2004-2009年广西天峨县梅毒、淋病、AIDS/HIV疫情分析

目的了解天峨县近6年法定传染病中的梅毒、淋病、艾滋病(AIDS)和HIV阳性病例情况,分析其流行特征和规律,为制定防治策略和措施提供科学依据。方法收集该县2004-2009年的法定传染病梅毒、淋病、AIDS/HIV阳性病例疫情资料,采用Excel软件进行统计分析。结果全县近6年报告梅毒、淋病、AIDS和HIV阳性病例共382例,人群发病率为36.38/10万,女性高于男性,其中梅毒98例,人群发病率为9.33/10万;淋病265例,人群发病率为25.24/10万;AIDS6例(死亡1例)、HIV阳性13例(死亡2例),人群发病率为1.81/10万。以上4种疾病高发年龄在25～34岁年龄组。农民发病人数占49.48%。4种疾病病例数近几年呈逐年上升趋势,特别是梅毒和HIV阳性病例上升较明显。结论该县梅毒、淋病、AIDS/HIV阳性病例不断增多,其防治任务仍然严峻。     

Plectin-isoform-specific rescue of hemidesmosomal defects in plectin (-/-) keratinocytes

The various plectin isoforms are among the major crosslinking elements of the cytoskeleton. The importance of plectin in epithelia is convincingly supported by the severe skin blistering observed in plectin-deficient humans and mice. Here, we identified plectin 1a (> 500 kDa), a full length plectin variant containing the sequence encoded by the alternative first exon 1a, as the isoform most prominently expressed in human and mouse keratinocytes. In skin sections and cultured keratinocytes, plectin 1a was shown to colocalize with hemidesmosomal structures. In contrast, a second isoform expressed in epithelia, plectin 1c, differing from 1a merely by a short N-terminal sequence, colocalized with microtubules. Expression of plectin 1a, but not of its N-terminal fragment alone, or of a third alternative full length isoform (plectin 1), restored the reduced number of hemidesmosome-like stable anchoring contacts in cultured plectin-null keratinocytes. Our results show for the first time that different isoforms of a cytolinker protein expressed in one cell type perform distinct functions. Moreover, the identification of plectin 1a as the isoform defects in which cause skin blistering in plectin-related genetic diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa simplex MD and epidermolysis bullosa simplex Ogna, could have implications for the future development of clinical therapies for patients.     

Genetic Risk Factors for Psoriasis in Turkish Population: -1540 C/A, -1512 Ins18, and +405 C/G Polymorphisms within the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene

BackgroundEvidence regarding the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) as a potent mediator of angiogenesis and inflammation in psoriasis has revealed variations in this gene as surrogate markers of psoriasis.ObjectiveVEGFA gene polymorphisms (-1540 C/A, -1512 Ins18, -460 T/C, and +405 C/G) in psoriasis susceptibility in Turkish population were investigated.MethodsA total of 200 age, sex and ethnicity-matched psoriatic and healthy individuals were examined for clinical type, response to therapy, serum VEGFA and its receptor levels, genotypes and haplotypes.ResultsThe +405 GG, +405 CG, -1540 CA, and -1512 +Ins18 genotypes conferred a significant risk for developing psoriasis. The C-InsTC haplotype in the controls and C+InsTG, A+InsTC, and A-InsTG haplotypes in psoriatic patients were observed to be significantly high. Increased serum levels of VEGFA were detected in psoriatic patients with the C-InsTC haplotype than that in the controls. The +405 GG genotype was significantly more frequent in psoriatic patients with a positive family history, and the moderate form of psoriasis was more frequent among C+InsTG haplotype carriers than that among the other patients. The +405 GG genotype was found to be more frequent in patients responding to oral retinoids. Serum VEGFR1/FLT1 and VEGFR2/KDR levels were not significantly different when psoriatic patients and controls were stratified based on the risk polymorphic variants.ConclusionVEGFA gene +405 GG and CG, -1512+Ins18, and -1540 CA genotypes are associated with an increased risk of psoriasis in Turkish population. The G allele at +405 and an 18-bp insertion at -1512 are primarily the risk factors for psoriasis, and this risk is potentiated by the presence of the A allele at the -1540 locus.     

Chlamydia positivity in American Indian/Alaska Native women screened in family planning clinics, 1997-2004

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated high levels of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections within American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) populations but there are few analyses of CT prevalence in these populations over time. METHODS: We analyzed data from 7374 visits at which diagnostic tests for CT were collected in AI/AN women aged 15 to 24 years seen at family planning clinics associated with the Region X Infertility Prevention Project. Trends in population characteristics and test positivity were examined and compared with non-AI/AN women tested in the same setting and time period. Chlamydia positivity was adjusted for changes in diagnostic test type. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify characteristics associated with infection. RESULTS: Adjusted CT positivity in AI/AN women rose from 7.8% to 11.0%, which was 1.5 to 2.2 times the non-AI/AN population levels over the study period (absolute difference 2.8%-6.6%). Differences persisted after correction for test type and age. Temporal changes in positivity among AI/AN women were associated with a rise in reported risk behaviors and decline in age of the population being tested. Risk factors associated with positivity among AI/AN women were younger age, > or =1 behavioral risks, > or =1 clinical findings, partner with chlamydia, chlamydia in past year, and pregnancy related visit. CONCLUSIONS: AI/AN women had consistently higher levels of chlamydia positivity than non-Native women, even after adjustment for age and diagnostic test. Further investigation of risks for chlamydia, related outcomes, access to screening, sexual networks, and enhanced surveillance would be beneficial for improving health in this vulnerable population.     

