OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside (TGW) in the treatment of psoriatic dermatitis from a cellular immunological perspective. METHODS: Mouse models of psoriatic dermatitis were established by imiquimod (IMQ). Twelve male BALB/c mice were assigned to IMQ or IMQ₊TGW groups according to a random number table. Histopathological changes in vivo were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Ratios of immune cells and cytokines in mice, as well as PAM212 cell proliferation in vitro were assessed by flow cytometry. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was determined using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: TGW significantly ameliorated the severity of IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse skin lesions and restrained the activation of CD45⁺ cells, neutrophils and T lymphocytes (all P<0.01). Moreover, TGW significantly attenuated keratinocytes (KCs) proliferation and downregulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor α, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Furthermore, it reduced the number of γ δ T17 cells in skin lesion of mice and draining lymph nodes (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS TGW improved psoriasis-like inflammation by inhibiting KCs proliferation, as well as the associated immune cells and cytokine expression. It inhibited IL-17 secretion from γ δ T cells, which improved the immune-inflammatory microenvironment of psoriasis.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Tripterygium ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Keratinocytes ; Skin Diseases/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Imiquimod/metabolism* ; Dermatitis/pathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Skin/metabolism*

The patient,a 42-year-old male,with a history of hepatitis B and membranous nephropathy,had inter-mittent fever and chills 12 days before admission.In the first 2 days after admission,the patient's condition aggra-vated with redness,swelling and pain in the left scrotum and perineum.Immediate surgical debridement was per-formed.The patient had a persistent low fever,with blood and pus cultures showing Candida albicans positive,thus was diagnosed fungal necrotizing fasciitis and pyomyositis.The patient was treated with echinocandins mica-fungin(150 mg,qd)for antifungal infection,and was given encroaching dressing change,hyperbaric oxygen thera-py,nutritional support,etc.Two months after surgery,the patient's condition improved and he was discharged.The early clinical symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis and pyomyositis caused by Streptococcus spp.infection lack spe-cificity,thus are prone to be delayed.For patients with concomitant immune diseases,attention should be paid to the prevention and early treatment of complex infection.The appropriate selection of empirical antifungal agents at the early stage has clinical significance.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo diagnose chromosomal abnormalities in amniotic fluid cells by combining karyotyping and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) analysis, and to explore the application of SNP-array in routine clinical practice.

METHODSConventional G banding was used to karyotype a fetal amniotic fluid sample and the corresponding peripheral blood samples from the parents, followed by SNP-array analysis of the fetal genomic DNA from the amniotic fluid.

RESULTSThe karyotype of the amniocytes was 47, XX, +mar. The marker chromosome was further identified as psu idic (22) (q11.2) by SNP-array analysis, revealing tetraploidy of a 1.7 Mb fragment in 22q11.1-q11.2 interval that involves the critical region for Cat eye syndrome.

CONCLUSIONA rare chromosomal abnormality was identified by combining conventional G banding and SNP-array. The high resolution SNP-array could provide more detailed information for determining the origin of chromosomal abnormalities.

Adult ; Amniotic Fluid ; cytology ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Disorders ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; genetics ; Eye Abnormalities ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Isochromosomes ; Karyotyping ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy ; Tetraploidy

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To explore the relationship between FRAS 1 protein and brain metastases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).METHODS:The mRNA expression of FRAS1 in the brain metastatic tumor tissues and primary tumor tissues of NSCLC was detected by qPCR .The protein expression of FRAS 1 in the tumor tissues and normal tissues adjacent to tumor tissues of NSCLC was measured by SP method of immunohistochemistry .The protein expression of FRAS 1 in NSCLC primary tumor tissues with or without brain metastases was also determined .RESULTS:The mRNA expression of FRAS1 in the brain metastatic zone was nearly 10 times higher than that in the primary tumor tissues , and there was sig-nificant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.05).FRAS1 protein was expressed in the NSCLC primary tumor tissues , but was not found in the normal tissues adjacent to primary tumor tissues .The protein expression of FRAS 1 in the NSCLC with brain metastases was significantly higher than that without brain metastases ( P<0.01 ) .CONCLUSION: FRAS1 protein may be associated with the occurrence of NSCLC .The over-expression of FRAS1 protein may be related to brain metastases with NSCLC .

