Comparisons of in vivo and in vitro photosensitivities and DNA repair in fibroblast and keratinocyte cells

Summary Minimal erythema dose of ultraviolet light correlated significantly with the UV-sensitivity of fibroblast cells from 5 patients with xeroderma pigmentosum, 13 patients with keratinocytic neoplasms of the skin, and 21 control subjects, but not with that of cells from 6 patients with photosensitive dermatitis. In unscheduled DNA synthesis after UV irradiation, the number of grains per nucleus was much less in keratinocytes than in fibroblasts, but the relative doseresponse relationship was similar. This indicates that keratinocytes can also be used in vitro UV-sensitivity studies.Supported in part by a Grant for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan     

Antimicrobial effects of phototherapy and photochemotherapy in vivo and in vitro

Summary We investigated the antimicrobial effects of phototherapy and photochemotherapy in vivo and in vitro. First, Staphylococcus aureus samples were obtained using stamp agar medium from inflammatory lesions of 29 adult patients with atopic dermatitis before and after a single photochemotherapy. Therapy was oral PUVA (30 mg 8-methoxypsoralen, 8MOP plus 5 J/cm²UVA), topical PUVA (0·3% 8MOP plus 200mJ/cm²UVA) or UVB (80mJ/cm²) irradiation. The number of S. aureus on the lesions was significantly reduced, even after a single treatment with all therapies. Reductions (mean± SD) were 69·3 ± 26.9%, 76·3 ± 31·3% and 83·8 ± 18·5%. respectively. Secondly, we investigated the effect of PUVA (0·001% 8MOP plus 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 mJ/cm²UVA) and UVB (10, 30, 50, or 100 mJ/cm²) irradiation on the proliferation of S. aureus in vitro. PUVA and UVB treatment markedly inhibited the proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. These results seem to indicate the possibility that the antimicrobial effect of UV radiation contributes to successful photochemotherapy in patients with atopic dermatitis.     

Hormonal interaction of androgen and estrogen receptors in normal skin and in acne

Hormone metabolism in skin affected with acne has been investigated by determination of androgen and estrogen receptors with the help of saturation analysis. The results have been compared with data of an age-corresponding control group. The investigation has been performed on 55 male and 11 female volunteers with acne in their lesions as well as unaffected areas. Androgen and estrogen serum levels have been determined as additional endocrine parameters. Testosterone serum levels were slightly elevated in about 11 percent of the male patients, while the percentage for the female patients might be higher as far as can be judged on account of small number of patients. The lack of correlation between estrogen/androgen receptors and their corresponding serum levels leads to the conclusion that the hormone metabolism is situated in the periphery, being independent of the central endocrine regulation. Similar findings for distribution and receptor levels in both healthy and involved skin of acne patients revealed a significant discrepancy in comparison to corresponding evaluations found in healthy patients. There results point out to an elevated dependency on hormonal influences of the entire integument of acne patients. Estrogen receptors could be found in both acne patients and controls.     

Epidemiology and morbidity of scabies and pediculosis capitis in resource-poor communities in Brazil

BACKGROUND: Pediculosis capitis and scabies are common parasitic skin diseases, especially in resource-poor communities, but data on epidemiology and morbidity are scanty. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, seasonal variation and morbidity of pediculosis capitis and scabies in poor neighbourhoods in north-east Brazil. METHODS: The study comprised cross-sectional surveys of a representative population of an urban slum (n = 1460) in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará State (Brazil) and a fishing community 60 km south of the city (n = 605). Study participants were examined for the presence of scabies and pediculosis capitis. In a longitudinal study in the slum, variation of prevalence in different seasons of the year was assessed. RESULTS: Prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 43.4% in the slum and 28.1% in the fishing community. Children aged 10-14 years and females were most frequently affected. Scabies was present in 8.8% of the population in the slum and in 3.8% of the population in the fishing community. There was no consistent pattern of age distribution. Superinfection was common in patients with scabies, and cervical lymphadenopathy in patients with pediculosis capitis. Multivariate analysis showed that age < or = 15 years, being of female sex and living in the urban slum were independent factors contributing to the simultaneous coinfestation with pediculosis capitis and scabies. The longitudinal data from the urban slum showed a characteristic seasonal variation of pediculosis capitis, but no fluctuation of scabies. CONCLUSIONS: Pediculosis capitis and scabies are hyperendemic in the study areas and are associated with considerable morbidity. There is an urgent need to develop control measures for these parasitic skin diseases in resource-poor communities. This is the first community-based study describing in detail the epidemiology and morbidity of scabies and head lice infestation in Brazil.     

Deposits of complement and immunoglobulins in dermal and synovial vessels in psoriasis.

Deposits of complement C3 and/or immunoglobulin were found in the vessel walls and/or at the dermal-epidermal junction in skin lesions of all of 11 patients with psoriatic arthritis and guttate psoriasis. Similar deposits were seen in 6 out of 15 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Synovial tissue available from 2 patients revealed deposits in the vessel walls.     

