HI-MViT: A lightweight model for explainable skin disease classification based on modified MobileViT.

Objective: To develop an explainable lightweight skin disease high-precision classification model that can be deployed to the mobile terminal. Methods: In this study, we present HI-MViT, a lightweight network for explainable skin disease classification based on Modified MobileViT. HI-MViT is mainly composed of ordinary convolution, Improved-MV2, MobileViT block, global pooling, and fully connected layers. Improved-MV2 uses the combination of shortcut and depth classifiable convolution to substantially decrease the amount of computation while ensuring the efficient implementation of information interaction and memory. The MobileViT block can efficiently encode local and global information. In addition, semantic feature dimensionality reduction visualization and class activation mapping visualization methods are used for HI-MViT to further understand the attention area of the model when learning skin lesion images. Results: The International Skin Imaging Collaboration has assembled and made available the ISIC series dataset. Experiments using the HI-MViT model on the ISIC-2018 dataset achieved scores of 0.931, 0.932, 0.961, and 0.977 on F1-Score, Accuracy, Average Precision (AP), and area under the curve (AUC). Compared with the top five algorithms of ISIC-2018 Task 3, Marco's average F1-Score, AP, and AUC have increased by 6.9%, 6.8%, and 0.8% compared with the suboptimal performance model. Compared with ConvNeXt, the most competitive convolutional neural network architecture, our model is 5.0%, 3.4%, 2.3%, and 2.2% higher in F1-Score, Accuracy, AP, and AUC, respectively. The experiments on the ISIC-2017 dataset also achieved excellent results, and all indicators were better than the top five algorithms of ISIC-2017 Task 3. Using the trained model to test on the PH2 dataset, an excellent performance score is obtained, which shows that it has good generalization performance. Conclusions: The skin disease classification model HI-MViT proposed in this article shows excellent classification performance and generalization performance in experiments. It demonstrates how the classification outcomes can be applied to dermatologists' computer-assisted diagnostics, enabling medical professionals to classify various dermoscopic images more rapidly and reliably.

"Less is better-Full-incision double-eyelid blepharoplasty with rapid recovery".

SUMMARY: Full-incision double eyelid blepharoplasty is effective, but its postoperative complications, such as local trauma and persistent tissue swelling, are major concerns for patients. Since tissue swelling is caused by the obstruction of blood and lymphatic flow, the authors modified the conventional full-incision method by minimizing the trauma as much as possible. Twenty-five patients underwent the modified procedure. There was minor swelling immediately after the surgery, which subsided 1-5 days after the surgery. No patient reported loss of the double eyelid crease. Only 2 patients underwent a second operation due to a low crease. The satisfactory ratio was 92% (23 of 25). According to our understanding of this technique, LESS trauma is the key to obtaining BETTER results under certain conditions.

Application of septal extension grafts with auricular cartilage in rhinoplasty. / 耳廓软骨鼻中隔延伸支架移植物在鼻整形术中的应用.

OBJECTIVES: Rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in China. Septal extension grafts (SEG) have been widely used in rhinoplasty, but there are few reports on SEG derived from ear cartilage. This study aims to explore the effectiveness and stability of auricular cartilage nasal SEG transplantation in Chinese rhinoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 35 rhinoplasty patients admitted from September 2019 to March 2022 has been conducted. Among them, 29 patients underwent rhinoplasty for the first time and 6 patients underwent rhinoplasty with the age of 18-32 (average 22.4) years old. The postoperative follow-up was 3-28 (average 18.5) months. The improvement of the nose shape was observed. The changes of the nose tip angle, nasolabial angle, and nasofrontal angle were compared between before and after the operation, and the complications were recorded. RESULTS: All patients who underwent rhinoplasty with a septal extension grafts constructed from the concha cavity and concha cartilage showed significant improvement in nasal contour. The preoperative nasal tip angle, nasolabial angle, and nasofrontal angle were significantly improved compared with 3 months after operation (all P<0.001), and there was no significant difference between 3 months and 14 months after operation (all P>0.05). The appearance of nasal cavity was satisfactory in 32 patients after operation. Columella deviation occurred in 2 patients and 1 patient complained of downward rotation of the nasal tip, which was satisfied after readjustment of the graft. CONCLUSIONS: The simplified SEG derived from auricular cartilage can provide stable support for the nasal tip, the nasal shape is natural after operation, and minimal trauma of unilateral auricle cartilage transplantation remains.

