6 stimulated group.The work concentration of TNF-α,IL-6,IFN-γ and LPS was 50 mg/L.HaCaT cells were collected after 24-hour treatment with the cytokines followed by the examination of CD68 expression with flow cytometry,immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription(RT)-PCR,respectively.Results Compared with untreated HaCaT cells,the count of CD68-positive cells was elevated in cells stimulated by TNF-α(t=3.60,P<0.01),IL-6(t=3.93,P<0.01),IFN-γ(t=2.38,P<0.05)and LPS(t=2.52,P<0.05),and the effect of TNF-α and IL-6 was stronger than that of IFN-γ and LPS.Among the four cytokines,only IL-6 enhanced the mean fluorescence intensity of CD68-positive cells (t=8.34,P<0.01).After 24-hour treatment with TNF-α,IFN-γ and IL-6,CD68 expression was observed in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of HaCaT cells and was stronger in cells treated with TNF-α and IL-6 than in those with the other cytokines.A significant increase was observed in the CD68 mRNA expression after 24-hour treatment with TNF-α (t=4.34,P<0.01),IL-6 (t=7.52,P<0.01)and IFN-γ (t=2.81,P<0.05);TNF-α and IL-6showed a stronger promotive effect than IFN-γ.Conclusion IL-6,TNF-α,IFN-γ and LPS can upregulate the CD68 expression in HaCaT cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of baicalein and acitretin on the apoptosis in a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SCL-12. Methods Cultured SCL-12 cells were treated with different concentrations of baicalein (3.125, 6.25, 12.5 μmol/L) and acitretin (2.5, 5.0, 10.0 μ mol/L), alone or in combination, for 48 hours. Subsequently, cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, and cell apoptosis by ELISA as well as annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide double staining. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Fas mRNA in SCL-12 cells. Results The cell proliferation of SCL-12 cells was inhibited by baicalein and acitretin alone or in combination. The combination of baicalein and acitretin at the three tested concentrations, except for that of baicalein at 3.125 μmol/L and acitretin at 2.5 μmol/L, more strongly inhibited the proliferation of SCL-12 cells compared with baicalein or acitretin alone, and the inhibitory effect was in a dose-dependent manner. The early apoptosis rate was 9.39% ± 1.52%, 20.86% ± 2.16%,36.85% ± 3.26% in SCL-12 cells treated with baicalein of 3.125 μmol/L, acitretin of 5.0 μmol/L alone and their combination, respectively, significantly higher than that in untreated cells (4.39% ± 0.64%, all P <0.05); the induction of apoptosis in SCL-12 cells by the combination of baicalein and acitretin was stronger than that by baicalein or acitretin alone (F = 138.44, P < 0.05). Baicalein and acitretin alone or in combination significantly increased the mRNA expression of Fas in SCL-12 cells, and the effect of their combination was stronger than that of baicalein or acitretin alone. Conclusions Baicalein and aeitretin could inhibit the growth of and induce the apoptosis in SCL-12 cells, and the effect is enhanced by the combination of baicalein and acitretin, which may be associated with the upregulation of Fas expression in SCL-12 cells.

Objective To investigate the influences of UVA on the secretion and expression of chemokine CXCL11/I-TAC by HaCaT cells induced by interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Methods HaCaT cells were cultured in the presence of IFN-7 and TNF-a and irradiated with UVA of 2, 4 and 8 J/cm~2, respectively; those cells receiving neither treatment with IFN-γ or TNF-α nor UVA irradiation served as the negative control, and those receiving only cytokine treatment but no irradiation as the positive control. After another 24-hour culture, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the protein levels of CXCL11/I-TAC in the supernatant of HaCaT celb, real time PCR to measure the mRNA expression of CXCL11/I-TAC in these HaCaT cells. Results As far as the negative control HaCaT cells were concerned, there was a minor secretion of CXCL11/I-TAC protein and expression of CXCL11/I-TAC mRNA. After treatment with IFN-7 and TNF-a of 10 μg/L, the protein and mRNA expressions of CXCL11/ I-TAC were synergistically upregulated, whereas the induced secretion and expression of CXCL11/I-TAC by HaCaT cells were dose-dependently inhibited by UVA irradiation. Conclusions UVA irradiation inhibits the secretion and expression of CXCL11/I-TAC by HaCaT cells, which in turn suppresses the chemotaxis of Th1/ Tel cells in some degree.

Objective To investigate the expression of survivin and bcl-2 in human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lesions and cell line SCL-1. Methods Tissue samples from 60 patients with SCC and 10 normal human controls were immunohistochemically stained to detect the expressions of survivin and bcl-2.Western blot was used to measure the expressions of bcl-2 and survivin proteins in HaCaT human keratinocytes and SCL-1 human squamous cell carcinoma cells. Results In normal control tissues, there was no expressions of survivin or bcl-2, while in SCC, the expression rates of bcl-2 and survivin were 70% and 60%, respectively,and there was no statistical correlation between the expressions of bcl-2 and survivin (P >0.05). Neither the expression of survivin nor that of bcl-2 was correlated to patients' age, gender or lesional site (all P >0.05). A statistical correlation was observed between the pathological stage in patients and expression of bcl-2 as well as between lymph node metastasis and expression of survivin (both P < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase in the expression of survivin and bcl-2 in SCL-1 cells compared with HaCaT cells. Con-clusion In SCC, survivin and bcl-2 seem to play their roles via different anti-apoptotic pathways.