ABSTRACT
Introduction: The pathophysiology of keloid formation is poorly understood, and current treatments, including intralesional corticosteroids, cryotherapy, and surgery, are often associated with high resistance to treatment and recurrence. The multifactorial pathogenesis of keloid formation suggests that aberrant inflammatory cytokine signaling associated with keratinocyte dysregulation may contribute to keloid-associated pruritus. Case Presentation: In this paper, we report 2 cases of keloid-associated pruritus that were successfully treated with topical crisaborole 2% ointment, a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor. Both patients had previously undergone multiple unsuccessful treatments before being treated with crisaborole 2% ointment. In both cases, the patients experienced complete relief of pruritus with no significant change in keloid size, thickness, or appearance. Conclusion: We propose that PDE4 inhibitors, such as crisaborole, may be an effective therapy for keloid- associated pruritus.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Actinic granuloma (AG) is a rare skin eruption thought to result from a sun-induced inflammatory response attracting giant cells, which are large, multinucleated, and inflammatory, to form granulomas and degrade surrounding elastic material. Clinically, lesions begin on sun-exposed skin as pink papules and nodules that coalesce into demarcated annular plaques with a hypopigmented center. Histologically, actinic elastosis surrounds the outer annulus ring, with histiocytes and giant cells within the raised border, and the innermost central zone is filled with minimal to absent elastic fibers. Case Presentation: We present a middle-aged female with a pruritic eruption of diffuse erythematous macules and papules coalescing into plaques with mild scale involving the scalp, face, neck, torso, and upper and lower extremities, including the palms and soles, but sparing the ears, bilateral axillae, elbows, and knees. Skin biopsies revealed solar elastosis and abundant multinucleated foreign body giant cells with ingested elastic fibers. The patient's clinical presentation and histopathology were consistent with a diagnosis of AG. Furthermore, spirochete immunostaining of the specimens revealed multiple Treponema pallidum spirochetes throughout the epidermis and dermis. Secondary syphilis with primary chancre was added to the diagnosis. Treatment included oral and topical steroids followed by intravenous penicillin G. After 1 month, all lesions had resolved with post-inflammatory erythema. Conclusion: Our patient differs from the typical presentation in describing intense pruritus with her eruption. This interesting collision reminds clinicians to retain a high index of suspicion for multiple diagnoses in a single patient.
ABSTRACT
Primary biliary cholangitis （PBC） is a chronic autoimmune disease of cholestasis in which immune factors lead to progressive small bile duct destruction， cholestasis， and eventually liver fibrosis， liver cirrhosis， and even liver failure. Macrophages， as a group with functional heterogeneity， play different roles in the whole disease process of PBC. This article summarizes the possible ways by which macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of PBC and discusses their impact on the disease and the potential therapeutic targets of macrophages. It is pointed out that macrophages are mainly involved in innate immunity in PBC injury and are associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis， and they are also associated with cholestasis， liver fibrosis， and liver cirrhosis in the later stages of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Primary intrahepatic stones （PIS） is a refractory disease with a high incidence rate in Southwest China， which greatly affects the life of patients. Metabolites， such as β-glucuronidase produced by chronic biliary tract infection， play an important role in the formation of pigmented stones. In addition to exogenous β-glucuronidase produced by bacteria， endogenous β-glucuronidase produced by intrahepatic bile duct cells also plays an important role in the formation of stones. This article analyzes the research advances in the role of β-glucuronidase in the pathogenesis of PIS， in order to provide a possible method for the prevention and treatment of PIS.
ABSTRACT
Liver failure often has rapid progression， multiple complications， and dangerous conditions. Acute pancreatitis is a common comorbidity during the progression of liver failure， and since acute pancreatitis has extremely similar clinical symptoms and signs to liver failure complicated by spontaneous peritonitis， it is often neglected in clinical practice. This article elaborates on the mechanisms of liver failure complicated by acute pancreatitis from the five aspects of inflammatory response， duodenal papillary dysfunction， gut microbiota dysbiosis， oxidative stress， and microcirculatory disturbance and proposes corresponding preventive measures based on these mechanisms.
ABSTRACT
Drug-induced liver injury is caused by the drug itself and/or its metabolites during drug use or occurs due to hypersensitivity or reduced tolerance to the drug in a particular body type. In the last three years of the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19）， antiviral drugs have played a very important role， but there are many reports on liver injury caused by anti-COVID-19 drugs in China and globally， with unknown pathogenesis of liver injury caused by such drugs. This article reviews the research advances in the types of antiviral drugs for COVID-19 and their mechanism in inducing liver injury， in order to promote the rational use of antiviral drugs.
