Incidence of Sjögren's syndrome in Japanese patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Background and Aim: Hepatitis viruses induce not only chronic liver diseases but also the impairment of other organs and tissues as extrahepatic manifestations. In particular, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is involved in various extrahepatic manifestations. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and lichen planus (LP) involvement, which are various extrahepatic manifestations in patients with liver diseases related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) or HCV. Methods: We examined a total of 110 Japanese patients with chronic liver disease: 29 with HBV infections and 81 HCV infections. Results: The prevalence of SS according to European and Japanese criteria in patients with chronic HCV infection was significantly higher than in patients with chronic HBV infection (European criteria: 25.9 vs 3.4%; P < 0.05, Japanese criteria: 21.0 vs 3.4%; P = 0.05). Lichen planus was observed in one (3.4%) of 29 patients with chronic HBV infection, and in 11 (13.6%) of 81 patients with chronic HCV infection. Simultaneously combined LP and SS occurred in 8.6% (seven of 81) of patients with HCV infection, but in none with HBV infection. Conclusions: Clinicians should routinely follow the HCV‐infected patients, paying sufficient attention to the presence of SS and LP, and they should also carefully monitor their prognosis.     

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine for erosive oral lichen planus: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

Background:Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common disease among oral mucous membrane diseases. Erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP) is a type of OLP, it has a potential tendency of cancerization. There have been some randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat EOLP. No systematic review on the RCTs of TCM for EOLP has been reported, so we would propose a study protocol that aims to evaluate the evidence the efficacy and safety of TCM for treating patients with EOLP.Methods:The following databases from the inception to June 30, 2020 electronically, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Wanfang database, China Biomedical Literature Database will be searched. RCTs that meet the pre-specified eligibility criteria will be included. RevMan software (V5.3) will be performed data synthesis following data extraction and publication risk assessment. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis will be performed according to the condition of included RCTs. The primary outcomes include visual analogy scale, laboratory immune indicators, and scores of oral lesions and signs. Additional outcomes are clinical effective rate, adverse event rate, and recurrence rate. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system will be used to assess the strength of the evidence.Results:This study will provide a well-reported synthesis of RCTs on the efficacy and safety of TCM in the treatment of EOLP.Conclusion:This systematic review protocol will be helpful for providing evidence of whether TCM is an effective and safe therapeutic approach for patients with EOLP.Ethics and dissemination:Ethical approval is not necessary as this protocol is only for systematic review and it does not involve privacy data or conduct an animal experiment. This protocol will be disseminated by a peer-review journal or conference presentation.Systematic review registration:PROSPERO CRD42020172366.     

5-ALA-photodynamic therapy in refractory vulvar lichen sclerosus et atrophicus

Objective: As a chronic inflammatory skin disease of unknown etiology, vulvar leukoplakia mainly affects postmenopausal and peri-menopausal females. The main clinical manifestations of vulvar lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (VLSA) include itching, burning pain, and sexual dysfunction, which can lead to a decline in the quality of life. The existing treatment options include topical corticosteroid ointment, estrogen, and traditional Chinese medicine. However, their therapeutic effects on VLSA remain unsatisfactory. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in combination with 5-aminoketovaleric acid (ALA) for the treatment of vulvar leukoplakia. Methods: A total of 30 patients with VLSA who failed routine treatment were treated with ALA-PDT. The patients were irradiated at a power density of 60-90 mW/cm² with a red light at a wavelength of 635±15 nm for 20 min. Twenty percent of ALA water-in-oil emulsion was applied to the lesion and sealed with plastic film for 3 h. The treatment was repeated three times every 2 weeks. The objective and subjective symptoms and signs of vulvar lesions based on the horizontal visual analogue scale were recorded at 6 months after each treatment and the last treatment. Results: All patients completed three cycles of ALA-PDT and follow-up. The clinical symptoms of pruritus completely disappeared in 27 cases. Itching changed from severe to mild in three cases. The pathological changes of all subjects were improved. The main side effects of ALA-PDT were pain, erythema, and swelling. The side effects were temporary and tolerable. All patients reported their results as “satisfied” or “very satisfied”. Conclusions: ALA-PDT was an effective and safe approach for the treatment of VLSA.     

