BACKGROUND: Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs, basal cell carcinoma [BCC], and squamous cell carcinoma, [SCC]) are skin conditions, and the propensity of NMSCs to develop multiple tumors may be associated with some genodermatoses, arsenic poisoning, and chronic exposure to radiation or coal tar. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of treating multiple NMSCs and to investigate the clinical characteristics of NMSCs. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 16 patients who had been diagnosed with NMSCs from May 2010 to December 2014. RESULTS: The male-female sex ratio was 0.6:1 in the patients with multiple BCCs and SCCs. The most frequent age group was the seventh decade (75%). The mean patient age was 76.36 years. The most common involved site was the face, particularly the cheek (54.3%). Nodular BCCs were the most frequent (61.9%), followed by infiltrate BCCs (28.6%) and superficial BCCs (9.5%). Among the SCCs, the moderately differentiated SCCs were the most frequent (50%). More NMSCs were found on the left than on the right side of the head and neck areas in both sexes. Development of BCC (68.8%) was more frequent than that of SCC in sun-exposed areas. CONCLUSION: In our study, differences in the demographic variables, such as age, sex, or residence were found between the patients with multiple BCCs and SCCs. The incidence of BCC has markedly increased, which is mainly because of the increment of aged people in their residence, along with environmental factors. Further cohort studies that include cumulative lifetime sun exposure and a large sample size are needed.
Arsenic Poisoning ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Clinical Study* ; Coal Tar ; Cohort Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Sample Size ; Sex Ratio ; Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin* ; Solar System

OBJECTIVETo investigate the promoter methylation of p16, FHIT and RASSF1A gene and telomere damage in the workers exposed to coal tar pitch, and to explore the effective biomarker of occupational exposure to coal tar pitch.

METHODS180 cases of workers exposed to coal tar pitch in a certain carbon plant named as exposure group, and 145 healthy cases with a medical examination in the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected as control group. Relative telomere length in peripheral blood DNA was detected using real-time quantitative PCR, and the promoter methylation rate of p16, RASSF1A and FHIT gene in peripheral blood DNA were determined by real-time quantitative methylation specific PCR. The relative telomere length and gene promoter methylation in two groups were compared, and influencing factors were analyzed.

RESULTSRelative telomere length in exposed group was lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (Z = -5.395, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the promoter methylation rate of p16, FHIT and RASSF1A gene between the two groups (P > 0.05). Stratification analysis by gender, age, and smoking, we found that when the age was less than or equal to 40, the promoter methylation rate of p16 in exposed group was more than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (Z = -1.914, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONOccupational exposure to coal tar pitch may induce leukocyte DNA telomere length of human peripheral blood shortened, and may not change the promoter methylation rates of p16, FHIT and RASSF1A gene.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases ; genetics ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Telomere ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract (fCSE) on the serum testosterone (T) level and erectile function of male rats.

METHODSWe randomized 30 male SD rats to three groups of equal number to receive subcutaneous injection of PBS (1.0 ml / 300 g body weight per day), fCSE (1.0 ml/300 g body weight per day), and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH, 200 mg per kg body weight per day) in addition to fCSE (fCSE + GSH), respectively, all for 8 weeks. Then we evaluated the erectile function of the rats by measuring the maximal intracavernous pressure (MICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ICP/MAP ratio, time of stimulation to MICP (Tmax), and cavernosal filling fate (CFR). We determined the serum T level, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) , malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the cavernosal tissue, and also observed the morphological changes of the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the rats of the fCSE group showed obvious decreases in the levels of serum T ([5.37 ± 1.43] vs [3.22 ± 1.11] μg/L), NOS ([2.90 ± 0.27] vs [1.67 ± 0.18] U/mg) , and SOD ([18.41 ± 1.09] vs [13.36 ± 1.18] U/mg prot) and erectile function-related indexes MICP ([85.92 ± 6.36] vs [58.99 ± 10.76] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.86 ± 0.09 vs [0.56 ± 0.08]), and CFR (2.14 ± 0.44 vs 0.89 ± 0.44), but markedly increased Tmax ([29.90 ± 5.78] vs [42.90 ± 8.56]s), with a positive correlation between the serum T level and CFR (r = 0. 364, P < 0.05). Masson staining revealed a lower ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber in the fCSE group (0.27 ± 0.04) than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12). Compared with the fCSE group, the fCSE + GSH group exhibited significantly improved MICP ([58.99 ± 10.76 ] vs [77.95 ± 7.71] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.56 ± 0.08 vs 0.77 ± 0.09), and CFR (0.89 ± 0.44] vs 1.76 ± 0.42) and shortened Tmax ([42.90 ± 8.56 ] vs [32.10 ± 5.84 ] s). The ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber was higher in the fCSE + GSH than in the fCSE group (0.77 ± 0.09 vs 0.27 ± 0.04) but still lower than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12).

CONCLUSIONNicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract reduces the serum T level and erectile function of rats, which is related to oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy can improve erectile function but has a limited value for morphological protection of the penile tissue.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; chemically induced ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Nicotine ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tars ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo characterize the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and NF-κB play a role in macrophage-like THP-1 cells promoting coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenic transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSFrom passage 10, CTPE-induced BEAS-2B cells cocultured with THP-1 cells were treated with NF-κB inhibitor-Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) every 3 passages and TNF-α antibody every passage. Alterations of cell cycle, karyotype and colony formation in soft agar of BEAS-2B cells at passages 20, indicative of tumorigenicity, were determined, respectively. In addition, mRNA and protein levels of TNF receptor associated factor2 (TRAF2) and Cyclin D1 in BEAS-2B cells were measured with Real Time-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSThe percentages of S-phase BEAS-2B cells at passage 20 in PDTC group and TNF-α antibody group were (33.97±2.16)% and (34.29±2.04)% respectively, which were less than that in Co-culture+CTPE group of 20th passage [(44.46±0.83)%], P < 0.05; The number of cells with aneuploidy in 100 cells in 20th passage PDTC group and TNF-α antibody group were 40 and 37, and there were significantly different when comparing to that of 20th passage Co-culture+CTPE group (75); The number of colony formation and the rate of colony formation of BEAS-2B cells in soft agar at passage 20 in PDTC group were (15.17±2.48) and (1.51‰±0.25‰), (13.33±2.58)and (1.33‰±0.26‰) in TNF-α antibody group, which were less that those in 20th passage Co-culture+CTPE group [(172.33±12.09) and (17.23‰±1.20‰)], P < 0.05; at the same time, the mRNA and protein levels of TRAF2 and Cyclin D1 in BEAS-2B cells were decreased after PDTC and TNF-α antibody treatment.

CONCLUSIONTNF-α and NF-κB could play an important role in THP-1 cells promoting coal tar pitch extract-induced tumorigenic transformation of BEAS-2B cells by influencing the expression of TRAF2 and Cyclin D1.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Coal Tar ; toxicity ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Macrophages ; cytology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the centrosome abnormalities in the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts and to investigate the role and action mechanism of centrosome in the lung cancer induced by coal tar pitch.

METHODSMedium-temperature coal tar pitch smoke extracts were used to treat immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and establish a malignant transformation model. The treated BEAS-2B cells were used as exposure group, and solvent control group and normal control group were also set for passage culture. The changes of centrosome in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA expression of p53, p21, and cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and their protein levels in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were measured by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSThe overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 20 was 6.56±1.01% in the exposure group, significantly higher than those in the normal control group (3.40±0.86%) and solvent control group (3.14±0.59%) (P < 0.05). In addition, the exposure group had a significantly higher overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 compared with the normal control group and solvent control group (22.39±9.5% vs 4.34±1.04%, P < 0.05; 22.39±9.5% vs 4.33±1.20%, P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and solvent control group, the exposure group had significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of p53 and significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells at passages 20 and 30 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCentrosome abnormalities occur before the malignant transformation in BEAS-2B cells treated with coal tar pitch smoke extracts, and they may be mediated by the p53/p21/cyclin E signaling pathway.

Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Centrosome ; metabolism ; pathology ; Coal Tar ; Cyclin E ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Smoke ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore whether coal tar pitch smoke extract (CTP) induced pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSBEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) for 8h and 24 h, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the supernatants of cell culture media were measured with LDH activity or human IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively. The activity of Caspase-1 was measured with Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTSThe activity of caspase-1 in 1 and 3 µg/ml CTP groups were (9.29 ± 0.30) and (8.67 ± 0.59) µmol/ml respectively which were both significantly increased compared to that (7.42 ± 0.59) µmol/ml in the control group (P < 0.05) after 8 h exposure, but there was no significant difference in the activity of LDH and levels of IL-1β in the cell culture media among the CTP and control groups. 24 h after exposure, the activity of LDH in the CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) groups were (1323.03 ± 28.53) and (1148.45 ± 16.42) U/dl respectively which were significantly higher than that (1091.93 ± 26.64) U/dl in the control group (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-1β in the CTP (1 and 3 µg/ml) groups were (125.37 ± 25.00) pg/ml and (92.04 ± 19.09) pg/ml respectively which were significantly higher than that (46.20 ± 14.43) pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the activity of Caspase-1 among CTP and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTP treatment induced early increase in caspase-1 activity followed by the increase in LDH activity and IL-1 levels, indicative of pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Apoptosis ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of monocyte-macrophages (THP-1) in malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) cells induced by coal tar pitch (CTP) and the expression of TNF-α in the process of the cell malignant transformation.

METHODSBEAS-2B cells and THP-1 Cells were divided into four groups: coal tar pitch (CTP) group, benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, BEAS-2B and THP-1 co-culture (co-culture group) group. Carcinogenesis model was established. The soft agar colony formation, chromosome aberrations and cell cycle tests were used to detect the cellular malignant transformation. The ELISA assay was utilized to measure the levels of TNF-α in the supernatant of CTP group and co-culture group.

RESULTSThe chromosome number abnormalities could be observed in early stage of the experiment (the 10th generation cells), which showed the increased ratio of aneuploid to polyploid, and the decreased number of diploid. The colony formation rate of co-culture group (the 20th generation cells) was 17.63‰ ± 0.97‰, which was significantly higher than that (13.94‰ ± 0.84‰) of CTP group and that (12.96‰ ± 1.62‰) of B(a)P group (P < 0.05). The proportion of S phase cells in the co-culture group was 44.49% ± 0.68%, which was significantly higher than that (38.19% ± 1.26%) of CTP group and that (36.41% ± 1.19%) of B(a)P group (P < 0.05). The TNF-α level in the co-culture group was significantly higher than that in CTP group (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONMonocyte-Macrophages can accelerate the malignant transformation of BEAS-2B cells induced by CTP and increase the expression level of TNF-α.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; chemically induced ; Coal Tar ; toxicity ; Coculture Techniques ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology ; Humans ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Risk Factors ; Tars ; toxicity ; Tobacco Products ; standards ; toxicity ; Tobacco Use Disorder ; etiology ; prevention & control

Pityriasis rotunda (PR) is a rare disease characterized by persistent, sharply defined, oval, scaly patches of dry skin, localized mainly on the trunk and extremities. Its etiology remains unknown. However, several reports suggest that it is a form of acquired ichthyosis vulgaris or a skin manifestation of systemic disease, such as malnutrition, chronic illness, hepatic disease, and malignancies. Although a variety of treatment modalities, including topical lactic acid, urea, tars, emollients, and corticosteroid, have been applied to it, their efficacies are not satisfactory. Herein, we report a case of PR in a healthy man who was successfully treated with oral and topical retinoids.
Chronic Disease ; Emollients ; Extremities ; Ichthyosis ; Ichthyosis Vulgaris ; Lactic Acid ; Malnutrition ; Pityriasis ; Rare Diseases ; Retinoids ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Tars ; Urea

Pityriasis rotunda (PR) is a rare disease characterized by persistent, sharply defined, oval, scaly patches of dry skin, localized mainly on the trunk and extremities. Its etiology remains unknown. However, several reports suggest that it is a form of acquired ichthyosis vulgaris or a skin manifestation of systemic disease, such as malnutrition, chronic illness, hepatic disease, and malignancies. Although a variety of treatment modalities, including topical lactic acid, urea, tars, emollients, and corticosteroid, have been applied to it, their efficacies are not satisfactory. Herein, we report a case of PR in a healthy man who was successfully treated with oral and topical retinoids.
Chronic Disease ; Emollients ; Extremities ; Ichthyosis ; Ichthyosis Vulgaris ; Lactic Acid ; Malnutrition ; Pityriasis ; Rare Diseases ; Retinoids ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Tars ; Urea