Combination of high-frequency electrocautery therapy and ALA-PDT in hyperkeratotic vulvar lichen sclerosus: Series of seven cases.

SIGNIFICANCE: ALA-PDT effectively treats Vulvar lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (VLSA), but it requires multiple repetitions for satisfactory results. To enhance efficacy, we employed a combination of high-frequency electrocautery therapy and ALA-PDT in treating seven VLSA patients. APPROACH: Lesions and leukoplakia in the seven women with VLSA were removed using a high-frequency generator. PDT was administered after wound healing, and it was repeated six times. Follow-up assessments were carried out at 1, 3, and 6 months to evaluate the severity of pruritus and investigate lesion repigmentation. RESULTS: Following the combined therapy, the disappearance of pruritus was observed in all patients, and normal color and thickness were restored to their skin. Two patients reported mild pruritus with a score of 2 one month after treatment, which persisted until the 6-month follow-up, while the remaining patients remained free from pruritus. No recurrence of skin lesions was observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The combined therapy for the treatment of VLSA is found to be convenient, effective, and easily promotable.

Brain distribution and metabolic profiling of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in rats investigated by UHPLC-HRMS/MS following peripheral administration.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is known to be a tobacco-specific N-nitrosamine and has peripheral carcinogenic properties. It can also induce oxidative stress, glial cell activation, and neuronal damage in the brain. However, the distribution and metabolic characteristics of NNK in the central nervous system are still unclear. Here, a sensitive and effective UHPLC-HRMS/MS method was established to identify and investigate the metabolites of NNK and their distribution in the rat brain. In addition, the pharmacokinetic profiles were simultaneously investigated via blood-brain synchronous microdialysis. NNK and its seven metabolites were well quantified in the hippocampus, cortex, striatum, olfactory bulb, brain stem, cerebellum, and other regions of rat brain after peripheral exposure (5 mg/kg, i.p.). The average content of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in all brain regions was at least threefold higher than that of NNK, indicating a rapid carbonyl reduction of NNK in the brain. Lower concentrations of pyridine N-oxidation products in the cortex, olfactory bulb, hippocampus, and striatum might be related to the poor detoxification ability in these regions. Compared to α-methyl hydroxylation, NNK and NNAL were more inclined to the α-methylene hydroxylation pathway. Synchronous pharmacokinetic results indicated that the metabolic activity of NNK in the brain was different from that in the blood. The mean α-hydroxylation ratio in the brain and blood was 0.037 and 0.161, respectively, which indicated poor metabolic activity of NNK in the central nervous system.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals genes related to the rapid accumulation of oleic acid in Camellia chekiangoleosa, an oil tea plant with early maturity and large fruit.

Camellia chekiangoleosa has a higher oleic acid content and a shorter reproductive cycle than typical oil tea plants. It was intensively sampled over six C. chekiangoleosa seed development stages. The content of fatty acids determined by GC showed that the accumulation of fatty acids gradually increased from the S1 to S5 stages, and the maximum concentration was reached in S5. Then, fatty acids declined slightly in S6. The main fatty acid component showed the same accumulation trend as the total fatty acids, except linolenic acid, which remained at a low level throughout seed developmental stages. Changes in the expression of fatty acid accumulation-related genes were monitored using second-generation and SMRT full-length transcriptome sequencing. Finally, 18.92 G accurate and reliable data were obtained. Differential expression analysis and weighted coexpression analysis revealed two "gene modules" significantly associated with oleic acid and linoleic acid contents, and the high expression of ENR, KAS I, and KAS II, which accumulate substrates for oleic acid synthesis, was thought to be responsible for the rapid accumulation of fatty acids in the early stage. The rapid increase in fatty acids in the second stage may be closely related to the synergy between the high expression of SAD and low expression of FAD2. In addition, many transcription factors, such as ERF, GRAS, GRF, MADS, MYB and WRKY, may be involved in the fatty acid synthesis. Our data provide a rich resource for further studies on the regulation of fatty acid synthesis in C. chekiangoleosa.

Potential Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the Pathogenesis of Marek's Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Marek's disease virus (MDV) can cause malignant T-cell lymphomas and immunosuppression in chickens. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) not only plays a critical role in inhibiting T-cell responses, but also contributes to multiple aspects of tumour progression. The aim of this study was to reveal the potential role of MIF in the pathogenesis of MDV infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MIF gene expression levels were measured by using real-time PCR. Expression was assayed at different times in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells and tissue samples of SPF chickens infected with different MDV strains and fold change was calculated by the 2-△△CT method. RESULTS: The expression of MIF was significantly downregulated (p < 0.05 and FC > 2) in CEF cells infected with the very virulent MDV RB1B strain at 48 h post infection (hpi) and in the skin and spleen at 14 days post infection (dpi). The reduction of MIF expression was also found in CEF cells infected by reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), and MDV vaccine strain CVI988 or in HD11 cells stimulated with TLR2, 3, 4, and 7 ligands. Interestingly, MIF expression decreased continuously from 7 to 28 dpi in the thymus after RB1B virus infection while it increased after CVI988 virus infection. Upregulated expression of MIF was found in CEF infected with RB1B at 96 hpi and in the spleen and skin at 21 and 28 dpi. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed the different expression pattern of MIF in response to MDV infection and indicated that MIF level may be associated with MDV pathogenesis.

