The comparison of the efficacy and safety of fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser and nonablative fractional 1565 nm laser in the treatment of enlarged pores: A prospective split-face study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser and nonablative fractional 1565 nm laser in the treatment of enlarged pores. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients received five monthly treatments at months 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and were followed up at months 5, 6, and 7. All patients were treated by fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser (FxPico) on the left face, and nonablative fractional 1565 nm laser (ResurFx) on the right face as a control. RESULTS: For the 19 patients who completed the study, both sides demonstrated significant improvement on pore counts (p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference between the two sides 3 months after the final treatment (p = 0.092). Excellence rate on the FxPico side (57.9%) was significantly better than the ResurFx side (36.8%) (p < 0.05). Sebum secretion and porphyrin value significantly decreased on both sides after five treatments and there was a higher reduction of sebum level on the ResurFx side. There was no difference between the two therapies in terms of overall satisfaction. Pain of treatment for the ResurFx side (average VAS 4.45 ± 1.60) is significantly higher than that for the FxPico side (average visual analog scale [VAS] 1.48 ± 1.36) (p < 0.001). Erythema, edema, and petechiae were common adverse effects and were mild to moderate. There was significantly higher incidence of hyperpigmentation for the ResurFx side (52.6%) compared with that for the FxPico side (5.3%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser and nonablative fractional 1565 nm laser both are effective, efficient, and safe treatment regimens for enlarged pores, while fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser has better clinical response with less treatment pain, shorter recovery period and much lower induction of hyperpigmentation.

Prevalence of vitiligo and associated comorbidities in adults in Shanghai, China: a community-based, cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vitiligo has been reported to range from 0.1% to 8% worldwide, and vitiligo has been linked to some autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of vitiligo and associated comorbidities in adults in Shanghai. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 9,114 adults (4,288 males) in a community of Shanghai between October 2009 and January 2010. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at the home of each participant, and all respondents had their skin examined by dermatologists. The risks of comorbidities associated with vitiligo were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of vitiligo was 0.91%, and the standardized (age-adjusted) prevalence was 0.67%. Prevalence increased with age from 0.20% in 18-30 years to 1.59% in the 71-80 years age group. The presence of vitiligo was associated with increased risks of atopic dermatitis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) =2.49; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.46-4.23], urticaria (aOR =1.83; 95% CI: 1.11-3.04). and coronary heart disease (aOR =1.88; 95% CI: 1.03-3.41), although the association with coronary heart disease was only identified in subjects who were aged ≥60 years or overweight. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of vitiligo in Shanghai was comparable to that seen in previous studies and increased with age. Vitiligo was associated with increased risks of atopic dermatitis, urticaria, and coronary heart disease in adults.

The Efficacy and Safety of Fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG Picosecond Laser Combined With Intense Pulsed Light in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scar: A Split-Face Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser combined with intense pulsed light (IPL) in the treatment of atrophic acne scar with post-inflammatory erythema (PIE). © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients received five sessions of treatment at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and were followed up at week 28. One half of the face was randomly treated by fractional 1064 nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser combined with IPL (FxPico + IPL), and the other by IPL alone as a control. RESULTS: For the 15 patients who completed the study, the FxPico + IPL side demonstrated significant median Échelle D'évaluation clinique des cicatrices D'acné (ECCA) score improvement (P < 0.01), while IPL alone side did not (P = 0.1250). The pore counts for both sides decreased but more pore count reduction was seen on the FxPico + IPL side (P < 0.05). Better scar improvement was observed on the FxPico + IPL-treated side (P < 0.05) while no difference in erythema improvement was seen between the two sides. There was no difference between the two treatments in terms of overall satisfaction. Pain, erythema, edema, petechiae, crusting, reactive acneiform eruptions, and pruritus were common adverse effects and were mild to moderate. CONCLUSION: FxPico + IPL is an effective, efficient, and safe treatment regimen for atrophic acne scars complicated by PIE.

circSLC8A1 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Prostate Cancer via Sponging miR-21.

