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ABSTRACT: Nevus depigmentosus (ND) is frequently confused with vitiligo. Differential diagnosis can be difficult. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive technique for real-time en face imaging of the superficial layers of the skin down to the superficial dermis with cellular level resolution close to conventional histopathology. In this study, we tried to use this new technology to study the features of the distribution of pigment cells of these two hypopigmentation disorders and then concluded the differential features.
Sixty vitiligo patients and 62 ND patients were enrolled in the study. Three points in each patient (lesional, margin of the lesions and adjacent non- lesional points) were examined with RCM. The gray value of image was quantified using software, and we calculated the relative gray value.
The RCM image feature was different between vitiligo and ND patients. The differential diagnosis was made based on the following four RCM features: complete absence of pigment cells; the distribution of pigment cells; the margins; and the relative gray value.
RCM can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis between vitiligo and ND.
International journal of dermatology 06/2011; 50(6):740-5. · 1.18 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Background Nevus depigmentosus (ND) is frequently confused with vitiligo. Differential diagnosis can be difficult. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive technique for real-time en face imaging of the superficial layers of the skin down to the superficial dermis with cellular level resolution close to conventional histopathology. In this study, we tried to use this new technology to study the features of the distribution of pigment cells of these two hypopigmentation disorders and then concluded the differential features.Methods Sixty vitiligo patients and 62 ND patients were enrolled in the study. Three points in each patient (lesional, margin of the lesions and adjacent non- lesional points) were examined with RCM. The gray value of image was quantified using software, and we calculated the relative gray value.Results The RCM image feature was different between vitiligo and ND patients. The differential diagnosis was made based on the following four RCM features: complete absence of pigment cells; the distribution of pigment cells; the margins; and the relative gray value.Conclusion RCM can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis between vitiligo and ND.
International journal of dermatology 05/2011; 50(6):740 - 745. · 1.18 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Painful granulomatous lesions appeared on the face of a 36-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome. Skin biopsy revealed chronic inflammatory granuloma. Bacterial cultures of the lesions and blood indicated the same unknown Gram-negative rod bacterium. The 16S ribosomal RNA sequence of the unknown bacterium yielded Phenylobacterium. Thus, we diagnosed cutaneous infectious granuloma caused by Phenylobacterium and myelodysplastic syndrome/refractory cytopenia with multi-lineage dysplasia. After treatment with combined antibacterials that were selected based on the tests for drug sensitivity, the lesions disappeared with only scars remaining and without any signs of relapse after 1 year. This is the first case report of cutaneous infectious granuloma caused by Phenylobacterium.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 01/2010; 11(5):363-6. · 1.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Porokeratosis (PK) is a heterogeneous group of keratinization disorders that exhibit similarities with psoriasis at both the clinical and molecular levels.
The transcript levels of keratin (KRT) 6A, 16, 17, S100A7, A8, A9, p53 and three candidate genes (i.e. SART3, SSH1 and ARPC3) were reassessed in pairwise lesional and uninvolved skin from nine patients with PK by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR).
The results of RTQ-PCR confirmed that KRT6A, 16, S100A7, A8 and A9 (p = 0.008) were mostly up-regulated in the lesional skin when compared with uninvolved skin. Different from the microarray data, there was no significant difference observed in KRT17 expression patterns between lesional and normal-appearing skin (p = 0.066). No statistical difference was observed in p53 and three candidate genes' expression patterns between lesional and uninvolved skin.
In the present study, 9 of the 10 gene expression measured by RTQ-PCR in PK were statistically comparable to microarray data. KRT6A was identified as specific biomarker for porokeratotic keratinocytes, as it was the most significantly up-regulated gene in the nine patient samples.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology 08/2009; 37(3):371-5. · 1.56 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) was first isolated from the medium conditioned by human fetal retinal pigment epithelial cells and has been detected in a broad range of human fetal and adult tissues. Recent studies have indicated that PEDF activity is inhibitory to angiogenesis.
To study the expression and distribution of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in human melanocytes, malignant melanoma cells and tissues.
PEDF was expressed in human melanocytes. The expression of PEDF protein diminished in the following orders healthy skin, pigmented nevus and human malignant melanoma (p < 0.001). Both the expression of PEDF mRNA and protein was much lower or almost absent in the malignant melanoma cell line A375 than that in human melanocytes (p < 0.001).
The expression and distribution of PEDF in human healthy skin, pigmented nevus and malignant melanoma were studied. The expression of PEDF mRNA in human melanocytes and malignant melanoma cell line A375 was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PEDF protein was detected by immunohistochemical method and Western blotting analysis.
The lack of PEDF expression may contribute to the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma.
Dermato-endocrinology. 03/2009; 1(2):108-13.
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ABSTRACT: The facial flat wart (verruca plana) is not only a contagious viral disease, but also causes a disturbing cosmetic problem. Because 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy has successfully treated human papilloma virus-related diseases, we employed 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid and a light emitting diode on three recalcitrant facial flat wart patients. Most lesions achieved complete remission after three or four sessions. However, a few non-elevated lesions did not respond to this method. An ablative therapeutic mode is required in addition to 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy in such lesions. Therefore, we utilized an Er:YAG laser and 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for one session and achieved an excellent result. Patients should be informed of the possible side-effects of this treatment, such as erythema, exfoliation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and the requirement for sun protection.
The Journal of Dermatology 11/2008; 35(10):658-61. · 1.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 308-nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL) in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris and palmoplantar psoriasis.