ABSTRACT
Mitophagy is a type of selective autophagy during which cells specifically remove damaged mitochondria in response to nutrient deficiency or external stimulation and thus maintain the integrity of mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis. In recent years， a large number of studies have shown that dysfunction of mitophagy is closely associated with the development and progression of various liver-related diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease， drug-related liver injury， viral hepatitis， and hepatocellular carcinoma. This article summarizes the specific mechanisms of mitophagy in regulating liver-related diseases and further elaborates on the potential therapeutic targets of mitophagy in liver-related diseases， in order to provide more effective therapeutic strategies for the clinical treatment of liver diseases.
ABSTRACT
Erythema multiforme (EM) is an acute, self-limited mucocutaneous disease with diverse triggering factors, and the recurrences are quite common. A 24-year old male presented with multiple erythematous, itchy papules and plaques on multiple sites. He has worked in a lithium battery factory and experienced the chemical burn 2 weeks ago. A histopathologic examination on right wrist showed a scattered lymphocytic infiltration, vacuolar degeneration, and necrotic keratinocyte. The final diagnosis was EM after occupational lithium exposure. He was treated by oral methylprednisolone and experienced recurrences after returning to the same workplace after remission. Although the precise pathogenesis is unknown, the pathogenesis of EM by lithium is related to the effect of lithium on immune system, different from other etiologies. To our knowledge, our case is the first report of EM following the chemical burn and occupational lithium exposure. We report this as an interesting case of EM.
ABSTRACT
The gut microbiota is comprised of over 1200 different bacteria and forms a symbiotic community with the human organism, the holobiont. It plays an important role in the maintenance of homeostasis, e.g., of the immune system and essential metabolic processes. Disturbances in the balance of this reciprocal relationship are called dysbiosis and, in the field of sepsis, are associated with incidence of disease, extent of the systemic inflammatory response, severity of organ dysfunction, and mortality. In addition to providing guiding principles in the fascinating relationship between "human and microbe," this article summarizes recent findings regarding the role of the bacterial gut microbiota in sepsis, which is one a very relevant in intensive care medicine.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Sepsis , Humans , Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology , Bacteria , Dysbiosis/complications , Dysbiosis/microbiology , Fecal Microbiota TransplantationABSTRACT
As a novel star molecule, gasdermin D (GSDMD) plays an important role in the amplification of immune inflammatory response and the process of pyroptosis. After being cleaved and activated by caspase-1, the N-terminal of GSDMD is rapidly released, which anchors on the cell membrane and forms pores, thereby leading to pyroptosis, accompanied by the release of a large amount of the strong proinflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18. Acute/chronic liver inflammatory response and cell death are the common pathological features of liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune liver disease, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This article summarizes the basic structural characteristics of GSDMD and elaborates on its important role in the pathological progression of various liver diseases. In addition, it is proposed that prevention and treatment strategies with GSDMD as a potential therapeutic target can provide new ideas for further studies on the clinical prevention and treatment of liver diseases.
ABSTRACT
Connective tissue nevi (CTN) , a kind of benign skin hamartomas, can be classified into 3 types according to the excessive components predominating in skin lesions, including collagen type, elastin type and proteoglycan type, and each type of CTN includes various inherited and acquired diseases. Therefore, genetic, clinical, and histopathological features should be considered for the confirmation of diagnosis of CTN and its subtypes. According to the latest Chinese and international literature, this review elaborates clinical classification and histopathological characteristics of CTN, aiming to further strengthen the understanding of this disease.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze 141 cases clinically misdiagnosed as melanoma, and to improve the understanding and diagnosis of diseases.Methods:Totally, 141 cases preliminarily diagnosed as melanoma, which was finally excluded according to histopathological examination results, were collected from the pathological database of Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University from November 2001 to September 2019, and their clinical and histopathological data were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Among the 141 cases clinically misdiagnosed as melanoma, 64 were males and 77 were females. Their median age at the time of misdiagnosis was 51 years, and the average disease duration was 103.4 months. The patients mainly presented with patches and papules, most of which were black in color. Based on histopathological manifestations, 35 patients were diagnosed with pigmented nevi, 29 with basal cell carcinoma, 15 with seborrheic keratosis, 7 with Bowen′s disease, 6 with nail melanin spots, 5 with epidermal cysts, 4 with poroma, 4 with hemorrhage, 4 with dermatofibroma, and 23 with other skin diseases.Conclusions:In clinical practice, some diseases with characteristics of melanoma are liable to be misdiagnosed. It is necessary to grasp their clinical features and actively carry out auxiliary examinations such as dermoscopy and histopathological examinations to confirm the diagnosis and reduce the misdiagnosis rate.