BACKGROUND: There is more and more evidence showed that circRNAs played essentially role in the regulation of various biological processes. The role of circSLC8A1 in prostate cancer (PCa) is yet little known. METHODS: The CircSLC8A1 expression in human prostate cancer was measured by qRT-PCR. The interplay between the specific circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA was investigated by RT-PCR and luciferase reporter assay. Through transient transfection of siRNA, the impacts of circSLC8A1 on PCa were discussed. Cell cycle evaluation, transwell assay, and CCK-8 assay were employed to determine its biological influences. RESULTS: In this study, our data revealed that circSLC8A1 was downregulated in PCa tissues and cells. The reduction of circSLC8A1 resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration. In mechanism, circSLC8A1 exhibited a direct interaction with miR-21 and displayed as a miRNA sponge to inhibit PCa progression. The functional analysis revealed that the circSLC8A1/miR-21 axis may regulate the cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cell migration, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, MAPK signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: CircSLC8A1 functioned as an inhibitor of neoplasm via modulating the miR-21 and might serve as a prospective target for the treatment of PCa.

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) is a Risk Factor for Dermatitis by Promoting the Expression of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) in Keratinocytes.

AIM: Common indoor pollutants, as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), can damage people's health and cause skin allergies. However, it remains unknown which common pollutants can lead to allergy, such as, in children atopic dermatitis, and what is the key molecule. This study aimed to investigate the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) produced from keratinocytes after environmental pollutant stimulation. METHODS: PAM212 cells were treated by several pollutants, including PM2.5, formaldehyde, m-xylene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and tried to analyze their relationships. The mRNA expression level of TSLP was determined by qPCR. The protein level of TSLP was detected by ELISA analysis. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of TSLP was significantly up-regulated when PAM212 cells were stimulated by PM2.5 at 25 µg/ml for 12 h. Meanwhile, the protein level of TSLP in culture supernatant was increased. However, TSLP protein production was not detected in culture supernatant treated with formaldehyde, m-xylene, and 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene. CONCLUSION: PM2.5 promotes the expression of TSLP and may aggravate allergic response using this pathway.

Streptococcus suis 2 Transcriptional Regulator TstS Stimulates Cytokine Production and Bacteremia to Promote Streptococcal Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome.

Two large-scale outbreaks of streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome (STSLS) have revealed Streptococcus suis 2 to be a severe and evolving human pathogen. We investigated the mechanism by which S. suis 2 causes STSLS. The transcript abundance of the transcriptional regulator gene tstS was found to be upregulated during experimental infection. Compared with the wild-type 05ZY strain, a tstS deletion mutant (ΔtstS) elicited reduced cytokine secretion in macrophages. In a murine infection model, tstS deletion resulted in decreased virulence and bacterial load, and affected cytokine production. Moreover, TstS expression in the P1/7 strain of S. suis led to the induction of STSLS in the infected mice. This is noteworthy because, although it is virulent, the P1/7 strain does not normally induce STSLS. Through a microarray-based comparative transcriptomics analysis, we found that TstS regulates multiple metabolism-related genes and several virulence-related genes associated with immune evasion.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis reveals potential virulence factors of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a ubiquitous pathogen that has caused considerable economic losses to pig farmers. However, the mechanisms of E. rhusiopathiae pathogenesis remain unclear. To identify new virulence-associated factors, the differentially abundant cell wall-associated proteins (CWPs) between high- and low-virulence strains were investigated through isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantitation (iTRAQ) combined with liquid chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In total, 100 CWPs showed significant differences in abundance. Selected differences were verified by western blotting to support the iTRAQ data. Among the differential proteins, the proteins with higher abundance in the high-virulence strain were mostly ABC transporter proteins and adhesion proteins, and the proteins with lower abundance in the high-virulence strain were mainly stress-response proteins. The more abundant proteins in the high-virulence strain may be related to bacterial virulence. The iTRAQ results showed that the abundance of the sugar ABC transporter substrate-binding protein Sbp (No. 5) was higher by 1.73-fold. We further constructed an sbp-deletion mutant. Experiments in animal models showed that the sbp-deletion mutant caused decreased mortality. Together, our data indicated that transporter proteins and adhesion proteins may play important roles in E. rhusiopathiae virulence and confirmed that sbp contributed to the virulence of E. rhusiopathiae. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this is the first proteomic analysis comparing differentially abundant CWPs between high- and low-virulence E. rhusiopathiae strains by iTRAQ. We generated comprehensive and accurate lists of E. rhusiopathiae CWPs proteomes and identified many differences at the protein level. Among the differential proteins with higher abundance in the high-virulence strain, sbp was verified to contribute to the virulence of E. rhusiopathiae through the construction of an sbp-deletion mutant. The differential proteins with higher abundance in the high-virulence strain identified in the present study should provide a foundation for future evaluation of virulence factors.

