Houjun Liu

Childhood psoriasis: a study of 137 cases from central China

BackgroundChildhood psoriasis is common, but it has not been adequately reported in China. This study was undertaken to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical findings in children with psoriasis treated in a 9-year period and to compare the data with those from other studies.MethodsThe data were from 137 children (≤14 years old) with psoriasis registered in two tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China between January 2000 and December 2008. They were retrospectively studied.ResultsOf the 137 patients, aged between 3 and 14 years, 64 were males (46.7%) and 73 females (53.3%). Eleven patients (8%) had a family history of psoriasis. Infection was the most common precipitating factor (39, 28.5%). Seasonal influence was found in 57 patients (41.6%). Exacerbations in winter and spring were noted in 29 and 16 patients respectively. Plaque psoriasis was the most common type (72 patients, 52.6%), followed by guttate psoriasis (35, 25.5%), psoriasis pustulosa (15, 10.9%), and psoriasis erythroderma (7, 5.1%). The scalp was the most common initial site affected (69, 50.3%). Nail changes were found in 35 patients (25.5%), but no mucosal involvements were observed. Five patients had arthralgia and two showed abnormal X-ray appearance. Most of the affected children had pruritus. The co-morbidities of childhood psoriasis included allergic contact dermatitis (31, 22.6%), eczema (6, 4.3%), vitiligo (5, 3.6%), and alopecia areata (3, 2.2%). Psoriasis was sometimes misdiagnosed as dermatitis seborrheica (11, 8.0%), neurodermatitis (9, 6.6%) and balanitis (7, 5.1%). Some patients were treated with steroids, but there were obvious side-effects after longterm administration. Thiamphenicol was effective in the treatment of refractory psoriasis pustulosa in children.ConclusionsOur findings differ from those of previous studies, showing a lower rate of family history and a higher incidence of severe psoriasis. Differential diagnosis should be made especially when lesions occur at the scalp, elbow or balanus. Allergic contact dermatitis takes place more frequently in children with psoriasis than in normal children. Systemic corticosteroids should not be routinely used and other safer and more effective treatments are needed for severe cases.

Expression of phosphorylated Stat3, cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL in extramammary Paget disease

Background  Stat3 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription‐3) is an oncogene that plays a critical role in regulating fundamental processes associated with malignant transformation and cell survival. It participates in oncogenesis through upregulation of genes encoding apoptosis inhibitors (Bcl‐xL) and cell cycle regulators (cyclin D1). The expression of Stat3, Bcl‐xL and cyclin D1 protein has not been investigated in extramammary Paget disease (EMPD).

Expression and prognostic significance of Stat5a and E‐cadherin in extramammary Paget’s disease

Background:  Stat5 has been shown to regulate the proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis in cancer cells. E‐cadherin plays an important role in maintaining epithelial stability and is widely regarded as a prognostic marker in many types of human cancers. The expression of Stat5 has not been investigated in extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD).

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, p-AKT and p-ERK1/2 protein in extramammary Paget's disease.

Background  The insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) receptor (R)‐induced phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signal transduction cascade, which have critical roles in prevention of apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle progression, plays an important role in tumorigenesis. The expression of IGF‐1R, AKT and ERK1/2 has been described in some human malignancies, but not in extramammary Pagets disease (EMPD).

Expression of p16 and hTERT protein is associated with the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus in Bowenoid papulosis.

Background:  High‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) type E6 and E7 oncoproteins contribute to oncogenesis in multiple ways by modulating the activities of host components in cell‐cycle regulation including the expression of p16 protein (p16) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The expression of p16 and hTERT protein in Bowenoid papulosis (BP) has not been studied.

