Huaguo Li

A novel recombinant lineage’s contribution to the outbreak of coxsackievirus A6-associated hand, foot and mouth disease in Shanghai, China, 2012-2013

Since late 2012, coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) has gradually become the predominant pathogen responsible for hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in several provinces of China. A total of 626 patients diagnosed with HFMD in Shanghai, China from January 2012 to September 2013 were enrolled in this study. Of these, 292 CVA6 infected cases were subjected to clinical analyses. Whole-genome sequencing, recombination and phylogenetic analyses were also performed. A recombinant CVA6 monophyletic lineage was found during an outbreak of CVA6-associated HFMDs in Shanghai, China in November 2012, and accounted for 21.9% (64/292) of the CVA6 strains during the study period. Recombination analyses showed that the 2C gene of the novel CVA6 virus was probably derived from a coxsackievirus A4 (CVA4) strain circulating in the population. Clinical observation showed that this recombinant CVA6 virus led to a more generalized rash than did the non-recombinant CVA6 virus. This newly emerged CVA6 lineage was associated with a considerable proportion of HFMD cases from 2012 to 2013 in Shanghai, and poses a potential threat to public health.

IL36RN gene mutations are not associated with sporadic generalized pustular psoriasis in Chinese patients.

MADAM, We read with interest the article by Lomas et al., which provides an extensive overview of the worldwide incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Data were collected from 75 studies over the past 50 years. However, recent data that have been published on the incidence of NMSC in Ireland by Carsin et al., were not included in the review, presumably as this article only became available online in April 2011, which post-dated the cut-off search date of March 2011 used by Lomas et al. Carsin et al. used the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) NMSC data to investigate geographic, urban ⁄rural and socioeconomic variations. In Ireland, the incidence of NMSC is felt to be high by international standards. The NCRI collects data on all NMSC diagnosed histologically. Overall completeness of registration is estimated to exceed 96%. NCRI publishes reports on cancer incidence in Ireland, including NMSC, on its website. Between 2000 and 2006, the age-standardized incidence rate in the Republic of Ireland was 150Æ8 (all NMSC), 105Æ7 for basal cell carcinoma and 43Æ2 for squamous cell carcinoma. Interesting variations within Ireland were noted in the article by Carsin et al., including higher incidence of NMSC in several areas along the coastline in the south and west of the country and in Dublin and Cork cities. Risk of NMSC was highest in the least deprived and most densely populated areas. Registry data for NMSC can be difficult to validate, as the authors Lomas et al. discuss, with under-reporting and the potential for multiple tumour registration. Some NMSC is treated without any histological confirmation. It would have been interesting if the authors had extended their comparison between published incidence figures and registry data to beyond the U.K., to include a comparison with data from Ireland and also to refer to published data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, notably the report on cancer incidence in five continents. However, at a minimum, the figures from Ireland do add to the overall picture and highlight some areas for further study.

Andrographolide suppresses thymic stromal lymphopoietin in phorbol myristate acetate/calcium ionophore A23187-activated mast cells and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like mice model

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory cutaneous diseases. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been demonstrated to be an important immunologic factor in the pathogenesis of AD. The production of TSLP can be induced by a high level of intracellular calcium concentration and activation of the receptor-interacting protein 2/caspase-1/NF-κB pathway. Andrographolide (ANDRO), a natural bicyclic diterpenoid lactone, has been found to exert anti-inflammatory effects in gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders through suppressing the NF-κB pathway. Objective To explore the effect of ANDRO on the production of TSLP in human mast cells and AD mice model. Methods We utilized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining assay to investigate the effects of ANDRO on AD. Results ANDRO ameliorated the increase in the intracellular calcium, protein, and messenger RNA levels of TSLP induced by phorbol myristate acetate/calcium ionophore A23187, through the blocking of the receptor-interacting protein 2/caspase-1/NF-κB pathway in human mast cell line 1 cells. ANDRO, via oral or local administration, also attenuated clinical symptoms in 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced AD mice model and suppressed the levels of TSLP in lesional skin. Conclusion Taken together, ANDRO may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD through suppressing the expression of TSLP.

