[Established Genital and Extragenital Lichen Sclerosus:A Clinicopathological Analysis].

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of established genital and extragenital lichen sclerosus(LS)and compare the differences between them. Method The clinicopathological data of 55 patients with established genital and extragenital LS diagnosed by pathological examination in the Department of Dermatology of Beijing Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results The 55 patients included 11 males and 44 females.Among them,38,15,and 2 patients had genital lesions,extragenital lesions,and both genital and extragenital lesions,respectively.Extragenital LS mainly involved the back(14.55%)and extremities(7.27%).Among the patients,28.30% were asymptomatic,and 73.58% and 24.53% felt itchy and painful,respectively.The asymptomatic patients had a higher proportion in extragenital cases(χ2=31.224,P=0.000),and the itchy symptom was more common in genital LS cases than in extragenital LS cases(χ2=39.073,P=0.000).Vulvar pain only appeared in the patients with genital LS.A total of 57 biopsy specimens from the 55 patients were reviewed,of which 40 were from genital lesions and 17 were from extragenital lesions.In addition to papillary dermal homogenization (100%),the common pathological changes include hyperkeratosis(98.25%),atrophy(50.88%),basal cell liquefaction degeneration (52.63%),dilated blood vessels(64.91%),a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate(100%),histiocytic infiltrate(85.96%),and lichenoid inflammatory infiltrate(54.39%).Higher proportions of acanthosis (χ2=4.402,P=0.036),dilated blood vessels (χ2=9.330,P=0.002),and eosinophilic infiltrate (χ2=4.162,P=0.041) were observed in genital LS cases.A higher proportion of follicular plugging appeared in extragenital LS cases (χ2=5.076,P=0.024). Conclusion The established genital LS and extragenital LS showed some differences in clinical symptoms and pathological changes including acanthosis,dilated blood vessels,eosinophilic infiltrate,and follicular plugging.

Diffuse Neurofibroma: An Uncommon Cause of Alopecia.

Alopecia (hair loss) is reported to be associated with infection, genetics, hormonal changes, drugs, or inflammation. The most frequent causes of hair loss in pediatric patients include tinea capitis, alopecia areata, traction alopecia, and trichotillomania. In the adult population, causes to be considered are alopecia areata and hair loss associated with systemic disease and hormonal influence. The clinician must be able to separate the types and causes of hair loss into those that reflect primary dermatologic conditions and those that represent a reaction to systemic disease. Benign cutaneous tumors have also been known to develop alopecia via occupying the place for hair follicles or tumor-induced inflammatory responses. However, the mechanism of alopecia by neurofibroma (NF) has not been well investigated. We present a 32-year-old patient who developed scalp plaque with alopecia within 6 years. He denies any itching or pain in the area, and has not tried any treatments. In this study, the unusual association between NF and alopecia is shown.

Adding nickel formate in alkali lignin to increase contents of alkylphenols and aromatics during fast pyrolysis.

The composition of pyrolysis vapors obtained from alkali lignin pyrolysis with the additive of nickel formate was examined using the pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Characterization of bio-chars was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that the nickel formate significantly increased liquid yield, simplified the types of alkali lignin pyrolysis products and increased individual component contents. The additive of nickel formate increased contents of alkylphenols and aromatics from alkali lignin pyrolysis. With an increase in temperature, a greater amount of the relative contents can be achieved. The nickel formate was thermally decomposed to form hydrogen, resulting in hydrodeoxygenation of alkali lignin during pyrolysis. It was also found that Ni is in favor of producing alkylphenols. The analysis based on the experimental result provided evidences used to propose reaction mechanism for pyrolysis of nickel formate-assisted alkali lignin.

Special types of folliculitis which should be differentiated from acne.

Because both acne vulgaris and folliculitis can present as inflammatory erythematous papules, pustules or nodules, they are often hard to distinguish. The importance to distinguish between these 2 shall be stressed as their pathogenesis and therapies are different and misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis may lead to improper treatment. We will introduce several special types of folliculitis that should be differentiated from acne to increase our knowledge of the disorders with an acne-like manifestation.

Endoscopic ultrasound elastography: Current status and future perspectives.

Elastography is a new ultrasound modality that provides images and measurements related to tissue stiffness. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has played an important role in the diagnosis and management of numerous abdominal and mediastinal diseases. Elastography by means of EUS examination can assess the elasticity of tumors in the proximity of the digestive tract that are hard to reach with conventional transcutaneous ultrasound probes, such as pancreatic masses and mediastinal or abdominal lymph nodes, thus improving the diagnostic yield of the procedure. Results from previous studies have promised benefits for EUS elastography in the differential diagnosis of lymph nodes, as well as for assessing masses with pancreatic or gastrointestinal (GI) tract locations. It is important to mention that EUS elastography is not considered a modality that can replace biopsy. However, it may be a useful adjunct, improving the accuracy of EUS-fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) by selecting the most suspicious area to be targeted. Even more, it may be useful for guiding further clinical management when EUS-FNAB is negative or inconclusive. In the present paper we will discuss the current knowledge of EUS elastography, including the technical aspects, along with its applications in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant solid pancreatic masses and lymph nodes, as well as its aid in the differentiation between normal pancreatic tissues and chronic pancreatitis. Moreover, the emergent indication and future perspectives are summarized, such as the benefit of EUS elastography in EUS-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy, and its uses for characterization of lesions in liver, biliary tract, adrenal glands and GI tract.

Successful treatment of refractory chronic hand eczema with calcipotriol/betamethasone ointment: A report of three cases.

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a common skin disorder with frequent relapses, and its treatment comprises a challenge due to its uncertain etiology. In particular, certain cases of CHE exhibiting severe keratinization have a very poor response to various treatments. The Daivobet ointment, a complex product comprising calcipotriol and betamethasone, has been successfully used for the treatment of patients with plaque-type psoriasis for ~10 years; however, there are few reports on the effect of the ointment on other skin disorders of abnormal keratinization, such as eczema. The present study reported 3 cases of refractory hyperkeratotic eczema of the hand that did not respond to several treatments, but responded well to topical Daivobet treatment.

Benign liver tumors in pediatric patients - Review with emphasis on imaging features.

Benign hepatic tumors are commonly observed in adults, but rarely reported in children. The reasons for this remain speculative and the exact data concerning the incidence of these lesions are lacking. Benign hepatic tumors represent a diverse group of epithelial and mesenchymal tumors. In pediatric patients, most benign focal liver lesions are inborn and may grow like the rest of the body. Knowledge of pediatric liver diseases and their imaging appearances is essential in order to make an appropriate differential diagnosis. Selection of the appropriate imaging test is challenging, since it depends on a number of age-related factors. This paper will discuss the most frequently encountered benign liver tumors in children (infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma, mesenchymal hamartoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, and hepatocellular adenoma), as well as a comparison to the current knowledge regarding such tumors in adult patients. The current emphasis is on imaging features, which are helpful not only for the initial diagnosis, but also for pre- and post-treatment evaluation and follow-up. In addition, future perspectives of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in pediatric patients are highlighted, with descriptions of enhancement patterns for each lesion being discussed. The role of advanced imaging tests such as CEUS and magnetic resonance imaging, which allow for non-invasive assessment of liver tumors, is of utmost importance in pediatric patients, especially when repeated imaging tests are needed and radiation exposure should be avoided.

Ultrasonographic imaging of inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most common chronic gastrointestinal diseases in pediatric patients. Choosing the optimal imaging modality for the assessment of gastrointestinal disease in pediatric patients can be challenging. The invasiveness and patient acceptance, the radiation exposure and the quality performance of the diagnostic test need to be considered. By reviewing the literature regarding imaging in inflammatory bowel disease the value of ultrasound in the clinical management of pediatric patients is highlighted. Transabdominal ultrasound is a useful, noninvasive method for the initial diagnosis of IBD in children; it also provides guidance for therapeutic decisions and helps to characterize and predict the course of the disease in individual patients. Ultrasound techniques including color Doppler imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound are promising imaging tools to determine disease activity and complications. Comparative studies between different imaging methods are needed.

Quality improvement of pyrolysis oil from waste rubber by adding sawdust.

This work was aimed at improving the pyrolysis oil quality of waste rubber by adding larch sawdust. Using a 1 kg/h stainless pyrolysis reactor, the contents of sawdust in rubber were gradually increased from 0%, 50%, 100% and 200% (wt%) during the pyrolysis process. Using a thermo-gravimetric (TG) analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of evolving products (TG-FTIR), the weight loss characteristics of the heat under different mixtures of sawdust/rubber were observed. Using the pyrolysis-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), the vapors from the pyrolysis processes were collected and the compositions of the vapors were examined. During the pyrolysis process, the recovery of the pyrolysis gas and its composition were measured in-situ at a reaction temperature of 450 °C and a retaining time of 1.2s. The results indicated that the efficiency of pyrolysis was increased and the residual carbon was reduced as the percentage of sawdust increased. The adding of sawdust significantly improved the pyrolysis oil quality by reducing the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrogen and sulfur compounds contents, resulting in an improvement in the combustion efficiency of the pyrolysis oil.

[Effects of modified Ganmai Dazao decoction on neuroendocrine system in patients with climacteric depression].

Clinical study of modified Ganmai Dazao decoction in the treatment of yang deficiency climacteric depression and observe the effects of modified Ganmai Dazao decoction on neuroendocrine system in patients with yang deficiency climacteric depression. 86 cases were randomly divided into treatment group treated with modified Ganmai Dazao decoction and control group treated with Deanxit. The curative effect was evaluated with Hamilton's depressive scale (HAMD) and pittsburgh sleep quality scale (PSQI) before and at the end of the two and four weeks of the treatment, the serum levels of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH) were detected before and after the four weeks of the treatment The results showed that the total effective power of treatment group was 88.4% and the total effective power of control group was 81.4% after four weeks interference, with insignificant difference between the two groups. After two and four weeks of the treatment, the score of HAMD decreased remarkably in both groups (P < 0.01), with insignificant difference between the two groups in same phase. After two and four weeks of the treatment, the total score of PSQI decreased remarkably in both groups (P < 0.05), with significant difference between the two groups after four weeks (P < 0.01). After four weeks of treatment, the serum levels of 5-HT and NE increased (P < 0.01), with insignificant difference between the groups. After four weeks of treatment, the serum levels of E2 increased obviously (P < 0.05), the levels of FSH decreased obviously (P < 0.05), the levels of LH decreased insignificant, with insignificant difference between two groups. This study indicates that modified Ganmai Dazao decoction has obvious therapeutic effects in the treatment of climacteric depression, and showed equivalent efficacy with Deanxit, and modified Ganmai Dazao decoction has better effect on improving the sleep quality in patients than Deanxit, the effect of improved clinical symptoms may be through adjusted levels of 5-HT, NE, E2, FSH and LH of climacteric depression.

[TG-fTIR study of the thermal-conversion properties of holo-cellulose derived from woody biomass].

Thermal-conversion properties of cellulose, hemi-cellulose and holo-cellulose derived from woody biomass were studied using TG-FTIR, and also compared to those of avicel cellulose and xylan. 3-D diffusion model was applied to calculate the kinetic parameters of thermal-conversion reaction of biomass materials, such as the activation energy, pre-exponential factors, etc, which showed good regression results. With the analysis of three-dimensional IR spectra of gas products, featured peaks of HzO, CO, CO2, CH4, and oxygenates were obviously observed where showing up with the maximum weight-loss rate in DTG curves. The possible forming routes of major gaseous products were analyzed and discussed. The order of releasing amounts for gaseous productions was approximately as CO2 > H2O > CO CH4. Based on the comprehensive understanding and comparative analysis of the whole results, it is concluded that the thermal conversion process of holo-cellulose was the result of interaction between cellulose and hemi-cellulose under the dominant role of cellulose.

Clinical and histopathological characteristics of basal cell carcinoma in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: The clinical and histopathological characteristics of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have been relatively well studied in Caucasian population. To characterize BCC in Chinese population, we analyzed the association of the histopathological subtypes with gender, age and anatomical location in this study. METHODS: The clinical and histopathological data of 243 BCC cases diagnosed at three hospitals in Beijing from January 2000 to April 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Gender, age, location and histopathological subtype were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 243 patients enrolled, 118 were males and 125 were females. The male/female ratio was 0.94:1. The mean age was (65.16 ± 12.62) years old. The head and neck were the most common sites of BCC (77.4%). Of the BCCs, 53.9% were nodular, 18.9% superficial and 18.5% infiltrative-morphoeic. The nodular, infiltrative-morphoeic and micronodular subtypes were predominant located on the head and neck, whereas the trunk was the most common location for the superficial subtype (P < 0.05). The age at first presentation for females was lower than that for males (P < 0.05). The age at first presentation for the superficial BCCs was younger than the non-superficial subtypes (P < 0.05). Women with superficial BCC subtype visited hospital earlier than men (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous reports in Caucasian patient, our study find that different histopathological subtypes of BCC has distinct clinical features. It is speculated that the mechanisms underlining the pathogenesis of the superficial BCC may be different than those of non-superficial subtypes of BCC.