[The orbicularis muscle partial resection combined with orbital fat flap or orbicularis muscle flap graft for treatment of crow's feet in women].

Objective: To observe the effect of the outer orbicularis muscle partial resection combined with orbital fat flap or orbicularis muscle flap transfer to block orbicularis muscle for improvement of crow's feet. Methods: From October 2010 to May 2015,82 cases of females (aged from 27 to 54 years old) with crow's feet were treated with new method(n =41) and traditional method(control, n =41).The new method included partial resection and orbital fat flap or orbicularis muscle flap transfer to block orbicularis muscle. The traditional method was performed to lift the skin and orbicularis oculi muscle to improve the crow's feet. The operation time, the postoperative recovery time, eyes closing function and hematoma, nerve injury and other complications were recorded.1,3,6 and 12 months after operation, the effect was assessed by one cosmetic surgeon who is unkown the groups. Completely correction was assed as 5 points and no improvement or even worse as 0 point.12 months after operation, the patients satisfactory rate was recorded. Results: 75 cases were followed up, including 39 in new method group and 36 in control group. The operative time and postoperative recovery time were (50 ± 5) min,(58 ± 4) min and (5 ±1) d,(6.0±1.5) d in the new method group and control group respectively (P＜0.05).The two groups both had good eyes closing function, no eyes closing fatigue or difficult or other serious complications such as hematoma, nerve injury. Visual analog scale were 3.2 ± 0.6,3.5 ± 0.5,4.2 ± 0.8,4.3 ±0.8 and 3.1 ±0.6,3.4 ±0.9,3.0 ±0.6,2.8 ±0.5 in the new method group and control group at 1,3,6,12 months after surgery respectively. Obviously, the effect in new method group was much better than that in control group after 6 and 12 months with statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).12 months after surgery, the satisfaction surveys showed satisfactory in 33 cases; fairly satisfactory in 4 cases; dissatisfactory in 2 cases in new method group, and satisfactory in 10 cases; fairly satisfactory in 15 cases; dissatisfactory in 11 cases in the control group, showing significant difference between the 2 groups (P ＜0.05). Conclusions: The outer orbital orbicularis muscle partial resection combined with orbital fat flap or orbicularis muscle flap is reasonable and reliable to correct crow's feet with short recovery and less complication. It is a worthy new method for recommendation.

[Classification and management of sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To define the classification of sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery and to explore the appropriate surgical treatment. METHODS: Between July 2008 and January 2014, 260 patients with sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery were treated. There were 124 males and 136 females, aged 11-75 years (mean, 49.5 years). The disease duration was 13-365 days (mean, 26.6 days) with a wound length of 1-25 cm (mean, 13.4 cm). The wounds were divided into type I (n = 70), type II (n = 64), type III (n = 42), type IV (n = 78), and type V (n = 6) according to self-generated classification for sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery. After debridement, wounds of type I and type II were repaired with local flap transplantation; wounds of type III were repaired with local flap transplantation combined with butterfly sternal fixation (n = 28), with bilateral pectoralis muscle flap combined with butterfly sternal fixation (n = 11), and with bilateral pectoralis muscle flap (n = 3); wounds of type IV were repaired with bilateral pectoralis muscle flap (n = 65), rectus abdominis muscle flap (n = 5), and pedicled omental flap (n = 8); and wounds of type V were repaired with pedicled omental flap. RESULTS: All the operations were successfully performed. Three patients died after pedicled omental flap repair, including 1 case of type IV and 2 cases of type V. The hospitalization time were 4-86 days (mean, 18.3 days). Primary wound healing was obtained in 248 cases (96.5%); poor healing occurred in 9 patients, which were cured after second surgery in 8 cases and after the third surgery in 1 case. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment based on self-generated classification is appropriate to sternal wound complications after cardiac surgery. It can provide clinical evidence for the choice of subsequent operation.

[Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on lipopolysacharide-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines in rat macrophages in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on secretion of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages stimulated by lipopolysacharide (LPS). METHODS: Rat BMSCs and macrophages were isolated, cultured, and identified. The BMSCs and macrophages, cultured alone or in co-culture, were treated with LPS or PBS or without treatment and tested for interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations in the supernatants at 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, and 24 h after the treatment using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Exposure to LPS caused significantly increased IL-10 and TNF-α concentrations in the supernatant of cultured macrophages but not in BMSC culture. Macrophages co-cultured with BMSCs showed significantly lowered IL-10 and TNF-α secretions in response to LPS exposure as compared with the macrophages cultured alone. CONCLUSION: BMSCs can reduce LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines by the macrophages to ameliorate inflammatory reactions.

Ultrathin PEGylated W18O49 nanowires as a new 980 nm-laser-driven photothermal agent for efficient ablation of cancer cells in vivo.

A new photothermal coupling agent for photothermal ablation (PTA) therapy of tumors is developed based on ultrathin PEGylated W18O49 nanowires. After being injected with the nanowire solution, the in vivo tumors exhibit a rapid temperature rise to 50.0 ± 0.5 °C upon irradiation with NIR laser light at a safe, low intensity (0.72 W cm(-2)) for 2 min (left-hand mouse in the figure),), resulting in the efficient PTA of cancer cells in vivo in 10 min.