Inhibition of invasion and up-regulation of E-cadherin expression in human malignant melanoma cell line A375 by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate

SummaryThe inhibitory effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the invasion of human malignant melanoma cell line A375 and the possible molecular mechanisms of this effect were investiaged. A375 cells were pretreated with 20 μg/mL EGCG for 24, 48 and 72 h respectively and the E-cadherin expression was detected by Western blot analysis. A375 cells were also pretreated with different concentrations of EGCG (1, 5, 10 and 20 μg/mL) for 72 h and the expression of E-cadherin was measured by RT-PCR. The adhesion and invasion of A375 cells were tested by cell-matrigel adhesion assay and matrigel invasion assay respectively. The results showed that EGCG could significantly up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin time-and concentration-dependently (both P<0.05). Statistical analysis showed that A375 cells invasion was inhibited by EGCG and correlated with the up-regulation of E-cadherin expression. It was suggested that EGCG strongly inhibited invasion of A375 cells, and the inhibition mechanism was possibly associated with the up-regulation of E-cadherin expression.The inhibitory effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the invasion of human malignant melanoma cell line A375 and the possible molecular mechanisms of this effect were investiaged. A375 cells were pretreated with 20 μg/mL EGCG for 24, 48 and 72 h respectively and the E-cadherin expression was detected by Western blot analysis. A375 cells were also pretreated with different concentrations of EGCG (1, 5, 10 and 20 μg/mL) for 72 h and the expression of E-cadherin was measured by RT-PCR. The adhesion and invasion of A375 cells were tested by cell-matrigel adhesion assay and matrigel invasion assay respectively. The results showed that EGCG could significantly up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin time-and concentration-dependently (both P<0.05). Statistical analysis showed that A375 cells invasion was inhibited by EGCG and correlated with the up-regulation of E-cadherin expression. It was suggested that EGCG strongly inhibited invasion of A375 cells, and the inhibition mechanism was possibly associated with the up-regulation of E-cadherin expression.

The Expression of Interleukin-22 and S100A7,A8,A9 mRNA in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris

In order to study the expression of interleukin-22 (IL-22) and S100A7, A8, A9 mRNA in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris and their relationship, the biopsies were taken from skin lesions in 35 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and the skin of 16 normal controls, and the expression levels of IL-22 and S100A7, A8 and A9 mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that (1) IL-22 and S100A8, A9 mRNA were positively expressed in the psoriatic skin lesions but negatively expressed in the normal controls; The expression level of S100A7 was (1.133±0.040) in the psoriatic skin lesions, significantly higher than that in the normal controls (0.744±0.037, P<0.01). (2) There were significantly positive correlations between the expression of IL-22/S100A7 mRNA, IL-22/S100A8 mRNA, IL-22/S100A9 mRNA in the psoriasis vulgaris (r 1=0.543, r 2=0.774, r 3=0.621, P<0.01). It was concluded that IL-22 and S100A7, A8, A9 might play important roles in the occurrence and progression of psoriasis.

Expression of minichromosome maintenance 5 protein in proliferative and malignant skin diseases.

Background  The entire minichromosome maintenance (MCM) family (MCM2–7) play roles in the initiation and elongation of DNA replication. Many studies have demonstrated that MCM proteins may be better indicators of a wide variety of proliferative or cancer cells in malignant tissues.

PI3K, Rac1 and pPAK1 are overexpressed in extramammary Paget's disease

Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), Ras‐related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and P21‐activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1) appear to play important roles in the pathogenesis of several tumors, but their expressions in extramammary Pagets disease (EMPD) have not been investigated yet.

Expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in Lesions of Systemic Sclerosis and Its Implications *

SummaryIn order to investigate the role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was immunohistochemically detected in skin lesions of the patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, skin lesions of the patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the expression of MMP-9 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than that of normal skins (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in the level of MMP-9 in the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and normal skin was found. Meanwhile, the expression of TIMP-1 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis were significantly higher than that of normal skins (both P<0.05). It was suggested that the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 might play an important role in the development of systemic sclerosis.In order to investigate the role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was immunohistochemically detected in skin lesions of the patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, skin lesions of the patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the expression of MMP-9 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than that of normal skins (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in the level of MMP-9 in the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and normal skin was found. Meanwhile, the expression of TIMP-1 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis were significantly higher than that of normal skins (both P<0.05). It was suggested that the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 might play an important role in the development of systemic sclerosis.