Comparative study of two kinds of real-time PCR for the detection of the methylation status of DNA北大核心

Objective: To use two kinds of real-time PCR to detect the methylation status of p16 gene in CD4+ T cell derived from SLE patients and compare the effect of the two methods. Methods: P16 promotor methylation in CD4+ T cell was detected with both the Taqman probe based real-time PCR technology and the SYBR Green I based real-time PCR technology (method 2) in 40 SLE patients and 20 healthy controls. Results: The result of Taqman probe method showed that the rate of p16 gene hypermethylation was higher in SLE patients(35.7%) than in that of the controls (10%)(χ2=4.11, P=0.04<0.05). The result of SYBR Green method showed that there was no significant difference between the patients and controls (P>0.05). Conclusions: Taqman probe method can effectively eliminate the effect of the primer-dimers (PDs) and nonspecific amplication on the process of PCR, and increase the specificity and accuracy of the result. This method can be used to detect the the methylation status of DNA.     

Familial occurrence of nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn: another case of paradominant inheritance?

We describe two sibs (a boy and a girl) suffering from linear nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn. The parents are not affected. This rare pattern of familial occurrence prompts us to suggest that these sibs represent a case of paradominant inheritance of a mosaic disorder.     

Wax model collection of the Department of Dermatology, University of Münster

Between the 17^th century and the middle of the 20^th century, wax models were widely used for training in anatomy and other medical fields, especially dermatology. Thereafter, photographic techniques led to the replacement and subsequent dissolution of many European wax model collections. Unfortunately many wax models lose their original colors over time. Since only few mouleurs (wax artists) are still active in Europe conserving wax models, the “dying of moulages” cannot be stopped. Consequently, the existing wax models are of medical and historical interest since they reflect the development of our speciality. The Department of Dermatology in Münster is in the possession of 121 wax models, which are presented in this article.     

Development and characterization of phyto-vesicles of β-sitosterol for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia

Alopecia is a psychologically distressing phenomenon. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of alopecia, which affects millions of men and women worldwide, and is an androgen driven disorder. To study the effect of β-sitosterol phyto-vesicles on AGA, the testosterone-induced alopecia model was used. For the study, the albino rats were used and the period of study was 21 days. β-Sitosterol is a phytosterol which is chemically similar to cholesterol. This compound was found suitable for the preparation of phyto-vesicles by the process involving its complexation with phosphatidyl choline. Pharmacokinetic studies of β-sitosterol reveal its poor absorption through the intestine. The objective of the present study is to enhance the bioavailability of β-sitosterol by its complexation with phosphatidyl choline and then to formulate it as phyto-vesicles for the treatment of alopecia. The complex of β-sitosterol was prepared with phosphatidyl choline and characterized on the basis of solubility, melting point, TLC, UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy. This complex was then formulated as phyto-vesicles and then characterized. The results revealed that effect on alopecia is better in case of phyto-vesicles as compared to the complex, physical mixture and the β-sitosterol itself. Enhanced bioavailability of the β-sitosterol complex may be due to the amphiphilic nature of the complex, which greatly enhance the water and lipid solubility of the compound. The present study clearly indicates the superiority of phyto-vesicles over the complex and β-sitosterol, in terms of better absorption and improved activity for the treatment of alopecia.     

Detection of the K?bner phenomenon of the skeleton of patients with psoriasis]

Psoriasis is a humorally controlled systemic disease. The degree of "eruptive strength" of manifestation results from hereditary factors (disposition) and environmental factors (provocation). We were able to demonstrate that the well-known K?bner phenomenon of the skin also occurs on the skeleton of patients suffering from psoriasis. We analysed 83 patients in whom bone scans were carried out. Our results indicate that provocation factors such as bacterial foci and/or trauma correlate with a significantly higher number of pathological scintigraphic findings, ranging up to "hot spots". Furthermore, not only did bone fractures remained scintigraphically positive for an unusually long time, traumas of the end phalanx could be demonstrated in 70% of psoriatic patients compared with 21% of a control group. Obviously, one factor alone or a combination of factors triggers the involvement of the skeleton as a "deep K?bner phenomenon". In psoriatic patients the response of bone metabolism to disturbance differs from that of non-psoriatic patients in that there is a long-lasting dysregulation. This explains the high correlation between skin and skeletal manifestation in psoriatics. Therefore the manifestation of psoriatic disease is due not to a single-stranded linear causal interrelation but to a multicausal "network pathogenesis". Bone scintigraphy is the diagnostic method of choice in patients with psoriatic osteoarthropathy and allows an objective evaluation of therapeutic success.     