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze and summarize clinical and pathological characteristics of clear cell papulosis (CCP) .Methods:Clinical data were collected from 57 children with CCP, who were diagnosed in Department of Dermatology, Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from November 2014 to March 2022, and their clinical and pathological characteristics were analyzed.Results:Among the 57 patients, 30 were males and 27 were females; their age ranged from 6 months to 7 years and 10 months; the age at onset ranged from 1 to 74 months, and 39 (68.4%) experienced onset of disease in infancy; the course of disease ranged from 1 to 84 months. Skin lesions mainly manifested as millet- to soybean-sized roundish white macules or short bar-like white macules measuring 1 - 2 cm in length. Most patients (49 cases, 85.9%) had skin lesions less than 20 in number. The most common location of skin lesions was the lower abdomen (35 cases, 61.4%), followed in turn by chest or upper abdomen (34 cases, 59.6%), anterior axilla or armpit (17 cases, 29.8%), and vulva (11 cases, 19.3%). Short bar-like white macules predominated on the chest or upper abdomen (23/34, 65.7%) and anterior axilla or armpit (10/17), roundish white macules predominated on the lower abdomen (30/35, 85.7%), and the vulvar lesions all manifested as roundish white macules. Histopathological findings showed that slightly larger cells with abundant clear cytoplasm were scattered in or above the basal layer of the epidermis, and these cells were positive for cytokeratin 7, carcinoembryonic antigen, and periodic acid-Schiff staining.Conclusion:CCP mainly occurred in young children, roundish white macules predominated on the lower abdomen and vulva, and short bar-like white macules predominated on the chest or upper abdomen, as well as on the anterior axilla or armpit, indicating that CCP has strongly identifiable clinical features.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate clinical and histopathological differences between mycosis fungoides with large cell transformation (MF-LCT) and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC-ALCL) .Methods:Clinical and pathological data were collected from 16 patients with MF-LCT and 7 with PC-ALCL in the Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Air Forth Medical University from January 2015 to November 2022, and retrospectively analyzed.Results:Similarities between MF-LCT and PC-ALCL were as follows: plaques were observed in 16 MF-LCT patients and 5 PC-ALCL patients, nodules in 2 MF-LCT patients and 8 PC-ALCL patients, masses in 9 MF-LCT patients and 2 PC-ALCL patients, and surface ulcers in 11 MF-LCT patients and 3 PC-ALCL patients; the CD3 + CD4 + CD8 - immunophenotype was identified in 14 MF-LCT patients and 4 PC-ALCL patients; no death was found in both groups during the follow-up period. Differences between MF-LCT and PC-ALCL were as follows: MF-LCT showed older ages at onset (55.38 ± 11.98 years, range: 34 - 80 years) and longer disease courses (6.03 ± 4.86 years, range: 0.5 - 16 years) compared with PC-ALCL (ages at onset: 52.43 ± 24.53 years, range: 16 - 80 years; disease courses: 2.20 ± 2.42 years, range: 0.1 - 6 years) ; skin lesions were more widespread and mostly affected the trunk (13 cases) in MF-LCT, while the lower leg was mostly affected (5 cases) in PC-ALCL. Histopathological findings in MF-LCT showed that the epidermotropic phenomenon was more common (15 cases), Pautrier microabscesses were observed in most patients (9 cases), tumor cell infiltration could only be observed in the superficial to middle dermis (5 cases) or deep into the subcutaneous fat layer (4 cases), and eosinophil infiltration was found in all 16 cases; in PC-ALCL, tumor cells infiltrated the whole dermis in all 7 cases, which infiltrated the subcutaneous fat layer in 4 cases, necrosis was observed in 6 cases, and mixed infiltration of abundant eosinophils and neutrophils was found in 6 cases. Conclusions:MF-LCT and PC-ALCL can only be distinguished by systematically considering the patient′s age, medical history, sites of lesions, disease outcomes, and histopathological and histochemical characteristics. The epidermotropism of tumor cells was more likely to be observed in MF-LCT.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze histopathological features of pityriasis rosea.Methods:Clinical and pathological data were collected from 110 patients with pityriasis rosea in the Department of Dermatology, Peking University First Hospital between January 2000 and May 2021, and analyzed retrospectively.Results:Among the 110 patients, 59 were males and 51 were females; their ages ranged from 6 to 79 years, with a median age of 32 years. There were 105 cases of general type of pityriasis rosea, presenting as red papules and maculopapules, whose long axes were parallel to the dermatoglyphs, accompanied by collar-like desquamation distributed mainly on the trunk and proximal extremities; there were 5 cases of special types of pityriasis rosea, including 1 case of erythema multiforme, 3 cases of purpuric pityriasis rosea, and 1 case of vesicular pityriasis rosea. Histopathological examination showed focal parakeratosis in 85 cases (77.3%), epidermal spongiosis in 107 cases (97.3%), focal basal cell edema in 106 cases (96.4%), superficial dermal perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration in 95 cases (86.4%), and erythrocyte extravasation in 20 cases (18.2%) .Conclusion:The relatively specific histopathological feature of pityriasis rosea was mild basal cell edema, and pityriasis rosea should be differentiated from interface dermatitis rather than spongiotic dermatitis.