Effects of Ambient Fine Particles PM2.5 on Human HaCaT Cells.

The current study was conducted to observe the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) cells. The potential mechanism linking PM2.5 and skin was explored. HaCaT cells were cultured and then accessed in plate with PM2.5. Cell viability was tested by Cell Counting Kit-8. The mRNA and protein expression of Filaggrin, Loricrin, Involucrin, and Repetin were analyzed. The levels of Granulocyte-macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor, Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-1α, and Interleukin-8 were detected in the supernatant of the HaCaT cell with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Cell viability decreased with the increase in PM2.5. Compared with the control group, the protein expression of Filaggrin, Repetin, Involucrin, and Loricrin showed different expression patterns in PM2.5 treatment groups. The level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin, Interleukin-1α, and Interleukin-8 significantly increased in the cells treated with PM2.5. Ambient PM2.5 may increase the risk of eczema and other skin diseases. The relative mechanism may be associated with the impairment of the skin barrier and the elevation of inflammatory responses.

Residential Risk Factors for Atopic Dermatitis in 3- to 6-Year Old Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is common among pre-school children in Shanghai. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for childhood AD from the perspectives of home environment, demographics and parents-grandparents' atopic disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai in April-June, 2010. Preschool children's parents or guardians were invited to participate a questionnaire survey in six districts (two urban and four suburban/rural) and 6624 children were finally recruited (51.3% boys). AD diagnosis was based on the U.K. Working Party's (UKWP) criteria. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 8.5% of children ever had AD. Around 10.2% of the mothers had lived in newly renovated/decorated homes (NRDH) during the prenatal period (one year before or during pregnancy) and 9.5% got new home furniture (NHF) during the same period. AD was more common in children when mothers had lived in NRDH homes during the prenatal period (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI 1.03-1.93), the current home had indoor mold (2.00, 1.48-2.70), parents-grandparents' had atopic diseases (3.85, 3.05-4.87), the children had food allergy (3.40, 2.63-4.40) or children lived in urban area (1.52, 1.18-1.96). Associations between AD and NRDH, NHF and indoor molds were only significant in children without parents-grandparents' atopic diseases. There was an interaction effect between parents-grandparents' atopic diseases and NRDH (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Home renovation/ redecoration, new furniture and indoor mold, urban residency, heredity disposition and food allergy can be risk factors for childhood AD in Shanghai.

Correlation of KIF3A and OVOL1, but not ACTL9, with atopic dermatitis in Chinese pediatric patients.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease in Chinese pediatric patients. To date, the genetic susceptibility to AD in this population has not been fully clarified. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms have previously been associated with AD in Europeans, rs2897442 (KIF3A), rs479844 (OVOL1) and rs2164983 (ACTL9). To verify the correlation between AD and these three SNPs in the Chinese pediatric population, we conducted a case-control study including 235 pediatric patients with AD and 200 health controls. We confirmed the correlation between rs2897442 and rs479844 and AD in this population at both the genotype and allele levels. Statistical analysis showed that the C allele of rs2897442 is associated with an increased risk of developing AD, while the A allele of rs479844 is associated with a reduced risk. No correlation between rs2164983 and AD was identified. Our study indicates that KIF3A and OVOL1 are involved in the development of AD in the Chinese pediatric population.

