Complete mitochondrial genome of a Eurytopic midge, Polypedilum nubifer (Diptera: Chironomidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Polypedilum nubifer was sequenced and annotated, and its general features and base composition were analyzed. The mitogenome was 15,896 bp long, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transport RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 control region. The phylogenetic relationships based on the concatenated nucleotide sequences of 17 metagenomes from families Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, and Simuliidae were reconstructed. According to the phylogenetic topologies, P. nubifer was closely related to (P. unifascium + P. vanderplanki) in the maximum likelihood tree.

Case report: Leukemia cutis as the first manifestation of chronic neutrophilic leukemia in a 6-year-old girl.

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare BCR-ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasm that usually affects older adults with a poor prognosis. Leukemia cutis is an extramedullary manifestation of leukemia and may be misdiagnosed by dermatologists. Here, we describe a case of CNL in a 6-year-old Chinese girl with leukemia cutis as the first manifestation. Her skin rashes failed to attract the attention of dermatologists in early stages. The diagnosis was confirmed by peripheral smear, bone marrow studies, genomic analysis and skin biopsy.

Application of the adenosine triphosphate sensitivity assay in infantile vascular anomalies.

BACKGROUND: The term vascular anomalies include various vascular tumors and vascular malformations, among them infantile hemangiomas and capillary malformations are the most well-known associated diseases in early ages. Multiple drugs have been introduced for intervention, but susceptibility test in vitro were scarcely reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibition effect of different drugs by adenosine triphosphate sensitivity assay in vitro before the treatment of infantile hemangiomas and capillary malformations. METHODS: Specimens were selected from 5 cases of infantile hemangiomas and 11 cases of capillary malformations. Propranolol, rapamycin, sildenafil and itraconazole were tested for their growth inhibition effect by using the adenosine triphosphate sensitivity assay. RESULTS: Propranolol demonstrated inhibitory effects on infantile hemangiomas cells. Rapamycin and itraconazole both showed inhibitory effects on infantile hemangiomas cells and capillary malformations cells. Sildenafil has no growth inhibitory effect on infantile hemangiomas cells or capillary malformations cells. CONCLUSION: Adenosine triphosphate sensitivity assay is a sensitive and useful testing method before the management of vascular anomalies, and individualized medication suggestions for the choice of therapeutic drugs were offered based on the testing result and together with a comprehensive evaluation of each infant.

No Increased Risks Associated with Propranolol Treatment for Infantile Hemangioma in Preterm Infants were Identified at 3 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised that propranolol treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH) may be associated with increased risks of adverse effects and growth impairment in preterm infants due to their immature development. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to find out whether treatment of IH with propranolol in preterm infants is associated with higher incidences of long-term adverse effects and growth impairment in comparison with term infants. METHODS: The clinical data of 55 preterm infants and 180 term infants with IH treated with oral propranolol for 6 months were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The preterm and term patients did not differ significantly in terms of the general characteristics and adverse effect incidence (all p > 0.05). Height, weight, and head circumference of the preterm infants at ages 1, 2, and 3 years did not differ significantly from the normal references (all p > 0.05). In the term patients, only 1-year-old female weight and head circumference were significantly higher than the normal references (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment of IH with propranolol for 6 months did not increase the risks for adverse effects or growth impairment up to age 3 years in preterm versus term patients in our study.

A case of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta pemphigoides successfully treated with methotrexate and corticosteroids.

Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) pemphigoides is an uncommon skin disease, which is characterized by the appearance of blistering skin lesions in patients with PLEVA. We present a 3-year-old boy, who was diagnosed with PLEVA pemphigoides. Combined treatment of oral methotrexate and corticosteroids was more effective than corticosteroids alone on this patient.

Pediatric dermatology-Critical approach to the new treatments.

The field of pediatric dermatology treatment has been rich in new developments. Several recent therapeutic advances in pediatric dermatology have been made. This review will focus on critical approach to the new treatments for several entities encountered in pediatric dermatology. The use of biologics and small molecules in children with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, exciting advances in the use of propranolol and other beta-blockers for the treatment of infantile hemangiomas, the use of sirolimus for vascular anomalies will be discussed.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis after dactinomycin and vincristine combination chemotherapy for nephroblastoma.

In this study, we describe a 2-year-old boy patient with nephroblastoma who has developed toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) associated with the combination chemotherapy administration of dactinomycin and vincristine. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of TEN, and with methylprednisolone pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and supportive care, the patient improved significantly.

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome caused by an LMNA mutation: a case report.

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by premature aging of the skin, bones, heart, and blood vessels. We report a 6-year-old boy who was born at full term but presented with scleroderma-like appearance at 1 month of age and gradually developed clinical manifestations of progeria. He had characteristic facial features of prominent eyes, scalp, and leg veins; loss of scalp hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes; stunted growth; scleroderma-like changes of the skin; and a premature aged appearance. Metabolic investigations showed transient methylmalonic aciduria, and genetic testing of the peripheral blood identified the c.1824C>T heterozygous LMNA mutation. The present case is reported because of its rarity.

Detection of enterovirus 71 using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP).

Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), which is a visual assay for nucleic acids, is performed in a single step using one tube at 65 °C for 1.5 h. In this study, RT-LAMP was established as a method for the detection of enterovirus 71 (EV71). The detection limit of the assay was approximately 10 copies, and no cross-reactivity was noted with Coxsackievirus A16, echovirus, human rotavirus (HRV) or norovirus. This assay, which offers greater sensitivity at a lower cost compared with the conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was validated using 252 clinical specimens that had been confirmed by laboratory diagnosis using RT-PCR. Both methods produced the same results with 52 positive samples. The RT-LAMP-based assay does not require specialised equipment, and therefore, it can be performed conveniently during an outbreak or under field conditions. In brief, the RT-LAMP-based assay provided a simple, rapid and efficient method for the detection of EV71 nucleic acid under field conditions.