LncRNA-ZNF252P-AS1/miR-15b-5p promotes the proliferation of keloid fibroblast by regulating the BTF3-STAT3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays an important role in keloid formation, but the upstream mechanism of their activation remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the possible mechanism of lncRNA-ZNF252P-AS1 in keloid. METHODS: The differentially expressed genes in keloid and their upstream regulatory miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were analyzed by bioinformatics database, and the targeting relationship was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. LncRNA function as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in keloid was further verified by in keloid fibroblasts (KFs) and in nude mice with subcutaneous keloids. RESULTS: BTF3 expression was up-regulated in keloid tissues. The targeting relationship between BTF3 and miR-15b-5p was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. miR-15b-5p overexpression inhibited BTF3, Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, C-myc, Collagen I, MMP2, MMP9, N-cadherin, and ZEB2 expressions in KFs, inhibited cell proliferation and migration, while promoted E-cadherin levels. BTF3 overexpression reversed miR-15b-5p effects on KFs. Bioinformatics analysis as well as clinical and cellular experiments confirmed that the lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 was highly expressed in keloid/KFs. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed the targeting relationship between lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 and miR-15b-5p. LncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 overexpression inhibited miR-15b-5p and E-cadherin levels, upregulated BTF3, Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, C-myc, Collagen I, MMP2, MMP9, N-cadherin, and ZEB2 expressions, increased cell proliferation and migration, and activated JAK2/STAT3 pathway, while miR-15b-5p overexpression reversed this effect. The in vivo results were consistent with in vitro results. In vivo experiments further confirmed that lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 reduced keloid volume and weight. CONCLUSION: lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 is a potential target for keloid treatment.

LINC00470 accelerates the proliferation and metastasis of melanoma through promoting APEX1 expression.

Recently studies found that APEX1 was abnormally expressed in melanoma, indicating that it might be involved in the development of melanoma. However, the underlying mechanism and the interaction between APEX1 and LINC00470 in melanoma are not clear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of LINC00470 in the development of melanoma in this work. We discovered that LINC00470 was overexpressed in melanoma tissues and cells compared with the adjacent normal tissues and cells by qPCR. The overexpression of LINC00470 promoted the proliferation and migration of melanoma cells. The functional investigation demonstrated that LINC00470 activated the transcription factor, ZNF131, to regulate the APEX1 expression, which finally promoted cell proliferation and migration. In contrast, knockdown of LINC00470 could significantly inhibit the melanoma cell proliferation and migration, and suppress the growth of tumor in vivo. Overexpression of APEX1 could reverse the impact of the silence of LINC00470 in melanoma cells. In summary, our studies revealed that LINC00470 promoted melanoma proliferation and migration by enhancing the expression of APEX1, which indicated that LINC00470 might be a therapeutic target for the treatment of melanoma.

Rare case of late-onset chronic purulent skin and soft tissue infection after nonabsorbable thread lifting and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Infection is a common complication after the thread-lifting procedure, but the late-onset chronic purulent skin and soft tissue infection (SSTIs) after nonabsorbable thread lifting is quite rare. AIM: To alert physicians should be aware of this kind of late-onset complication after nonabsorbable thread lifting. PATIENTS/METHODS: A 54-year-old woman who accepted a facial lifting procedure 4 years ago visited our hospital with three recurrent abscesses protruding masses on the right side of the parietal area for 8 months. Bacterial culture of the white pus was positive for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). During the drainage and excisional biopsy, two knots of barbed threads and three smooth threads were detected and removed. Consequently, she was treated with systemic antibiotics for 72 h and partial wound dressing changes. RESULTS: The wound was fully healed 7 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: Removal, drainage, and antibiotics are effective methods of this kind of late-onset complication after nonabsorbable thread lifting.

Clinical application of the 6th autogenous costal cartilage in the treatment of severe saddle nose deformity after trauma. / 第6自体肋软骨在外伤后重度鞍鼻畸形修复中的临床应用.

