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A 65-year-old male patient, who had a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia for 3 years, presented with erythematous swelling of the right cheek for 20 days and scattered papules on the back and upper extremities for 10 days. Twenty days prior to the presentation, the patient was hospitalized for disseminated herpes zoster. Skin examination showed diffuse dark red swollen plaques in the facial area under the right eyelid as well as on the right auricle and external acoustic meatus, with a sense of infiltration on palpation; scattered brown crusts were left behind at the sites of healed herpes zoster lesions, and scattered depressed scars were observed among these crusts; scattered infiltrative, mung bean- to soybean-sized, light red papules with a smooth surface were seen on the back of the neck, back and upper limbs. Histopathological examination of the facial skin lesions revealed nodular infiltration of epithelioid cells, lymphocytes and many multinucleated giant cells in the dermis and subcutaneous adipose tissue; immunohistochemical staining showed positive staining for CD68, CD20, CD79a, CD3, CD2, CD10, CD5 and Bcl-2, scattered positive staining for Ki-67, and negative staining for CD23, cyclin D1, Bcl-6, multiple myeloma oncogene 1, CD21, CD35 and myeloperoxidase. The patient was diagnosed with Wolf′s isotopic response manifesting as granulomatous inflammation after disseminated herpes zoster. The patient was treated with intravenous drips of methylprednisolone at a dose of 40 mg/d, and the skin lesions were gradually improved and subsided. No recurrence was observed during 4 years of follow-up.
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Objective Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is easy to prone to recur and hard to cure and little research has been done on combined treatment on PV.The article was to study the clinical effects of total glucosides of paeony capsules (TGP) combined with acitretin and compound flumethasone on PV as well as the peripheral blood cytokine levels.Methods 126 patients with PV who visited our hospital from October 2015 to January 2017 were randomly divided into combined treatment group (63 cases) and control group (63 cases).Both groups were treated with oral acitretin and topical compound flumethasone, what's more, the compound flumethasone group received oral TGP treatment, 8 weeks for a course.The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated by the levels of peripheral blood IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, TNF-α level, PASI score and percentage of total skin lesions before and after the treatment.Results After the treatment, the concentration of IL-17, IL-18, IL-23 significantly decreased(P<0.05), which was significantly less in combined treatment group compared with control group (IL-17 [61.18±8.91] vs [78.64±7.85], IL-18 [68.56±17.95] vs [79.49±18.64], IL-23 [70.13±12.16] vs [91.18±16.89] pg/ML)(P<0.05).Moreover, the TNF-α level, the PASI score and the percentage of total skin lesions significantly decreased in both groups after treatment(P<0.05), which was significantly less in combined treatment group compared with control group (TNF-α level [14.47±7.53] vs [23.49±8.12]ng/L, PASI score [4.09±1.29] vs [7.29±5.13], the percentage of total skin lesions [6.17±4.59]% vs [8.09±5.18]%) (P<0.05).Conclusion TGP combined with acitretin and compound flumethasone can significantly enhance the clinical therapeutic effects and effectively regulate the levels of the IL-17, IL-18, IL-23 and TNF-α level, which results in treating psoriasis vulgaris.
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Objective To evaluate effects of a fusion protein LTβR-Fc, which can block the herpesvirus entry mediator ligand (LIGHT-HVEM)signaling pathway, on ovalbumin-induced dermatitis in a mouse model. Methods Thirty BALB/c mice were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups: blank control group treated with 100 μl of sodium chloride physiological solution, model group sensitized with 100 μl of sodium chloride physiological solution containing 100 μg ovalbumin, blocker group firstly blocked with 100 μl of sodium chloride physiological solution containing 100 μg LTβR-Fc followed by sensitization with 100 μl of sodium chloride physiological solution containing 100 μg ovalbumin at 24 hours after the blocking. Disease severity was evaluated by eczema area and severity index (EASI)score, and lesional size was measured on day 0, 4, 8, 12, 15, 20, 23, 27, 31 and 34 after the first sensitization. A total of three sessions of sensitization were carried out. At the end of treatment, all the mice were sacrificed after serum was obtained from their orbital cavities. Thereafter, tissue specimens were obtained from skin lesions, and single cell suspensions of the spleen were prepared. RT-PCR was performed to detect mRNA expressions of interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 4 (IL-4)and IL-5 in murine lesions, ELISA to measure IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-5 levels in culture supernatants of murine splenocytes, as well as ovalbumin-specific and total IgE and IgG1 levels in murine sera. Results LTβR-Fc significantly suppressed inflammatory response in the mouse model of dermatitis induced by ovalbumin. Compared with the model group, the blocker group showed significantly decreased lesion area and EASI score (both P < 0.05). In addition, a significant decrease was observed in the mRNA expressions of IL-4 (0.88 ± 0.25 vs. 1.81 ± 0.25, P < 0.05), IL-5 (0.75 ± 0.15 vs. 1.24 ± 0.26, P < 0.05)and IFN-γ (0.62 ± 0.09 vs. 1.11 ± 0.19, P < 0.05)in murine lesions, and in supernatant levels of IL-4 (9.58 ± 1.44 ng/L vs. 20.12 ± 5.39 ng/L, P < 0.05), IL-5 (11.37 ± 2.02 ng/L vs. 22.77 ± 4.07 ng/L, P < 0.05)and IFN-γ (16 167 ± 950.40 ng/L vs. 23 930 ± 44.20 ng/L, P < 0.05)in the blocker group compared with the model group. The serum levels of both total IgE and ovalbumin-specific IgE were significantly lower in the blocker group than in the model group(total IgE: 27 466.67 ± 2 052.64 μg/L vs. 32 277 ± 407.53 μg/L, P < 0.05; ovalbumin-specific IgE: 1 296.33 ± 32.72 μg/L vs. 2 323.33 ± 502.43 μg/L, P < 0.05), so were those of total IgG1 (0.46 ± 0.11 μg/L vs. 0.84 ± 0.11 μg/L, P < 0.05)and ovalbumin-specific IgG1 (0.62 ± 0.11 μg/L vs. 0.86 ± 0.07 μg/L, P < 0.05). Conclusion The fusion protein LTβR-Fc can alleviate symptoms of ovalbumin-induced dermatitis in the mouse model likely by suppressing the LIGHT-HVEM signaling pathway, suggesting that this signaling pathway may serve as a target for the treatment of dermatitis(such as atopic dermatitis).
