A functional single-nucleotide polymorphism in the ERCC1 gene alters the efficacy of narrowband ultraviolet B therapy in patients with active vitiligo in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: T lymphocytes have been shown to cause the destruction of melanocytes in vitiligo pathogenesis. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB), as an effective therapeutic strategy in vitiligo, can lead to the formation of DNA photoproducts such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in perilesional lymphocytes and thus induce skin immunosuppression. The repair of DNA photoproducts is performed mainly through the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. We hypothesized that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NER genes might influence the repair capacity of CPDs and thus contribute to variations in phototherapy efficiency. OBJECTIVES: To detect genetic polymorphisms in NER genes and their relationship with the efficacy of NB-UVB therapy in patients with active vitiligo. METHODS: We investigated the association of NER SNPs (XPA A23G, XPC Ci11A, XPC C2919A and ERCC1 C118T) with phototherapy efficacy in 86 patients with vitiligo who received NB-UVB treatment. Furthermore, we examined the impact of ERCC1 C118T on the apoptosis of T lymphocytes and CPD accumulation after NB-UVB irradiation. RESULTS: We found that patients with vitiligo with the ERCC1 codon 118 CC genotype showed better efficacy after NB-UVB irradiation than those with the ERCC1 118 TT and CT genotypes, whereas no such association was documented among the genotypes of XPA A23G, XPC Ci11A or XPC C2919A. Additionally, the apoptosis rates and CPD levels of lymphocytes after NB-UVB irradiation in patients with the ERCC1 118 CC genotype were significantly higher than those in patients with the ERCC1 118 TT and CT genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The ERCC1 118 CC genotype confers better efficacy of NB-UVB therapy in patients with active vitiligo.

Phytophthora infestans isolates from Northern China show high virulence diversity but low genotypic diversity.

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 48 Phytophthora infestans isolates, collected in five provinces in Northern China between 1997 and 2003, were determined and compared with reference isolates. Characterisation included mating type, virulence, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype and DNA fingerprinting patterns based on simple sequence repeats (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP). All isolates had the A1 mating type, mtDNA haplotype IIa and an identical SSR genotype (designated as SG-01-01) that differed from SSR genotypes found in the reference isolates, including those representing the 'old' US-1 lineage that dominated the P. infestans population worldwide prior to 1980. In contrast, the virulence spectra were highly variable and virulence to all resistance genes present in the standard differential set (R1 to R11) was found. AFLP analysis revealed some diversity; eight different AFLP genotypes were found that could be grouped into two major clusters. This study shows that there is very little genotypic diversity in the P. infestans population in Northern China. The occurrence of many different races within this rather uniform population is discussed in the framework of recent insights into the molecular determinants of avirulence in potato-P. infestans'gene-for-gene' interactions.

Isoflurane action in the spinal cord blunts electroencephalographic and thalamic-reticular formation responses to noxious stimulation in goats.

BACKGROUND: Isoflurane depresses the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and exerts part of its anesthetic effect in the spinal cord. The authors hypothesized that isoflurane would indirectly depress the EEG and subcortical response to noxious stimulation in part by a spinal cord action. METHODS: Depth electrodes were inserted into the midbrain reticular formation (MRF) and thalamus of six of seven isoflurane-anesthetized goats, and needle-electrodes were placed into the skull periosteum. In five of seven goats, an MRF microelectrode recorded single-unit activity. The jugular veins and carotid arteries were isolated to permit cranial bypass and differential isoflurane delivery. A noxious mechanical stimulus (1 min) was applied to a forelimb dewclaw at each of two cranial-torso isoflurane combinations: 1.1+/-0.3%-1.2+/-0.3% and 1.1+/-0.3-0.3+/-0.1% (mean +/- SD). RESULTS: When cranial-torso isoflurane was 1.1-1.2%, the noxious stimulus did not alter the EEG. When torso isoflurane was decreased to 0.3%, the noxious stimulus activated the MRF, thalamic, and bifrontal-hemispheric regions (decreased high-amplitude, low-frequency power). For all channels combined, total (-33+/-15%), delta(-51+/-22%), theta (-33+/-19%), and alpha (-26+/-16%) power decreased after the noxious stimulus (P<0.05); beta power was unchanged. The MRF unit responses to the noxious stimulus were significantly higher when the spinal cord isoflurane concentration was 0.3% (1,286+/-1,317 impulses/min) as compared with 1.2% (489+/-437 impulses/min, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Isoflurane blunted the EEG and MRF-thalamic response to noxious stimulation in part via an action in the spinal cord.

[Cause of leaf yellowing of Amomum villosum Lour. from Yunnan and its prevention].

The results of the experiment showed that manganese deficiency in soil is one of the main causes of leaf yellowing of Amomum villosum and applying trace element fertilizer can make up deficiency. Manganese sulphate can effectively prevent the leaf yellowing.

[Comparison of the effect of sijunzi decoction, siwu decoction and bazhen decoction on immune function in mice].

Sijunzi decoction, Siwu decoction and Bazhen decoction can antagonize the suppressive effect of hydrocortisone on proliferation of lymphocyte by spleen cells in C57BL/6J mice in vitro, and of the three decoctions Sijunzi works best. Sijunzi Decoction can antagonize the suppressive effect of cyclophosphamide on the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) induced by DNCB in mice and the production of hemolysin in mice immunized with SRBC. The three prescriptions all can enhance the clearance rate of iv charcoal particles as well as bone marrow cells inhibited by cyclophosphamide in mice, but Sijunzi decoction functions best of all.

Tangential excision of eschar for deep burns of the hand: analysis of 156 patients collected over 10 years.

Deep burns affecting the dorsum of the hand have been treated by tangential excision of the eschar in 156 patients involving 208 hands. From our 10-year experience we have concluded that: If the patient's general condition permits it all hands with deep partial and full thickness skin loss burns are suitable for early tangential excision of the eschar. The best time for the operation is within the first week after injury. If the burn is of limited extent and the requirement for autograft skin is small the operation may be carried out under nerve block anaesthesia. When the burn is more extensive (i.e. involving both hands) intravenous ketamine anaesthesia is recommended. During tangential excision sequential layers of tissue must be removed until the base of the burn appears porcelain white in colour, has a lustrous appearance with many small bleeding points and is firm in consistency. If there are deep burns of the finger webs they are incised or excised and then grafted. Postoperatively an absence of fever, pain or exudation from the wound indicates that inspection of the wound can be delayed for about 2 weeks. By this time the wound is usually healed and functional rehabilitation and physiotherapy can commence.