Thirty-five patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 15 patients with palmoplantar psoriasis were recruited for this study. Thirty patients with psoriasis vulgaris completed a total of 16 treatments with 308-nm MEL twice a week, and 15 patients palmoplantar psoriasis completed 25 treatments administered once weekly. The clinical response to therapy and adverse effects were recorded.
Patients with psoriasis vulgaris (n=30) showed a 74.6% improvement in the mean psoriasis area and severity index score after a total of 16 MEL treatments (2 x /week) with 36.7% of the patients (n=11) achieving clearance. Patients with palmoplantar psoriasis (n=15) showed a 52.5% improvement in the mean severity index score after a total of 25 MEL treatments (1 x /week) with only one patient (6.7%) achieving clearance. The MEL therapy was well tolerated with a low incidence of side effects, which included pruritus, erythema and blister formation.
The 308-nm MEL can be utilized as an effective and safe treatment modality for patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis vulgaris and palmoplantar psoriasis.
Photodermatology Photoimmunology and Photomedicine 11/2008; 24(5):231-6. · 1.30 Impact Factor
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Zheng-Hua Zhang,
Zhi-Min Wang,
Meredith E Crosby,
Hai-Feng Wang, Lei-Hong Xiang,
Jing Luan,
Chao-Ying Gu,
Jun Zhou,
Zhen-Min Niu,
Xu Fang,
Wei Huang,
Zhi-Zhong Zheng
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ABSTRACT: Porokeratosis (PK) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders of keratinization and has a wide variety of clinical manifestations. PK may exhibit similarities with psoriasis at both clinical and molecular levels. The genetic basis and pathogenesis for PK remain elusive.
We studied the transcriptional profiles of three pairwise lesional and uninvolved skin biopsies from patients with different subtypes of PK using the Illumina BeadArray platform.
A total of 37 upregulated genes were identified in our study, including wound-induced keratins, S100 calcium-binding protein genes involved in epidermal differentiation, as well as genes involved in mediating intercellular communication and the immune response. To our knowledge, this is the first study that characterizes the immune profile of PK lesions.
Here, we report that keratinocytes (KCs)-harboring lesions have activated and overexpressed wound-induced keratin genes, which appear to be coregulated with other genes involved in mediating epidermal differentiation, intercellular communication and immunity. This study, from the perspective of gene profiling, supports that gene misregulation in PK mimics that of psoriasis. Our data indicate that the genes implicated in the T-cell-mediated immune response pathway and activation of KCs play a key role in the pathogenesis of PK.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology 09/2008; 35(11):1058-62. · 1.56 Impact Factor
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International journal of dermatology 07/2008; 47(6):634-7. · 1.18 Impact Factor
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Journal of Investigative Dermatology 03/2007; 127(2):482-5. · 6.31 Impact Factor
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Zheng-Hu Zhang,
Zhen-Min Niu,
Wen-Tao Yuan,
Jing-Jun Zhao,
Fa-Xing Jiang,
Jing Zhang,
Bao Chai,
Xiao-Yan Xiong, Lei-Hong Xiang,
Yi Wang,
Shi-Jie Xu,
Wei-Da Liu,
Zhi-Zhong Zheng,
Wei Huang
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ABSTRACT: Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is an uncommon autosomal dominant chronic keratinization disorder,characterized by multiple superficial keratotic lesions surrounded by a slightly raised keratotic border. In previous studies,the disease gene was mapped to 12q23. 2-24.1 (DSAP1), and 15q25. 1-26.1 (DSAP2). In this study,genome-wide scan was performed in two unrelated six-generation DSAP pedigrees to localize and identify the candidate gene(s) of disease. Linkage analysis showed that the cumulative maximum two-point lod score of 8.28 was obtained with the marker D12S84 at a recombination fraction theta of 0.00. Haplotype analysis defined an 8.0 cM critical region for DSAP gene(s) between markers D12S330 and D12S354 on 12q24. 1-q24. 2, which partially overlapped with the region identified for DSAP1. DNA sequencing of the coding exons of six candidate genes (CRY1, PWP1, ASCL4, PRDM4, KIAA0789 and CMKLR1) on the basis of their location in the critical overlap interval, failed to detect any mutation in DSAP patients. Thus, it is likely that these genes are not involved in DSAP.
Acta Genetica Sinica 08/2005; 32(7):667-74.
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Zheng-Hua Zhang,
Wei Huang,
Zhen-Min Niu,
Wei-Da Liu, Lei-Hong Xiang,
Wen-Tao Yuan,
Jing-Jun Zhao,
Chao-Ying Gu,
Bao Chai,
Fa-Xing Jiang,
Jing Zhang,
Shi-Jie Xu,
Zhi-Zhong Zheng
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ABSTRACT: Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is an uncommon autosomal dominant chronic keratinization disorder, characterized by multiple superficial keratotic lesions surrounded by a slightly raised keratotic border. Recently, SSH1 was identified as the DSAP candidate gene.
Our purpose was to determine the locus of DSAP and identify the candidate gene(s) of the disease.
Genome-wide scanning and linkage analysis were performed in a 6-generation Chinese family with DSAP. The coding exons and promoter region of the candidate genes were screened for the nucleotide variations.
A missense mutation (p.Ser63Asn) in SSH1 and a variation (dbSNP3759383: G>A) in the promoter region of ARPC3 were closely linked with DSAP in the pedigree.
Both SSH1 and ARPC3 are involved in the actin cytoskeleton pathway and interacted with adherent junctions in the epidermal cells. We suggested that cytoskeleton disorganization in epidermal cells was likely associated with the pathogenesis of DSAP.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 06/2005; 52(6):972-6. · 3.99 Impact Factor