Radiotherapy of malignant melanoma of the skin--a renaissance?

Surgery is without question the treatment of choice for the malignant melanoma (MM) of the skin. Radiotherapy, on the other hand, has been more and more neglected, especially because of the opinion that melanomas are "radioresistant". Because there is an increasing interest in the radiotherapy of MM in the recent years, and reviewing the experimental and clinical findings in the literature the following points are made: MM is not a "radioresistant" tumour and therefore the expression reduced radiosensitivity should be used instead; radiotherapy with beams of low linear energy transfer (LET) is also possible if the techniques involve the use of high dose per fraction or multiple fractions per day; different types of MM of the skin show a variable radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo; and indications still exist for the radiotherapy of MM. All possibilities for the use of radiotherapy alone in MM have not yet been exhausted.     

Incidence and enzymatic properties of yeast-like fungi. Examination of workers of various departments of the District Meat-Processing Industry in Bia?ystok

In a group of 111 workers of the District Meat Processing Plant clinical examination of the skin and cultures for Candida organisms were performed. The proteolytic and lipolytic properties of these fungi were analysed. From the interdigital spaces of hands 42 strains were isolated, with the species Candida albicans accounting for 13.5% of the strains (15). Case history and the character of skin lesions on the hands and forearms suggested that they were caused by skin contact with meat and internal organs producing the so called "gut eczema" while Candida was secondary agent causing exacerbation of skin changes.     

Screening of differentially expressed genes and predominant expression of β variable region of T cell receptor in peripheral T cells of psoriatic patients

Psoriasis is a skin disease featuring epithelial cell hyper-proliferation and T cell infiltration. Abnormal T cell immune responses play an important role in psoriatic pathogenesis. To screen differentially expressed genes in T cells of patients with plaque psoriasis, analyze the predominant expression of the β variable region of T cell receptors and discuss the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. High throughput RNA sequencing and Real-time PCR were used. Results: A total of 907 genes were differentially expressed in peripheral T cells of patients with psoriasis. Among them, 695 genes were mapped to the Gene Ontology database, 14 gene terms were significantly enriched, and 418 genes were involved in signaling pathways such as apoptosis, B cell receptor signaling and T cell receptor signaling. TRBV2, TRBV5-7, TRBV6-6/6-9, TRBV12, TRBV24 and TRBV29 were significantly up-regulated in psoriatic patients compared to healthy subjects, among which, TRBV6-6/6-9, TRBV12 and TRBV29 are predominantly expressed in psoriatic patients. Many genes were differentially expressed in T cells of psoriatic patients, especially the TRBV gene family, which were predominantly expressed in T cells and might play an important role in abnormal immune responses of T cells in psoriatic patients.     

Is use of antiretroviral therapy among homosexual men associated with increased risk of transmission of HIV infection?

Background/objective: There is concern that use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may be linked to increased sexual risk behaviour among homosexual men. We investigated sexual risk behaviour in HIV positive homosexual men and the relation between use of HAART and risk of HIV transmission. METHODS: A cross sectional study of 420 HIV positive homosexual men attending a London outpatient clinic. Individual data were collected from computer assisted self interview, STI screening, and clinical and laboratory databases. RESULTS: Among all men, sexual behaviour associated with a high risk of HIV transmission was commonly reported. The most frequently reported type of partnership was casual partners only, and 22% reported unprotected anal intercourse with one or more new partners in the past month. Analysis of crude data showed that men on HAART had fewer sexual partners (median 9 versus 20, p=0.28), less unprotected anal intercourse (for example, 36% versus 27% had insertive unprotected anal intercourse with a new partner in the past year, p=0.03) and fewer acute sexually transmitted infections (33% versus 19%, p=0.004 in the past 12 months) than men not on HAART. Self assessed health status was similar between the two groups: 72% on HAART and 75% not on HAART rated their health as very or fairly good, (p=0.55). In multivariate analysis, differences in sexual risk behaviour between men on HAART and men not on HAART were attenuated by adjustment for age, time since HIV infection. CD4 count and self assessed health status. CONCLUSION: HIV positive homosexual men attending a London outpatient clinic commonly reported sexual behaviour with a high risk of HIV transmission. However, behavioural and clinical risk factors for HIV transmission were consistently lower in men on HAART than men not on HAART. Although use of HAART by homosexual men with generally good health is not associated with higher risk behaviours, effective risk reduction interventions targeting known HIV positive homosexual men are still urgently needed.