Electro-response characteristic of starch hydrogel crosslinked with Glutaraldehyde.

The facile synthesis of the starch hydrogel with anisotropic microstructure and dynamic behaviors was developed in the presence (A-gel) and absence of DC electric field (B-gel). The microstructures of hydrogels were characterized by environmental scanning electron microscope. Their electro-responsive property of hydrogels was investigated with their storage modulus (G'). The result demonstrates that the G' of A-gel is greater than that of B-gel, and the modulus of A-gel increases along with the external field, which signifies positive electroresponse. In addition, the G' of A-gel and B-gel ((G'(A) and G'(B)) also continuously increases with increasing starch concentration, whereas both the maximum of modulus increment (ΔG' = G'(A)−G'(B) ) and that of modulus increment sensitivity (ΔG'/G'(B)) occur with the starch weight fraction at around 36.5%. To enhance the electro-responsive effects of the hydrogels, dielectric particles were dispersed in the hydrogel. It is found that BaTiO3/chitosan core-shell composite particles significantly enhance the electroresponse of the hydrogel. The mechanism of the electro-response mode is proposed.

Demographic differences in sun protection beliefs and behavior: a community-based study in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVE: We want to know the attitudes and behaviors towards UV protection and we want to analyze the difference between different Chinese demographic groups in this study. METHODS: A community-based study was undertaken in Shanghai from October 2009 to January 2010. The participants, ages 20-60 years old, were screened by cluster sampling and were investigated through interviews at their own homes. Personal basic information and questions pertaining to their knowledge and attitudes towards sunlight and sun protective activities were included in the questionnaire. RESULTS: We completed 5964 questionnaires (2794 men and 3170 women). Eighty-six percent of the respondents belonged to Fitzpatrick skin type IV. Knowledge about UV-induced risks was known by more than half of the participants. However, only one-third of the participants thought they needed sun protection in winter and indoors or in vehicles, and 27% of the participants acknowledged tanning was not favorable. The attitudes towards sun exposure varied greatly, showing significant differences based on gender, age, socioeconomic groups and skin type groups (p<0.05). Fifty-five percent of the participants never use an umbrella under sunlight, only 26.5% of the respondents wear hats, and 21.3% of the participants applied sunscreen. Females and individuals of a younger age and higher education level were more likely to perform sun-protective behaviors than males and those of an older age and lower education level (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a deficit in the use of sun protection existing in our surveyed Chinese population, especially in males and lower socioeconomic population, which could allow for planning prevention campaigns and exploring sun-preventive products.

A novel pro-inflammatory protein of Streptococcus suis 2 induces the Toll-like receptor 2-dependent expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 macrophages via activation of ERK1/2 pathway.

Streptococcus suis 2 is an important swine pathogen and an emergent zoonotic pathogen. Excessive inflammation caused by S. suis is responsible for the high levels of early mortality observed in septic shock-like syndrome cases. However, the mechanisms through which S. suis 2 (SS2) causes excessive inflammation remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to identify novel pro-inflammatory mediators that play important roles in the development of therapies against SS2 infection. In this study, the novel pro-inflammatory protein HP0459, which was encoded by the SSUSC84_0459 gene, was discovered. The stimulation of RAW 264.7 macrophages with recombinant HP0459 protein induced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, MCP-1 and TNF-α). Compared with the wild-type (WT) strain, the isogenic knockout of HP0459 in SS2 led to reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW264.7 macrophages and in vivo. The pro-inflammatory activity of HP0459 was significantly reduced by an antibody against Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in RAW264.7 macrophages and was lower in TLR2-deficient (TLR2-/-) macrophages than in WT macrophages. Furthermore, specific inhibitors of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways significantly decreased the HP0459-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and a western blot assay showed that HP0459 stimulation induced the activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Taken together, our data indicate that HP0459 is a novel pro-inflammatory mediator of SS2 and induces TLR2-dependent pro-inflammatory activity in RAW264.7 macrophages through the ERK1/2 pathway.

