Analysis of personality traits' correlation to facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) and mandibular line angle based on 16 personality factor in Chinese college students.

Facial appearance reveals clues about personality. Studies have found that facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) correlates with some personality traits, and mandibular morphology as a potential facial feature that might have correlation with personality traits. Therefore, a face recognition study was carried out to explore the personality traits' correlation to both fWHR and bilateral mandibular line angles. Specifically, face images of 904 college students in China were collected and measured, with the personality traits evaluated using the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire. Analyses revealed that the average bilateral mandibular line angle of the male were significantly more extensive than that of the female, while the fWHR of the female was significantly more extensive than that of the male. We found facial features (fWHR and average bilateral mandibular line angle) were correlated with 16PF in the canonical correlation analysis and the loadings of bilateral mandibular line angles were greater than that of fWHR. The fWHR was significantly negatively correlated with the scores of sensitivity and self-reliance in male but none of the factors related to fWHR in female. The bilateral mandibular line angles were significantly negatively correlated with the scores of social boldness in male, and were significantly negatively correlated with the scores of vigilance and apprehension in female. Over all, the correlations between fWHR, average bilateral mandibular line angle and certain 16PF factors in male and female tend to be different, suggesting that such correlations might vary with gender. In the future, mandibular morphology could be selected as a potential indicator in facial perception. The limitations of this study were the participants were limited to 18-30 years of age and the mandibular morphology was not measured with anthropometry, which could be further improved in future studies.

Deciphering Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Corresponding Genetic and Metabolic Dysregulation in Psoriasis Patients Using Metagenomics Sequencing.

Background: Increasing evidence has shown that alterations in the intestinal microbiota play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The existing relevant studies focus on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, but in-depth research on gene functions and comprehensive identification of microbiota is lacking. Objectives: To comprehensively identify characteristic gut microbial compositions, genetic functions and relative metabolites of patients with psoriasis and to reveal the potential pathogenesis of psoriasis. Methods: DNA was extracted from the faecal microbiota of 30 psoriatic patients and 15 healthy subjects, and metagenomics sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, cluster of orthologous groups (COG) annotations, and metabolic analyses were used to indicate relative target genes and pathways to reveal the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Results: Compared with healthy individuals, the gut microbiota of psoriasis patients displayed an alteration in microbial taxa distribution, but no significant difference in microbial diversity. A distinct gut microbial composition in patients with psoriasis was observed, with an increased abundance of the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia and genera Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Megamonas and Roseburia and a decreased abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Euryarchaeota and Proteobacteria and genera Prevotella, Alistipes, and Eubacterium. A total of 134 COGs were predicted with functional analysis, and 15 KEGG pathways, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis, WNT signaling, apoptosis, bacterial secretion system, and phosphotransferase system, were significantly enriched in psoriasis patients. Five metabolites, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), isovalerate, isobutyrate, hyaluronan and hemicellulose, were significantly dysregulated in the psoriatic cohort. The dysbiosis of gut microbiota, enriched pathways and dysregulated metabolites are relevant to immune and inflammatory response, apoptosis, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway, gut-brain axis and brain-skin axis that play important roles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Conclusions: A clear dysbiosis was displayed in the gut microbiota profile, genetic functions and relative metabolites of psoriasis patients. This study is beneficial for further understanding the inflammatory pathogenesis of psoriasis and could be used to develop microbiome-based predictions and therapeutic approaches.

Yangxue Jiedu Fang Ameliorates Psoriasis by Regulating Vascular Regression via Survivin/PI3K/Akt Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis (PA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the skin that adversely affects patients' quality of life. Yangxue Jiedu Fang (YXJD) has been used for decades to treat psoriasis in China. However, its antipsoriatic mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we explored the effects of YXJD on angiogenesis and apoptosis of microvessels in PA, the underlying mechanisms in HUVEC cells transfected by Survivin overexpression plasmid and in a mouse model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis and the relationship between VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and Survivin. METHODS: A BALB/c mouse model of imiquimod- (IMQ-) induced PA was established, and the mice were treated with YXJD. Cell viability was assessed by CCK8 assay. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining and caspase-3 assays. The PI3K/Akt/ß-catenin pathway was analyzed by western blotting, ELISA, and immunochemical analysis. RESULTS: YXJD ameliorated symptoms and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores and also reduced the number of microvessels, as determined by the microvessel density (MVD). The expression of apoptotic protein Survivin in endothelial cells, autophagy-related proteins p62, and angiogenic proteins VEGF was inhibited by YXJD, and the repressed expression of LC3II/I increased by YXJD. The proteins related to the PI3K/Akt pathway and ß-catenin expression and the nuclear entry of ß-catenin were reduced in IMQ-induced PA mice treated with YXJD. In HUVEC cells transfected by Survivin overexpression plasmid, we observed YXJD regulated the expression of Survivin, LC3II/I, and p62, VEGF, and PI3K/Akt pathway-relative proteins and the nuclear entry of ß-catenin. CONCLUSIONS: YXJD inhibited the expression of Survivin via PI3K/Akt pathway to adjust apoptosis, autophagy, and angiogenesis of microvessels and thus improve the vascular sustainability in psoriasis. YXJD may represent a new direction of drug research and development for immunomodulatory therapy for psoriasis.

Plasma MicroRNA Expression Profiles in Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory chronic skin disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the dermis, parakeratosis, and excessive epidermal growth. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of immune responses. Although differential expression of miRNAs has been reported in certain inflammatory autoimmune diseases, their role in psoriasis has not been fully illuminated. Our aims were to confirm plasma miRNA expression signatures in psoriasis and to examine their potential influence on psoriasis pathogenesis. METHODS: A miRNome PCR array was used to analyse the plasma of psoriasis patients and healthy donors. We performed miRNA pathway enrichment and target gene network analyses on psoriasis plasma samples. RESULTS: We found several specific plasma miRNA signatures relevant to psoriasis. The miRNAs targeted pathways associated with psoriasis, such as the VEGF, MAPK, and WNT signaling pathways. Network analysis revealed pivotal deregulated plasma miRNAs and their relevant target genes and pathways regulating psoriasis pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: This study analysed the expression of plasma miRNAs and their target pathways, elucidating the pathogenesis of psoriasis; these results may be used to design novel therapeutic strategies and to identify diagnostic biomarkers for psoriasis.