Expression of the Abca-subfamily of genes in Abcc6-/- mice--upregulation of Abca4

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a heritable multi-system disorder, is caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene primarily expressed in the liver. Recent analysis of cultured fibroblasts from patients with PXE has suggested compensatory alterations in the expression of the ABCA-subfamily of genes. We have now determined by quantitative RT-PCR the level of expression of Abca-family of genes in a mouse model of PXE developed by targeted ablation of Abcc6. The results indicated variable levels of mRNA for different Abca genes in the liver; however, only one of them, Abca4, was significantly, ～6.5-fold, upregulated in the Abcc6(-/-) mice in comparison with wild-type mice. In the same mice, Abca4 was not upregulated in the eyes or the kidney, suggesting that the upregulation of Abca4 in the liver is a tissue-specific compensatory consequence of the 'knock-out' of Abcc6.     

银屑病患者血清E、L、P选择素和VCAM-1的表达

目的:研究银屑病患者血清中E、P、L选择素及血管细胞黏附分子-1(VCAM-1)的表达及其临床意义。方法:用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法测定银屑病进行期、静止期患者和正常对照组健康人血清E、L、P选择素和VCAM-1的水平。结果:(1)进行期组患者血清E、L、P选择素和VCAM-1水平显著高于静止期组和正常对照组(P值均<0.05)。(2)静止期组患者血清E、L、P选择素和VCAM-1水平与正常对照组无显著性差异(P值均>0.05)。(3)患者血清E、L、P选择素和VCAM-1与PASI评分均无显著相关性。结论:E、L、P选择素和VCAM-1在银屑病活动期的炎症细胞聚集和黏附过程中起着重要作用。     

Differential gene induction of human beta-defensins (hBD-1, -2, -3, and -4) in keratinocytes is inhibited by retinoic acid

Human skin is able to mount a fast response against invading harmful bacteria through the rapid production of inducible peptide antibiotics such as the human beta-defensins (hBD). To gain more insight into the role and regulation of inducible beta-defensins in the innate immunity of human skin, we investigated whether gene induction of the human beta-defensins hBD-1, -2, -3, and -4 in keratinocytes is regulated in a similar manner. Therefore, we performed a comparative study of gene expression of these four hBD in primary cultured keratinocytes using real-time PCR. A basal mRNA expression was observed for all four hBD in primary keratinocytes, which strongly increased for hBD-2, -3, and -4 during Ca(2+)-induced differentiation of the keratinocytes. This effect was completely abolished when the keratinocytes were pre-treated with all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). Furthermore, the differential induction of hBD-2, -3, and -4 gene expression in keratinocytes by proinflammatory cytokines, phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA), and bacteria was inhibited by more than 90% when the keratinocytes were pre-incubated with RA. Inhibition of IL-1beta-mediated hBD-2 induction through RA was further confirmed by gene reporter assays and western-blot analysis. We conclude that RA is a potent inhibitor of beta-defensin induction in keratinocytes and might downregulate the inducible innate chemical defense system of human skin.     

心醉、心累、心碎之感悟

凡有前列腺疾患的男人,都会影响性功能,干扰夫妻性生活。妻子经常主动催促丈夫看病,而男性则漫不经心,一方面自己不好意思,再方面自己虽快感减弱,仍能完成性生活,满足自己性欲望,所以到医院诊治并不积极。由于前列腺疾患疗效不佳,又在治疗后容易反复发作,常会出现家庭矛盾,这就     

1α,25-(OH)2D3 Use on Psoriasis and Ichthyosis

The present work compared the clinical efficacy of topically applied 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3) in 16 cases with psoriasis vulgaris, 5 with ichthyosis vulgaris and 8 with X-linked ichthyosis. Sixty-nine percent of the psoriatic cases responded to 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 therapy, whereas no ichthyotic patients responded. The present study confirms the previously suggested effectiveness of the active form of vitamin D3 for psoriasis and denies its possible efficiency against the ichthyoses. Direct suppression of hyperproliferative activity of the psoriatic epidermis is considered one of the most plausible mechanisms of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 efficacy, through examination of the aforementioned evidence.     

Leprosy in Saudi Arabia, 1986-89

This study on leprosy includes information obtained from the Ibn Sina Hospital, a specialized centre established 27 years ago for treatment and management of the disease in Saudi Arabia. A total of 792 patients with leprosy were reported during the period of the study (1986-89). A steady decline was observed in the number of patients reported: 432 (54.55%) were non-Saudi and 360 (45.45%) were Saudi. Patients were reported from a total of 22 different countries. The majority of the non-Saudi patients were from the Yemen, 286 (36.11%). The male-to-female ratio was 3.83:1. The age groups comprised: 133 (16.79%), 51 to 80; 575 (72.60%), 21 to 50; and 84 (10.61%), under 20 years of age. The disease was classified into five categories (Ridley and Jopling classification): 295 (37.25%), lepromatous type; 238 (30.05%), tuberculoid type; 146 (18.43%), borderline-tuberculoid type; 29 (3.66%), borderline type; and 84 (10.61%), borderline-lepromatous type. Although the number of registered patients is decreasing, this trend does not suggest an overall decline in the disease in the country. It is recommended, therefore, that the services being provided to patients with leprosy must be integrated with the nationwide network of the Primary Health Care Centres to implement effective control and prevention, including health education for the general population. Furthermore, mutual agreements must be developed with adjacent countries to study the geographic distribution of the disease.