OBJECTIVES: Saddle nose deformity is a common clinical nose deformity. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 6th autogenous costal cartilage in the treatment of severe saddle nose deformity after trauma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 15 patients with severe post-traumatic saddle nose deformity from March, 2016 to March, 2019. The nasal tip and dorsum were reconstructed with autogenous costal cartilage. All patients were followed up for 6 to 13 months and changes in nasal appearance were evaluated. The changes in dorsum sag, nasolabial angle, nasal dorsal angle, and dorsum length were measured. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were basically satisfied with post-operative outcome. Only one patient developed infection afterwards, which was improved by the revised rhinoplasty 2 months after active treatment. The immediate nasal dorsal depression [(1.19±0.94) mm] and nasolabial angle [(94.06±1.52)°] after operation decreased compared with those before surgery [(8.28±0.24) mm, (109.42±2.78)°, respectively; all P<0.05]. The immediate nasal dorsal length [(44.18±1.02) mm] and nasal dorsal angle [(132.84±2.33)°] increased compared with those before operation [(31.73±1.86) mm, (122.87±2.42)°, respectively; all P<0.05]. The data at follow-ups showed no statistical difference compared with the immediate data after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Rhinoplasty with the 6th autogenous costal cartilage is an effective method for the correction of severe saddle nose deformity after trauma.

NEDD4 Negatively Regulates GITR via Ubiquitination in Immune Microenvironment of Melanoma.

INTRODUCTION: Melanoma is a common skin cancer that is usually associated with poor clinical outcomes. Recently, the immune checkpoint GITR has been identified as a promising target for immunotherapy of melanoma. In this study, we aimed to investigate the post-translational regulation mechanism of GITR in melanoma. METHODS: Western blotting was used to evaluate the protein expression of NEDD4, GITR and Foxp3. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to determine expression levels of NEDD4, GITR, Foxp3 and IL-2. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The ubiquitination of GITR was evaluated by immunoprecipitation. NEDD4 expression data and melanoma survival data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and cBioPortal databases. RESULTS: We demonstrate that E3 ligase NEDD4 binds to GITR and mediates ubiquitination and degradation of GITR. Overexpression of NEDD4 inhibits anti-tumor immunity mediated by T cells against melanoma cells. We also found that the expression of NEDD4 is increased in metastatic melanoma. High NEDD4 expression level is correlated with the poor prognosis of melanoma patients. DISCUSSION: In summary, our findings demonstrated that E3 ligase NEDD4 mediates ubiquitination and degradation of GITR and suppresses T-cell-mediated-killings on melanoma cells. Our work highlighted the E3 ligase NEDD4 as a novel prognosis biomarker and therapeutic target for melanoma.

[Adverse events of botulinum toxin A in facial injection: Mechanism, prevention and treatment].

As a kind of neurotoxin causing muscle paralysis from Clostridium botulinum, the botulinum toxin A is currently used in different clinical aspects, especially in the facial cosmetic. Compared with the traditional surgical methods, the botulinum toxin injection is minimally invasive and safe, favored by more beauty seekers and with better efficacy. However, factors, such as injection dose, operation skills, and anatomical variation, may result in side effects during the operation, including poor injection experience and drug dispersion.

The lateral thoracic vessels: A novel recipient site for breast reconstruction with DIEP flap.

BACKGROUND: Adequate selection of recipient vessel to minimize recipient site morbidity is essential for a successful breast reconstruction. The authors explored the clinical use of the lateral thoracic vessels as recipient vessels in the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. METHODS: This study included 63 patients with breast cancer. The age of patients ranged from 26 to 67 years (43.23 ± 8.63). All patients received an immediate DIEP flap breast reconstruction using the lateral thoracic vessels as recipient vessels in the authors' department from 2014 May to 2018 September. The flap blood supply, complications, and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for 6 to 29 months with satisfactory results. All the flaps had stable blood supply except for two cases, which had an event of partial skin necrosis and were repaired by debridement. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral thoracic vessels are not only easy to explore but also have reliable blood supply, which present a safe and reliable choice for immediate DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