Identification and characterisation a surface-associated arginine peptidase in Streptococcus suis serotype 2.

Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen worldwide and is responsible for disease in swine and humans. In the present study, we identified and characterised a surface-associated peptidase (abpb, amylase-binding protein B) in Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2) that has high hydrolytic activity towards H-Arg-pNa, with maximum activity at pH 7.0. Stimulation of RAW 264.7 macrophages with purified recombinant abpb protein triggered the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. An abpb-deficient mutant ΔAbpb was constructed by homologous recombination to determine the role of abpb in S. suis 2. The mutant ΔAbpb showed decreased adherence to Hep-2 cells and attenuated virulence in a mouse model compared to the wild type strains. The results of the infection showed impaired bacterial growth in vivo and poor colonisation of the organs. In a protection assay, the recombinant abpb provided excellent protection against a lethal challenge of S. suis 2. Together, these findings suggest that abpb contributes to the pathogenicity of S. suis 2 and may be another target for S. suis prevention and control.

Retrospective study of photopatch testing in a Chinese population during a 7-year period.

BACKGROUND: Photoallergic contact dermatitis (PACD) is of importance in a proportion of photodermatoses and can be evaluated through photopatch testing (PPT). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the results of PPT and investigate the prevalence of PACD reactions to different photoallergens in Chinese patients at the Department of Dermatology of Huashan Hospital Fudan University during a 7-year period. METHODS: A retrospective PPT study was conducted. During the 7 years, 4957 patients attending for investigation of suspected photodermatoses were tested according to the European consensus methodology with up to 14 allergens prepared according to Chinese National Standards. The reactions were scored using the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group visual scoring system. RESULTS: A total of 3472 PACD reactions in 2454 subjects (49.5%) were recorded. The most common agents were chlorpromazine (44.3%), followed by para-aminobenzoic acid (14.7%), thimerosal (8.9%), and sulfanilamide (6.9%). Allergic contact dermatitis reactions comprised 409 reactions in 399 subjects (8%). Photoinhibition and photoaugmentation of allergic contact dermatitis compromised 3810 reactions in 2412 subjects and 11 reactions in 11 subjects, respectively. Irritant reactions (1928 reactions) were seen in 1140 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The most predominant photoallergens in our region were chlorpromazine, para-aminobenzoic acid, thimerosal, and sulfanilamide, which likely reflected the particular exposures of this Chinese population.

The assessment of pulsed dye laser treatment of port-wine stains with reflectance confocal microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive technique for evaluating cutaneous lesions with cellular level resolution close to conventional histopathology. The aim of this study is to observe the vascular changes in Port-wine (PWS) lesions and assess the clinical efficacy of Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) treatment by examining vessel diameter and density with RCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven adult patients with PWS, each had four test patches carried out with different pulse durations (1.5, 3, 6, and 10 ms), respectively; fluences of 9-12 J/cm²; and a spot size of 7 mm. The PDL treatment was repeated 3-5 times at a 2-month interval. Photographs and measurements with RCM were taken before each treatment and 2 months after the last treatment. RESULTS: The PDL treatment exhibited increasing clearance with reducing pulse durations. Vessel diameters and densities were significantly decreased in the same pulse-duration groups after treatment. There was significant difference between 1.5 ms pulse-duration group and other pulse-duration groups in reducing blood vessel diameter at the depth of 150 µm. CONCLUSIONS: RCM can be used to assess the clinical efficacy of PDL treatment.