Study of differential properties of fibrochondrocytes and hyaline chondrocytes in growing rabbits

We aimed to build a culture model of chondrocytes in vitro, and to study the differential properties between fibrochondrocytes and hyaline chondrocytes. Histological sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin so that we could analyse the histological structure of the fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage. Condylar fibrochondrocytes and femoral hyaline chondrocytes were cultured from four, 4-week-old, New Zealand white rabbits. The production of COL2A1, COL1OA1, SOX9 and aggrecan was detected by real time-q polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunoblotting and the differences between them were compared statistically. Histological structures obviously differed between fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage. COL2A1 and SOX9 were highly expressed within cell passage 2 (P2) of both fibrochondrocytes and hyaline chondrocytes, and reduced significantly after cell passage 4 (P4). The mRNA expressions of COL2A1 (p=0.05), COL10A1 (p=0.04), SOX9 (p=0.03), and aggrecan (p=0.04) were significantly higher in hyaline chondrocytes than in fibrochondrocytes, whereas the expression of COL1A1 (p=0.02) was the opposite. Immunoblotting showed similar results. We have built a simple and effective culture model of chondrocytes in vitro, and the P2 of chondrocytes is recommended for further studies. Condylar fibrocartilage and femoral hyaline cartilage have unique biological properties, and the regulatory mechanisms of endochondral ossification for the condyle should be studied independently in the future.

Genome Sequence of a Novel Recombinant Coxsackievirus A6 Strain from Shanghai, China, 2013

ABSTRACT A novel recombinant coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) strain was isolated during a coxsackievirus A6 outbreak in Shanghai, China, in 2013. Genomic sequence and similarity plot analysis showed that the novel CVA6 strain shared higher similarity with a recent CVA4 strain rather than the recent CVA6 strain in the 2C and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs).

IMPROVED COHESIVE ZONE MODEL AND ITS APPLICATION IN INTERFACE CONTACT ANALYSIS

An improved interface cohesive zone model is developed for the simulation of interface contact, under mixed-mode loading. A new debonding initiation criterion and propagation of debonding law, taking into account the pressure stress influence on contact shear strength, is proposed. The model is implemented in a finite-element program using subroutine VUINTER of ABAQUS Explicit. An edge-notch four-point bending process and laminated vibration damping steel sheet punch forming test are simulated with the improved model in ABAQUS Explicit. The numerical predictions agree satisfactorily with the corresponding experimental results.

Diseases with Underlining Internal Conditions

The specific dermatoses of pregnancy are defined as a group of pruritic inflammatory dermatoses associated exclusively with pregnancy and/or the immediate postpartum period [1]. Classification of this disease entity remains a topic of debate. The three generally accepted dermatoses include pemphigoid gestationis (PG), polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP), and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) [2]. Apart from these three, a series of clinical entities in pregnancy have been previously documented including prurigo of pregnancy, pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy, and atopic dermatitis. However, recent literature has illustrated significant overlaps in clinical presentation and histopathology between these three presentations and, therefore, they will all be categorized together under the term “atopic eruption of pregnancy” (AEP) [3]. It is important to note that two of these four dermatoses (PG and ICP) may pose significant risk for the fetus, and that early recognition and appropriate diagnostic testing are imperative. This chapter will focus on diagnosis, pathogenesis, and management of the four aforementioned dermatoses of pregnancy.

Gene diagnosis and prenatal genetic diagnosis of a case of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa family caused by gonadosomatic mosaicism for the COL7A1 mutation p.Gly2043Arg in the pregnant mother

M. Arenbergerova, A. Fialova, S. Gkalpakiotis, R. Kodet, T. Jancarkova, M. Novotna, A. Hess, I. Puzanov, P. Arenberger* Department of Dermatovenereology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 5, Czech Republic, Department of Hematology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 10, Czech Republic, Department of Radiodiagnostics, Liberec Hospital, Liberec, Czech Republic, Division of Hematology – Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA *Correspondence: P. Arenberger. E-mail: avemedica@email.cz