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Objective To improve the understanding of cutaneous intravascular natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (CIVNKTC). Methods Clinical data on five cases of CIVNKTC were collected. The histopathological feature, treatment and prognosis of CIVNKTC were retrospectively analyzed and discussed. Results Of the 5 patients, 1 was male and 4 were female. The age of onset ranged from 38 to 83 years (average, 56.2 years). All the patients presented with multiple plaques and nodules as the primary symptoms. Histopathological examination revealed vasodilatation in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, as well as atypical lymphoid cells with large hyperchromatic nuclei containing 1-2 small nucleoli in dilated veins. Immunohistochemical studies of tumor cells showed positive staining for CD3ε, cytotoxic proteins (including T cell-restricted intracellular antigen-1, granzyme B and perforin)and Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)-encoded microRNA, but negative staining for cytokeratin, CD20, CD79a, CD4 and CD8. Furthermore, the tumor cells stained positive for CD56 in two patients. Among the 5 patients, only 2 received chemotherapy and the remaining received no treatment. During a 24-month follow-up, 4 patients died, and only 1 survived with the tumor. Conclusion CIVNKTC is a rare extranodal Hodgkin′s lymphoma with distinct histologic manifestations and immunophenotypes, rapid and aggressive clinical course, and poor prognosis.
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Aim To investigate the effect of baicalin on cell proliferation and cell migration in human skin SCC A431 cell line. Methods The A431 cells were incu- bated with 50 mg·L-1 baicalin. The protein level of cofilin-1 was assayed by Western blot. Cofilin-1 specific siRNA fragment was designed , synthesized and trans- fected into A431 cells. The proliferative activity and migration ability of cells were assessed by CCK8 assay and scratch wound healing assay separately. ResultsWestern blot results showed that baicalin treatment in-hibited the cofilin-1 protein expression to 49.3% com-pared with the control group. Single baicalin treatment and cofilin-1 silencing could drease the A431 cell growth and migration. And cofilin-1 silencing signifi- cantly enhanced the efficacy of baicalin. Conclusions Baicalin could significantly inhibit the tumor cell's growth and migration in the A431 cell line. And cofi-lin-1 might become the potential target gene to enhance the effect of anticancer drugs.
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Objective To evaluate the protective effect of astragaloside Ⅳ against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced photodamage to human HaCaT keratinocytes,and to investigate its mechanisms.Methods Culturedimmortalized human HaCaT keratinocytes were divided into four groups:blank control group receiving untreated,UVB group irradiated with 50 mJ/cm2 UVB,astragaloside Ⅳ group treated with astragaloside Ⅳ,UVB + astragalosideⅣ group treated with astragaloside Ⅳ for 24 hours before and after 50 mJ/cm2 of UVB radiation.The concentration ofastragaloside Ⅳ ranged from 10 to 200 mg/L in cell proliferation assay,and according to the results of proliferationassay,20 mg/L was determined as the optimal concentration in the other assays.At 24 hours after UVB radiation,cellcounting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was performed to evaluate cellular proliferative activity,flow cytometry to determineintracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels,and Western blot to measure the expression levels of p53,p38,matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and high mobility group Al (HMGA-1) protein in HaCaT cells.ResultsCompared with the control group,astragaloside Ⅳ at 10 and 20 mg/L had no inhibitory effect (F =1.32,P ＞ 0.05),while astragaloside Ⅳ at 50,100 and 200 mg/L showed significantly inhibitory effect (F =20.20,P ＜ 0.05),on theproliferation of HaCaT cells.In addition,cellular proliferative activity in the UVB group was significantly lower thanthat in the control group (F =99.00,P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the UVB group,cellular proliferative activityincreased to different degrees in HaCaT cells treated with both UVB and astragaloside Ⅳ of 10-200 mg/L (F =19.08,P ＜ 0.01),with the strongest increase observed in those treated with UVB and astragaloside Ⅳ of 20 mg/L.Further experiments revealed reduced intracellular ROS levels in the UVB + astragaloside Ⅳ (20 mg/L) groupcompared with the UVB group (t =21.12,P ＜ 0.01).Western blot assay showed that the expression levels of p53,p38,MMP-9 and HMGA-1 protein were significantly higher in the UVB group than in the control group (all P ＜0.01),but significantly lower in the UVB + astragaloside Ⅳ (20 mg/L) group than in the UVB group (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Astragaloside Ⅳ can effectively protect keratinocytes from UVB-induced photodamage.
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Objective To investigate the levels of IL-2,IL-6and their receptors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)before and after treatment.Methods The levels of IL-2,IL-6and their receptors were detected by ELISA,immunofluorescence labelling technique and flow cytometry analysis,respectively,in peripheral blood taken from SLE patients before and after treatment and normal controls.Results①IL-2was significantly decreased(P