ABSTRACT
Amyloid protein （AP） is used to describe the fibrous aggregates that form when proteins are misfolded， and it is associated with a series of amyloidosis diseases. When AP is deposited in the liver， it will lead to liver amyloidosis， thereby inducing related pathological changes that affect the normal physiological function of the liver； however， this disease is rarely reported and often neglected in clinical practice. This article reviews the physiological and pathological effects and mechanisms of AP in the liver， so as to improve the understanding of AP-related diseases and provide a reference for related research and clinical treatment.
ABSTRACT
The pathogenesis of bipolar disorder(BD)is unknown,and objective biomarkers with clinical guidance are lacking.Extracellular vesicles(EV)are lipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles that carry cargo from originating cells,influencing the processes of recipient cells.They are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and reflecting the ongoing processes in the central nervous system.Compelling data indicates that EV could mediate BD pathophysiological processes such as neurocognitive impairment,neuroinflammatory diffusion,and metabolic dysfunction.Therefore,EV has the potential to become a reliable biomarker and therapy for BD,providing new ideas for revealing the pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis and treatment of BD.
ABSTRACT
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world, and it seriously harms human health. Recent studies have found that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) might be associated with NAFLD. This article reviews the latest advances in the research on the association between BMP4 and NAFLD in China and globally and explores the potential mechanism of action of BMP4 on NAFLD, in order to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.
ABSTRACT
Acute pancreatitis-associated ascites fluid (PAAF) is a common complication in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and is closely associated with the severity of AP, the development of local and systemic complications, and prognosis. PAAF may originate from the leakage of abdominal blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and pancreatic duct. Recent studies have found that early removal of PAAF by abdominal paracentesis drainage can help to reduce systemic inflammation and alleviate pancreatitis-associated organ injury, thereby improving the conditions of patients with severe AP and reducing mortality. However, it is still not completely clear how PAAF aggravates systemic inflammatory response, participates in pancreatic injury and damage of distal organs, and leads to the aggravation of disease conditions in patients with AP. Therefore, this article gives an overview of PAAF and summarizes related studies in recent years, so as to provide directions for exploring the pathophysiological process and treatment of AP.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study is to examine the impact of age on the clinical characteristics, fibromyalgia-related symptom severity and quality of life (QOL) among Chinese fibromyalgia patients. METHODS: A packet of questionnaires on demographics, medical history, and severity of six major symptoms of fibromyalgia (i.e., pain, fatigue, sleep quality, depression, stress, and QOL) was completed by 124 Chinese patients. The patients were stratified into three groups by age (32 (25.8%) "young" patients, ≤ 39 years; 73 (58.9%) "middle-age" patients, 40-59 years; and 19 (15.3%) "older" patients, ≥ 60 years). Analysis of covariance was conducted and adjusted for body mass index and symptom fibromyalgia duration. RESULTS: The majority of patients in this study were women (107, 86.3%), and the mean age was 49.4 years (SD 10.8 years). Pairwise comparisons among the three age groups found that the young and middle-aged patients were significantly more troubled than the older patients by their symptoms in several categories: morning tiredness (P ≤ 0.012), depression (P ≤ 0.002), anxiety (P ≤ 0.004), mental health index (P ≤ 0.002), and mental component summary score (P ≤ 0.017). The middle-aged patients reported more trouble than the older patients with regard to social functioning (P = 0.008), emotional roles (P = 0.012), depression (P = 0.012), and sleep quality (P = 0.017). The young patients exhibited the highest levels of current experienced stress (young vs. old, P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: This study has identified that middle-aged Chinese fibromyalgia patients exhibited less compromise of their QOL than did their older peers. This discrepancy begs a logical explanation and deserves further study. Key Points ⢠This is the first clinical study to show the potential effect of age on fibromyalgia patients in China. ⢠Characteristics, symptom severity, and QOL differ in different age groups. ⢠The younger patients are, the worse their quality of life.