[Correlation between estrogen receptor ß and ABCC11 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms and axillary osmidrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of hormone receptor gene or other related genes and axillary osmidrosis (AO).
 Methods: Whole blood samples of 219 patients with AO and 159 normal people were collected, and their genomic DNA was extracted. SNPs of 49 selected gene loci were detected and analyzed by using matrix-assisted laser analysis and ionization time of flight mass spectrometry and other related technologies.
 Results: There were significant differences in SNPs at rs1256061 of estrogen receptor ß gene and rs17822931, rs16945916 and rs62058521 in ABCC11 gene between the AO patients and normal people (all P<0.01). 81.1% of patients with AO carried G allele at rs1256061, while only 63.2% of normal people carried G allele; 96.3% of patients with AO carried G allele at rs17822931, while only 4.4% of the normal people carried G allele; 28.6% of the patients with armpit odor carried the G allele of rs16945916, while only 0.6% of the normal people carried G allele; 28.0% of patients with AO carried G allele at rs62058521, while only 0.6% of the normal people carried G allele.
 Conclusion: SNPs of rs1256061 at the locus of estrogen receptor gene are correlated with the pathogenesis of AO, while SNPs at multiple loci (rs16945916, rs62058521 and rs17822931) in ABCC11 gene are correlated with the pathogenesis of AO.

Promoter methylation as biomarkers for diagnosis of melanoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Melanoma is one of the most common skin cancer that is characterized by rapid growth, early metastasis, high malignant, and mortality. Accumulating evidence demonstrated that promoter methylation of tumor-suppressor genes is implicated in the pathogenesis of melanoma. In the current study, we performed a meta-analysis to identify promising methylation biomarkers in the diagnosis of melanoma. We carried out a systematic literature search using Pubmed, Embase, and ISI web knowledge database and found that gene promoter methylation of 50 genes was reported to be associated with the risk of melanoma. Meta-analysis revealed that hypermethylation of claudin 11 (CLDN11; odds ratio [OR], 16.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.97-143.29; p = 0.010), O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT; OR, 5.59; 95% CI, 2.51-12.47; p < 0.0001), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16; OR, 6.57; 95% CI, 2.19-19.75; p = 0.0008), retinoic acid receptor ß (RAR-ß2; OR, 24.31; 95% CI, 4.58-129.01; p = 0.0002), and Ras association domain family member (RASSF1A; OR, 9.35; 95% CI, 4.73-18.45; p < 0.00001) was significantly higher in melanoma patients compared with controls. CLDN11 (OR, 14.52; 95% CI, 1.84-114.55; p = 0.01), MGMT (OR, 8.08; 95% CI, 1.84-35.46; p = 0.006), p16 (OR, 9.44; 95% CI, 2.68-33.29; p = 0.0005), and RASSF1A (OR, 7.72; 95% CI, 1.05-56.50; p = 0.04) hypermethylation was significantly increased in primary melanoma compared with controls. Methylation frequency of CLDN11 (OR, 25.56; 95% CI, 2.32-281.66; p = 0.008), MGMT (OR, 4.64; 95% CI, 1.98-10.90; p = 0.0004), p16 (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.33-13.96; p = 0.01), and RASSF1A (OR, 10.10; 95% CI, 2.87-35.54; p = 0.0003) was significantly higher in metastasis melanoma compared with controls. These findings indicated that CLDN11, MGMT, p16, RAR-ß2, and RASSF1A hypermethylation is a risk factor and a potential biomarker for melanoma. CLDN11, MGMT, p16, and RASSF1A promoter methylation may take part in the development of melanoma and become useful biomarkers in the early diagnosis of the disease.

[Usage and efficacy of timolol maleate eye drops in treatment of superficial infantile hemangioma].

OBJECTIVE: To determine drug dose and usage of timolol maleate eye drops in the treatment of superficial infantile hemangioma.
 Methods: A total of 250 superficial hemangioma infants were recruited and assigned into 5 groups (n=50 for each group): an external application group and 4 exterior coating groups (2, 4, 6, 8 times per day). We evaluated the therapeutic effect of different methods for drug application (external application or exterior coating) and the frequency for drug administration on superficial infantile hemangioma.
 Results: The external application group (twice a day and 0.5 hour per time) showed better effect than that in the exterior coating group with twice a day (P<0.001). The difference in therapeutic effect between the exterior coating group with 6 times a day and exterior coating group with twice a day or with 3 times a day was significant (P<0.001). The differences in drug efficacy were not found among the exterior coating group with 6 times a day, the exterior coating group with 8 times a day, or the external application group with twice a day (All P>0.05).
 Conclusion: Drug dose may affect the therapeutic effect of timolol maleate eye drops in superficial hemangioma infants, and exterior coating with 6 times a day may achieve the best curative effect.