A quantitative assessment of the effects of formal sun protection education on photosensitive patients.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively assess the effect of formal sun protection education on sun exposure habits and quality of life in photosensitive patients. METHODS: Patients with chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) or polymorphous light eruption (PLE) were randomized to either the intervention or the control group. General advice about sun protection and broad-spectrum sunscreen were provided to all participants. The intervention group was given two additional intensive sun protection instruction classes at the beginning of spring and then in summer. At baseline and 12 months, each participant completed interviews that included a questionnaire about sun protection behaviors and a modified Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. RESULTS: In the intervention group, after the first intensive sun protection instruction, all aspects of sun exposure habits were significantly improved from baseline (P < 0.01). At study's end, there had been no significant change in sun exposure habits in the control group compared with baseline, whereas sun exposure habits in the intervention group significantly improved (P < 0.01). After two intensive sun protection training sessions, the modified DLQI significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with baseline (P < 0.001), while no change was observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: Formal sun protection education improved sun exposure and protection behaviors as well as quality of life in photosensitive patients.

Fluoroquinolone-resistant Haemophilus parasuis isolates exhibit more putative virulence factors than their susceptible counterparts.

The prevalence of 23 putative virulence factors among fluoroquinolone-susceptible and -resistant Haemophilus parasuis isolates was analyzed. Putative hemolysin precursor, fimbrial assembly chaperone, and type I site-specific restriction modification system R subunit genes were more prevalent among fluoroquinolone-resistant H. parasuis isolates than among fluoroquinolone-susceptible H. parasuis isolates. Fluoroquinolone resistance may be associated with an increase in the presence of some virulence factors.

Treatment of acne scarring with fractional CO2 laser.

BACKGROUND: Fractional ablative CO(2) laser therapy is based on the theory of fractional photothermolysis. It can be effective in treating acne scars in a less invasive fashion than conventional ablative CO(2) laser therapy. OBJECTIVE: In this clinical study, the safety and efficacy of a novel CO(2) fractional ablative laser was investigated for the treatment of facial atrophic acne scarring in Chinese individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients (11 females, 20 males, Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III-IV) with facial acne scarring received three sequential fractional treatments over a 6-month period. Outcome measurements included blinded evaluations of before and after photographs by two physicians at 3 and 12 months after the final treatment. Global improvement was noted as well as any untoward events. RESULTS: At the 12 months follow-up time period, 12.9% of the patients showed excellent improvement in their acne scars, while 38.71% noted good to fair results. The clinical response at the 12-month follow-up visit tended to be better than at the 3-month follow-up visit, but was not statistically significant. Four patients experienced post-treatment and transient PIH but three patients were noted to have prolonged erythema. There was no evidence hypopigmentation or worsening of the scarring in any of the study patients. CONCLUSION: This high-energy pulsed and cool-scanned fractional ablative CO(2) laser system is safe and effective for facial atrophic acne scarring. Improvement in scarring was noted in the majority of patients with minimal discomfort and minimal downtime. Continued improvement over time is also an important clinical finding.

Prevalence of childhood atopic dermatitis: an urban and rural community-based study in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory and chronically relapsing disorder with increasing prevalence. However, little is known about its prevalence in Shanghai, the top metropolitan of China. This study will estimate and compare the prevalence of AD in urban and rural areas in representative samples of 3 to 6-year-old children in Shanghai. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed. Pre-school children were obtained by cluster sampling from 8 communities in different districts in Shanghai. The main instrument was the core questionnaire module for AD used in the U.K. Working Party's study. All the data were statistically analyzed by EpiData 3.1 and SPSS16.0. A total of 10,436 children completed the study satisfactorily, with a response rate of 95.8%. The prevalence of AD in 3 to 6-year-old children was 8.3% (Male: 8.5%, Female: 8.2%). The prevalence in urban areas of Shanghai was gradiently and significantly higher than that in rural areas. The highest prevalence was in the core urban area (10.2% in Xuhui Tianping) vs. the lowest far from the urban areas (4.6% in Chongming Baozhen). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of AD was 8.3% (95%CI: 7.6%-9.1%) in children aged 3 to 6 in Shanghai. The prevalence of AD decreased from the center to the rural areas in Shanghai.