[Primary detection of pathogen from children with hand, foot, and mouth disease in Beijing, 2007].

We investigated the causative agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children in Beijing epidemic from April to June of 2007. Totally, 82 specimens (including throat swabs, rectal swabs and vesicular swabs) were collected from 51 patients with HFMD. All patients had typical skin lesions, but no neurological manifestations. These clinical specimens were directly tested by RT-PCR assay with three primer sets: universal enterovirus, CA16-specific and EV71-specific primers. Enterovirus, CA16 and EV71 were identified depending on the size of PCR products. The percentage of the specimens identified as positive for enterovirus was 70.6%. Of the 51 cases, 25 were positive for CA16, 4 were positive for EV71, and 7 were enterovirus positive of non-CA16 or EV71. The ratio among them was about 6:1:2. EV71 strains belonged to genotype C4 after sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

[Clinical characteristics and treatment options of cutaneous vessel abnormalities].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment options of cutaneous vessel abnormalities. METHODS: The clinical data of 384 pediatric patients with cutaneous vessel abnormalities who were treated in Beijing children's Hospital from January 2007 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified according to International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) classification method. RESULTS: Of the 384 patients, infantile hemangioma was confirmed in 185 patients (male : female = 1 : 1.7). Most children (78.4%) were taken to our department when they were within six months. The skin injuries were mainly located on the head and face (50.8%). Congenital hemangioma was confirmed in 132 patients (male : female = 1 : 1.9). Most children (75.0%) were taken to our department when they were within six months. The skin injuries were mainly located on the head and face (37.1%). Capillary malformation was confirmed in 27 patients (male: female = 1 : 1.3). Most children (40.7%) were taken to our department when they were within one year old. The skin injuries were mainly located on the head and face (77.8%). Venous malformation was confirmed in 16 patients (male : female = 1 : 1.3). Most children (31.3%) were taken to our department when they were within one year old. The skin injuries were mainly located on the head and face (56.3%). Of the 384 patients, 250 patients (65.1%) were treated by watching and waiting. Eighty of these 250 patients were followed up, which showed that, when these children were 1. 5-2 years old, the lesions' color lightened and their areas reduced by half and lesions almost disappeared in 34 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Infantile hemangioma and congenital hemangioma are two common cutaneous vessel abnormalities in children. Their incidences were higher in female than in male. Cutaneous vessel abnormality with endothelial cell proliferation has an earlier onset age. Skin injuries are mostly seen in face. Most pediatric patients experience good prognosis after being treated with watching and waiting.

Pathogenic link between hydroa vacciniforme and Epstein-Barr virus-associated hematologic disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the pathogenic association of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections with both typical hydroa vacciniforme (HV) and severe HV-like eruptions, and to survey the complications and outcomes of patients. DESIGN: Case series. PATIENTS: Twenty-nine patients with HV or severe HV-like eruptions. INTERVENTIONS: In situ hybridization and immunostaining of biopsy specimens; extraction of DNA samples from cutaneous lesions and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cells for EBV DNA assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinicopathologic manifestations, hematologic findings, complications, and outcomes; presence of latent EBV infection. RESULTS: T cells positive for EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA (EBER) were detected, to various degrees, in cutaneous infiltrates in 28 (97%) of 29 patients, including all 6 patients with definite HV with a positive phototest reaction, 11 of 12 patients with probable HV without evidence of photosensitivity, and all 11 patients with severe HV associated with systemic symptoms. In addition to EBER-positive T cells, many cytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing T-cell intracellular antigen 1 and granzyme B were present in the cutaneous lesions. Natural killer (NK) cells were absent or at a background level. The UV-induced cutaneous lesions showed histopathologic findings consistent with those of HV, containing many EBER-positive cells. Although no hematologic abnormalities were found in the definite and probable HV groups, the amounts of EBV DNA were increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. By contrast, the severe HV group had markedly increased levels of EBV DNA associated with NK-cell lymphocytosis, and complications including chronic active EBV infection, hypersensitivity to mosquito bites, and hemophagocytic syndrome. Five patients with severe disease died of EBV-associated NK/T-cell lymphomas or hemophagocytic syndrome 2 to 14 years after onset. CONCLUSION: Both typical and severe HV are included within the spectrum of cutaneous disorders mediated by EBV-infected T cells, and the severe HV group may have overt EBV-associated NK/T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders with a frequently fatal outcome.

[Determination of 23 elements in beverages by FAAS and ICP-MS].

23 elements in 11 kinds of beverages were determined by FAAS and ICP-MS. The effects of nitric acid and coexist elements on FAAS determination were studied and the experimental conditions were optimized. The results show that these beverages contain abundant inorganic elements like K, Na, Ca and Mg, which are important for human being. The content of trace elements As, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe are under the tolerance limit of GB standard.

Comparison of volatile and semivolatile compounds from commercial cigarette by supercritical fluid extraction and simultaneous distillation extraction.

Supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE) was studied as a rapid method for extraction of volatile and semivolatile compounds of Chinese commercial cigarettes. The method was compared with simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE). Temperature and pressure for the SFE were optimized. The extracts obtained by the two methods showed different characters in composition and represented differently the flavor characteristics of tobacco; compared to SDE, SFE can extract compounds within a shorter time and avoid the thermal degradation and solvent contamination of samples. The extracts by the two extraction methods are complementary for investigating the flavor characteristic of tobacco products.