Regulatory effects of electronic beam irradiation on mir-21/smad7-mediated collagen I synthesis in keloid-derived fibroblasts.

Keloid scarring is an abnormal pathological scar characterized by excessive fibro proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. Electronic beam irradiation is commonly used with surgical removal to control high recurrence rates of keloid scarring; however, the mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we used keloid-derived primary fibroblasts (KF) as the cell model, and a dose of 15 Gy energy, followed by quantitative PCR (qPCR), western blotting and gene overexpression/knock down techniques were used to reveal the molecular mechanisms affected by electronic beam irradiation. We found that mir-21 was highly expressed in KF and was downregulated by irradiation. We also showed that smad7 was a direct target of mir-21. Moreover, the expression level of smad7 was low in KF and upregulated by irradiation. We also found that smad7 controls Col-1 synthesis by mediating p38 phosphorylation, and this process was affected by electronic beam irradiation. The regulatory effect of electronic beam irradiation on the expression of mir-21, smad7, p38, p-p38 and Col-1 could be partly restored by mir-21 overexpression achieved by mir-21 mimic transfection. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that mir-21/smad7 regulated Col-1 expression in KF and that electronic beam irradiation was capable of decreasing Col-1 production by modifying mir-21/smad7-mediated p38 activation. This is the first report identifying the effects of electronic beam irradiation on miRNAs, providing a novel strategy to discover the molecular mechanisms of radiotherapy.

MicroRNA-199a-5p inhibits tumor proliferation in melanoma by mediating HIF-1α.

The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is often abundant in human cancer and it is associated with poor prognosis. The present study aimed to investigate its regulation by microRNA (miRNA). The expression of miRNA-199a-5p (miR-199a-5p) in melanoma was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction on samples from 25 melanoma patients. The target of miR-199a-5p was predicted and demonstrated by a dual­luciferase reporter system. The effects of miR-199a-5p on melanoma cells were assayed in B16 and HME1 melanoma cell lines. Furthermore, the potential of miR­199a­5p as a therapeutic target was illustrated in xenograft nude mice models. Low expression of miR­199a­5p in tumor melanoma tissue samples from patients was associated with high histological grade and advanced tumor stage. The 3'-untranslated region of HIF­1α was identified as a target of miR­199a­5p by Targetscan software. The dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR­199a­5p transfection of mimics decreased the luciferase activity significantly (P<0.05). In the B16 and HME1 cell lines, overexpression of miR­199a­5p suppressed cell proliferation and arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase. In vivo overexpression of miR­199a­5p significantly suppressed xenograft growth and downregulated the expression of HIF­1α (P<0.05). The results from the present study suggest that miR­199a­5p suppressed melanoma proliferation via HIF­1α, suggesting it may be a potential therapeutic target for melanoma treatment.

Customized Titanium Mesh for Repairing Cranial Defects: A Method With Comprehensive Evaluation.

Titanium cranioplasty is one of the well-established and widely used techniques for repairing cranial defects. In this paper, we present an improved way to design and create titanium meshes with more evaluation process. Computed tomography scan data of patients were used to create three-dimensional virtual models. Implants were designed with NX ImageWare 13.2 (Siemens PLM Software, Plano, TX). Final titanium meshes were assessed by Geomagic Studio 12 (Geomagic, Inc., Morrisville, NC) and NX ImageWare 13.2.Titanium meshes were designed and applied to cranioplasty surgery on 8 patients. Postoperative results were evaluated by computed tomography scanning and further analyzed with rainbow difference tomography. All patients were satisfied with the outcome. With this method, surgeons, engineers, and patients work together to evaluate and edit implant design. Our method provides better communication and comprehensive evaluation, which result in a satisfying outcome.

[Angiopoietin-like 4 modulates aldolase A expression in human melanoma cell in a PKC dependent manner].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) and aldolase A (ALDOA) in human melanoma cell. 
 METHODS: Overexpression or knockdown of ANGPTL4 was performed in WM-115 or WM-266-4 cells, respectively. The expression of ANGPTL4 and ALDOA was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The promoter activity of ALDOA gene was determined by luciferase assay.
 RESULTS: The promoter activity of ALDOA gene and the expression of ALDOA (mRNA and protein) were increased or decreased in the melanoma cells with overexpression or knockdown of ANGPTL4, which was blocked by selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor or restored by PKC agonist, respectively.
 CONCLUSION: ANGPTL4 promotes ALDOA expression in human melanoma cell in a PKC dependent manner.

[Endovascular treatment for venous malformations with three-point anhydrous ethanol injection].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safe method with anhydrous ethanol injection in the treatment of venous malformation.
 METHODS: A total of 96 patients with venous malformation were conducted anhydrous ethanol injection for 245 times through percutaneous puncture by three-point method. The complications were observed. In animal experiment, according to the different concentrations of anhydrous ethanol injection, rats were divided into an anhydrous ethanol group, a 75% ethanol group, a 50% ethanol group and a 25% ethanol group (n=5 in each group), and the damage of vessels after ethanol injection was observed.
 RESULTS: The successful rate for three-point ethanol injection was 88%. The incidence for both skin ulcer and numbness was 0.9% without severe complications in lung and heart. In the animal experiments, the entire vessel wall including outer membrane was damaged in the anhydrous ethanol group. Part of vessel walls, including the inner membrane and muscle layer, were damaged in both the 75% ethanol group and the 50% ethanol group. However, there was no damage in the vessels in the 25% ethanol group.
 CONCLUSION: With the decrease in ethanol concentration, the vascular damage is decreased and eventually disappeared. Three-point anhydrous ethanol injection is safe and effective.

Association of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) Gene -675 4G/5G and -844 A/G promoter polymorphism with risk of keloid in a Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: A keloid is pathological scar caused by aberrant response to skin injuries, characterized by excessive accumulation of histological extracellular matrix, and occurs in genetically susceptible individuals. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of keloid. We investigated the association between PAI-1 polymorphisms and plasma PAI-1 level with keloid risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 242 Chinese keloid patients and 207 controls were enrolled in this study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction technique was used to determine PAI-1 promoter polymorphism (-675 4G/5G and -844 A/G) distribution. Plasma PAI-1 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of PAI-1 -675 4G/5G polymorphism between keloid patients and healthy controls. 4G/4G carriers were more likely to develop keloid. In contrast, the -844 A/G polymorphism distribution did not vary significantly between keloid patients and controls. The keloid patients group had a significantly higher plasma PAI-1 level than the control group. In the -675 4G/4G carrier population, the plasma PAI-1 levels were significant higher in keloid patients compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence that PAI-1 promoter polymorphism -675 4G/5G and plasma PAI-1 level are associated with keloid risk. PAI-1 -675 4G/5G polymorphism may be an important hereditary factor responsible for keloid development in the Chinese Han population.

MacroH2A suppresses the proliferation of the B16 melanoma cell line.

MacroH2A is the most frequently altered histone, which participates in cancer progression. Increasing evidence demonstrates that cancer progression could be regulated by macroH2A by affecting the cell cycle. In the present study, it was demonstrated that macroH2A suppresses melanoma cell progression and the molecular mechanisms underlying this process were examined. The interference and overexpression vectors of macroH2A were constructed and then transferred into B16 melanoma cells and, following transfection, were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot analysis and immunofluorescence assays. Apoptosis and the cell cycle stage among all the treatment groups were detected. Then, cyclin D1, cyclin D3, cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) 4, CDK6 and CDK8 expression was detected in order to elucidate the effects of macroH2A on cell cycle-related genes. The results demonstrated that the overexpression of macroH2A suppressed melanoma cell progression and arrested the cells in the G2/M stage. Furthermore, macroH2A inhibits cyclin D1, cyclin D2, CDK6 and CDK8 expression in B16 melanoma cells. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that macroH2A, a critical component of chromatin, suppresses the development of melanoma (which results from a disordered cell cycle) through regulating cyclin D1, cyclin D3 and CDK6 genes.