Imported dengue serotype 1 outbreak in a non-endemic region, China, 2017: A molecular and seroepidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: Beginning in June 2017, numerous dengue virus (DENV) infections occurred in the Jining City of Shandong Province, formerly a dengue-free region in East China. We sought to describe the clinical and epidemiological features of this outbreak. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records and epidemiological data regarding a case series of patients diagnosed with DENV in Jining City, from June 30 to September 14, 2017. Diagnosis was confirmed by molecular method, culture, or rapid diagnostic tests. Sequencing of the DENV envelope gene or the whole viral genome was performed for 11 patients. Additionally, neutralizing antibodies against DENV was measured among patients and residents from their same villages. RESULTS: Data from 150 patients were evaluated in this outbreak. None were diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. The patients' ages ranged between 2-88 years (median 51 years, [IQR=37.5-64.3]), and 100 (66.7%) were female. Epidemiological analyses implicated a man who had visited Saudi Arabia as the likely source of the outbreak. Phylogenetic studies identified DENV serotype 1. Most of the patients demonstrated increases of neutralizing antibody titers one year after infection compared with titers three months after infection. The residents living in dengue-affected villages had a significant higher seroprevalence of 21.2% (95%CI 16.9-25.5) than residents (3.2%, 95%CI-0.36-6.7) living in a non-dengue-affected village. CONCLUSIONS: This report documents the first dengue outbreak in Shandong Province, China, in more than 60 years. It underscores the need for medical providers to record patients' travel histories and to consider dengue in their differential diagnoses.

[The cellular and molecular mechanism of inhibitory effect of asiaticoside on capsular contracture following breast augmentation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cellular and molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effect of asiaticoside on capsular contracture following breast augmentation. METHODS: Contracture capsule derived fibroblasts were cultured in medium with different concentration of asiaticoside. The cell proliferation, collage synthesis and alpha-SMA expression were detected by means of 3H-thymidine incorporation, 3H-proline incorporation, and Western-blot. The results were analyzed by SPSS 11.0 with t test. RESULTS: DNA and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts were dramatically inhibited when the asiaticoside reached the concentration of 50 mg/L. The inhibitory rate was 34.7% and 30.1% respectively, showing a significant difference from that in control group (P < 0.05). The inhibitory effect increased with the rise of the asiaticoside concentration in a dose-dependent manner. When the concentration of asiaticoside reached 25 mg/L, the expression of alpha-SMA was down-regulated with an activation index of 1.673, showing a significant difference when compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: asiaticoside can effectively inhibit the DNA and collagen synthesis of capsule-derived fibroblasts. The trans-differentiation of fibroblast to myo-fibroblasts is also prevented by it.

[Significance of the secreted frizzled-related protein 2 expression in earlobe keloid].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and the role of secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) in the earlobe keloid and find a valid way to treat the keloid with gene therapy. METHODS: The expression of SFRP2 mRNA and protein was tested with in situ hybridization and Western Blot Analysis method in the different period of earlobe keloid. RESULTS: The SFRP2 mRNA and protein expression at the keloid edge was significantly high in 12 month group than in 3 or 6 month groups (P < 0.01), but not than in 24 month group. The SFRP2 expression started to decrease in the keloid center 12 month later (P < 0.01). The SFRP2 expression was always higher in edge than in center during all the period (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that SFRP2 may play an important role in the development of keloid, especially at the keloid edge. The high SFRP2 expression in endothelial cells and surrounding tissue is also important. It may be a new way for gene therapy of keloid by decreasing the SFRP2 expression.

[Analysis of the adult penis 3D digitized image].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze 3D digitized image of the adult penis, providing morphological data for plastic plerosis of the adult penis diagnosis and the surgery planning. METHODS: 200 adult penis were measured at the length and perimeter of the resting state and erection, and the relation among the erectile angle and length, perimeter were analyzed by the Angel Digital Image Studio software. RESULTS: Penis increase with the age and stature growing. But the length increases in not the same ratio with the stature . With the erectile angle increasing, penile hardness is becoming strong, but penile volume do not marked change. CONCLUSIONS: The digitized model of the penis and adjacent structure offer unique insights into the complex penis anatomy, providing morphological data for preoperative design and postoperative effective evaluation of the penile plastic plerosis.

[Influence of substance P on the release of histamine in the human hypertrophic scar tissue].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of substance P (SP) on the release of histamine in the human hypertrophic scar tissue, and to explore the prerequisite of their interaction. METHODS: Tissue specimens of normal skin and hypertrophic scar from eight hospitalized patients were excised and cut into 0.5 to 1.0 mm3 pieces, and the histamine release by mast cell (MC) under the stimulation of different concentration of SP and calcium, as well as the different affect time of SP, were determined with fluorescence spectrometer. Then the histamine release rate was calculated. RESULTS: There was obvious release of histamine when SP concentration was 1 x 10(-6) mol/L , and the release rate was (50.0 +/- 3.6) %, which was significantly higher than that by SP in the concentration of 0 mol/L [(44.0 +/- 3.2) %, P < 0.01]. Therefore it seemed to be dose-dependent. About 90% of histamine was released within 15 minutes of 5 x 10(-1) mol/L Substance P stimulation, and it was also time-dependent. The histamine release reached the peak when calcium concentration was 5 x 10(-3) mol/L, which seemed to be dose-dependent, but it decreased transiently when calcium concentration was 1 x 10(-3) mol/L. In all occasions, the influence of SP on the histamine release by MC in hypertrophic scar (HS) was markedly higher than that in normal skin (NS) (P < 0.01). Conclusion The influence of SP on the histamine release by MC in HS was markedly higher than that in NS, and it might be closely related to itching sensation and the formation of hypertrophic scar.

[Establishment of an animal model of human hyperplastic scar in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an ideal model of human hyperplastic scar (HS) in nude mice, so as to provide us a new model to carry out further studies on the mechanism of HS development. METHODS: Full skin defect sized 2.0 cm x 1.5 cm was created on the back of 100 nude mice. The defect was thereafter covered with full thickness human skin. After the grafted skin survived, the nude mice were subjected to deep partial thickness burn of the grafted skin with heated copper rod. The development of the hyperplasia of the scar after wound healing was observed histologically and grossly. RESULTS: Grafted full-thickness human skin took and survived well in 86 out of 100 nude mice. There was obvious and continuous hyperplasia of scar in 67 mice (78%). The external appearance and histological features of the HS appeared similar to those in human HS. The average thickness of the scar was 0.34 cm, with the thickest part measuring 0.6 cm. In addition, the time of hyperplastic change lasted for 63 - 217 days in average of 128 days. CONCLUSION: Obvious and continuous scar hyperplasia could be found in this model, and the whole process beginning from wound healing to the formation of HS could be easily observed. The model was therefore suitable and ideal for the study of HS.