Factors aggravating acne vulgaris during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease worldwide. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients with acne complained of worsening symptoms. This investigation was designed to survey the impact of COVID-19 regulations on acne and guide patients with acne on symptom management during the pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 7th to April 21st, 2020, an anonymous, self-completed, web-based questionnaire was distributed to patients previously diagnosed with acne (via the Chinese internet medical software). Information collected included patients' mask-wearing routines and behavioral factors including dietary habits, sleep habits, facial hygiene, and make-up use habits. RESULTS: 508 qualified questionnaire responses were collected. During the COVID-19 outbreak in China, there was an overall worsening of patients' acne symptoms (152, 29.9%). Behaviors including intake of sweets (34.9% vs. 16.0%, p<0.01), dairy consumption (32.9% vs. 23.3%, p<0.05), greasy (19.1% vs. 11.2%, p<0.05) and spicy food intake (30.3% vs. 14.3%, p<0.01) and mask-wearing frequency (>28 hours per week) (25.0% vs. 15.3%, p<0.05) presented a statistically significant difference between the acne aggravated and non-aggravated groups. Longtime mask-wearing (>28 hours per week), rather than the mask type, was significantly associated with acne symptom deterioration during the COVID-19 outbreak (odds ratio [OR]: 2.164; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.232-3.801). CONCLUSIONS: Besides the well-known risk factors, such as sweets intake, dairy consumption, and greasy and spicy food intake, wearing masks appears to trigger or aggravate acne during the COVID-19 pandemic. Limiting overall mask-wearing time may help to manage acne.

Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) suppresses prostate cancer progression by inducing apoptosis and regulating invasion.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) was originally identified as a metastasis suppressor gene in human breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A recent study has established an association between BRMS1 with the clinical stage and different pathology grades of prostate cancer. However, whether BRMS1 plays a role in prostate cancer has not been elucidated. RESULTS: In this study, we found that overexpression of BRMS1 in PC-3 cells induced apoptosis and inhibited invasion; moreover, we found that overexpression BRMS1 was associated with the suppressed expression of EMMPRIN. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results show that BRMS1 may suppress progression and metastasis of prostate cancer through modulating EMMPRIN expression.

[Classification of urogenital tract infection in 518 cases and drug sensitivity analysis].

In 518 cases with urogenital tract infection detected with mycoplasma identification susceptibility testing reagent box, 308 cases (59.4%) were infected by ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu), 21 cases (4.1%) were infected by mycoplasma hominis (Mh), and 189 cases (36.5%) were infected by both Uu and Mh. Drug sensitivity to the macrolides (erythromycin, roxithromycin, josamycin, azithromycin), the tetracyclines (doxycycline, minocin), and the quinolines (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin) were detected at the same time. The results showed that the sensitivity to various antibiotics in Uu infection was different from that in Mh infection. Macrolides were more sensitive for Uu infection, and quinolines were more sensitive for Mh infection, while the mixed infection of Mh and Uu had resistance to most antibiotics.

Characterization of four distinct monoclonal antibodies specific to BmK AS-1, a novel scorpion bioactive polypeptide.

Four monoclonal antibodies designed as 2#, 3#, 4# and 5# have been raised against a novel bioactive polypeptide BmK AS-1 purified from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch. All of these antibodies exhibited specific affinity with antigen by ELISA and Biosensor assay. Western blot analysis showed that 3# and 4# were able to recognize the denatured antigen, but not 2# and 5#. These antibodies could cross-react with BmK AS, but not with other types of BmK neurotoxins such as BmK I (an alpha-like toxin) and BmK IT (an excitatory insect-selective toxin), and in which only 5# can partially react with BmK IT2 (a depressant insect-selective toxin). Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated that 3#, 4# and 5# antibodies can visualize the antigen bound to the membrane of SK-N-SH neuroblast cells, with the exception of 2#. This suggests that either conformation alteration of receptor binding might be prone to nonvisualization or the epitope recognized by antibody 2# might be overlapped with receptor binding sites of antigen. The antibodies developed in the study should provide powerful new tools for investigating the structure/function relationship and pharmacological mechanism of scorpion neurotoxins.