Objective To discuss the expression of RUNX2 and MDM21 in rats with periodontitis under the chronic intermittent hypoxia. Methods A total of 32 SD healthy rats were randomly divided into four groups, with 8 rats in each group. The molecular biological techniques of immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the effect of different hypoxia time (0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h) and different concentrations of hypoxia (0.000, 0.001, 0.010, 0.060 and 0.100 ppm) on the expression of RUNX2 and MDM21 in rats of four groups. Results The expression of RUNX2 and MDM21 in each group was significantly higher than the one at other concentrations when the concentration was 0.010 ppm, with the statistical difference (P < 0.05). The expression of RUNX2 and MDM21 was that normoxic control group > normoxic periodontitis group > hypoxia control group > hypoxia periodontitis group under the action with the concentration of 0.010 ppm for 12 h, but there was no significant difference for the comparison among groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions The condition of chronic intermittent hypoxia can reduce the expression of RUNX2 and MDM21 in rats with periodontitis and aggravate the damage of periodontal bone.

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and bacterial artificial chromosome FISH (BAC-FISH) for the diagnosis for patients with marker chromosomes.

METHODSSixteen patients with marker chromosomes were analyzed with technologies including GTG-banding, Q-banding, multiplex FISH and BAC-FISH.

RESULTSThe marker chromosomes in the 16 patients were verified as der(Y) (2 cases), psu dic(Y) (1 case), psu dic(15) (1 case), dic(15) (1 case), del(Y) (1 case), r(X) (5 cases), i(14 or 22) (2 cases), i(18) (1 case).

CONCLUSIONFISH and BAC-FISH can both verify the origin of marker chromosomes and provide accurate information for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Young Adult

Objective To study the molecular characteristic of norovirus in 3 outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Zhejiang province. Methods During January 2008 and December 2009, fecal specimens of patients were collected from 3 outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis. Noroviruses were detected by Real-time RT-PCR. Part of the positive samples were randomly selected and detected by RT-PCR. PCR products were sequenced. Sequence analysis was undertaken based on partial sequence of RNA dependent RNA polymerase(RdRp)and capsid protein gene. Some positive samples were amplified by 3' RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA 3' ends), 3200 bp in length. The exact whole ORF2, ORF3 and 3' untranslation regions(UTR)gene of norovims were identified. Results There were in total 3 outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis caused by norovirus being reported. A total of 62 stools were obtained from cases with acute gastroentefitis. Noroviruses were detected in 41 cases including 27 strains of genogroup Ⅰ norovirus and 9 strains of genogroup Ⅱ norovirus, 5 strains of genogroup Ⅰ + Ⅱ norovirus. Four genotypes including G Ⅰ .8, G Ⅱ .b, G Ⅰ .2/0 Ⅰ .6 recombination together with co-infection of G Ⅰ .8 and G Ⅱ .b were detected. Conclusion Norovirus was confirmed as the major cause of outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis in Zhejiang province and multiple genotype of norovirus were identified from the outbreaks. It was the first time to have found a recombinant of G Ⅰ .6 capsid and G Ⅰ .2 polymerase norovims as well as the co-infection of G Ⅰ .8 and G Ⅱ .b norovirus in the same sample.

·AIM: To analyze the clinical manifestation of Alport syndrome, especially the ocular features.·METHODS: The physical, ophthalmologic and audiologic examination results of thirty two patients with Alport syndrome were analyzed retrospectively.·RESULTS: Thirty (93.7%) patients had some family history. All patients had renal disease: eighteen(56.3%) patients with chronic renal failure, four(12.5%) patients with renal insufficiency, and the other ten(31.3%) patients with hematuria. Twenty (62.5%) patients had sensorineural deafness. Thirteen (40.6%) patients had ocular deformity, five(15.6%) patients had typical ocular changes: three patients with anterior lenticonus, and two patients with macular flecks.·CONCLUSION: Ocular anomalies are not requisite for the diagnosis of Alport syndrome. But its typical ocular features should be recognized by the ophthalmologists which supports the diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in prenatal diagnosis of complex chromosomal abnormalities.

METHODSEleven prenatal diagnosis cases (8 from amniocentesis and 3 from cord blood) with complex chromosomal abnormalities detected by routine G-banding, were further analyzed by FISH.

RESULTSThe FISH technique confirmed the results of balanced chromosome rearrangements detected by G-banding, and clarified the structure of the derivative chromosomes in the 3 amniocentesis samples and the origin of the mark chromosomes in the 2 cord blood samples.

CONCLUSIONFISH can be used to diagnose the complex chromosomal abnormalities accurately in prenatal diagnosis, and can provide very useful genetic information for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Amniotic Fluid ; chemistry ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Pregnancy ; genetics ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods