Elevated levels of the antimicrobial peptide LL‐37 in hidradenitis suppurativa are associated with a Th1/Th17 immune response

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disease with poorly understood immunopathogenic mechanisms. LL‐37 is an antimicrobial peptide, which is transcribed from the CAMP (cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide) gene. Previous reports showed upregulated levels of CAMP and LL‐37 in HS lesions, and therefore, the aim of this study was to compare levels of LL‐37 in HS to other inflammatory skin diseases and to establish immunomodulatory functions of LL‐37 in HS. We confirm an upregulation of the LL‐37 peptide in lesional HS skin with comparable levels as in psoriasis patients and are able to positively correlate the presence of LL‐37 in HS with the presence of T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, IFN‐γ, IL‐17, IL‐23, TNF‐α, IL‐32 and IL‐1β. Mechanistically, LL‐37 boosts the proliferation of unspecifically activated CD4⁺ T cells via an increased calcium signalling independent of antigen‐presenting cells. Targeting LL‐37 may therefore represent a new therapeutic option for the treatment of this recalcitrant disease, but it has to be kept in mind that LL‐37 also has an antimicrobial function.     

影响乙型肝炎病毒进入过程的相关因素分析

HBV属于嗜肝DNA病毒家族,具有狭窄的宿主范围及肝组织亲嗜性.大量试验数据显示,HBV L蛋白的PreS1区直接参与病毒和肝细胞的黏附.PreS1区N末端的豆蔻酰基化修饰对HBV感染也起着至关重要的作用.近年来研究证实,S区上富含半胱氨酸的抗原决定簇环是参与HBV感染的另一重要因素.HBV与肝细胞的黏附涉及到一些细胞蛋白,但尚无确切的证据证实它们在HBV感染中所起的具体作用.HBV的进入过程为抗病毒药物提供了新的治疗靶点,其研究是HBV领域的热点.此文就参与HBV进入的病毒及细胞相关因素作了综述.     

Oclusión arterial asociada con un asa vascular prepapilar. Cambios anatómicos en el seguimiento a largo plazo

We report the case of a 13-year-old patient who complains of an acute superior visual field scotoma in the last 48 hours. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in both eyes. The right eye fundus examination revealed torsion of a prepapillary loop in the inferior branch of the retinal artery, associated with a arterial vascular attenuation and whitenning of the inferior retina that involved both nasal and temporal branches but spared the foveal region. During the follow-up the vascular loop dissapeared and only glial tissue was seen in front of the optic nerve head. BCVA remained 20/20 in both eyes.This report shows the evolution of the vascular loop after an occlusion. The absence of blood flow produces a collapse of the arterial walls, in time the vascular loop is replaced by glial tissue.     

Recent progress on the diagnosis of 2019 Novel Coronavirus

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has become a global pandemic. Therefore, convenient, timely and accurate detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 is urgently needed. Here, we review the types, characteristics and shortcomings of various detection methods, as well as perspectives for the SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Clinically, nucleic acid‐based methods are sensitive but prone to false‐positive. The antibody‐based method has slightly lower sensitivity but higher accuracy. Therefore, it is suggested to combine the two methods to improve the detection accuracy of COVID‐19.     

Analysis of reversed L-loops as closing loops with anterior intrusive force

Objective: Intrusive forces on anterior brackets are preferable for avoiding overbite deepening. Reversing plain L-loops may create such advantageous force system during space closure.

Design: Force systems of reversed L-loops were compared with T-loops at three interbracket distances (IBD).

Setting: Computational study.

Methods: Using finite element analysis, loop response during simulated loop-pulling was determined for plain reversed L- and T-loop configurations at three IBDs and two sizes. Force systems were calculated on both loop ends for two activation forces.

Results: The 12?mm IBD reversed L-loops had almost equal M/F ratios in opposite directions at both ends. A small intrusive force was found at the canine bracket (CB). The 6?mm IBD reversed L-loops showed larger M/F ratios and extrusive forces at the premolar bracket (PB) and smaller M/F with intrusive forces at CB. The force system of 12?mm IBD T-loops showed the similar force systems as off-centered V-bends with extrusive force at CB, whilst plain 6?mm IBD T-loops showed properties similar to centered V-bends with less extrusive force at CB.

Conclusions: Reversed L closing loops placed no extrusive force on the CB end at various IBDs, indicating that reversed loops will generate an intrusive force at anterior teeth during space closure.     

Auditory brainstem,middle and late latency responses to short gaps in noise at different presentation rates

Objective: The effects of rate on auditory-evoked potentials (AEP) to short noise gaps (12?ms) recorded at high sampling rates using wide-band filters were investigated. Design: Auditory brainstem (ABR), middle latency (MLR), late latency (LLR) and steady-state (ASSR) responses were simultaneously recorded in adult subjects at four gap rates (0.5, 1, 5 and 40?Hz). Major components (V, Na, Pa, Nb, Pb, N1 and P2) were identified at each rate and analysed for latency/amplitude characteristics. Gap responses at 40?Hz were recovered from Quasi-ASSRs (QASSR) using the CLAD deconvolution method. Study Sample: Fourteen right ears of young normal hearing subjects were tested. Results: All major components were present in all subjects at 1?Hz. P1 (P50) appeared as a low-pass filtered component of Pa and Pb waves. At higher rates, N1 and P2 disappeared completely while major ABR-MLR components were identified. Peak latencies were mostly determined by noise onsets slightly delayed by offset responses. Conclusions: Major AEP components can be recorded to short gaps at 1?Hz using high sampling rates and wide-band filters. At higher rates, only ABR and MLRs can be recorded. Such simultaneous recordings may provide a complete assessment of temporal resolution and processing at different levels of auditory pathways.