A Stab‐and‐Roll Biopsy Technique to Maintain Gingival Epithelium for Desquamative Gingivitis

Background: Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a clinical manifestation common to several diseases. It is known that most cases of DG are caused by mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), oral lichen planus (OLP), or pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Early recognition and treatment of these diseases can improve the prognosis, but diagnostic delays are common in patients with DG because obtaining a diagnostic biopsy is technically challenging. A biopsy technique designed to maintain the gingival epithelium for patients with DG was developed. The usefulness of this technique is discussed. Methods: This study is based on a retrospective review of 27 DG cases. A stab‐and‐roll technique was used to obtain gingival tissue. This technique is designed to reduce lateral forces on the epithelium during the procedure and to thereby prevent the inadvertent removal of the epithelium from the biopsy specimen. A total of 52 biopsies comprising 27 for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)–stained samples and 25 for direct immunofluorescence (DIF) testing were reviewed. Results: Fifty‐one of the 52 biopsies (98.1%) maintained the epithelium. Only one biopsy (1.9%) showed that the epithelium was totally absent. Therefore, H&E and DIF features of 51 biopsies were analyzed. Definitive diagnoses of the diseases causing DG included MMP (13 cases), PV (eight cases), and OLP (six cases). Conclusions: A diagnostic biopsy was obtained from the gingiva of patients with DG using the stab‐and‐roll technique. The gingival epithelium was well maintained, and the relationship with the underlying connective tissue was diagnostic. In the future, this stab‐and‐roll biopsy technique may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of diseases causing DG.     

ALDH1在OLP和LK组织中的表达及其意义

目的：通过检测干细胞标记物ALDH1在口腔扁平苔藓（OLP）和白斑（LK）中的表达水平,评价其与癌变的关系。方法：采用免疫组织化学SP法检测ALDH1在10例正常口腔黏膜,30例OLP,60例LK,10例口腔鳞癌（OS－CC）中表达水平;再检测ALDH1在30例癌变与30例未癌变LK中的表达差异。结果：ALDH1在正常口腔黏膜中不表达,在OLP、LK和OSCC中的表达率分别为26．7％,63．3％和90．0％（P＜0．05）;ALDH1在未癌变和癌变LK中的表达率分别是43．3％和83．3％（P＜0．01）。结论：ALDH1与口腔黏膜恶性潜能程度相关,可能是预测癌变的分子标记物。     

口腔扁平苔藓患者免疫功能状况与临床特征相关性分析

目的：分析口腔扁平苔藓（OLP）患者免疫状况与临床特征的关系。方法：用流式细胞术及散射比浊法分别检测197例OLP患者（网纹型61例,充血糜烂型136例）细胞免疫（CD3＋、CD4＋、CD8＋、CD19＋、CD16＋＋56＋、CD4＋／CD8＋）及体液免疫（IgG、IgA、IgM、C3、CH50）状况。结果：与实验室标准正常值相比,OLP患者CD3＋、CD4＋降低,CD19＋增高;IgG、IgM、CH50增高,IgA、C3降低。网纹型OLP患者 CD16＋＋56＋、CD4＋／CD8＋低于正常值;充血糜烂型OLP患者CD8＋低于正常值。充血糜烂型OLP患者CD3＋、CD8＋较网纹型降低,CD4＋／CD8＋较网纹型升高（P＜0．05）。结论：OLP患者存在不同程度的细胞免疫功能降低,体液免疫功能紊乱,以亢进为主。不同临床类型的OLP患者免疫状况存在一定的差别。     

IL-17在OLP病损中的表达及其作用机制的研究

目的：进一步探索IL-17在OLP局部病变中的表达及其作用机制.方法：16位OLP患者和5位健康志愿者被募集参与本试验.采用免疫荧光染色法检测IL-17 （interleukin-17）在OLP病损组织中的表达.进一步采用免疫组织化学染色法检测IL-17受体（interleukin-17 receptor,IL-17R）在OLP病损组织中的表达情况.结果：IL-17＋细胞散在分布于OLP病损组织黏膜固有层中.OLP局部组织中均存在IL-17R的表达,IL-17R主要表达于上皮基底角质形成细胞;同时在上皮下淋巴细胞浸润层中也可见相当数量的炎症细胞表达IL-17R.结论：在OLP病损局部IL-17可与表达于上皮基底角质形成细胞和上皮下淋巴细胞浸润层中部分炎症细胞表面的特异性受体IL-17R结合,进而参与OLP的局部炎症反应.