Mutations in the gyrA and parC genes and in vitro activities of fluoroquinolones in 91 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Japan

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fluoroquinolone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been associated with alternations in the quinolone-resistance determining regions in the gyrA and parC genes. GOAL: The goal of this study was to investigate the correlation between fluoroquinolone minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and mutations in the gyrA and parC genes of 91 N. gonorrhoeae clinical isolates from Japan. STUDY DESIGN: The MICs of fluoroquinolones ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and gatifloxacin for 91 clinical isolates from male gonococcal urethritis in Hyogo or Osaka, Japan, were measured, and the gyrA and parC genes of these isolates were sequenced. RESULTS: Among 91 isolates tested, over 70% isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. We found that 4 mutations (Ser-91-Phe, Ser-91-Ile, Asp-95-Gly in gyrA, and Ser-88-Pro in parC) had significant correlation to MICs of fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and gatifloxacin). CONCLUSION: Some mutations in QRDR had a significant relationship to the fluoroquinolone resistance of N. gonorrhoeae clinical isolates from Japan.     

Distribution of fodrin in the keratinocyte in vivo and in vitro

Distribution of fodrin in the keratinocyte, both in vivo and in vitro, was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. In the rat epidermis in vivo, fodrin was localized in the cell periphery of the spinous layer of all the skins studied. In only the basal layer of the thick skin, however, fodrin was seen intensely in the cytoplasm. As in vitro keratinocytes, a mouse cell line (Pam 212) cultured in low (0.06 mM) as well as standard (1.87 mM) Ca2+ was examined. In low Ca2+, fodrin was observed throughout the cytoplasm without marked accumulation irrespective of the cell density. The cytoplasmic labeling in low Ca2+ looked filamentous and became aggregated when cells were treated with cytochalasin B; at least some of the aggregates coexisted with those of F-actin. In contrast, fodrin distribution was not affected with colchicine. On the other hand, in standard Ca2+, the protein became concentrated along the cell periphery and less conspicuous in the cytoplasm as the cells reached confluency. When cells were transferred from low to standard Ca2+, the distribution of fodrin changed accordingly within 180 min. The present results indicate that fodrin in the keratinocyte is likely to be associated with actin filaments and that it takes two different ways of distribution both in vivo and in vitro. The peripheral and the cytoplasmic labeling of in vivo and in vitro cells are likely to correspond. It may be that fodrin changes its localization according to the cell's proliferative activity.     

Lipoxygenase activity of Pityrosporum in vitro and in vivo

Lipid peroxidation has been investigated both in cultures of Pityrosporum supplemented with different lipid classes and in skin surface lipids from patients affected with pityriasis versicolor. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and 2 spectrophotometric methods were used: the indirect thiobarbituric acid test and the direct N,N-diethyl-1,4-phenylene-diammonium sulfate (DEPD) test. The coupling of the DEPD test with the TLC technique performed by different eluent systems allowed the detection of the specific lipoperoxides deriving from the oxidation of the different lipid classes. In the cultures, Pityrosporum was capable of peroxidating not only unsaturated free fatty acids, but also unsaturated triglycerides, cholesterol, and squalene. A similar lipid peroxidation was observed in patients with pityriasis versicolor in skin lipids from areas positive for fungal hyphae and spores and fluorescent under the UV lamp (366 nm). The lipoperoxide values were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than in skin lipids from normal controls. Hyphae and spore-negative areas of patients with pityriasis versicolor, whether apparently normal or achromic, showed no evidence of a significant lipid peroxidation and neither did skin areas of patients with pityriasis alba. Though further investigations are necessary, it seems reasonable to suggest, in analogy with other biologic systems, that the presence in skin lipids of a significant amount of highly reactive and cytotoxic lipoperoxides may play a role in the pathogenesis of skin alterations in pityriasis versicolor, including damage to melanocytes and resulting achromia.     

妊娠梅毒感染的相关因素及诊治进展

目前,我国妊娠梅毒的发病率呈上升趋势.妊娠期梅毒螺旋体能通过胎盘引起胎儿宫内窘迫,造成胎儿发育不良,甚至死胎.妊娠期梅毒感染的危险因素与发病年龄、文化程度、治疗开始孕周、职业、多性伴史、住址、确诊时TRUST滴度及胎传梅毒的发生有着密切的联系.妊娠梅毒除了对胎儿影响外,孕妇本身常伴有严重的并发症.因此,进一步了解妊娠梅毒的发病、病理生理学与免疫学的改变,明确妊娠与梅毒的相互影响及导致先天梅毒的危险因素,对于有效地控制梅毒的母婴传播,预防和治疗梅毒螺旋体在宫内感染导致的不良后果,降低先天梅毒的发病率具有重要意义.